The publicly paid party staff thread

[Baron von Biffo]

SF Oireachtas members are in an awkward hole on this. Their claim that they live on the 'average wage' is manifestly untrue. They are paid their full Oireachtas salary and have the same discretion on how it's spent as any other worker.

If they were donating a substantial element of it to the party they would fall foul of the donations legislation. To get around that it seems they're saying that the money isn't going to the party but they're employing 2 staff themselves.

The bottom line is that they're taking every cent they're entitled to but they spend an unusually high percentage of their salary on their re-election campaigns.

According to Vincent Browne, tomorrow's Indo is leading with claims that SF is playing fast and loose with funding rules.

So just 5 months behind PW then.

[Saoirse go Deo]

If they were doing anything illegal I'm sure the likes of McDowell would have done something long ago.

I don't see the problem with what SF is doing really, they are pretty upfront about what the balance goes towards, constituency offices etc...

[fluffybiscuits]

If they were doing anything illegal I'm sure the likes of McDowell would have done something long ago.

I don't see the problem with what SF is doing really, they are pretty upfront about what the balance goes towards, constituency offices etc...

They always have been upfront, its other parties that should be worried. Bar Inkgate ( a storm in a tea cup) I dont think it will take a lot more to damage Shinners...

[Dr. FIVE]

So just 5 months behind PW then.

Have you question the timing, the week after Wallace and all but twill be interesting to see this finally trashed out in public.

[C. Flower]

If they were doing anything illegal I'm sure the likes of McDowell would have done something long ago.

I don't see the problem with what SF is doing really, they are pretty upfront about what the balance goes towards, constituency offices etc...

At least there's one Party with a serious employment initiative.

I would like to see SF, the Lefts and Independents campaiging for cuts in all these allowances. They should not be depending on them.

[DCon]

Story here: http://www.independent.ie/national-n...s-3144781.html

Yet in one case, Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty put €8,000 worth of unspent travel and accommodation expenses towards hiring part-time party workers.

Despite the admissions, Sinn Fein headquarters last night denied that its TDs were using unspent expenses in this way.

[Baron von Biffo]

As long ago as last September I was asking if SFs funding from their elected members was above board.

http://www.politicalworld.org/showpo...3&postcount=38

SF tries to claim the high ground on financial probity but the truth is they're wringing every last cent from the system and using the same sophistries and legalese as the other parties to justify it.

[Baron von Biffo]

And spare a thought for the unfortunate Sandra McLellan (a future Minister for Mascara?) in all this. The poor pet can't even afford lipstick because, as she freely admits, "‘I don’t get to keep all the expenses either, but I get to take my expenses out of the expenses, if that makes sense.’"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

[DCon]

And spare a thought for the unfortunate Sandra McLellan (a future Minister for Mascara?) in all this. The poor pet can't even afford lipstick because, as she freely admits, "‘I don’t get to keep all the expenses either, but I get to take my expenses out of the expenses, if that makes sense.’"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

I wonder how many TD's return a portion of the €4,982 a month they get for expenses?

We know what Sinn Fein do with the surplus. What do the other captains of democracy do?

[Baron von Biffo]

I wonder how many TD's return a portion of the €4,982 a month they get for expenses?

We know what Sinn Fein do with the surplus. What do the other captains of democracy do?

Well we know in broad terms what SF claims it does.

We're much given to disapproval when TDs of other parties hire relatives or party supporters on public money but has SF revealed what connections the staff they hire under this system have?

[riposte]

As long ago as last September I was asking if SFs funding from their elected members was above board.

http://www.politicalworld.org/showpo...3&postcount=38

SF tries to claim the high ground on financial probity but the truth is they're wringing every last cent from the system and using the same sophistries and legalese as the other parties to justify it.

Discussing whether Sinn Fein occupy the high moral ground or not...... equates to fiddling while Rome burns...... at a time when we have 450,000 unemployed, 10,000 families who can't pay their mortgage and 2,000 queuing for food parcels in Church Street.

It amazes me what climbs to high priority in the minds of the Press .... and some contributors here.

[coolvr]

Always good to start the day with a laugh...

And nothing is quite so funny as watching people stumbling around trying to justify the likes of SF, the Left and Independents acting just like FF/FG/Lab or expecting that they will be different and less morally corrupt than the main parties.

Is it any wonder that the standard of our politicians is so low when we keep on adjusting our requirements depending on who we support, surely it's time we set the bar at a decent level and refused to accept anything less no matter which party or belief system they come from.

[Baron von Biffo]

Always good to start the day with a laugh...

And nothing is quite so funny as watching people stumbling around trying to justify the likes of SF, the Left and Independents acting just like FF/FG/Lab or expecting that they will be different and less morally corrupt than the main parties.

Is it any wonder that the standard of our politicians is so low when we keep on adjusting our requirements depending on who we support, surely it's time we set the bar at a decent level and refused to accept anything less no matter which party or belief system they come from.

In a nutshell.

[riposte]

Always good to start the day with a laugh...

And nothing is quite so funny as watching people stumbling around trying to justify the likes of SF, the Left and Independents acting just like FF/FG/Lab or expecting that they will be different and less morally corrupt than the main parties.

Is it any wonder that the standard of our politicians is so low when we keep on adjusting our requirements depending on who we support, surely it's time we set the bar at a decent level and refused to accept anything less no matter which party or belief system they come from.

Don't forget your spirit level.... when setting the bar.......in Cloud Cuckoo-land.

[Baron von Biffo]

Coming up on News at One after the break - SF TDs are to 'seek clarity' on whether they can use their expenses as a party slush fund.