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THE BUSIEST NIGHT for the Dáil bar this year was the first day of the new minority-government convening.
Figures released to TheJournal.ie by the Houses of the Oireachtas under the Freedom of Information, reveals that on 10 March 2016, the Dáil bar generated over €11,738.14.
This was significantly more than in 2014, when the Dáil bar generated over €7,461.19 when the Water Services Bill was debated.
The election of the Taoiseach was the main item on the agenda for the busiest day this year – although as expected, no candidate was voted in as Taoiseach.
There was much fanfare and excitement among TDs new and old in the halls of Leinster House with many of them wearing their Sunday best for the first day of the 32nd Dáil.
Other highlights from that day included the Healy-Rae brothers hoovering up all the publicity – staging an impromptu gig outside the Dáil gates.
This all happened against the backdrop of an anti-water charges protest taking place.
Budget Day on 11 October pulled in the second highest revenue for the Dáil bar this year.
Sales amounted to a total of €6,096.80.
It was a historic day for “new politics” with some questioning if the government could get the Budget over the line.
In the end, Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Paschal Donohoe delivered an increase of €5 in almost all weekly social welfare payments, cuts in the lower USC rates, and an increase in the price of cigarettes, among a few other items.
Cabinet announcements
May 6 of this year pulled in a total of €5,851.oo. This was the day Enda Kenny announced his new Cabinet.
There were some surprises on the day – such as Simon Harris getting Health and the Independent Alliance’s Shane Ross getting Transport.
But there must have been cause for celebration for some to tot up that bar tab.
Senators
Fourth on the list this year was June 8 – when 60 new senators, who make up the 25th Seanad met for the first time in Leinster House and elected their new Cathaoirleach.
Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty also announced the government’s legislative programme, while Brendan Howlin announced the Labour front bench.
So, it was a day of celebration for some.
The day that Fianna Fail TD, Donegal’s Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher was elected the new Dáil deputy chairman or Leas Cheann-Comhairle pulled in €4,906.75.
July 6 was also the day the Dáil discussed rural broadband and the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016, with the Dáil adjourning at 10pm.
Dáil bar revenue
For the period of 1 January 2016 to 30 November 2016, a total of €275,639.06 was spent in the Dáil bar and Visitors Bar in Leinster House.
Earlier this year, it was reported that 33 politicians had yet to pay their Dáil bar bill.
TheJournal.ie can reveal that since the establishment of current minority-led coalition, the balance outstanding to the end of November is €6,224.
The single largest outstanding bill belongs to a senator and comes to €506.60.
Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly who has been vocal in the past about a bar being in Leinster House told TheJournal.ie that she doesn’t understand how TDs think they can work and consume alcohol.
The party’s health spokesperson tweeted during the Finance Bill debate in November about the Dáil bar.
“There had been people who had been drinking,” said O’Reilly.
She said politicians having a drink while the Dáil is sitting is an insult to their constituents.
You’re literally saying to your constituents and to the people who voted for you ‘I’m voting fodder, I don’t know what is going on, I just turn up and hit the button when I’m told to and collect my expenses and I go home’ – and that is wrong in anybody’s book.
There is nothing wrong with being able to get something to eat if you are working till 3 o’clock in the morning, you should be able to get a bowl of soup or a cup of tea. I really honestly, genuinely don’t know how people can expect to do their work and I think that it is somehow acceptable to do your work and drink alcohol at the same time.
She said she was not “po-faced” about it, stating she enjoys a glass of wine.
“I’ve no difficulty with socialising at all and I’ve a good social life, but I just think when you’re in work and when you talk about this people say ‘well what about the staff’ I wouldn’t like to see any of the staff laid off, but we still have a need for tea and coffee and maybe soup and a scone or something and you do get hungry.”
its a sad story.rip to the man
I will never forget this case. I had got a small summer job assisting tradesmen in the Dell plant in Limerick. Every morning tea and lunch break for weeks was dominated by coverage on the case. In having a 5 year old sister it was really shocking to me that someone would do such a thing, i couldn’t quite understand it. I was a lot more innocent back then obviously, not really wise to the real world and evils that exist but i distinctly recall being absolutely horrified and terrified for my little sister and other children after this. It was utterly heartbreaking.
I hope he has found peace.
RIP. There should be no hiding place for people who abuse children.
i agree, let’s open the brit files on kincora boys home.
Least they are together now god love love them heart breaking
“God” seemed fairly impotent to help either of them when they were alive. Why would he help them now?
Militant Atheists looking for any opportunity to spout their views are every bit as annoying and narrow minded as super fanatical religious types. Every single bit.
Agree completely David.
Leave it out paddlin’, time and a place.
Paddin, It’s an expression ffs.
Hear hear, David.
Inappropriately furthering your militant atheist views when a man has died due to heartbreak loss and suffering, that’s a paddlin’.
I respond to illogical comments of all sorts David. Religious gibberish does not and should not get a pardon.
That kind of unthinking application of perceived moral authority is the EXACT same as the likes of the Westboro Baptist Church
Moral authority? What are you talking about?!! All I did was point out a logical flaw in a comment and your now harping on about morals?
The need that you must intervene when someone mentions God, regardless and irrespective of the reasons the original poster had of commenting is a moral choice as much as anything.
B***ox!! Irregardless of the intensions of the person or the context your logical faculties should kick in and say “hang on a second, thats a f***ing stupid thing to say”. Religion, politics, sports, history – once you open your mouth on any topic you should be open to question or ridicule.
Fair enough. Hence my comment about Moral Authority: Moral authority is authority premised on principles, or fundamental truths, which are independent of written, or positive, laws. As such, moral authority necessitates the existence of and adherence to truth.
Can I ask you this though? Have you ever been at a religious service, such as a funeral and called the priest out on his gibberish while he is conducting the service?
Paddlin’ I don’t believe in God either, but I don’t feel the need to ram it down peoples throats. Each to their own.
Spoken like a true troll, Paddlin’. And by the way, there’s no such word as irregardless. It’s regardless. Irregardless is a double negative which is meaningless.
I have David.
That Reverend Lovejoy does talk some s**te though in fairness.
So have I David a couple of times before I left all the god thing behind and I just want to say this.
I did feel uncomfortable reading some of the comments like “at least they are together now” and “God love them etc” I did not make a comment for the very reason that some of the above commentators have outlined above.
But now as Paddlin is getting all the flack I have to say that I agree with him.
I just feel the same, where is he when these atrocious acts are being carried out. Whe I had the nerve to ask such a question when I was younger I was always told that “God had another plan” etc.
Just think a lot of those comments are just patronizing. Now go on and shoot me!!!!!!!!!
It was Glen brought up god and not That’s a paddlin’, so who is ramming what down whose throat? Anytime there’s a sad death the god bothers shower us with their prayers. We’re entitled to comment. Anytime you go to a funeral it’s the same BS from the priest. “She’s with god and his angels now”, “god moves in mysterious ways”, “she’s happier now”, “she’s with her (dead) mother” etc.. There’s no god, get over it. If there was a loving god would he seriously allow a teenage girl to be raped and murdered and destroy the lives of her family? SERIOUSLY?
Now, now William, thats far too much logic reasoning in one comment. You must be the devil.
Mary, “The origin of irregardless is not known for certain, but the speculation among references is that it may be a blend, or portmanteau word, of irrespective and regardless, both of which are standard English words. By blending these words, a word is created whose meaning is not predictable from the meanings of its constituent morpheme.” When you pedantically correct someone always do a quick Google first. :)
Here here
My GOD what a shower of A***holes in this thread!
This is what the Oxford English Dictionary has to say about irregardless, William:
Usage
Irregardless means the same as regardless, but the negative prefix ir- merely duplicatesthe suffix -less, and is unnecessary. The word dates back to the 19th century, but is regarded as incorrect in standard English.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/irregardless
Perhaps you should do a little more extensive googling of your own.
Mary, I was aware of that, remember I did Google before you did. Dictionaries disagree. However new words are invented all the time, “irregardless” was invented 100 years ago. There is no 100% definition of what word is acceptable and what isn’t. “Regarded” doesn’t mean wrong, it means more like generally accepted as wrong. In the English language we don’t have the equivalent of the French Academy that pontificates of what words are really French. Also your quote says “in standard English”. We don’t speak “standard English” on the Internet afaik :)
I am not being rude here when I say, there is no god. Just be a good person, treat people as you would like to be treated and at least when you die, you know you did your best.
Another innocent victim of a heinous crime.
I remember watching/reading about this case and being astounded that such a thing could happen…that was the first real knowledge i had of the horrible things people are capable of….now as a mother of a 7 & 2 year old, i fully understand why her father turned to the drink….he had a guilt in his gut that any parent would have, not being able to save her…. Bless this man, and his family, may sarah’s story never be forgotten….. Id like to believe they are reunited & catching up on all the lost time…… R.I.P to both, xx
i hope he found the peace he couldnt have in this world
How tragic what an awful story.
The tragic thing about this story is that ta huge part of him died the day they found his daughter’s body. What was left would never feel complete. I remember the case also, how search parties and local people went out of their way to try and find her, pleading, hoping, they would find her alive. Sadly, it was not to be, and shortly after her disappearance, when the news announced a body had been found, people knew the worst had come to pass. How awful and shocking the crime was something few could imagine (Not to sound morbid or dark, but I think alot of us were hoping that when the body was found, that it was some kind of tragic, unfortunate accident. It was the worst, however, and that was a rape and murder).
A year after the trial that sent Ron Whiting to prison, we had the Soham murders in 2002 (Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman). It was an absolutely horrific 2-3 years to be honest. Some of the most disturbing, and horrific, crimes were committed in those 3 years (and yes, I am counting a certain event on American soil in September of 2001).
Rip. I know from first hand experience that things of this nature will tear you apart. He’s with his daughter now sleep well ……..
This is the saddest of sad stories, I remember the story so well and Sarah Paynes lovely little face became so well known.
Was reading over the week-end that 3 of the fathers of our longtime missing girls died because of suicide or depression and were never able to live in peace again.
At least Sarahs Law, which was set up with the hard work done by Sarahs Mother, Sara, which gives people the right to know if a pedophile has moved into their neighbourhood, will live on as a legacy to this innocent little girl.
Hope Michael Payne is at peace now.
Political and religion views should be kept to themselves on articles like this. A man is dead please be respectful of that and not be an opportunist to spout your views and beliefs.
Hope he found his angel up there and is reunited.
seriously….
“Political and religion views should be kept to themselves on articles like this”
and
“Hope he found his angel up there ”
…in the same post??
Didn’t ask for your input.
But justanothertaxpayer, if Sam wasn’t illogical she wouldn’t be religious.
And there may be a paedophile living next door to you now thanks to the “policies” of a political party coming back to government in this State for the first time in 98 years in 2016…
Oh phukk off with that sheight! It’s not for this story. The poor nam endured an unimaginable & unbearable pain for 14 years. Let him rest in peace!
For crying out loud ahippo, give it a rest.
Matt are you saying we don’t have a right to know if there are paedophiles living among us? Is that not what this poor man campaigned for? Fact is we don’t know and fact is by their own admission paedos were relocated to the south and who knows how many child rapes and abductions and murders were committed by them and how many other parents here sit alone every night in despair as Michael Payne sat alone every night in despair for 14 long years. My heart goes out to his family and all those who loved him. As it does to all the victims of child abuse. We should not tolerate this. From anyone. And especially not from the political establishment. We can no longer say we did not know. Or we cannot tackle “them”. If the weakest and most vulnerable if our society are at risk of abuse we need to know who is putting them at risk. Now.
You shower of **** stirring fools never miss an opportunity.
Cop on idiots ,this item is beyond sad and you use it to have a swipe under a pseudonym.
I am not having a swipe. I am angry.
You are using a tragedy to score political points and blaming anger as your excuse and motive.
Shameful and totally inappropriate Ahippo.
I cannot even imagine the hell this poor man has gone through.
If there is some form of continuation, I hope he has found peace and is with his daughter now.
As a father of 2 kids do you think I wouldn’t want to know? I’m not pro SF in the least but your previous comment would be better off elsewhere. Maybe on SF’s facebook page or whatever internet presence they have. This story is about a man who lasted longer carrying such pain & Demons than you or I probably would. Despite what I tell my daughter (over whom I am at this very moment keeping a vigil in hospital) there are monsters in this world, every father promises to protect his daughters from such monsters; imaging how Sarah’s father felt when he learned the manner in which she died is too overwhelming to contemplate . In relation to comments about God, I too am an athiest. However such comments about God not caring also have no place in this story. I don’t believe in an afterlife but my daughter makes me wish that there was a heaven. Regardless of what any of us think, I hope the man has found peace & his demons are silenced.
@ Ahippo, you obviously can go lower, but this is about the tragic life of this poor man and his family. Your comments here are agenda driven swill of which your snout is permanently stuck in.
I did’nt know a pig could limbo dance.
My sincere apologies Denis for pointing out the big picture.
@ Ahippo, The big picture is the tragic last 14yrs of this mans life, not the “policies” of which you refer. My post at you stands. As for your apology, keep it for your politics.
Drink is a curse if not taken in moderation this poor misfortunate man found no cure for a broken heart god bless his soul.
I don’t know why any of u are even acknowledging a hippos comments, that’s all the fool wants, to rile u all up and he’s getting exactly that, back to what’s important though and thoughts and prayers are with that poor man and his family
Suzanne I think it is interesting that Bangs Ncube says there should be no hiding place for child abusers and gets (at this point)187 green thumbs – and rather disturbingly 6 red thumbs (do some people think there should be a hiding place for them?) I point out that there are paedophiles hidden among us quite deliberately and I get sanctimonious condemnation. I am not seeking popularity and I don’t give a toss how people react or don’t to what I say. But I do think it is interesting that a double standard is applied here. None of us wants our children endangered. The consequences of that endangerment include the death of children, marriage break up, alcoholism, tragically wasted lives and deaths. And misery heaped on misery. This should never have happened to this man or to any other man or woman. And I will not spare your feelings or tabloid sentimentality to point out a factual reality that we as a polity have to live with. And I will not give it a rest. Child abusers should have no place to hide and should be hidden by nobody. Michael Payne’s tragic life and death should be a rallying call to people who care.
RIP hopefully together at last
This is a perfect example as to why there should be no such thing as a sex offenders register. Why? Because all those convicted should never see freedom again. Such a poor father whose life was destroyed by an evil man, who previously had been Co victim of child see offences, was deemed to be high risk for re offence and yet was free to commit this crime. This is the saddest news I have read in a long time.
Dead right John B.
Did a double take at the idea of no sex offender register. But I agree completely. They really shouldn’t be out on the streets.
Perhaps there is a heaven and he is reunited with his little girl now. Hope so
I remember when her body was found.
I was 10 years old on my holidays with my family in Galway. At the same time, a Russian submarine had sunk with men in it that couldn’t be rescued. After 5 days they stopped hearing the tapping from the trapped men.
V sad indeed. Can only imagine his pain to lose a child.
You know, I wish we could go back to when news came in the form of newspapers only or the TV or radio, all the mediums whereby stupid people couldn’t use a keyboard to spout their own sheeite. There’s some awful unnecessary comments on this site, not just this article. Would you not all cop on and comment only if it’s something of which you are knowledgeable about, not something which your over emotive “feelings” make you compelled to comment on and then start up your petty bickering with others, like a bunch of twits.
Poor guy.
Tragic and sad beyond words. RIP
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