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THE 31st DÁIL has had economic issues to the fore since its members were elected at the end of February last year. One financial stat that the political parties and independents might not be trumpeting this morning is the €6 million total in expenses that 165 out of the 166 sitting TDs claimed from the day of their election until the last day of December 2011.
The one TD who didn’t claim a cent of expenses (or ‘a red cent’ as was the buzzword of #GE11) last year was Labour TD for Dublin South West Eamonn Maloney. In an interview with TheJournal.ie yesterday, Maloney said that he didn’t want to make a crusade of his expenses refusal but that it was a “matter of principle” for him to live within the bounds of his €90,000 TD salary. He said:
As TDs, we earn a huge amount of money already – over €90,000 a year. I was on the dole before I came in to Leinster House because I’d lost my job two years before the election and I’d worked in a factory before that. So I think the average worker looking on, especially given the economic state of the country, can be left dismayed by the amounts involved.
If you are interested in exactly how much TDs in your constituency earned in 2011, we have assembled the expenses for each month from February (part) to December to come up with a total for the year.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SPREADSHEET
What you should know when reading the figures:
The total expenses for each TD is in the furthest right-hand column of the spreadsheet.
However, before you judge the individual TDs’ claims, there are a few important factors to bear in mind:
(Image: Oireachtas.ie)
More details on the allowances and expense ceilings for TDs can be found here.
If you are interested in analysis of the highest and lowest claimants, TheJournal.ie compiled the following articles:
When it comes to the average claimed by TDs from a political party (and the Ceann Comhairle), this is the breakdown:
WUAG* – Average per TD: €49,911 (1 TD – Seamus Healy) *Workers and Unemployed Action Group
Fianna Fáil* – Average per TD: €47,115 (*of the 19 current TDs)
Sinn Féin - Average per TD: €44,153
Independents – Average per TD: €40,713
Fine Gael – Average per TD: €36,412
People Before Profit Alliance – Average per TD: €31,866
Labour* – Average per TD: €29,513 (*of original 37)
Socialist Party – Average per TD: €23,653
NOTES: The Fine Gael and Labour totals include TDs who were elected under the party name but have since lost the party whip, eg, Naughten, Penrose and Broughan. Neither Patrick Nulty nor Brian Lenihan are included in the averages as they only served a small part of the year.
The averages may also reflect several factors eg, where the majority of a party’s TDs’ constituencies are located (Fianna Fáil has no Dublin TD so its members’ travel expenses may be higher) or the fact that Cabinet members are either from Labour or Fine Gael (and as such, the travel expenses of those ministers/junior ministers don’t fall into the Oireachtas expenses list).
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Won’t be long until these fanatics do something here…
@Paul Foot: Ah but did you not hear ? Charlie Flanagan says it is “unlikely” and various posters on here say we’re “foaming at the mouth with paranoia”.
You’re right by the way. Won’t be long.
@CeannairBlue: When it does, you can be sure this comment section will be flooded with criticism of Shannon. And if it wasnt that it’d be something else. Absolutely anything to deflect away from the real problem. I expect someone to say oh well we didn’t do enough to get young halawa out of prison so no wonder we got attacked. And the spineless denial will continue. So predictable.
@Paul Foot: i actually reckon lads like you are suffering from a serious case of FOMO!
@Paul Foot: Give them directions to Leinster house
@Dark Knight: Fear Of Martyrdom Operations? Yeah pretty much
@Thinck: You really are a vile person. What a disgusting idea to attribute to a total stranger. Grow up muppet
It is odd that Irish commenters seem to relish the prospect of a terrorist attack on Ireland and are so inviting of such an attack.
@Matty Killucan:
You’re the who thrives on spreading fear under every topic
You need to take a long hard look at yourself
@Tony Daly: Go on then Tony, tells us m all why you think we’re inviting and seem to relish the possibility of an attack. If you’re going to make statements at least have the guts to back them up
@Matty Killucan: You and your ways are no stranger to the Journal.
@CeannairBlue: wont happen here, until it does!
@Matty Killucan: it’s ridiculous pal!!! And the journals censorship keeps up with deleting any comment stating the obvious
@Thinck: IDIOTIC COMMENT!!!!!
@Paul Foot: Been hearing that for 2 years.
@Tony Daly: No we don’t relish it, but maybe it would stop idiots like you from defending Muslim extremists. Come back to us when your wife/daughter gets stabbed in the name of Allah
@Shane Moynihan: So wishing harm on a man’s family to get your point proven. get to see how low people will sink.
@Shane Moynihan: read your comment again and ask yourself a few questions, Why does his wife/daughter need to be stabbed for him to express his opinion to you? Are you allowed to give yourself without being the victim of a horrendous attack? Point me to the comment that defends Muslim extremists please, and while you’re looking, think, why do you support the idea that violence will stop people expressing their opinions?
The old Halawa articles have dried up, how come?
@DMurph: Presumably the sisters are deleting their Tinder pages with the contacts from the lad from Rathmines.
@DMurph: It’s because the Journal.ie staff are on a mini-break due to Ibrahim Halawa’s forthcoming umpteen trial which takes place early next month. Hopefully his trial gets postponed once again!
@CeannairBlue: On all that was printed by the Irish media on the news that one of the London terrorists lived in Ireland ,Even going as far as interviewing the Imman that’s warning about radical muslims in our midst. It’s strange that the most prominent Muslim in Ireland Papa Halawa and the screaming sisters have not been asked for their opinion or condemnation of the events
Papa Halawa refuses to speak English which is understandable I suppose its hardly the language of the prophet peace be upon him etc etc
@CeannairBlue: hahahahahahaha imagine tinder with hijabs
@Peedur Dante: swipe right can’t see her face
@Peedur Dante: it’s called a sense of humor pal can mock Jesus if I choose to no one threatens to behead or blow me up for it!!! It’s called freedom of speech it’s a light hearted comment says more about you that you’re so offended by it to be honest
@Peedur Dante: that’s grand I appreciate your opinion
@Peedur Dante: But you do know a Maori can be refused entry to a bar because of facial tattoos . Kia Ora
Any sign of Tony Daly with his usual excuses
@Mike Cantwell: He’s on his way. I suspect he’s posting how we shouldn’t jump to conclusions and that the Notre Dame attack was a peaceful carpenter who accidentally dropped his hammer.
I’m started reading his posts in the voice of the lad from the Life of Brian who gets lumbered with Eric Idle’s cross!!!
I’ll channel him.
People lurching blindly into instinctive reflexive reactions only serve to further the aims of those who would do us harm.
@George Roche: so let’s all hold hands in solidarity and wait for our children to be blown to bits
@Kev Barnes: Yours is actually closer to Tony haha
@George Roche: called sarcasm you idiot
Kev, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but you are the idiot in this instance. We were talking about another poster, Tony Daly. It is you who missed the sarcasm.
@George Roche: Tony D’s comments are written by manatees in a tank full of balls that have pc garbage and meaningless platitudes on them. Its the same way that family guy is written
@Matty Killucan: In the land of the blind, the chickens come home to roost. How soon we forget the smell of the colour grey.
@George Roche: ISIS certainly has its Irish counterparts but they are not Muslim.
@Tony Daly: You’re one in a million, Tony :)
@George Roche: Terror breeds fear and fear breed terror. Love will overcome fear and hugs are bulletproof. Candlelit vigils will keep our hopes and dreams illuminated in the dark. Catholic Church something something..
@Matty Killucan: Hey,keyboard masturbator,why don’t you put your money where your dick is and fight the good fight in Syria,or Iraq,if you’re so scared of Allah’s minions.Otherwise,shut up and go home to your mammy,there’s a good lad…
@Seamus Mc Meel: Who pissed on your cornflakes?
@Seamus Mc Meel: What’s your problem dude? Plenty of other people in this particular comment thread, why you attacking me?
@Mike Cantwell: are all you oddballs related by marriage?
Do you meet twice a week in the library?
Very sad,very very sad.
@gerry fallon: You’re one of us now, Gerry. See you in the library thursday night, bring your own snacks and drinks.
There’s room for you Gerry bring your own prayer mat ok
@Elle Belle: Tony Daly wont use one word to describe something if he can use three .He studies the dictionary for the most obscure words to make himself seem educated. A complete charlatan is Tony, A snake oil salesman masquerading as an academic. In other words a fraud.
@George Roche: That seamus fella is an odd one. He wants me to put my money in his dad’s mouth for some reason. Weird.
@Matty Killucan: daddy be makin dem dolla bills
@George Roche: Haha my bad I thought you were being abrasive haha jokes all round
@Kev Barnes: No worries man
Someone just broke a window in a mosque in galway we should all condemn this sick act!!! Poor window!!! R.I.P
@Elle Belle: HEHE
@Elle Belle: #GlassLivesMattter
@CeannairBlue: #notevenmosaic
@Kev Barnes: Not sure what you and the rest find funny about racist attacks and intimidation. Maybe you were never aware of how Irish people were also demonized and attacked after IRA
events.
@Elle Belle: You win!!!!!!
@Kal Ipers: Oh but we are. We just didn’t whinge about every little thing.
@Elle Belle: bahahahahahaha best one yet!!! I can’t trump that
@Kal Ipers: racist attacks??? It’s a broken window pal!!! Cry me a river
@Elle Belle: Just noticed “panes me”.
You win tomorrow as well!!!!
@CeannairBlue: This window story is a ruse , everyone can see through it .
@Elle Belle: No I am not rating any terrorist activities I am rating idiots who attack others over a misguided grouping of people. The fact you have no empathy for other innocent victims says more about you than you can comprehend.
If you feed into the hatred the terrorists are winning. Don’t worry plenty will support you but it doesn’t stop what you actual are.
@Elle Belle: HEAR HEAR
@Kal Ipers: innocent victims??? Was someone hurt??????????????
@Elle Belle: You may hear an argument but don’t understand. The extremists want separation of moderates from where they are settling. You are laughing at and encouraging isolation of normal people who happen to be Muslim. There is no code there is just your ignorance.
If you don’t think there BNP doing the same with Irish people and that is the company you are joining you need help.
They are victims of prejudice and you relish it. You are missing reason and empathy.
@Elle Belle: So you are simply xenophobic. I judge what you are saying and I don’t have you misunderstood unlike how you can’t comprehend me.
Couldn’t careless about religion but I care about acceptance. Strange how you are bothered about your Christian country but don’t follow the teachings of acceptance which is key to it.
@Elle Belle: I didn’t call you names I labelled your view correctly. Indicating further you have comprehension issues.
@Kal Ipers: This is no Kristal nacht style event , not even close , a bunch of kids upset and angry at what they see happening .
On a scale of 1 to 10 of severity , having a brick put through your window and your throat slit in the name of some religion , are at opposite ends .
If you can get your knickers in a twist about broken glass , I’d hate to think of what your outrage is about all the butchered people in London and the Slaughtered kids in Manchester .
@Elle Belle: you weren’t discussing anything you were trivialising a hate crime
These terrorist attacks have to stop; I can’t stand much more of the drivel that passed for comment in response to Journal articles
I wonder if it’s a person from the Religion of Peace brogade????
@June Rose-Sommer: Brigade!!
@June Rose-Sommer: it can’t be they’re all peace loving people
@June Rose-Sommer: Careful you will be branded as a racist by the p.c brigade .any one that speaks out against the backward death cult founded by a pedophile usually gets plenty of abuse .
@whitecross: I don’t mind abuse I can take it! Maybe people will change their views when it’s their kids blown to pieces by these animals
@June Rose-Sommer: So original,have you tried the stage?
@Seamus Mc Meel: Yes, I’m an actress in Germany!!!
@June Rose-Sommer: Hatte ich naturklich gedacht schon. Viel erfolg!
@gregory: *natürlich
@gregory: Vielen Dank Gregory!! Einen schoenen Tag wuensche ich Dir!!
If you attack an armed policeman with a hammer you must expect a response. A couple of decades in a windowless cell should do nicely.
@Honeybadger197: In fairness the cop in the photo is carrying a decent weapon. Well done Les Gendarmes!
Proper job for the excrement, Shoot it there and then. Job done.
@Ronan Sexton: kill them with fire
The day a car drives into people here or one of the other tactics used. You will still get the idiots that say keep an open mind or lone wolf etc. Lone wolf or not it’s still a jihad. Be vigilant, there living nextdoor to us.
@purple rain: they are not living next door to me or to most of us.
@purple rain: I hears that in many muslim countries they treat women very very badly.
@Tony Daly: Just you wait and see Tony lad haha you’re in for a rude awakening !!!!!!
11. blahblahblahblah
12. blehblehblehbleh
13. blohblohblohbloh
@George Roche: making more sense than usual George or, more accurately, expressing less nonsense than usual.
@George Roche: Bo-bo-bo-Bollix
The religion of peace strikes again.
@Ciaran Fairley: and again…… And again…… And again!!!!
ISIS provokes hysteria and hate.
Irish commenters oblige with hysteria and hate.
Some Irish people, a small minority, are eager to succumb to the agenda of ISIS by lashing out against all Muslims based on the actions of a tiny, tiny minority.
@Tony Daly: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….
@Tony Daly: The lashing out against any and all Muslims only plays into the hands of ISIS.
It’s like if English people hated hated all Irish people because of the bombings carried out by the IRA.
@Tony Daly: Tiny minds on both sides between ISIS and far right bigots. All they can understand is hate, different sides of the same coin.
@Tony Daly: Don’t let these peeps stop you from posting your wonderful contributions :-) also,most of these peeps are deluded members of the Irish Taliban womb watchers society :-) Yikes!
Ah Tony 40% of Muslims in Britain support Sharia , 50% support criminalizing Homosexuality , one twit who tweeted support of what happened in London got 12,000 likes , who do you think the Jordanian and the other Is fundraiser in Waterford collected money from to support their brothers in Iraq and Syria ? they clearly were collecting from other Muslims who we very foolishly allowed into our Country
@Barry Somers: exactly so but rational analysis is unpopular when the red blood mist is about.
@Francis Mc Carthy: thanks Francis.
There is an avalanche of hatred at the moment but it will eventually subside, I hope.
Ultimately, the more noble dimension of human nature prevails. Most people are good, kind and rational.
@Peedur Dante: It IS a backward culture , what part of treating women as inferior beings and the hanging and public flogging is progressive ?
The only reason it’s not happening here is because of OUR progressive laws .
But the useful idiots who believe that everyones views are equal , when it is plainly obvious that the ideology of islam is morally corrupt , will drag this country down to the same level as every muslim majority country on this planet .
@Ken Hayden: hanging and public flogging of gays
Not at all Peedur all factually correct not that a dimwit like yourself can distinguish between fact and fiction
Can’t be racist Peedur since Islam isn’t a race its just a backwards medieval ideology that has no place in the Western World , re my ice cream being taken when I was a little lad no it wasn’t a Muslim since its only recently that we have been foolish enough to allow them in to the Country and as we see daily throughout Europe this has been a big mistake
@Peedur Dante: WHAT AN ABSOLUTE AMADAN!!!!
@Peedur Dante: Two wrongs don’t make a right , The teachings of the quran are still violent and misogynistic , whether you take the high or the low road on this , what’s written in the quran is their template . why should have any time for a RELIGION like that . And it is a religion with a political ideology whether you can get that through your head or not .
@Peedur Dante: You need to take a deep breath and gently exhale , now take another deep breath , I’ll get back to you when you should exhale .
@Elle Belle: Saw a video of a forest in Hungary after the refugees walked through – piles of paasports of all nationalities Pakistan Afghanistan etc thrown away diberately. Then they refused to be finger printed in Hungary. Now think. Can someone Please Bitte Schon arrest Frau Merkel. She destroyed the EU in an Autocratic manner.
@Peedur Dante: it’s kev :-)
@Elle Belle: Indeed. Btw Europe’s largest mosque has been built in Moscow. At 19000m2 it can hold 10000 worshippers. Russia has 20mln muslims approx. 15% of the population and the 2nd largest religion after the Ortbodox Church. I have Friends from Latvia & Lithiania and Ukraine and whenev everyone is together we just speak Russian. Immigration is ok but only with proper controls. Hell we had 2 Moroccans with the same Irish I.D. card and the cops shot one of them London at the weekend while the other is in Limerick!
@Peedur Dante: No because the muslims would kick up a stink .
@Peedur Dante: I have been reading over all your posts , you came through this thread like a whirling dervish .
You obviously have no idea about islam , you spout off about racists yet islam is not a religion . You believe that there is a thing called moderate muslims , because not everyone of them are going around killing the infidel .
The quran has many verses which instruct the killing of infidels , every verse in the quran must be taken as the word of Allah , no picking and choosing , the imams know this . Why is it the only religion which punishes apostates with death if they don’t come back . And your stupid comment , that’s it’s the state which imposes Sharia , most killings done in the name of islam are not done by the state , but by the ordinary population .
Read up on this subject before you go abusing everybody here with your insults and name calling . you idiot
@Elle Belle: Very well said Elle Belle!!!!
@Peedur Dante: Where have I said I’m scared of muslims ? I’m calling them out on their bull ideology , you regressive dolt . ‘I don’t know , but maybe if you took your head out of your ar$e long enough you would notice anyone who criticizes this ideology normally becomes the victim of some attack , Theo Van Gogh ,Danish cartoonists , Ayaan Hirsi Ali , Charlie Hebdo and countless more . Your shrill voice is carried through in your text . You wouldn’t know what real courage meant , to you it probably just means being ”different” . To hurt me with your slurs , I must first give a damn about yours , and frankly Franky , I Don’t . Have a happy life in your safe space
looks like the flower business is blooming!
Nutjobs who attack people at random with hammers, knives, cars, or weapons in general – need to be stopped by whatever means is closest to hand. For such an attacker to end up “on the ground in a pool of their own blood” is an appropriate outcome. And the sooner the better.
When they get the clowns that put the rock through the Mosque window, they should put them out into the middle of Connemara breaking rocks for one year doing hard labour. Society is to soft on crime and it’s past time to hand down proper sentences.
@Peedur Dante: Factually incorrect comment. Chechnya is a muslim state and abusing gay people. The Russians are trying to use their influence to stop it. The most famous Gay band in the world is Tatu from….Russia…have a listen/great video!
https://youtu.be/8mGBaXPlri8
Btw IS attacked and murdered innocent people in the metro in St Petersburg a few weeks ago.
They are all crawling out from beneath their rocks now…every religion and civilization hates cowards and it’s note worthy that these particular cowards target females, pretty females, young females…they may get noticed but they will get absolutely NO respect or recognition for their twisted views with these actions.
@winston smith: Maybe we should get rid of the internet? These attacks nor the grooming required to inspire people to become monsters was not possible before the internet. Developed initially for the military i’m thinking it might be too powerful for mortal souls. So easy to co-ordinate and communicate with others across the globe to facilitate these atrocities.
Gregory I don’t believe we should get rid of the internet because of these lunatics and restrict everyone else’s freedom and besides big business wouldn’t allow it…it’s a marketing Valhalla and also a boon for intelligence services who can spy on us and the lunatics.
@winston smith: I know. Just reminds me what my Dad used to say about driving…never forget a car is like a weapon…it is not a toy…drive carefully.
The danger of over reaction and alarmism
1. ISIS and Jihadist terrorism dies not post an existential threat or anything remotely approaching an existential threat.
2. The real danger is that alarmism, fear and hate could give rise to over reaction, repression and stirring up of resentment and even hostility from the moderate Muslim community in response to unfair treatment.
3. The number of ISIS supporters and sympathisers in Ireland is very limited according to Dr Paul Gill and Dr Aine Lynch, experts in this area.
4. There is a threat of radicalisation in the event that Muslims feel victimised and harshly treated when they are innocent. Exclusion, alienation and unfair treatment can be a powerful motivation.
5. Radicalisation, according to Dr Aine Lynch, can be influenced by online expression anti Muslim hatred and hostility. For example, some truly awful anti Muslim prejudice is expressed online towards perfectly innocent, decent and law abiding Muslims. This has the potential to stir up and escalate mutual suspicion and hatred.
6. Moderate Muslims are our invaluable allies in opposition to radical Islam and Jihadism. We need their help. We ought not to risk that support.
7. The feeling and expression of extreme and generalised prejudice and hatred is a feature of the more primitive functions of the human brain, especially when not restrained and balanced by the more advanced parts of the brain. Some people are more inclined to primitive feeling which they then seek to rationalise after the event.
8. The expression of hatred, fear and prejudice not only potentially exacerbate the tensions and escalate the problem, it is both counter productive and unproductive. It is futile, achieves nothing, contributes nothing and is an exercise in uselessness.
9. Human ingenuity and positivity will devise solutions based on technology and communicative relationships between the different communities. The UK has foiled many attempts at terrirustvattack and nipped them in the bud as a consequence of good channels of communication, the fact that persons in minority communities who are apprehensive of attacks can make alerting calls. This is more developed in the U.K. than elsewhere in Ireland.
10. Irish Intelligence services and U.K. Intelligence services have an excellent and mutually trusting relationship developed over the years in another context. The channels of communication are helpful. This is a constructive element in addressing terrorist risk.
We have to ensure that we continue to live with each other in mutual respect and regard, bonded by common humanity. The alternative is beyond contemplation. It is greatly escalated risk.
We need to put aside our understandable but unhelpful negative emotions. The repetitive decrying of terrorist atrocities achieves nothing but encouraging further attacks and copy cat attacks.
Exaggerated alarmism serves the agenda of ISIS.
@Tony Daly: T-Dog take the hint will you. Nobody cares about your inane and delusional ramblings.
@Matty Killucan: you certainly worry about my expression of rational thoughts.
You are an unwitting and witless ally of the ISIS agenda.
@Tony Daly: Tell me, what is their agenda? What’s the end goal for them?
Tony : I’m going to copy & paste that opening post & put it up on my timeline ;) Cheers!
@Matty Killucan: widesacle civil conflict in Europe as a consequence of an over reaction of hate which victimises the entire Muslim community instead of the tiny minority which is involved in Jihadism.
We can negate that agenda by being rational, proportionate, measured and focused on the real threat, not self indulgence in hate stirring.
Brutish intelligence, academics and analysts are getting more effective.
Although there have been tragic deaths and terrible injuries, the overall effect of the terrorist attacks is feeble unless it provokes the imbalanced into a more extreme outlook.
@Tony Daly: Tony I read through all that and give you 100% for your contribution . Most of what you said is aimed at what we should do for Muslims . I agree that that if Muslims feel victimised then that could lead to a few more becoming radicalised but showing them love and friendship is not going to stop the terrorists the people of London and Manchester having been living side by side with these guys with mutual respect and regard and look where it’s got them . Showing respect and love has got them nowhere . . All I’m hearing is lets show them love . Make them feel welcome . Don’t rile them and do anything to upset them and we’ll be grand . It’s like an abuser and victim situation .
@Matty Killucan: They realize that calling people racists and islamophobes won’t work , so now they call us the names of the very people they try to protect .
@Tony Daly: Sorry Tony , stopped reading at your first point .
isis and jihadis don’t pose an existential threat ,
TELL THAT TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED ON SATURDAY.
Sorry for shouting , but if by existential you mean , an existing threat , well they very much are sunshine .
@Elle Belle: I actually think Tony might have something there , I do hope he goes to a doctor and gets seen about it .
@Peedur Dante: Finally , you have made sensible comment , and not just a rant .
Attacked an officer of the Police with a hammer!!! No enquiry necessary and he’s lucky to be alive.
@Kevin Williams: Indeed, knives, hammers, cars, trucks all everyday objects easily obtainable. A change in strategy from IS and a lot less planning required compared to bomb making etc.
So many frightened right wing idiots mooing out their sad racist fear. The boring weaklings.
@Seán O’Nilbud: So conclusion from your statement is that supporters of IS are left wing? Well if so they too should be arrested.
have your say