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Updated 6.55pm
TÁNAISTE JOAN BURTON will face a motion of no confidence in the Dáil next week following her controversial appointment of former union boss David Begg as chair of the Pensions Authority.
Independent Alliance TDs Shane Ross, Finian McGrath, Michael Fitzmaurice, John Halligan and Tom Fleming have put their name to the motion which states simply:
That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection.
The motion will almost certainly be defeated due to the government’s majority, but two nights of Dáil debate are likely to keep the issue of Begg’s new role in the spotlight.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie this evening, Ross said:
It’s our opportunity to point out how cronyism is still absolutely endemic in Irish political life. I suspect what we’re seeing here are the farewell honours.
Begg to differ
Earlier, Begg said his new role wasn’t one he would have put himself forward for – and that he’ll step away from the job if Labour wants him to.
However, he said he won’t be forced out of the job by political opponents of the party.
The ex-ICTU general secretary’s appointment sparked political controversy this week, after it emerged that Burton had appointed him directly in her role as social protection minister.
There was no public service advertising or appointments process – and while the move is allowed under state board guidelines opposition TDs have attacked the coalition over it.
Criticism
Fitzmaurice said the appointment shows that “cronyism is alive and well and still widespread in government circles”.
This kind of carry on is what turns people off politics and I wouldn’t blame them either. It shows that the Labour Party are just as good as Fine Gael at talking out of two sides of their mouth.
Martin Ferris of Sinn Féin yesterday described it as “cronyism” while Ross questioned Begg’s credentials for the job:
Shane Ross / Twitter
Shane Ross / Twitter / Twitter
There’s even been criticism from within the Labour ranks, with TD Ciara Conway asking:
Why have the rules in place if you’re not going to abide by them?
Begg will make just over €20,000 a year for five years in the role.
Begg’s defence
Speaking on Morning Ireland today, Begg said he was asked by the Tánaiste late last year whether he’d be interested in the role.
Responding to the criticism from Ross, he said the TD and former senator had been attacking him for 30 years.
“The fact of the matter is I don’t have any other public appointments,” he said, referring the direct criticism in Ross’s tweet.
The appointment was made within guidelines, he said.
“If there is a problem here, if the government or the Labour members in government have a problem with this I have no problem if they want to rethink the situation,” Begg said this morning.
He said he would not “force his way” into the role, adding:
It’s not a job I would have liked or volunteered for. I think it’s a particularly difficult and challenging job, but I was honoured to be offered the job and on that basis I accepted it.
However, he said he was not going to be “driven out of” the role by Shane Ross or anyone else.
- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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Absolute Cronyism. Just shows how out of touch Laour are this close to an election and they are rubbing joe public nose in it.
Couldn’t agree more ..
Cronyism of the Highest order. So Joan gave a job to a man who has said on national radio that it’s not a job he likes or would volunteer for but the tanaiste decided to give it to him anyway. Shameful.
It Beggs believing
He didn’t seek the job and has no interest in it. He’s going to do a great job. Well done Joan. Again.
Labour know there gone,this sort of political behaviour is unacceptable.
Interest in the pay and pension…
No wonder the unions threw the public sector workers to the wolves. I always knew the union bosses would reap the rewards for abandoning ordinary workers…… Wonder how many public sector workers lost their homes during the cuts just so that union officials would get lucrative jobs later…..
No difficulty believing that Mr. Begg has no interest in the job, just the €20k per year will come in handy.
I wonder will she lose her seat this year?. I predict labour only getting 5 seats in the election.
20k per year… about 10k net. 200 per week. Not exactly a kings ransom folks given the work involved.
Piage…….he may have to turn up to meetings about 20 times a year at most for a few hours at a time. It will be only to rubber stamp ideas brought to him by full time staff.
Almost as much as a pensioners income a week that they barely survive on. Not much to those that don’t mind handing out taxpayers money to people not interested in a job but here have it anyways by the tanaiste.
So Paige considering the work pensioners have done from a early age and the amount of tax they have contributed through the years. Then compared to this , they should be receiving quite a high amount of state pension every week since this is the formula for these kind of jobs. Don’t you think?
He’s only saying he doesn’t particularly like the job to give an impression that he was picked for his skills and hey, he’s just an obliging guy. More important, is that a typo that the salary is 20k a yr for 5 yrs? I assume we’re missing a zero?
Euro is dead, threw public sector workers to the wolves? Are you mad? We have a massively inflated public sector that are very well paid.
Typical FF, FG behaviour. Make a fuss over bringing in new rules/guidelines on state appointments and build into them a back door just in case a crony is needed down the line.
They know the game is up so their going to load state institutions with their buddies, the last act of a dyeing dog.
He is also the least competent to take the role, as it for years has presided over high pension charges and low returns, under the chair of the previous banking chairs. This guy is a vested interest (in himself), no interest in putting society before himself, and to his own admission has nothing in common with the role. We would be as well appointing a Donegal store manager to the arts council, but that would be cronyism, apparently.
This is the payback for keeping Ictu in line and the others are queuing up waiting for their treacherous paybacks
@Al ca- If what you say is true, that the role is just a rubber stamp, then all the righteous indignation at Labour, his appointment and his salary should really be directed at the fact that the position exists in the first place. I say this as someone who is not a supporter of Labour and not a member of a union.
David….someone has to make decisions between options being placed in front of the advisory board…he will not make them alone but will have input along with the rest of the board, that said, if the pensions go ‘down the toilet’ there will be no repercussions as we don’t do ‘responsibility’ in Ireland, he’ll still get his 20k a year no matter what happens….there is no performance related pay…..if there was most of these guys would end up owning us money.
If he had any credibility he would walk away not pushed,,optics of this look terrible
Oh you should have heard him on Newstalk ” Oh woe is me, they are all picking on me”. Pathetic!
Em, it was Labour who appointed him
The scary thing is this isn’t just some harmless quango, this is one of the biggest issues facing the country. Not a lot of people understand the magnitude of the pensions problem Ireland has so it’s imperative that the right people are appointed. Instead Joan goes and sorts out one of her mates. Boils my blood.
People exist on less!!!!
Than 10k a year
Shame on you
Joan Burton “Gerry Adams blah,blah,blah,IRA blah, blah blah.”
Haha Paige, work? What work? Get real willya
Shane Ross was a bank adviser ffs
how can he criticize anyone else in any party ????
most people burst their asses working a 40/50 hour week to earn 20,000. Take off the blinkers and see it for what it is naked political pay back
How is FF involved in this
Watch out for may more strokes in the next few weeks Where is the Boss ?Enda in all of this
You mean where’s Wally.
He has no credibility or honour just an other “SLEEVEEN”
Her and her government have STOLEN €4 yes €4 BILLION out of your and mine private pensions. Please do not forget this.
Almost a pensioners weekly ration
The unions looked after their friends in cornmarket on the backs of ordinary members.
So he’s leaving up to Moany to do a u turn that’ll make her look more foolish than she already is..basically he’s covering his ass but has every intention of taking up the post. Usual Punch and Judy show associated with this clique.
Begg did ask Burton why there was no interviews for the “vacancy”and now a Waterford Labour TD has called Burton out.
So next week the government will vote and support Joan Burton. So it will be a vote that labour and fg support this type of behaviour and have no problem with cronyism. Great message before general election. Not surprising .
Plus expenses which will probably double the 20k
You’re dead right littleone. It’ll be sickening watching the media after though when we’ll probably see labour td after labour td trying to put a positive spin on it, overwhelming support, and whatever else bs, etc.etc.etc.
@Christy
The only thing that Waterford TD has done in 5 years in office.
Looking at you Ciara Conway TD. A mannequin would have done more for the people of Ireland.
Ciara CONway is only looking after her self as usual, useless TD and hope she looses her seat after the GE
I have total confidence in Joan Burton’s determination and commitment to support FG, no matter how much damage FG policies and actions will perpetrate on lower income families.
I have total confidence that IRA/SF and AAA will attack the labour Party at every opportunity to try to take their voting base.
The game continues
The Labour Party are traitors. Joan Burton is a traitor.
It will be difficult for Joan to make a U turn with her broom up her arse!
In typical Oirsh form the good David has managed to make himself out as the hapless victim with the €20.000 a year being forcefully stuffed into his oversized pockets ? F##K off Begg yourself and Joan were caught emptying the till before the voters catch up with ye.
Look after yourselves labour and screw the people,
Think that’s every party’s motto once they’re in government
Blame Shane Ross I see?
Gerry will be disappointed
I heard him on the radio – it’s not illegal was his excuse. For God’s sake – they cannot even see when they are out of line! No one said it was illegal – but it flew in the face of what they said they would do, ie advertise. If he wouldn’t have gone for it if it was advertised, then maybe he doesn’t have the necessary interest to do it!
Good try Christy a very valuable point thanks for your input.
Yeah, Armin… He’d hasn’t got one job in his life from an interview, so he would have no chance in a public interview! I don’t know what he’s talking about not having public appointments (aer lingus, central bank etc…), unless he is so out of touch, he thinks these are companies his matters in labour started? God knows.
Just when I think Labour cant’t screw up anymore. BANG!
Joan is doing a great job all on her own sinking labour to the point it’s like something out of the Simpsons on how not to lead a party and I’m more than happy to see it
Buryon demonstrating how corrupt politics have become. Are you going to vote this useless, , self-serving , liar and her crooked party back in again? People like her ensure that I have more respect for something nasty I find on my shoe than our fat cat TDs
Burton….. Big fingers, little keyboard…….
Joan Burton, funeral undertaker for the Labour Party.
Fiona deFreyne – mouthpiece for IRA/SF
Never supported Sinn Fein or the IRA. I did vote for Labour in the last General Election. But I now realise how foolish I was to vote for Labour. Labout won’t fool me twice.
Stretching it there PowerFGy…never known Fiona to support SF.
Try again your not fooling anyone with your deflection using the stupid FG tactic of calling every objector shinner.
Al / Fiona / Paul etc. I know that you think that everyone who challenges IRA/SF is a FG supporter. I know that you post claptrap stating ” I have never voted IRA/SF before – I voted Labour – but never again” Do you honestly think that anyone but your cult believes this. We know that this is orchestrated from Parnell Square.
Incidentally in my constituency I gave my number one to the labour candidate in the last election and I’m happy that the key deliverables have been produced – jobs and stability.
Mmm, Powerabby, I myself voted Labour in the last election hoping that they could make a difference. Just for the record the only time I have been in Parnell square was for the birth of my children in the Rotunda. Labour indeed did make a difference, but alas the difference was they sold out the principles of their founding members .I have in the past voted Fianna Fail though never Fine Gael as you well know they have a tendency to look after the wealthy and the big farmers. You are right in one thing and that is I’m going to vote Sinn Fein as thus far they have not endangered the future of my children and my grandchildren.
Here’s your brother Paul cheers
Normal claptrap as stated.
Poor PowerFGy in a spin :D….claiming to be a Labour supporter :D
He says 20k is hardly a crock of gold, to add insult to injury , this is what is rotten with Union and labour politics , 600k a year union bosses sneering at 20k a year handy number for whatever favour, representing or allegedly representing the interests and rights of people who actually work .
It’s more than a minimum wage job, it just shows you his mentality
I have to say Gerry there were lots of things about this appointment that made me sick but hearing him sneering at €100,000 over 5 years added insult to injury. How many people would give anything for the opportunity to earn this much???? Disgusting!!!
It’s more than my daughter makes a year.
The union mandarins wouldn’t get out of bed for less than 6 figures
What union bosses are on €600k a year, Gerry?
Don’t worry Shane…I’m sure someone at home will explain to you what a six figure sum means….maybe.
Gerry didn’t say “six figure sum” – Gerry said “€600k a year”. I think it’s Gerry that you need to be explaining things to, Al.
Him Shane , the figures were in the indo last year, none of them sued before you ask about my source , all the top ones and some you never heard of , all on between 400k and if memory serves Our friend was on 620k . Open to correction .
Just checked 140k plus expenses , me bad , I’ll run a whip round for him.
You were only off target by about 75% then Gerry. And 165 fools green-thumbed it without noticing the obvious mistake. Nice work again from the Journal commentariat.
A they will be grand there Shane with you on duty. I think they may have been thumbing the actual sentiment , it’s not Vincent Brown stuff here you know,shur who would we here from then only ” planted” commentators.
@ Captain kirk
KKKKKKhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaannnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pure corruption and nothing else. The hypocrisy is sickening
Hypocrisy is endemic in all our political parties…so where do we go from here ?
Revolution baby!
The Labour Party have been on some power trip. Gone straight to their heads and have lost all sense of reality.
Worse then fianna fail in their day, at least with them what you see is what you get, gangsters in suits but burtons mob are worse
I’m delighted cos it shows up the Labour party for what they are, the cheek of them, it’s good ammunition to fire at any Labour candidates knocking at your door to say that they’re in a party that’s open to cronyism and that’s why I’m not voting for you.
I noted that in the RTE radio interview , he appeared to have a Beag only with Shane Ross TD , only , criticism of iPhone Joans cronyism Appointment of him – he completely ignored the other Hundreds of notable people, who criticised the strokery on the part of Liebour and their old Boys Club corruption ?
Of course this tool of cronyism and political corruption should step aside – immediately!
His Party Liebour will be practically redundant anyway – post Election !!!
‘A beef only’
*Labour
Darragh – LIEBOUR – the Party of lies – ask Pat Rabbitte ?
If this doesn’t shine a light on extremely suspicious role allocation – the fact that she gave the job to someone who doesn’t even really want it (seriously, if you think about that for a second… all her talk about how he’s the best man for the job and he says he wouldn’t even have put himself forward for it) – then literally nothing will.
Any picture of Joan makes me want to vomit.
Money for old rope
Of course he’s not going to be driven out…there’s public money he wants to get his corrupt hands on
The Liebour way…
Go on the Labour, suckle like mad at the state teat because you know you’re going to be pulled away from it very soon!!
Begg and he’s other bearded friend jack o Connor of siptu are just as responsible as cowen and noonan for the misery and heaped on taxes people are facing, they are part of the cosy cartel that have their snouts in the trough while everyone else scrimps and scrapes , shame on the lot of them!
Part of union members subs go to the Labour Party so it’s pay back time
You can get a form off your union rep to stop your part of the donation going to liebour, I did 4 years ago. #nofgliebour
Or you can just so paying your union fees altogether? Are you guys allowed to do that? Look at how much goes straight to union employees (not representatives) like begg, o’connor and king and you would appreciate leaving.
Some unions dont give anything to Labour party traitors ,If you are in a union check to see where their political contributions go to ,also you can stop your political contributions .
Begg is proving the ICTU is corrupt as the IFA.
Same sh!t different day with this lot. Can they also explain how Apple owes 19 billion in tax??? And they are taxing us to the bo!!ox.
He was on the central bank board that didn’t regulate during the property bubble and subsequent bank collapse. So what exactly is he bringing to his new role, the kiss of death?
Like every government before this one, come close to election time they fill all the state board and quangos they can with their own supporters and those in lieu of favours. FG & LAB are not alone in this; FF/Greens/PDs all did it as well.
That is very true. Again we were led to believe things wood b very different under Enda, Gilmore all new politics. Lol
Alan Kelly, Joan Burton should not be members of labour party, their agenda is far removed from a labour party’s,which is to protect the working classes and the vulnerable, they hammered both over 5 years,labour will be wiped out in GE because of them.
Why is it that we can’t get appointees with the relevant competencies and proven track record? Labour’s appointment demonstrate a staggering lack of interest in what’s best for the county and it’s people. We pay a lot tax but in terms of bang for our bucks we receive less than mediocrity. In fact what we receive are the crumbs left after the establishment have filled their snouts and that’s just to keep the peasants from revolting.
Hilarious to think someone so astute could be so naive, just because you didn’t want the job doesn’t make it right that you were firstly offered it and secondly graciously accepted it. Got to comment on morning Ireland’s streaming service. It is usually hilarious. Gavin “sorry Doctor ” Jennings seems to be continuously chewing the cudd, Brian the news reader seems to only have one shirt, short sleeved no less and poor Audrey seems to think she’s living in Alaska, seems she has 3 layers of clothes. Finally there is the historical Fiona Kelly who seems to get very excitable at the end of her what the papers say segment. Anyone who hasn’t watched needs to see this comedy show. Perhaps RTE management should tell these presenters the program is streamed live. This all said, Killan Shanly,s voice is quite simply the sexiest on Radio :-)
Can’t wait to meet Labour at my door
I won’t be letting them anywhere near my door, roll on the election
You’ll pay for this cronyism labour/RNU!
Twenty grand a year may not be a crock of gold to Beggs but I know that every pensioner in this country would love to be so lucky. But then of course, Joan doesn’t care about them. The old Labour Party did.
If it isn’t a job he would have liked or applied for, what’s his problem? It wouldn’t be for the extra twenty grand p.a. Plus whatever expenses attach to it, which might have attracted him? This reeks of corruption and unjust preferment. I remember his performance for postal workers in the eighties – could speak volumes on it but will forbear. suffice it to say that no advances were gained and the posties were induced to give up their valuable civil service status (with civil service pension rights) for a pittance. Also, remember Bertie’ “benchmarking coup? Posties were benchmarked, but got nothing owing to “inability to pay”. Quelle surprise.
It’s hard to credit that whit all that’s now known about the union pigs at the trough with their Government cronies, some deluded fools still pay over some of their wages to these con artists. A fool and his money etc…
All credit to Ciara Conway for her comments on rte yesterday. What a pity more politicians don’t give such straight answers to thorny questions.
Ciara trying desperately to save her seat in Waterford , won’t work I’m afraid , Her and Paudie Coffey look likely to loose their seat , the real vote of confidence will come in a few weeks
Well if fg tds vote confidence in her, or even labour tds,punish them in GE.
However, he says he won’t be forced out of the job by political opponents of the party.
I dont oppose the party. But I dont think he should have taken the job.
What I find odd is that labour want to shed the unions (check pat rabbittte on the subject). But on the other hand they have no problem appointing union people to posts like this.Very confusing
Oh dear. Shane Ross wouldn’t be into moonlighting at all now, would he? Books, Stock market, journalism … not to mention his invader heritage.
Shane 10 jobs Ross
Does that excuse Joan and this blatant type of cronyism? Really . cop on.
Labour cronyism jobs.
So…no one should be allowed to write books or opinion pieces for newspapers in their spare time or do other stuff they enjoy. Sit and do nothing other than your day job…..and watch the world burn from the sidelines…..OK
Way to wreck your own credibility there, Anthony
Attacking Ross doesn’t exonerate Joan of Snark
It’s always the ploy when someone highlights wrongdoing. Attack the person. Look at Catherine Murphy td. Sad but true.
Good morning Tom , i see your still gnawing on that bone lol
Union rules.
Yeah attack the ‘messenger’ while attempting deflection from the ‘message’ itself. See you have been studying Joan and Enid at the Dail chamber.
@ Anthony Halpin
shane Ross is the closest thing we have to a Brit in our government
to hear him speak in Leinster house makes my skin crawl especially in 2016
Good luck getting an honest….or even an answer at all from Burton during question time. More attacks on Sinn Fein I’d say. All deflect with Mrs Moan.
It would be kinda funny to watch the government fall within spitting distance of a GE….
Joan had to move Begg on to the board as a thank you for keeping some of the unions in line and silent ,Begg is a lapdog for Liebour and for selling out his union members this is her thanks
It always strikes me as odd that, in a democratic state, it is normal to have leaders of major unions who are unelected and retain their positions for as long as they want, regardless of any other positions they may hold, which in a political context would be seen as a conflict of interest. I may be wrong about this. If so, inform away.
Hope she gets kicked out any one who votes for that bit+h is mad
“That Dáil Éireann has no confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection.” In fairness most of Ireland has no confidence in Iphone Joan.
Good – hopefully now we’ll see this one out.
Beggs belief
I’m convinced she does all this on purpose. No adult is so clueless
The political jobs for the boys and the editor of the Indo can’t understand why we get excited about the meagre 20,000 a year plus all the freebies. Yet their are people mr begg represented earning less for working a 40 hour week. Does the man have any principles as we know politicians have none but the great highly principled Labour Party are truly exposed on this one and their media buddies ignore their judicial appointments e.t.c. This is an immoral appointment and Mr Begg just proves all these ex union officials were always on the employers side. The media have gone ease ease on these appointments . Save us from your bias.
I believe David Begg when he says he has no interest in the job. I doubt he gives a toss what do nothing roles he gets as long as there is a few 20ks plus expenses
There should be a moratorium on political appoinrments 6 months before and 3 months after an election. Might make life difficult but this is ridiculous.
Oh and Joan burton should resign now
Expected more from Begg.
No its exactly what I would have expected of begg and he’s like
About 4 years too late
Labour /Fg will get smashed on election day. FF will probably take a large share at their expense. They’ve acted like martyrs the past few years when the current govt took flack for FF’s initial mess. We have revolving door politics and the new coalition will cause the next bubble and it is already happening in housing sector. Just need laxed lending from banks and Doc Brown will walk through the door proclaiming ‘where this country is going, we don’t need roads.’
It’s the vote of no confidence by the electorate I would worry about if I was Joan
If Beggs had any cop-on he’d resign !
Joan Burton, compassionate for the poor and under privileged, humane, defender of the underdog, passionate devotee of social justice, true socialist and promoter of increased taxes for the wealthy.
#aconfederacyofdunces
I think Tanaiste and Mr Beg get the reason for people’s anger. Were they not against cronyism in the past. As for Mr Cleg saying he won’t step down because of opposition from other parties, is this not a state board….not a party board.
So let’s get this straight for brain dead people – ie FF, FG,LB people on here, and before you mention the other parties, lets not cause they don’t have a record of this – yet. The unions are there and paid for by (“muppets” let’s come to those later) of this country to represent their best interests – right ! – the government are their go take off the people by cutting etc etc – right ! Now burton gives this clown a very obvious brown envelope as a thank you for keeping their “muppets” mouths shut ! – it’s the people that pay the unions in the first place that should be ashamed of themselves – like you pay for this ! Serves you right – if this is not a “us unions work for the government are controlled by the government and your all muppets for paying us but we will keep taking your money cause you are all brain dead muppets” message then as the yanks would say go figure ! ANYONE that pays unions money should be ashamed of themselves – I have more respect for bacteria !
The only labour we will see after the general election….is a pregnant woman giving birth
In the course of his interview on radio this morning Begg outlined all the Directorships he held in the past. One I think was the Irish Times Charitable Trust. Anyone know is the Irish Times a registered charity and how or why.
Joan has done a Burton on the Labour Party.
The Labour Party is gone for a Burton.
Burton has had a disasterous 2016 and it’s only 15 days old.
Why can’t we just shoot labour? It’d save a fortune on pensions and unvouched expenses.
“People Before Profit has condemned Joan Burton’s decision to appoint the former ICTU General Secretary, David Begg, to the post of chairperson of the Pensions Committee. The part time post carries a salary of €20,000 a year and ensures that Mr Begg will earn €100,000 over the five year period of his appointment. Bríd Smith,a People Before Profit spokesperson said, “This appointment is a disgraceful example of old style patronage. Since 2011, there is supposed to be a new system in place whereby positions on state boards must be advertised and the Public Appointment Service then assess candidates who apply against transparent procedures. “In the dying days of her administration, Joan Burton has invoked an exception clause to circumvent this procedure. She has behaved exactly the same as Fianna Fáil Ministers did in the past in rewarding their allies. “In the absence of a clear appointment procedure it is perfectly legitimate to question if David Begg is being rewarded for the role he played in getting the trade union movement to accept the pro-austerity social partnership agreements which were detrimental to workers. “Under his reign as ICTU General Secretary, the unions agreed to the loss of 35,000 public sector jobs and cuts in pay that averaged 16% for public sector workers. “Mr Begg had previously served on the board of the Central Bank and did not openly speak out about the Central Bank’s failure to condemn the insane behaviour of Irish banks. “Workers will have little confidence that David Begg will represent their interests on the Pension Board. “But the Labour Party will be happy that their outlook will be well represented”.
There is a vote of no confidence in Joan Burton coming up by a bigger group than the Dáil shortly, the GE. If Begg had any connection to ordinary working people he would withdraw luckily for him he is the head of a large Union and doesn’t have to worry about real people.
Maybe some Labour TD’S might vote in favour of the amendment collapse this evil government in the hope of saving their own skin because as we all know Labour are finished PG.
Wondering how he proposes to get this gangster government to return the €4 yes €4 BILLION they stole from private pension funds !.
I keep putting up comments about getting rid of Joan burton. Am I the only one who can see her for what she is?
The dawn raids by loads of Gardai arresting the water protesters is but one example.
If for no other reason this business of appointing him to the pensions job should be enough. Just before a general election. There should be an offence on the books called being a complete fool.
Has Joan Burton been bribed by Fine Gael to destroy the Labour Party and to ensure that FG gets the former Labour vote?
What’s the point of a motion of no coincidence its going to lose. Be better off using the dail time to pass some laws that are outstanding.
So people if they pay attention will know what is going on and remember in the coming election?
Why would you accept a job that you are not interested in, nor would volunteer for?
It is situations like this that confirms what we all know about this government a shower of people looking after them and theres massive wages and expenses how big will the whole package be worth i.e expenses,pensions and car
have your say