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Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Taoiseach reveals €191,000 in severance payments to former Fianna Fail ministers

Enda Kenny said that four ministers are in receipt of payments despite a pledge not to draw them.

THE TAOISEACH HAS released a list of six former Fianna Fail ministers who received severance payments amounting to over €171,000.

At a press conference in Dublin today, Enda Kenny said that the former ministers had done so despite a pre-election pledge from the Fianna Fail leadership that former ministers re-elected to the Dail would forego severance.

The five ministers who were re-elected and the amounts read out by the Taoiseach are:

  • John McGuinness: €61,918
  • Dara Calleary: €53,708
  • Michael Kitt: €27,174
  • Billy Kelleher: €20,172
  • Willie O’Dea: €8,064

In addition to these five, former Minister Mary Hanafin, who is contesting a seat in the local elections under controversial circumstances, recieved a payout of €88,000.

Speaking this morning, the Taoiseach said: “I know that the Fianna Fail leader said any former Minister who was re-elected to the Dail would not accept severance payments.”

He continued:

That was a firm commitment given by FF that people who were Ministers would not accept severance payments, but all these people have done so.

Speaking on Newstalk this lunchtime, Fianna Fail justice spokesman Niall Collins said that the Taoiseach was acting like a ‘gombeen’.

He said:

He’s supposed to be the Taoiseach and he’s going around the place like a latter-day gombeen…he needs to start acting like a statesman.

When presenter Jonathan Healy said that he was showing a lack of respect for the office, Collins responded:

“Of course I respect the office but I don’t respect the way Enda Kenny is acting. He’s the office holder and he needs to grow up.”

Shatter expected to ‘do the right thing’

The Taoiseach was responding to questions over whether former Justice Minister Alan Shatter will accept a  €70,000 severance payment he is due after resigning in advance of the publication of the Guerin report into Garda whistleblower claims earlier this month.

He said: “I would expect that Alan Shatter would do the right thing, and the right thing is to comply with the wishes and the intent of what the Government decided.”

SME loan package

The Taoiseach was speaking at the publication of the first progress report on the Government’s action plan for jobs 2014, where details of a new bank with a war chest €500 million were discussed.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said the Strategic Banking Corporation, which has an initial budget of €500 million, is projected to have a balance sheet of €4 billion after five years.

He said that the SIBC will be funded by cash injections from the European Investment Bank and the German-government owned lender KfW.

The first loans are expected to be sanctioned by the bank before the end of the year, with legislation to establish it passed by the Oireachtas before the summer break.

The Taoiseach said that the original idea had come from discussions between him and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

When asked if the Government has front-loaded positive news in advance of polling in the local and European elections, the Taoiseach exclaimed: “Oh God, no!”.

Updated 13.42

Alan Shatter to reveal if he will accept €70k severance payments>

Ireland is getting a new bank, just for small businesses>

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117 Comments
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    Mute Andrew Matheson
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    Jan 19th 2013, 1:58 PM

    Idiots going up to play in the snow????

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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:12 PM

    How do you know they werent driving home?

    82
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    Mute Adrian Shanahan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:56 PM

    Abi, as an experienced mountaineer and someone who works in the mountains only a few hundred meters from where the above photo was taken I can assure you that no one local would dare try cross the gap unless in a very specialised 4*4.

    It happens evey time there is snow on the gap people who are in experienced in driving in snow / un used to mountain roads try drive up to see how far they can go and very often get stuck resulting in calling out the likes of DWMR to come help them.

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    Mute John Barnes
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    Jan 19th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Darwin awards anyone?

    56
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    Mute John Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2013, 9:10 AM

    Call out at 3am ???? Still dogging at the weekends sir ?

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    Mute Marie-Jo Thauvin
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    Jan 21st 2013, 11:48 AM

    If they had been driving home they would have chosen one of the following options: 4X4, winters tyres, a more circuitous but more driveable route.

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    Mute Stray Mutt
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:01 PM

    Headline should more appropriately read: A number of cityslickers have ventured into the mountains with predictable consequences….

    255
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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:13 PM

    How do you know they dont live in the area and werent driving home?

    36
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    Mute Chris K
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:28 PM

    If they live there they should have winter tyres as this happens every year, plonkers

    118
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    Mute Irish Cottage Rental
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    Jan 19th 2013, 1:57 PM

    Lovely to look at but not so nice if you get stuck!

    165
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:01 PM

    Look out lads…There’s a wolf behind ya!!

    178
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    Mute Caitriona Riffeser
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:18 PM

    Maybe they should consider the proper winter tyres before driving in snow….

    132
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    Mute David Conroy
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:13 PM

    Maybe the idiots would consider paying for the time of the volunteers !

    165
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    Mute Méalainí Drake
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:18 PM

    They should be made pay half at least… if not all of the expenses. Time we started holding idiots responsible.

    113
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:55 PM

    I love seeing folk heading off in the 4×4′s and no formal training..
    A landy with a lift kit,mudzilla’s,winch and a snorkle being towed out of a ditch with a pajero..Class.

    103
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    Mute Ruairi O' Sullivan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:55 PM

    Something to do with 90% of them being driven from foxrock to Dundrum and back………..and that’s it!

    123
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    Mute Declan Noonan
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    Jan 19th 2013, 2:48 PM

    Memories of cycling my bike with the mates up to glencree and Sally gap in the wintertime with snow on the ground. Over 30 years ago now.

    95
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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Jan 19th 2013, 3:08 PM

    Well done Wicklow Mountain Rescue. Declan I remember going tobogganing up there in my youth…what fun we had never felt the cold, oh the memories!

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    Mute Christine Downey
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:13 PM

    Fair play to the Rescue Teams, but I’d leave them there till it thaws!

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    Mute harpurlee
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    Jan 19th 2013, 9:00 PM

    Anybody driving up there when they know the conditions and been warned to stay away and the road closed deserve all they get, should be made pay the expenses of the mountain rescue team.

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    Mute Tadhg Concannon
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    Jan 19th 2013, 6:16 PM

    Was up there in a land rover Defender earlier. Properly kited out. Also have trained to drive a 4×4 in the snow. Loads of fun. However Roads are feet deep in snow. Little or no room to turn around if it gets difficult. Would suggest if people don’t have the correct equipment to stay away. There is a fine line between fun and getting stuck. If you are going to play at least put on your lights. Easier to see a person coming and find a suitable passing spot.

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    Mute james doyle
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    Jan 19th 2013, 4:16 PM

    Some brave men going up playing around Sally’s gap!!!!

    36
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    Mute SL
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    Jan 20th 2013, 1:27 AM

    Is that a silver BMW in the middle of the first photo. Seriously!? Front engined rear wheel drive. Face palm.

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    Mute Gemma Donnelly
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    Jan 20th 2013, 9:31 AM

    was thinking the same a rear wheel drive in the snow lol good luck with that one

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    Mute Fionntan Ó Caiside
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    Feb 25th 2013, 9:06 AM

    the driven wheels or engine position of the vehicle are not the issue here, it’s down to the type of tyres fitted to the car, if you have standard road tyres on then you are going nowhere fast, winter tyres help to a certain extent, but the ability of the driver is the key here, basically if you don’t have experience of driving in these conditions or on mud or loose surfaces, then stay the f*** away, at home where its warm and safe, anyway i cant see what would bring people up to the gap, there’s nothing there anyway.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jan 19th 2013, 6:48 PM

    It’s bad enough driving up there in good weather.

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    Mute Maura Lawless
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    Jan 19th 2013, 10:08 PM

    If these people are stupid enough to try driving around the mountains in the snow and get stuck..let them pay to be rescued and maybe everyone else would learn a lesson and get BLOODY SNOW TIRES

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    Mute Siobhan Hayes
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    Jan 19th 2013, 10:51 PM

    Fair play to the rescue teams, if people listened to the forecast these good people wouldn’t have to go out in such bad weather !!!

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    Mute Shane Cafferty
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    Jan 19th 2013, 5:29 PM

    Wow massive news! Did they have to eat each other to stay “Alive”? Maybe they’ll write a book or do a motion picture in years to come…..

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    Mute Alangb
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    Jan 19th 2013, 7:06 PM

    I dont often do this ….. NOT …… but it has to be said. I would be the first person to challenge this sort of really stupid behavior of people driving out in these conditions when it is unnecessary and I totally agree local people would know better. Believe it or not there is something such as personal responsibility that still exists in this country, although to view this behavior you wouldn’t think so.

    However, the really moronic behavior is the failure of the local authorities and Gardai to block road access until the roads become clear again. Putting up a small sign saying ‘road closed’ is an insult to human intelligence especially those who may not be able to read. Simple block the road until it is OK to pass again.

    18
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    Mute Olive Whyte
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    Jan 19th 2013, 9:02 PM

    The Gardai are not responsible for stupid people, if they can’t read they can certainly see the roads are not safe ahead. What a stupid comment.

    45
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    Mute Tadhg Concannon
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    Jan 19th 2013, 8:14 PM

    Gardai should not close the road
    People should be allowed to make their own decision

    People should have the right to learn

    17
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    Mute Caroline O Brien
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    Jan 20th 2013, 12:17 PM

    why are people so thick they were told it was going to snow arseholes wasting peoples time and money

    9
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    Mute Kevin O'connor
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    Jan 20th 2013, 5:46 PM

    Stupid people should have to pay for the rescue. If it was a standard 500 Euro per car, people might think before going up there. With regard to the road closed sign, most people ignore them, because the Council or the Gardai, forget to take them down when the road is reopened. There are still signs up all over the country about roads that were flooded a month ago. No-one bothered to take them down.

    6
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