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ÁRAS AN ÚACHTARAIN has published a breakdown of Michael D Higgins first terms as president.
This is the first time such a review has been published since the Irish Presidency was established in 1938 and follows a commitment to greater transparency made by President Higgins.
The breakdown sets out the monies spent in the controversial allowance of €310,000 which came under scrutiny in the last election.
It sets out that €1.7 million has been spent on food, beverages and entertaining at Áras an Úachtaráin. It also sets out that this money went towards hosting 1,584 events such as State dinners and garden parties held during the last seven years.
Between 2011-2018, six State visits were hosted, as well as 44 appointment ceremonies. A total of 52 ‘themed’ garden parties were held, 114 receptions and 209 official lunches and dinners.
The 51-page document also outlines that President Higgins has spent more than €40,000 on books, research and stationary.
Áras an Uachtaráin confirmed that a €238,443 underspend from the 1938 Allowance will be returned to the Exchequer by the end of the year.
This is a cumulative underspend from the 2011-2018 period of the Presidency.
The report notes that the Office is supported by a number of State departments which provides funding. The Central Fund of €894,000 accounts for the president’s salary, the pension of past presidents and 1938 Allowance.
It also sets out that the direct cost of the Office was €3.6 million. Of this, €1.67 million went towards staff salaries for 27 people, while another €1.07 million was used to pay for the Centenarian Bounty, which is paid to Irish citizens on their 100th birthday.
The report sets out that in 2018, 359 people received the payment when reaching 100.
A statement released today said that “as part of the president’s commitment to greater financial transparency, Áras an Uachtaráin confirmed that the process of establishing an independent committee to provide oversight of the 1938 Allowance is well advanced. The oversight committee will be in place from early next year and will meet regularly”.
It added:
Áras an Uachtaráin also confirmed that the Presidential Review will be published each year during President Higgins’ second term.
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The American military have dropped worse things on Japan.
@michael: Baseball?
@michael: so True, and “regrettable” who writes that stuff, regrettable is when you forget to get milk .
Why would they have to fly over a school? Also, where is the justification of having a military base outside of US territory?
@Andy K:
If any flight path had to avoid every school, hospital or any other place with a high level of footfall then we would have to stop flying altogether.
As for the bases outside of the US, the Japanese asked them to be there.
@Andy K: Kim Jong Un
@Andy K: the upcoming War with North Korea I’d surmise ?
@Thought for Food: Hmm, I did not know Japanese forces requested the US to stay there. I thought it was more like what happened in Germany where there was no peace treaty signed after WW2.
And I do not mean to stop every aircraft flying over schools, but a helicopter is a different scenario. They can easily change their flight path.
@Andy K:
Again, no they can’t if they had to for every school or other high traffic area. This is one incident out of tens of thousands of flyovers and there were no casualties. Statistically the cars driving past are far more dangerous.
As for the American presence in Japan, the US and Japanese governments signed an agreement where the Japanese would forego an offensive military and in exchange the US would provide military protection from external threats to Japanese sovereignty.
@Andy K: when a football team is playing another football team they’ll send scouts to the other teams training ground to watch them train before a big game. Id say it’s much like this
@Andy K: ah Andy. Uk, Philippines, South Korea, etc etc. Wakey wakey
@Thought for Food: that’s not really true. It is a forced occupation that Japan pays billions of dollars every year to the US to be there. At the end of the US occupation of Japan after WW2, the US changed that “land occupation” into a protective force that Japan has to pay for. Officially Japan requested it, but in reality it was forced by the US who can control access to the Pacific Ocean, and keep an eye on China.
@Thought for Food: now having said that, China claims the Okinawa islands as theirs, so if the US decided to leave that place, China would jump on it. Okinawa is strategically way too important to be left alone unfortunately. Control of Okinawa controls the access to the Pacific Ocean. I don’t think the US will never leave that place.
@Andy K: to defend the rest of you who won’t or can’t defend yourself. Bitch and complain you ungrateful whatever. Security is secured with blood and sweat. How about some of yours for awhile.
I wonder was it a new, clear window?
Of course they are taking it “very seriously “, those doors aren’t cheap you know.
@Larry Doyle: windows
Wasn’t “regrettable” the word used when paramilitaries killed, maimed or injured others than whom the incendiary/viable device was intended for? They never worked out that human beings are sentient, except maybe when a device went off prematurely in the bomber’s hand. And only of late are we realising that animals can feel – even marine life has feelings. Humanity – “a joke in progress.” And before someone says, “speak for yourself!” …I DO.
@Paul Jennings:
What about plants, do they not have feelings too?
@Nick Allen: Actually, they do. They can feel pain and they also react to plants nearby being injured or killed. There have been numerous studies and they seem to show that plants to have feelings.
@Nick Allen: well I take care of mine and talk to them even. They don’t also respond no matter how much t.l.c. I give them. In fact sometimes they seem to absolutely thrive on neglect. We don’t speak the same language. A bit like some of the women I’ve encountered. Self sentient primarily.
“Ooh,shut that door!
@gerry fallon: it’s the window Gerry.
Let’s hope the North Koreans don’t invade anytime soon with the keystone cops on this base.
It could have been a real pane in the neck.
“Regrettable”? Seriously?
Regrettable ? No shiiiit sherlock !!
A piece left over from WW11
New bomb. Glass
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