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FIANNA FÁIL SPENT the most state funding of Dáil parties last year, according to figures released by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).
The party spent almost €2.4 million last year with the vast majority of that spent under the heading of “general administration of parliamentary activities”.
These general costs include spending as personnel costs and telephone expenses.
Parties in receipt of state funding are required to submit details to Sipo of how that money is spent but Sipo has no role in allocating that funding.
State funding under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 is allowed for a variety of reasons but it is not allowed to be used to recoup election expenses.
Last year, nine Dáil parties qualified for allowances and were required to submit returns before the end of April 2018.
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Independents 4 Change are the only party not included in a report published today with Sipo saying it had not received an expenditure report from the party.
Independents 4 Change has three Dáil representatives: Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Joan Collins.
Of the parties that did submit details of State funded spending for last year, the total spent was as follows:
Fianna Fáil – €2,394,888
Fine Gael – €1,594,772
Green Party – €70,675
Labour Party – €463,398
Sinn Féin – €1,589,590
Social Democrats – €166,177
Solidarity-PBP – €105,512
In total, the total payable to the eight parties for parliamentary expenses last year was €7.63 million.
Among them are for activities including ‘general administration’, ‘research and training’ and ‘policy formation’.
While Fianna Fáil spent the most on general administration last year at €2.2 million, Fine Gael spent the most on research and training (€132,798) and Sinn Féin spent the most on policy formation (€278,551).
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Bit strange but if the models enjoyed it and the guests enjoyed it then so fcking what. Boycott seems to be the Twitter buzzword lately. I want to boycott whiney tossers on Twitter.
Serving food, usually sushi, off naked female bodies is a traditional Japanese geisha tradition dating back to the time of the samurai. It’s called Nyotaimori (or Nantaimori if male bodies are used).
Problem is Colin, you’re justifying the objectivity of women based on some ancient ritual surrounding lads who’d cut their own stomachs open rather than accept capture in battle. Not quite 21st century.
Problem is Jamie, I’m not justifying anything, merely highlighting that this is an ancient practice. Also, and I forgive your ignorance on the subject, the practice of seppuku by samurai was driven by high notions of honour, not dishonour and is largely irrelevant in this discussion.
Who gages social media outrage? I’ve always wondered is there a company whose business is to read peoples tweets looking for controversial non-stories??
If it was men and women picking food off them it would be fits and giggles. Nobody forced the women to take part. They’re adults capable of making their own decisions.
Fair play. I was just wondering because I wouldn’t think twice about it, and with that in mind, eating food off naked women that I haven’t met before would not be a problem.
Cruise bar use to be a cool bar. I worked there when it first opened. The lights on the wall changed colour when the ambient sound raised or fell. The cocktail list was amazing and the bar was laid out so perfectly it was the easier well to work in. This seems like an act of desperation.
Doesn’t offend me, but then again I am white and male so even if I were offended I probably wouldn’t have a right to be due to some imagined privilege I am supposed to have
Isn’t this done as a party piece in several nations across the world? What’s the big deal? Social media has really dented the sense of humour if you ask me….
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