No standards too low for our greedy ex Taoisigh

Despite being hardened by decades of political corruption, greed and arrogance there are still some events that really shock and disgust me to the core (Irish Independent).

In 2001 somebody thought it would be a good idea to hand out massive payments to former Taoisigh to employ secretaries and buy computer equipment.

According to Cowen the payments are made so that former Taoisigh can:

Carry out a normal range of secretarial duties to support the former Taoisigh in carrying out those aspects of work associated with their former roles which remain after their period in office has ceased.

This, in plain language, is complete and utter bullshit. In my opinion this massive payment is yet another legal scam devised by greedy politicians to enrich themselves at the expense of impoverished taxpayers.

The first question that comes to mind is how the criminal Haughey qualified for payments of €199,887 under the scheme between 2001 and his death in 2006.

The criminal retired in 1992 so how could he have incurred expenses which are specifically designated to cover the first five years after leaving office?

If there’s no time limit on the payment why didn’t Liam Cosgrave, who served as Taoiseach between 1973 and 1977, receive his share of the loot?

It’s hardly surprising that low grade Fianna Fail politicians like Haughey, Reynolds and Ahern have no scruples about accepting these payments but many Irish citizens (foolishly) believe that the likes of Bruton and Fitzgerald operate to higher ethical standards.

This scandal demonstrates that they are perfectly at home in the Fianna Fail low standards sewer.

I rang the Department of the Taoiseach with some questions on this matter and was met with the standard ‘put it in writing’ tactic.

I wrote:

To Whom It May Concern:

According to a report in the Sunday Independent of 20th June last the Department of the Taoiseach pays a special allowance to former Taoisigh to cover the salaries of secretaries and computer equipment.

I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions.

Is the money paid directly to ex Taoisigh to dispense with as they see fit or is the money spent on secretarial salaries and computer equipment costs and then reimbursed to ex Taoisigh after receipts are produced?

According to the newspaper article the initiative was introduced by the Department of Finance in August 2001.

Who was responsible for introducing the scheme?

Under what mechanism/law/Act was the scheme introduced?

Yours sincerely.

Anthony Sheridan

The Department replied with an acknowledgement and informed me that my email would be brought to the attention of the Taoiseach as soon as possible.

My reply to this (dismissive) email:

Thank you for the acknowledgement.

I would appreciate if you could answer the following question.

Is the Taoiseach the only person with access to the information required to answer my relatively simple questions?

Yours sincerely

Anthony Sheridan

I received a long and detailed reply from the Department full of useless and irrelevant information.

My reply:

Thank you for the interesting email. I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions.

Is the money paid directly to ex Taoisigh to dispense with as they see fit or is the money spent on secretarial salaries and computer equipment costs and then reimbursed to ex Taoisigh after receipts are produced?

Who was responsible for introducing the scheme?

Under what mechanism/law/Act was the scheme introduced?

Yours sincerely

Anthony Sheridan

I’m putting together an FOI on the matter.