Fine Gael, Party of the common man.

[frankeechops]

TDs who took pay cut want their money back
Sarah McInerney

Ten Fine Gael TDs who took a voluntary pay cut last year, including party leader Enda Kenny, have asked for their salary to be restored following the reduction imposed by last December’s budget.Three other Fine Gael politicians have decided to continue with the voluntary deduction despite suffering an official pay cut.

In October 2008, Kenny announced he was taking a 5% cut from his then annual salary of €106,581. The Fine Gael leader, who at the time was proposing a freeze on public-sector pay, described it as a symbolic gesture. A total of 14 other Fine Gael TDs and senators followed their leader’s example.

After the budget, the basic salary of a TD is falling by €7,519, from €100,190 to €92,671. A spokesman for Kenny said, in light of this, he has decided to rescind his voluntary pay reduction.

“The Fine Gael leader took a voluntary pay cut 15 months ago to encourage the government to introduce some pay restraint across the public service,” Kenny’s spokesman said. “We were trying to force the government into making a move on public-service pay. As such, the initiative has been successful.”

Kenny will not be giving any direction to other Fine Gael TDs who took a pay cut. “It was a personal decision to take it, it will be a personal decision to give it up,” the spokesman said.

Frank Feighan, a Roscommon TD, will continue volunteering 5% of his salary. “It’s a personal decision, nothing to do with politics,” he said. “I’m going into houses where people literally don’t have money to put food on the table. They’re the new poor. I wouldn’t feel right giving up the cut, but that’s just my decision.”

Tom Sheahan, a Kerry TD, made a donation of €5,000 to a local charity in lieu of a pay cut, and has promised to make the same donation again.
Eugene Regan, a Fine Gael senator, will also be continuing with the cut. The nine TDs who will not include Simon Coveney, Richard Bruton, Kieran O’Donnell, Michael D’Arcy, Leo Varadkar, Jimmy Deenihan, Denis Naughten, Deirdre Clune and Joe Carey.

Paul Connaughton, a Galway TD, would not comment. Senator Frances Fitzgerald could not be contacted.
____________________ _____

My heart bleeds for the fellas. I mean how could you survive on only 92k a year.

[Corcaigh32]

Ah at least change the thread title so the party name is correct - it's Fine Gael ;) they won't know the difference but some of us do.

[frankeechops]

Ah at least change the thread title so the party name is correct - it's Fine Gael ;) they won't know the difference but some of us do.
:oops: Normally my spellchecker rectifies my reckless spelling errors!

[Corcaigh32]

It's ok frankee the spellchecker probably votes FG too :lol:

[Henry Hill]

It's ok frankee the spellchecker probably votes FG too :lol:

There still streets ahead of FF

[KolaKubes]

I'm a Labour voter and think I will abandon my practice of giving my lower preferences to FG.

They are not the party of Garret the good with quite some time, now dominated by Green Tories like Kenny and Varadkar.

I'd rather Brian Lenihan to them, crooked and all as his party are.

[frankeechops]

I'm a Labour voter and think I will abandon my practice of giving my lower preferences to FG.

They are not the party of Garret the good with quite some time, now dominated by Green Tories like Kenny and Varadkar.

I'd rather Brian Lenihan to them, crooked and all as his party are.

A punt on Gilmore to be the next Taoiseach would not be a bad one. FG just seem either inept, or just plain afraid, to deal with the elephant in the room.

[KolaKubes]

A punt on Gilmore to be the next Taoiseach would not be a bad one. FG just seem either inept, or just plain afraid, to deal with the elephant in the room.

I've mentioned this before, they need to go into the next election insisting on Gilmore being Taoiseach in any coalition government.

I think they'll have to bite the bullet and invite Sinn Féin on board with a long term view to creating one left of centre party which would also include the SDLP. A "New Labour" with ties to the British Labour party could even start to make inroads in Protestant working class areas.

Drive FF to the wall and FG into the Green Tory party they and their big farmer support want to see.

If the left want to take a 20-30 year view on this, force FF and FG into coalition together. It'll be the ruination of one or other of them OR they'll be pushed together. The left can sit on the opposition benches where they'll have a strong voice during a period where the country (unfortunately) is still unlikely to be back to anything like the heady heights of the boom years.

I'm pig sick of puerile, civil war politics where the country ends up with the same fucking ideology in power no matter how I vote.

The left needs to get its act together and offer a real alternative, not this ridiculous, fractious Socialist Workers Party, Workers Socialist Party, The REAL Sinn Fein, Lefter than Thou nonsense that I see on posters every election.

[frankeechops]

I've mentioned this before, they need to go into the next election insisting on Gilmore being Taoiseach in any coalition government.

I think they'll have to bite the bullet and invite Sinn Féin on board with a long term view to creating one left of centre party which would also include the SDLP. A "New Labour" with ties to the British Labour party could even start to make inroads in Protestant working class areas.

Drive FF to the wall and FG into the Green Tory party they and their big farmer support want to see.

If the left want to take a 20-30 year view on this, force FF and FG into coalition together. It'll be the ruination of one or other of them OR they'll be pushed together. The left can sit on the opposition benches where they'll have a strong voice during a period where the country (unfortunately) is still unlikely to be back to anything like the heady heights of the boom years.

I'm pig sick of puerile, civil war politics where the country ends up with the same fucking ideology in power no matter how I vote.

The left needs to get its act together and offer a real alternative, not this ridiculous, fractious Socialist Workers Party, Workers Socialist Party, The REAL Sinn Fein, Lefter than Thou nonsense that I see on posters every election.

Unfortunatly this makes far too much sense my brother.

[Corcaigh32]

Agree with Kola - maybe not for the same reasons. The most natural government in this country is a FF/FG coalition - they are 2 sides of the same coin and the St. Andrew's Agreement took the remaining republican fig leaf away from in front of the FF appendage. Policy-wise, social outlook wise, economically, they are the same. It is only their members who would baulk at a coalition and therefore probably why their public reps will too for some time to come.

[POL]

FF and FG are two cheeks of the one arse

[rebelicecreamman]

FF and FG are two cheeks of the one arse


In fairness, FF deserve both cheeks and the orifice to themselves for what they've done to this country.

[Corcaigh32]

In fairness, FF deserve both cheeks and the orifice to themselves for what they've done to this country.

So if that's the case FG would be what in that analogy? ;) stuck in the orifice? :lol: just kiddin.........

[rebelicecreamman]

So if that's the case FG would be what in that analogy? ;) stuck in the orifice? :lol: just kiddin.........

The cojones, of course.:)

[Corcaigh32]

Touché ;)

[corcadorca]

Touché ;)

or just touche! FF & FG are the right said fred of Irish politics.

[o_2_b_a_rebel]

FF and FG are two cheeks of the one arse

Good one.
Labour are almost certainly the bumhole in this analogy though.

[formerlimerickmanage]

When have FG ever presented themselves as party of the common man?

[POL]

When have FG ever presented themselves as party of the common man?Party of the land commission and their farmer buddies more like

[formerlimerickmanage]

I've mentioned this before, they need to go into the next election insisting on Gilmore being Taoiseach in any coalition government.

I think they'll have to bite the bullet and invite Sinn Féin on board with a long term view to creating one left of centre party which would also include the SDLP. A "New Labour" with ties to the British Labour party could even start to make inroads in Protestant working class areas.

Drive FF to the wall and FG into the Green Tory party they and their big farmer support want to see.

If the left want to take a 20-30 year view on this, force FF and FG into coalition together. It'll be the ruination of one or other of them OR they'll be pushed together. The left can sit on the opposition benches where they'll have a strong voice during a period where the country (unfortunately) is still unlikely to be back to anything like the heady heights of the boom years.

I'm pig sick of puerile, civil war politics where the country ends up with the same fucking ideology in power no matter how I vote.

The left needs to get its act together and offer a real alternative, not this ridiculous, fractious Socialist Workers Party, Workers Socialist Party, The REAL Sinn Fein, Lefter than Thou nonsense that I see on posters every election.

So what you're saying is the the Left needs to get over its self-righteous attitude so it can spend a decade or two impotently whinging in opposition.

[johnmcork]

1. the argument that fine gael are no good because enda kenny is not some bertie/elvis type 'charismatic' character is one for people who read the daily mail and judge politicians purely on personality rather than policy. that tactic got us haughy, bertie, cowen etc.

2. saying fine gael and fianna fail are the same political philosophy is incorrect.
fianna fail are a populist party and do not have a philosophy/ coherent policy agenda or strategy. their strategy is to get re-elected which they do ALL THE TIME.

Maybe we should test-drive fine gael before making idiotic assessments of them.

if you think fine gael and fianna fail are the same then labour are as well by the same token.

sinn fein will have to stop robbing banks, washing diesel and protecting child molesters in order to become a viable option for government.

Finally, at least the FGers made an effort with a VOLUNTARY pay cut. most of the dail did nothing

[Corcaigh32]

1. The argument is we want a leader that is credible, has leadership skills, has a vision, has communication skills i.e they can speak and won't embarrass us on the world or even the European stage - Haughey and Aherne don't come into it.

2. You might like to believe that FG and FF are poles apart but take out their policies any time you like - they are practically identical with some tweaking - the only reason they are different at all is because if they were identical people would see through the "we're not them spiel".

3. Labour are not the same as FF and FG -economically they are at the other side of the spectrum, they are socially way more liberal and utterly and completely devoted to the unions.

Sinn Fein don't rob banks - that's the typical FGer in you coming out - as is the washing diesel part and as for the child molesters, that's the SF President's brother and that's low even for the party of Brian "I want to rejoin the Union" Hayes, Gay "I want to rejoin the Commonwealth" Mitchell and John "Having Prince Charles to dinner was the greatest day of my life" Bruton. I'd go further - if Kenny had had any cop at all and any of the kind of political nous that you need to be Taoiseach - when Tubridy asked him about the formation of the next government that he should expect to lead, he should have said "I wouldn't rule anything out - except a coalition with Fianna Fáil " and when pressed on SF, he should have said something like "my party has always been critical of SF and its links to terrorist organisations in the past, they have come a long way, any potential move to include them in a coalition government with FG would have to be put before a national conference and I wouldn't like to pre-empt that".

Now if I can type that in 30 seconds - he should know that off by heart.

Lastly, the "voluntary" paycut was a stunt, Cowen took a paycut but you didn't mention that did you?

I know you are FG - true blue FG - but call it honestly, not with blue tinted glasses.

[POL]

Didn't I read yesterday a load of blueshirts are demanding their "paycut" back?

[longbigandjuicy]

Poor auld Corcaigh32 getting pol to stick up for him. haha

[Corcaigh32]

Hold on there now a sec - you'll find it hard to find a place where POL and I agree on daylight............ .I don't need anyone sticking up for me .......if by some curious quirk of the universe POL happens to have posted after me in a supportive fashion..........it is purely a coincidence :)

[semper]

So, Enda Kenny puts it up to the government to set an example for the rest of the country and cut politicians wages. A year later, the government do what he proposed and cut wages by 7.5%. Then people have a cut at him because he is not taking - on top of the newly imposed cut - a cut of another 5%?

I understand that some people don't like Enda Kenny and want to have a go at him. However, this has to be one of the stupidest reasons yet to have a cut at him.

[ProfessorPwn]

I see what you are doing Frankie. We all do

[johnmcork]

1. The argument is we want a leader that is credible, has leadership skills, has a vision, has communication skills i.e they can speak and won't embarrass us on the world or even the European stage - Haughey and Aherne don't come into it.

2. You might like to believe that FG and FF are poles apart but take out their policies any time you like - they are practically identical with some tweaking - the only reason they are different at all is because if they were identical people would see through the "we're not them spiel".

3. Labour are not the same as FF and FG -economically they are at the other side of the spectrum, they are socially way more liberal and utterly and completely devoted to the unions.

Sinn Fein don't rob banks - that's the typical FGer in you coming out - as is the washing diesel part and as for the child molesters, that's the SF President's brother and that's low even for the party of Brian "I want to rejoin the Union" Hayes, Gay "I want to rejoin the Commonwealth" Mitchell and John "Having Prince Charles to dinner was the greatest day of my life" Bruton. I'd go further - if Kenny had had any cop at all and any of the kind of political nous that you need to be Taoiseach - when Tubridy asked him about the formation of the next government that he should expect to lead, he should have said "I wouldn't rule anything out - except a coalition with Fianna Fáil " and when pressed on SF, he should have said something like "my party has always been critical of SF and its links to terrorist organisations in the past, they have come a long way, any potential move to include them in a coalition government with FG would have to be put before a national conference and I wouldn't like to pre-empt that".

Now if I can type that in 30 seconds - he should know that off by heart.

Lastly, the "voluntary" paycut was a stunt, Cowen took a paycut but you didn't mention that did you?

I know you are FG - true blue FG - but call it honestly, not with blue tinted glasses.

if he was a bishop he'd be out the gap

[C Montgomery Bones]

A punt on Gilmore to be the next Taoiseach would not be a bad one. FG just seem either inept, or just plain afraid, to deal with the elephant in the room.

Not a hope. Gilmore is just a glorified siptu rep who likes shouting populist statements in2 any microphone he can find. By the time the next election comes around they will again be the 3rd party. Gilmore showed his colours when necessary cuts to the public service were required and this will not be forgotten. 12 Days off, give us a fucking break.

[ProfessorPwn]

A leopard never changes its spots

[C Montgomery Bones]

1.

Sinn Fein don't rob banks - that's the typical FGer in you coming out - as is the washing diesel part and as for the child molesters, that's the SF President's brother and that's low even for the party of Brian "I want to rejoin the Union" Hayes, Gay "I want to rejoin the Commonwealth" Mitchell and John "Having Prince Charles to dinner was the greatest day of my life" Bruton. I'd go further - if Kenny had had any cop at all and any of the kind of political nous that you need to be Taoiseach - when Tubridy asked him about the formation of the next government that he should expect to lead, he should have said "I wouldn't rule anything out - except a coalition with Fianna Fáil " and when pressed on SF, he should have said something like "my party has always been critical of SF and its links to terrorist organisations in the past, they have come a long way, any potential move to include them in a coalition government with FG would have to be put before a national conference and I wouldn't like to pre-empt that".

.


But they welcome with open arms convicted Garda killers out of prison, meeting them at the gates with warm embraces and frendship. There a shower of scumbags with zero credability.

[Dan Brown]

The Shinners are a joke, as evidenced by their dismal showing in the last election.

Only fruitcakes in backwater constituencies like Kerry and Donegal elect these halfwits.

[Corcaigh32]

Garda killers should not have been subject to the GFA in the first place, they shouldn't have been released even if they were subject to it in the second place, I agree with you on the welcoming of them CMB but the point stands, SF don't rob banks.