“I’d like two business class flights to America, a slap up meal for me and my mates with some of your best wine, a few hours at the local beauty salon and nail bar and a trip to the US Space centre please.
“Never know when you might want to become a space cadet you know.
“Yep, put it down to expenses, please. The company will see to it - all part of my research!”
Yeah in my dreams! Wouldn’t that be nice! To think that there are hundreds of big shots out there living this lifestyle on taxpayers’ money. It’s hardly a joke when you think about it. Why should someone have a manicure on your money when you may not be able to afford one yourself? Is there any control on the way in which our tax is being spent by these big whigs in government agencies or even our public representatives in high-powered positions
In reality we have no control over how our money is being spent. We ‘donate’ a significant proportion of our salary each week and we really have no clue as to who will get it or how it is going to be spent. The condition of our roads doesn’t reflect a huge spend on infrastructure, the state of our health system doesn’t illustrate that it is being spent there and our education system isn’t showing signs of an influx of funds either. So where is it being spent?
It looks like a lot of our hard earned cash is going on government expenses - whether that be agencies, politicians or public servants - and we have no say in the matter.
The fact that someone heading up a government agency can scoot off to America and spend all that cash including €410 on a nail bar is simply outrageous. But we all know it goes on. In one way we envy the people who have the power to take mean advantage of our money like this, but on the other hand we know in our heart and soul that it is wrong and should not happen.
Ireland is supposed to be a country where the political system is completely above board and transparent. This of course is not always the case but we would hope that it doesn’t reek of corruption like the Indonesian government or of other countries that use money as power on a daily basis. However the revelation that big money is needlessly being spent on nail bars, dinners, wines and champagne does nothing to inspire confidence in our political system.
Fianna Fail is doing nothing to inspire confidence either and really and truly they are probably going through their worst patch in decades at this point in time. This revelation was the last thing the party needed as it is already in deep water after an horrendous budget, a series of U-turns and a lot of other faux pas that they could well have done without since Bertie left Brian holding the baby.
Brian isn’t the shining star many had hoped he might be either. Initially he supported Rody Molloy’s expense claims, however he thought the better of it and since Mr Molloy has done the decent thing and resigned from his position as director general of FAS.
This is certainly a hard time for Fianna Fail representatives around the country who do not agree with their leaders’ actions. For those who work very hard at representing their electorate, this is a nightmare. They cannot defend some of the major errors that the government has made in recent months, yet they are campaigning hard for their seats in the local elections. They have their work cut out for them as do the Greens. If the opposition don’t once again gain a majority this year on local councils it will be a miracle. It looks like Fianna Fail will never see the Mayoral office again in Kilkenny!
However, until then, we will continue donating our dosh to the government coffers for golf and flights and beauty treatments and the like... Grrrrgh!
