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Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

How much are Alan Shatter's pension and severance payments worth?

Previous ministers have declined to accept some of these payments.

ALAN SHATTER’S OFFICE has remained tight lipped on whether he will be accepting €70,282 worth of severance payments.

Having served more than two years in office, the former Minister for Justice is entitled to full rate of these payments.

Government guidelines caps this at one year’s ministerial salary – excluding his salary as a TD – spread across two years, paid at decreasing rates.

He could receive roughly €4,392 every month for six months.

After this, the rate decreases to €2,928 for 12 months, and finally €1,464 for six months.

However, Shatter has not responded to requests for comment from TheJournal.ie on whether he will be taking up this optional payment.

Shatter is also entitled to a pension worth €18,139 from just his Ministerial service, payable from when he reaches pensionable age.

Former Junior Minister Róisín Shortall was entitled to €33,100 in severance payments after she resigned from her position in September 2012.

However, she declined to accept the payments.

This article was updated to clarify that severance payments are calculated on ministerial salary alone, excluding the additional TD salary. Additional attempts have been made to clarify whether Alan Shatter will be accepting these payments.

Read: Shortall won’t get ministerial pension – but can receive €33,100 severance >

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    Mute Pierce2020
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    May 17th 2014, 8:19 AM

    €157,540, that would pay for three full time staff nurses, how about if you quit you don’t get a severance package just like a real job

    845
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    Mute Buckwheat MacMillan
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    May 17th 2014, 8:34 AM

    It’s the civil service Pierce, distinctly different from a real job

    416
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    Mute Pierce2020
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    May 17th 2014, 8:38 AM

    There was very little civil about Alan Shatter’s service

    386
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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 8:41 AM

    Couldn’t agree more. It’s blistering ly obvious that that is just wrong. If he contributed and brought in vast amounts of cash grand but he nor the public sector do that so not sure what warrants these laughable/”who came up with them”/”why are standards in public sector so low (not all of course but most), type payments

    152
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 8:48 AM

    I’m so hungover my kidneys hurt.
    This article has not improved my condition in any way.

    170
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 9:08 AM

    Thanx. Sebastian’s was particularly ridiculous, but the hatred hasn’t improved my mood any.
    Feels like my right kidney has a screwdriver stuck in it.

    38
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    Mute Glass Half Full
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    May 17th 2014, 9:11 AM

    Actually, Sebastian’s and JohnGahans points are the only intelligent ones on this thread. Including mine!

    9
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 9:18 AM

    Oh please! Sebastian (hopefully not his real name) he’s a self-hating slave mentality that is contemptible.
    Nurofen plus. . . . ah ffx!!!!

    32
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    May 17th 2014, 9:39 AM

    @ Padriac.
    Those pair are nuttier than squirrel crap in September.
    If shitter or any of the parasites were to kill someone and use their bodies as a suitcase these clowns would still think the sun shines out of their backsides.
    I personally couldn’t care how much he gets,he’s gone and his credibility is gone.

    31
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    May 17th 2014, 10:18 AM

    No comment, means no refusal and he’s a greedy little toad! That’s why so many, are opting for politics and double jobbing. The pensions and severance payments, they do next to nothing and vote with the party they support!

    60
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    Mute GATHERINGYOURMONEY14
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    May 17th 2014, 10:23 AM

    Well said Pierce.

    Weasel Westbrit Shatter should be dishonorably dismissed with no pay and fined.
    The pious git.

    39
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 10:28 AM

    Oh Garrett, now that’s just hurtful!
    I have feelings too y’know.

    22
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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 11:25 AM

    So the FG trolls didn’t like my comment so they had it removed. Stay classy guys, stay classy.

    24
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 12:01 PM

    Noticed that.

    13
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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 12:04 PM

    Bless them. I’d report some of their comments but that would only deprive the world of their “wisdom” and that wouldn’t be fair ;)

    20
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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    May 17th 2014, 12:39 PM

    Apparently – I’m reading in tomorrow’s Sunday Independent , that if Alan Shatter admitted to being a Member of Mossad and The IRA , in his past , that he would still be The Minister For Justice & Defence !
    Oh I’m having a funny nightmare …. Shatter is only into Government corruption , like the rest of FG/LAB/FF !

    16
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:24 PM

    he’s entitled to nothing like this for messing up, but the same pension as everyone else gets.

    19
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    Mute Harry Price
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    May 17th 2014, 4:59 PM

    Crime pays when you are one of the untouchables in the gang cartel

    15
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    Mute Billy Maher
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    May 18th 2014, 12:19 AM

    Politicians are not civil servants.

    1
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    Mute Jenny Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 8:26 AM

    Ministers should not be getting severance pay if he/she quits there job. If u work in private sector and quit your job you don’t get a pay off.

    246
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    Mute Tom Keating
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    May 17th 2014, 9:02 AM

    Agreed.

    69
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    Mute Tom Keating
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    May 17th 2014, 9:02 AM

    Agreed.

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    Mute Malachy Mc Carron
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    May 17th 2014, 9:53 AM

    No wonder the country is broke, between pay offs, pensions, bankers and bond holders it makes the normal people of the country sick with the stories of sheer greed, that’s the main interests of all these TDs , very few of them r there representing the interests of the people of Ireland, that johngahan cannot defend the I defendable he must agree with the withdrawal of medical cards from seriously ill children, this shows how little the current government care for the people

    52
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:29 PM

    wonder why Endof has been keeping the debate off and off and off for ministers found of wrongdoing. It will take a brand new government with ZERO old ties to make these changes, these pals won’t be doing it. Transparency me hole. Gangsters everyone of them.

    12
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    Mute Aidan O Reilly
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    May 17th 2014, 8:28 AM

    He resigned why should he get anything, if I resign I don’t get a cent

    231
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    Mute Tom Keating
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    May 17th 2014, 9:02 AM

    I agree, he resigned, so why should he get any compensation?

    108
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    Mute Jeebus xrist
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    May 17th 2014, 9:45 AM

    The man fu€kd up at the job he was assigned.
    This is Ireland.
    The only question I have is how the hell he didn’t wind up with a promotion to some cushy number in Brussels on top of his generous pension???

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    Mute BPA Free Paper Rolls
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    May 17th 2014, 10:08 AM

    That’s to come yet!

    42
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    Mute Eric Davies
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    May 17th 2014, 12:24 PM

    he’ll get the ‘cushy’ job once he’s had his ‘entitlements’ paid , then he’ll be able to do another couple of years and resign again, more ‘entitlements’ wait a few weeks ,new job, and so it goes ,round and round on the gravy train of irish political life, chooo chooo chooo!

    25
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:26 PM

    don’t hold your breath, he’ll let things die down and appear again in some shape or form after about 2 years, same with Cowen. They’re like shapeshifting lizard men.

    19
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    Mute Barry Keegan
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    May 17th 2014, 8:29 AM

    He also broke the law right? Should that not be considered before he gets anything!

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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 8:42 AM

    In this great little country of ours, apparently he didn’t! He committed an offence without breaking the law!! Figure that one out if you can!

    104
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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 10:32 AM

    @Padraig

    It’s one law for the powerful and rich, and another for us mere mortals (ie. the average Irish citizen)…

    The Anglo Trial proved that the irish elite are well served by the current system…

    I don’t blame the young people for emigrating.. I would if I could.. I love the country but it’s becoming intolerable and impossible to live here…

    32
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    Mute Pat Mcrotch
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    May 17th 2014, 8:20 AM

    Of course he will take it.The man has zero class.

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    Mute Darren King
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    May 17th 2014, 8:31 AM

    He was basically just demoted he still works there why is he getting a severance payment.There really should be an independent group set up to review politicians wages and payments and have the power to make changes.

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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 8:42 AM

    How is this not done already? Why can’t this be implemented today?

    It might end up being corrupt too though.

    31
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    Mute Kate Ellen Egan
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    May 17th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Yes Darren and I’m sure they could deduct 50% at least of the last FF pensions , €150,000 for life paid out to Brian Cowen et al , men only in their mid 50′s , twice the salary of Angela Merkel and David Cameron

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:36 PM

    Enda has been putting it off but it has come up, no surprises there. Same old delay tactics thats riddled in these parties for the past 30 years, passed down from father to sons and daughter, take yer time lads, delay delay delay, hoping it will all go away. Thats some way to run a country or anything else for that matter.

    5
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    Mute Michael Lumley
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    May 17th 2014, 6:28 PM

    independent groups are set up and staffed by the government, what’s independent about them?

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    Mute TOP CAT
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    May 17th 2014, 8:27 AM

    Alan Shatter makes Angela Kerins and Frank Flannery look like choir boys…
    Reminds me of a song.
    “Money for nothing the D**k goes free”…….

    77
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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 8:31 AM

    absolutely disgraceful…

    He should get nothing off the state considering the regime which he presided over is currently under several investigations for corruption… He’s likely already wealthy anyhow…

    65
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:40 PM

    he’d be still there too if there was something to lose from this resignation, they only thing stops them is stubbornness and losing face to the opposition, they’re just like school boys. Theres no fear of losing money, thats all secured. Callinan same. Something needs to be changed and this is one of them, this man should not be getting anything like this for his resignation, the same law should apply for them as it does for us.

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    Mute Jill Jones
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    May 17th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Sickening when you think about it. He broke the law, resigned disgracefully and he thinks he’s entitled to a golden pension courtesy of the ever giving generous tax payer. Sorry shatter I disagree, you failed, you should get NOTHING. You make me sick!

    64
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    Mute Aus Tereo
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    May 17th 2014, 8:30 AM

    €40,661 per annum for the rest of his life for two years service? Is that right? Not sure what age he is but to put that in context, that would cost around €850,000 to buy on the open market for you or I!

    59
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    Mute Martin Stapleton
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    May 17th 2014, 8:22 AM

    Hey, severance pay is understandable in a way but these pensions are immoral!

    59
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    Mute Michael Lumley
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    May 17th 2014, 6:50 PM

    I red thumbs you as BOTH payments are immoral.

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    May 17th 2014, 8:30 AM

    It’s kind of sickening to think politicians preach about how broke we are as a country and then you hear about pension and salary entitlements. You would think that if you love your country you would do the job for nothing.

    58
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    Mute Sebastian Gilhooley
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    May 17th 2014, 8:29 AM

    No doubt the uaual communists will be out claiming all ministers should be forced into bankruptcy.

    I’ve got news for you folks. If you want to attract the best talent into national politics then it costs a few bob. Otherwise you could have a series of solicitors and school teachers taking huge decisions like the night of the bank guarantee. You need experts at government, not some populist shinner or socialist with a fetac level 5 in social care.

    Admittedly Alan Shatter may not have been over endowed with humility. But he was and is a legal expert specialising in family law. I would rathar Mr Shatter as justice minister not the IRA apologist Padraigh macgloughlin.

    51
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    Mute Niall H
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    May 17th 2014, 8:33 AM

    Money doesn’t solve the ability of a politician, the electorate’s demands do.
    After everything that has happened in this country why do some Irish people still think throwing money at a problem will make it go away?

    66
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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 8:38 AM

    what are you on about Sebastian?

    the best talent in politics? ….you’re taking the mick aren’t ya? gimme a break- most of them are bloody chancers, and half of them get in because of dynastic political lineages, their family name, or nepotistic connections…

    it seems like you are one of these people who calls anyone with left leaning views a communist! … at least most the ‘left’ that’s in there stand up for ordinary people…

    there is no formal qualification for politics anyhow.. apart from a brass neck… and you don’t need a Fetac course for that Sebastian…

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 8:47 AM

    The president of Uruguay donates 90% of his salary to the poor and lives in a little rural farmhouse…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Mujica

    the idea that politicians somehow need excessive pay, pensions, and perks is bull..

    as is the idea that big salaries attract the best people…

    It could be argued that if the political salaries were much lower- you would only attract those who are genuinely interested in service to the state… in other words the would not be driven by material gain… this current model we have in Ireland seems only to attract careerists, sociopaths and social climbing gombeens… the decent ones in there are in the minority…

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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 8:47 AM

    Sebastian you my friend are correct.

    Also Alan shatter does have the said experience and background but you are forgetting/not addressing/not making reference to/ignoring that he has failed. He has lied, cheated, broken the law, mismanaged, no people skills, my way or the high way so I’m not sure why you’re lobbying him?

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    Mute Alan Farrell
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    May 17th 2014, 8:51 AM

    @ Sebastian

    I’ve got news for you, those teachers and solicitors you mention earned more money than the current crop so you’re point is null and void.

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 17th 2014, 8:52 AM

    Totally agree Sebastian.

    Any person who goes into politics and gets elected to office deserves to be well paid, they are sacrificing their privacy and career for the state. We need to elect the most capable and fair people have. Most ordinary people would be mad to jeopardize their career and privacy to get involved in politics. It has only gotten worse.

    No matter what party a candidate is from that calls to my door I’ve huge respect for them making the effort to get involved.

    Even if I don’t support or vote for them, if they get elected, let alone hold a ministry, when that comes to an abrupt end, as it always does, they should have a good income provided thereafter for their service.

    However, only a single pension should be possible (I think that is now the case) and their state payments should be reduced if their private income exceeds a certain level.

    This notion that everybody is the same and intelligence, experience, academic qualifications, management and strategy skills are irrelevant is nonsense. We have far too little talent in the Dail as it is. And I certainly include all parties in that. There are some dreadfully thick eejits in FF, FG, Labour, SF etc. Better people in all parties would be better for the country. And you won’t get them running if it costs them their career and privacy and they are slung out on the dung heap once they’ve hit their party’s election downcycle.

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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 8:53 AM

    I’m anti waste, politician and public sector but if you’re saying sentences like there is nepotism you need to give examples and give specifics otherwise you are just having a moan and a rant

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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 8:53 AM

    @Sebastian : “Otherwise you could have a series of solicitors and school teachers taking huge decisions…”
    Taoiseach – Enda Kenny – schoolteacher. Check
    Ex Min Justice – Alan Shatter – solicitor. Check

    What was your point again?

    53
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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 8:54 AM

    Sebastian’s argument falls down on many levels but as you have just pointed out.. if big salaries are needed to attract the most qualified and Shatter was one of the most qualified, yet he also managed to bring the whole justice system into disrepute, then the system of high financial reward for political offices obviously doesn’t equate necessarily to competence or ethical behavior…

    The salaries for politicians, and other high level elites in this country, are simply obscene…

    35
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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 8:55 AM

    He could mean external people frank not neccesarily politicians. External expertise from private sector. Proper level headed guys not councillor a.

    In saying that frank he mentioned shatter but he’s wrong on that one. Any other actual experts externally non political pedigree in all for

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 9:08 AM

    @JohnGahan

    Yourself and Sebastian couldn’t be more off the mark. Politics should not be just a career path. If it was then we would never have had people like our own revolutionaries, Davitt, Parnell etc.. they had noble ideals and they were genuinely seeking social change for the people, not just trying to line their pockets and feather their nest… There was a time that people entered politics or leadership because they believed in serving the interests of their country and their people. What we have now is corporations (Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour) fighting for their own interests and not the people’s interest. They see the public as merely something to be manipulated.

    Political leadership should be about noble causes, what’s best for the country and the state, not the political party, or the career of the politician… unfortunately what we have nowadays is a system where politicians have an allegiance to their party first and foremost, and after that they have their eye on their pensions or jobs in Europe… the whole thing is a farce and the mess we are in os so bad because the system itself is rotten and needs a complete overhaul… I hope that Labour, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail get decimated in the elections… their all just ego-driven careerist sleeveens with absolutely no interest in the daily struggles and hardships of the Irish people… get them all out and let independents in…

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    Mute Paul O Mahony
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    May 17th 2014, 9:10 AM

    Are you actually Alan Shitter,Sebastien ?

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    Mute Sean
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    May 17th 2014, 9:12 AM

    @alanfarrell what has money got to do with this?

    It has 0.0 reflection on anything here. If they earned more than others that does not make anyone’s point null and void.

    If they were earning more money if anything it is reflective of grossly overpaid public sector wages and mismanagement in the public sector.

    His point still stands. Why are those who are not specialised experts in a given area with proven results from private sector brought in today to replace the popularity contest X factor councillor without the experience(with the exception of shatter of course)

    If you wanted a 22k job in private sector you are probed for your experience and chosen on results and suitability. How the hell does that not apply when leading the country in a given specialism? “Era well throw him into justice and her into agriculture” – what.

    Politics = mass wastage throw and accountable efficient mass of successful provate sector people in and pay bonus on performance with specific tangible kpis

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 9:14 AM

    @Sean

    I know what he meant… but I still think that it is not necessarily true that high salaries attract the best people… or that high salaries are needed for good, quality leadership..

    Mahatma gandhi didn’t lead his people to emancipation because he was dreaming of spending his salary and pension… neither did Daniel O’ Connell… they served their people, and led their people, because they were high calibre, ethical, compassionate, exceptional human beings…

    Say no more…

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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    May 17th 2014, 9:36 AM

    Good morning Sebastian !
    I can see from the tone of your remarks that pure utter panic has set in to one of my ‘favourite’ Blueshirts !

    I know by this time next week that the various Boxes will be open and being sorted. Therefore the anxiety must be huge?

    As you know the policy of SF will be to remove these rediculous rip off robbery pensions from the State ( that’s you and me Sebastian ! ) and replace them with a proper pension relative to ones actual input – not a LOTTO payout .
    One would feel also , that a Minister , fired or resigned , should receive no Ministers pension ? This would immediately reduce the corruption associated with FF/FG/Lab. Governments , over the years !
    Good suggestion Eh ?
    See you at the Counts next week Seb. ? It’s going to be mighty !

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    Mute Dave Evans
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    May 17th 2014, 9:40 AM

    Sebastian – not a popular comment, but you are more right than wrong. People before Profit, a high proportion of Shinners, alot of independants all have one thing in common, they have no idea how government works and all hope to be in office to “save the country”, “create more jobs”, “tax the wealthy”. Its all aload of BS. They play off the harsh reality of the situation the country is in and forget hard decisions have to be made
    We all must suffer – ALL segments of society.

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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    May 17th 2014, 9:40 AM

    Johngahan – I really feel for you too Johngahan – “Cause the times they are a changin”!

    Corruption on the way out John – see my thread for Sebastian please – it’s meant for anyone who could be seen to support the present corruption – hope that’s not you , now is it ???

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    Mute Denito
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    May 17th 2014, 9:46 AM

    That’s all very high-minded, Frank, but what would you say then to the talented person with a mortgage and a family to support and educate who is thinking about going into politics?

    I hear all of the complaints about “career politicians” and I wonder what do people think politics should be, if not a career? A hobby? A sabbatical from someone’s normal job? A vocation like the nuns and their vow of poverty?

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 9:50 AM

    @Dave Evans

    Fianna Fail had almost 16 years in office and their political party has origins in back to the foundation of the state, Fine Gael too has origins going back that far yet both seem utterly corrupt… no politician knows innately how government works… they wing it most of the time, and make it all up as they go along. The state is what we imagine it to be, what we create it to be and what we make it to be. Fianna Fail destroyed the state, Fine Gael are just hammering in the nails, and the Irish state has gone back to being an oppresses, dysfunctional entity on the fringes of Europe. The Irish people have been utterly demoralized, disgraced and beaten down by the established political parties of the past century- we need a new political system- get rid of the political parties…

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 10:01 AM

    @Denito..

    I was using the examples of Daniel O’Connell and Gandhi in order to illustrate my point that good leadership, fairness, equality, ethics and the desire for positive social change for the good of the country, has nothing to do with money… and everything to do with wealth of character.

    Of course we should pay politicians a wage, just not the obscene amounts that they currently receive… In my opinion, the incentives are purely monetary for most of them and that obviously doesn’t attract decent ethical people…

    Money, power, prestige and ego have been the incentives we have offered since the formation of the state and look where that has gotten us!… The country is destroyed, financially and socially, and our sovereignty has been taken, future generations will become indentured slaves to an unsustainable debt mountain- the people of this country can’t take anymore of this austerity crap….or this obscene debt we’re saddled with…

    What’s wrong with expecting our leaders to have charisma, compassion, ethics, strength and integrity, but most of all a genuine interest in serving the people and the country?…

    What’s wrong with being high – minded? These people we elect should aspire to the highest of ideals…

    And yes, politics should be more like a vocation than a career…

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    Mute Marc Miesyerus
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    May 17th 2014, 10:06 AM

    You mean that ‘talent’ that ran the country into the ground and continue to do so, Sebastian – or should I say …Alan? Is that you?

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    Mute Marc Miesyerus
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    May 17th 2014, 10:11 AM

    ..in fact, the opposite is true..this kind of top salary results in the nothing to lose attitude that we’re seeing..doing right or wrong: it doesn’t matter – your bed is made once on the gravy train.

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    Mute BPA Free Paper Rolls
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    May 17th 2014, 10:13 AM

    Fool

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 10:23 AM

    @Marc..

    I Totally agree…

    If you offer someone a job which gives them 150,000 a year, how do you expect them to understand the struggles of the average person?

    Who the hell needs 3000 euro a week to live on? There is nothing that can justify that!.. not talent, not education, nothing!…

    The ‘Dublin Says No’ campaign have a very effective mantra which they heckle politicians with… they ask then… “How has austerity affected you?” and if you check out some of the videos on youtube, these politicians can’t answer that question because austerity has not affected them!… Unless they feel the economic pain, or the pinch in their wallet how can they be expected to relate to it… they simply don’t care because they can’t relate to it… and they can’t relate because they don’t have the characteristic of empathy in the first place…

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    Mute Denito
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    May 17th 2014, 11:22 AM

    @Frank
    Your examples of O’Connell and Gandhi are instructive. Both men came from backgrounds of exceptional privilege and wealth relative to the people that they represented and so would have had no financial worries as they went about their great work. Confining politics to an independently wealthy elite that don’t need to be paid well doesn’t make sense to me.

    I don’t know about you, but I work hard in order to provide the best standard of living that I can for my family and myself. If you were to remove the same motives from our politicians, I’m not sure that you would like the result.

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    Mute Maria Dardis
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    May 17th 2014, 8:41 AM

    He should not get anything! The rest of us have to work 40 years to get a full pension!

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    Mute Michael Lumley
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    May 17th 2014, 6:31 PM

    And that’s not worth a bean.

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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    May 17th 2014, 8:31 AM

    Does he still get his TD salary on top of that or is it included in the 9 grand a month?

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    Mute Kreg Higgins
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    May 17th 2014, 8:34 AM

    Incompetent and resigns in the world of people this guy was supposed to serve ,we would be entitled to zilch !!!
    If he has any shred of decency he will not accept it !!!

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    Mute Michael Lumley
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    May 17th 2014, 6:40 PM

    That’s why he will take it.

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    Mute Andrew McMahony
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    May 17th 2014, 9:05 AM

    The amount of money that this Francis Underwood type character seems to spend on hair dye should put a dent in his severance package. His narcissistic tendencies is what led to his downfall. The man is devoid of knowing right from wrong and has given the hypocrites like Mick the tax dodger Wallace and Ming the mingling hypocrite Flannagan hero status.

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    Mute Marc Quinn
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    May 17th 2014, 9:02 AM

    And they wonder why the country is broke!!!!!

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 17th 2014, 8:30 AM

    Meanwhile SF pull in GBP600k per annum from Westminster. Public service is great isn’t it.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    May 17th 2014, 9:07 AM

    Ah yes, johngahan/kenneth/touchy/eggy/vincent, still trying to turn every story about FG into a conversation about SF, you can practically smell the desperation of the YFG trolls as election day nears.

    Have to laugh at the blatant hypocrisy of you lot. You treat a SF TD who was released without charge like they’ve broken the law, and a FG TD who broke the law on national TV like a hero.

    Its actually quite pathetic really.

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 17th 2014, 9:29 AM

    werejam, every article is followed up by a SF hatefest for other parties. I’m just restoring some balance.

    Hatred has always been your currency. Should secure you a solid devoted core, but your polls have peaked. Negative campaigning will only get you so far.

    It is good for people to see the SF intellect, or lack if it, laid bare.

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 17th 2014, 9:45 AM

    A SF TD released without charge (meaningless regarding innocence or guilt, knowledge or involvement) for a murder his organisation admits it carried out.

    A FG TD who disclosed Wallace’s minor RT offence on TV.

    The FG TD resigned.

    The SF TD celebrated with the mob in front of a hero mural, his colleagues threatened to withdraw support for the police if he was charged with anything.

    Big difference. Ridiculous that you see an organisation that admits a cowardly callous murder, and its leader being questioned about it, somehow being of less gravity than the disclosing of penalty points on TV.

    Interesting poll out this morning about Gerry. I know you love polls.

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    Mute whynotme
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    May 17th 2014, 10:00 AM

    Were Jammin ,you still haven’t figured it out !

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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    May 17th 2014, 10:47 AM

    Johngahan – Such a well balanced FG Troll – Anti Republican chips on both shoulders !

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    Mute whynotme
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    May 17th 2014, 10:51 AM

    He who stirs the sh!t pot should get to lick the spoon :)

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    Mute BPA Free Paper Rolls
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    May 17th 2014, 10:06 AM

    Unfu@king believable. Justice minister breaks the law and resigns after months of saying he didn’t (minister for justice doesn’t seem to know the law) and then gets a fat cat pension when real people are feed their kids cornflakes for dinner because they are plotless and this ars€hole walks away with laughing all the way to the bank.
    The third world country’s should come here to learn how corruption really works, guaranteed to go home happy with new ways to rob their citizens.

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 9:24 AM

    and anyhow…

    With all that money you’d think he could at least afford a bleedin decent haircut!!..

    :P

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    May 17th 2014, 10:31 AM

    Politicians should only receive one pension not multiples, Just say a TD takes up a position as a minister the pension that they have as a TD should move with them.
    We also need to scrap them getting a full pension after two years service, The pension they receive should be worked out on how many years they paid into the scheme.
    As for severance pay this should be scrapped for ministers TD councilors, And if a payment is to be made then it should be along the lines of statutory redundancy which is 2 weeks pay for each year capped at €600 per week.
    Also if a person working in a private company worked their way up the ladder should they also get a pension for the different roles they worked at?
    Also any teacher who gets elected as a TD their teacher’s pension should be closed down, They should not be allowed to pay into it as they are no longer doing that job.

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    Mute Frank Doyle
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    May 17th 2014, 10:43 AM

    @Dave…

    I agree, the current system attracts careerists who know that there is no consequence- even if they destroy the country, bring disrepute to their office, or are forced to resign because of incompetence or corruption…

    In Ireland we reward our leaders for failure…

    It’s mind boggling…

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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    May 17th 2014, 1:47 PM

    most of these people trying to get into politics are only after the money, its a business venture to retire on after they’ve come to the end of the line in their past venture. Make it about as attractive as a post in senior management with none of these top ups, then you’ll see who the real fighters are.

    Solicitors, must be tonnes of them out there, Accountants, tonnes of them, stiff competition! Heck sure there was solicitors trying to get into Supermacs when the recession hit. Is it any wonder its a large proportion of these?

    Check the candidates background for what has led them to enter politics, genuine interest in making changes for the people of ireland, genuine leaders? or just genuine gold miners with a track record of vulturism?

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    Mute Michael Lumley
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    May 17th 2014, 6:35 PM

    Dave, isn’t it nice to see no red thumbs. But don’t worry, the trolls will be along soon.

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    Mute mcbab
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    May 17th 2014, 8:29 AM

    How much do you earn Nicky Ryan? Since you’re so interested

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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 9:04 AM

    I could be wrong, but Nickys salary isn’t being paid by your taxes or mine so that makes it none of your business.

    Politicians are paid from our taxes so that does make their salaries/pensions our business.

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    Mute Jim Dandy
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    May 17th 2014, 11:59 AM

    Another FG breast.

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    Mute tax slave
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    May 17th 2014, 10:31 AM

    I would like to know just how much we pay to ex tds civil servants in pensions per week I bet it’s a lot more than other small country

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    Mute Barry Humphreys
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    May 17th 2014, 11:08 AM

    This is exactly what is wrong with politics in this country and the real reason people join these established party’s and network their way to the top. You can get a ministerial position, make a complete ba!!s of it and walk away laughing.

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    May 17th 2014, 9:11 AM

    It’s a lot of money, it could do far more good, but it removes an impediment to real reform of An Garda Siochana.

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    Mute Ray Carney
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    May 17th 2014, 12:37 PM

    Remember these obscene figures on Election Day where the same parties of government want your vote while they reach deep into your pockets for every cent you have and more

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    May 17th 2014, 12:19 PM

    this is the REAL ‘entitlement culture’ problem in ireland !

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    Mute Dexter Ferguson
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    May 17th 2014, 10:19 AM

    He could be paid a million and what’s anyone going to do? Nothing!

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    Mute Patrick Moran
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    May 17th 2014, 9:13 AM

    Hey look, Shatter is gone and while it’s sickening to see him financially rewarded for the bad job he did, our system entitles him to it so let him have it. In the long run I think if he stayed he would likely cost the State multiples of whatever he gets with inquiries, legal challenges and potentially tribunals that would have to take place because of his misguided approach so we’re well rid, despite the money.

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    Mute Alan Foley
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    May 17th 2014, 11:57 AM

    Would pay a million so as not to have to see his smug little arrogant head ever again..

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    Mute Ronan Kenny
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    May 17th 2014, 5:01 PM

    A severence package?? How the hell did he manage to get that?? He quit!!! Or was he actualy fired and were all being spun another lie by thegovernment about whats going on in there???

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    Mute John gaughan
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    May 17th 2014, 9:29 AM

    He is worth every penny of it

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    Mute Padraig McHale
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    May 17th 2014, 9:46 AM

    got tired being johngahan did we?

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 17th 2014, 9:18 AM

    Of course we should pay Shatters pension because he’s worth it…..

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    Mute Anthony Halpin
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    May 17th 2014, 5:20 PM

    Oh the BullShatter will take it, guaranteed.

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    Mute Michael Sammon
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    May 17th 2014, 1:08 PM

    Why would he not take it?? I would.

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