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"Hello, can you put me through to the Skype facility, please?" Photocall Ireland

There is a 'Skype facility' in Leinster House after all. Well, sort of...

TheJournal.ie has done some digging today…

THE CONTROVERSY OVER a Fine Gael TD’s €2,000 worth of calls from Leinster House to Kenya has led to, er, calls for TDs and Senators to use free internet phone services such as Skype instead of phones paid for by the taxpayer.

Michelle Mulherin has since repaid the money for the international calls to Africa which she insists were not personal.

She told the Irish Independent today that she would love a system within the Dáil where “an alarm bell or system would notify people if there are high tariffs on particular calls”.

The Mayo deputy went onto tell the paper that “even a Skype facility within Leinster House” would be useful.

As you might expect, this drew some derision online today.

But it does beg the question as to whether TDs, Senators and anyone else working in Leinster House can actually use applications like Skype.

So we asked…

Authorities have confirmed that members and staff are restricted from installing software such as Skype on Oireachtas devices, including their computers, as they are not administrators.

This was confirmed by Fianna Fáil senator Thomas Byrne on Twitter today:

However, a spokesperson for the Houses of the Oireachtas said that Skype can be accessed on personal devices as long as they’re connected to certain WiFi networks operating in the complex.

Several different WiFi networks operate within Leinster House with different security protocols for each based on who is using them.

“Skype can be accessed if connected to the correct tier and users experiencing problems should contact the ICT Support Desk,” a spokesperson said.

Theoretically Skype can be used on non-Oireachtas laptops and mobile devices connected to the guest WiFi operating in Leinster House.

This network is used by media organisations including TheJournal.ie. So, this afternoon we successfully placed a Skype call back to our main HQ on this guest WiFi network.

The spokesperson added that another WiFi network allows access to Skype for “known mobile devices”.

What about other services?

As for other internet phone services such as Apple’s FaceTime, Byrne claimed on Twitter today that even that doesn’t work in Leinster House:

However, using the same Leinster House guest WiFi network we normally use TheJournal.ie was able to FaceTime with our former colleague and Today FM’s political correspondent Gavan Reilly in Leinster House this evening.

We had a right laugh together as you can see:

IMG_4603

Unfortunately this particular network does not appear to be available to TDs or Senators.

Fine Gael TD: “Yes, I made some calls to Africa. None of them were personal.”

Read: 7 inevitable responses to Michelle Mulherin’s call for a Dáil ‘Skype facility’

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71 Comments
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:53 PM

    Cudda wudda shudda Philly…another pathetic mess.

    107
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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:08 PM

    Statement of the BLEDDING OBVIOUS ….. Incompetent …. ” sure they’ll know they’ve no wTer when they turn on the tap “”"” FOOLS COUKDNT ORGANISE A PISS UP IN GUINNESS

    64
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    Mute Mark Campbell
    Favourite Mark Campbell
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:24 PM

    Pathetic is right,highest paid public sector workers in Europe and this is what we get for it.

    59
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
    Favourite Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Oct 31st 2013, 8:12 PM

    Agreed, Mark. Instead of highly paid public sector workers, like teachers on jobbridge, we should have low paid private sector workers like Quinn, Fingleton, Drumm, etc. Because they’re honest, decent, incorruptible, hard working people with the interests of the people at their hearts.

    32
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    Mute Mark Campbell
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    Oct 31st 2013, 11:30 PM

    Yeah and was it the public sector banking regulator that allowed it all to happen. Then rode off into the sunset with a fat lump sum and pension?

    7
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    Mute Petr Tarasov
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    Oct 31st 2013, 11:33 PM

    @Mark

    PWNED!

    1
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    Mute RP McMurphy
    Favourite RP McMurphy
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:08 PM

    Good man Phil….couldn’t be bothered communicating it correctly he’s so used to just telling whoever what to do! The most ignorant, self-obsessed man I have ever had the misfortune to have worked with. Only the threat of business’ refusing to pay water rates is in the offing, we would not have heard from him! He is THE original Irish ‘let them eat cake’ sort of man-een bully.

    104
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    Mute Ben Reilly
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:45 PM

    The pictures of him off boozing with his “Personal assistant” whilst the household charge was being introduced says it all really!

    66
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    Mute 'Bull' Mick Daly
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:33 PM

    People asleep on the job,they blamed recent wet weather!!!! Are they for real!!

    86
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    Mute Rory O'Brien
    Favourite Rory O'Brien
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:20 PM

    HOLD ON! He reckons that the communication was handled badly! This from the biggest PR UNFRIENDY AND INEPPT buffoon in Leinster house !

    73
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:34 PM

    All the special advisors these ministers have and he Hogan comes out with that crap.

    44
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    Mute AICS (Steve Tracey)
    Favourite AICS (Steve Tracey)
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:59 PM

    They cock it up, don’t plan and then send Phil “clueless” Hogan out to apologise and make things better, what a brilliant choice. Keep going boys you’re making things worse every minute.

    55
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    Mute JayTee
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:51 PM

    The government was warned years ago….hypocrites

    47
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:30 PM

    “It’s their fault, they created the mess and we have to make difficult decisions”.. So there !!!!

    47
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    Mute legoman❗
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    Oct 31st 2013, 9:13 PM

    If it’s yellow let it mellow if it’s brown flush it down.

    13
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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:46 PM

    What IS the problem?

    42
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    Mute Little Jim
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    Oct 31st 2013, 6:51 PM

    We have to wait for a grown-up to have a look.

    65
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Nov 1st 2013, 12:28 AM

    Ultimately it’s a network that loses 40-50% of what it produces. The problem is silt apparently.

    3
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    Mute Barry Ryan
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:19 PM

    They say that about everything! Well… everything could have been handled better. Selfish, me fein, corruprt, deluded, out of touch with the people and scary idiot’s running the Country!

    38
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    Mute TheIrishBrain
    Favourite TheIrishBrain
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:14 PM

    The water is too wet in Ireland

    33
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    Mute Robert Hayes
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:22 PM

    It’s the wrong type of water…….
    Pathetic shower of over -paid ,under -worked shower of wasters.
    Take them all out and dump them in the sewage treatment plant in Ringsend.
    Maybe that is out of service also.

    34
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    Mute Frank Mc Carney
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    Oct 31st 2013, 8:19 PM

    Doubt if it could handle that much s**t

    19
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    Mute Roddie Cleere
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:59 PM

    Resign

    26
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    Mute Mark Campbell
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:28 PM

    Oh if only we had accountability in this country,nobody ever resigns and they will just let the latest storm blow over. Probably give themselves an increment for dealing with the stress of it all.

    23
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    Mute AICS (Steve Tracey)
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:34 PM

    Mark, this comment is needless, of course they will it goes without saying

    12
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    Mute Frank Mc Carney
    Favourite Frank Mc Carney
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    Oct 31st 2013, 8:15 PM

    Yes DCC certainly made a cock up BUT
    Hogan master communicator criticising them —— well that sure is the pot calling the kettle black. Who is responsible for cock up over 2014 property tax payments??? Oh yes Hogan you indeed are the master communicator or perhaps bullshitter might be more apt.

    22
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    Mute susanna smyth
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    Oct 31st 2013, 8:42 PM

    This is the kind of third world service that scares companies thinking of setting up to do business in Ireland and his thick rhetoric on air today shows we ‘re not progressing but going backwards

    17
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    Mute Sharon Obrien
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:34 PM

    We are drinking this shit and there could be anything wrong with it,if they dont know what the problem is how do they know its safe for us to use.

    21
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:20 PM

    And if me aunty had b**** she’d be me uncle

    16
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    Mute Mary Griffin
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:34 PM

    Phil Hogan says it was handled badly. He must have gone to Communications Clinic lately so as I would have thought he would not have any expertise in this area. If he has he has hidden it well.

    16
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Oct 31st 2013, 9:26 PM

    I’m actually surprised the pile of ignorant sh1t hasn’t ordered revenue to look after it.
    Christ, he’s one buffon . Small wonder he can’t show his face in Carlow.

    14
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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Oct 31st 2013, 8:11 PM

    Well Phil a good place to start handling things properly is by telling the truth and stop hiding it. You want the people who pay you’re wages to be less up set with you well give the true facts we’re growing ups for the most part.

    14
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Oct 31st 2013, 7:32 PM

    Government entered a tug of war competition and got disqualified for pushing

    14
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    Mute John
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    Oct 31st 2013, 10:04 PM

    There is only one way to settle this political circus and that is for FG/L to resign tomorrow at 9am.

    12
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    Mute Dhakina's Sword
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    Nov 1st 2013, 12:34 AM

    I’d be delighted with that, even if we had to allow them a concession of having a lie in till’ ten, or eleven.

    5
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    Mute Toby Parker
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    Oct 31st 2013, 9:46 PM

    Everything this eejit does could have been done better.

    12
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    Mute Cardboard Cut Out
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    Oct 31st 2013, 10:50 PM

    Am I being too synical in thinking that the timing of this is priceless…. two months before charges come in. Frighten the sheeples into paying their water charges. We had the hottest, summer in a million years n not a whisper about a water shortage

    11
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    Mute DeclanFlynn
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    Oct 31st 2013, 9:04 PM

    How long til Phil decides the best way to solve this water problem is to introduce a new fee of some kind? Maybe a tax on taps or a levy on loos?

    A flush counter could be installed on every toilet in the state. They would wirelessly report your flush usage back to Phil and the Dept of Finance can then deduct it straight from your wages.

    11
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    Mute John Ward
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    Nov 1st 2013, 12:43 AM

    That bastard Hogan will tax our piss if he can get away with it!

    10
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    Mute Niamh Okelly Odoherty
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    Nov 1st 2013, 8:02 AM

    Just wondering next year when the water charges come into effect and these goons decide to cut off the water supply can we take them to court for failing to supply a service that we have paid for (probably in advance mind you ) lol

    3
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    Mute Aidan Mulligan Mull
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    Nov 1st 2013, 3:34 AM

    Just get Garyhinch reservoir on the way i know it’s years away but it would end the problem stop the stalling

    2
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    Mute John Fitzgerald
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    Nov 2nd 2013, 12:24 PM

    Like you did with LPT Phil

    1
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    Mute Martin Gorry
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    Nov 1st 2013, 12:51 PM

    This man is unfit for public office. He is appears to struggle with the simplest task.

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    Mute Robert Squires
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    Oct 31st 2013, 11:36 PM

    You will never run dry when you have a RainShed Harvesting water supply .

    1
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