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[File photo] Photocall Ireland

Mystery surrounds the work of Bertie's €265k secretaries

A report in today’s Sunday Times has revealed that €265,000 has been allotted to Bertie Ahern since he stepped down in 2008 for ‘secretarial services’ relating to his role as a former Taoiseach.

THE WORK OF two secretarial assistants who are employed by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at a cost of more than quarter of a million euro to the taxpayer remains a mystery.

A report by Colin Coyne in today’s Sunday Times details how Ahern has claimed €265,000 in expenses for secretarial services since he stepped down in 2008. He’s entitled to two secretaries for five years from the date he ceased to be the leader of the country, and one secretary after that. All former Taoisigh are entitled to the same staff allowances.

A spokesperson from the Department of the Taoiseach told TheJournal.ie that there are no specific details available on the role of secretarial assistants to former Taoisigh. They are not allowed to be engaged in any constituency or political work, and can assist the former Taoiseach in aspects of public life.

According to the Deparment of the Taoiseach the maximum amount that one of these secretarial assistants can be paid is €55,415 per annum. Ahern appears to be taking full advantage of the allotted monies, claiming €114,369 in secretarial expenses in 2009, and €106,838 in 2010, according to Colin Coyne’s report in the Sunday Times.

He is also entitled to mobile phone expenses, and has claimed in excess of  €200 a month so far this year – €7,500 in total since 2008.

Bertie Ahern receives a pension of €150,000 a year as a former TD and minister, while he also takes in substantial income from private speaking engagements and appearances.

The Department of the Taoiseach spokesperson noted to TheJournal.ie that a comprehensive review of expenses paid out is currently underway, while a Fianna Fáil spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that the party does not comment on individual’s expenses.

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67 Comments
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    Mute FG2016
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    Nov 16th 2012, 1:52 PM

    “I’m just so disappointed”, said head “man of the people” on €250k per year, “I was really hoping to be able to sit on the 23rd storey of our glass mansion and look down on people”

    128
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 1:58 PM

    Just like FG/FF/Labour!

    62
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    Mute FG2016
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:02 PM

    What?

    16
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:08 PM

    Are you shocked, that these parties pay themselves like Lords and Ladies, while treating the citizens like cashcows?

    44
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    Mute Daniel Dudek Corrigan
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:09 PM

    Will you just quit moaning about 250k?!

    So should we never build anything ever again, unless it is managed by someone on 35k?!

    65
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    Mute Jay funk
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:16 PM

    The top 3 stories were actually going to be public spaces, but agree it was a bit of a vanity project

    25
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    Mute John Scott
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    Nov 16th 2012, 5:21 PM

    may be a cut in fees now not b4 time

    8
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 1:47 PM

    They should march on the streets and protest, Oh hang on they don’t do that anymore?

    64
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    Mute Kitty Prendergast
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    Nov 17th 2012, 1:17 AM

    Never mind marching, where are they getting the kind of money it takes to demolish and rebuild a skyscraper in the middle of a capital city?? Surely it could be put to better use. Surely THEY could be put to better use!

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    Mute Damocles
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:00 PM

    Do they still use it? It looks abandoned.

    62
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    Mute Michael Cunningham
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    Nov 16th 2012, 4:42 PM

    That is one ugly building.

    43
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    Mute Joe Loughrey
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    Nov 16th 2012, 5:57 PM

    I know I’m in a minority here but I like liberty hall. Apart from what seems to be a bit of a waste of money and no doubt endless roadworks on the quays if it was replaced, it’s always been part of the Dublin skyline as long as I’ve been alive.

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    Mute John Scott
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    Nov 30th 2012, 5:23 PM

    they do now is it not time to drop there fees to the workers. it is about time .

    2
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    Mute Reg
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:02 PM

    What is going on with councils in this country. Why are they granting permission for projects that are in breach of their own development plans only the to have them overturned at great expense and waste to all concerned?

    55
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    Mute Daithí Naughton
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    Nov 16th 2012, 1:57 PM

    Maybe now they’ll be made restore what was once a masterpiece of Modern Architecture after letting it fall into hideous disrepair for the past 45 years!

    50
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    Mute Jay funk
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:14 PM

    It was never a masterpiece, a nice building before they changed the windows but never a masterpiece

    38
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    Mute Eric Chubb
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:07 PM

    Good to know those union subscription fees were being put to good use. Oh wait…

    48
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    Mute Brian Daly
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:24 PM

    Liberty Hall is an iconic Dublin building that SIPTU shouldn’t be allowed demolition. They have been very poor custodians of the building – look at what they did the window and the way the entrance area is maintained and the crap signage at ground floor level. You can’t blame people for having a negative view of a building that looks shabby.

    What would be great to see is the building restored, “up lighting” put under the roof canopy and spruce up of the ground floor entrance and environs.

    I don’t think that Liberty Hall was ever supposed to be a lone tall building in the city centre. It would be good to see it get a few brothers and sisters in the ‘hood.

    44
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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:05 PM

    Tara street station Redevelopment

    http://archiseek.com/tag/tara-street-station-redevelopment/

    Hawkin House planned demolition and replaced with mid and high-rise buildings.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0208/1224311460512.html

    14
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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    Nov 17th 2012, 12:43 PM

    Liberty hall is uglier than a communist era tower you’d see in Minsk. Tear down that monstrosity. It’s embarrassing especially being across the road from the ulster bank hq

    1
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    Mute David Kennedy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 4:51 PM

    Can someone explain to me why SIPTU needs to have such a marquee location and 23 stories of it? I would have presumed that TUs were not for profit?

    If I were paying subs (and i never would) to these bearded representatives of the ‘working people,’ I’d be seriously questioning the logic of this vanity project.

    Trade Unions have a place in protecting genuine workers rights but SIPTU is an ‘old boys club,’ that does nothing but use its scale to hinder Ireland’s return to competitiveness and ultimately cost jobs.

    32
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:21 PM

    Ah now I know where my union subs are going!!! Why don’t they hire the unemployed people they represent to update the building with all the money they have!

    25
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:29 PM

    No redevelopment, no jobs !

    19
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    Mute Garrett Mullan
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    Nov 16th 2012, 4:51 PM

    they should have bn given permission. we need high rise landmark buildings

    17
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    Mute Damocles
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    Nov 16th 2012, 5:16 PM

    Why?

    5
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    Mute Eoin Norris
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    Nov 16th 2012, 11:50 PM

    The Journal used to be fun. Unfortunately it’s been taken over by the miserable bunts who dominate the Irish Internet. Wawawa bearded. Wawawa Edna. Wawawa property tax. Wawawawawa. It’s like 3 year olds with keyboards.

    I like liberty hall. The new building would have been interesting, just because some of the city is Georgian doesn’t mean it can’t build up in certain parts.

    16
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    Mute Frank2521
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:29 PM

    It is a sad reflection on the planners and architects of Dublin City Council when they passed the planning for this glass block. These guys travel Europe and the world on junkets looking at beautiful buildings and come back and grant permission for this thing that a child could design. If they simply looked at the Custom House and thought about our Georgian city for 1 minute they might appreciate architecture a little more. We get what we deserve. If they want to create employment may I suggest they knock down most of the buildings that DCC passed for planning like Prioy Hall and others and redesign and build them properly and safely.

    15
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    Mute Damocles
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:47 PM

    They should remove it. I don’t think it should be replaced.

    13
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    Mute Bobby
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    Nov 16th 2012, 5:14 PM

    They will put it to every member of the joke of a union they call SIPTU to march on Leinster house til they get what they want….pack of whining toss pots….

    12
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    Mute Colin Murray
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    Nov 16th 2012, 3:44 PM

    They should restore the existing building. There’s no reason it can’t be given a modern facelift for a fraction of the price. It would be a shame to see this building go.. I love it!

    12
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    Mute gerry
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:10 PM

    Now, go and strike about THAT!!

    9
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:05 PM

    It would be great if they would do that and have a restaurant and viewing area on the floor under the frill.

    8
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    Mute FG2016
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:06 PM

    Yeah, the caviar bar and money fighting room would also be a nice touch.

    26
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    Mute Leigh Barker
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    Nov 16th 2012, 5:30 PM

    Another Guinness Storehouse? Not the most imaginative. Were they proposing to open it up for the public then? Presume there would be a charge at the door…

    I kind of imagined something more like a casino perhaps, with some dancing girls for the boys with exceedingly high wages to play with… All courtesy of TU subscriptions.

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    Mute Michael Mulhern
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    Nov 16th 2012, 8:18 PM

    Unions are past their sell by date. They should share out the loot that they have taken to their members and quietly go to the great union in the sky

    15
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    Mute Liam Kennedy
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    Nov 16th 2012, 9:16 PM

    provided the restaurant revolved. food tastes better when you’re revolving!

    2
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    Mute Graham Carrick
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    Nov 17th 2012, 12:41 PM

    FG2016 you are without doubt the most bitter loser I’ve ever come across. Stop complaining

    1
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    Mute ROBERTO
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    Nov 17th 2012, 12:51 AM

    Well done to An Taisce

    5
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    Mute Brian Daly
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    Nov 16th 2012, 2:26 PM

    We should bring this back on Fridays! :) http://playhouse.daft.ie/

    4
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    Mute Michael Byrne
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    Nov 16th 2012, 11:08 PM

    They should demolish it but only with all siptu reps in it-they are a joke. They don’t even have the welfare of workers at heart only jobs for the boys.

    4
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    Mute Johnny Hegarty
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    Nov 17th 2012, 11:38 AM

    A vanity project for those that waste the money of Irish workers and protect high salaries, archaic work practices and jobs for the boys …… Policies that increase unemployment and prevent recovery for all. The pursuit of this project is disgusting in this time and never made economic or cultural sense. Repair the building. Act responsibly. Start protecting jobs rather than archaic and inefficient work practices.

    3
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