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Column ‘I fear failing expectations’ – how the Leaving Cert results wait feels

Shelley Stafford describes the strange sensation of being in limbo, counting the days until that fateful envelope arrives.

Tomorrow, 57,000 students will receive their Leaving Cert results. Shelley Stafford is one of them. Here she describes how it feels.

I MEASURE  life in Wednesdays. An unusual little habit, I’m sure, but one I firmly believe I’m not alone in. At present, I suspect that the vast majority of the 57,000 Leaving Certificate students awaiting results might admit to sharing my unconventional calendar.

In only a matter of days, the eyes and expectations of the nation will fall once again upon our shoulders. The concept of results has haunted us from the very moment we sealed shut our last answer booklet. Ever since then, it has been a constant visitor in our day-to-day thoughts, occupying more and more of our headspace with each passing Wednesday.

Now, we’re standing in the looming shadow of the sheet of paper that will determine our immediate fate – what course we’ll get, what college we’ll go to and whether or not we might have to repeat. Its long-reaching arms sink deep into our consciousness, agitating our dreams and perpetrating nervous nightmares. (Tell me I’m not the only one who has dreamt about being trapped in a gargantuan brown envelope.) We will be the subject of the country’s fleeting obsession – newspaper headlines, radio debates and over-the-counter chit chat will all centre around us. Every student’s individual sweeping of letters and numbers will cumulate to form this years’ pointillistic Leaving Cert masterpiece. (Or minefield, depending on which way you look at it.)

Don’t think for even a moment that this sudden gush of attention doesn’t weigh heavily upon our weary hearts. Inevitably, there are people who’ll bask and shimmer in the glow of the momentary spot-light, who feel important, and encouraged as a facet of their lives is discussed at length by the entire population. Then there’s the likes of me, who wince and feel personally affrighted every time the dreaded “LC” words rear their head in wider conversation or in the media. Our achievements and our grades will be categorised and show-cased as varying degrees of appalling failure or blinding success. But statistics, as we learnt this year as part of the new Project Maths course, are pesky little divils who cannot, and must not be trusted entirely.

Paper thunder

But let’s backtrack a bit. I remember vividly the first Wednesday I adorned with the honour of being the ending/beginning of my week. Two weeks before D-Day, on the day I graduated from secondary school. It struck me quite suddenly then that weekends, and Mondays were quite, quite irrelevant when the summer was rolled out in front of me – my mid-week stepping stones leading the way to my future.

The exams themselves stretched across three weeks, languishing and hesitant to pass too quickly. For all the lead up, the mounds of exam advice and exam strategy, rarely does anyone comment on what it actually feels like to be sitting in that exam hall. The tick-tick-tick of beating clocks and watches. The hollow thud of ball-point pens on cold tables and, when Pleaney* didn’t come up in English Paper 2, the anguished sobs and disgruntled sighs amidst the frantic paper thunder as students ferociously combed through the pink pages.

Exhaustion and immense, all-encompassing and overwhelming pressure saturated the atmosphere, and sparked a sudden spike in the sales of chocolate bars and isotonic drinks in shops surrounding examination centres. (If I get as many points as I ate squares of chocolate during the Leaving Cert, I shall be a very happy lady.) Eventually, the Leaving Cert tossed our expended heads asunder and handed our hard work to the hoards of red and green pen fanatics – The Examiners. (Any group of people with the ability to inflict such terror into the hearts of its subjects deserves capital letters, surely?)

Fear of failing

We are now caught in a bizarre kind of limbo, walking slowly down the centre of each week. Nerves gradually mount in the corner of our minds as we live our lives away from the books that were our companions and acquaintances for two years, the occasional shudder creeping down our spines as the seal on our answer booklets were ripped open. But mostly, we’ve just been trying to get on with things. Celebrate a little bit after all the stress, try to scrape together a few euros and ponder how we’ll actually be able to fund college, if we manage to get in. We’ve been caught up in a strange little world where the days drag out to infinity and weeks pass in a heartbeat. Our final, momentous Wednesday is fast approaching.

What exactly comes after this in-between summer, in which the middle of the week is the most important? I’m not sure. None of us can be 100 per cent certain at this point. I’m wary of casting my mind much farther out than August 15. Fearful, really, if I’m being honest with myself. Who’s to say that dreaming too big and hoping too hard at this point wouldn’t be just the foundation for disappointment?

What’s most agonising, for me in any case, is the thought, and the fear of failing other people’s expectations. Falling short of your goals, the conformation of slipping at the final hurdle – these are the thoughts that form a mental barricade only a Wednesday away from here.

A2 Sister

I know the Leaving Certificate isn’t the be-all and end-all of your education, even if, sometimes, that’s the way it likes to flaunt itself. I’m assured, over and over, that by the time the offers are done and dusted the results will be completely forgotten. These results do not define you as a person. You will never ever be classified as an A2 Sister, or a B3 Son. I think maybe that’s the most important thing to remember when you’re handed that fated envelope.

And so here we are, tantalisingly close to the end of my quirky calendar year. Twelve weeks of Wednesdays, that’s all it is in reality. We’ve almost made it through the whole Leaving Cert, from beginning to end. There were nerves, tears, tantrums, laughter, screams and almost every emotion under the sun.

But if there’s one thing, one solitary complaint that I harbour about the Leaving Cert and all its assorted controversy and media madness, let it be this: we are taught, our whole lives, not to compare ourselves to other people. We learn from the time we can first write our own names to ‘strive to be the best version of yourself that you can be’. Yet the basis of the most colossal written examination we ever take undermines this fundamental life lesson. The bell-curve results system that we’re all going to be slotted into works entirely on comparison, it doesn’t have any room under its umbrella to measure your individuality.

I don’t know about anyone else, but that just seems a little bit off to me. It’s too late for me and my 57,000 peers at this stage. Oh, and don’t ask me how to fix it. I’m far too busy counting my Wednesdays.

Shelley Stafford will be getting her Leaving Cert results tomorrow.

*Pleaney = Plath and Heaney

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35 Comments
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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:48 PM

    Cancel the Pope – 10 – 20 million saved.

    Pay the Gardai

    Thank you

    642
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    Mute bings
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:52 PM

    @Ted Logan: Also cancel all politicians pay rise, junkets, double pensions, no receipts for expenses, etc save another 10-20 million

    605
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    Mute Kevin Moylan
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:38 PM

    @bings: do we need politicians in Ireland at all, seeing as it’s the EU and senior civil servants that are running the country

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 29th 2018, 8:13 AM

    @Ted Logan: Good pay. Retire at 50. Then 20-25 years of lovely pension payments. Where else would you get it. Certainly not in Private Sector. # Stop PS Gravy Train.

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:10 AM

    @Simon Peters: Not even one of those allegations is correct, not one

    But do let us know how your application goes thing time, I presume you have been applying for this cushy number for a while now, yes and once again recently when they announced another recruitment drive?

    https://publicjobs.ie

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    Mute Michael Carty
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    Jun 30th 2018, 12:17 AM

    @bings: What would you suggest is an appropriate salary for a TD, or a minister, such as minister for Finance?

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:42 PM

    This is just disgraceful. When you look at all the money that’s been squandered by this & passed governments! How can they say their going to spend 22 billions on the environment by 2040 for e.g. or the money waisted on the voting machines & eircode, not to mention the billions spent on that useless company that is iw! Massive bonuses & politicians on double pensions!

    377
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    Mute Alan Long
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:51 PM

    @Colette Kearns: it’s a sh it show the whole system is rotten to the core – the government wouldn’t manage a piss up in a brewery

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    Mute Alan Long
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:52 PM

    @Colette Kearns: it’s a – s hit show – the whole country is mess and the government keep going like everything is fine – the woudnt manage a play school

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    Mute Naoimh Ó Murchadha
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:30 PM

    @Colette Kearns: eircode is pretty good. Enter an eircom email into your sat nav and you are brought straight to the door.

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    Mute Incognito
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:54 PM

    And yet they’re gonna set aside 1.4 billion euro out of the budget to pay to banks the next time the economy crashes!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:20 PM

    @Colette Kearns: Considering the amount of tax taken from Garda doing overtime there should be plenty of cash available in government coffers.

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    Jun 29th 2018, 12:59 AM

    @Naoimh Ó Murchadha: Loc8 does a lot more for a lot less. Try it.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:52 PM

    Plenty money for the politicians, many of them claiming over 250k yearly expenses, no money for the gardai!

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    Mute DeFonz
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:37 PM

    It’s too nice a day to get me started…

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    Mute Carmel O'Dwyer
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:11 PM

    @DeFonz: :)

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    Mute Kevin Moylan
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:05 PM

    I’m Not surprised, a small fortune has been handed out to retiring commissioners over the past few years

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    Mute Pearse Mc Mullen
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:41 PM

    Should let the Gardaí themselves count the money earmarked for their wages for the year, i bet they will have at least 2 million left at years end going by previous counts they have done

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    Mute MerryLounyMcDonald
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:12 PM

    @Pearse Mc Mullen: your so blinded…just like every other govt dept the Garda have been underfunded for over a decade..funny how all the problems arose and continue to arise while funding is cut…out of date IT..old and unfit patrol cars…not enough supervision..not enough training…outdated buildings…shirt if staff…yet everyone expects a top world class police service…get real.

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:20 PM

    @Pearse Mc Mullen: well get a sense of humour after you do. Banging out the same 5hit€ all the time does not count as a sense of humour

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    Mute Sean
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:31 PM

    @Ohhh_reeally: Guys please can you calm down. I’m not going to let either of you stay up late to watch Transformers and I’m going to have a word with your teacher to see if you behave like this in class.

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:19 PM

    The Gardai are really doing a very good job in controlling crime to the best of their ability.
    If they put a cap on overtime it will make things very difficult.And yes,there are areas like Gas finals and concerts that should be made pay more to have Gardai at them.Im sure they DO pay something but not enough.
    WE cannot mess around with the Garda budget so they need to sort this out asap and keep a Garda presence around otherwise crime will definitely rise,simple as.

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    Mute high ho silver
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:27 PM

    Every service in the country is under funded,where’s all the money gone it’s gone on wages and pensions the only thing that is not under funded is the Dail where all the real crooks are

    108
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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:34 PM

    There might be enough money in the over all kitty if they weren’t doing stuff that required a tribunal every six months…

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    Mute Ciara Jones
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:47 PM

    The purge?

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    Mute CryptoSteve
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Ciara Jones: praying for the day

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    Mute Brian Jp Kelington
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:30 PM

    @Ciara Jones: i still remember our last purge like it was yesterday. Good time was had by all.

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    Mute Peter Daly
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    Jun 28th 2018, 5:59 PM

    They’re the nation’s police force. Just pay them.

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    Mute Gary Johnson Burke
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:44 PM

    @Peter Daly: shout it out Pete .

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 28th 2018, 8:57 PM

    @Peter Daly: Best paid police force in Europe. Pensions worth a staggering ONE MILLION if purchased in private sector. Guards have milked it for years. No guards on the beat, nicely tucked away doing passports or on Traffic duty. Please don’t compensate underachieving bureaucrats.

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:39 PM

    @Simon Peters: you’re obviously a dope. Lots of guards on the beat. Traffic policing is a function of every police force in the world. Guards dint make the rules about who signs passports and would also prefer the requirement for them to do so would be taken away. And, contrary to your uneducated bile spuing belief, they are not the best paid police force in Europe

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:19 AM

    @Simon Peters: Simon, I personally have pointed out how inncaurate your comments a number of times now

    Gardai earn leass gross than the London MET, Manchester, PSNI, Guardia Civil, Spanish national police, Gendarmes, German national police…………
    When cost of living is factored in they fall further down the scale and behind just about all western european police.

    Now, the pension. Can you provide the maths for that one? Again I ask this even though you ignore me and just shout the same hatred bile again in a months time. The magic million is bull, even the people that made that claim have never produced the maths. A small PR hungry company employed by a privaten entity with an agenda. Just ask the cigarette industry how unbaised that is!

    As for your last silly comment, 12000 Gardai including trainees and reserves makes them the worst manned police force in europe, almost the entire world! To match normal numbers and reach the UN considered average to achieve normal service they require an additional 8000 before retirement!

    But sure thats all just lies by me isnt it? Do let us know how the application is coming along, you did apply to join didnt you? Been 3 recruitment drives in the past 5 years. http://www.publicjobs.ie are still seeking civilian staff for the ‘cushy number’

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 29th 2018, 8:28 PM

    @Karl: Google Garda pensions costing millions. You will see many actuarial analysis of Garda pensions. You are on the best gravy train in the country. What the public get in return is a force that is so un sophisticated its laugh able. Ignorant sons and daughters of previous Garda. Continue the good work Peadar.

    1
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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 30th 2018, 1:14 AM

    @Simon Peters: I did and nope, all I get is the same allegations without evidence.

    Your allegation, can’t you back it up?

    Can you back any of it up? How about the wages? Admit that was a lie?

    1
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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 30th 2018, 8:55 AM

    @Karl: OK Karl since you probably don’t have broadband in your station and are not bothered to do the legwork (pun intended) here are a few links.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/6ld8us/a_standard_gardai_pension_is_worth_18_million/

    https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/public-sector-pensions-worth-millions-new-figures-show-1.3143604

    That took me all of 60 seconds now back get with the programme Karl. Take the finger out and do some work for that lovely pension

    1
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    Mute Cranky
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:14 PM

    Prioritise law and order not lining the pockets of politicians and councillors. €4 Billion spent annually on all things associated with the Irish language while old people are living in fear in isolated areas. The Gardai numbers need to be doubled and as they have the equivalent of 4 shifts when you consider holidays, sick days, court days, training etc. That means 75% of the Gardai are not on duty on any given day. No wonder crime increases at the rate it does.

    66
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    Mute Jarlath Murphy
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:13 PM

    The Gardai and numeracy doesn’t fill me with confidence, does this mean they will have 37 billions left over in Dec or does it mean they ran out of cash in 1977???

    65
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    Mute leartius
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:11 PM

    This 12.4 million overspend is on top of the 107 million overtime budget for the Gardaí. Seems small change but does the 20% overtime also relate to Gardaí standing around courts in terms of the 107 million budget. If so 21.4 million is handed over to Gardaí as a bonus for bringing people to court. It would seem part of their job description and should not be considered overtime.
    Is it not time we paid our Gardaí a proper wage and remove all these ‘extras’ conceded by weak governments to public service unions. It makes budgeting a impossibility and valuable court time is squandered on Gardaí trying to pay their Mortgage, childcare and living expenses.

    49
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    Mute MerryLounyMcDonald
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @leartius: if a garda goes to Court on his/her working day then they are tied up in court and not policing. If they go to Court on their rest day then they have to be paid overtime, no one works for free. So which do you want..Garda patrolling or waiting in a court room for their case to be dealt with? Or pay the OT?

    93
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    Mute Chicken George
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:07 PM

    @MerryLounyMcDonald: what I want is a criminal to go to prison for their crimes and not waste Gardai time arresting the same people over and over again.

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    Mute Richard Sweeney
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:32 PM

    @Chicken George: Decriminalisation of drugs should help in this regard too.

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:40 PM

    @MerryLounyMcDonald: you are correct, it is very hard to arrange court times, one could be there from 11am, and that would probably be starting work at 10am in order to get there, or a lot earlier if one had to go to Dublin from the country. You might not get out until evening time. Now that is poor value for time and a half, no policing done there . This cannot be avoided , and adds significantly to the OT bill , it cannot be factored in at the beginning of the year. The Courts are very outdated I believe, and needs a reformation. You see we are still using the old systems inherited from the British, all that Public Service needs reform..

    30
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:27 PM

    @MerryLounyMcDonald: I am sure that a lot of these court cases are fixed fines and wouldn’t ordinarily require a gardas appearance.

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:24 AM

    @leartius: so much wrong about that statement.

    Gardai get paid overtime when they are dragged to court on their day off. Thats not nice by the way, you work a night shift then go to court for 10am and see if you enjoy it

    Some of the extras have been merged into core pay and you will find its government and not unions (of which the gardai dont have) that insisted on doing it that way. Personally I agree its a silly method.

    Unions: Largest unions are private, more strike and industrial action days lost in the PRIVATE sector than the public. The last strike was by the LUAS which is a PRIVATE company

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    Mute MerryLounyMcDonald
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    Jun 29th 2018, 4:25 PM

    @Chris Kirk: I am sure you are wrong..Courts neex evidence given by Gardaí and witnesses..nothing else cuts the mustard.

    1
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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 6:01 PM

    @Chicken George: that’s fine dodging but could you answer the question? Afterall, you are the one that can’t comprehend why gardai claim overtime for court

    1
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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 6:02 PM

    @Richard Sweeney: works for cigarettes and alcohol.

    Absolutely no criminals smuggling that in anymore and no Garda, court and customs time spent chasing those criminals, checking licenses and seizing the goods.

    1
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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:57 PM

    There is nothing new here, that has been the F G way every time they have been in Government, they cut the Guards pay one time back in the 50s . FG never had any respect for Gardai. Surely the Dept of Justice should know at the estimates what amount of money is required. Hopefully, Drew Harris will get stuck in and get better equipment, Cars, Jeeps, Motor Cycles etc. Some Stations are in a horrible state, portacabins around them, people not having proper facilities to work in. Training is another sore point, just not happening, no in service training. As I say, hopefully Harris will get the force up in line with PSNI.. We’ll see.

    56
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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 28th 2018, 8:59 PM

    @Eugene Comaskey: Gardai have hoodwinked you. Please look at their pay and PENSIONS. Retire at 52. A joke.

    27
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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:44 PM

    @Simon Peters: no, retire after 30 years

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    Mute An bhearna
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:55 PM

    @Simon Peters: Retire after 30 years service you mean. 30 years of protecting society, even bitter trolls like you, from the dregs of society.

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 29th 2018, 8:29 PM

    @An bhearna: You are having a g i r a f f e.

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:04 PM

    €60 million for a pay rise last year lads,pay demands are unsustainable.those at the top in public services must take a cut.

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:01 PM

    @@mdmak33: Fair play. We have a lot of PS workers acting like Russian computer bots spreading fake news. Guards have it handy. Easy number with great pay.

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    Mute Pius Flynn
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    Jun 29th 2018, 12:47 AM

    @Simon Peters: A lot of cops on here under fake names. Makes a joke of the comments section allowing people to hide behind fake names.

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    Mute Shane O'S
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    Jun 29th 2018, 2:22 AM

    @Simon Peters: drive on and apply so. They’re recruiting.

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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Jun 28th 2018, 8:09 PM

    The Commissioner’s salary was increased, plus the extra security to guard him will be tremendous… and elderly rural dwellers continue to be vulnerable.

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    Mute Andy mc Laughlin
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    Jun 28th 2018, 8:00 PM

    How much is spent on inquiry’s into Garda wrong doing? This country is a comedy show!

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    Mute purple rain
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:36 PM

    how much will we spend to show Harry and Meghan around for a holiday on us.

    26
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    Mute Keith Murray
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:16 PM

    Waste of money any way! Look at how they treated the public during the while water waste???? Joke just like r.t.e seriously u couldn’t buy that

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:42 PM

    @Keith Murray: cool contribution

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    Mute Martin Gordon
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    Jun 28th 2018, 11:25 PM

    @Keith Murray: alright Keith go back to sleep now

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 6:04 PM

    @Keith Murray: superman Keith will save us all

    (Ever even applied to join?)

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Jun 28th 2018, 8:34 PM

    My god prince Charles came to Kerry I never knew we had that many guards in the Country if anyone was going to shoot him it would have happened a long time ago . They went totally overboard not surprised the kitty is empty

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:27 AM

    @Donal Carey: so dlont protect him and then what? Have you condemn the lack of effort?

    Preventative policing requires more manpower than response policing. Simple reality of how it works

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    Mute William Rowlands
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:01 PM

    Because our government would rather pay the British SS to run our country I am so vexed I could burst

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:43 PM

    @William Rowlands: well ye didn’t want a guard so while you’re vexed I’m delighted. Can’t please everyone I suppose

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    Mute Dessie Daly
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    Jun 28th 2018, 9:50 PM

    Can someone please explain where my taxes have gone? No Garda, no Doctors or Nurses, No transport, No houses, No water. I’m not having it. Where has my money gone? I want answers!! Fu€k the government. We need an uprising. Put these slimey slithering cun£$ back in there place

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    Mute Pius Flynn
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    Jun 29th 2018, 1:05 AM

    @Dessie Daly: 3,500 per week to Brian, Bertie etc.
    Leitrim, population less than 30000, County Managers pay €650 per day, four or five directors of services €400 + per day I could go on, but if you want to know where the money goes, the information is available.

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    Mute Aaron Mac Gabhann
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    Jun 28th 2018, 7:31 PM

    250k for the commissioner… I think he was sold a pup..

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:48 PM

    All caused by a Bad pay agreement.
    Instead of restoring a portion of pay taken in austerity they choose to restore pay from within the current overtime budget, so as not to knock on that to other employees in different departments.

    33% of this overtime spend is part of FEMPI being unwound. Go back to the table and put them under the now existing pay agreement and return that overtime to operational duties.

    Still far from the HSE over runs, for now …..until they keep digging and create a HSE model of policing based on a tribunal of fiction

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    Mute eileen boles
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    Jun 28th 2018, 6:47 PM

    Lookin forward to bein able to make a citizens arrest!

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    Mute Dessie Daly
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:00 PM

    It’s scare mongering. There afraid of whistle blowers so there telling the staff the can’t afford them to keep them shut

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    Mute Moorooka Mick
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    Jun 29th 2018, 12:53 AM

    Just take the E13 billion from Apple.

    Perhaps we need a Sinn Fein Government to collect the tax including that from the other hitechs & the chemical/pharma cos.There’s probably another E30 billion in the offing .

    The EC Tax Commissioner will do the hatchet job & all the Government has to do is to collect. Easy!

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:28 AM

    @Moorooka Mick: Dunno if kneecapping the owners of multinational companies is the best longterm strategy

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    Mute GorillaGrower
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:07 PM

    All brought to you by the economic policy of ? That’s right folks you’ve guessed it. FG, FF !

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 29th 2018, 11:31 AM

    Overtime is a messy affair, the majority goes on unexpected stuff like a Garda having to stay on to deal with a case or an event. Court takes more then when you get dragged in on your day off.

    The money would be better spent on a proper, modern justice system where the police are not living inside courts and detectives investigate. Is there any country that has our system where the uniform Garda that patrols is also the one that takes the complaint, investigates the crime and prosecutes it in court???

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    Mute Simon Peters
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    Jun 29th 2018, 8:59 PM

    @Karl: Are you on overtime now? Do you ever sh ut up? Did you learn how to use a computer yet sitting in the station stamping those passport forms?

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    Mute Karl
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    Jun 30th 2018, 1:10 AM

    @Simon Peters: hey Simon, any comment about the less you posted yesterday? The overs about the gardai bring on more money than the psni, London met, etc?

    How about the maths supporting your pension claims?

    Maybe after your application has been accepted we can talk more? You have put it in now haven’t you? Cushy number and all.

    (I have no idea why you are so angry over passports though, bizarre thing to get upset about)

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Jul 1st 2018, 4:19 PM

    @Simon Peters: have you ever had a passport form signed at a garda station by a garda? Why didn’t you just get it done elsewhere?

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    Mute Malachy
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    Jun 28th 2018, 11:38 PM

    Who the hell does your accounts?

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    Mute Quiggers
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    Jun 29th 2018, 1:12 AM

    twill be grand. shut can’t the ECB just print some paper

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    Mute Ciaran Peavoy
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    Jun 28th 2018, 10:50 PM

    The Guards are vital and need major funding and updating. They also need proper punishment for the criminals who are continuously released early or given suspended sentences despite having dozens of convictions. I can’t even imagine how disheartening it is to go to the effort of catching them only to see them out in no time.

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