FF use of State assets

[thebig C]

Taoiseach defends use of helicopter - National - News

I know Senior members of the government will by necessity have to use Air Corps helicopters from time to time. Thats acceptable.

What is not acceptable is using State property to enhanse yor own personal life.

And its FFers feeling of being almost by birthright entitled to do so, that myself and most ordinary citizens most people find very galling!

C

[DCon]

people people. There are no State assets. There are only FF (and Harney) assets that they can and do use for whatever means they feel will benefit their lives.

[121.5]

Cowen is COMPLETELY out of touch with the gravity and reality of the morass of the Nations finances

HE MUST GO OR BE TAKEN OUT

Fianna FAIL again

[thebig C]

Thats perhaps the most annoying aspect.

Not the misuse of the helicopter, but rather, Cowens glib response!

He really doesn't "get" it!!

C

[revereie]

He said it was official business - have we seen anything to indicate it was otherwise ?

I agree that much of the fingerpointing is petty (and without foundation).

[flavirostris]

Seems these guys haven't progressed from the days of Sean Doherty who was like some gombeen version of Col Kilgore, choppering around the country like a madman. It added to his profile and sense of self-importance.
Wonder who the minister involved was?
Pity they couldn't have done an Apocalypse Now style take-off from the centre of McHale park with the minister hanging on to the struts and 10,000 baying Gaelic fans hurling bottles and cans.

[Digout]

Why are we doing nothing about this?

[Digout]

Who was the FFer?

[leroy42]

Cowen's reply seemed to indicate that this was merely a diversion of the route, the minister was returning from official state business and instead ofbeing dropped back at the base and getting a car the chopper took him direct.

This should be really easy to check up, exactly what was the nature of the business is was on prior to the match, why he ned ed a chopper to bring him to it and back?

I wil not be holding my breath for the media to force this issue. In UK they would pull the records to verify the PM's version of the events. Any chance of this happening here, or more likely we accept Cowen's response and move on.

[myk]

Cowen's reply seemed to indicate that this was merely a diversion of the route, the minister was returning from official state business and instead ofbeing dropped back at the base and getting a car the chopper took him direct.

This should be really easy to check up, exactly what was the nature of the business is was on prior to the match, why he ned ed a chopper to bring him to it and back?

I wil not be holding my breath for the media to force this issue. In UK they would pull the records to verify the PM's version of the events. Any chance of this happening here, or more likely we accept Cowen's response and move on.

Surely there is a significant time and fuel cost from having a helicopter take off and land. It is not like a car pulling in on the side of the road for someone to jump out!

I read a suggestion on another discussion website that the minister involved was Coughlan.