George Lee: A Courageous Dissenter

[former wesleyan]

He's not going back to RTE because he's got some kind of deal. He's a member of the board as it were. He can't be shifted.

[laidback]

Bill to the Taxpayer.

1. His RTE job (as licence fee payers) before he quit to join Fine Gael
2. The by-election in Dublin South that got him elected
3. His salary as a TD, and that of his two staff
4. The by-election to fill the seat he's now quit from
5. His salary in RTE if he goes back to it (which he's bloody likely to)

The bye election that got him elected is not relevant to your point that his going costs the taxpayer. That bye election related to Seamus Brennan's death. It is likely that a bye election for his seat won't be held for some months - look at the delay in holding the one in Donegal - and its certainly not going to be this month so there is a saving on his salary and expenses.

The two staff - I presume you mean his secretary and parliamentary assistant - these would be paid anyway regardless as to who holds the seat in Dublin South. All TDs are supplied with a fulltime secretary and a parliamentary assistant.

He was on unpaid leave from RTE so the taxpayer was not paying on the double. He said he has applied to go back, and he has a legal right to, but RTE may not be immediately able to use him and I understand in such cases employers can delay the return for some months. I know public servants who could not get back from career breaks when they wanted to, on the grounds that vacancies at their grade were not immediately available.

If he can't get back immediately he may not be eligible for dole (aka jobseeker benefit) because he left his job. He would have to establish to the satisfaction of the social welfare official dealing with him that he had good grounds for leaving his last job! This all assumes TDs pay class A PRSI.

Overall I cannot see any significant cost to the taxpayer from his decision.

Personally I would have preferred he remained as an Independent. In the current tight numbers situation in the Dail he might have had some influence.

[petervalhala]

I don't blame him for resigning, I applaud his resolution of an impossible situation.

Bollox, he's nothing more than a coward, who has decided to throw this toys out of the pram.

Kenny appointed him committee chairman, yet he never got off his arse to organise a single meeting of that committee.

[absconded]

He certainly does look like a quitter now. If he does go back to RTÉ this impression will become indelible.

Ever heard the expression, "the clever ones quit"?

[petervalhala]

George Lee resigned his position at RTE to enter politics .That was an act of courage.

George Lee resigned as a TD and from Fine Gael . That too is an act of courage.

Some courage when he can go back to RTE at the same pay scale

[odie1kanobe]

He has no chance of reporting on Irish Matters again as standard response from anybody is "why should I listen to you as you are a quitter".

[petervalhala]

I have always admired George Lee's economic analysis on RTE. However he has behaved like a spoilt child. He could have remained on in the Dail as an independent. He could then have put forward his earth shattering ideas to save Ireland. Quitters are of little benefit to this country. He has left the voters of Dublin South high and dry. Ridiculous.

+1

[Hillmanhunter1]

And the word for today is.................................... Dilettante!

[goosebump]

I wonder will he now be publishing whatever wondrous economic policies that FG didn't want to talk about?

Let me guess: it involves some sort of stimulous...

[goosebump]

And the word for today is.................................... Dilettante!

Wrong. Its 'ego'.