We keep hearing that this new ministerial transport scheme is saving the taxpayer money compared to the previous regime. That may very well be true, we might be saving money but I think there is more scope for ministers to benefit than under the previous scheme. When the merc, petrol and garda wages were paid, the money never touched or rested in the account of ministers. Now where that money is handed to the minister to pay for his/her driver, car expenses and fuel, there is question marks over how much is 'left' of the generous milage allowances after the true costs have been covered.

I get the feeling, that we might be saving money under this new scheme but the ministers are getting more out of it for their pockets.

Where are the apologists? Maybe they will be in on the night shift!

Not entirely the same thing but shows the FF trend continues.

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Another FG councillor, Fred Forsey, is in court today accussed of corruption and receiving one €60,000 and two €10,000 bungs from a property developer. It just goes on and on. FG are worse than FF. What a shambles.

this is a disgrace....what are fg up to?
this was wrong when ff tds were up to this, and even worse when fg (who claimed to know better and hold public office to higher standards) are caught up in this.

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001

Making gain or causing loss by deception.
6.—(1) A person who dishonestly, with the intention of making a gain for himself or herself or another, or of causing loss to another, by any deception induces another to do or refrain from doing an act is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, Section 6


False accounting.
10.—(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he or she dishonestly, with the intention of making a gain for himself or herself or another, or of causing loss to another—

(a) destroys, defaces, conceals or falsifies any account or any document made or required for any accounting purpose,

(b) fails to make or complete any account or any such document, or

(c) in furnishing information for any purpose produces or makes use of any account, or any such document, which to his or her knowledge is or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular.

(2) For the purposes of this section a person shall be treated as falsifying an account or other document if he or she—

(a) makes or concurs in making therein an entry which is or may be misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular, or

(b) omits or concurs in omitting a material particular therefrom.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.

edit....
leaving aside this case, is it possible for a tb to be indicted for an offense under this act if he/she filed false documents, even if the snoozing c&ag and paymaster general do not pursue?

What's the matter, zakalwe1? Just realised that your lords and masters are just as bad - if not worse - than the other mob? Irish politicians, corrupt since 1922!

Originally Posted by MrFunkyBoogaloo

And people wonder why a portion of the electorate would use the Fiscal Treaty referendum to cut these pigs off from the trough?

I'd say the first thing the politicians will cut when the money dries up is their perks alright!

Originally Posted by Aindriu

What's the matter, zakalwe1? Just realised that your lords and masters are just as bad - if not worse - than the other mob? Irish politicians, corrupt since 1922!

Well in fairness, at least he's admitting and condemning it - this in itself is like a breath of fresh ocean air.

Remember the FF days? You'd have some pr!ck on here telling you how hard-working the poor TD is and how he needs this allowance to make the job worth his while.

Originally Posted by Aindriu

What's the matter, zakalwe1? Just realised that your lords and masters are just as bad - if not worse - than the other mob? Irish politicians, corrupt since 1922!

any public servant who pulls a stroke which is intended to take/waste money from the taxpayer in an inappropriate manner, whether to line their own pockets or not, should be barred from public office and forfeit any pension entitlements.

my views on corruption (public sector or not) have not changed and have been consistent throughout my postings here.

His expense claims were highlighted on April 2nd here;

Ruairí Quinn and his Galway holiday home mileage claims

After I read about it here;

Ministerial expenses for the past year published – prepare to be outraged! « NAMA Wine Lake

Has he explained his OTT expense claims yet?