$1,200-a-night junket for O'Donoghue in New york

Ken Foxe, Public affairs correspondent

Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue stayed in a $1,200-per-night hotel room at the taxpayers' expense during a junket to New York, the Sunday Tribune has learned.

O'Donoghue and his wife Kate Ann, who were accompanied by two civil servants, stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on a trip arranged by Tourism Ireland.

Other expenses incurred on the junket, which took place when O'Donoghue was Minister for Tourism in 2006, include almost $1,200 on Broadway shows, and $5,306 on business class flights to Newark airport.

July 5, 2009

Comments

#1 Joe commented, on July 6, 2009 at 4:23 a.m.:

I'd imagine that in this day and age most of the potential tourists would use the internet to research a vacation to Ireland.
Visits from politicians we've never heard of won't make any difference.
Better roads, cheaper car rentals (maybe dealerships could unload their stock), even free parking for tourists may make the trip more appealing.

#2 Norbert Hennessy commented, on July 6, 2009 at 4:57 a.m.:

I was traveling back to Dublin a couple of years ago and who was sitting beside me in coach but none other than Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin. We had a lovely chat all the way across the Atlantic, she telling me all about she growing up in Thurles and I of course telling her I was also from Tipperary that being Shronell, Lattin. I cannot, for the life of me, understand those expenses quoted for the now Ceann Comhairle, John O'Donoghue, on his trip to New York in 2006.
Last week my son, Daniel, graduated from Scarsdale High School here in Westchester County, New York. His Mom and I treated him to a weekend at the Fitzpatrick Hotel on Lexington Avenue in New York City. What impressed me mostly was as we entered Fitzpatrick's there was a picture of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, hanging prominently in the lobby.
Wonder what John O'Donoghue found in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria apart from that huge bill. We loved our weekend at Fitzpatricks and I also loved my coach flight home on Aer Lingus with Minister Mary as my traveling companion. Bet John O'Donoghue never thought his expensive stay in New York would return to haunt him years later. Maybe he should ask the now Minister for Social and Family Affairs how to spend taxpayers money. Oh! I forgot! He does not care about the electorate. The Ceann Comhairle is not elected. He gets a FREE ride.

Norbert Hennessy
Five Sunset Drive,
Scarsdale,
N.Y. 10583.

914 723-1440

#3 Pat Burke commented, on July 6, 2009 at 5:35 p.m.:

As Ireland faces into the abyss of entering an economic black hole- it does not surprise me that John O'Donoghue has being living the high life in a Big Apple jolly up all paid for by the generous Irish Tax payers.
I suggest the holiday snap sums it up nicely as his smug image looks too vile for any viewer to endure.

#4 Roger Rafferty commented, on July 6, 2009 at 11:20 p.m.:

Let's give this lot a free first class ride - one way and out of town - by voting No in the Lisbon referendum. A no vote will put an end to their reign, and even they will realise it's time to go. Sometimes No really means no, lads and lassies. If we don't take the chance, prepare for the most severe budget ever to help pay for the bank bail-outs, with lots of nasties stored up once they don't need to plamás us any more to vote yes. I don't believe the Irish people are fools - and the spirit of rebellion is not gone from our blood. You are going to get the biggest shock and the biggest political kicking since the foundation of the state this October. I cannot wait.

#5 Michael commented, on July 11, 2009 at 9:14 p.m.:

This is merely the tip of the iceberg! These cretins spare no expense on themselves! For the life of me I can't understand why the Irish people put up with it! It's way past the time they were pulled out into the street and sent packing! People of Ireland wake up!!

#6 tim o'leary commented, on July 12, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.:

Why is any thinking person surprised at the antics of the mob inhabiting Leinster House?
It is not as if they had behaved differently during the previous administrations.
The sad point is that we showed an astounding immaturity in reelecting John O'Donoghue and the other FF TDs' despite evidence of the abuse carried out by that party since it's foundation.

#7 Fred Johnston commented, on July 12, 2009 at 11:48 a.m.:

So? He knows no one is going to take him to task, least of all his Party heads. We elect these people. Now let's vote 'No' and show them we care.

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