Kate Ann O'Donoghue: the globe-trotting wife

Ken Foxe, Public Affairs Correspondent

Well-travelled: John O'Donoghue and his wife Kate Ann

FOR someone who is not employed by the state and has never stood for election, Kate Ann O'Donoghue has done remarkably well out of the Irish taxpayer.

During the seven-year period in which her husband has served as Ceann Comhairle and earlier at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, she has enjoyed a globe-trotting itinerary that would make even a seasoned travel writer blush.

In the latest round of expense claims, it has emerged that Kate Ann O'Donoghue has also been using internal flights to carry out her duties as first lady of the Irish Dáil.

Of 186 internal flights booked on behalf of the O'Donoghues by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, Mrs O'Donoghue is listed as a passenger on 44 of them.

The estimated cost is relatively small, however, coming in at around €3,000 as she winged her way to official functions and Dublin Airport for connecting flights.

Costs for her other travels are far more significant and details of overseas travel since her husband was appointed Ceann Comhairle reveal yet another litany of trips by Mrs O'Donoghue.

In October 2007, she headed off to Paris on a flight costing €762 enjoying VIP facilities on the way and staying at the luxurious Hotel Raphael in the French capital.

The following March, she was off again, this time to Houston, New Orleans and Washington DC for St Patrick's Day celebrations.

In April, Mrs O'Donoghue headed for South Africa on a flight costing more than €5,000 where her husband was attending an anti-poverty conference.

By October, she was Paris-bound again, this time for the presentation of awards and an enjoyable day at the races in Longchamps.

It was a pattern that had been replicated time and again in the five years in which John O'Donoghue was 'Minister for Fun' at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Kate Ann O'Donoghue had been on the notorious trip to Venice, the one with the €250 water taxis and the €5,834 hotel dining bill at the city's three famous hotels: the Albergo San Marco, the Hotel Cipriani and the San Clemente Palace.

Mrs O'Donoghue had also been to Cheltenham repeatedly and has enjoyed some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, staying twice in the €900 a night Montfleury Hotel in Cannes.

October 4, 2009

Comments

#1 Marty commented, on October 5, 2009 at 4:53 p.m.:

I really can't read anymore of this. It's beyond sickening. Can he please just step down?

#2 Rose commented, on October 5, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.:

Why doesn't he step down and why is Enda Kenny just asking for him to repay the money and get rid of staff. The man is a disgrace. The Opposition should be making more of a fuss. The same thing happened with Bertie. What have they got to hide that they can't ask for resignations. This Country needs a new political party. There must be well educated people out there who are now unemployed. Get together and start a new party. Let's get rid of these parasites.

#3 antony commented, on October 5, 2009 at 11:32 p.m.:

Well educated people Rose is what seems to be in office and in opposition at the moment. A great education does not an honest man make and thats what old EIRE needs right now. A new party yes ; Na bogeen Fir nua; sounds real cool but nobody over there will ever vote for a young fresh minded party. I can see the thousands of old boys clubs throwing their lies at anyone who dares to oppose them. The first thing I would do is cancel all perks for all Gov workers,cap all wages at 120000 for the so called top. They would all be made take a train or bus to work where they would come face to face with the people they work for every day. I would privatize the so called civil service as they are neither civil or servant. All their jobs would be put out to tender world wide. NURSES and any front line staff that save lives would get top money. Every student in the country would get a computer and allowed to learn from home [home schooled getting very popular here in USA]. NCT test and car tax would be banned until all roads are in line with that of Germany. RTE WOULD BE TOLD TO GET LOST and pay their own way as they are the biggest money grabing scurge ever inflicted on any Country. All trades ect would be one on one and on the job training again and FAS would be abolished no pensions no nothing for the boyos,yes gone the lot of them .All bankers TDs Realtors ect would get one year in prison for every person they deceived. The cowardly Gardi would all be put on the beat where they belong not working for the Mafia insurance companies. Term limits of 8 years for any minister ect. Clean broom sweeps all Rose. Honest and Strong young people is whats needed. Well educated people, hell Rose they're a dime a 6000 dozen and you can buy them by the bucket these days. No honest and strong or bust or else vote FF FG LABOR ect just like yere backward mammies and daddies done before ye. You can see the sun glinting off the skyscrapers as she sets in the west in the land of the free. Yes beautiful Chicago in the setting sun what a sight. o Rose you should taste this freedom, lady it tastes so sweet.Would the last educated buffoon to leave that old sod turn out the old lights.

#4 Roger Rafferty commented, on October 5, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.:

I agree with Rose. But sadly, the enthusiasm for such a project must be tempered by the knowledge that the Establishment in Ireland has full control. Lisbon Yes shows how powerful it is when politicians, press, and business combine. A radical political overthrow is not in the interst of any of these, so they won't let it happen. And when someone does strike a chord with ordinary people and begins to build support - the machine sweeps into gear, with smear, innuendo and worse. Look what happened to the Rossport Five, or Declan Ganley for example. Those of us who wish it were different must start accepting that Ireland is a deeply conservative country, and I am not talking about old-fashioned conservatism like religion etc. We have had the same brand of politics since the foundation of the state. None of the major parties differ - and even Sinn Fein sought convergence with many FF financial policies last election. They are all only interested in power. There is no ideology. But the people elect them time and time again. What a wonderful chance to kick out the government and Nama - without doing any more than voting last week No. The people instead decided to vote to ditch our sovereignty and independence, or what we have left of it. We are a nation of knackers who would sell anything as we measure everything by money now. Ireland has lost its historical legacy. Who'd waste time fighting for the Irish people now - and I mean politically? Let them to their fate. O'Donoghue will stay in office, nothing will happen apart from a load of hot air in Leinster House, and then we'll move onto Nama and the budget. This is the most depressing reality and I hate sounding negative but I can see no hope. The Irish people are truly useless - and will be trampled over for ever, this time by our own, not the boots of foreign soldiers.

#5 irishpat commented, on October 6, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.:

I am in the uk and am Irish, and I watch these developments and i kind of think back to what Ireland was like in the 80's when I left.On reflection nothing has changed, the goverment and TDs are still incompetetent, they are still "robbing" the tax take via "expenses" and listening to morning ireland this morning on line I couldn't believe that TD's do NOT have to put in receipts to claim expenses....well holy god!!

#6 christine commented, on October 6, 2009 at 5:37 p.m.:

Ken Foxe you have made history, surely not often a "fox" outwits a "gunner" (gunner being the name the O'Donoghue dynasty is commonly referred to in South Kerry.

#7 jerry springer commented, on October 6, 2009 at 6:24 p.m.:

Good on you Kate Ann! Feck the Begrudgers.
Sure if Camila parker-Bowels can travel around the world on the arm of her man why cant you.
After all tis the women of Ireland made this country. Did they expect you to stay in a hostel while hubby lived it up

#8 John Mol commented, on October 7, 2009 at 1:38 a.m.:

The Galway tent, Cheltenham, Longchamps...What's with FF (the new Tories) and horse racing....? Why not junior hurling and a few pints afterwards...? Maybe buy a few rounds for the local voters...
But, of course, they don't matter any more... They will do what they're told..

#9 Rose commented, on October 7, 2009 at 8:57 a.m.:

He has announced he will resign next week. Why not today!!!. He's not getting off the gravy train that easily. Now there's talk of E90,000 in compensation for losing his job. He shouldn't be given a penny as he owes the Country for the misuse of taxpayers' money. The people of this Country should insist that all expenses are posted on line so that we know how our money is being spent. The days of claiming expenses without proof should be in the past. Also, before any of us take a cut let them reduce their own salaries drastically, get rid of the fancy cars and two chauffeurs. Then and only then should they even attempt to hit the rest of us.

#10 phil commented, on October 7, 2009 at 8:42 p.m.:

and do you hear them still down in Kerry..STILL he can do no wrong..still he is salt da earth!!
What use is education when the culture that breeds brain-washed(more like brain-dead)conditioned zzombies like these has obviously a more powerful effect than the educational system..which says more about them than it does about education.Well,I only know that the KERRYMAN is NO JOKE

#11 Declan F commented, on October 7, 2009 at 8:44 p.m.:

This man is a total disgrace and a complete greedy insult to the Irish Nation. What is worse is, that Cowen and the rest of FF couldn't find the backbone to come forward & totally condemn this outrageous and dishonest behavior from the outset. They are all as guilty!
Instead, O'Donoghue should be afforded a "settling out period" to sort out his affairs before he departs the chair.

Cowen - yet another missed opportunity - you now, officially, look as stupid as Calamity Coughlan!
O'Donoghue shouldn't be the only one stepping down!

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