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Former Irish leader Brian Cowen loses out on phone bill and secretarial payouts

Austerity measures finally hit the establishment

By
CATHY HAYES,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 8:12 AM
Updated Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 2:19 PM

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Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen
Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen
Photo by Google Images


Costly perks which were until recently enjoyed by former Irish prime ministers have come to an end. Until now, expenses paid by the Irish State provided former leaders with secretarial assistants, computer equipment, telephone charges and even airport VIP facilities.

Bertie Ahern, the high flying former Irish leader, is said to have been particularly hit - Ahern has claimed up to $475,338 for secretarial services alone since 2008.

The Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) stopped paying for the services in respect of former leaders at the weekend.

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Read More:

Enda axes former Taoisigh expenses -- but too late to reclaim Bertie's €367,000 windfall

Clueless Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen handled Irish economy like 'drunken joyriders'

Five Irish immigration reform leaders meet with the White House
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The cutbacks were announced by the current Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny last month. Previously, former leaders were entitled to two secretarial assistants in the five years after stepping down, and then one thereafter.

According to a report in the Irish Times this week, Ahern incurred secretarial costs of $97,140 in 2008, $147,652 in 2009, $138,586 in 2010, and $91,959 last year. His phone bills peaked at $4,533 in 2009, and amounted to $2,849 between January and August last year.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is among those who have said the expenses paid to his former cabinet colleague under the scheme are too high and should be reduced.

The entitlement of former Irish leaders to a State car, other than on State occasions, was withdrawn last June. Their pensions were cut by 20 per cent last month.
 

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8 Comments

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BARNEYKX | Jan 04, 2012, 06:46 AM EST
Ahearn was a disgrace to politics,but he was in good company they are all crooks

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IrelandNorth | Jan 04, 2012, 05:41 AM EST
Should be invoiced retrospectively for all those over generous expenses, instead of lacerating the social welfare of unemployed which is a fraction of their expense accounts. The current Irish government is pursuing the economics of insanity. Tax the greedy not the needy.

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awoken32 | Jan 04, 2012, 04:59 AM EST
BERTIE AHERN AN CO,SHOULD BE TRIED FOR TREASON AN DEALTH WITH ACCORDINGLY,HANG THE LOT OF THE GREEDY TRAITORS

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gobdawpaddy | Jan 03, 2012, 08:08 PM EST
The Irish electorate are too dumb to learn from their past mistakes. 20% of them said they would vote for Fianna Fail in an election held tommorrow. These people are like 5 year olds. FF destroyed their country but 20% of them are stupid enough to vote for them tommorrow. Gobshites.

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bailtone | Jan 03, 2012, 07:27 PM EST
Bertie Ahern I dont know how you sleep at night, or face the public by day ? may be you might be wearing a wig. Ans ask for Micheal martin he have a lot to answer for as well.While he was in power and could see that the general pulic was screwed to the eye balls with expenses. And what did he do only keep his mouth shut and collect his big salery just like Bertie @ the late Charles as the old saying goes God be good to them all. No wonder the country went BR;;BR;;Broke and again its the Joe soap will pay for many years to come.

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biggles008 | Jan 03, 2012, 01:38 PM EST
Ahern is one of the worst type for screwing the public.

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Murph46 | Jan 03, 2012, 11:33 AM EST
Duh ! About time!

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mcdolan | Jan 03, 2012, 09:31 AM EST
Too right - austerity should be shared by all, not just heaped on the working poor.

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