Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from FSTciaran (see all)

FSTciaran has commented 5 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on Davis makes financial disclosure. Will McGuinness follow?
   on 3 October 2011 at 5:29 pm

   Not that I am aware of. To the best of my knowledge on the subject any expenses or allowances that an individual Sinn Féin MLA, Minister, MP, TD and Senator claims would all go back into the constituency and then this would be used to provide constituency services. An example within Fermanagh and South Tyrone that has often been used to explain exactly how it works is that of Michelle Gildernew who was (at the time of the example being used) an MP, MLA and a Minister. Gildernew earned £356 per week (net) or £18,500 per year (net) and so did her driver, her staff and personal advisors. If this policy of only accepting the average industrial wage did not exist within the party (and abstentionism) then Michelle Gildernew could have had potential to take home over £2,000 and that would be a net figure which in my view is a ludicrous sum of money to accept for holding public office.
   I don’t agree (as Neil stated) that any elected rep would feel pressure to accept the AIW for fear of a backlash from the electorate, who might think they are getting wealthy or selling themselves out for British money. I agree with the gist of what you are saying but I just don’t believe they are doing it because of pressure but rather because they feel they have a responsibility to accept only the AIW. I believe they accept the AIW primarily so that they experience, first hand, what it is like to have to struggle financially daily and weekly and it would leave them better placed to assess the needs of their constituents because they are also struggling weekly. Remember £356 a week is a very small sum, especially if you have a family to support which in many cases they do.
   Anyway I don’t know if I explained that correctly or not but that is my knowledge on the average industrial wage.

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2. Comment on Davis makes financial disclosure. Will McGuinness follow?
   on 3 October 2011 at 4:45 pm

   The average industrial wage for a Sinn Féin elected representative (MLA, MP) in the North of Ireland is £356 net. I don’t know what the Euro equivalent is but it would be around the same. This has always been in the public domain and a simple Google search should confirm it.

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3. Comment on International Piracy?
   on 1 June 2010 at 4:09 pm

   The good news is that there is a protest in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh at the Diamond between 5pm to 6pm to express our solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. A MUST ATTEND That is tomorrow (wednesday 2nd)

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4. Comment on International Piracy?
   on 1 June 2010 at 4:09 pm

   The good news is that there is a protest in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh at the Diamond between 5pm to 6pm to express our solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. A MUST ATTEND

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5. Comment on “Is abstention from Westminster now an end in itself?”
   on 12 May 2010 at 6:22 pm

   I can’t believe this debate has generated so much response – Sinn Féin Westminster candidates stand on the basis that they will abstain from what realistically is a foreign parliament and will not take an oath to a foreign queen. I for one would leave the party if this stance was changed and I know I would not be alone. It just simply will never happen. That would be a huge step back when Sinn Fein are about moving forward. Someone suggested having a “poll” or a referendum amongst the electorate who vote Sinn Fein but I think the fact that they come out in their thousands to vote for their candidate who they clearly know will abstain if elected speaks for itself.

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