The Guards “not having the resources” is the same as the blame for the ESB and Irish Water for house build delays. There is some truth to it but not absolute. They are well able to deploy them when it suits.
That’s not the point I was making. There’s about 70 highly trained detectives earning an average of about €120,000 a year. They’re fully trained, they could be out investigating cases and doing far more than sitting most of the day doing the crossword or Sudoku while they “protect a minister”.
That’s what I’m talking about, that even with the resources that we have, we don’t use them effectively.
We spend fortunes, €120,000, equivalent European countries are spending on average of €40,000 on civilian drivers for their ministers, but somehow in this country, they’re under threat. I mean, what makes the ministers under threat so much in this country as opposed to the UK, Portugal, Finland, Norway etc and all these other countries that pay fractions of what we do on driving ministers around the place?
That’s just one specific example of where we’re wasting massive amounts of money on needless expenditure, where highly trained and experienced detectives could be far more usefully employed.
Because we have a government that wouldnt manage a piss up in a brewery.
If comparable countries don’t have police drivers that’s a relevant point. Where are you getting the numbers though? 15 senior ministers, plus the president presumably, x2 drivers each? Ministers of state have civilian drivers I believe.
Before the 2010 cutbacks, reports stated that the ministerial driver system involved 77 full-time drivers plus standby personnel,
You’re wrong about the ministers of state. Quite a few of the ministers of state have full time Garda drivers. However, we don’t know the figures as the government would not release them under the Freedom of Information because they’re embarrassed about how much they’re spending and how much the taxpayers are on the hock for these extraordinary sums of money.
That’s 16 years ago. Gardai drivers for senior ministers were brought back in two or three years ago I think. Pretty sure ministers of state are allowed hire two civilian drivers, but I’m open to correction, where have you the info that quite a few have gardai drivers from? Who sent the FOI request? I’d be surprised if it’s not released on appeal, usually anything related to money is. I see the examiner published how much each minister cost in terms of mileage a couple years ago which they presumably got from foi.
Look matey, you came on here stating that Ministers of State don’t have Garda drivers. They do, okay?
So that’s number one
Then you’re still spouting that line again, incorrect.
Now I’m not going to indulge with you anymore in relation to it because you obviously haven’t a clue.
I have stated numbers from previous reports, that’s the only numbers we have to go on, and it’s probably a very accurate figure.
In fact, the numbers have probably gone up, because every Minister has one, and quite a few of the Ministers of State have them as well, and they require double jobbing and everything.
So at the minimum of 77, it’s probably even gone up from that. So do a bit of research yourself, mate, and get back to me.
But so far in this discussion, you haven’t a clue.
You stated Ministers of State don’t have them. They do have them. So do a bit of homework, pal, and then start spouting your mouth off.
This is a small piece of the puzzle.
You’re very touchy in response to very basic questions. Where are you getting the info that they do have them? How many? The only info that you appear to be able to state with any accuracy is from 2010. Ministers of state generally are allowed two civilian drivers. There’s 23 of them. Curious to know which or how many have garda drivers.
Why don’t you do some research on the topic instead of asking a million questions, and then you might educate yourself on it
. I’ve filled you in with enough information, and that’s it. If you’re not happy with it, that’s fine. I know ministers of state have Ga4da drivers. Why don’t you do some a bit of research on this and find out for yourself, instead of coming on here making bald statements that ministers of state have civilian drivers, when that’s not the case. They actually do have Garda drivers. So educate yourself a bit, and then maybe come on here and talk about something that you actually know something about, instead of spouting off your usual nonsense.
Here you go, a few references to ministers of state having civilian drivers. You say they have garda drivers, might well be true, have you any reference to support that at all?
https://labour.ie/news/2025/01/29/baby-minister-bonanza-would-make-boom-time-bertie-blush/
Junior Ministers can hire two civilian drivers with an annualised salary of at least €43,451 annually (as per PQ34911/24) with additional overnight expenses, paid for by their line Department,
In October 2022, garda protection drivers were assigned to all Cabinet ministers following a security recommendation from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-02-05/351/
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0624/1580047-rail-disruption-dublin/
Services were suspended because of damage caused to train infrastructure in the Raheny area at around 8.30pm last night.
Several roof-mounted arms that connect the train to the overhead electrical wires were damaged along with around 600 metres of power lines.
It is not yet known what caused the damage.
will we ever be told?
The local scrap merchants?
Guys please keep operational matters to the right thread. This is for transport plan announcements (not shovels in the ground confirmations either - there’s no thread for that unsurprisingly)
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You’re going to have to go easy on glasagusban. He’s just not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
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I apologise for straying off the conversation about Garda drivers, housing, and yellow boxes
Is this the correct thread @Spidey?