The Expenses Scandal

Why is there such a scandal going on at the minute about Senators expenses? I mean, poor Ivor Callely, whose only problem was that he was claiming his expenses from his home in Cork...hang on, wasn't his registered address in Dublin?
I'm no expert, but I believe there's about 300km between North County Dublin and Bantry, Cork.

If his registered home with the Seanad was North County Dublin, this should have been discovered much quicker than it did, instead of only being discovered with the introduction of TD and Seanator's expenses being put up online. Why wasn't it discovered earlier?

There's an internal investigation going on, but should the Gardaí not be involved? I mean, personally, there's a lot of dodgy dealings here. Mr. Callely was forced out of the Dail after his previous scandal. There's only so much that the public can take, and Mr. Callely is on his very last chance. I mean, it's not every day Brian Cowen decides to take an interest in your financial business...

TD profile number 1: Bertie Ahern

This is the first in our profile of TDs. Our first person to be profiled is Mr. Bertie Ahern, TD, and former Taoiseach.

Full Name: Bartholomew Ahern
Date of Birth: 12/9/1951
Party: Fianna Fáil
Been in Dáil Éireann since: 1977
Posts held in Dáil Éireann:

• Minister of State at the Department of An Taoiseach
• Minister of State at the Department of Defence
• Government Chief Whip
• Minister For Labour
• Minister For Finance
• Tániste
• Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht
• Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Taoiseach
• Leader of Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party

Memorable for: Financial scandals, and THOSE yellow Trousers

This is most of what he's known for. There's obviously going to be stuff I'm missing, feel free to put them in below.

Why I have this

This blog came to me last night, when I was trying to sleep, but couldn't because of the realisation that I will be €22,000 in debt, at least. Thanks to NAMA. So, why don't teenagers have a voice? Because we aren't able to fully comprehend the mechanics of our political system. I don't see what's so complicated. There's 166 seats in the Dáil, and to have a majority you need half plus one, which is 84 seats. The current government is Fianna Fail and the Green Party, with a few independents added in (most notably, our beloved Minister for Health). The opposition is Labour, Fine Gael, Sine Fein and basically all other TDs.

The Seanad has 11 members designated by the Taoiseach, 43 elected by panels of vocational interest, and 6 elected by university graduates (3 from NUI colleges, and 3 from the University of Dublin [AKA, Trinity College]). The Seanad is supposed to not have a party basis, but, because over 16% of it is formed by An Taoiseach, it usually represents the Dáil in one shape or another.

I'm not a member of a political party, whether it be a youth membership or the actual party. I have my political opinions, but they probably won't be too evident. So, sit back, and enjoy my ranting!