(Thursday, July 27) Hain's junkets
Our recent Morning View comment that Secretary of State Peter Hain was ruling this part of the United Kingdom like a colonial-style British viceroy is given some credence with the latest revelation about the cost of flying him to sporting events across Ireland.
Mr Hain's chartered plane jaunts motor racing and rugby events in Sligo and Dublin cost the taxpayer 11,000, while the bill for 10 official trips outside the United Kingdom totalled 55,000.
Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland David Lidington has, with some justification, described the Hain trips as "costly jollies", and several of our local politicians have also highlighted the hypocrisy of a Minister who keeps
reminding ordinary citizens about the absolute need to pay their way.
As householders across the Province face additional water charges and considerably increased rates bills, it does irritate that our "political master" at Stormont shows little restraint in the maintenance costs for his lifestyle.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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