Cowen lets 150,000 State car lie idle for fear of looking flashy
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has refused to be chauffeured in a new 150,000 Mercedes S-Class because of "the changed financial and economic circumstances".
The State car has since languished unused for over six months in a garda garage, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
In the latest example of Government largesse, the top of the range black Mercedes S350 was procured for his use in June last year, but believing it would send out the wrong signals, he declined to use it.
According to sources, the car was ordered when Mr Cowen was elevated to the position of Taoiseach last summer, supposedly without his knowledge, consent or expressed wish for a new car.
When the Taoiseach refused to use it, officials tried but failed to return the car, so it has remained untouched at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
The vehicle needs to remain plugged in to a charger as removing it would cause the onboard computer to die rendering the car unusable.
Yesterday the Department of Justice confirmed that the car has not been used yet and there are no plans for it to be used in the immediate future.
"A replacement Mercedes S-Class was ordered for the current Taoiseach in the normal way and was delivered some time ago to Garda Headquarters. The Taoiseach, however, in the light of the changed financial and economic circumstances, decided not to take delivery of this car and instead to retain his current Mercedes E-Class for as long as possible. The Taoiseach requested that the possibility of returning it to the supplier should be explored. This did not prove possible. The question of deploying it for alternative use within the fleet has also been considered. Appropriate alternative use has not been identified. Accordingly, the car will be allocated for the Taoiseach's use in the near future."
In total the ministerial fleet costs at least 6.5m a year to maintain, in terms of drivers' salaries, expenses, and car maintenance. Mr Cowen is currently being driven in a 2007 Mercedes E320, which was worth 72,000 at the time of purchase.
According to the official files, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and President Mary McAleese are being driven around in 2006 models of the Mercedes S350, the same model as the unused replacement for the Taoiseach. While a number of the cars in the ministerial fleet are leased, officials declined to confirm that the Taoiseach's car was purchased.
It has also emerged that there is growing disquiet among garda drivers on the ministerial fleet about the use of the cars for driving members of ministers' families around.
The Sunday Independent learned of an incident shortly before Christmas involving a senior member of Fianna Fail and his relief garda driver. After the driver was stood down, a number of the relief drivers are refusing to drive the senior Fianna Fail figure.
http://www.independent.ie/national-...-idle-for-fear-of-looking-flashy-1598239.html
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has refused to be chauffeured in a new 150,000 Mercedes S-Class because of "the changed financial and economic circumstances".
The State car has since languished unused for over six months in a garda garage, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
In the latest example of Government largesse, the top of the range black Mercedes S350 was procured for his use in June last year, but believing it would send out the wrong signals, he declined to use it.
According to sources, the car was ordered when Mr Cowen was elevated to the position of Taoiseach last summer, supposedly without his knowledge, consent or expressed wish for a new car.
When the Taoiseach refused to use it, officials tried but failed to return the car, so it has remained untouched at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
The vehicle needs to remain plugged in to a charger as removing it would cause the onboard computer to die rendering the car unusable.
Yesterday the Department of Justice confirmed that the car has not been used yet and there are no plans for it to be used in the immediate future.
"A replacement Mercedes S-Class was ordered for the current Taoiseach in the normal way and was delivered some time ago to Garda Headquarters. The Taoiseach, however, in the light of the changed financial and economic circumstances, decided not to take delivery of this car and instead to retain his current Mercedes E-Class for as long as possible. The Taoiseach requested that the possibility of returning it to the supplier should be explored. This did not prove possible. The question of deploying it for alternative use within the fleet has also been considered. Appropriate alternative use has not been identified. Accordingly, the car will be allocated for the Taoiseach's use in the near future."
In total the ministerial fleet costs at least 6.5m a year to maintain, in terms of drivers' salaries, expenses, and car maintenance. Mr Cowen is currently being driven in a 2007 Mercedes E320, which was worth 72,000 at the time of purchase.
According to the official files, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and President Mary McAleese are being driven around in 2006 models of the Mercedes S350, the same model as the unused replacement for the Taoiseach. While a number of the cars in the ministerial fleet are leased, officials declined to confirm that the Taoiseach's car was purchased.
It has also emerged that there is growing disquiet among garda drivers on the ministerial fleet about the use of the cars for driving members of ministers' families around.
The Sunday Independent learned of an incident shortly before Christmas involving a senior member of Fianna Fail and his relief garda driver. After the driver was stood down, a number of the relief drivers are refusing to drive the senior Fianna Fail figure.
http://www.independent.ie/national-...-idle-for-fear-of-looking-flashy-1598239.html
youd swear they cant afford there own cars.
