When expenses become "expensives"

The Bernie Comaskey ColumnHere it comes folks, the confession: In all humility I feel compelled to inform you that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer; my lift doesn't go all the way to the top and so on.These disclosures are for the benefit of any reader reading this column for the first time - as anyone who ever paused here on their way past page twelve will be familiar with this fact already. Around home - where they know me best I might be called a "horrid eejit", or worse still, "a woeful eejit."You see, I happen to have modest business interests in Spain and until a couple of years back, I spent half my time in that country. Every year, since I first invested in Spain in 1998 I have paid my Income Tax in both countries - even when I knew I didn't have to.After the third year and spending more than 183 days a year out there, I was entitled to apply for Spanish residency and by so doing not pay tax in Ireland. I am no saint and I pay as little as I can legally avoid in both countries; but despite the persistent advice of my Gestoria I opted to continue paying tax in Ireland on the profit from my Spanish interests, through not applying for Spanish residency.This may sound sloppy, incredulous and self promoting, but it is true. Told you I am at least a "horrid eegit" but I explained to my legal people there, that for many of the prime years of my youth I had little choice but to be a resident of another country and now that I do have a choice I don't wish to be classified as a resident of any other country than my own. I love my own place and I believe that as a citizen it is my patriotic duty to be a contributor. In fifty years of working I have never drawn one day's unemployment.Then I read about Senator Ivor Callely and I am angry: And I am more angered at my country which appears to have lost it's capacity to be outraged: We are suffering scandal fatigue and ordinary people just roll their eyes and say stuff like "they're all at it", or "they're all the same."No, they are not all the same: I know honorable, hard-working, honest, politicians - in all the main political parties who are seething with shame and sorrow at every new revelation. And like the majority of good priests, they are paying the price for the rotten apples. But if politics is to redeem it's credibility and good name, the good ones will have to stand up and "out" their own wrong doers. Fine Gael has proposed to abolish the Senate: Without the recent disclosures of corruption it was hard to sustain a case for it's very existence, but thanks to Mr Callely and probably others by the time this hits the press, it is now impossible. The top ten Senators claim more than fifteen hundred euro a week in expenses alone.I have a Spanish lady who does administrative work for me for more than a decade. Yolanda has 90% good English, but she always calls expenses "expensives". It seems an apt word for our senators - and I don't know the Spanish for "Freudian slip"!When I ran in the local elections a year ago some of my political opponents muddied the water a little with "and what use will he be to you in Spain." Well I know, looking into my own heart, like De Valera used do, that I would have been better than some. I guess they were just jealous of the traveling expenses I would have incurred back and forth from my holiday home in Spain!! Or better still; in the Ivor Callely book of right and wrong, I wouldn't even have to travel to get the expenses. This is how it looks to the ordinary people in this great little country of selective privilege. Told you I'm a "horrid eejit"!During my own little foray into politics - which I wouldn't have changed for the world, the people chose not to give me a mandate and I lost by a handful of votes. I am totally content with the people's decision which is democracy at work. I only bring it up now to point out that Ivor Callely received no mandate from anyone for anything- never mind his €80,000 dodgy expenses. Actually, I lie: he received a mandate from one person, Bertie Ahern who nominated him to the Senate. I would say that Mr Ahern regularly looked into his own heart as well to ascertain what was best for at least some of his people during the recent toxic culture in Irish politics.We hear more rumour and innuendo of ongoing scandals with regard to expenses scandals and more scams among politicians from different parties. With the help of God, Ivor's arrogant misuse of his position will open the floodgates and flush out this type of political corruption once and for all.The sickest aspect of the whole sordid disease is the way Irish politicians try to brazen it out without resigning until they are carried out kicking and screaming. At least in most other democratic countries those who are guilty of shaming the profession go with some dignity and honour intact. Low standards in high places in Ireland and the manner in which it is condoned or excused, would have to beg the question; is it the case that we are we a dishonest race of people?The rules in regard to expenses, according to the Revenue Commissioners are that lawful expenses can be claimed "for costs incurred in the performance of the duties of the employment and are directly related to the nature of the employees employment." Sounds clear enough to me, deputies, senators and councillors; but then again, I'm a woeful eejit!Don't Forget:Too often the strong silent man is silent because he does not know what to say and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent. (Winston Churchill)