No Daily Mail, the young Royals did not lead the clapping last night

[chomalungma]

They took part.
Just like every other citizen of the UK did
They did not start it.

I know, I know, bigger things to think about and all.

But it has raised the Republican in me to see headlines saying "The clapping was led by the Royal cuties"

We were all part of it. It just started on our street.

eo Varadker holds the same position as Boris Johnson - I've seen a lot of Boris Johnson - no euphemism intended

I know. Thank you for politicsplaining to me.

It is an example of a speech to the Nation to reassure them.
It is what I would expect our Monarch to do.

Or Prince Charles

Still less than half the cost per head for each Irish citizen. And was is spent renovating his stately homes and that of his children and grandchildren?

No, that comes out of the other 5 million euros per year - on top of the 3.6 million;

"On top of the direct funding, the presidency is also supported by spending from government departments and state agencies. Funding from these “allied services” was €4.4 million in 2012 and €5 million in 2017."

"While the report says “the provision of these allied services are matters for the relevant departments and agencies”, an overall breakdown is provided for 2017."

"The Office of Public Works provided €800,000 in staffing costs, €1.28 million in property maintenance and €182,000 in electricity and gas. An Garda Síochána spent €197,000 on transport costs, such as drivers fuel and maintenance of vehicles." ...

@Clavinova I just went and looked at the Sophie Wessex link you posted.

16 seconds.

”For parents and carers, it can be a daunting time to help our children and young people through this period of uncertainty.
"But please don't feel alone.
“Make use of the resources out there and the fantastic digital communities that are sharing them and supporting them.
“Stay safe and thinking of you all."

Fuck me, I'm impressed. How did any of us cope before she deigned to spend 16 SECONDS being vaguely supportive at us?

Part of his speech

Look after your mental health and wellbeing as well as your physical health.

Tonight on our national holiday I also want to send a message around the world – we are in this together.

To the people of China, Spain and Italy who have suffered untold heartbreak and loss – we are with you. To everyone who has lost a loved one to this virus – we are with you. To all those living in the shadow of what is to come – we are with you.

Viruses pay no attention to borders, race, nationality or gender. They are the shared enemy of all humanity.

And so it will be the shared enterprise of all humanity that finds a treatment and a vaccine that protects us.

Tonight I send a message of friendship and of hope from Ireland to everyone around the world.

I am surprised that there has not been anything like this - broadcast on all main channels from a senior member of the Monarchy to the nation.

@Clavinova

Straight from the presidents website:

*The direct costs of the Office of the President in 2018were €3.5m.

This figure includes the payment of €1.09m Centenarians Bounty to 431Irish citizens at home and abroad who reach the age of 100 years. The cost of the 27 staff at Áras an Uachtaráin was €1.72m.

The Appropriation account, audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and published every year like every Department’s accounts, provides details of the costs of running the President’s Office. It also includes details of costs incurred by other Government Departments and State Bodies who provide support and ancillary services to the President’s Office.

The provision of these support services to the President’s Office (e.g. Garda Security, OPW maintenance of the Áras etc.) are matters for the professional judgment of these Departments and agencies. The President’s Office has no control over decisions on the scale of expenditure involved.

Total gross expenditure in 2017was € 3,609,000 of which € 1,071,000 was on the Centenarian Bounty and € 1,675,000 on salaries.

Total gross expenditure in 2016 was € 3,608,000 of which € 1,096,000 was on the Centenarian Bounty and € 1,677,000 on salaries.*

@Clavinova

So the vast majority of the money is spent on a Centenarians bounty(so effectively goes straight back to the public - how lovely!) and staff salaries (hope they're paid better than the royals servants are).

Prince Andrew delivered a message to the Chinese at the beginning of Feb although I didn't know he was allowed out;

"Prince Andrew delivers 'message from Queen' to China over coronavirus."

"The Chinese ambassador to the UK said Andrew relayed the Queen's message after being invited to the diplomat's residence."

news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-delivers-message-from-queen-to-china-over-coronavirus-11929728

@clavinova

You're just embarrassing yourself now.

Prince Andrew delivered a message to the Chinese at the beginning of Feb although I didn't know he was allowed out

Well that's alright then...

Wolfgirrl
You haven't included, for example (2018);

932,000 euros property maintenance (which you specifically asked about) or

895,000 euros - pensions for former presidents and president's salary.

One million euros on 481 people;

"The review shows that 481 Irish people received the payment from the State last year, with 374 of those people living in Ireland and 107 living overseas."

clainova

If you are spending your time on a thread about the RF looking at the cost of an Irish President, then maybe you have far too much time on your hands

Like all of us

I'm quite quick at it though as you can see - copy and paste and bingo!

@clavinova

Can you answer the question about prince william please?

*Can you answer the question about prince william please?(

Yes, it's a shame he is losing his hair.

@Clavinova

Áras an Uachtaráin (presidential palace) is not the president's home. The president lives in a wing for a maximum of 2 terms before moving out. The public are not paying for fancy renovations to the presidents home address (not to mention that of his kids, grandkids etc. Care to comment on Frogmore Cottage?)

Yes, it's a shame he is losing his hair.

That's a no then. Embarrassed for you

Clavinova is obsessed with the Sophie Wessex video.

No I'm not - I think you've mentioned it several times and I replied - as we are doing now.

Irish presidency;

"On top of the direct funding, the presidency is also supported by spending from government departments and state agencies. Funding from these “allied services” was €4.4 million in 2012 and €5 million in 2017."

@clavinova

Can you answer the question about prince william, yes or no?

@clavinova

Please post a breakdown of this spending

Irish Examiner 2008;
"Presidents come and go, but job is a waste of their time and our money."

"IN THE 35 years following the introduction of the current constitution there were only three presidents. Even historians would be hard-pressed to recall anything of real historical significance involving them."

www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/presidents-come-and-go-but-job-is-a-waste-of-their-time-and-our-money-60687.html

www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/%C3%A1ras-publishes-details-of-spending-by-higgins-during-first-term-1.3730342

president.ie/en/about/organisational-information

When did that piece of toilet paper report the truth?

The Sun today;

"YOU'RE NOT ALONE Kate Middleton and Prince William launch £5m scheme to help UK’s mental health charities during coronavirus lockdown."

www.thesun.co.uk/news/11279727/kate-middleton-prince-william-mental-health-coronavirus-lockdown/

£5m of whose money though? Certainly not theirs