Anyone remember how much the rat ahern spent on makeup? Vain shower of ugly f#%kers.

Record of trade trips abroad, state visits, campaign trail pr etc. press photographers are usually sole traders. That money kept a few people in work, people that can’t claim unemployment assistance or what ever it’s called these days. Now excuse me I have to take a long shower after defending that shower of wxxxxxs

Fianna Fail keep hurling the dirt but it just keeps bouncing back!

A few years ago I was at a presentation given by then Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. He stood at a podium and gave his usual cliché ridden, consultant-speak (“going forward”, etc) speech. All the while the official photographer stood nearby taking endless photographs. The only conclusion I could come to was that it was less about capturing Cowen in action – a few photos would have sufficed – than in impressing on us lesser mortals how important he was, that every gesture and glance had to be preserved for posterity, and, of course, in playing to Cowen’s ego.

I saw the same thing at a visit to a workplace by an EU Commissioner. Again, non-stop photography and a nice little earner for the professional concerned.

The funny thing is that I could only find one photo of Cowen in a national newspaper following the event at which he spoke and none at all of the Commissioner.

So, what happens to the thousands of photos taken of these dignitaries every year? Only a miniscule number ever get published. Which leads me to the conclusion that the capturing of images is of secondary importance and the main purpose of professional photographers being present at politicians’ events is simply to flatter the egos of the individuals concerned.

Maybe it kept food on the table for a few people. Not saying it’s right… Just another way of thinking about it.

These are photographs of official state visits. I don’t think whipping out the camera phone and taking a snap is what’s called for here. There were some fairly huge state events last year with Obama and the Queen. Those alone would account for that cost.

Professional photographers are just that… Professional. With the professional grade camera equipment, light meters, lenses, flashes, filters ,post processing equipment, hours spent in researching the day plans, hours post processing, knowledge of lighting and experience and insurance. All of those things cost money to provide, which forms part of the fee. To equip and junior party member to do this would cost WAY more than 30,000. A professional camera and couple of lenses alone could cost that, let alone the rest.

What is with people these days utterly dismissing peoples qualifications and jobs?

What about the millions squandered by the opposition on voting machines, exorbitant gardening fees, luxury state cars and foreign trips? €30k is absolute pittance compared to what was blown by FF in the past decade. Perspective please.

Seems to me that official photos have to be taken, think about meeting a business man and in a few weeks sending him a photo of himself with the Taoiseach, as a thank you, as a reminder.

Is that not worth it?

Seems a good investment to me.

A good photographer can charge 30k just for one photo so this sounds like a bit of a deal to me. Have you seen how good Enda looks in his photo by passport control in Dublin airport? Very sexy.

We should pay 30k to get rid of numerous images of him, especially that recent scratch behind the ear moment with Sarkozy.

http://brianpolitics.wordpress.com

€30k, wow!!!!! All the airbrushing in the world couldn’t help ‘Canhe’ with his image, woulda been wiser to shoot him with an air rifle instead of a camera….

Endas response: Look at what Fine Feckers did. No Mr Kenny, you are steering this ship and we get NO comfort it looking at another one that is on the rocks. I would also prefer not to have photographic evidence of yourself, Kermit, etc..

Here we go again. More waste. If i had 30k i’d pay him to keep his mug out of the papers.

“Ara sure it’s down 50,000 since 2008 lads” – that hardly makes it any better does it?!

Okay, next time, I’ll do it for free.

Train junior party members to do it maybe?

This is so stupid and rediculous,and a waste of money..

Excellent brown nosing there Mr Martin

Its incredible but nothin compare to Bertie-the-bollacks-mater-bookkeeper-imluckyontheGGs-donthaveabankaccount-poorme-ahern!! What was it, 300k over a few years on makeup, haircuts and clothes!!!

One a lighter note! Oliver Callan has been rumbled! Sending his photography bills to the Dept of Taoiseach for payment!

Enda, your phone has a camera use that like the rest of us.

All he had to do was take 1 photo of his backside and that would have covered all his p.r. needs, after all people would have recognised him straight away !!!!!!

Surely one of them in there can use a camera,then there is no cost,can it be really that hard to use a camera,i dont think so..

It must be the extra cost of Photoshop that Kenny uses so he doesn’t look like a plank.Well Kenny get your money back, because it’s not working.

Niall Collins is gimp, pure and simple. Why anyone would listen to him and his likes is beyond me!

But am offering my services for FREE, so as not to Borden the Tax payer. Fair is fair my friend.

What kind of photograph is that, that cost 30 rand?. Was it part of the troika deal or program for government. Here we go again. Did the IMF or EU sign off on this. I want to offer my services for free.

Dear Donal, yes i am. Will do it for free.