Oireachtas Family Day - was it good?

[ontour]

I have tickets for the family to go to the Oireachtas open day tomorrow. If there is anyone that was there today, is there a right time to go?

Also can you go in and out? We are one ticket short and I was wondering if one person goes in in the morning, would the other be able to get in the the afternoon on the same ticket? Or are they very strict about tickets?

 

[Deirdra]

Did you enjoy it? Nice initiative, but a bit of mayhem, as they were swamped with visitors. The main message was ' ask you local TD to invite you and come back again'.

 

[Green]

but a bit of mayhem, as they were swamped with visitors. The main message was ' ask you local TD to invite you and come back again'.

Why does this have to be the case, the taxpayer pays for Parliament so why do we have to be forced down this gombeen politics route ?

 

[ClubMan]

TD invitation may not be the only way...

 

[Towger]

I went yesterday morning, they were handing out tickets to passers-by when we went in at 11. There was no waiting to go on the tour, so off we went. This was good. Look lots of photos. Lots of jokes from the staff, about the place. I think everyone heard the story that they were paid weekly, very weekly. The heavens opened for a while, I was surprised they allowed this to happen. I thought the air force would be dumping the contents of Irish Cement bags into the clouds over Wicklow and Meath. Went out side, there was not much to keep little children entertained. They wanted bouncy castles and face painting etc. The acrobats gave up, as their equipment was wet. It was too windy for the hot air balloons, but they were giving demos of their burners and allowing children into the baskets. I was surprised that Gormley was not there trying to stop them adding to Ireland’s Carbon Foot Print. There was a jazz band playing and as we were going, a fellow started up on a unicycle. There were about 4 stalls selling the usual food, for OKish prices. For some reason I thought we were all going to get a feed of gourmet burgers on the system, but no tax refund was being offered. Not that I saw any burgers, but the beef sausages were nice. Left at about 1:30, the heavens opened again and they were still giving out tickets to passers by.

 

[Green]

TD invitation may not be the only way...

Fraid it would appear not......

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/FAQ/document2.htm

Tours can be arranged in the following manner:
1. If living in the Republic of Ireland please contact a local TD or Senator, with your preferred date and time, the number of people/students and a contact name and number of the person/s who will accompany the tour. The TD/Senator will then make the appointment for you with the Events Desk.
2. If living outside the Republic please contact your Embassy or Honorary Consular Representative who will contact the Events Desk on your behalf to make the necessary appointment.

 

[MandaC]

Went yesterday afternoon. Enjoyed the quick walk around tour. Like Towger, thought the burgers were on the house, but no can do.

The staff were very polite and it was a very interesting afternoon.

 

[ClubMan]

Fraid it would appear not......

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/FAQ/document2.htm

Tours can be arranged in the following manner:
1. If living in the Republic of Ireland please contact a local TD or Senator, with your preferred date and time, the number of people/students and a contact name and number of the person/s who will accompany the tour. The TD/Senator will then make the appointment for you with the Events Desk.
2. If living outside the Republic please contact your Embassy or Honorary Consular Representative who will contact the Events Desk on your behalf to make the necessary appointment.

Ah - sorry. I'm that kids all around Ireland will be disappointed that such a day trip involves so much hassle..

 

[Green]

Ah - sorry. I'm that kids all around Ireland will be disappointed that such a day trip involves so much hassle..

Why not try reading posts before you reply? My post is not concerning the hassle of contacting a public representative to arrange a tour.

 

[ClubMan]

So the "gombeen politics route" to which you refer is no hassle but objectionable to you on some other grounds?

 

[extopia]

Having to get a TD book a tour is annoying for both the TD and the would-be visitor. Why can't this mysterious "Events Desk" be empowered to arrange tours themselves? My local TDs don't know me personally - why should they have to vouch for me?

 

[Green]

So the "gombeen politics route" to which you refer is no hassle but objectionable to you on some other grounds?

That is not what I said.

Having to get a TD book a tour is annoying for both the TD and the would-be visitor. Why can't this mysterious "Events Desk" be empowered to arrange tours themselves? My local TDs don't know me personally - why should they have to vouch for me?

I would go further than Extopia above. There is no necessity for anyone wishing to visit the Dail/Seanad to have any contact with a Public Representative. I can visit the Bundestag in Berlin by simply turning up and joining a tour (subject to the necessary security checks). By needing to contact a TD or Senator to visit the Oireachtas reinforces clientilism politics where contact has to be made with a TD's/Senator to secure a service to which the public should be able to access automatically.

Also, what is the case for those who are non Irish national's or tourists who are visiting who dont have a local TD. There are arrangements in place to cater for same in the UK Parliament.