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The Journal
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
TD Ken O'Flynn says he didn't know La-Z-Boy was a brand and just wanted what ‘everyone else has'
INDEPENDENT IRELAND TD Ken O'Flynn has said he was unaware that La-Z-Boy was a 'brand' and that he just requested what 'everyone else is provided with'. In an email in mid-February to the Leinster House facilities management, O'Flynn looked for ten separate items for his parliamentary office to 'enhance the workspace's comfort and functionality.' That included a La-Z-Boy recliner as 'comfortable seating' for use during break periods and office meetings – such seats often retail at well over €1,000. However, in an interview on the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's RedFM, O'Flynn said he didn't know where the €1,000 price tag came from. When it was noted by host Prendeville that La-Z-Boy chairs are routinely priced in excess of €1,000, O'Flynn said he was unaware that La-Z-Boy was a brand and that he thought the term referred to a style of chair. O'Flynn said he 'didn't realise they were a brand and I just thought it was the name of the chair'. He added that he uses the term 'La-Z-Boy' for a style of chair that 'goes back slightly' and that there is 'no footrest' on the chair. Meanwhile, O'Flynn had been at loggerheads with Oireachtas management over delays in getting his office fitted out since he was elected. He told RedFM that he 'was assigned an office in the engineering block, which is outside Leinster House'. 'When I went into an office, there was a table but no chairs, no shelves, there were empty paint cans in the middle of the floor, a big stain on the carpet, and not even a chair for me to sit down at the computer'. He added that he and his staff were 'waiting six weeks for a laptop to be provided'. 'I wrote to the facilities manager and said, 'please, can I have some furniture? Could you take out the rubbish that was left from the previous occupant and could you provide furniture?'' Advertisement O'Flynn said it took six months for him to be assigned an office inside Leinster House and that he was working out of Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins's office 'on part of his desk'. The Independent Ireland TD had had frosty relations with the Oireachtas since his appointment and in January accused them of a 'disregard for the dignity' of his office in a row over lengthy delays in the fit-out of his office. He told RedFM that he 'looked around at what every Senator and TD has' and that the offices contained what O'Flynn described as a 'La-Z-Boy'. 'I requested the exact same furniture that's inside every other TD's office. 'It's a bit misleading to say that I requested a €1,000 chair, I requested a chair to come out of the stockroom where they have chairs but they're out of them.' In response to his request in mid-February, the Oireachtas said they had no recliners in stock and that they were not 'commonly purchased'. When asked if his request 'flies in the face' of previous criticisms of government spending, O'Flynn said he just 'asked them to take a chair out of the stockroom that they have, that everyone else is provided with'. 'I haven't asked for designer wallpaper or floor-to-ceiling mirrors,' said O'Flynn in reference to requests that had been made by other TDs. 'I am just asking to have a proper office after six months of not having an office,' said O'Flynn, 'and an exhausting amount of emails back and forth about where the office is going to be. 'I don't think I asked for anything extraordinary or marvelous, I think it has been blown out of proportion by certain members of the media. 'They're a normal chair, it's just that the back of it goes back.' O'Flynn said he ended up being provided with an 'old-school chair'. -With additional reporting from Ken Foxe Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork TD Ken O'Flynn asked for a La-Z-Boy recliner to be supplied for Leinster House office
A Cork TD who has been critical of government over wasteful spending asked for a La-Z-Boy recliner to be supplied for his Leinster House office for 'breaks and informal meetings'. Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn has been at loggerheads with Oireachtas management over delays in getting his office fitted out since he was elected. In an email in mid-February to facilities management, Mr O'Flynn looked for ten separate items for his parliamentary office to 'enhance the workspace's comfort and functionality'. That included a La-Z-Boy recliner as 'comfortable seating' for use during break periods and office meetings with such seats often retailing at well over €1,000. In response, the Oireachtas said they had no recliners in stock and that they were not 'commonly purchased'. Mr O'Flynn also sought bookshelves, cabinets, and a side-table 'for holding items like lamps or personal effects near the La-Z-Boy or desk'. The Independent Ireland TD asked as well for a fan and a desk lamp but was told even these were not available as Leinster House was trying to cut its emissions and energy costs. An email said this was in line with the 'government's targets' around climate change and that if the light or temperature in the room were a problem, other options could be explored. Mr O'Flynn has had frosty relations with the Oireachtas since his appointment and in January accused them of a 'disregard for the dignity' of his office in a row over lengthy delays in the fit-out of his office after the election. In February, he was still seeking updates on when he could expect to have chairs delivered to his own office and that of his parliamentary assistant. He wrote: 'It is essential that these items are addressed promptly to facilitate our team's productivity.' Mr O'Flynn also said there had been delays in providing IT equipment and printing services, saying these facilities were 'imperative for a functioning office environment". Asked about his request for the La-Z-Boy, Mr O'Flynn said: 'Maybe I used the wrong word — there is a chair in quite a few of the offices, which looks to me like a recliner. 'I was just looking for the same furniture as they have in the other offices.' He said he was still waiting to have all the IT equipment he needed fully installed. 'We're now six months on [from the election] — I have worked in other big organisations, and my experience there would have been very different,' he said. Other requests The requests were among dozens made by TDs and senators to Oireachtas officials in recent months. Another new TD, Sinn Féin's Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, also sought a recliner as well as an extremely specific paint job for his office. An email said: 'I would like the wall papered or painted in turquoise, with the little vertical strip on the left, between the two doors, in yellow'. However, a month later Mr Ó Súilleabháin wrote again to facilities management, saying they should 'disregard [his] request for painting/wallpapering'. A smelly office was a problem for one senator, with OPW staff called in to conduct an inspection to see what was causing the malodour. However, they were unable to detect its source and believed it might have been related to the cutting open of a radiator cover. An email to Senator Linda Nelson Murray said: 'I also asked one of the cleaning staff to visit the room to wipe all surfaces with a disinfectant — the cleaner reported a mild smell coming from the radiator area.' Other requests included full-length mirrors for the offices of Fianna Fáil's Erin McGreehan and Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats. One politician wrote to ask if he could have the old windows of his office taped over in some way because of a draft through the room and hallway. 'I already got a dreadful flu,' said an email from the office of Senator Garret Ahearn to Leinster House management. Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked for a 'small tabletop fridge' for her office while multiple TDs and Senators complained about bins being removed from their offices. However, they were told this was a new policy around waste disposal. An email said: 'Individual bins are no longer placed at office desks. Instead, we have segregated waste receptacles located in the corridors. 'This system has many benefits including enhanced waste segregation, reduced waste generation and improved efficiency for cleaners.' Asked about the records, a spokeswoman for the Oireachtas said they had no comment to make. Read More Ethics watchdog opens hearing into Cork TD Ken O'Flynn's comments in 2021 radio interview
The Journal
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Public ethics watchdog to investigate comments made by Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn
INDEPENDENT IRELAND TD Ken O'Flynn is facing an ethics investigation over comments he made during a 2021 radio interview about a Traveller halting site in Cork. The Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) confirmed this week that it will examine whether remarks that O'Flynn made while serving as a Cork City councillor broke rules set out in the Local Government Act or the councillors' Code of Conduct. The interview, which aired on Cork's RedFM four years ago, focused on the Spring Lane halting site in Ballyvolane. A complaint was later lodged about O'Flynn's comments during the interview, and SIPO is now preparing to hold a preliminary hearing with his legal team on Monday. O'Flynn, who was elected to the Dáil in 2020 and joined Independent Ireland in 2024, has rejected the allegations. Advertisement Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Colm Ó Mongáin show, he said: 'I stand over everything I've said.' He added that part of the complaint concerns his social media activity. 'I think I had about half a million engagements on Facebook, and I think there's only six that the complaint is about,' O'Flynn said. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) previously criticised the 2021 radio segment, saying it lacked balance and had the effect of stigmatising residents of the halting site. However, an earlier complaint to Cork City Council's ethics registrar was dismissed. O'Flynn was also one of only three councillors to vote against an €18 million Traveller accommodation upgrade for the Spring Lane site in 2024. The outcome of the SIPO hearing will determine whether a full investigation into his conduct will follow. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Opposition parties call on camogie players to wear shorts at Munster final
The Cork senior camogie team is expected to wear shorts this Saturday afternoon in the Munster final in Tipperary. Currently under Camogie Association rules, skorts must be worn to play games and shorts are not allowed. However, controversy has broken out over the wearing of skorts, with camogie players saying they are uncomfortable. Recent research published by the Gaelic Players Association showed 70pc of inter-county players deem skorts uncomfortable, and 83pc seeking the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts. Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack said she is wearing shorts today in the Seanad in solidarity with camogie players. 'I'm wearing shorts today in solidarity with the camogie players around Ireland. Laois camogie players will be coming up today to Leinster House and I will be raising this in the Seanad,' she said. She pointed to the survey and said the Camogie Association should now take this on board. 'We're calling on the Irish camogie association to take this on board, 2027, 2026 is too far away. We need to change the rules for them now,' she said. She said she would '100pc' encourage players to wear shorts this weekend as a form of protest. 'No camogie player around the country goes to training in a skort, they all wear shorts when they're training, so why should they be forced to wear a skort? ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It's really down to the camogie association, it's not down to the players. They're asking for this since 1969 and it's going on a very, very long time,' she said at Leinster House. Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn also said camogie players should wear shorts at the Munster final. 'We should be supporting them and we should be moving with the times, and if the players dictate that this is more comfortable, this is what they feel better in, we should be accommodate that,' she said. He said players should have the right to speak up and not feel 'segregated or silenced'. His party colleague TD Michael Collins said 'camogie players need to be respected' and said the change the players are seeking is 'very simplistic'. Cork senior camogie player Ashling Thompson said her team are prepared to forfeit the upcoming Munster final if players are not allowed to wear shorts during the match. The six-time All-Ireland winner has said the Cork team will wear shorts when they come head-to-head with Waterford in Tipperary this weekend. Speaking to RTÉ's News at One, Ms Thompson said players will refuse to wear skorts, even if it means abandoning the game. She said she hopes Waterford will follow suit, but that her team are prepared to give up the Munster title in order to protest the rule against wearing shorts. "I think what we're going to do is wear shorts and if we're asked to return to the dressing room, we won't. If that means abandoning the game and handing over the Munster title to Waterford, that's what we'll do. We're just hoping Waterford follow suit," she said. "It's not about us versus the Association. It's about standing up for what's right and creating something that will effect, in a good way, younger athletes down the line, when they do get to represent, not only in their counties, but their clubs too, that they will have a choice. "Maybe this might be the push that that everybody needs to get over the line in this decision." She said players are "just asking to be heard" and to "have a choice in what we want to wear and how we represent our counties and our clubs". "It's about respect, comfort, modernising a game that we all love,' she said. Ms Thompson said players should be involved in the evolution of the sport, adding that they are "not trying to make this fight" but to give players a choice. She said she would not be happy if a vote on the issue was brought back before Congress next year, adding: "We're really not being heard if we have to wait, and it almost feels like a punishment if we have to wait until next year." Ms Thompson said it would "of course" be difficult for her side to have to forfeit the Munster final over the skorts issue, but players will take a stand "looking at the bigger picture". "I said recently you've probably only three chances of winning silverware throughout the season, and for some teams like it might be the only silverware they ever get in their career so of course, it'll have a huge impact. But I think, again, we're looking at the bigger picture and what it means for the younger players and the younger generation coming through,' she said. She said camogie is at a "high point" and it is "really disappointing" for the game to be in "a negative light" over the issue of skorts. "It's extremely disappointing that it has come to this, especially on such an occasion as being a Munster final," she said. "As Cork players, we're very proud in terms of how we carry ourselves and how we wear that jersey, but how we can influence the younger generation is the biggest thing for Cork and probably why we're successful in terms of tradition and generation. So, that's really the main focus for us and if it means giving up that title, that's what we'll do."
The Journal
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Debunked: A government scheme did not spend €200,000 per car to help isolated Ukrainians
A 2023 SCHEME to help Ukrainians in Ireland without transport links has been falsely described by a TD as having spent €1.6 million to buy eight cars — or €200,000 per car. This figure is false, and more than five times the actual amount spent to buy those vehicles. The exaggerated figure, as well as another dubious claim about the cost of drivers in the scheme, was shared by TD for Cork North-Central Ken O'Flynn in a series of social media posts. These were published on his own Facebook accounts, as well as on the X accounts for his party Independent Ireland, and have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views. The Claim Taking to social media on 11 April, O'Flynn said of the 2023 Community Car Initiative (CCI): 'Here we have a scheme whereby the Department handed over an average of €200k per car for what was essentially a personalised chauffeured transport scheme for the Ukrainian community, irrespective of how the minister wants to characterise.' In videos posted to social media the next day, Flynn says to camera: ' €1.6 million has been spent on eight cars. That's roughly about €200,000 per car . I'm not quite sure what car costs €200,000.' In his posts, O'Flynn also wrote: 'I want to emphasise that the €1.6 million in costs in no way reflects the full extent of the financial burden placed upon the taxpayer as it does not include the employment costs for the drivers who were contracted to deliver the service.' O'Flynn's post One of O'Flynn's videos was viewed more than 160,000 times, according to statistics on Facebook, while his initial post was viewed more than 95,000 times and shared more than 1,400 times. Versions of the post and the video were also posted to the X accounts of his party, Independent Ireland, which accumulated 95,000 and 28,000 views respectively. In response to The Journal's inquiries, O'Flynn said that the source for this claim was a 10 April answer to a parliamentary question on expenditure reviews. Parliamentary questions are an official Dáil mechanism with set rules and deadlines that allow TDs to inquire into the government's actions. A ministerial question That answer was given by Minister for Housing James Browne in a written response to O'Flynn asking a series of questions about 'Ukrainian community cars'. The question and answer can be read in full here . The question begins: 'Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide the detailed expenditure for the purchase of the Ukrainian community cars through the network of local development companies…' Browne response begins by describing the CCI as a temporary measure to allow Ukrainians to take up housing offers in unoccupied homes in areas without transport links. 'The aim of the CCI was to provide a limited transport service to those properties without regular transport links and to enable BoTPs (Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection), to have access to a limited transport service,' Browne said in response to questions from O'Flynn. 'The CCI was not intended to replace existing transport links or to be used as a dedicated transport source comparable, for example, with a private car. Its purpose was to connect with essential services and existing transport links.' However, while the minister's answer does include the figure of €1.6 million, as well as a mention of eight vehicles, it does not say that the cars cost that much. Browne noted that the CCI scheme operated across 16 local authorities until it was 'wound down at the end of 2023 following a review and as part of a wider move for BoTPs to become more independent within communities'. The scheme cost a total of €1.6 million. Browne also said: 'LDCs (Local Development Companies) had the option to either purchase or lease community cars, depending on the better value option locally. Eight cars in total were purchased under the scheme, with the remainder leased.' LDCs are local not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisations. So while eight cars were bought as part of a scheme which cost a total of €1.6 million, this is not the same thing as saying that eight cars cost €1.6 million (or €200,000 per car), as the scheme involved other costs, such as leasing arrangements. A response from the Department of Housing, which was in charge of the scheme, said that in cases where cars were leased, the average cost was €1,243 per month. 'Further costs associated with the scheme included tax and insurance for the vehicles in operation, fuel, driver costs and a contribution to the administrative costs for the LDC's participating in the CCI,' their email read. Advertisement The email also gave the actual price of the eight vehicles that were bought: the total cost for the eight cars was €314,115 — less than one-fifth of the figure cited by O'Flynn. While there are other costs associated with these cars other than the purchasing price, such as tax, insurance, fuel and driver fees, O'Flynn's figures do not take into account the money spent on the other cars which were leased, as well as the other costs associated with those other cars. The department also confirmed that the cars that had been purchased are still owned by the Local Development Companies (LDCs) and are still in use for other community schemes. In response to an email from The Journal noting that the ministerial response and figures given by the housing department contradicted his claims, O'Flynn said: 'I would caution against drawing premature conclusions or relying on selective departmental briefings aimed at deflecting scrutiny. 'The figure of €200,000 per vehicle is a simple division of the total sum across eight cars,' O'Flynn said. 'My use of 'roughly' clearly acknowledged cost variation. The department has not provided an itemised breakdown—if they dispute the number, they should publish one. Vague denials don't satisfy public accountability.' O'Flynn is right to say that the minister's response did not include itemised costs. However, the department's response to The Journal did give the relevant figure: €314,115 for eight cars. Drivers The Minister's answer that O'Flynn cited also included the phrase: 'My Department does not hold information on the employment arrangements of the drivers.' O'Flynn appears to have interpreted that to have meant that 'the €1.6 million in costs [...] does not include the employment costs for the drivers who were contracted to deliver the service.' However, that is not what the minister's answer said. Instead, Browne said €1.6 million was the 'total CCI expenditure' by the housing department. The Department confirmed to The Journal that the €1.6 million figure did include payments to drivers. O'Flynn, however, suggested that there was more evidence to support his position. 'Since April, I've submitted a series of FOI [Freedom of Information] requests that further substantiate my view that the full cost exceeds the €1.6 million disclosed.' The Journal asked O'Flynn what evidence he had found through these FOI requests, however O'Flynn said he would not yet release it. 'Not all replies have yet been received,' O'Flynn wrote, 'and it's important that we take the time to ensure the information is accurate, complete, and responsibly presented.' Misleading claims about Ukrainians being entitled to more help than regular citizens have been common throughout the EU, including in Ireland. The Journal has previously debunked claims that Ukrainian drivers were exempt from Irish laws , and that the Irish government had created a grant only available for Ukrainians to start their own businesses. In March, we looked at claims that the government was paying to repair the cars of Ukrainians. Our verdict on that claim can be read here . In brief: it's possible, but through an already existing Additional Needs Payments mechanism that is open to anyone working on a low income or on social welfare. It was unclear how many of such payments were granted to Ukrainian refugees, or for how much. O'Flynn had then asked in the Dáil if such 'expenditure is good value for money, especially in light of challenges to Irish citizens?' However, the figures in the case of The Community Car Initiative are clearer. Verdict The 2023 scheme to help Ukrainian refugees without transport links has been falsely described by a TD as having spent €1.6 million to buy eight cars — or €200,000 per car . The actual cost of purchasing those eight cars was €314,115 . The cars were kept by local non-profit groups after the year-long scheme ended and are still in use for community schemes. O'Flynn also claimed that the €1.6 million total spend on the wider Community Car Initiative did not include the cost of drivers. The Department has been explicit that it did, contradicting O'Flynn. O'Flynn has also said that he has evidence from Freedom of Information requests that 'substantiate his view', but did not share these with The Journal. Want to be your own fact-checker? Visit our brand-new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for guides and toolkits The Journal's FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles. You can read it here . For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader's Guide here . You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. Learn More Support The Journal
