Scrooge Soffe and the Bin Workers

dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | opinion/analysis Wednesday December 10, 2003 15:27 by Mags

Many people on here will be familiar with the statements of Willie Soffe, the manager of Fingal County Council.

Willie is on the Joe Duffy show today ordering householders to under no circumstances give any gifts to binmen over the Xmas period.

NO WAY is anyone to offer sums of money, drink, small presents, etc. to the workers in return for the services provided during the year. Apparently it creates a 'conflict of interest'.

Joe Duffy asked him was there any way that people could show appreciation - maybe send a donation to some charitable fund connected to the binmen, or to their Union. Poor Willie nearly had apoplexy at this suggestion.

Duffy, as his his wont, went on to suggest that people giving a present to a binman could be seen as bribery - that if the bin did not have a tag the bin man could take a Xmas gift and the job would be oxo.

I'm just wondering - do Scrooge Soffe and the other suits in Fingal Co Council get bonuses, etc. for their 'work'. If so, who is paying for this - the taxpayers, maybe?

This is an important story and readers MUST also make it clear to their children that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they leave out gifts of plum pud, sweet cake or drinkies for the old scrounger who illegally enters family homes late on December 24th. You'll know him, wears red + big white beard. Difference is that he brings a bag, instead of taking them away. But the principle remains the same!