Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

We are being constantly told that, with the imminent arrival of Global Warming, life as we know it on this Planet will never be the same.

It looks as though de Bert is back in.
In an earlier reply, to some speculation as to the result, I said that I hoped he would be returned – to clean up the mess he, and his associates in Fianna Fail, has made of the economy.

Stamp Duty is a lazy tax and should be abolished.
Not because it it has become an Election Issue.

What is the Government doing inside a woman’s body?

Bertie’s mouth might have been opening and closing, but Cowen’s face told it all.

There should be no difference, yet, to listen to the manifestos of all parties, the Real Priorities seem to have been overlooked.
Government is elected to Govern – to manage the Natural and Human Resources of Ireland and to support these resources with appropriate laws and infrastructures.
Yet, all we seem to hear, both from Fianna [...]

The FTSE is off 269 points – as a result of the fears of the knock-on effects of the Wall Street fall-out.
Jobs are being lost, with disagreeable frequency, in International Companies – and relocated in low wage-cost countries, sheltered from the interference of greedy trade unions and over regulation.
And what is Bertie doing?
Nothing; niente; nada; [...]

Charlie McCreevy introduced the AMRF concept to replace a flawed system, whereby an individual, upon retirement, was required to take out an Annuity, with an approved Institution, usually an Insurance Company.
If that individual were to to die the day after purchasing the Annuity, the Insurance Company trousered the proceeds and the deceased’s relatives – or [...]

Enda Kenny has proposed a sound concept. After all, they have nothing to hide, have they?
But, why not extend accountability by our elected representatives, and, perhaps all candidates standing in the upcomiing elections.

A very good year for Government.
Benchmarking has delivered huge increases in what theTD’s pay themselves.

If my memory serves me right, about three years ago, the VHI seemed certain that Micheal Martin, the Smokers’ Friend, would grant them Risk Equalisation. The VHI gave an upbeat statement of the company’s financial affairs, stating that it was in rude good health and, with the several millions from BUPA, would be floated on [...]

Brian Boru made a very good point by referring to the caveat in the FF/PD manifesto.
If economic circumstances allow.
The estimates for the tax take for 2006 were grossly underestimated. Whether this was Fianna Fail fudge (probably) or incompetence (probable, but unlikely as all civil servants were awarded the 100% maximum top-up bonus proposed under the [...]

When Aer Lingus was a monopoly, remember? It was not all that long ago, and the 40 minute trip to London cost an arm and a leg. Did we hear O’Connor, Halpenny or Begg, and the other beards complaining? Did Bertie Ahern lose his rag and call the CEO a profiteer? Did FF refuse the [...]

Just a quickie.
Beverly Flynn:

Why have RTE not recovered the taxpayers’ licence money it spent in legal costs defending her action, which was awarded against her?
Could it be that it would be inconvenient for FF, RTE’s real boss, to have her bankrupted—and out of Dail Eireann—together with her critical vote?
Or is there a slush fund that [...]

The Bertiegate debate has developed a momentum of its own.
The opposition are going to sink their canines in as far as they will stretch, yet, apart from the Greens, not one of them has suggested a solution.
The Greens have advocated a cessation of “Political Donations”.
Presumably of all hues?

Just so that the Blogwaves don’t get jammed with Bertiegate to the exclusion of all other matters that have relevance for the voters, might I ask if anyone has a breakdown of the various “Stealth Taxes” that are constantly, and correctly, debated, usually without any finite conclusion that would encourage a voting pattern?