Stroke of genius by the government. Hope UK & Europe follows this lead :)
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Stroke of genius by the government. Hope UK & Europe follows this lead :)
Think it was mentioned in the Indepdendent at the weekend the British government was looking into the idea, but were afraid of a backlash from the tobacco companies
They don't believe it over here, Ireland has the second strongest non smoking lays in the world , some kingdom in Nepal bans tobacco.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Driving through Bridgend in Donegal deday, seen 2 oul women standing outside a pub smoking their fags. Ah yes, it's here. :D
We made it as a country now then.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
:eek:
p.s. could be the making of Mickey Martins political career.
While I agree with the smoking ban, I read today that he is going to increase the tax on drink. Since it's already so highly taxed (must be the highest in Europe) he should have coped on that taxing it even more isn't going to stop people drinking but just stop kids getting their money for their football, swimming etc from their parents. More tax on drink will drive Fianna Fail out for sure.
10 cans of good lager in Ireland - €20+
10 cans of good lager in Germany - €6
Somethings a bit wrong there me thinks.
This smoking ban is one of the most positive things that this government has done. It showed genuine fore thought and bravery. A further tax increase will only serve to cancel out all the goodwill received after the ban.
I got a crate (24 cans) in Austria for €8. Skol it was called, the local stuff and it tasted the exact same as Bud. That would be the guts of €50 here.
i thinks its brilliant that you can go home from work now not wreaking of cigarette odours.and your lungs not involuntarily polluted with the stuff.well done mickey
But if people quit smoking, the loss of revenue has to be raised somewhereQuote:
Originally Posted by Gary
Great political move by Martin, I have to give him that. Minister for Health, and he manages to get everybody thinking how great he is when the health service is in a disgraceful state. I knew it was bad, but recent experience (and cost of going private due to the ridiculous waiting list time for something that it is extremely important to catch as early as possible), has shown what an astute move it is. Not for the plaudits for the ban, but for the shift in emphasis away from all the rest of his responsibilties.
FF OUT NOW!
while I agree that it's created a bit of a blind spot with regard to other problems wihtin the health service (e.g. the child who passed away before an operation could be performed due to a lack of staff just last week) I do think that the smoking ban and the points system for that matter are both very positive actions that the current government have taken.
I actually wrote Bertie a letter to point that out, Gods only knows when he'll get it ;)
The points system is good in theory. Unfortunately it's just a money making racket. How many speed cheques do you see on the country roads where the majority of road deaths take place when compared to them being on motorway bridges where sod all accidents happen? IMO the money spent on the points system, and the computer system to implement it (if it ever happens, and it must be way out of date by now) would've been better spent increasing the number of driving tester's, to get the people who are on provisional licences off the road (by way of implementing the law). It's ridiculous that someone who fails their test, can drive themselves home.Quote:
Originally Posted by tiktok
is that a pun, or just ban spelling? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Macy
How about that? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by crc
[QUOTE=Macy]The points system is good in theory. Unfortunately it's just a money making racket. How many speed cheques do you see on the country roads where the majority of road deaths take place when compared to them being on motorway bridges where sod all accidents happen? [\QUOTE]
It only took them 6-7 years minimum to implement "The Penalty Points" as FF have been promising at least since 1997. They still not "pooterised" & only a couple of offences can get you points so far. :rolleyes:
Some idiotic in tipp was first to get banned for 12 points last week for 6 separate offences. IMO he clearly too stupid to drive if caught like that & should be abnned for life.
Must be working in accounts - just a spelling mistake that slipped by my radar...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
I have to agree here ..... He bit the bullet one this one but is that all he is going to do .... We wont see the effects of the ban fully for another 20-40 years time. The heallth system was in tatters a few months ago and the ban have glossed over all of that .... but the problems still remain if the haven't got worse. He can bet your bottom dollar they haven't improved because he wouldn't have missed the chance to tell us all how great he is if he had resolved any major problems.
FF OUT NOW .... for their own sake, it might be the kick in the rear they need to get back on track or at least in the right direction. The country is a mess.
Quote:
Originally Posted by noby
err.... i think you'll find they more than make up the revenue in having to deal less with the side effects of passive smoking.
also the saving of 150 bar-workers lives each year is something to be applauded too.
But even if the (btw unproven) benefits of people not passive smoking will be years down the line. If everyone gave up tomorrow then the countries finances would be fúcked. Hence why they don't ban it outright, or make them €20 a pack.Quote:
Originally Posted by eoinh
btw I'm pushing for a ban on enclosed car parks, any road tunnels, car ferries - any enclosed places where people are forced to breath other peoples car fumes. Infact, it's state sponsored with the NCT test centres...
oops! egg in the general face area :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Schumi
There is no known source of lung cancer other than smoking. No smoking = no lung cancer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
I've tried to encourage people to cycle to work before, with limited (ie. no) success. Sextuple the tax on petrol, I say. That'll sort the temporary deficit from people giving up smoking.Quote:
btw I'm pushing for a ban on enclosed car parks, any road tunnels, car ferries - any enclosed places where people are forced to breath other peoples car fumes. Infact, it's state sponsored with the NCT test centres...
I think the smoking ban is great - I've been looking forward to the 29th March for quite some time. Its something that, as a country, we should be proud of.
We need brave politicians, well done MM (I don't take the point that its a scheme to divert attention from other parts of Health, even if that has happenned)
I think he should wise up and lay off taxing drink so much. the smoking ban was a great idea, but the people who are out getting smashed and pasting each other up and down the street will drink regardless- its the poor fools who like a few pints that will suffer as usual. The smoking ban is IMO the only positive thing this government has done since it was elected.
FF OUT
About right, yes. I certainly won't be voting for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Éanna
Just so there's no confusion, I wasn't praising FF, just MM - lots of the party were against the smoking ban. Also, MM has said nothing yet about raising the tax on alcohol - that's all media speculation - all he has said is that he want to tackle binge drinking.
I'm having problems deciding who to vote for in June; there's no party (except maybe PDs) that's crying out.
I know the feeling, and I don't want to vote for mini-FF.Quote:
Originally Posted by crc
Get "them" to spare you? There will be no them. There'll be an "I" and I promise I'll think about it :D :D :D
As for people doing anything to have a crack- not quite true. I think its more a case of people who are fundemntally opposed to the cowboys who are running our country having the good grace to give credit where its due.
Sinn Fein? To go into coalition with murderers is dusgusting. Maybe before going into coalition with them you might ask them to stop all criminal activity?Quote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
Corruption is a criminal activity. FF don't exactly have the moral high ground................Quote:
Originally Posted by eoinh
They are the elected representatives, they are cowboys and they will get re-elected. and it sickens meQuote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
There is a difference in my book between corruption and murder. I dont want murderers running my country. I dont like FF either but the thought of being ruled over by an organisation that has brought death,injury and pyhsical handicap to other irishmen is a though thats not worth thinking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Éanna
I think its a very thin line.
have been caused by the IRA, no doubt, but if FF had been looking after the health services and not their own vested interests then we might have a better health service and less of the above.Quote:
death,injury and pyhsical handicap
IMO politicians should represent the people, and while FF represent dodgy dealings and general gombeenery SF represents a sector of Irish society which believes that kneecapping drug dealers is ok, among other things. And i have no doubt that a considerable minority of people DO think that.
You could go to the other extreme and dmeand that all politicians be of impeccable character and never do anything wrong- but a) they'd be hard to find; and b) they wouldn't represent the people
I think you're spot on. once its clear there's been a change of heart, you have to give someone a second chance. IMO without Gerry Adams we'd still have people being killed every day in the 6 counties. this country has a lot to thank him for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
I think its great.
I'd nearly vote for M. Martin, IF
A. I was in his constituency
and
B. He wasn't such a slimey boll*x ! :D
(btw, Conor, you go through a few "knots... to have a crack" yourself! )
What did we all do to deserve this ??Quote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
Was it something from a past life ??
The Gods are against us !!
Mercy, Mercy !!
It was sanctions that ended aparthaid along with international pressure. Violence got them nowhereQuote:
Originally Posted by Conor74
quote eanna
SF has also been involved with drug dealing and running as well.Quote:
SF represents a sector of Irish society which believes that kneecapping drug dealers is ok, among other things
The majority of people in SA supported the ANC; the majority of the people in Ireland did not support the Provos
It may be justified if there is no democratic way. No one i doubt would argue that the resistance groups in say norway or france etc had a right to fight nazi occupation.
Eannna was on about giving SF a second chance. Let them give up their arms and cease all activity before we give them a chance. violence very rarely leads one any where other than more violence.
As a memeber of a party in a democratically elected governemnt im surprised at you conor
not everone elected is a saint.
Liam Lawlor, Nixon and though they were never given a majority the nazis gained a fair few few votes in their time.
The far right controls one of the austrian provinces at the moment.