Government failures thread

This thread could be a rival for the longest thread ever... How the Government can continue to defend the deal done by Woods, supported by Ahern, is beyond me. I don't object to the state picking up some of the bill, since it was to some degree the state's fault for tying itself so closely to the Catholic Church rather than take a secular route and provide their own resources. However, no deal should've been done until the final figure was known. Or if it was, it should've be done as a percentage of final outcome basis.

Again from the indo/ unison....
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=14749

Quote:

---

Legal deal with religious orders leaves massive bill

TAXPAYERS are facing a €1.3bn payout for compensation to victims of abuse by members of religious orders.

....

In the closing days of the 2002 Fianna Fail-PD coalition the government closed a deal with religious orders giving them a controversial State-guaranteed legal indemnity against any future court claims from abuse victims.

This was in exchange for the orders making a contribution of €128m from their own resources to a compensation scheme.

Then Education Minister Dr Michael Woods and the Taoiseach Mr Ahern repeatedly rejected opposition claims that this amounted to a "sweetheart" deal with the religious orders that would expose taxpayers to a massive bill.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Macy

Re: The part in bold, it's lazy journalism that has missed this. Of the 10,000 positions the Government claim to have filled down the country, nearly 6,000 of those are people moving from one regional location to another, e.g. most of those going to Carrick on Shannon are moving from the existing Social Welfare section in Longford.

Of the 4,000 Dublin based public servants that have expressed an interest in leaving Dublin, most have opted for the heavily oversubscribed commuter belt locations such as Drogheda, Kildare etc.

There is still no plan as to what is to happen to those that want to stay in Dublin.

From http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=14749

---

The Drogheda move is being held up by senior civil servants who don't want to move.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

The Drogheda move is being held up by senior civil servants who don't want to move.

---

Who don't want to volunteer for a voluntary programme you mean?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Macy

Who don't want to volunteer for a voluntary programme you mean?

---

No, its not that. Any ordinary staff member who does not volunteer for this programme is dumped on the scrapheap. Yes they can stay in Dublin but their carreer path rapidly becomes a cul-de-sac. They can opt to stay in Dublin but their cannot opt to keep their current position in Dublin. These senior civil servants are holding up the process for everyone who wants to go to Drogheda so they can delay or halt the relocation of their positions. Ordinary civil servants don't have that option.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

No, its not that. Any ordinary staff member who does not volunteer for this programme is dumped on the scrapheap. Yes they can stay in Dublin but their carreer path rapidly becomes a cul-de-sac. .

---

You don't have to tell me. It's just another example of what's wrong with the farcical policy that is going to cost the country billions.

However, you must remember that it suits the Government to delay the likes of Drogheda even for those that want to move - as soon as that move happens it blows their numbers out of the water because they're so heavily over subscribed (whereas they count them all in the 10,000 that have expressed an interest in moving).

Too True.

Come next election this government will be given the boot by the electorate. Then again with the incompetence of the Opposition (with the exception of Joe Higgins) and the gombeen electorate anything can happen.

Anyway I'm quite confident that there will be three opposition TD's in the next Dail, Joe Higgins, Claire Daly (SP) and John Halligan WP in Waterford.

as for the rest..........
FG - FF lite
Lab - FG lite
Greens - dont get me started
SF - Paramilitary wing of FF
PD's - wipeout.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Partizan

Anyway I'm quite confident that there will be three opposition TD's in the next Dail, Joe Higgins, Claire Daly (SP) and John Halligan WP in Waterford.

.

---

Don't know much about John Halligan. How much of a chance does he have of getting in. Any poll info? That sure would be a welcome addition. If we can get Joe returned and Clare elected and the WP get someone in and Seamus Healy gets re-elected, there is a good basis for an alliance of working class representatives.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dahamsta

True, but at least it wouldn't be illegal on top of everything else.

---

Adam,

I suggest you get your facts correct before posting, as a mod I would have expected better.

In 1992, when the free market opened up, Ireland, like every other EU country were no longer allowed charge import taxes on products originating in the EU i.e. customs duties.

Excise duties were abolished on a range of products and all EU Member States are only allowed to charge excise duties on three types of products:

Hydrocarbon oils (petrol/diesel etc);
Alchool;
Tobacco products (inc cigarettes/cigars etc).

As a result customs and excise duties were removed from cars and the government of the day needed to recoup the loss to the exechequer somehow. The finance minister at the time was Bertie Ahern and he and his officials in the Department of Finance came up with VRT. It gets technical here but in short, VRT is a charge for the registration number on your car.

Member States are not allowed to charge a tax similar in nature to VAT and this is what commentators try to push when they make their arguments, however EU law does not prevent Member States from charging a fee for a registration number for your vehicle. In fact Member States are obliged to have a system to register vehicles.

In charging this fee, the charge does not have the same legal effect as VAT.

All vehicles normally kept in the state must be registered in the state, any imported cars must be presented to a Vehicle Registration Office by the end of the next working day. ---- etc

However the imposition of the tax is not illegal, the European Commission is trying to harmonise the rate of levies attached to cars accross all Member States, as long as the present Government is in power this will never happen, taxation is one of the areas that their must be complete agreement and Ireland, UK and Denmark will never agree to ANY sort of tax harmonisation, as a point of principal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Soccer Lover

However the imposition of the tax is not illegal, the European Commission is trying to harmonise the rate of levies attached to cars accross all Member States, as long as the present Government is in power this will never happen, taxation is one of the areas that their must be complete agreement and Ireland, UK and Denmark will never agree to ANY sort of tax harmonisation, as a point of principal.

---

I think you can be certain that if other EU states used this loophole for other products the system would collapse fairly quickly. The state may claim it is a "registration tax" but when does it cost tens of thousands to register a product. I am also surprised the system of importing cars is not illegal - sure whats to stop the state introducing a similar system for import beef steaks to protect the local industry?

I think the biggest failure of this government is they cannot make easy decisions & they love to spend tax payers money on white elephants.

Why did it take the government so long to make a decision on dublin airport expansion - the airport is a disgrace & embarishing for the city & country. Business people queuing 15 minutes this monday morning to get into a variety of clean/dirty, new/old & overpriced taxis. :rolleyes:

Government spends 100s of millions on Luas & was reading at the weekend that experts saying it not value for money as cannot increase capacity enough in the way a rail or metro system. :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pete

I think you can be certain that if other EU states used this loophole for other products the system would collapse fairly quickly. The state may claim it is a "registration tax" but when does it cost tens of thousands to register a product. I am also surprised the system of importing cars is not illegal - sure whats to stop the state introducing a similar system for import beef steaks to protect the local industry?

:

---

Thats the beauty of the system, as the government had to replace revenue that was denied them with the abolishment of customs and excise duties on cars, and they were obliged to have a system in place to register cars - they levy a high rate of VRT for such registration. My point is that, it may be unfair, but it is legal (not as Adam had implied).

Not many other products require registration, in the same way as vehicles so your argument that other EU states using this "loophole" (your words) doesn't stand up.

Beef steaks are covered by CAP legislation and there is a system that all imports of beef must be under licence from the Dept. of Agriculture & Food. The Dept must enforce the legislation handed down from the European Commission/Council and the Government here are not permitted to deviate from it.

I agree that this government (the same as most governments who have served before them) have wasted taxpayers money on grand projects that are not good value for money, also it should always be remembered that nearly all major projects carried out have vested interest groups lobbying the appropriate Minister, the one that wins out is usually the one – well do I have to explain:rolleyes:

I must confess that i thought of changing my vote next time to FF until i was reminded how hopeless they are at running the government & spending my money.

This government been in power for 9 years & infrastructure is still pathetic in this country. Left got Dublin Aiport from city centre yesterday & took 1 hour (no other transport option available). Took 1 hour to get through security the queues were so long. If they queue was in a straight line would have been out the front door & halfway to the roundabout outside the airport. :mad:

Contrast this with Oslo. Airport is clean open & inviting, built on green field site i think 15 years ago. Train takes 20 minutes for the 50km journey & connect with extensive metro system City of 500k people.

I accept we years behind in infrastructure due to finances but we now have the money. Why has it taken 9 years to start a new terminal in the airport? That terminal won't increase capacity enough anyway? Why 9 years to even start putting Metro out to tender? Its pathetic & embarishing if we want the country to prosper. Business people must not know whether to laugh or cry when see their only transport option 15-20 minute queue for taxis that will then rip them off.

Get FF/PDs out, no one could do worse job of looking after the semi-state & state services - remember they are the only things they actually responsible for for! the government does not create private sector jobs.

:(