Heh, the photo on that RTE article makes Biffo look like he's trying to big it up to the Dail Massive.
You're absolutely right pete, but this has to have been one of the worst budgets from a political standpoint in Irish history. You just don't make cutbacks in health, and politicians should know this given that it's the subject that comes up time and time again on the doorstep*. Even if the health service is a floundering mess with massive overemployment and incomptence at middle management level - hmmm, sounds familiar - you don't make cutbacks. By all means cut staff, but don't cut spending. Ever, ever, ever, never.
Less politically, for completely different reasons you don't make cutbacks in education. Say what you want about Tony Blair - for the record, I can't stand "New Labour", over there or over here - but the "Education, Education, Education" mantra was and always will be right: you have to invest in education if you want to invest in your country, you have to teach your population if you want them to suceed.
By all means make cutbacks, but don't make them in health or education; the former if you want to get re-elected, the latter if you want your country to prosper. Of course the latter never matters a damn to FF, all they ever care about is the former. Which, perhaps, is why they want to make cutbacks in the latter.
adam
* Which just demonstrates how out of touch with reality FF really are, but I won't press the point in the post proper because it takes from the main point I'm trying to make.
Last edited by dahamsta; 31/10/2008 at 8:10 AM.
Figures now at highest level for ten years.....not unsurprising, but painful reading nonetheless
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7711025.stm
Tact is for people who are not witty enough to be sarcastic
Mr. Cowen in his junior football days.
"1 day i will start hand.ie"
Newtown F.C. 1977-2008 R.I.P.
Hibs goin up!
320,000 next year Cowens estimate, I can see it tipping 350,000
Great idea
This measure keeps people technically employed, and employees happy.
Contrast that with the way Aer Lingus is dealing with it's financial problems.
I would be surprised if TSB wanted to offer that to all employees. They probably really only want to give this to people with knowledge they don't want to lose to give to their competitors. I would guess union issues ensure this has to be offered to everyone. If they let people go would possibly cost similar amount in redundencies.
Aer Lingus decision may not be good for the staff but strike is insane as will ensure the company loses more money & staff shares worth less m
oney. They are an Independent private company who don't make big profits even in the good times (almost no airlines do). There is no one left to bail out Aer Lingus.
If the Head of Coillte is earning €409,000 per year which is more than President Elect Barack Obama will earn , then its no surprise that we're in the mess we're in!
Ah that's alright. He hasn't got the trimmings that go with Obama's position anyway. Bertie logic.
News on RTE today, that the Fas CEO brought his wife with him on "business" trips to Florida, while the state agency spent €600k+ transatlantic travel over 4 years promoting programmes.
Meanwhile, every week, there are half hour queues signing on at SW offices throughout the country, full of people that Fas are supposed to be helping.
Having to queue a half an hour?! jaysus....
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
---
New blog if anyone's interested - http://loihistory.wordpress.com/
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Getting back on topic, the latest unemployment numbers (as well as some of the economists projections going forward) are very, very bleak.
Whereas c8% seemed to be consensus for 2009/10, now starting to see projections above 10%. Very worrying indeed.
Meanwhile the Government has completely abdicated on anything resembling a stimulus package like the rest of the developed world is busy putting in place.
Oh, but they did manage to grow public sector employment by 3% in the last quarter....![]()
Seems to be something rotten in the top level at Fas. Apparently their budget equates to 5k spent per unemployed person. Annual Board 2 day meeting at the K Club. Alleged fraud in the spending of advertising budget.
The only thing consistent of FF in the last 10 years is they take credit for good times, blame others for the bad times & ignore their responsibility in running state bodies.
FF policy seems to be to raise taxes to pay for spending & wait for the world to awaken from recession.
The entire Joe Duffy show today was devoted to the Fas Scandal.
Irish Times
Education & Health obvious but what are Regional Bodies? Are they Local Authorities?According to data from the Central Statistics Office, overall employment in the public sector, including the health sector, was 373,100 in June, an increase of 7,500 compared with June 2007.
Employment in the education sector increased from 97,000 to 101,600 in the year to June, a rise of 4,600. Employment in Regional Bodies meanwhile rose by 1,200 to 41,200.
The numbers of people in the health sector declined by by 1,100 from 111,600 in June 2007 to 110,500 in June of this year.
Fasjobs.ie this time last year, had 400-odd jobs available every day in all sectors, now, it's barely 150 a day.
January is going to be mad. Transport fares automatically up, and jobs slashed across all sectors. Most non-profitable firms are going to go to the wall within weeks. As usual in these instances, the manufacturing sector will be hit very hard.
FBD laid off 150 plus workers today, January is going to be quiet shocking...does anyone suspect civil unrest like Iceland last month and Argentina a few years ago.. I wouldn't be surprised.
Won't happen. There isn't the will, nor would it make a difference.does anyone suspect civil unrest . I wouldn't be surprised
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