Where is the Beef?

[osarusan]

Mr Cowen would be mindful of a bit of Advice Mikhail Gorachev gave to the aging communist leader of East German in 1989 when all around him change was in the air and Honecker refused to change his policy or make any decisions or concessions - Gorby simply said " Life punishes those who delay" - a few days later Honecker was removed from power and the rest as they say is history...

The problem is though, that Fianna Fail have realised that the Irish electorate don't punish those who delay, or those who do any one of a dozen other things which should result in the death of a political career.

[pete]

If anyone had the chance to see Minister for Labour Billy Kelleher on Prime Time Last night, you would instantly recognise that this leadership is clueless, the cliches and the line "we can get through this if we all work together through social partnership" nearly turned my stomach with the sheer bloody weakness and spin and lack of direction...

I wasn't paying attention at the start so wasn't sure who he was. I thought for a while he was a Labour back bench TD. Slowly came to realise he was a FF TD. Even more shocked to hear he is an actual Minister. Woefully inept performance full full of cliches. "tell dell how important they are to Limerick" "competitiveness" "social partnership" blah blah blah...

What does the Minister for Labour do anyway?

[monutdfc]

Ah poor old Billy, reminds me of the Tim Nice but Dim character on Harry Enfield; broke a FF record by getting the word "global" in as just his 3rd word (they are all on message to say the word "global" as many times as possible in any discussion on the economy). In our glorious democracy, they needed another minister from Cork, looked around and said hey Billy, you'll do.

[OneRedArmy]

Don't worry he's not a "real" Minister...

In any case if you believe the papers and meedja in general, we don't have a Government anymore per se, we have the ruling junta of Cowen, Lenihan and Coughlan, who allegedly are barracading themselves away together at every available opportunity and excluding the rest of the cabinet from major decisions and generally trying their damnest to grasp the title of Most Out of Their Depth Person from the current title holder (jointly awarded to Pat Neary and Lucy Kennedy)....

[Macy]

Surely McCreevys Corporation Taxation policies were commendable for attracting foreign investment, obviously the Section 23 property Taxation breaks contributed to the current mess, but McCreevy was proactive and most of all his own man, Lenihan is a softy a numbskull and he proved it again this morning on Morning Ireland with his civil servant spin about social partnership etc...

The low corporation tax rates pre-date McCreevy. The property taxation avoidance schemes helped fuel the boom, as did his constant cutting of direct tax base. His over reliance on consumption taxes has directly lead to the sudden massive hole in the public finances, as well as severely limiting what can be done to stimulate the economy now. His privatisation of eircom has also left us with a terrible telecoms infrastructure, further weakening our position.

[monutdfc]

All I could do is laugh at Cowen talking about our unsustainable levels of public expenditure; as if it was somebody else's fault! he was only the f-ing finance minister that increased public expenditure to current levels

[Reality Bites]

The Dell lay-offs in Limerick is going to put increased pressure on the three Stooges - Oh what the hell wheel out Billy Kelleher again!

[Lionel Ritchie]

The Dell lay-offs in Limerick is going to put increased pressure on the three Stooges - Oh what the hell wheel out Billy Kelleher again!

I am unconcerned about the Dell lay-offs as the Tánaiste has set up a task force that will prioritise job creation in the mid west. Though this will doubtless create problems for her back on the ranch where her predecessor also set up a task force to prioritise job creation in the north-west. Though maybe their work is complete and Donegal has full employment again now. Excellent. Sorted.