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Poll: Should the government ease up on austerity in this budget?

The Labour Party wants to see just €2 billion in cuts in the next budget but economists have said we must stick to the plan. What do you think?

MINISTERS ARE PREPARING for battle as the time for making decisions on cuts in the next budget approaches and junior minister Kathleen Lynch told TheJournal.ie that Labour wants just €2 billion worth of cuts rather than the proposed €3.1 billion.

Some economists have suggested that another harsh budget could make economic matters worse but others have warned that Ireland must stick to the plan if we are to successfully exit the bailout programme later this year.

We want to know: Do you think the government should ease up on austerity in this budget?


Poll Results:

No (1920)
Yes (1850)
I'm not sure (598)

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155 Comments
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    Mute Pád
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:21 AM

    Well he wasn’t able for the Taoiseach position, so I doubt he’ll be any use in opposition.
    For a 41 year old he’s completely out of touch with the people.
    He and his party were too concerned about Brexit to notice what was going on in his own backyard.
    Also backing those two muppets Harris and Murphy what was he thinking!

    453
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    Mute Hector Son
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:46 AM

    @Pád: and yet all three were reelected.

    67
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    Mute Pád
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:11 AM

    @Hector Son: Yep you are correct of course! Just goes to show how blind some people are. Although it took 15 counts before Harris got back in!

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    Mute Thewestisbest
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:44 AM

    @Pád: Are you in favour of scrapping PR?

    3
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    Mute paul gurney
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    Feb 12th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @Pád: well said…is it not time we did away with the PR system …I mean in all fairness if it takes 15 counts to get voted in then you could safely say you weren’t really wanted in anyway..Only 2 countries in the world using this system for general elections…its a typical Irish not all’s lost system…sure don’t worry we’ll get you in somehow…RUBBISH.

    11
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    Mute Gerrard
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:56 AM

    If there is another general election I would change my vote from Sinn Fein after the up the ra comment … leopard never changes its spots

    191
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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:22 AM

    @Gerrard: why where you so shock over that did you think they are all different now and how are we going to convince the unionist population about been part of this new all IRELAND ..I want a United ireland more than I want SF.

    39
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    Mute Danny E
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:42 AM

    @Gerrard: haha did you not know what they were like. Ffs

    50
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    Mute Pád
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:12 AM

    @Gerrard: Oh build a bridge and haul your ass over it!

    28
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    Mute Gerrard
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:34 AM

    @Bobby wilson: no like 99% who voted for Sinn Fein it was a protest vote nobody even likes them it’s just a shake up once in a century vote … but they ruin it before they even start … so my protest vote lost to them already

    24
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    Mute Gerrard
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:34 AM

    @Pád: ok yank

    4
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:59 AM

    @Gerrard: well you just keep focused on that! There’s been worse said by those previously in power. So while you’re crying into your cereal in the morning the rest of us are more concerned about the broken house system, the broken health system ect ect ect. You know the real issues!

    28
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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Feb 12th 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Gerrard: I have voting for SF many many times in my constituency in North Belfast to keep out unionists from winning a Nationalist seat my first choice is the SDLP if even so I don’t agreed with many of there policies I will vote then when ever Nationalist seat is in danger to falling to loyalist/unionist …..

    7
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    Mute Ruairi Colton
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    Feb 12th 2020, 10:41 AM

    @Gerrard: haha. What vote did you give them? No.15 was it. If there was another election sf would sweep into power.

    12
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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Feb 12th 2020, 12:58 PM

    @Gerrard: ahhh you poor sod your easily upset

    5
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    Mute Verandah
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:24 PM

    @Gerrard: Sinn Fein have one agenda. The rest are just a means to a United Ireland. Change me b******s!!

    3
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    Mute Gerrard
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:01 PM

    @Ruairi Colton: no 1 and so did the whole club I represent and we all said the same … did you ever hear the expression buyers remorse … Sinn Fein would never risk another vote

    3
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    Mute Diogenes
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:25 AM

    Mary Lou for Taoiseach!

    191
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    Mute Fred the Muss
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:30 AM

    @Diogenes: She won’t be Taoiseach as she’d have to get off the fence and make a decision and then own it.

    84
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    Mute Diogenes
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    Feb 12th 2020, 12:07 PM

    @Fred the Muss: Mary Lou will be Taoiseach, its only a matter of when.

    11
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    Mute Dave Stewart
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:36 AM

    More suited to head up some foreign vulture-fund than a government IMO

    170
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    Mute Hector Son
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:50 AM

    @Dave Stewart: yeah, this strong economy and full employment is overrated. SF wont be building ANY houses if/when they screw up the economy.

    48
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    Mute Dave Stewart
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:33 AM

    From what I’ve seen so far the man couldn’t run bath never mind a country

    184
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    Mute Willy Mc Entire
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:21 AM

    Respect the people as you expect to be respected.
    FFG didn’t .

    86
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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:32 AM

    @Willy Mc Entire: We’ve full employment, the most progressive income tax system in Europe, and we’re a welfare state. What more do you want?

    58
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    Mute Willy Mc Entire
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:44 AM

    @Mark Kelly: Blueshirts taking this way to badly :-)

    60
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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:59 AM

    @Mark Kelly: we want a fairer society. We want old people to die with dignity and not on a hospital trolley in a corridor with a makeshift curtain around it. We want affordable childcare. We dont want to see old ladies eating their dinner off a window sill. Is that too much to ask from a wealthy country?

    47
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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:30 AM

    @Brian Madden: We’re 200+ billion in debt from 2008. How is SF and their panel of old provos in the Ard Chomhairle the answer?

    17
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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:40 AM

    @Willy Mc Entire: if FFG are a single entity as you keep saying or even a cartel and if that’s the way the general public viewed it, then FFG beat SF in the election. They have 73 seats between them compared to SFs 37? Just saying.

    13
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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:20 AM

    Leo and his party are just so out of touch with most of the population that they were always going to get hammered at the poles. They just have no appeal for a certain generation. FF and Lab are in the same boat.

    80
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    Mute lambda sensor
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    Feb 12th 2020, 9:43 AM

    @Derek Lyster: after 9 years in power it is often the case that the incumbent gets turfed out. Nothing surprising here except that FF didn’t make hay. A period of time on the opposition benches is exactly what FG need right now.

    9
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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Feb 12th 2020, 9:59 AM

    @lambda sensor: the right person for the job is the right person for the job. Leo wasnt, too out of touch with the majority of the population.

    16
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    Mute A
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:34 AM

    Basically what’s going to happen Is that Fg and FF will elect new party leaders and we will have another general election…

    57
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    Mute SC
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:20 AM

    @A: They must think we’re stupid. It’s not the branding or the faces; it’s the people behind it all who are the problem. FG are clearly doing deals with insurance companies and vulture funds. We need a government to stand up for us.

    116
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    Mute Fred the Muss
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:31 AM

    @A: Coveney for FG but who would you put in for FF?

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    Mute nicknack
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:57 AM

    @Fred the Muss: Coveney is a bilderberg boy who loves the vulture funds,him and Larry Goodman have very interesting ties.fine Gael need a clean break but is any of them clean

    32
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    Mute Mark Kelly
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:31 AM

    Question for SF voters: the PSNI says the the IRA still retain oversight of Sinn Fein (https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ira-army-council-retains-oversight-of-sinn-fein-say-police-38671774.html).

    For most of us this isn’t news, but it seems to be for SF voters. SF are open about Mary Lou McDonald having to answer to the Ard Chomhairle, a panel which include old provos.

    It’s quite bizarre we have a huge number of people in this country who deny the link between the IRA and SF – when we know Mary Lou McDonald literally succeeded a former IRA Chief of Staff (Gerry Adams) as leader only 2 years ago.

    So I’m asking the non-conspiratorial SF voters here (there seems to be an enormous overlap between conspiracy theories and SF voters), how do you think there people are best placed to, say, fix our health system?

    Serious answers only, and only from SF voters who accept the above. I don’t want to hear from any of the tinfoil hat SF voters who believe it’s all a smear job.

    56
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    Mute The Equalizer
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:04 AM

    Nice trip to Wuhan for Leo, Harris, Ross and burton

    42
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:58 AM

    Haven’t heard a peep out of him over the last few days…..it’s soo refreshing

    41
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:04 AM

    Is there anything to be said for another mass?

    36
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    Mute Mary Hynes
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    Feb 12th 2020, 9:01 AM

    Personally I think Leo did very well. I was always proud when he represented us abroad. Always so respectful to whoever he met. Simon Coveney, Helen McEnroe and himself played a blinder in Europe. He will have no problem in opposition if thats where he ends up Good luck Leo.

    30
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    Mute Seanboy
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:46 AM

    He could always take down his posters I’m sick of looking at his smarmy face

    45
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    Mute SC
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    Feb 12th 2020, 7:18 AM

    It’s not him; it’s the party’s ideology and who they really represent. He seems nice actually.

    20
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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Feb 12th 2020, 9:07 AM

    Leo ..you’re a grand lad but you did FA ….

    “All politics is local and there is nothing more local than a man’s wallet”
    “Its the Economy Stupid … the domestic home family economy .. stupid!”

    People are not angry with FG / FF / Politicians … they are Furious!

    The Banking crisis was fixed in a few days meetings … same should apply to the list …

    2020 Election : Voters Program for Government :-

    - 2 Tier Family Homes … Owners and Landlords v the “Locked Out” – Rack Rents, No Affordable homes and Evicted Homeless.
    - 2 Tier Car Tax … Post 2008 well off new car class Low Car Tax v pre 2008 excessive High Car Tax for older cars – irrespective of miles traveled . stupid Greens forcing us all into diesels …
    - 2 Tier Health … We have VHI so we skip the queue v rest of you take your ‘Place’ in the Queue and wait … and 11% of GDP put into health. (This one is obscene)
    - 2 Tier Insurance … €450 in Ireland car insurance v car insurance in France €185 … same company!!!(Judges should not be allowed to determine monetary awards. That is for the taxpayer via his TD to decide – on what society can afford. Judge should decide the degree of negligence or otherwise – that’s it …. no more daft Irish stuff)
    - 2 Tier VAT Tax … No Vat on Bank transactions v but VAT (€28,000) tax on new family homes .. amazing no street protests!.
    - 2 Tier LPT … a tax family homes ..none in Italy .. next tax food – you cant tax Life Essentials (shelter)… TDs just dont get it.
    - 2 Tier Pensions … 3 pensions (1 Private + 2 Welfare ‘PRSI’) v wait until you are 68 yrs for your only Welfare pension. Wrong answer FG.
    - 2 tier Education .. free primary/Free Secondary v Pay for 3rd Level??? Hello

    plenty more … do a survey!

    Complete lack of urgency, energy, competence by Political and Civil Service to remove the ridiculous barriers to fix above. No lack of urgency when it came to save the Bankers …

    Decent people do not want to live in this most unfair horrible 2-Tier Irish society … they are not angry – they are furious.

    A Second Troika may be necessary ……. to fix it …
    rotating Taoiseach (Troika Outside Appointment) every 3 yrs until ye cop on …

    24
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    Mute Thewestisbest
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    Feb 12th 2020, 8:43 AM

    He won’t be in opposition, he will be in government with Micheal & Eamon.

    11
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    Mute commoner
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    Feb 12th 2020, 10:28 AM

    76% reject SF

    9
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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:34 PM

    @commoner: 80% rejected FG

    3
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Feb 12th 2020, 10:06 AM

    He is only passing the time on a salary of €96,000 until 2024,then he is off to the big EU job.

    9
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    Mute Henry Toye
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    Feb 12th 2020, 10:48 AM

    Ha ha Leo. You’re a joke.

    8
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    Mute Kieran Cronin
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    Feb 12th 2020, 10:38 AM

    himself or herself

    1
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    Mute Gombeen Island
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    Feb 17th 2020, 10:23 PM

    I’d say Simon Coveney is craving the Taoiseach role…

    1
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