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Rural Ireland saw some development during the boom: what now? Photocall Ireland

Do we need a junior minister for rural development?

RTÉ has seen a report which underlines how much Ireland’s rural areas have suffered in the downturn – should a minister be dedicated to tackling that issue?

BUSINESSES IN RURAL areas suffer double the rate of failure as businesses in urban areas and one-third of households with people of working age are hit by unemployment.

Those are some of the stark statistics which RTÉ says is in a report – yet to be made public – which examined the economic state of rural areas. The report is from the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA), which held a series of public meetings across Ireland and also offered people and groups a chance to make suggestions for developing rural Ireland’s economy earlier in the summer.

These slides from a presentation from Dr David Meredith of Teagasc are worth a look for an overview of employment in rural areas.

The full recommendations of CEDRA’s report will be revealed when it is published next month. However, RTÉ claims that the draft report has already thrown up enough concern for senior civil servants to suggest that a junior minister be appointed with specific responsibility for rural development.

Would you consider it a good idea to appoint a Minister of State for Rural Development?


Poll Results:

B - No (691)
C - Not sure (467)
A - Yes (291)

Column: It’s time to tackle decline in rural Ireland>

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Symbolism
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Is this a wind up ?

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    Mute Jim
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    Sep 28th 2014, 9:55 AM

    On the other hand I’d love to have the money to buy it

    5
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    Mute Barry Doyle
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:45 PM

    Just like and share to be in with a chance to win one.

    206
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    Mute Antonov Merinov
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:37 PM

    Not for me.
    I couldn’t tell my boss I was late because of my watch.

    49
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    Mute Willy Moon
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:47 PM

    Don’t see any reason there to pay 1.1m for a watch, save the money and ask someone the time, or if you can pay that type of cash for a watch why the fu*k would you care what time it is

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    Mute family guy
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    Sep 27th 2014, 8:59 PM

    I honestly think a finely made watch is beautiful. I feel naked if I don’t wear one on a night out. I think a watch and ring is the only jewellery a man should wear. I do have a watch fetish but have never spent any more that 500 euro on one. Any more is just silly. But sure if you are loaded why not.

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    Mute Francis Foley
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    Sep 28th 2014, 7:35 AM

    I agree family guy, I wear my watch all the time and feel naked without it.

    8
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:36 PM

    Does it have a calculator though?

    149
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    Mute fall out boy
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:44 PM

    And all it does is tell the time

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    Mute Mick Jacobs
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    Sep 28th 2014, 1:30 AM

    does it have a sexy voice..??

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    Mute thetruth
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:36 PM

    Ill have 2

    50
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    Mute eftwopointoh
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    Sep 27th 2014, 6:13 PM

    One for each wrist?

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    Mute thetruth
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    Sep 27th 2014, 6:16 PM

    Oh yeh. I’ll be unbalanced if i don’t

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Sep 27th 2014, 7:05 PM

    Another upstart of a company.
    Established no doubt, to separate new money easterners from their cash.
    Well if they’re foolish with their dollars.
    Maybe they deserve to be shafted.

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    Mute jock
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    Sep 27th 2014, 10:19 PM

    Your a boor.

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    Mute HARRY MARKOPOLOS
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    Sep 28th 2014, 11:41 AM

    Fact are booring.

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    Mute Bevin Reilly
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:09 PM

    My auld Casio will do me. Best 15euro I ever spent.

    40
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    Mute neuromancer
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    Sep 27th 2014, 7:18 PM

    I’d rather have a Veyron.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Sep 27th 2014, 7:24 PM

    But not the cost of running it. They would financially cripple you, which is why the vast majority of those on the market have hardly been driven.

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    Mute skin flint
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    Sep 27th 2014, 11:25 PM

    You think the running cost is why the majority of veyrons are not driven in public…?

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Sep 28th 2014, 9:27 AM

    Skin, no, not the sole reason but almost certainly a contributory factor.

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    Mute Declan McArdle
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    Sep 27th 2014, 11:57 PM

    Four sprung durch technik?

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    Mute Peter Grimes
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:53 PM

    Time is your worst enemy, why would you pay 1.1 Million, for a watch, and half the world’s Children starving, it beggers belief.

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    Mute Niall B.
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:46 PM

    300 watches = 1 children’s hospital

    34
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    Mute Conor
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:11 PM

    But you can’t wear the other 299 watches on your arm now can you.

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    Mute Keetabix
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Do the ladies really judge a fella by the piece on his wrist?!

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    Mute Kitty Prendergast
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:11 PM

    To spend that much on a watch you’d have to have a piece for a head…

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    Mute Art Vandelay
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:26 PM

    It’s not what’s on his wrist that they care about, it’s the distance from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger. So shallow…

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    Mute Darragh O Meara
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    Sep 27th 2014, 7:30 PM

    I’ve got 200 of these unwrapped which can’t be sold. Like and share to be in with a chance to win one :)

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    Mute Mary Lyons
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:42 PM

    Well it would also have to bring me my tea and toast up to the bed in the morning as well if I paid that price for it!!!!!!

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    Mute Darach Malone
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    Sep 27th 2014, 6:02 PM

    Does it only work when tethered to an iPhone 6?

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    Mute gkrell
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:49 PM

    what is a power reserve function? and how is it powered?

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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Sep 27th 2014, 4:51 PM

    Looks like the strap is extra!

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    Mute Sean Smith
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    Sep 27th 2014, 5:53 PM

    If I could afford this I would care what time it was

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    Mute The Guru
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    Sep 28th 2014, 2:37 AM

    Saw a watch that cost $350,000 in a shop the other day. It’s made from authentic pieces salvaged from the Titanic! Some people…

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    Mute Conor Dunne
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    Sep 28th 2014, 1:25 AM

    Watch yourself….

    3
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