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Here's why everyone's talking about this drama about the Royal Family

It’s Queen Liz, but not as you know her.

WAY OF LIFE / YouTube

THERE’S A NEW drama being made about the British Royal family, and it’s… well, it’s nothing like you’d get from a documentary about the real monarchy.

The series is made by E! (home to Keeping up with the Kardashians among other shows), and is described by the channel as a:

Drama about a fictional British Royal family set in modern day London, who inhabit a world of opulence and regal tradition that caters to any and every desire, but one that also comes with a price tag of duty, destiny and intense public scrutiny.

Here’s why everyone’s been talking about it

the royals e

It’s from the guy behind One Tree Hill

Mark Schwann is the creator of the show, which is also E!’s first scripted drama. (Not that we doubt the arguments in Keeping Up With The Kardashians are 100% real, ahem.)

Schwann says that many people call the show “delicious”, which is down to its sumptuous locations. He told E!:

We’re shooting in London. Look, the bar is set high. When you’re shooting the royal family they have to look good, they have to look impressive. We would talk about crowd scenes and I would say, ‘If they walk out that door and we don’t see hundreds of people, I don’t know who they are. I don’t know what we’re doing.”

It looks completely over the top

Elizabeth Hurley plays Queen Helena, who has “the power, beauty and intelligence to get what she wants”, and is pretty great at controlling her family’s public image. Hurley says her inspirations for the character were Princess Diana and Cruella de Vil.

the royals family

Vincent Regan plays her husband, King Simon. Then there’s William Moseley (Chronicles of Narnia), who plays her youngest son, and is a particularly sought-after young bachelor. So far, so Prince Harry.

When he gets involved with an American woman, her antics get her into trouble with the fam. We also have his younger sister Eleanor, who’s always in the tabloids.

Naturally, with a royal family there has to be drama about the heir to the throne. We’re told that kicks in during the first episode. This is probably a hint:

the royals car crash

But are we going to learn anything about the real monarchy?

“I think you’ve seen a lot of it already,” said Elizabeth Hurley in a recent interview. “There’s so much access to the outside look of the family.”

But what none of us has seen “is behind closed doors”, she said, describing it as fictitious, but showing things that “could” happen.”

the royals pic A scene from the show

She told another interviewer: “I think the opportunity to do a fictitious version of that world and do what they do and show our fictitious family doing what they do, and then going behind closed doors and imagine what it could be like to be the most famous family in the world… for me that’s just fascinating.”

It has already been renewed for a second season…

…before it has even aired. Now that’s a vote of confidence.

Their version of Buckingham Palace looks a little different

the royals palace

It’s all about money, sex and power

“We are not a normal family,” says The Queen at one point. Indeed. Elizabeth Hurley has described the series as having elements of Gossip Girl and Dynasty. It stars Joan Collins as her mother, the Grand Duchess of Oxford, which certainly helps with the latter.

royals fml

“It has the big element of Dynasty, it’s a family drama, it’s rich, there’s intrigue,” she said. “But it has an atmosphere of Gossip Girl too – there’s a lot of youth, there’s a lot of beautiful youth, and they’re getting up to things that beautiful youths get up to.”

Schwann, the show’s creator, said that: “The big question is family or love? What do you put first?”

Even the show’s tweets are a bit saucy

It features a Queen’s Speech with a difference

(And a few NSFW words)

Now that’s not something you’d hear from the real Queen.

Speaking of which, there hasn’t been any public statement from the real British monarchy yet. We’re awaiting the royal word on that one.

The reaction so far has been interesting:

The show airs on E! on 15 March. What do you make of the trailer?

Read: BBC postpones documentary about the royal family’s PR tactics after Diana’s death>

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7 Comments
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    Mute Scrap Croke Park1
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:57 PM

    FG should admit they messed up when it comes to Irish Water. They rushed it through creating one of the most bloated Quangos in the state.

    They should cease plans for billing, continue fixing the network and installing meters. In 3 yrs time when metering is complete, leaks are fixed, water looks like water and not some brown sludge, at that point bill. And bill for what’s used. Not this ridiculous farce of allowances based on a made up number of litres that a child might use

    Stop. Start again. Admit you got it wrong.

    I’ve no problem paying for the water I use. I’ve a problem paying for it twice, and adding layers of extra lard to the posteriors of the like of Hubert Kearns, who destroyed Sligo CoCo with €80 million in debt, before trousering €270k and €68k pension, diving into the retirement pool only to immediately float up to Irish Water

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    Mute Lamb
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:02 PM

    My vote in the next general election goes to anyone who promises to get rid of Irish Water

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    Mute Diarmuid Lenihan
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:09 PM

    What they promise and what they do are two completely different things don’t forget.

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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:10 PM

    Bloated? You realise all the staff were already employed by the councils in the water sector. We suddenly discovered we have been over staffed for decades. Hooray!!

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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:12 PM

    Noonan is part of a political movement built on “misery and failure” . Misery imposed on the people of this country, and failure to defend , and act in their best interests. An over inflated know-all pompous windbag, like Rabbitte. He’s way past his “best before”and “sell by”date. He needs to take his Humility pills.

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    Mute Snorre Sturleson
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:36 PM

    Except Labour, proven liars

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    Mute Phillip Hogan
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:53 PM

    Lamb – Politicians love people like you. They promise the world. Get elected because of those promises, then shrug their shoulders when they don’t deliver. Rinse and repeat.

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:06 PM

    Yeah Enda Kenny proved tbst with his empty pre election promises.

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    Mute Martin Bishop
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 7:12 PM

    The can promise it, but very simply it won’t happen so you’ll be effectively throwing away your vote,.

    I just find it amusing that in the last election FG got in because people protest voted, the problem was people never read FG’s election manifestio. The manifestio very clearly outlined that they would introduce water charges!

    So in affect, people got what they voted for. They may not like it of course but then they never bothered to read the manifesto in the majority of cases.

    Instead people blindly voted for FG because FG was anything but FF.

    Now come the next election we’ll have people that will blindly vote another party because its anything but FG,

    But for the next party to totally scrap Irish Water and the meters it means that they are throwing the bones of say 300million+ down the drain….likely more as they’ll have to pay off all the staff they will be firing.

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    Mute Scrap Croke Park1
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 7:19 PM

    That’s simply untrue. I read their manifesto and agree with paying for water that you use, just not the Irish Water monstershambles that has been created, processing made up allowances off shore for 4.5 million people in the greatest example of unnecessary pen pushing administration costs that you could imagine

    I voted for change. For new politics. And I didn’t get it

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:39 PM

    Where are you going to get your water from then Lamb? Some sort of group scheme?

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    Mute gerbreen
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    Sep 24th 2014, 12:04 AM

    David Burke. Over staffed because of county boundaries. So every county had the same organisational structure to cover 24×7 in their own area. Lots of overlap when these boundardies were removed to a national body.

    IW are lead by Tierney and Kearns with careers of wanton waste.

    Are you early twenties and in college?

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Sep 24th 2014, 10:14 AM

    @Just, I get my water from a group scheme , €150 each year , perfectly good enough for me .
    so what do you mean “some sort of group scheme” ?

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    Mute Micháel Patrick O'Cathain
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    Oct 7th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Did the government buy a time machine & travel to the future where the Irish actually have a quality water system??? Cause back in reality, where I live, along with a few other million on this Island, the water is a absolute joke, fix the problem and then charge.. maybe people could find it in them to agree a charge for a decent service?????????????
    As it stands today, only a bloody fool would agree to pay a cent.. In fact the tax payer should be mad at the cost of a national mailing (printing, envelopes, stamps etc) from Irish Water.. THAT’S WHAT’S YOU CALL JUNK MAIL!!

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:54 PM

    “If you want to be a serious force in this parliament than at least get some serious people who can add,” he said.”

    Says the man who considers turning 30 billion of dodgy deferrable debt into a 40 year debt that will cost us 60 billion as an improvement. Basic math is obviously not the finance ministers strong point.

    Oh, and Minister, the people who costed SFs budget are the same people who supply the government with its figures. So if you take issue with the numbers they use, you’re also calling into question your own.

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:06 PM

    But those maths aren’t simple, you’re just looking at it as 60bn is greater than 30bn but you’re ignoring inflation, time value of money, repayment schedules etc. Maybe the bold Noonan has a point!

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:06 PM

    Good reply just shows how much of a joke the entire dail is the whole system needs to change. If we vote ff fg labour greens sinn feinn or any of the others we will get exactly the same…bought out mouth pieces for the rich.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:19 PM

    @ sm: ” you’re ignoring inflation, time value of money, repayment schedules etc.”

    I’m not actually. The loans are at over 3.5% compound whereas we are locked into a currency whos central banks main raison d’etre is to keep inflation as low as possible and NEVER over 2%. So noonans spoof about inflation taking care of the difference is complete crap.

    How does the ‘deal’ compare to deferring the due dates on the prom notes for 10 or even 100 years (as FGs financial expert, Peter Matthews suggested we should do) when inflation would do the same thing but with no yearly payment due in the interim?

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    Mute Silent Majority
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:22 PM

    You don’t compound interest on performing bonds because coupons are paid regularly. You’re not in the parliamentary party right?

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:33 PM

    From enda kennys speech in the dail ““The first principal payment on these bonds will be made in 25 years time, 2038, with the final payment being made in 2053. The average maturity of these bonds will be over 34 years rather than the 7 – 8 years on a promissory note. The average interest rate on these bonds will be 3 per cent”.

    Averaged out its (just over) 3%, taking into account maturity dates, coupon payments etc.

    Still odious debt, and still more expensive than deferral.

    73
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    Mute jason bourne
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:43 PM

    Silent, you are perfectly entitled to challenge Noonans assertions but there is no need to refer to the fact that he’s folically challenged.

    35
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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:36 PM

    Jammin – I think you have just reinforced Noonan’s point on SF’s budget policy. The taxes they propose will cause a flight of capital from the country and lead to less taxes being paid than there are now.
    As for the extension of the debt to 40 years, it will never get repaid anyway… just rolled over as is the norm in all countries. Plus, I don’t think the majority would be in favour of the cuts or higher taxes it would take to maintain services and continue to pay for the original.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:44 PM

    No we are looking at Noonan’s own admission that the original prom notes were illegal and the entire deal was re negotiable and a fairer deal for this country was squandered by him and Enid to keep Merkle and co happy.

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    Mute Andrew Broderick
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    Sep 24th 2014, 1:33 AM

    The capital being used in this country appears to be mainly American based managed by Vultures.

    What real difference would it make to the ordinary people if the capital held by a few tax savvy Irish investors left the country?

    We already have Dennis O’Brien holding over a billion euro in debt free properties now managed by a former NAMA director.

    We also have further blatant insider trading by NAMA directors, and the “Professionals” NAMA employed with a scam where they bought seven hundred and sixty one Dublin Apartments with a book value of three billion two hundred and eleven million Euro for two hundred and eleven million Euro claiming no other parties were interested in buying the assets which were never advertised for sale.

    Try getting a loan for a small business here, first if lucky you get rode bareback with extortionate interest rates, second as many found the banks are not lending to small business.

    If we must take a further hit by driving out the snakes then lets do it, lick our wounds and get on with making the economy truly sustainable without the threat or blackmail of tax us and we’ll leave or move the money out of the country.

    The true facts are the money will go abroad if the wealthy see an opportunity abroad.

    16
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    Mute holden mcgroin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:02 PM

    Michael Noonan, on one hand shreds single fathers in last years budget and on the other abstains from vote on Richie Bouchers humongous pay rise. Easy to see what side he is on.

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:10 PM

    Baldy bondholder Noonan, he’s such an arsehole……lets never forget that he once threatened to take a dying woman to court to defend his pathetic and utterly useless FG party.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:57 PM

    And Noonan was involved in a dodging tax scandal for 9 long years before being caught with his FG pals and being forced to pay. He and his party shut up condemning Mick Wallace very quick when Vinnie Brown released that information during the Wallace tax evasion debacle. We have a bunch of criminals in suits trying to make slaves of us while they fill their Swiss bank accounts with corporate “donations”. Time we last the rag folks !!

    108
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    Mute Paudi Onail
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 8:41 PM

    oh indeed he is, a very big a***hole. is this a bondholder? a landlord? hanging out with Bilderberg and UN deciders? he would never be asked out to dance so he can’t really talk at all. vested interests this man, like many more of them in there. pull him away from the trough, he’s got fed enough.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:52 PM

    That is quite a statement looking like you do. Find a stronger glasshouse before playing with the rocks

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    Mute Denis Sullivan
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:50 PM

    He’s dead right put those lot back in their box. They couldn’t handle the real world

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:53 PM

    He’s dead right put the blah blah blah blah blah

    68
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    Mute David Thomas
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    Sep 24th 2014, 12:54 AM

    And the rest of them have been tring to balance budgets since the inception of the state. How well have they done? I am no Sinn Fein supporter but until you do a good job yourself….. And on a note Ming seems to know what balancing a budget means!

    18
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    Mute brian magee
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:08 PM

    Why the F*** would we use our pension reserves to build social housing?

    172
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:30 PM

    Define “we”.

    24
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:45 PM

    Better then what happened to most of it Brian the bond holders got it….

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:41 PM

    ‘we’ in this context I would imagine are the net contributors of tax, versus the ‘them’ that are the net receivers of benefits.
    I am all stocked up on the number of social houses I would like to have an interest in thanks.

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    Mute speak up
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:29 PM

    What stats does the government use to determine the condition of the country? Because if they use those signing less as a measure then they need to rethink things. The sign on numbers because of 1.going abroad and 2.jobbridge, and most of those people will be back on the dole after their internship due to the mess that is jobbridge.
    I don’t know about other people but I do not have an extra penny to give away on water etc etc. I can barely keep enough petrol in my car to get me to and from my, unfortunately, internship. Can’t really afford car tax etc anymore so I tend to be late on that bill. I can’t afford a whole lot for work lunch so I tend to try get the cheapest bread and meat for my sandwiches. I literally have holes in 2pairs of trainers, one pair is 5yrs old the other 2yrs old but can’t afford to buy new ones.
    Once I take care of my basic survival bills that’s it, I’m skint. I live week to week, I cannot save and I cannot spend. I tend to be broke before I’m due pay so that’s pretty crap too.
    So yeah, government, Ye are really looking out for those below the middle class.

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    Mute brian magee
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 7:00 PM

    They use tax returns, there up across the board. Sorry for rubbishing your rant

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    Mute Thomas Maher
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 7:32 PM

    Tax returns are up indicating rich and well off people are making even more money off the back of the normal joe soap.

    68
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:28 PM

    High Noonan?
    This man believes the press he chooses. Irish Water IS a mistake, Tax breaks for those who don’t need them as much as the least well off is another. This party chooses to play for their own choice of constituency, and we can only hope that the electorate will not be fooled for a third time.

    109
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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:56 PM

    Scare tactics might have worked for their sister party in Westminster when frightening 55% of the Scottish electorate but the difference is we know it couldn’t get worse here.
    So Baldy will have to check in with Cameron for a new tack.

    104
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    Mute Janet Coyle
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:28 PM

    The Economy Growing he says only thing growing is his nose like Pinocchio with all the lies he’s telling

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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 4:55 PM

    When the SF budget includes things like “Increase Revenue Commissioner activity to target tax evasion: Raises €100 million” it’s hard to take it seriously. If there was an easy 100 million in tax evasion to be raised then it would have been done.

    Or this.

    ” Standardise investment in film relief (€33.6m) and rented residential relief under Section 23 (€11.7m): Raises €45.3 million
    » Reduce mortgage interest deductions against rent for landlords from 75% to 40%: Raises €157 million”

    Both are probably good ideas in the long term. No way they will raise anywhere near that amount and given the arrears on buy to let mortgages it seems somewhat ill advised.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:02 PM

    @ ‘david’: If yourself or any of the other YFG people wish to complain about the figures used you need to contact the people who supplied them:

    http://www.finance.gov.ie/contact-us

    Department of Finance
    Government Buildings
    Upper Merrion Street
    Dublin 2
    Ireland

    Tel: +353 1 676 7571
    LoCall: 1890 66 10 10
    Fax: +353 1 678 9936
    webmaster@finance.gov.ie

    Lets know how you get on….

    95
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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:04 PM

    Why always so bitter? YFG?

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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:09 PM

    Anyway again it’s not like the SF budget was actually costed by the Department of Finance. If only economics was as simple as adding together all your separate elements but Lucas put paid to that idea long ago.

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    Mute cooperguy
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:13 PM

    Reducing mortgage interest relief is a bad idea. This will up the costs on landlords who in turn will up the rent to cover costs.

    It will also increase mortgage arrears.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:23 PM

    @ ‘david’ : “Anyway again it’s not like the SF budget was actually costed by the Department of Finance.”

    If you’re going to repeat this spoof from FGHQ that the budget was not costed by the DOF, then contact the address I just posted and inform them that SF are misrepresenting their department.

    Post your reply here when you get it….

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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:30 PM

    The individual elements were costed but you seemingly have never heard of the Lucas critique. It’s sorta fundamental to macroeconomic policy.

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    Mute Were Jammin
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:37 PM

    I have indeed heard of the lucas critique. However, this thread is about the Noonan critique….of SFs ability to add, when their figures were done by the same people who hands him his figures.

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    Mute Jack Delaney
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:38 PM

    Was this the same department of finance that is so enept that when headed up by Kevin Carney they over calculated national debt by a mere 3 billion euro?

    36
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    Mute David Burke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:29 PM

    So they increase income tax and second property tax and DIRT tax, and reduce mortgage interest relief for landlords, and increase PRSI for higher earners. But that has no effect on the amount raised on reducing pension tax reliefs?

    If they increase all those taxes then people will be paying less into their pensions. Therefore the amount raised from increasing the tax on their pensions would be less than if you didn’t do any of that and increased tax on their pensions.

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    Mute Thomas Mac
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:53 PM

    Noonan would be the auld fella taking your coats at the door and emptying them of their contents .He’ll then charge you for the return of your coat and add an extra cost if he has to look for the contents as well.

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    Mute eamon brady
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:11 PM

    Was Noonan talking about himself? Cruising joints for his jollification ?

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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 5:25 PM

    Yes Eamon, it sounds like a self-descriptive “joke”(?).

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    Mute Tim Kearney
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 9:31 PM

    So the economy is working Noonan.. for you and your cronies yes…. .. pay for water..!!! when we should be selling it to other countries… millions of gallons of fresh water flowing from our mountains directly into the sea every day… .. this is a tax to pay off the bankers… but the fools that live in this country will pay as usual…

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    Mute ciaran clarke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:06 PM

    I would generally dude with SF on slot if things.
    But if we don’t pay for water,where does the revenue come from.do they tax the workers again.
    I’d be on the fence about voting for SF again due to them wanting a massive welfare state.
    Only way I can see this being achieved is tax increases on income (AGAIN).
    It doesn’t seem to make sense that they can get rid of property taxes(which I’d be in favour for),get rid of water charges and still pamper people who just refuse to work.

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    Mute ciaran clarke
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:07 PM

    Generally side with SF

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    Mute Ann Flanagan Lynch
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    Sep 24th 2014, 1:53 AM

    I would pay on one condition that I could use as much as it takes to DROWN the IRISH bloody Government. .

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    Mute Long Cat
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:36 PM

    Can someone please clarify for me why I can electricity and gas and never hand out my PPS number yet Irish water (that bloated, twisted, quango) seems to need everyone in my houses PPS number. I also note that they have been able to identify every property I own and include this in one letter. Is there an issue here with confidentiality and personal information. I really think I’m coming to the end of my tether with this over fed monster. Ohh and by the way I discovered while this entity is up to its neck in over staffing, the guys fitting the meters are contractors from Wales. It just gets worse by the day

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:46 PM

    You don’t get a free allowance of gas or electricity. If you don’t want to collect that free water allowance, just don’t return the form.

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:07 PM

    Well done Michael Noonan. SF have pissed on everything for the last 6 years. Their contention that we don’t now need water charges is recognition that the government have turned the economy around. Now they want to piss that away. Utterly useless…

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 6:54 PM

    O Reilly has spoken I await for his partner in comedy for his weasal words.
    Where are Mr R Rodgers I am in need of good belly laugh.

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:00 PM

    Steve, is it that hard for you to believe bthat a lot of people think SF are populist bullshitter’s…

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 10:48 PM

    We will be paying for water we can’t drink

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    Mute Dave Murphy
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    Sep 24th 2014, 9:59 AM

    If the country is doing so great why am I still broke after working 40+ hours a week?

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    Mute RJ.Fallon
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    Sep 24th 2014, 10:31 AM

    @Dave Murphy, because you are not a politician.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:48 PM

    And unfortunately, you are probably going to get slated for having multiple properties. On this site, that’s a sin and you should hand the keys over to your nearest SF rep for redistribution to someone else.

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    Mute justanothertaxpayer
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    Sep 23rd 2014, 11:49 PM

    Sorry – meant for Long Cat

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