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THE WEEKEND’S RED C opinion poll for the Sunday Business Post reversed a recent trend of increasing support for the two government parties.
Both Fine Gael and Labour dropped two points each to 25 and 8 per cent respectively, a setback when both parties were just starting to believe that the public were coming back to them after a succession of bad polls last year.
Despite ongoing rumours of an early election it’s now increasingly likely, if not certain, that the coalition will hold out as long as it can and hope the poll numbers improve as the economy does.
But why the sudden and somewhat unexpected drop in support, and what about the state of the other parties? Here’s our take….
It wasn’t Siterserv
The poll numbers come at the end of a bad week for the coalition when the Siterserv controversy was blown wide open. Most voters won’t appreciate the nuances of the story or, as one minister put it to us yesterday, the view in coalition circles that “government has done nothing wrong here”.
The problem is that there is an undeniable whiff of rottenness about the whole matter. The McNulty debacle last year was an obscure Seanad by-election, but for many it stank of cronyism. This Siterserv story stinks. We’re not sure of what yet, but voters can certainly detect that something isn’t quite right about it, and that’s the problem.
However, as damaging as this may prove for Labour and particularly Fine Gael, this poll was taken between Monday and Wednesday of last week, when the Siteserv controversy was just starting to enter the public consciousness. It’s unlikely that it had such an effect as to knock two points off each of the government parties.
But it might have been mortgages
One minister we spoke to yesterday suggested that the coalition’s failure to act on the issue of distressed mortgage holders was the main reason for the drop in support. There are proposals in the works and an announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
But Fianna Fáíl spent a number of weeks hammering the government over its failure to do anything for standard variable mortgage rate holders. It’s arguably done more for those in distress by extracting a promise from AIB to cut rates in the coming months. The government will have to deliver something similar with its long-awaited announcement.
Not that it helped Fianna Fáil
Micheál Martin’s troops may have their internal difficulties but there is no denying that Fianna Fáil have had some considerable wins when it’s come to embarrassing and shaming this government, like the medical cards and garda malpratice controversies last year. So far this year, Michael McGrath has done sterling work on the mortgages issue, but there has been no poll dividend for the party, which saw a jump of just one point to 19 per cent in the latest poll.
At the party’s Ard Fheis over the weekend, Fianna Fáil figures staunchly maintained that the party is not actually on 19 per cent and that come the election it will capture more than 20 per cent of the vote. The problem is that mediocre poll ratings do little for morale and ensure that the awkward squad – the likes of Eamon Ó Cuív and John McGuinness – will continue to air their concerns about the party’s direction.
Sinn Féin returns to form
By contrast, the other main opposition party has restored most of the support it lost over the Paudie McGahon controversy earlier this year. Having fallen sharply to 17 per cent in the March Red C poll, Sinn Féin has jumped five points to 22 per cent this time around. The fallout from Mary Lou McDonald being criticised by an internal Dáil committee over her naming of politicians in the Ansbacher dosser does not appear to have harmed the party one bit.
Independents and others are still going strong
Independent TDs believe their support will fall off as the election nears and people consolidate around the existing political parties. Though the independents and others category dropped two points this time around, it is still on a significant 26 per cent.
With Renua only just emerging and the Anti-Austerity Alliance becoming a growing political force, it will be interesting to see to what extent voters start to coalesce around these new movements in the months ahead, or whether they opt for one of the four main parties.
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Why has support for Fine Gael and Labour fallen? A stab in the dark?
Politics lies, cronyism, nepotism, u-turns, money robbing, double-standards, TTIP, cutting carers & deaths grant… shall I go on?
People think things are bad now….if TTIP gets through you may as well fit your own leg irons and shackle your kids to the oars of the Corporate ships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=137&v=U-VckxfWwNw
Kenny wants TTIP passed as quick as possible….. http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/kenny-wants-controversial-euus-trade-deal-wrapped-up-by-end-of-this-year-31166907.html
Kenny needs to be stopped.
Complete agree.
Take just three minutes to watch this: https://youtu.be/AAp6cD5i8O0
TTIP is absolutely frightening isn’t it. And I can’t believe that most have never heard about it
Yes and Enda is totally pushing for it! For this reason especially he must be disposed of. Dangerous corporate lick-ass.
All credible evidence points to freer trade improving living standards. Roll on TTIP.
All credible evidence points to freer trade, in the control of the traders, leading to greater wealth and wellbeing.
There’s a difference there, and it’s not semantics.
Reviving the Hanseatic League is a good idea?
TTIP= companies suing governments for loss of earnings
TTIP is very scary!!! , yet our Dear Leader (/ auto-que reader) wants it signed & delivered by the end of the year.
You and your family mean absolutely nothing to FG & Kenny!
http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10412102/
I think most people HAVE heard of it. However, this Government enthusiastically support it, as they support anything that comes out of America (remember sub-prime mortages etc.,?) So the question is, how do we as a people fight the TTIP??
TTIP will be accepted or rejected by the European Parliament. We all have a part to play in ensuring workers across Europe and the U.S. are not pitted against each other in the name of competitiveness in the great capitalist race to the bottom.
Contact your MEP and tell them to vote no, and that you are watching them!
Make it an issue at the door then??? And if they want it through tell them you wont vote for FG..Simple
AND DONT VOTE FOR THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan2019 water will cost €166 pp per year. That’s € 666 per year for family of 4. Each person uses 45m3 per year. CER approved € 3.70 per m3.
To answer your question Hugh, Because they lied to get into power and implemented huge tax burden on the people in the form of Home tax and a quite laughable Water tax and USC.
And still the margin between, those who have plenty and those that don’t , between those that have suffered as a result of the crash, and those that haven’t even noticed.
Ah here . hospitals understaffed. Under resourced. Hospitals closed or downgraded. Services all over the country decimated. Children with cancer being denied discretionary medical cards. Schools underfunded. Roads potholes galore. And they are going to give themselves a payrise. TDs currently earn just over € 1678 per week before expenses and they want to increase that. Ministers earn even more. They are deluded preaching to everyone about sacrifices being made. They even get a subsidised bar paid for by taxpayers. Then they have the cheek to preach to everyone.
Littleone-their expenses are massive. €16k alone in “unvouched” expenses. Dont mind €1.14/mile mileage. Very Generous Dual Abode Allowance: -maintenance €6.5k (lighting, heating, insurance) rental allowances, mortgage interest write offs, Public Representation Allowance €15k, Travel & Accommodation Allowance €12-37k depending on distance from Oireachtas. A variety of generous Termination Payments. GOLD PLATED pensions. High salaries.
Simple – Corruption from the top down !
And with SiteServ and Dukes and others, the possibility of criminality now arising. This certainly won’t do any good for FG. How could you gain support with this about to go off?
Labour’s silence damns them.And then when they do say something it is inevitably the wrong thing. Lorraine Higgins and Rabbitte are this week’s contributors to the decline. How could they possibly expect any support for their half witted (and thats putting it in the most moderate language I can think of, fearing reprisals for a more direct statement) proposals?
Damn right it’s corruption. Who you know and who you contribute to. It’s also about incompetence and wasting hard earned tax payers money by the hundreds of millions of euro.
Because they lied about ending corruption, its worse now. They lied about quango’s. We got Irish water. They lied about cronyism. We got mc nulty affair among others. They have put big business ahead of the people. They lied about closing hospitals. We have had the mulheirn affair which was a disgrace . that came at the same time that they sent a debt collector to the home of a little boy with cancer because he lost his discretionary medical cards. They won’t answer questions that the electorate have a right to know. They have treated the electorate with disdain. Frankly all round they are a bunch of self serving government.
the amount of siteserv shares traded went through the roof in the month prior to the sale. usually trading at 200k per month they went up to 6.4 million before the sale. yet you can’t see the dust for the tumble weed on the subject
“Why has support for Fine Gael and Labour fallen?”
Most of the ignorant populous suddenly decided to grow a brain and they figured out how badly they were being shafted?
On the economy they realized “after, therefore, because of” is a logical fallacy, and Joan and Enda had jack all to do with the (slow, painful, half assed) global economic recovery.
They also remembered that none of their key central election promises have been met.
Water
Sadly John i would love to believe this…but i dont think its true. Most people here (journal) are informed to what’s going on (leaving out the blind gov trolls of course.) But i spoke to a few of my parents neighbours and to be honest…they haven’t a clue what’s going on.
I actually said ” you do realise that we bailed out the German and French banks because they had loaned so much money to the Irish banks and that is the reason that it was changed to sovereign debt to make sure we paid their gambling debts back” They wouldn’t believe it.
Irish people are fools and its no wonder our own politicians treat us like crap…never mind the EU ones. My Dad actually says and i Quote “Irish people are the stupidest race on the planet” Its hard to argue sometimes!!!!
Emmet, overall Irish people are less informed than their EU counterparts. Sad, but true. As they say “you get the country you deserve”.
Irish water.
Nothing to do with Irish Water. Their points were up until last week.
I’m calling it now: the next government will either be whoever forms a collation with SF or it will be a minority government between FF & FG
I would previously had said FG with (jr) FF. I don’t think ff will take it. They’ve seen what’s happened to greens and lab.
a FG lead government with FF imo. I can see some nice breaks for the middle earners at the next budget, which will swing enough votes for FG, as the majority of their voters are the middle earners. Personally I don’t think the Irish Water issue will have as much of an impact on FG as some people think, I wouldn’t think a lot of the protesters were FG voters at the last election anyway. Labour will probably suffer something similar to the greens at the last election. I can’t see them being “wiped out” but will only get a few seats. I’d sat a good number of Irish Water protesters would have voted labour at the last election, it’s the last nail in their coffin. SF won’t be in power, they will not get enough votes to be the majority party, and FG wont go into coalition with them. I could see FG + FF + a few independants to make up the numbers instead of FG + SF. We are 1 year and most importantly 1 more budget away from the election, so at this moment in time, that Red C poll doesn’t really have any reflection on the possible outcome. Money talks, and if people get more money through tax cuts in october, it will sway a lot of people. Thats my 2 cents anyway.
Boganity how could you even suggest that there could be a minority government with F.G. We don’t want them in office at all. They are criminals. There are plenty honest people that would form a government with who ever gets into power. Please don’t mention again a coalition with F.G.
Say with the siteserv . their points would be well down now if a poll was held. Since this poll was done before siteserv and irbc controversy last week.
just hoping that more digging will bring down this government. even the inside info on trading shares is illegal enough to bring them down. we need to know who brought those 6.4 million shares.
Have to agree Denis. May this be the beginning of the end for this government.
I know what you mean littleone, and you are right. But People have fairly short memories, and money talks. If FG put money back into the pocket of people with the next budget, I can see those figures changing.
Justin have to disagree. Yes people have been hit in the pocket. But also health has been a factor. People are not happy that they have closed or downgraded a& e around the country forcing people from several counties to converge on 1 a&e that’s already bursting at the seams. Making people travel great distance for some treatments and now going to cut their only way to travel bus routes. People driving on roads full of potholes having paid motor tax and then to hear 66% of this has gone to iw. Having library’s and other services closed having paid property tax , having roads not gritted because 66% of this has gone to iw. I could go on but won’t. Every one some way has been affected by the decisions made by this government and its not always financial. Even today you see headline his they are giving away €1.4 billion in the budget. And one of the things that’s mentioned is a pay rise for themselves.
I don’t think that FG would be stupid enough to reinstall FF to power after such a short interval since they f**ked up the country. FF will be toxic for another few years at least.
littleone, I really do agree with a lot of what you said, coming from an area where an A&E was closed, and many bus routes have been dropped. However, when it comes to the next election, I can’t see any party reopening the A&Es that have been closed, regardless of who is in power. IMO, the left parties that have been very vocal against the current government have no real substance in their ideas. Their plans seem to be telling people what they want to hear, i.e. “We will abolish Irish Water / Property tax if elected”, without ever discussing how they will make up the lost revenue if they are abolished, and not including how they would fund the health system, education and welfare! Greece comes to mind, promising what people want to hear, yet only being able to deliver a fraction of what was promised. Sin Fein are very anti Europe, and I don’t like their policies. FF seem toothless at the moment, very hard to see them getting many seats, the country is still feeling the results of their mistakes. Labour are as good as finished, I can’t see them having any impact on the next government. That leaves FG, there are lots of policies I don’t agree with, how Irish Water was set up being one of them, the GP care for under 6s being another, again I could go on. In the last election, I voted independent, as I thought the guy was the best of a bad bunch. I honestly don’t how how I will vote in 2016, but after years of cuts, I’m going to vote mainly with my wallet, regardless of who that is (assuming that I believe their policies can work). If thats FG, then I’ll be voting FG, if its not, then I wont be.
Justin if you think them putting a few euro into peoples pockets is going to save them you are deluded.
The damage has already been done water tax, property tax,corruption, quangoes and cronyism just to name a few. Think about it everybody if this govt wanted to really help people they would abolish the water tax, but no you see they are planning for long term austerity and giving you back a few euro at the next budget aint going to cut it with the people. What they are hoping is to give you a few bob and hopefully get re-elected and then the savage cuts start all over again. Do not be fooled like we were the last time.
Derek, all I’m saying is look at all your alternatives before jumping on the “anybody but FG” boat. Greece did that, and as expected their government could not deliver on their promises. If the next government does what you suggest, and scraps IW and the Property tax, then we will definitely be back in to a situation where more cuts are needed, to generate the lost revenue, OR, what the left wing parties want to do, increase our corporation tax. Just ask any economist how bad of an idea that is.
The constant stream of lies and spin ? The same old faces getting rich ? I’d say theres probably a few reasons
Lots now coming out NAMA are the ones with private jets who flew their looooose women to North Africa at our expense for jolly weekends. These are all back in the saddle thanks to a caring FG/Lab Junta ………
Ireland a great little country to do Corruption in.
The average Joe has had quiet enough of the type of cronyism and dishonesty that plagues our democracy.
You can’t hide behind the gates of Leinster house forever you have to come out and face the people soon , a rude awakening is coming to you.
People are more concerned about being able to pay the next bill that comes through their letter box rather than the gratifying fact that GNP has risen by 1% or so.
Ireland’s economy grew by 4.8% in 2014 and is projected to grow by 3.9% in 2015.
i think people are starting to realise there is little substance behind all the bluster……..the emperors new clothes spring to mind
People in this country desperately want the 4 main parties to change how they do things, wanting them to really govern for the people, yet they keep voting for them. They will never change doing that. FF, FG flip flopping is not going to change a thing. If you want the parties to truly change then vote them out! Time in the bold corner for one and all should make them change their tunes for real. Only vote for Independents and watch the political chaos that ensues make the big political parties think about the people of Ireland in real terms.
Will never happen mind you. Too many people in this country are ruled by fear.
Diarmuid still spouting out FG shite
You mean independent facts and figures?
Diarmuid
That’s right Diarmuid, it grew for about 1% of the population.
GMC Sierra and Denis O’Brien forcing water meters on communities on behalf of Fine Gael and Fine Gael-Lite
Bang on. NO to the Privatisation of OUR water supply!
A fine example of the criminal betrayal of the people by an elite who are utterly owned by venture capitalists. Those who can think know the betrayal and resent profit before people policies. Our FG FF LAB politicians are economic prostitutes willing to put out for any John who tops up their pension. Do not vote for DOB ET AL cyphers.
@ss:
Although I agree with the substance of your post, I shuddered when I read the word “elite” in reference to those quims in government.
Elite: a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.
The definition above has no correlation to that shower!
True John but these cretins have it so we cant have a cr@p without their permission. they have criminalised everything and use their control of the law and police to do with us as they will. They by contrast asnswer to no one. The DDP is their safety net.
DPP even
2 reasons. Taoiseach & Tánaiste.
Because they’ve cut the throat of our nation and drank it’s still warm blood? Don’t let the door hit you’s on the way out
Fine Gael claimed it was a party founded on Christian principles!
It has clearly abandoned its policies and principles!
Enda is a disaster!
He refuses to do interviews and explain his U Turn!
Sad, but it looks like Sinn Fein and Others for Government.
No increase in Income Tax !
But he did not tell us about property tax, water tax, rates etc.
Enda is a total sham!
Joan: wow look Enda it’s an alternate dimension where we actually give a crap about the Irish people. Enda: ha ha ha Joan don’t be ridiculous that dimension doesn’t exist.
It’s pretty simple, support fell because the government is shite.
The WATER tax!!!
This why https://youtu.be/27UL3tZW1bk
Corruption injustice treason …..
This about ttip and what the establishment want for us https://youtu.be/U-VckxfWwNw very informative
They have eaten the donkey and are now choking on the tail. Greedy feckers!
What else could they expect. They’re completely oblivious to their plight and demands of the ordinary people. What’s more is that they don’t care about anyone apart from the banker’s, the big business owners and themselves. They should go now and let the electorate make sure that they don’t darken the floor of our parliament ever again
Do u remember this Seamus…? https://youtu.be/523FLk2126g lies and bullshite!
I see Michael Martin, doing the old Bertie Ahern photo shoot, a bit like there politics stagnant, going nowhere.
The water issue. FG have shown their true colours with it, preparing our water supply for privatisation and acting like fascist bullyboys towards anyone who has a problem with it.
Keep marching folks, I will march ’til I die to get a referendum on the waters of Ireland – and to see this collection of poltroons booted out – sans pension for preference. How can a traitor and profiteer expect to be maintained for life by the people they have betrayed?
Link please to FG statement advocating privatisation?
Bigger fish to fry “Were Jammin”. Your misinformation is cynical.
no link to FG statement advocating privatisation, but plenty of evidence that offering a referendum securing our water forever is one thing they’ve been avoiding like the plague.
I watched the Water Services Bill debates at the end of December, in Dail and Seanad, and it was clear as mud that FG and Labour would budge on the cap, the costs, the deadlines, practically every aspect, but would not go beyond offering a flimsy plebiscite, which is legislation only and can be removed.
So there’s your smoking gun.
No link so… just paranoia, conjecture and rabble rousing.
No government will touch water again for decades.
We need a new party, not populated by history-revisionist republicans or conservative nutters… and please FFS, school teachers need not apply!
Amen to that.
we already have around 14 parties, what will creating a new party accomplish? Promise the world to the electorate to get the votes, then not deliver. Look at Greece ……
There is no credible centre party in Ireland Justin, that is the problem.
They speak with forked toung
Simple… the people are now seeing that mob rule is not good for democracy
My last comment was deleted so I will re phrase.
The Govt parties are losing support becuase we the electorate are failing to maintain a faith that they are truthful and honest in all that they do.
Unintentional transparency?
@ J Rudd, thanks for posting that video – scatyry stuff. Large coorporations making up their own rules to suit themselves. Chlorinated chicens…wtf! , you can be sure that there will be shills galore telling us that its goid for you, that its naturally occuring, irs mineralisation just like those freaks with vested interests defending IQ decreasing , cancer causing Fluoride.
The evidence is clearer than ever that the insiders of FF/FG/Lab have been corrupted absolutely even after the bailout.
The number of people who simply can’t stomach voting for the insiders anymore is growing everyday and is about to hit a critical mass where the momentum will carry the outsiders to government at some point over the next 5 years. It may happen sooner if the siteserv scandal actually produces evidence of criminality or insider trading or similar.
One thing is for sure FG have shown nothing but arrogance, elitism & incompetence in equal measure while people begin to understand that the economy could only recover given the savagery of the cuts, the determination and resilience of SMEs & workers around the country and extremely high levels of emigration.
Trust is broken and our democracy is in big trouble.
fg broke every promise except introducing a water tax and nationalised the banking debt so don’t try blame ff as fg are as guilty or worse as they promised to do something about it, remember those promises??
Jack fg promised a water tax but they also promised to end quangos and cronyism. And we got Irish water, a massive quango stuffed with cronyism. So we have where they gave 1 and lied about the other.
FF nationalised the banking debt.
noonan restructured the debt and nationalising it at the same time but his take on it was he saved us money
Meant ciaran not jack
ciaran, noonan spread the debt over a longer period. Result, over all, we pay more, but we have more money in the short term we have more money to run the country. Would you prefer the alternative, which would result in more cuts in the short term for the tax payer?
We need and want a leader and government who we can be proud of and have the Irish people’s interests as their top priority.
Not the sell outs in that photograph who can’t be seen in public or do interviews for fear of tumbling over their own lies and spin.
I’d give up and emigrate if FG FF or Labour got back into power.
Irish Water, most definitely. Also remember, Fine Gael have never been re-elected in their entire history.
They only ever get one shot at driving, before the electorate realise their mistake. Won’t be any different this time.
As d old saying goes fool me once fool me twice shame on u ff says there ready 4 gov I say are we ready to have them back don’t think so
WHERE IS THE FENNELLY REPORT !!!.
It’s all same old same old bull…the bribes are out now much like the lotto is almost always won on a bank holiday!! People I sincerely hope the people now see that which I think many do..
Why has it slipped .. Jesus if you have to ask ..
If ever there was a question that didn’t need asking.
Independents at 26% means that the people’s Party of Choice is “NO PARTY”
Voters realise that Poitical Parties are just private clubs who are only interested in one thing to “max your tax” in their own interest.
Political Parties are financial predators who max your tax, like landlords max your rent and bankers max your debt. Enough!
“The Government has done nothing wrong here”……..The stuff that they try to pass off for journalism on the journal, especially from Hugh is just a joke at this stage.
Love to see a poll done now. Siteserv would have a huge impact.
This present Government was elected by hoodwinking the electorate,claiming to adopt a new approach to the economic crash,then proceeded to hammer the people on the double,making Fianna Fáil look like the Good Samaritan.This Government is totally detached from the electorate.Little wonder,citizens feel so abandoned and left,alone,to deal with the economic devastation inflicted on their lives,which was not of their making.The economic upturn is only in a few select areas.The quicker the General Election is called the better and banish this Fine Gael/Labour Coalition.It is all the more urgent now,as they are clearly trying to buy the next election,so that they can screw us more,afterwards again.
True, I voted for Enda’s ‘end to cronyism’ and ‘a democracy revolution’….. I received a masterclass in cronyism.
If anything the fallout from Mary Lou McDonald being criticised by an internal Dáil committee over her naming of politicians in the Ansbacher dosser only strengthened their support.
At the end of the day Paddy was given false answers! What will poor Paddy do? Maybe he asked the wrong questions.
More click bait, Hugh? Fair fecks to you, but you, I and the proverbial dogs on the road know why. Don’t annoy me.
hi Jeff, have watched and read a lot of your comments videos,etc ,i agree. ,,,but there is a much bigger picture emerging ie ttip.i am not Afait with all aspects of politics,but im a fast learner,and if we dont vote for a completly different kind of government,we the irish people are sunk ,,,,water,poverty/ food poverty/fuel poverty/ serious homelessness/the list is endless,,by the way i admire the work you are doing, we need to educate ourselves to understand what is really going on,and your work is doing just that.keep it up.
yes Alca our country as we new it is in crisis,water just the tip of the iceberg,im afraid for the future of my grand,children and my family,and all the people,we have to get FG/LAB/ out.
Irish Water.
They have never clarified the issue surrounding the eventual ownership of OUR water supply. They will fall and be remembered as those that plotted against the Irish people!
Gosh, Smokie and Mick looked quite pouty in that photo. What’s the matter lads, people beginning to see through you. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
Take their pensions off them that will stop the to hell with the people im on a cruise ship in Florida.
-2 for both parties is within the margin of error, maybe they were rated too highly in the last poll?
Corruption once again??? Will it never end?
Since the start of the year these support levels are consistent with polling averages. FG around 25%, Labour around 8%. Overall it’s up from the start of the year but steady.
Sinn Féin took a large drop in the last poll and have now recovered to 22%, consistent with other polls putting them into the high 20s.
It wasn’t SiteServ, nor much else.
Because they are selfserving muppets
Anyone that votes for DOB/FG,LAB,FF deserve everything they get
We all knew there would be massive spending cuts and tax increases coming when we last had an election in 2011 because of our huge deficit. We didn’t know our economy would be growing this fast in 2015.
Maybe people are forgetting about the macro economics and remembering the small things like water charges.
That’s because a lot of people are struggling to pay day to day expenses. All is well in leafy South Dublin but the county is more than just South Dublin.
It was’nt the people’s deficit
The deficit just means the difference between what the government spends and what the government takes in on tax. We borrow to cover the difference. If this government doesn’t close the deficit the next government will have to. It is what it is
Should the government in 2011 just have shrugged their shoulders and said “That’s not our deficit, that was Fianna Fáil’s deficit” and ignored it?
The economy might be “growing” on datasheets and balance sheets for the government to parade to the mafia in brussels but on the ground in towns and villages in Ireland the recovery isnt even born and that is where the problem lies for the government. Its all well and good saying the deficit had to be this and that and we needed to make cuts etc. thats true but the cuts aside the lies, the bad management, the threats and jobs for the boys is and of course the mess that is IW and all attached to it have shown people that these lot in power are no better than the last bunch
Well the bondholder’s debt was’nt the people’s debt but your alright with i suppose
jack we already run a primary balanced budget. we are only in deficit due to the debt levels. and with over 8bn being paid out yearly on interest alone we are so gonna be rightly screwed in another couple of years when it hits 10bn a year.
Labour party broadcast. the working class can kiss my arse i’ve got the boss’s job at last
Jack, ‘water charges’ may be “small things”, as you say, but readying our water supply for sale to a private company is the biggest thing I can imagine. You are 65% water. So is everybody else. Unless we come up with a way of creating people who are somehow not dependent on water for survival, we would basically be paying a private company for the right to be alive.
Small thing, you say?
Hey Jack, ‘small things, like Irish water’ …. Pfff, don’t make me laugh…. how much will water cost a family in 2019 ??
Remember in 2019, if your Friend falls on hard times…..
>> WATER POVERTY – Fine Gaels gift to the Irish People!
In 2011 are deficit was running at 25 billion. There are 4.5 million people in this country.
€25,000,000,000 divided by 4,500,000 = €5,555.55
That is how much we borrowed in one year alone for every single person in this country.
Yes the water charges do sound like a lot and people are really stretched. They are a lot. Our deficit is colossal.
The water charges are nothing now compared to what they’re destined to become under private ownership. They are also nothing now compared to what they were intended to be before the hundreds of thousands of feet took to the street.
With a bit of luck, FG will be nothing soon.
Yes, Con if a really serious no of feet took to the street , the Government would not survive it , they know they are in a very Precarious position as it is,,,,,Hence the constant Demonisation of the protesters”
just ,read a piece in the Irish mirror stating, that Extreme water protestors,are paying anyone who will give names and addresses ,of Gardi, policing water meter installations, this statement,from the,Garda representative association,saying sinister fringe,in evidence,and Gardi are sleeping in their cars, afraid of their familys being attacked,serious demonisation,of the peaceful protesters.
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