We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated 8.10pm
THE OPPOSITION PARTIES were not impressed with either the Budget or the lack of government TDs in the chamber as they reacted to the earlier announcement.
Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming was particularly incensed by the absence of Ministers Micheal Noonan and Brendan Howlin as he delivered his response to the Budget.
At one point we counted just four government TDs in the chamber, including the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, as Fleming spoke.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterGovernment benches almost completely empty as opposition parties have their say on #budget16 pic.twitter.com/A8LMN010u3
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 13, 2015
Fleming, the party’s public expenditure spokesperson, said the lack of government presence was indicative of the contempt the coalition holds the national parliament in. He asked:
Are you gone canvassing? Are you nervous again? Is Joan happy with her €3 increase?
We asked a few backbenchers. One suggested they were off writing press releases and announcements tailored to their constituents.
Another cheekily suggested they were in the Dáil bar, although we checked and it was pretty quiet (the non-members bar, anyway)
Meanwhile, many government ministers were off to give briefings to the media on how the various Budget measures affected their own departmental spending plans over the next 12 months.
Explaining their absence, Ministers Noonan and Howlin told a press conference this evening that they intended to be there, but that the statements of sympathy on the weekend tragedies in Carrickmines and Omeath had pushed everything back.
Noonan even apologised for missing the opposition speeches, saying he had hoped to catch Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty’s analysis of the Budget measures.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterMichael McGrath: They told us they would burn the bondholders, all they did was burn their election promises #budget16
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 13, 2015
In the speech that Noonan missed, Doherty told the Taoiseach that inequality is “your badge of honour” and in his lengthy response he, unsurprisingly, excoriated the government’s record.
Towards the end of his speech he became particularly angry about the government’s housing policy. Of the Labour party he said: “Far from putting manners on your coalition partners ye have become more Fine Gael than Fine Gael themselves.”
Then the Donegal TD got really angry:
Like, REALLY angry:
Dáil statements on the Budget are continuing. Mary Lou McDonald has just delivered this message to Kenny about the election:
TheJournal Politics / TwitterMary Lou: Taoiseach, go to the people. Don’t hold off, Joan will get over it. #budget16
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) October 13, 2015
You can follow proceedings in our liveblog.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Kenny flicking through his colouring book with his crayons at the ready when Pearse Doherty and Mary Lou Mc Donald letting fly was gas….
Now now, it was not a colouring book…It was a “join the dots book”… but apparently poor auld Enda got stuck after eleventeen…
Doherty is a meathead pushing fantasy shinnernomics.
In fairness to our big brave leader Dermo,I managed to pause the tele just at the right time and Enda is VERY good at colouring in.Did not go outside the lines once….
Well said!
Looks like Mr Doherty has a bit of passion and cares for the most vulnerable members of Irish society unlike Fine Gael and Labour who continue to line their pockets at the taxpayers expense. I would think it unlikely than Sinn Fein have too many TDS unlike Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail who are Landlords with vested interests in the homeless crises.
There would be 10 times more people homeless under Sinn Fein as the economy goes into a death spiral.
The reason no Sinn Fein member has two beans to rub together is they aren’t too good at making money legitimately.
At least Gerry has to business acumen to use party-funded junkets to the US to promote his imaginary biographies and alternative Irish histories, albeit questionable ethically.
Imagine Enda used FG funded trips overseas to sell his memoirs and conduct booksignings. There would be uproar.
Christ, that literally smacks of desperation otv. The troops have been given absolutely nothing to carry to the doorsteps, must sting.
Horses, your conscience will thank you in the future if you credit the original author of that tweet.
Diarmiud/tap, I see your pal Willy Frazer went ape about the amount of Irish products and Irish souvenirs at the Belfast city airport,lol,yes he is planning a protest,lol
@one True Voice – my issue with your statement about there being 10 times more homeless under SF is that we don’t actually know that. Such an assertion is opinion, which of course you are entitled to.but the thing is we know what’s happening to the homeless under FG/lab because we can witness it. The homeless are now dying on our streets at a rate unseen before in the history of our state and this is unacceptable. So the dilemma, do we vote for FG/lab knowing that just like the next gun shooting in the U.S. the next death of a homeless person is inevitable in a country governed by those who care nothing for the homeless? Or do we try something new? The current party system is not functioning! FF nor FG nor Lab have demonstrated the ability to function in government. I am willing to consider any alternative at this stage including a SF/Independent grouping. Actually I would settle for any grouping that excluded FG and Lab even a grouping which included FF in a minority capacity only and I am choking on that! FG promised so much but were no different to FF in the end. Labour promised to protect us but not only failed miserably but in reality didn’t even try once they got their snouts in the trough. Budget 2016 will put €25 in the pocket per week of a person on €100,000 a year but only €10 for someone on €40,000 and I dread to think what I’ll calculate for those on €20,000.
All off to the Dail bar to congratulate themselves in a stunning piece of fiscal banality and in the total self delusional state of being 100% certain they’ll be back after the next election.
Hugh..tell Enda his pathetic attempt at bribing and lying his way back into office has failed..that shoite only wworks once.
Anthony how much tax does a person on 100k, 40k and 20k pay?
Your argument is ridiculous.
Anthony your point makes perfect sense to anyone with a logical head on their shoulders.But delusional cult members might have a bit of trouble because their party does no wrong or harm.Come in FG/Lab,your time is up….
Might have to help me out Neal,genuinely lost…
Im surprised four government TD waited to listen to that tripe from the shinner :D
The arrogance is stunning.
I think his heart is in the right place. I know he has spoofed a bit education wise but on the whole I think he means what he says and to see Kenny flick through papers ignoring him was very distasteful. All that said the fact that he is SF I could never vote for him.
It’s ok jane, they’ll cope.
The amount of muck that has been thrown at SF in the last few days is indicative of how the next GE will be conducted. Batten down the hatches.
I’ve no doubt Jamie that they will. What muck is that? Poor ole SF, always the victims.
Did you think that comment up all by yourself? You silly lad.
When Pearse Doherty is finished doing his Basil Fawlty tantrum impression perhaps he could give us a budget analysis of the cost to the Irish people of the Sinn Fein supported ‘War in the North’ . Was it a 1 billion, 2 billion or 10 billion dollar war?. or more simply how many school, hospital and community spaces did we have to set aside as as our tax money was diverted to protect our Republic against the totality of 25 years of IRA atrocity.
Lack of respect to the opposition walking out and not hearing there side! People fall for this trick with a give away budget and bring these gobshit** back in power expect 5 heavy years of high taxes again with big water charges etc! Trying to buy votes to late bye bye fg/ lab.. We need someone to have balls and tell Europe where to go! Also a leader that does not speak with marbles in his / her mouth. (JUST THINK OF THE PAST 4YEARS AND HOW THIS GOVERNMENT TREATED THE WORKING CLASS!
I do agree it’s highly disrespectful for them not to hear an opposition party spokesman. They should have been in their seats for his speech. He’s elected democratically and had a right to be heard. But I’ve no sympathy in light of Mary Lou’s theatrics last year in holding the Dail to ransom and stopping Dail business.
What goes around, comes around.
Pearse can have his say when they announce their alternative budget. Maybe this time they won’t have a funding gap of 1bn and some of the scariest, most shortsighted health care cuts ever expressed.
(Last year’s alternative budget proposed a 30% pay cut for medical consultants earning over 200k – imagine spending so many years becoming a highly skilled specialist doctor and have 60k taken away from your salary in a day – now imagine the reaction of every skilled doctor in this country who’s not tied down – on the next boat with them and we’re left with the biggest doctors’ shortage in the history of the state).
Syriza tried it joe,look where it got them,if anyone thinks a SF/whoever govt will be any different is deluded!
Syriza have accomplished something FG never have.They’ve been elected to successive governments….
Ciaran your another sheep,also the Greeks has no other country to back them! That’s the problem… The easy way to say it is thank god we have Russia or else everyone would be ruled by them sleazy and dumb Americans.
That’s the problem with Europe, little nations rules by France and Germany and there run by the yanks
the nation was beming with pride as the FG TDs walked out to the shinners disgust :)
Ok joe
Thomas you are an idiot.
Sean Sherlock.. Uncanny resemblance to Stan Laurel. In fairness the Labour Party are a comedy act at this stage!
And boy, did he let rip.Poor auld Enda didn’t know where to look as his usual back up had retired to the bar.
Paul – FG Young faceless new Twitter Troll !
SF are a party with no morals or credibility , why would anybody stay to listen to this well prepared and well rehearsed charade from PD !!
The govt could have made us all millionaires and he would have spouted the same populist shite he always drags out for the public
What morals to FF and Labour have? Homeless people dying on the streets, cutbacks to the elderly and the disabled, people lying on trolleys for days in a&e departments up and down the country.. I could go on and on but what’s the point
Who mentioned FF or Lab or even FG for that matter ?
Whataboutery is the tool of the deflection crew SF pay to troll social media ;)
How ya Dane, ya must be worn out setting up new accounts today…
dopey dohertys rants was absolutely hilarious and a befitting way to end this fantastic budget. The roars of laughter in bushwells was just ear bursting as everyone laughed at SF. A great day for Ireland :)
The faux outrage was halarious!
I love the way you are just ignored, makes me chuckle!
Morals? credibility? What planet are you living on? This Government is dealing with a much wiser electorate now. This so called sweetener of a budget will no longer trigger the amnesia that has afflicted the Irish people in the past. We will never forget what they have put us through during their term in office. Roll on general election.
Why would anyone in their right mind sit there and listen to them bloviate any longer than they have to? You know exactly how the opposition is going to react regardless of the actual content of the budget they’ll say the exact same stuff.
Just as well it’s recording or only 4 or 5 people in the world would have heard it.
The opposition would do exactly the same if they were in power.
Indeed Enda could give use all a million tomorrow and it would be the same and the same in reverse.
Its just how politics works.
His Passion is losted because of his party. This politician has real passion and is a young man who should be an independent.
it must have been some fart he let rip
They are well paid and it’s their job. Can you walk away from your job when you don’t want to hear what you don’t want to listen to
That’s why I perfected the art of ‘switching off’. I’ll stand or sit there, nodding politely. Only downside is they could be telling me they just ran their mother over and I’d still be just nodding, like a Churchill dog on Prozac!
Pure ignorance and disrespect firm the government. I suppose it’s hard to listen to the truth after all.. Good man Pierce.
I was in tears laughing at dopey doherty. he was livid, it was priceless. easily one of the the highlights of the day :D
SF the joke that just keeps on giving :D
For a second there I thought Pearse let a fart and emptied the Dail.
Fine Gael arrogance I cant wait to vote the out,
You won’t tax my home and get away with it.
it was his usual verbal diarrhea that emptied the dail, im surprised people waited as long as they did to be honest. no point to listenig to nobodies on a day like today :)
Spoken like a true Fine Gaeler, Thomas. Fine Gael consider the people of Ireland nobodies.
Gov tds going away early stinks of this govs disgusting attitude to the opposition tds and to the rest of the country.
They’re a disgrace, comparing protestors to isis, ignorantly telling people to pay their water debt tax before buying their wine in the shops, just shows how ignorant and amateurish these politicians are. Even ff didn’t sink this low when they were in gov.
Every government in the 35 years of budget speeches I’ve seen get out as soon as possible to get their spin in first to the media while the opposition talk to empty benches.I may dispise FG but they are most certainly not the first to do this.
This mirrors what they think about us and this crap budget buy.
its befittig that FG starved SF of any oxygen to spread their bile :D
Game set and match to FG
Thomas you are obviously typing your drivel with one hand down the front of your trousers, I have never seen so many typos. Learn to spell correctly.
Poor Pearse, And he had practiced it all week in front of the mirror.
If we are going to do anything about housing it will involve undoing Martin Cullen’s 2002 housing act amendment which allowed builders pay money to local authorities to escape a previously legally binding agreement to have 1 in 5 houses they built used for social housing.
Lets not undo that Housing Act Amendment, Social Housing has no right to be placed beside fully mortgaged houses.
No right? Under what law?
It’s under the Common Sense Law. Hard working people aren’t going to buy in a new development if there’s 20% of the said development kept back for Social Housing. Councils know and understand this hence why Developers can buy their way out of the obligation. I’d be very surprised if that 20% obligation was forced upon Developers.
Nothing worse than someone paying a 35 year mortgage and looking out at some Freeloader across the road heading off on their holidays to Lanzarote.
In that case there should be separate housing developments for those who can buy outright.Why would I want to live beside someone who took on a debt they couldn’t afford an then get government handouts and tax breaks to cover their ar#es once the reality sets in….
Ahh Jamsey, the ones who took out the unaffordable debt aren’t likely to break into your house, steal your car and have undesirables visiting the area late at night.
Your proposal of establishing separate estates could be implemented in a round about way by creating Social Housing estates, in a big field, away from normal civilisation.
Why would I take the chance.I mean if you can’t afford your own house outright it’s obvious that you dont make a lot of money.I wouldn’t feel safe in my bed at night…. I’d say your kids even go to to somewhere like Belvedere or some other third rate private school.Why would I risk my Eaton educated kids having to mix with your disgusting little brats when the come home for Christmas ??? Nah, it’s just not worth the risk.
lads that has been removed since the summer amendment. the social housing criteria is now 10% with no cash alternative but a leasing one.
You’re being paranoid now Jamsey, not everyone’s out to get you. Feel free to move to a gated community if you’re that worried.
As for the rest of us, it’s not an option. At least from what you’re saying you can understand the normal persons worry if Social Housing arrived in their estate.
Pat Criminals , drug dealers murderers , paedophiles, rapist, all buy houses too ! I think I rather someone from social housing living next door then one of the above .
Nucky, that’s not a fair comparison, you’re comparing the option of living beside a known criminal with living beside an unknown Social Housing tenant. Odds are that the Unknown Social Housing Tenant is, at best, a compulsive Thief. God knows what the “at worst” would be. Given a choice, I wouldn’t like to live beside either.
He just roasted your arse Pat..lol
Who?
The advantage to having people from disadvantaged backgrounds moving into middle class areas should be obvious. With only 1 in 5 it means there’s a very good chance they in turn would raise their game to blend in with everyone else. It would be good for society and those people and their kids.
In theory you make sense, Sgt. However, it’s pretty obvious that those people who get everything in life for free don’t appreciate it. What you end up with is the Social Housing tenant being thrown out of the house by the Council because of anti-social behaviour. The house then becomes boarded up for a few months until the council complete the renovations. Another bunch of freeloaders are brought in, same thing happens again and round and round we go. There’s no stability in the estate at that rate.
You really are a knobjockey pat ! Not all people that seek or require social housing are s€um . Get the silver spoon out of your arse ..
@pat…. Jansen
You’re right, not everyone in Social Housing are $cumbag. However, every $cumbag live in Social Housing.
Jamsey pat
time to just sit back folks and laugh at the shinners :D
so pat snack lets get to the bottom of this, who in the following scenarios would you see as salt of the earth and who is a $cumbag
man steals purse from pensioner gets 30 euro to feed his habit
f.g/lab takes 30 euro a week out of every pensioners payment, goes home to one of his houses knowing he is earning over 100k and will retire with nearly as much.
man receiving unemployment assistance gets a days work labouring doesn’t declare it uses the extra 70 euro buy his child a birthday present.
doctor charges 200 euro for a five minute consultation, encourages the patient to pay cash, doesn’t declare it deprives the state of 50,000 euro tax a year enough to buy him a holiday apartment with a golf course,
unemployed man falls hurt themselves makes a claim gets offered ten thousand takes it because he cant take a chance on not getting more
solicitor makes fraudulent claims on behalf of clients seeks 100,000 of euros for imagined injuries, the judge knows hes lying put still pays out ridiculous amount.
man cant afford to insure his car because it is too dear still drives car occasionally.
homeless man goes to restaurant steals food
garda goes into restaurant with his uniform on and expects his food for nothing under some vague threat.
man goes into church and steals from the poor box
priest rides some six year old boy.
man lives in council estate sells du telling rich people how to avoid paying tax.ty free fags to make a living
accountant makes 100,000 a year
yes all $cumbags live in estates
Well done Gerry , extremely well said
Gerry, Well said.On a side note it’s kinda like Neil Youngs Keep on Rocking in the Free World…
How about if a developer has to build 20% social housing. Say he is building 100 houses let him build the 100 but make him build 20 for social housing in a site earmarked for social housing. You could have 20 Developments of 100 houses and an estate of 100 social houses built.
Fine Gael and Labour headnodders have no reason to get angry ever they are desensitised from privilege and devoid of empathy . You would have to day things are pretty good for them there grand for Doherty too but the man has the brain cells to know that alot of people are boiling over with angst for this government and he represents them. Passion something serious lacking in the minds of the robotic tds and minister of the government. We all celebrate the Irish rugby teams drive to do our country proud but wilt when it comes to our everyday life .
dohertys meltdown will be remembered as the funniest part of this great day :D
Pat snack I believe the worst council policy was to create social housing estates in the first place. It makes ghettos out of certain areas where unemployment, poor housing and social problems are rife. I think a one in ten allocation of private housing to social housing is a good idea. I lived in social housing for all my childhood. I was lucky like my four siblings we all went to college. Even my two brothers entered the dizzy heights of trinity college , something unheard of where I grew up. Just because you are poor dosent make you a bad person. There are many children living in poor families that are reared alot better than some of the latch key kids of the middle classes. Surely if you have access to better housing it will raise your expectations in life. Some people have a hard start in life. I think your description of people from social housing is prejudiced and uneducated. You should not judge someone based solely on where they live. Some of the best neighbours I ever had was in social housing. They were not criminals. They were salt of the earth.
Rich the winners again.
Poor given measley crumbs.
Disgraceful. Can’t see this changing the perspective of the electorate as a whole. Times near up Enda and the Water issue is not going away. Homeless crisis is only getting worse. Using property tax to prop up water tax is gonna see fg/LAB obliterated. Roll on election..
Willy are you having a laugh? Since Dec 2008 the paycuts, pension levy and USC took relatively far more off earners as you went up the payscales. It is now beung unwound at a relatively lesser rate for higher paid. Go do the maths and you will see that the middle and higher earners effectively bore the largest burden. If you want to dispute this then quote me examples and I will dismantle that bogus argument.
no a good day for the shinners :D
Even their own TDs no longer have the stomach to sit through this governments hyperbole and lies.
Oh well, Gerry knows where the money tree is lads.
How many billions of euro are we giving away to the gambler banks?
Same oul’ rubbish from the Shinners. The only difference was that Mary Lou got up and repeated almost verbatim what Doherty had said. Not a response t the budget but a party political broadcast. Who wants to listen to that?
Ruth Coppinger just said that the increase in cigarette tax was an unfair imposition on the “working” classes who are more likely to be addicted to smoking. You literally could not make this schit up.
We’ll all have some more money in our pockets. The problem with the left is that they want your money in their pockets.
Sorry, you’ve been found out for the frauds that you are. The people of Ireland won’t be risking their future by putting the lunatics in charge.
That Ruth Coppinger is so stupid. She doesn’t have common sense. She just says what she thinks socialists want to hear all the time.
Alan the problem with Enda is he is taking all our money.
@Kerry Blake: The problem with Enda is that he’s still in Leinster House!
where are all the mass protests we were promised :D
There is a better way to protest, it’s called the ballot box.
Jesus…all the govt lackies are working late here on the journal
When Doherty speaks nobody knows what he is talking about, and this includes Doherty himself.
Must be learning from Enda so….
Sorry are Sinnbots not scrapping LPT and Water charges……double standards….
Pearse for Taoiseach!
Sinn Fein would clean up at the Oscars…
yes, just like they will clean up at the election.
Never seen him so angry before.
If Pearse had a cockney accent, he could get a part on Eastenders as Danny Dyer’s stunt double.
At least he’ll have opportunities after GE 2016
Might have more opportunity then Enda who is spending 50k of tax payers money trying to protect his seat?
bad bad day for the shinners :D
you think so Thomas? Let’s wait and see.
it won’t be long now,and the majority of them will not be even sitting on the opposition benches. the people will not forget, and we’re waiting for our chance,in the ballot box.
King Smug
bring back Bertie
The TV3 news team are very happy this evening no protests outside, why they were expecting th protesters? its unusual because budget day I don’t think counts as a day for protesting, but I’m open to be told otherwise…
“No protests ” was more a mark of respect for the Garda who was shot than a vote of confidence in the government.I’m not surprised that TV3 were disappointed though.They probably had the bones of the “documentary” made save to add a few clips from Kildale St this afternoon.Tabloid s(um.
https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/318576-episode-max-keiser-822/
“They look at the cartels at the heart of each and every so-called “free trade” deal being forced upon previously sovereign nations in the global economy. In the second half, Max interviews Irish MEP Luke “Ming” Flanagan, about TTIP, TiSA, Brexit, the Troika, the Anglo-Irish bailout and a shillelagh stick.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_in_Services_Agreement
Bye bye HSE, An Post, Trains, Airports, Buses, etc etc…
“”The agreement covers about 70% of the global services economy. Its aim is privatizing the worldwide trade of services such as banking, healthcare and transport.”
doherty will have to learn that respect is earned. today he was rightfully ignored :)
Little bit like yourself
well said.
They keep removing my posts. I’m entitled to my opinion. There is no free speech left in Europe, as the PC lefty brigade have pushed their agenda to the point where we are approaching an Orwellian style world. Next on the list is thought crimes. Free speech must be absolute! Irrespective of whose feelings it hurts
how many ‘shame on yous’ i was banking on eight :D
My youngest kitten Blinky is high on painkillers after getting fixed so I left Oireachtas TV on for her when I went out for a while today, rather than the usual Nick Junior.
@neil…wtf???
have your say