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EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know before 9am…
1. #KEVIN CARDIFF: The government will today begin contemplating how to react to Kevin Cardiff’s rejection by the European Parliament’s committee on budgetary control, which yesterday opted not to recommend him – by a single vote – to the European Court of Auditors. Cardiff can still be approved by the parliament as a whole, but may withdraw his candidacy. Ireland’s current member Eoin O’Shea will today attend an Oireachtas committee to brief it on the court’s work.
2. #HEALTH: The Irish Daily Mail has obtained a document it says is being circulated among HSE managers – which outlines plans to close 840 beds and close 12 community hospitals and nursing homes. The document comes as HSE chief executive Cathal Magee prepares to go in front of an Oireachtas committee to update it on healthcare plans.
3. #DIRTY LAUNDRY: Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has condemned the political expenses regime, after uncovering details of how ministers can claim a €3,500 tax rebate… for laundry expenses. Ministers from outside Dublin are entitled to claim an allowance for a ‘second residence’, which may be a hotel – and those claiming unvouched expenses can get a €3,500 rebate in respect of their laundry bills.
4. #LEAGUE TABLES: Michael Noonan might be preparing to wield the knife in the Budget but he’s been given a quick boost in advance – with the Financial Times releasing its latest league table of EU finance ministers. Noonan is ranked 10th out of 19, coming third in terms of his political clout – bettering Brian Lenihan who was bottom of the same table last year.
5. #COMBUSTION: State pathologist has poured cold water (sorry) on the theory of spontaneous human combustion – saying it’s a “myth”. Reports from Gareth Naughton carried in some of today’s broadsheets describe how Prof Cassidy rubbished the theory at Dublin Coroner’s Court yesterday, saying the theory hadn’t been valid for 500 years.
6. #EUROZONE: New Italian premier Mario Monti today holds his first meeting with Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy – in the aftermath of yesterday’s disastrous German bond auction. ‘Merkozy’ are expected to show strong support for Monti, who is in charge of bringing in tough economic reforms – but the meeting will likely also discuss the Eurobond proposal, which Monti backs but Merkel doesn’t.
7. #LEVESON: The ongoing inquiries in the UK today holds its most high-profile day of hearings so far – hearing testimony from author JK Rowling, actress Sienna Miller, and former motorsport chief Max Mosley. An unnamed party who has previously taken out a so-called ‘super-injunction’ will also give evidence.
8. #MORTGAGES: Fixed-rate mortgage holders have been advised to look closely at the fine print on their mortgage deals – because they may be entitled to switch to a tracker and save cash. MoneyCoach.ie says many people who took out mortgages at the height of the credit bubble are now exiting an initial 5-year window, after which they can switch to a tracker.
9. #THANKSGIVING: It’s Thanksgiving day in America – and to mark it, the UK arm of its public TV broadcaster PBS has held a survey charting the US’s top exports. The list, carried in the Daily Mirror, includes Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, The Simpsons, Kellogg’s cereal and Levi’s jeans.
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€3,500 for laundry….you could buy a new bloody wardrobe for that!!!!
And clothes to fill it too……………
No disrespect to Michael Noonan personally – but I’m in my late thirties and find it hard to stomach that he is Minister for Finance AGAIN. This is all a bit seen it before……. I wish I had the money to get stuffed with this country for good!!!!!
Em, when was he minister for finance before?
He was Minister for Justice, Minister for Industry and Commerce and Minister for Health. He was also leader for Fine Gael but that didn’t end well. Never before was he minister for finance, only their spokesman in opposition.
He was spokesman for finance for FG from Feb 2010 until the election
Previous own goals also include his handling of the hep c disaster whilst at Minster of Health during the rainbow coalition in the mid 90′s.
Keep doing the good work pierce uncover those thieving scum bags but also do something about it you would every man woman and child behind you
There must have been 9 ministers reading the first post.
Justs keeps getting better an better,but for who?
Why is Eamon Gilmore surprised that Kevin Cardiff didn’t get the European Court of Auditors job? He must be the only one in the country who is! The man made a massive mistake. I know If i made a huge mistake in my job, I wouldn’t expect a promotion.
Oh and whats the deal with the €3,500 rebate for laundry expenses?? No wonder we are broke when we are still giving ridiculous expense accounts to the politicians.
Combustion !!! Thank goodness for that ,we are not able to self combust… but what about that man down the country a few months ago ,and the inquest said it was self combustion that killed him….
With the amount of crap they spew their clothes must stink.. Perhaps thats what it costs to keep them smelling of Daz ;)
The fighting Irish is right .We just take everything that is thrown at us so the powers that be just throw more.I`ts about time we started to fight this corrupt unjust system .£3.500 for laundry.I think i`ll take one of my husbends blood pressure tabs.
The astonishing effrontery of these parasites…!
There really is only one solution and it is tumbril carts and a guillotine on Stephen’s Green.
Off with their heads – I honestly mean it!
it is all the same new faces; what a let down ; where is all the change Enda talked about
have your say