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"There's very little principle in Irish politics" - Fine Gael TD

John Deasy also reckons Enda Kenny would be “dragged out of the place, kicking and screaming”.

A FINE GAEL TD says there is “very little principle in Irish politics”.

John Deasy, a TD for Waterford, spoke to Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio One today, saying that the proposed €5 increase in the old-age pension would be better spent on the “squeezed middle”.

“I don’t have any problem giving pensioners an extra fiver. But if it was up to me and it was between a structural reform of income tax and a fiver, I’d take structural reform.”

He added that people were hitting the top rate of tax too quickly, something that was a “major problem”.

You can call them the squeezed middle, I call them the people who pay for everything and they’re getting smashed.

“The incentive to work is fast leaving their bodies.”

He said that his party would be judged by how it handles income tax reform. He went on to say that many pensioners are already helping children and grandchildren with living costs and housing, adding that many would be wary of “Fianna Fáilers waving a fiver in their face”.

The idea that there isn’t much room for manoeuvre isn’t enough to not do anything, Deasy said.

If this Budget is framed to protect the status quo and the political classes running this country – which are Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil – that’s an absolute derogation and a complete collapse when it comes to decision-making in the national interest.

“Those on lower incomes pay far less tax than their international counterparts and those on higher salaries pay more.”

Deasy went on to take broadsides at Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, saying that Sinn Féin would “burn the country down if they got their hands on it” and Fianna Fáil were “lacking political courage”.

5/10/2016 Launch of Enterprise Ireland Internation John Deasy isn't a fan of his boss, Enda Kenny. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

He said that Fianna Fáil was attempting “sleveen politics” in attempting to take credit for, and distance itself from, next week’s “pig’s ear of a Budget”.

This Budget was put together with Fianna Fáil. This Budget was crafted to make sure there was no political fallout and that this government continues beyond the Budget.

“Everybody knew what the story was.”

Speaking about the future of the party, Deasy said that Fine Gael was in the habit of “rewarding failure” – singling out James Reilly as the “best example” – and that “people had been bought off”.

He added that he had refused the offer of the chairmanship of the Housing Committee on principle.

“There’s very little principle in Irish politics, that’s been my experience.”

Asked when Taoiseach Enda Kenny would resign, Deasy said he would be “dragged out of the place, kicking and screaming”, but that it could be as early as the end of this year before a leadership battle comes.

He said that Leo Varadkar had the edge on his rivals in any future leadership race.

Read: Enda Kenny grilled on garda whistleblowers, Brexit and the future of rural post offices

Read: Claims of campaign to “annihilate a whistleblower” put focus on Garda Commissioner

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75 Comments
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    Mute DaVe O'm
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    Jan 27th 2014, 7:53 AM

    30 people is hardly much of a “study” this reads more like an add than a serious article

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    Mute Brian Lyons
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    Jan 27th 2014, 9:02 AM

    There’s also no controls; all couples are taking the supplement, all are also follow a healthy lifestyle…. and it’s being run by a nutritional supplements manufacturer, for feck sake!
    Also, if this is the first study of its kind, why are they already selling it?

    36
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    Mute Rkmr
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    Jan 27th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Does that mean that trials on other drugs should not be trusted,
    Considering they are carried out and funded by the pharmaceutical companies who sell the drugs??

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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Jan 27th 2014, 7:59 AM

    Seems like an add this article more than likely giving false hope to couples. When people are desperate they more than likely try anything. It is interesting to see no price in the article so I bet there is a nice price tag.

    33
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    Mute Hugh Jarse
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    Jan 27th 2014, 8:59 AM

    You’re spot on there Declan. You may also notice that they say that 12 couples who were taking the supplement went on to conceive but they conveniently neglect to tell us how many couples didn’t conceive.

    18
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    Mute Jim Higgs
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Exactly. It’s not rocket science, if couples have sex, some of them with conceive. Is that 12 out of 12,000 over 5 years, or 12 out of 12 over a bank holiday weekend?

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    Mute Orela Krawczyk
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    Jan 27th 2014, 8:44 AM

    Your right there Declan I just checked out their website €170. As you said desperate couples will try anything, I know I was one of hose propel till 22mths ago. I had a lot of trouble conceiving and tbh if I had been told to sacrifice a cat on the full moon I’d of done it. But I think it was was once we started taking better care of ourselves,better diet exercising more etc and using ovulation kits. That did it for us now we did take pregncare supplements as €24:99 for 30 days so who knows

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    Mute Orela Krawczyk
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    Jan 27th 2014, 8:45 AM

    * one of those people* my little girl helped me write that comment

    13
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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:12 AM

    13 months and taking dictation? What kind of supplements were you taking?

    21
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    Mute Jim Higgs
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:49 AM

    Dear Author, this isn’t a clinical trial, it is an advertising campaign. It would help if you knew what a clinical trial involved before writing an article.

    A clinical trial would involve
    1. A sound biological basis for the study
    2. Lots of evidence in animals etc to show that this “treatment” worked
    3. Ethical approval – what happens if these pills make you sterile, or worse, cause harmful birth defects? Is the company insured against this?
    4. Some level of medical input.
    5. A control group

    Please don’t write advertising pieces in the guise of reporting. It shows you either know nothing about medical trials, or that the journal is being paid to place advertisements posing as articles.

    13
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    Mute Cormac Ryan
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    Jan 27th 2014, 1:46 PM

    I agree this is a demo if anything.
    If this were to be a proper trial 1 control, 1 placebo and the product

    2
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    Mute Jacuzzi Diver
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    Jan 27th 2014, 7:57 AM

    Galway…. I just love the white. Me & the burd absolutely shovelling the stuff into uz

    6
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    Mute Orela Krawczyk
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:34 AM

    We took the vitabiotics pregnacare, you can get them in every chemists, there’s ones for woman, couples ,pregnant women and breastfeeding mums. It’s a fairly common one. I have no idea if they helped. I truly feel it was eating healthier and doing to ovulation kit that helped us . Saying that we didn’t go crazy with taking temps etc. I got pee- strips online and used them , didn’t spend a fortune on digital stuff. I think baby making has become a huge cashcow of a business like weddings. Put the word bridal in front of something ie bridal shoes and you can charge through the nose for a white satin pair of shoes. My doctor did warn my not to put too much faith in supplements , he felt if we had a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle that we should need a supplement,told I was making expensive pee because at the end of the day your body is only gonna absorb what it needs.

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    Mute Zozzy Zozimus
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:37 AM

    “Over the 90-day trial each couple will take pre-Conceive daily – which is on sale already nationwide – and will also follow a healthy lifestyle regime.”

    Well this certainly sounds like a flawlessly designed clinical study! Upon completion, we’re definitely going to know exactly what made the difference. Since this is “Europe’s first clinical study on how nutritional supplements can help fertility in both men and women” I suppose we can also expect to find out that both men and women should pay out for this expensive and remarkable product!

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    Mute Ina Smidiríní
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    Jan 27th 2014, 3:44 PM

    Wanna raise T? Zinc, magnesium supplements and Brazil nuts will make your lad as hard as a horse’s hoof. Believe me it’s fabulous.

    2
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