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Updated at 12.20pm
MOTORISTS ARE BEING warned to take care on the roads as three separate status yellow snow-ice warnings have been issued across the country.
Met Éireann said that a night of widespread severe frost has lead to icy conditions on untreated surfaces.
A status yellow snow-ice warning is currently in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Leitrim, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary. This is valid between 4pm today and 9am tomorrow morning.
Met Éireann is warning of “snow accumulations of less than 2cm this evening and tonight”.
Patches of freezing fog and snow showers are also expected across the country throughout the day, along with sub-zero temperatures.
Earlier today, a status yellow snow-ice warning was issued for Galway, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. This will remain in place until 2pm today.
The third warning was issued for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal. This warning is valid between 3pm this afternoon and 3am.
The Road Safety Authority is advising drivers and other road users to be especially vigilant over the next few days, and to keep an eye out for black ice on the roads.
Although the RSA is advising people to avoid unnecessary journeys, they’ve issued advice for those who have to travel in snowy or icy conditions:
Outlook for coming days
Met Éireann says frost and icy patches will persist tonight with scattered snow showers.
Heavy rain will move in from the Atlantic and will spread across the country overnight, turning to sleet and snow at times.
The frosty weather will clear overnight and temperatures will rise by tomorrow morning to reach 3 to 5 degrees.
Unlike today, tomorrow is forecast to be a bright, fresh day with sunny spells and scattered rain or hail showers.
Temperatures will range between 5 to 9 degrees with westerly winds.
However, Met Éireann warns that heavy rain will develop later in the southwest.
The heavy rain will spread from the southwest and turn to snow as it moves northwards.
Snow is expected on Saturday morning over Ulster, however, it will clear away in the afternoon and make way for mainly dry weather.
Temperatures will range from 7 degrees in the north to 12 or 13 degrees in the southwest.
Sunday is forecast to be a cool, blustery day with sunny spells.
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Does Joan’s smile p!ss anyone else off or is it just me?
Yep, because i think she’s the biggest waste of space of a politician. She came up with talktojoan, seriously, come on!!!!
Not buying there budget bribes. FG lied there way into government they certainly won’t be getting my vote as for labour hope they are wiped out come election time.
looking at all that, i’m still sitting in the middle bracket with little or no benefit from this budget, with the exception of maybe around €3.50 back per week from usc. The other parties might be blowing gusto..but I’m tending towards them..after 7 years of sweat and tears…and still nothing back.
oh and I’ll probably be told I can afford to pay the water bills with this massive weekly saving.. like feck will I pay it. I’ll need it to pay my grocery bill after they hike up every other cost the retailer has to pay. Marvellous bunch this gov..bleedin marvellous.
And you can’t buy your bottle of wine either cause the money needs to go to the IW tax. As that catherine (i think) byrne dubling fg td said, we all have to take responsibility and pay our fair share of the debt tax (which was basically created to make up for her fellow politicians horrendous mistakes!).
The USC should be lowered for middle earners but increased on individuals earning over €100,000 per annum.
So you want exponential tax taken from those earning linearly more than upper middle class? You’re a communist. You sprout the same rubbish over and over again. Different article. Same old nonsense.
Also, why 100k. You do realise that an100k salary is the new middle class? It’s not a lot. Have you seen the cost of housing in Dublin? You do realise homes are actually being sold too! A young couple would need 2 times 100k salaries to be able to cut the Dublin these days!
€100k is ” the new middle class”. I’m sorry…what. You seem to be the “new century yuppie” , and an ignorant fool to boot. Sorry if that seems personal, but Gavin, you seem to be a tad out of reality there. Most middle income earners don’t earn anywhere near that, where are you getting you’re fandangled figures from? And did it not occur to you, thats why most middle income earners are giving out. Sure its a waste of breath…you’ll be a “TOBY” by the time you figure it out. Good luck.
Ok right, so you’re suggesting my slight use of metaphor (you got that one, I think) vindicates the constant ITS student BS? Anyone that that earns over 100k is middle class as well. They need to traverse the middle class tax bracket before dabbing the toes into crazy high taxes. If you don’t acknowledge that someone on 150k only takes home double that someone on 58k earns, then those blinkered eyes are so very one-dimensional. Also, do you think it is right?
theres nothing right about the current tax system..it gives to the poorer and it gives to the better well off! you cannot argue that…it is a fact. the problem is, you think the middle earners earn nearly €100k, the truth be told..they don’t. And for a lot of families, both incomes don’t even earn that. You would be wise to look at actual facts before you post on here.
oh, and 3 quaters of the population do not live in Dublin…you would do well to read up on what happens outside ‘the most super fab’ place in the Woooorld, dahling.
I certainly don’t live in Dublin, if that’s any consolation… (;
none
Not for sale……so feck off FG, you pocket stuffing langers.
Seems to me like we’re all going to have slightly more stuffed pockets after this budget announcement.
Smoke and mirrors as always….give with one hand and take with the other.
Noonan is the ‘sew up your pockets’ man, he is untrustworthy as are all of FG….. being lying traitorous s(um is the glue that binds them.
What they giveth in one hand will be taken away by the other. Remember that €5 that we were all better off by after the last election. 2 days later the price of bus fare went up and that swallowed up the lousy fiver.
Where’s my Christmas bonus?
You pay tax to work and you get bonuses to sit around. This is fair. Lovely socialism.
we should thank the troika for their budgetary skills as they run the budgets not fg/lab
fg/lab are in charge of the small stuff like which tax to impose or cuts to make, as long as the numbers add up the troika do not care who gets hit, that’s where socialism V’s cronyism comes in
bye bye fg/lab mantra of taking credit for economic growth, the troika have and will continue to manage our economy in a stable and secure manner.
If this government t truly cared about the country then taxes would remain as hey are and the money raised would be put into front line services. This government is son concerned with getting themselves reelected they’re willing to mortgage our future, and I fear any people will buy into it.
We need to make cuts to the bloated administration in the public sector, increase housing supply, fix the health service, improve education.
Exactly Quinn some voters are willing to ignore those issues, vote fine Gael all for a few pennies extra.
Well they’ll be getting my vote if everything that mentioned here comes to pass. Anything back for the hard working man or woman has to be rewarded. Incidentally how exactly would throwing more money at the health service help. That was tried 10 years ago and it was proven that health is a black hole when it comes to money.
mickmc….the reason it didn’t work was because they threw money at it instead of tackling the ‘elephant in the room’…which is lots of ‘automatically created managerial staff’(due to time service agreements) sitting around with nothing to do since the merger of regions into what we know as the HSE.
Too many chiefs and not enough Indians…….no Government will tackle it for fear of the unions.
Exactly so there no point in throwing good money after bad. They need to sort out this problem out first and then pump money in the system.
mick..what will you be doing with your extra €3.50-€5 per week usc saving? Party central at your house no doubt!!
Well we will double that €5 in to €10 when you add my wife income to the mix. Well multiply that my 4 for the month to bring us to €40. We then add the €15 extra we get for the children allowance to make €55. We not really party animals Jenni but €55 is better than a kick in the arse.
You’re easily bought mick. No doubt you applied for your ‘Compliance Credit’ as well.
Well tell me the alternative Trevor. You hardly naive enough to believe the word of the shinners and no one in the right mind would vote FF again.
That doesn’t mean you sell your soul to enda mick. There are alternatives out there just try opening your eyes. If the only way he can get a vote is buying the public with their money, when we well can’t afford it, then it shows how useless he is.
well good for you…because of the financial downturn, my ex lost both his businesses..so we dont get that. And he had to leave to set up in another country. Our last child turned 18 last year, so I am not entitled to that. I probably paid at least the same as you over the last 7 years for basics, education for kids, house etc..so you get an extra €40 per month.Good for you.
That grand in theory Trevor. What are the alternatives because if you can tell me what they are and their creditable I’ll give them a try
yep we all suffered Jenni but we have to look forward and make the best of a bad lot.
Blueshirts and the Red Blueshirts trying to buy the election. why don’t ye cut the property tax and Irish Water. Gangsters.
Cos they are progressive taxes and if they are cut we’d have to raise taxes or introduce cuts in other areas that impact on the less well off??
There’s nothing progressive about charging for water pal.
I’m not your pal, buddy!
I’m not your buddy, guy!
I’m not your guy, friend!
I’m not your friend, you absolute bellend. Sorry, that was a bit harsh, but that needed to end.
Grants for developers to sell at a loss? How does that model work exactly. Do they cosy on up again with bank managers,saying the goverment has it covered, now show me the money.
This is a method to help keep house prices inflated and not let the market drop to where it should be….in effect it will hurt buyers, first by keeping prices high and second by using their own tax money against them.
Have the developers not suckled enough at the taxpayers tit?
“Grants for developers to sell at a loss? How does that model work exactly. ”
1. Government announces plan to give developers taxpayers money
2. Developers buy large numbers of tickets for FGs next ‘raffle’
3. Taxpayer gets handed the bill
Selling “below market value” is not necessarily selling at a loss. It just means ripping people off a bit less!
Brush you’re teeth Noonan.
He can’t. Fianna Fail took away the free dental check up.
Lads don’t be getting personal.. He’s an old man, you wouldn’t say that to your grandad… And I’m no fan by a long shot. Leave the insults to YFG they’ll be along any minute now.
Does that stop him from brushing his teeth himself?
A he’s a big boy Jenni, I’m sure he take an board personal hygiene tips.
That’s the blood of the infants he consumes, allegedly.
2fm dracula will be in Leinster House tomorrow!!
Old enough to be minister of Finance jenni?
Kerry, I have a soft spot for grandads, I remember mine used to sleep with his teeth sitting on his chest.
Looking forward to an easing in the budget after a tough few years. Hard work and sacrifice starting to pay off now.
5/10 euro is worth it?……
It’s better than a return to austerity! Every little helps and I am glad to see the country moving the right direction again.
Is it moving in the right direction?
I think so Kerry were predicting north of 6% growth next year alone which is the highest in the developed world, we are way ahead of our targets for tackling our deficit. We’ve had a tough few years but the government has guided us through and ended austerity and now we’re in a position to restore things like respite care and the Christmas bonus.
It is Kerry, if you don’t require hospital care, are not at risk of losing your home, don’t have a child with special need, don’t have a job where your employer can cut your hours or wages, don’t wash, drink water or clean your clothes with it, and so on…
@ Ceannaire : You don’t knock around with Dane Tyghe by any chance, do you?
FC, I think they’ve got some of the big guys in YFG quaters tonight.
@Connoly…Didn’t take long for that cvut to set up a new account did it.We just keep reporting him I suppose.
Ceannaire, we’ve moved into an era when austerity is enshrined in economic policy: it’s the fundamental economic ideology. Take a look at the overall budget tomorrow. Notice the trends over time. Water charges and LPT for example replacing more progressive taxes for one example. How many more can you spot. Austerity is the opposite of stimulus based growth. That’s the actual meaning of the word, not the specific measures at any one budget: the overall pattern. Did you ever read why the IMF was created in history books. It was to provide funds to countries to allow them to run budget deficits to stimulate growth. Keynesian economics. Then disciples of Von Hayek perverted that mission statement and austerity turned from a temporary emergency measure for countries exporting into growing international markets into an apparent legitimate long term economic policy. Regardless, let’s look at the budgets in this country for the last 20 years………………oh sweet Jesus!
Never mind the Budget, i want an election. The budget is only a farce of an event as these muppets try to buy votes. If these useless muppets get back in, next year it’ll be back to an austerity budget for all, while they give themselves more pay rises, and we’ll still have homeless issues, no rent solutions and all the same problems.
If these dirty,rotten,filthy,corrupt,treasonous
s€um get back in for another term we deserve all we get after the giveaway budget….
The only thing I stand to gain in this is €10 PM from the generous 2% cut of USC… Any chance they want to ask my job to give me an xmas bonus or allow me collect the double dole tat week so I feel a little better for all the tax I still have to fork out of me wages throughout the year… Middle earners are lost in this budget…. as usual!
To be fair, when they were cutting it was 2:1 cuts to new taxes, and it’s 50:50 coming back. So taxpayers are enjoying a certain amount of preference.
It just so happens that restoration of welfare is being prioritized over restoration of services for political reasons, to the detriment of services. So it looks like they benefit more.
Tax cuts for FG, welfare restoration for Labour. Cui bono? Everyone gets a little. Probably worth 2-3% first pref bump for FG and 1% for labour
I won’t be falling for their cheap electioneering stunts!
Feckin Hash block teeth.
Here’s what we REALLY need to know about tomorrows budget.
We can kick them out of office at the election without losing whatever crumbs they throw at us peasants tomorrow, and replace them with a government which doesn’t rule by diktat via threats and intimidation.
Didn’t Brendan Howlin intend to introduce better analysis of budget measures…….oh, stupid me…..another thing that was never going to happen. Last thing you’d want is to make the budget impact more transparent. I suppose assessments of effects on poverty just isn’t what we should be aiming for in the 21st Century…..probably be phased in by 2116 AD.
this will be this corrupt governments last budget.
Damn straight
“The expected giveaway will not be on the scale of those we were used to ten years ago,” Seriously you can report that? FF in their pomp managed €1.2 billion in their Celtic tiger budgets Enda and his idiots are providing a buy the election € 1.5 billion of tax payers money.
As an OAP. all i will say is give us back what ye have robbed from us ,and I will not be paying the water tax as I already pay for water .
More bollocks!
He’s been a steady hand over the past four years or so. I don’t think anyone else but M Noonan could have carried it off.
Just how man Lord Ha Ha’s are there on the Journal these days? Where’s James Connolly? Germany calling. Germany calling…….
Following FF plan?
@ Des: If the only person who could carry out the FF plan was a FG man, doesn’t that make FG more FF than FF?
Yeah….no one but Noonan could have pulled off deleting €2 billion a year of Irish taxpayers money for the next 40 years at the behest of the ECB. How many services could that buy….Noonan is a fraud and all he needs to succeed with the plan is a dumb unquestioning population….so well done you!
Jam tomorrow!
Right so………
* Long rattling yawn…….
Roll on #GE2015
Get rid of Stamp Duty for FTB and that’ll help us get on the ladder, that’s what I’m looking for and maybe mortgage interest relief for 12 months for a FTB its hard enough saving for the 10% deposit as it stands for me and my fiancée
Isn’t that the type of policy that caused the real estate bubble during the 2000′s?
noelly, thats what led us all into the bust that was…it didnt work. If you could find any old dog that lived on the street in 2002, they will confirm it. Thats from an era of mad politics, ego driven polititians who had friends in the right places, profit driven developers who were dtiven by non sensical macro economic politics, and had the same banker friends at the dinner table. the only difference now..they have different banker friends.
Hopefully they’ll reduce Capital Gains Tax to motivate/support Irish enterprise. Also, they should keep income tax as is and spend more on building houses in order to protect against new boom.
I’ll be shocked if they don’t use the upturn in the economy as a opportunity to give smokers a break and cut a little off the cost of cigarettes.
Probably play right into the hands of the smugglers by raising the price.Anyway it’s cheap and easy to order online an just have em delivered.
Shame on all involved in the budget if the (GSM)medication payment is not reduce.
The €2.50 rise in the fuel allowance is designed to look like OAPs are being given a little extra. If they announced the abolition of the prescription charge it wouldn’t be perceived as “giving”, rather reverting back to the pre-crash status quo. The extra €2.50 pw works out at €55 over the winter months – €5 less than had they just decided to revert back to the pre 2011 FA timetable. Again designed to look like they are “giving” and not reversing. Cynical to the bitter end.
I’m predicting a tax on whitening toothpaste. He obviously doesn’t like it.
Reduce VAT on electronic tags, to encourage their use
have your say