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NO DECISION HAS been made about whether the social welfare Christmas bonus will be awarded in December 2020, according to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.
Speaking before the Budgetary Oversight Committee about the government’s Summer Economic Statement, the minister said: “We have not made a decision yet as what will happen in December 2020.”
He faced questions on the issue from Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty, who said the government’s figures did not take into the account the Christmas bonus.
Doherty told the minister that “Christmas comes every year” yet the bonus hasn’t been factored into spending.
“The government is saying it will have €700 million to spend in the upcoming budget after public sector pay increases are taken into account. But this doesn’t take account of the Christmas Bonus or the health overrun which will immediately wipe out that €700 million,” said Doherty, who added that the government had failed to take account of the criticisms of both the Fiscal Advisory Council and the ESRI.
The finance minister said the government has not made any decisions yet as to what will be in Budget 2020, and that the Summer Economic Statement only sets out the level of resources that are available to government.
While Donohoe said no decision on the 2020 bonus has been made yet, he did add that if he is still the finance minister in October 2020, he expects there will be a Christmas bonus.
He added that it is his “track record” to pay a Christmas bonus each year.
About 1.2 million social welfare recipients received the bonus last year.
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You’re quickly running out of ideas Aaron. Everything you’re saying is true, but it’s nothing new. We all know how useless this Government is. In fact most of us knew this the day they were elected, and the rest of us figured it out a couple of weeks after that!!
Seriously, can any fool go on a populist rant and get published?
Are you happy in your blue shirt O Reilly? Can’t knock the man for speaking the truth.
It’s a childish article full of name calling.
I agree. What a stupid and pointless article.
It’s not insightful or objective. It’s a political activist with a vested interest taking a pot shot. It’s a comment, not a column. And Niall, you dont need a blue shirt or any other hue to recognise a populist rant when you read it…
A good few of the non- blue shirts are shy about the oul populist rant either, everyone with a vested interest playing the media and the plight of the average Joe on the street completely ignored, all as bad as each other
Fine Gael don’t agree that populist or popular opinion is valid in decision making. Not surprising. But don’t expect non-facists to go along with being told what to do with Caesar if they don’t like it.
Politicians lie with words; bankers lie with figures. They are suitable bedfellows.
Articles like this and the poll Do you feel better now that we’re out of recession make it hard to take the Journal as a serious news site, “Journalists” that seem much more interested in putting their own spin on things rather than reporting news or doing any serious investigative journalism.
At least its not the governments spin.
The biggest spinners aren’t the politicians or their PR people. It’s the journalists who, as intermediary between politicians and the citizens, have the greatest power. Think of all the deliberately written headlines, aimed at provoking an angry reaction, or the quotes which leave out a line or two here and there to provoke a reaction.
A constant anti-politics is bad for the country as it stops people who could do good from getting involved.
This guy got out at the wrong side of the bed! What a clown!
Truth hurts!
I normally like Aaron’s articles but this is just a rant. I will say one thing for politicians (across all parties and independents), at least they take their opinions to voters and try to get elected. Calling them all cowards while sitting on the ditch is a bit weak.
@Aaron
Great article … Keep them coming.
Enjoyed this article
The Government that are there were elected by the people. So if the people don’t like them whoever voted for them only has themselves to blame. When people try to stand up and protest or fight against what is going on in this country we all just turn on each other. People need to stand together and say we are not happy with it and will not put up with it anymore. Moaning and doing nothing about it has not worked in the past so why keep doing it?
Alison ! They were elected on there promises to the people . So why would you blame the people . I for one was fooled when enda said not one red cent more would be giving to bondholders
We have a single party system here so why bother voting at all ? We will be run by the Teachers and Touchers Party no matter what box you tick.
Try voting for DDI they look like they could be a good party.
The problem with the voting in argument is simple. We have the choice between bastard no. 1
Or bastard no. 2
Hurl on the ditch much?
Excellent article. Now how about publishing articles opposing the Seanad abolition and challenging Herr Kenny to come out debate without a back up mob on RTE or TV3. I await a Vincent Browne interview with the Taoiseach
You shall wait a long time.
Kenny on the Vincent Browne show will never happen! Never. Browne is quite mad. His empty chair was stupid in the extreme. His treatment of his panel is frequently rude, aggressive and bullying. He seems to think he is Ireland’s answer to Bill O Reilly. He is deluded. Bill O Reilly is a real talent even if nut fair and balanced.
Very good article Arron and the government and their loyal spinners are like dieing wasps (angry and will have a go at anybody that disrespects their glorious leaders).
But the budget and the local elections are looming along with whatever blunders have yet to surface.
The electorate will be telling this government in no small way what they think of them.
Dear Aaron, sorry to read that the ba#£¥+ds have apparently got to you too. I know it’s very difficult not to slip in to a state of fulminating rage and cynicism. In fact it is surprising that we don’t all fall into that state given the way our country has been governed. It is particularly difficult to see the guilty unpunished and the innocent condemned to the consequences.
It might be easier to GTFOH and emigrate like thousands who have given up hope of our country ever returning to a decent level of economic activity, but like you I’m too stubborn (or even stupid) to take that route.
Don’t despair too much at the gullibility of us citizens and our capacity to believe the spin and trash that the media channel into our homes. It is an unequal battle of money and cynical psychology vs ordinary hard working people.
Take some comfort that you have thousands of fellow travellers who are individually striving to rebuild this country in spite of the odds and obstacles.
Regards
T
Spot on. Very good article. The attacking blue shirts and red nose posters are to be pitied. Defending the indefensible makes you equally as bad. This country has been ruined. Fg/lab are not helping things. In fact they’re making it worse. No amount of massaging of figures can take away from that but it will help the idiots who vote for these parties to justify their stance.
Politicians are there just to give the illusion that you have choice and democracy. You don’t, you have owners and they are the the people in the background that own everything and control the system. Please lets stop the charade.
Politicians are out to screw us, only the method changes.
The events of the next few years in this country depend on the outcome of the German election and NOT the antics of the school teachers hissing at each other in the Dail.
Not one of your best Aaron but keep them coming.
And I just looked out the window and the hills ARE blue.
What’s the obscure law that requires you to say that Christmas is less than 100 days away?
Irony and sarcasm
Aaron, very good post and very accurate. Keep it going.
Pr#$/s come back from their summer alcoholidays in the autumn???
have your say