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EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, The Journal brings you the five biggest stories of the day.
1. #CONFIRMED: The Taoiseach announced that indoor hospitality will resume for fully vaccinated and Covid-recovered people on Monday 26 July.
2. #RIP: Former senior minister and founder of the Progressive Democrats Des O’Malley died at the age of 82. O’Malley was one of the country’s foremost politicians in the 1970s and 1980s.
3. #BREXIT: The UK’s Brexit Minister and Northern Ireland Secretary issued a joint statement stating that the Northern Ireland protocol be renegotiated. The protocol was agreed between the EU and UK after four years of negotiations.
4. #VACCINE PASS: Malta confirmed that seven people on a flight from Dublin that landed in the country yesterday were required to enter Mandatory Quarantine after their HSE vaccine cards were not accepted.
5. #WEATHER: It’s officially the hottest day of the year, so far, as temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees at Mount Dillion weather observing station in Roscommon.
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Hey,
What a great idea. Imagine tax payers money being used wisely, appropriately and effectively. That would never be allowed over here!!!!
@Martin Stapleton: Can you IMAGINE the noise from the do-gooders if something like this was even suggested? Based on the last few months I’ve learned that Irish people think it is a god-given right to anonymously and fraudulently claim welfare from the state and spend it on whatever you please.
Our Taoiseach makes an off-hand comment about how he wants to represent middle-Ireland and people who work hard, pay taxes and get little benefits and we still don’t hear the end of it. He starts a campaign to stop welfare fraud and he’s absolutely demonised.
These measures that Australia is bringing in will actually HELP people on welfare. But in Ireland you’re not allowed to disagree with our current approach to poverty and low social mobility which is to simply give poor people pocket money each week. We have intergenerational welfare dependence. A new approach is needed.
There’s a wonderful air of entitlement in this country of ours Carl, and it’s getting worse!
@Martin Stapleton: and there’s an ever bigger air of stupidity in this country as all people who receive social welfare are junkies , thieves ! (oh and murderers according according to a complete loon yesterday). You do realise that old age pensioners get welfare, people with disabilities get welfare, hard working people who lost their jobs get welfare, hard working people in the 50′s/60′s who lost their jobs and are struggling to get another because of there age are on welfare. Do you think someone in there 50′s that’s worked all their lives should be handed a card and told this is where you can and can’t spend it .
Actually Nicky, if this card was used there would be more money to support the honest people you are referring to and far less waste.
@Martin Stapleton: we could start with the government to set an example to everyone else!
I’m not convinced John I’m afraid. The rot is in the permanent government.
@Martin Stapleton: no there wouldn’t be as all you are doing is making the same payment paperless
@Martin Stapleton: Do you have any kids Martin..? Don’t matter if you work or not, have the worst/best job & pay the most tax in the bleedin Country, if you have kids read on….
Child Benefit is €140 (was €135 up to January 2016) per month for each child (paid on the first Tuesday of every month). If you are getting Child Benefit for the first time it will be paid at the start of the month following the birth of the child).
Birth of your baby
If your baby is born in Ireland, when you register the birth of your baby the Department of Social Protection will begin a Child Benefit claim for your child.
@Martin Stapleton: Do you have any kids Martin..? Don’t matter if you work or not, have the worst/best job & pay the most tax in the Country, if you have kids read on….
Child Benefit is €140 (was €135 up to January 2016) per month for each child (paid on the first Tuesday of every month). If you are getting Child Benefit for the first time it will be paid at the start of the month following the birth of the child).
Birth of your baby
If your baby is born in Ireland, when you register the birth of your baby the Department of Social Protection will begin a Child Benefit claim for your child.
@Martin Stapleton: Do you have any kids Martin..? Don’t matter if you work or not, have the worst/best job & pay the most tax in the Country, if you have kids read on….
Child Benefit is €140 (was €135 up to January 2016) per month for each child (paid on the first Tuesday of every month). If you are getting Child Benefit for the first time it will be paid at the start of the month following the birth of the child).
If your baby is born in Ireland, when you register the birth of your baby the Department of Social Protection will begin a Child Benefit claim for your child.
@Michael Kelly: Give it to me..3 times….it’s a disgrace, what there giving mothers children’s allowance. What next these kids will probably grow up and pay taxes to fund your pension. The worlds gone made. I blame the government, everyone else seems to except when they blame trumpy.
Not sure where you’re headed with this but the card system that the Australians are implementing seems like a very logical and practical approach to me and could be extended to avoid repeat purchases of certain goods etc. Only those in breach ever need have concerns I reckon.
@Martin Stapleton: Wisely for whom?
@Martin Stapleton: Imagine tá. Payers stop being paranoid about what welfare recipients do with their allowances.
This is excellent.
@Eamonn: I have to say, as an opponent of the cashless drive, that this seem a to be a fair and effective approach. It helps protect the kids and the family living standards from addiction problems and allows some free cash control so that genuine responsible parents don’t have to be treated like infants.
@Eamonn: One way to collect data on people? https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/25918ireland.pdf
A fantastic and innovative idea with clear societal benefits. What’s there not to love about this?!?
*que the whinging and begrudgery from the Antis of the Looney-Left and the Soros-funded ICCL*
“An attempt to manage the money and hence lives of people” but it’s not their money, the idea is the taxpayer/government gives them some money to see them through a tough time until they can get back on their feet.
But these people are abusing that money given to them staying on welfare longterm and wasting that money, it’s only fair that the taxpayers have a say in how their money is being spent by these leeches.
@fiachra29: Eh Fiachra, i think you’ll find that the majority of people claiming the dole were working before they were made/became unemployed. And, as such, were having both taxes & PRSI deducted from their paychecks. That was WHY those deductions were made. So this idea that anyone on the dole is getting a FREE handout is, well, frankly a load of bullshite. Perhaps you’d be better off hoping that someday you will not experience unemployment.
Well said Joe ! The amount of ignoramuses on the journal continues to grow I see
Great idea, however, I can imagine that the decline in domestic assaults may be replaced by an increase in petty theft so as addicts can get cash. Time will tell.
Should be rolled out here ASAP.
They’re living below or near the poverty line but can afford to buy alcohol and drugs. The same scheme should be brought in here.
I like Aussie politicians.
They’re pragmatic, they tell it straight, they’re self-deprecating and, above all, they come up with really good forward-thinking ideas and then they actually have the balls to implement them (instead of playing it politically safe and wasting years on interminable reviews before eventually implementing a watered down half-baked solution that won’t solve a thing, but doesn’t offend anyone sensibilities).
Also they have great accents, the women are from Venus and the sheep are nervous around the men. Great country.
@Paul Flood: they’re lucky they have civil servants who’ll implement them or are at least capable of doing it
Another use for the PSC card , Regina will have this idea routed by Christmas !
@Niamh Leahy: I hope she does.
People would have no problem cleaning toilets if that came in here.
@Dean Burroughs: Who cleans the toilet in your house, the fairies?
@Cindy Crawford: from the sounds of it, I’m guessing it could be you soon enough, I won’t even pay you in money but you will be rewarded with six cans of Dutch gold and a packet of amberleaf
@Dean Burroughs: What do you mean?
@Dean Burroughs: Ah now i get you. Yes I clean toilets as part of my job. Is it supposed to be something to be ashamed of? I will never be on the poverty line as long as I stay healthy because I’m a grafter. Your mother had to clean the toilet in your house when you were growing up. Now it’s probably your wife as you clearly think cleaning toilets is beneath you. Ah who am I kidding, bet it’s still your mammy.
You see in time civil liberties will only be available to the people that can afford it.
Limiting spending for the vulnerable is like a test ground for the rest of us. But the every so smug here can’t see past their own noses.
We are all being profiled as the PSC card has proven. In time if you don’t pay your car tax on time or fall into difficulty in this rat race of ours, the cards will be stacked high.
But ya, let’s all take a dig at welfare recipients, they are only sub human after all.
@Niamh O’Galvin: agree with you!
@Lina Stein: ah but you see Lisa, we are those vile lefty loonies. You know the ones, standing up for all citizens. Not like those great lads who have jobs and feel all safe, secure and smug.
It’s not the government we need to be afraid off, it’s the people who sleep walk and rally us into this type of control, with no insight to the future repercussions.
@Niamh: with you 100% on the bureaucratic control issue, the public service card issue and the state monitoring and steering of it’s citizens. But there is hierarchy for important provisions, there’s something very pragmatic and essential about guaranteeing that children are the first beneficiaries of state welfare. I have always been content to see my tax money helping families and society thrive, that’s in all our interest. I, like most workers, have very tight times every so often, so I will never be content to see my money going to fund a substance culture. Especially when I can’t go out for a meal or a pint because Christmas or a wedding is coming up, that’s taking the p!ss. I couldn’t give a toss if Billy-no-job can’t get stocious this weekend, only that his kids are warm and fed.
@Niamh O’Galvin: It’s that these people on social welfare who are on or below the bread line can afford to buy alcohol and drugs that annoys me.
One of the Problems with this scheme apart from human rights issues is that the holders of the cards are limited as to where the can use them ( only certain supermarkets/shops) as well as having to stand in separate queues at supermarkets up pay….
@Lina Stein: How is a human rights issue? Please explain?
@Lina Stein: well if they don’t like standing in a separate queue then it might push them to go out and do something about it .. i.e. get a job !
@Lina Stein: @Lina Stein: why would they have to stand in seperate queues. In work we have credit cards that can only be used in hardware stores to buy tools etc and cannot be used elsewhere. No seperate queues. Never once felt my human rights violated using it.
Is it not a reasonable idea or do you think the company should open up the credit card so I can spend the money on what I like??
@Lina Stein: they are visa debit cards , are you sure supermarkets form separate queues -or are u making that up ??? If true this would mean they effectively open express tills especially for these card holders , it seems odd as imo supermarkets don’t open enough tills ti handle regular queues , seems a stretch to think that they would open one that would only accept these visa debit cards .
@Dave Hammond: not making things up.. read guardian article above ..
Don’t like the idea of discrimination against aboriginal people whose communities were wiped out when white man arrived… seems the policy of penal times is still alive and kicking!
@Suzie Sunshine: have a read of Guardian article below.. about discrimination against the Aboriginals and their rights
@Suzie Sunshine: Suzie, family carers on welfare have a job. And it saves the state billions. Most pensioners had jobs. Are you going to front up to some intellectually disabled young person, point a finger, and yell “get a job”. Are these people not entitled to a small amount of dignity?
@Lina Stein: with respect I read the guardian article and it does not make any reference to having to line up in special supermarket queues to use the card as you suggested. I have been living in Australia this past year and this issue has been widely debated as it is an understandable hot topic – it seems it is now in the Irish media ( probably as the controversy of irelands PSC cards is in the news) . There are a lot of sides to the debate and pros and cons to the system – I can link you plenty of guardian articles showing the reduction in alcohol / poker gambling and improvements the cards have made – the main thrust of the article you linked in that because the trial towns are mostly aboriginal on welfare that the schemes is racially targeting them ( a debatable point for sure ) . But the stats also show that a disproportionate % of the troubled gamblers and alcohol abusers are aboriginal anyway – so the whole point the the schemes is going to impact them more – as will any attempt to try address those problems. There are plenty of issues to debate without introducing your false argument ‘one of the problems is forcing them to queue separately in supermarkets’ as you did – I wasn’t aware that was an issue and with respect your guardian link doesn’t leave me any the wiser that fact isn’t just made up.
@Carol Oates: I think you know full well that they’re are not the ones I was talking about
@Suzie Sunshine: How would I know that? Anywhere in your comment does it say that? When speaking about debit cards for welfare recipients, are we not to presume it’s all welfare recipients unless stated otherwise? Certainly if this was brought in, it would be all. And you can be sure the people who want drink, cigarettes, or drugs will find a way to get it. It’s the people trying to live decent lives with a bit of dignity will find themselves trying to live within restricted spending.
It has a certain logic , but the problem will be to control the control depending on who is in charge
@FlopFlipU: and who’s shop the card will be accepted in
@Lina Stein: that’s simple Lina, it can be run through Visa, Mastercard, Fexco etc. like any other card payment system and doest have to carry a big social welfare logo. Shop terminals don’t ask questions.
There ya go . FG will have total control ..
@Willy Malone: so you think this is a bad idea? Explain?
@Willy Malone: I think you mean to say the democratically elected Government will have better control over taxpayers’ money.
@Carl Nolan: ‘Democracy’ is limited here and what democracy passed for is long dead in Ireland.
If you call ‘Democracy’ putting a 123 on a piece of paper every 5 years then that is what we have and all we have.
Sharply cutting the alcohol intake of alcoholics without providing medical and psychiatric support and helping them to deal with other social issues is not an exercise in practical love and compassion but extremely dangerous and can lead the Delirium Tremens and death. I have seen firsthand an alcoholic person dried out and know that a high level of professional medical care, medication and time in a facility are required.
Nowhere in the article was there mention of how people with addictions would be supported. Mr Shorten mentions support which appears to be more about community approval rather than help. The strategy is myopic and can be dangerous to some. I would question how exactly are the pilots are being run, if their results being independently verified and the legality of what they are doing. Had the above strategy been part of a raft of reforms which included medical, psychiatric and social support, I would be more supportive.
if you think it will stop people buying drugs/alcohol you are wrong,addicts are very resourceful,as in america food stamps/coupons have become a currency the same with vouchers,you need to look inside jails where there is no cash,inmates swap food,tobacco….for drugs!!
@Frederic Slimane: this is not first of its kind. Cash and paper money such as food stamps has been long gone in the US. And yes like cash, it’s still being used illegally. http://dcentric.wamu.org/2011/05/snap-wic-ebt-whats-the-difference/index.html
@worldpeace: thanks for the link!!
“We’ve had a 500% rise in Indigenous youth suicide since the years 2007-11,” she (Former human rights commissioner Gillian Trigg) said. This has been in place in indiginous communities in Australia for ten years. The journal is only reporting it now conveniently enough to garner support for the psc, a little bit of division and hatred goes a long way in this country, we are being played as usual. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/02/northern-territory-intervention-violates-international-law-gillian-triggs-says?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
@Bronagh Walsh: with respect the issue of the Australia welfare card and Visa debit trials is not a 10 year issue( Australia trying to address alcohol abuse by welfare recipients is ) – this card issue is a recent enough debate and is currently being covered in the Australia media ( including yesterday the comments of the prime minister ) , the journal are likely reporting it as of interest in ireland as the is the current debate on the PSC – hardly only because it is ‘ conveniently enough” or sowing ‘division and hatred” as you suggest
have your say