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THE ESRI HAS been heavily criticised by Sinn Fein in the wake of its latest economic report published today.
In its quarterly economic report, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says that Ireland’s economy is “bouncing along the bottom” and has predicted the domestic economy will shrink this year.
The report said that while the public finances were improving “significant cuts in public expenditure” will still be needed irrespective of any deal that Ireland gets on its banking debt.
But Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the ESRI – the leading economic think-tank in Ireland which is partly funded by government – was part of a “band wagon that continues to push the austerity agenda in face of all the facts that show austerity is lengthening the crisis”.
She pointed to the organisation’s claim in the middle of the financial crisis that the country’s banking debt was manageable and said that it was not seeing the connection between its gloomy economic forecast and the government’s policies.
McDonald said: “The ESRI is contributing nothing to this debate and will continue to contribute nothing if it does not stand back and take an objective view of the Irish economy. €25 billion has come out in budget adjustments since 2008.
“In 2012 we still have a €13 billion deficit, debt to GDP over 100 per cent, 460,000 people on the live register, hundreds of businesses closing each year, thousands emigrating, a flat-lining GDP, a domestic economy on the floor.
“Yet nobody in the ESRI or Government thinks that warrants a change of policy direction,” she said, adding: “This report today is a waste of paper.”
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Why are the 3 of them going wouldn’t the president be enough
@John O brien: you know how it is. It’s about being seen. You would be more noticed by your absence.
@offside again: and a nice junket in the sun, why say no?
@John O brien: The president is an atheist. The government could at least send someone who the event has meaning.
@Mark R: He’s not only an atheist, he’s also a fully paid-up card carrying gob$hite!
@John O brien: the president represent Ireland.
the 2 others are unnecessary and should concentrate on their home work !!!
@John O brien: hopefully plane fall out the ski
@John O brien: hopefully the 3 of them will be ordained over there and STAY there for the
Hardly necessary to send the 3 of them over, one is enough. Free holiday for the boys
Parish Priest Lowry and Mother Superior Verona not going?
Yet they did not wish a Happy Easter to the country between them,avoided the term..hypocrites
@KO: That’s not true at all. Look up twitter. It’ll take you 2 minutes.
@honey badger: What, you mean it wasn’t done through the official government mouthpiece in rte
@honey badger: it is MM was badgered with requests to do so..forcing a response does not count
@KO: pathetic.
Of course Harris has to go with his I’m an important person facial expression
The 3 stogies are back together again. Ok, so the pope has passed on may he ready in peace. The question still remains, when are the religious orders going to acknowledge the hurt, suffering and pain they caused some citizens of our country and in other country. When are they going to pay their share for the damage inflected on our citizens and the country.
Why are 3 going?? Sure Micheal D is the man to go.
They might as well go sure the whole off Montrose is there already.
The irony of Mohammad Martin going to the Holy Father’s funeral.
If the Taoiseach, Tánaiste aka prime minister and deputy prime minister the holders of executive power and the President aka head of state, are all going to absent from Ireland, who holds the reins of power in the event of a national emergency, natural disaster, terrorist attack or the alleged imminent Russian invasion of Europe, which is prompting the EU to push to spend billions of Euros on defence over the next few years to do nothing but line the pockets of hedgefunds.
Don’t tell me it’s Paschal Donohoe…
@Dvsespaña: probably Lowry…
@Matt D: Lowry, sure he’ll take all them brown envelopes for himself.
@Dvsespaña: didn’t HealyRae look after us when the entire government took off on St Patrick’s weekend.
Martin and Harris have no business being there.
Seems a bit perverse that these three represent Ireland at such a gathering when their very vocal support for abortion, described by the late pontiff as the work of hitmen, should really rule them out.
@AnthonyK: Three hypocrites.
Very embarrassing thee of them going over
Larry, Moe and Curly.
It will present opportunities to share time with others who respect peace efforts Pope made and have important meetings on the sidelines and after and say a few prayers or sentiments.
@thomas molloy: what? You mean the pedo protector in chief?
Ah sure they are well entitled to a mid term break all the work they have made out to have done
Bill and Bob have to go together
Wonder how the three pro abortionists will be received?
@Billy Joe: Hopefully. they can enlighten the acolytes of that superstitous and backward cult.
The entire Cabinet should be present. It’s our beloved Pope who is being laid to rest. I’d go myself except I wasn’t invited.
@Paul Whitehead: at the taxpayers expense? Are you mad? For the head of a cult? And let’s be real that’s all it is.
@Paul Whitehead: he’s not my beloved pope . I’m a Protestant and my rights are guarenteed by our constitution .theres absolutely ref my no justification for the three of them going
Why not send Connor !. RIP to the Pope, sound like he didn’t want any of the fanfare.
@did you every wonder: because he’s a total gimp?
So just to be clear , the 3 great offices of the state ? And just who would be in charge if there was a national crisis of some sort . We live in a democracy not a theocracy . I’m respectful of those who have religious belief and I’ve also no problem with a representation at the funeral but many of us are of a different faith or none .
have your say