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AS A PARENT who has spent just over €700 in the last week on schoolbooks and a uniform (not including school shoes, runners, bags or stationery) for one child who is starting secondary next week, it was so frustrating to see Leo Varadkar’s leaflet being distributed to West Dublin homes.
Currently being delivered to homes in Dublin West. Information on how we are helping families with the cost of living. pic.twitter.com/LIZg5TxfDL
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) August 14, 2023
Just how out of touch can one Taoiseach be? How anyone in government could be giving themselves a pat on the back at this moment in time, is entirely beyond comprehension.
The only way we have been ‘helped to spend less’ is by being crippled with tax, sky high rents and a cost-of-living crisis that has left almost one-third of parents skipping meals in order to feed their children. So, thank you, I guess?
Prior to the current period of rampant inflation, Ireland was already the most expensive country in Europe for household goods.
It feels like every day now that we see new articles about how deeply people are suffering, about how parents are cutting back on electricity, heating, food, medical care and medicine, in order to cope with the cost of living crisis.
While I am sure the Free Primary School books initiative has been welcomed by many families, it doesn’t do anything for us. Neither does the Back to School Allowance, which we have never qualified for.
There wasn’t any mention of secondary school books, which is ridiculous as they triple in price at this level. On the other hand, the Free GP care is great, just as long as your child is under 8, and your doctor accepts the free GP card, and also if you can get an appointment this side of Christmas.
The childcare supports will also really benefit parents. As long as you can wait until 2025 for a place, that is.
And the scrapped hospital charges are definitely a great initiative, we can bring the kids to visit one of the world’s most expensive buildings, when it’s finally finished.
Banks
In a week where we have Irish banks reporting record profits, and people reporting the devastating impact that interest rates are having on them, to also have the Taoiseach pat himself on the back is just absolute madness.
How can banks means test people before giving a mortgage, decide a number and refuse to give a cent more, and then in 2 years time hike the interest rate and financially cripple a family?
And if those same financial institutions can provide exact figures on how much people can realistically commit to spending on a mortgage, how is then able to double or triple this figure with no limits? How much pressure can we keep putting on hard working people?
It’s also important to note that the measures on the leaflet are not any kind of bonus. They have been brought in as a bare minimum to help people cope through the most dire of circumstances. The amount of homeless people continues to hit record highs and this still doesn’t count the staggering amount of people who have moved back in with their parents or other family members to get by.
Although we are lucky to have found a property to rent, we have no security for the future. So many families have lost their homes due to evictions or landlords selling, they are sleeping in hotel rooms or on the streets. Mortgages are being sold to vulture funds and most families are worried about how they will heat the houses this winter. But look, weren’t we given €100 extra per child in June?
Basic and urgent
While it would be great to see the school lunches rolled out to all schools, and books provided for primary and secondary level, what we need from the government is far more basic and urgent.
We need security for the roof over our head, and the ability to buy a house. Rent needs to be reasonable, and in line with current wages. Supply has to meet demand. We need creche and school places, and we need to know our elderly neighbours aren’t going to freeze this winter.
Free school books are little use to a child who is homeless. Reduced college fees are no use to a student who can’t find accommodation, and free GP care isn’t much use to a family who can’t afford heating.
It is so tone deaf of any political party to issue a disposable leaflet listing out ways they are helping, while refusing to listen to the ways we need help. And what an utter waste of resources as we fall short in all environmental targets.
I do have to admit though, that I thoroughly enjoy the thought process that I imagine behind the Lidl catalogue of offers. I really like that as Leo attempted to relate to the people, as he wondered what the masses like, that the best way to catch our attention was via a Lidl catalogue.
This is the attempted means of communication from our leader. And it certainly was eye catching. I am sure many people did give it a quick scan before adding it to the other junk mail that we will use in winter to heat homes.
The government shouldn’t have to tell us how well they are doing, it should be evident and observable. If a procedure or system is working well, you don’t notice it.
But you can choose any statistic or area to see what a dreadful state the country is in and a couple of quick fix plasters printed on a colourful leaflet aren’t going to address any of the real issues. It’s just a typical middle aisle offer, while it looks very exciting, there isn’t ever anything of any real substance. And definitely nothing you actually need.
Margaret is a busy mum, working and living in Kildare.
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Varadkar’s is so detached from reality.
@Tríona Commode: why are you bringing his sexuality into it?
@Jon John: Why has his party consistently lost seats under his leadership then ? What metrics are you measuring him by to declare him as our greatest leader ? Housing ? Health ? Cost of living ? Gardai retention ? Crime ? Banks and Interest Rates ? Polls ?
@Roy Dowling: he hasn’t a clue wot it’s like none of them do sure their salaries are ridiculous. Reduce them and then come back to us about cost of living etc.
@Tríona Commode: Does he really though? At every opportunity? I think you’re making stuff up.
@Tríona Commode: he did mention the other day that homophobia was on the increase and judging by your comments, he might be right.
@brian madden: I’m gay myself, so I actually understand what real homophobia is. But thank you for being such an overdiligent ally.
@Tríona Commode: you are truly vile
@Jon John: wow…pot and kettle
@send: her homophobia attack on Leo got removed
@Tríona Commode: you’re gay yoursef so you judge a politican based on his sexuality. That’s odd. He is an out of touch taoiseach but it has nothing to do with his sexuality. Michael Martin is as equally out of touch.
@Jon John: But your gratuitous and offensive insult didn’t. Interesting.
@brian madden: sure people can be what they want on the internet, Triona can be gay, I can be “mercurial”… still doesn’t mean that being homosexual provides any sway on a persons politics. Varadkar is a right leaning politician, historically the right have worked against gay rights… as has Varadkar… so I mean… her comment is uninformed and her perspective is made up.
@Jon John: I said that Varadkar “must be the most disappointing homosexual in the history of mankind”. My point is that he’s letting the side down. That’s not homophobic – if anything, it’s pro-gay.
@Jon John: First you were John John, then John Jon, now Jon John. How many email addresses do you have troll?
@Mercurial Murial: You call me uninformed when you didn’t even see the comment you’re referring to. It was removed by some absolute tool who thinks that the word, ‘homosexual’, is a now slur.
My perspective is authentic and I’m thoroughly informed – at least where the topics I comment on are concerned. Varadkar is quick to play the gay card whenever it’s politically advantageous, which is why I – as a fellow gayer – find him so repugnant.
@Tríona Commode: you are truly a horrible person.
@Tríona Commode: is Michael Martin letting the heterosexual side down? Irrespective of his sexuality he is pretty dismal as a leader. Housing, health, energy, cost of living. Some people are really struggling to make rnds meet.
@Jon John: Under Varadkar’s leadership in the last election.FG finished up the third party in the 26 counties …It was Martin who saved Varadkar and FG .The Attorney General should also be mentioned for saving Varadkar’s skin..
Calling Varadkar the greatest leader ever ..A bit an exaggeration on your part..As for the leaking of confidential government documents ..
That is Still ongoing.
@brian madden: I would say, yes – Martin IS letting the heterosexual side down. 100%, especially those trying to lay down roots and start a family. But that point is moot because I was not talking about Varadkar’s sexuality per se, but the political identity and image he’s built around it.
@Tríona Commode: varadkar has not built an image around being gay. He is at ease with his sexuality as is his partner. Are heterosexual politicians building am image around being heterosexual. He should be judged on his politics and not his sexuality
@Jon John: as u said our greatest ever leader!! I just wondered who u were comparing him with??, I think compared to his predecessors he’s fairly consistent with the commitment to his task like having no interest in it whatsoever, some of his comments are Disrespectful to our intelligence, he doesn’t listen to the people, he works for Europe not for Ireland, there’s no gap in time regarding what he thinks then says, I’ve never known a politician that u can’t depend on, they’re all fairly consistent with attitude, arrogance and memory loss so I’m seldom disappointed, yes we’ve had some beauts up the years, who’s next??? Cud it be her??, I have to go, I’m touching cloth.
@Anthony Curran: We have also had Jack Jack on another topic.
@Jon John: F off with your wind up
@brian madden: You are completely mistaken, then.
@brian madden: It’s fair to say that Leo, Michael and Eamon are an equal opportunity disappointment, across all of Irish society regardless of their sexuality.
Regarding Leo Varadkar, despite his constant playing the victim, the only two things that I personally don’t find objectionable about him are his sexuality and his ethnic heritage, its everything else about him, his superior attitude and his performance in successive governments.
Its fair comment and a matter of record that Leo was historically anti gay in his political comments and actions and only came out publicly for political advantage.
Now, he is retrospectively held up as the embodiment of the trailblazing Irish gay icon, when that really wasn’t the case and couldn’t be further from the truth, David Norris is that icon.
Remember Michael Noonan welcomed in the vulture funds to buy up Ireland for a song and pay no tax we can thank Fine Gael for the present situation with housing
Great article- well written snd so accurate. Infuriating and untenable situation.
It’s been clearly written by a sock puppet of the Shinner criminal gang
@Roj Blake: give it a rest Leo
I am pleading for everyone reading this to never vote for these aloof, out of touch with us the electorate, ordinary people again.
No more FFG please. We cant go on like this struggling day to day and then have our so called leaders telling us what and where to buy.
Its time to give SF a go, 4 years. If they do better in almost any department then its an improvement and the mood in the country might well be back to where we were 30 years ago.
If you vote for these FFG again you are part of the problem, think about it.
Dont be concerned with SF’s old connections, FFG has just as much blood on their hands.
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: anyone but the vile terrorist supporting shinners
@Jon John: If were digging up the past maybe we should discuss FG’s facist past perhaps?
@Jon John: How many profiles are you on now?
@Thomas Ryan: Trace all our major parties back a 101 years and you just have Sinn Fein before it began splintering
@Thomas Ryan: or SF nazi supporting past?
@Ciaran O Donoghue: a vote for SF is a vote for Putin
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: 30 years ago my mam and dad weren’t working and there were literally some days when we had no food in the house. No matter how bad it is now, it was worse then.
@Jon John: wow! I didn’t know he was standing for SF in the next election… interesting. What constituency? Bet it Dublin south!
@Thomas Ryan: And their civil war atrocities.
@Jon John: well at least you’re not prejudiced…lol
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: SF are a perty for the gullible…
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: And that’s the problem! It is always easier to argue against something rather than come up with solutions. I am, vote wise, undecided but would have a preference for certain areas, like homelessness and Health, to be designated as emergency situations and ‘ ‘solved’ by a cross party group. Voting for individuals just because they belong to one party or the other is ludicrous esp when you know little about them. What do most people know about any of their present candidates? I totally get your FFG argument BUT they have left the finances in sh*t and the amounts of money they have committed to spending ie N.Irl, Climate, mica, hospital, etc etc leave SF and their highly inexperienced team far from the obvious choice. Doherty is really clever but he has to sort the finances out first before he can start spending more and I seriously worry that the above combined with the desire for SF to please their own base will bankrupt the country. The cake is only so big. We need to hear the specifics. It is not so much that we need a new Govt it is the quality of people in that Govt.
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: Looks like your self allocated victimhood place is also part of the problem. If you’re struggling day to day, I suggest taking personal responsibility and doing something about it. FFG are a shower of tool bags, but I honestly cannot see where SF would do any better.
@Jon John: How about the unmentionable O’Duffy…The Blueshirts admire him in private, but not in public as it would cost them votes. Is it the fact O’Duffy spent his time in Spain propping up the bar counters drunk in hotels, or the little action the Blueshirts engaged in when they opened fire on their own side. Old saying..The Blueshirts came back with more men than they went out with. Suppose the blessing of the Blueshirts by the Bishops worked after all. A miracle.
@keith fay: Sorry Keith for what you went through but theres no way things today are better
@Nick Cahill: They are the only alternative to the corrupt, inept, aloof shower that are in now. SF need 4 years, just one term. If they do better then we’re on a better track
@BarryH: What ? You just said exactly what FFG are doing, in pleasing their own base. Its time for change dont be so frightened
@David Terry: Deny ignorance David
@Jon John: Like our government who support Israel? Get the boat pal your just an unemployed dosser
@Ciaran O Donoghue: He’s nothing but a wannabe, he’s a lonely person sitting at home in mom and dads house. He has no future no friends and best of all you can mute him if you click the down arrow across from its name
@David Terry: You mean the gullible that cant spell correctly?
Gotcha
There should be a leaflet that explains to people that children are expensive and not to be having them if you can’t afford them
@Brian molloy:
.
Your parents could have really benefitted from that.
@Mike Carson: like the feral kids running wild around our urban areas. Great addition to society.
@Brian molloy: I’m amazed at just how true the saying is: eaten bread is soon forgotten. I genuinely think people should try living in a different jurisdiction before continuously complaining about having to pay for something in this country.
@Ken M: They’re happy enough paying for the iphones, the sun holidays( busiest summer ever at the airport),and the S.U.V.s. Then they wonder where their money went. Just because somebody has kids shouldn’t mean they get everything for free .
Why are the journal blocking comments on the article about the public not want to pay tv licence?
@Mike Carson: My guess is theres a genuine fear from the media in Ireland that the public no longer trus them and they dont want to let people say how they really feel about things like RTE and the TV licence.
@Tom Newell: I do believe that to be true. I’m also sure some journal, “journalists”, get a few dig outs from RTE as well,you know, for their “expert” opinion !!
@Mike Carson: Its a club, like the politicians that pretend they are all different when they will all rock up to the dail bar on a friday to get drunk on the taxpayers expense, the media are no different, they will protect each other while claiming they are in comeptition. Covid really showed when theres enough free money they will all sing from the same sheet
@Mike Carson: Nah. You pay it or you don’t. Why would ‘the media’ care what ‘the people’ say? They’ll look at the bottom line (aside from The Broadcasting Act 2009).
Excellent article…..at this point, I’d rather lose my vote forever than help Leo Varadkar gain an extra minute in office than is absolutely necessary.
@Darren McCarthy: He’s got it pretty bang on here tho. Middle Isle Ireland, speak to them in a language they understand, interesting to see if the majority feel it’s overly patronising. Risky move from him, have to respect that tho.
@Thesaltyurchin: it was one of your eight highly paid advisers who came up with this nonsense Leo will you stop
Varadkar’s settings are stuck on ‘condescending mode’.
Another thing to burn in the fire along with everything that goes in the green bin people are burning everything to stay warm and save money
@Gavin Kelly: People are burning things to stay warm ….. in August? I swear some of ye must get off on the idea of people living like a dickens character
@Jason Memail: Yes. Not just in August but virtually all year round people are living in Dickensian conditions because of decisions made by this government. It’s shocking. But you go ahead and have a little laugh
@Sean: I think you’re exaggerating. The vast, vast, vast majority of people in this country aren’t living in Dickensian conditions, and aren’t looking around for things to burn in order to keep warm and save money. Would you ever listen to yourself.
@Jason Memail: I never said vast majority. Why do you feel the need to twist words?People genuinely are burning all sorts to heat their homes. Poverty levels are high and getting higher. Child poverty is through the roof. People are missing meals to keep the lights on. It’s alright for you to make jokes and defend the government but for many people these are desperate times. The government and their cheerleaders on here need to wake up and stop pretending everything is rosey. Just because you are not experiencing poverty and depredation doesn’t mean it’s not rife
@Sean: *degradation
@Sean: Ah scarlet for meself.. *deprivation
@Sean: I never said that you said “vast majority”. I’m saying it, because it’s true. The vast majority of people are nowhere near the dire straits that are being suggested. Does that mean that we shouldn’t care about the people that are in difficulties? Of course we should care about them – my point, which is somehow being twisted, was simply that Dickensian poverty is not something that’s widespread, despite what people would have you believe.
@Jason Memail: I never said you said I said vast majority
This shows how out of touch leaky, langer, lettuce and this cabbage coalition government are in general with reality. Cost of living, crime, health, housing, RTE, public transport…..they have no idea what life is actually like outside their bubbles and security. But their TD’s will find out come election time when the angry and irate electorate make them suffer and suffer bad, cos even the must cult like supporter of this government know deep down that throwing out the usual soundbites or relying on the media and co to discredit the shinners and opposition, wont save them this time round.
@Tom Newell: Bobby sandwiches memes are ready to go after the next election lol
@Tom Newell: Shinner criminal gang don’t need help to discredit themselves, eg just look the actions of their finance chief as a landlord
Ah Leo you left something off the leaflet maybe your not doing it,,ah maybe not
Disabled children with carer parent in the carers allowance means test are allowed €15.00 per week yet they pay nearly eight times that amount.
I do not see any thing to keep children warm, where the gas decoupled from renewable electricity sources. Leo you promised.
I do not see the USC removed Leo that would put more food on the table you have promised that since 2016.
Ah now Leo just to say Fine Gael like Finna fail are waffling and have wrecked our country standard of living, it’s too expensive.
Your leaflet should also list your failures in health, homelessness, cost of living and over taxed from buying food, fuelling transport, Eamon and the Green Party none are reasonable to imagine not everyone can travel by cycling.
I thought the inept kenny was bad,leo the leek makes him look like a pure genius
@David Clarke: .
.
The cabbage passed the baton onto the leek.
Could someone in the know roughly break down that €700.
@Lorne Malvo: It is expensive alright but that does seem a bit of an exaggeration. I have 2 going to school, 1 in Secondary and 1 in Primary and it didn’t cost much more than that. Maybe some schools are different, not sure
@Jack Jack: 800 for an iPad…. Covered it in one go.. disgraceful
@richard griffin: In what year do they need iPads? I haven’t needed to get it yet but that is a sickner alright. Although she did mention a laptop now that I think of it. Damn
@richard griffin: uniform and books. She never mentioned iPad.
@richard griffin: This is an absolute disgrace, forcing people to buy an expensive machine that is not needed.
Just confirmation that these EU representatives in the Dail couldn’t give two f+cks about the people who elected them to serve them, with this leaflet on how to live and cope with indefinite austerity while they roll around in their huge salaries and millionaire pensions that they ensured themselves they could avail of at just 50 years of age.
Great article, honest and extremely well written.
Well said Mrs Lynch
It’s about time the media started calling out this government for its lack of leadership or interest in ordinary people woes
Of course the print media won’t critise the government after the reduction in Vat.or they don’t want to jeopardise their Dail Press Officer jobs in the future
Very true and well written, now imagine your now a carer, who has a mortgage, from the celtic tiger era, already struggling, and the wham, hike interest rates, cost of basics. Heating, when you rely on machines in your house, to help the person or persons, you care for. Many up to 3 or 4. And you need a car, cause transport in 23, is not accessible, unless you ring in advance. If they show up.
Then look at the arrogance to think we all shop in lidl, and a glossy, cheap leaflet will entertain us, when in fact you can’t even afford the super savers, let alone the middle isle.
Let’s not mistake that this is down to a war, or any other excuse they may hand us,
This is a neo Liberal policy.
It’s designed to keep us in our place. It’s designed to not let us progress improve our lives.
Reminds me of Charlie telling my parents generation to tighten “your belt”..
Good man Lidl Leo…
Finally an article by a journalist with some integrity. I’ve waited years for this and it’s about damn time.
@Thomas Reddy: More likely, she just stuck her finger in the air and sensed which way the wind was blowing. But we’ll take it.
@Tríona Commode: The wind has been blowing that way for years now and no such article managed to appear.
I think it’s a pretty clever way of letting people know of their entitlements and where public money is being spent. All politicians drop these notices thru the door, this is just a novel way of doing it. Just because the writer doesn’t benefit from all the allowances available doesn’t mean they’re not helping others who need them.
@NoelDublin: it definetly not telling anyone where the money is being spent. Not the real money anyway, children’s hosp, housing etc
Pretty much on-brand for aul’ Leo so.
Let’s at least recognise that the measures introduced to mitigate inflation are a positive change in mentality. Ireland has to support parents and their children at the stage in the lifecycle. What the country needs is more completion and transparency as to retail margins
We might be the most expensive place in Europe for many things, and the cost of living is very tough. But, and I know first hand, we are in general in Ireland in a lot better position to pay for stuff and make it through the week or the month. Countries like France and Slovakia have quite high prices but their take home salaries are far less than ours on average and I know it’s far more difficult for them to make ends meet than it is for us.
What we have always been excellent at though is convincing ourselves that we are the worst place on the planet, we live in kip etc etc.
Again, I know from first hand experience and I have family who live in both of these countries and I know very well how things work there. Grocery shopping, many utility bills, etc. by the way, in Slovakia people pay for public broadcasting too, but guess what? Every household pays it as it’s included in the electricity bill that comes in the door. My extended family lives in the east of Slovakia and diesel prices there are about the same as they are here, but people doing a similar job there than I am here are earning somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 less.
So yes, things could be better here, and the carry on of entities like RTE does not help.
How negative this article is just because your children arent in the age bracket or you earn too much for other supports. Then moan about crippling tax? So we cover secondary school books next. Grand. I dont have kids but can see that helping kids stay in education is good for them, the community and economy. Bigger picture.
@Gill Traynor: ah Finna fail told the kids in 2008 to stay in College look what happened we now have very few trades people like plumbers, plasters, electricians etc… if you find education is the answer to all woes, why can an educated graduate not buy a house today.
Only short of quoting”Let them eat cake”..
The article says it all . If you disagree with it , just take a look around our country .
Everything is slipping at a shocking pace . I can see some areas in Dublin which used to be nice turning into no go areas . They are staring to look like the outskirts of London … full of takeaways , graffiti and filth . FFG and VARADKAR have done this to Ireland
Explains why he had to wait for the fifth count to get elected in his own constituency.
Crime, rent, health care waiting lists, cost of living, homelessness are all trending in the same direction and that is UP. Great job. Most countries vote in the opposition to show that people are not afraid to slap underperforming Government in the face. Wake up call.needed, badly.
Well written and true but unfortunately this comes as no surprise to anybody.Varadkar will be shored up by his FG buddies to who the party is way more important than the general population.
Quite a clever project from him really. He’s speaking to the peasants. They’re familiar & comfortable with the Lidl-type brochure. He’s like a patronising uncle.
Housing costs are blowing everything else out of the water. FG and FF have had years to sort things out and just haven’t. They either can’t or won’t or both. People will be voting accordingly in about a years time to give their verdict on that performance and all of the excuses are long used up.
A great article in the journal that relates to reality..refreshing to read real people
Great article! Very well written and relatable.
Well done, Journal. More of this, please!
€1000 fees contribution is good but for postgraduate students you get the €4000 and that’s it as a lower income family my wage alone is on the threshold of the special rate take into effect my daughter had to wait a year on her course we are over the threshold for any maintenance she’s supposed to go to college pay almost 10,000 on accommodation which we were lucky to secure not including eating and any field study that may arise inly hoping she gets a part-time minimum wage job to eat and without hopefully a loan from the bank or credit union for accommodation there is no way she can continue her studies I’m not in a position as a single parent to help her pay her rent I’m still trying to pay off transition year for my son not to mention change in uniform shoes ect all even with the grant I haven’t managed to do as the bills eat up every penny lots of help out their for younger families but families with older children are being thrown to the wolves the uk have a student loans system to help students with the cost of college a system like that for postgraduate and PhD students would be welcome
I Agree with every word that lady said. What a bunch of muppets running this country. Its worse than the 70s/80s, I’ve just said good bye to two of my family who can not afford to live in this country, they can’t find a house to rent nor afford a mortgage. Both 3rd level educated. Will the people in this country please wake up and get shut of fffg at next election, can sinn Fein really do any worse? I don’t think so. And by the way I’ve never voted for sinn fein, but I would vote for Dustin the turkey before I would vote for that lot.
@Gerry Kelly: 4 OF MY EXTENDED FAMILY in Aussie and Canada now.
Is this the next “every little hurts” campaign that got liebour into power in 2011? Good luck with that speil Leo the liar.
If you look up Leo varadkar in the urban dictionary, you get path@l@gical li@r
Excellent piece. If only they would listen..I agree, there would be no need to ‘advertise’ like this. We’d know!
Labour tried this same stunt with a tesco inspired “every little helps” add and it came back to haunt them, once you put a lie in writing your doomed
Well said , exactly how I feel , a copy of this should be sent to Leo
Margaret the Melt
Endless moan
All the off cut comments here on sexuality and otherwise are Government paid bots to distract you the voter to the facts mentioned in the article. Don’t be a fool and vote this Clown and proven Liar back in again.
The Irish love misery , even when there are shown how much money they can save they see the negative.
Unfortunately FF and FG have made some good policy decisions, this black and white politics of SF good / FG bad helps no one.
Good article Margaret, we as a nation need more voices like yours. The decisions made by our elected representatives are so out of touch from reality. Like us, the WORKING public, the government need to feel a financial pinch to ground them. However it involves joined up thinking and unanimous support from the public, ie. RTE’s funding dilemma with the huge fall off in TV licence renewals. If the country by and large refused to pay this would the courts haul us all in! I doubt it!
The banking system also has a lot to answer for, this is far more than corporate greed, they are simply price gouging mercenaries. If there was a move to say, Revolut for 5 – 10% of all banking and cashless transactions, thereby creating an equivalent drop in transaction fees and deposits for our traditional banks, would this send the message that we as hard working voters in Ireland are not prepared to lie down and be rail-roaded.
I’m late to the comment section with this article and the likelihood is that’s its just going to ‘gather dust’. But if you are reading this, why not expand or pivot but we do need to take collective power back to a certain extent. Look at what the anti water protest movement achieved almost a decade ago.
It’s a shame to see it coming in a year where the govt is showing huge budget surplus, even more than what they anticipated. A big slice from it should go down to give relief to the people who are overburdened with cost of living. But no the govt instead think about investing it in a way to safeguard future govt from financial shocks.
When you elect chimps expect Bananas
And excrement and a PG tips Lol
And some little bicycle’s ( Eamon)
Monkey bars for the Dail .
It will keep them fit and the Healy Raes
Will be at home in the jungle lol
Have a good day
So many dheads in the comments. I feel sorry for you, but you’ll be dead soon so no need to moan anymore after that.
have your say