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Fine Gael enjoyed a 2 point increase in the latest Business Post / Red C poll. Alamy Stock Photo

Spending of Apple billions a matter for future government, Donohoe and Taoiseach agree

Both the Taoiseach and Minister Donohoe said that the current government could lay out a “direction” in which the money could be used appropriately.

LAST UPDATE | 15 Sep 2024

MINISTER FOR PUBLIC Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said today that he believes the matter of the spending of the Apple tax billions is a matter for the future government over a number of years, as his party leader Taoiseach Simon Harris said he “very much welcomes” Donohoe’s comments.

The government has already ruled out that the sudden windfall of over €14 billion in the case of the Apple tax will impact the upcoming budget

“I think it’s very likely that the actual decision regarding the money being spent will happen over a number of years and will happen under the lifetime of the next government,” Minister Donohoe said, speaking on RTÉ’s This Week this afternoon. 

“But I do think it’s very reasonable for the government, though, to lay out a clear direction regarding broadly what the money could be used for, and I think it’s very appropriate that we do that, and we’ll work on that in the next few weeks.”

Speaking to reporters this evening, the Taoiseach said that he thinks Donohoe’s comments are “exactly right”. 

“We know that we now have the final word on the Apple case,” he said.

Stating that it would be likely another six months before the sum would be received by the exchequer, Harris said that the funding could not be spent “on day to day”.

“But in my view,” he continued, “there’s really important conversations that can be had around how you invest in infrastructure, how you’d invest it in things that are perhaps off balance sheet, how you could look at things like improving our electricity and energy supply, our housing supply being the biggest societal challenges we face.”

Earlier today, Donohoe also insisted that he believes the election will not take place until next year, despite the latest Business Post / Red C Poll showing Fine Gael widening the gap between themselves and coalition partner Fianna Fáil and opposition party Sinn Féin

The results, published yesterday, show Fine Gael standing on 23% under the leadership of Taoiseach Simon Harris – a 2 point increase since June. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin are now tied with an 18% popularity rating, as Mary Lou McDonald’s party continue to take a hit in the polls.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has furiously denied an early election since his party enjoyed unexpected success in the local and European elections in June.

Minister Donohoe insisted that he believes the election will be held next year, despite widespread speculation that an election will be called for mid-November amidst his party’s lift in the polls. 

“I believe the election will happen next year, as the Taoiseach has already said,” Donohoe told host Justin McCarthy. 

“I know when an election is called, it is the first point at which many of our voters correctly engage with the decision on what the next government will be, and their opinions are well capable of changing,” he said, adding that his focus was on the budget, which is to be announced on 1 October. 

Donohoe said that he is “not too influenced by a single poll”.

“My focus is doing this budget now with Minister Chambers and ensuring this government completes its mandate,” he said. 

He also addressed criticism that various measures that have been announced will be included in Budget 2025 have been added to sway the election, saying that all measures considered by himself and Minister for Finance Jack Chambers for inclusion in a “sensible budget”, “will help with the cost of living, allow more homes to be built, [and] invest in our public services.”

Separately in the Business Post / Red C Poll, the Social Democrats received a 2 point boost to sit at 6% and Labour experienced a 1 point boost to 4%.

The Green Party, which has recently come under the leadership of Minister for Integration Roderick O’Gorman, experienced a point loss along with Fianna Fáil. 

Support for Independent candidates remained unchanged at 15 points.

Independent Ireland, which has a sitting MEP in Ciaran Mullooly, dropped one point to 4%, and Aontú received a point increase, moving to 4%.

People Before Profit remained unchanged at 3%.

With reporting by Christina Finn.

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    Mute 5aeex4zc
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:19 PM

    Best to go now before the bike shed contractor is exposed as someone very close to pascal

    635
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    Mute Dere
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:25 PM

    @5aeex4zc: yep….he’ll swanny off to some cushy NGO job, taxpayer funded of course…non government organisations funded by the government, example 612 on how the ruling class treat their citizens as fools and in utter contempt.

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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:47 PM

    @Dere: Detective Nick to the rescue with an interesting thread

    https://x.com/Nick_Delehanty?t=OfHaxTtM0BIzrDUDLXOy9g&s=09

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    Mute 087 bed
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:50 PM

    Someone left the Comments door open, Pascal will be Peed.

    108
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    Mute Tee
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    Sep 15th 2024, 11:36 PM

    @5aeex4zc: crikey, are you serious- I’ve been off line for a bit, please do share?

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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:38 PM

    Paschal & Simon continually throwing out the Misinformation label, quite ironic when everybody knows that the General Election will be held after the Budget at the end of October early November. Paschal & Simon are most guilty of Misinformation, but then again they were the two who continually backed RTE, who Misinformed & lied to the people about salaries & corporate governance.They are so blatant about it, selecting Candidates nationwide, when they know that if they are going full term, the Bye Elections must be held first. Liars of the highest order, the lot of them. Irish workers don’t trust any of our Political class or Institutions anymore.

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    Mute Seanie
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:44 PM

    @SV3tN8M4: Let’s not forget the lies they went on national TV and told the public before the two referendums, Mcatee, Varadkar, Martin FF, Martin Greens, O’Gorman, Foley and on and on, they are a disgrace.

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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:46 PM

    @SV3tN8M4: You raise important points about information, who controls it, how much is good, can there be too much and how do folks decide what to believe? Is truth belief or information based? Do we always inform ourselves fully before we react? How is the information (truth?) sphere being affected by mass media at everyones’ fingertips?

    Can we believe anything in the age of AI? These answers and more coming to screens near you soon! Great time to be alive!

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    Mute Kevin Kerr
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:52 PM

    @SV3tN8M4: FG playing their cards close to their chest about the election date does not constitute misinformation – it is an advantage that every sitting government has enjoyed since the foundation of this state. It is entirely their decision when to call it, and that would be the same for FF, SF, Aontu or Ireland First if they one of them held the office of Taoiseach

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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Sep 15th 2024, 6:36 PM

    @SV3tN8M4: the by-elections have to happen within 6 months of the TDs taking up their seats as MEPs, however if a general election is then called the by-elections don’t happen so that brings us into February 2025

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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Sep 16th 2024, 12:13 AM

    @Kevin Kerr: So you condone the fact that Simon & Paschal mislead the people by telling them porkies, it’s seen as an advantage by you. Clear to see that you advocate Dishonesty & Misinformation, you are a truly shallow empty vessel, programmed by your party politics, you are indicative of what’s wrong with our country, unable to see the issues at hand.

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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:52 PM

    What about bicycle stand your mate built

    171
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    Mute honey badger
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:23 PM

    It’s great to see “Mary Lou McDonalds party” continue their 18-month downward trajectory.

    129
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    Mute Vince Cable
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:26 PM

    @honey badger: They’re =going down like Zelenskyy looking for money

    56
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    Mute honey badger
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:28 PM

    ^Two donkeys, desperate for attention. Adorable.

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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:36 PM

    @honey badger: You, it’s me! Me, it’s you! According to little willie we are the same. They are rumbled tho, there’s a bunch of ‘em locked up and paid per engagement. It’s genius I love it! Fair fks to ‘em!

    11
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    Mute honey badger
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:46 PM

    @Chutes: lol. Shares in big tinfoil jumped in early trading…

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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:48 PM

    @honey badger: Maybe but I still like it much more than the ‘saddo in the basement’ narrative LMAO! Imma go with it!

    12
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    Mute honey badger
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:49 PM

    @Chutes: It’s livelier, I’ll give you that! Let’s run with it…

    6
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:58 PM

    @William Slevin: So fkn dumb! It’s almost sweet in a puppy kinda way, little lost dog looks for home in the rain vibes!

    12
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:07 PM

    @William Slevin: Oh that’s right, do ya think it was subliminal messaging, wait……are you controlling my mind?

    Fk me the entertainment value is high in the comments section! Not the general intelligence level but definitely the entertainment!

    Right, I’m out coz I’m hungry, peace!

    10
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:20 PM

    @William Slevin: I should start all my posts with ‘this is very frustrating for me but…….blah, blah’ just to save us time willie! lol

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    Mute JagTune
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:00 PM

    Of course it’ll be next year. Gives them time to import more voters. NGO’s will be busy advising our new arrivals on who to vote for and organizing busses for them to polling stations like they did with the European elections earlier in the year.
    Irish citizenship is being thrown out like confetti at a wedding now.
    The Irish diaspora should be allowed to vote. Many of them were forced to emigrate because of consecutive useless, incompetent governments.
    Countries like the US and Slovakia allow their diaspora to vote and that’s to name just two.
    Of course that won’t happen in Ireland though. We are being played like fools.

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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:03 PM

    @JagTune: You certainly are!

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    Mute Sergej Simonov
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:11 PM

    @JagTune: This government started a war on drug gangs and Kinahans, Hatches, Penguin, Rattigan, Gilligan, Byrne…gangs ran abroad. They should never be allowed to vote because they need another people in government!

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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:29 PM

    @JagTune: Non nationals can’t vote in Dail elections

    19
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    Mute Seanie
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    Sep 15th 2024, 4:57 PM

    @Pat Hazzard: no but by f c k the Irish can Stephen and your beloved FF that you got thrown out of are not really going to do well.

    23
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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Sep 16th 2024, 7:39 AM

    @Sergej Simonov: You forgot the joker.. and isn’t batman due some credit also?

    2
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    Mute liam ward
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:37 PM

    They want to hold onto power for as long as they can

    108
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    Mute Sergej Simonov
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:51 PM

    @liam ward: they will stay in power in the best interests of Ireland! Such people like Pascal Donohue, Roderick O’Gorman, Helen McEntee, Simon Harris…are the most capable politicians Ireland ever had! They didn’t afraid of drug gangs who tried to terrorise their families. Than drug gangs protested against immigrants but government again didn’t afraid of them and thanks to God Thornton Hall site will open soon!

    26
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    Mute Paul Byrne
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:55 PM

    @Sergej Simonov: is that a joke

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    Mute Hotirish
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:58 PM

    @liam ward: maybe you’re missing the point of the article but they are continuing with governing even though the pols are telling them they’d win an election.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:19 PM

    @liam ward: Been doing a good job of it for like 100 years.

    6
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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Sep 15th 2024, 4:52 PM

    @Sergej Simonov: homeless people, no medical care education in flitters, protests and riots and you praise this government? Wake up and stop talking rubbish

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    Mute Sergej Simonov
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    Sep 15th 2024, 5:41 PM

    @Joe Kelly: this government is the best ever! All good people of Ireland can’t wait when the government will open asylum center in Coolock to show drug gangs that they will never will be able to influence political decisions!

    5
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    Mute Seanie
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    Sep 15th 2024, 5:58 PM

    @Hotirish: exactly, what can they be afraid of?

    5
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    Mute Willie Marty
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    Sep 16th 2024, 5:02 AM

    @Sergej Simonov: you were going well until you mentioned ROG.

    4
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    Mute John Moore
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:07 PM

    I’m not sure about the media obsession over when exactly the election will be with every single interviewer asking the same question and getting the same non answer. Who cares? It will be in the next 6 months one way or the other.

    82
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    Mute Brian Hackett
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    Sep 15th 2024, 8:13 PM

    These polls are a farce,, with the €350,​000 bike shed, 36 million to Ukraine, building modular homes in Ukraine for them, scandal after scandal and people still believe in these media run polls, Irish totally forgotten by iits government
    Wake up people, in all my years I hve never even met anyone that took part in a poll, are we that clueless ???

    87
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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:32 PM

    lyin hoor, even the dogs on fhe street know it’s in November, stop coddin

    105
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    Mute Alan Hayes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 10:09 PM

    @qffaffaf affrafrfraf: Hopefully they don’t get eaten for knowing too much…..those pesky dogs

    7
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    Mute Jonny Dun
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:49 PM

    Irish voters are centrist and pretty conservative fiscally. They won’t elect hard right or left, hence the reason SF are desperately trying to be all things to all voters. And the doom and gloom that fills the comments on this site doesn’t reflect most people’s views. I predict an FG/FF coalition with no Greens or other minor parties. Simon would be wise to go announce the election soon after the budget

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    Mute Seanie
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    Sep 15th 2024, 5:43 PM

    @Jonny Dun: put your house on it bro..I predict that you will join the 14500 homeless…

    21
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    Mute Seanie
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    Sep 15th 2024, 5:47 PM

    @Jonny Dun: That FF/FG resides over

    16
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    Mute Nemethon
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    Sep 15th 2024, 4:24 PM

    The government will wait until after the budget where they are set to give an extra weeks money for Halloween and Christmas bonus plus increasing the pension rate to €300 per week plus obviously included in the package will be measures for tax payers and USC cuts. The government is hope the voters don’t forget this and vote them back in.

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    Mute Pat Hazzard
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    Sep 15th 2024, 6:58 PM

    @Nemethon: two thirds of people want FF and FG to lead the next Govt, as clearly they want the economy protected

    15
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    Mute R kelly
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    Sep 15th 2024, 8:26 PM

    The billions should be immediately spent on social and affordable housing….it the biggest crisis in Ireland today

    27
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:17 PM

    This is the sad state of what passes for politics, (political capture?) in Ireland! There is no opposition.

    “Separately in the Business Post / Red C Poll, the Social Democrats received a 2 point boost to sit at 6% and Labour experienced a 1 point boost to 4%.

    The Green Party, which has recently come under the leadership of Minister for Integration Roderick O’Gorman, experienced a point loss along with Fianna Fáil.

    Support for Independent candidates remained unchanged at 15 points.

    Independent Ireland, which has a sitting MEP in Ciaran Mullooly, dropped one point to 4%, and Aontú received a point increase, moving to 4%.

    People Before Profit remained unchanged at 3%.”

    Ouch! It hurts!

    27
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:50 PM

    @William Slevin: see above!

    10
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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:01 PM

    @William Slevin: god luv ya!

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    Mute Chutes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 3:23 PM

    @William Slevin: Whatever gives ya the warm n fuzzies!

    9
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    Mute Eddienowy Byrne
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    Sep 15th 2024, 10:07 PM

    Gives them time to figure out how to get the money back to Apple

    17
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    Mute Peter Johnston
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    Sep 15th 2024, 9:05 PM

    Sensible thing would be to pay down some of our national debt but then there’s noone sensible in charge anyway.

    17
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    Mute Hotirish
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    Sep 15th 2024, 2:56 PM

    Keep going. Doing good work.

    15
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    Mute Toca Stories
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    Sep 15th 2024, 9:11 PM

    Build a metro with it

    12
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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    Sep 15th 2024, 11:22 PM

    @Toca Stories: Yeah, from Hollyhill to Carrigaline via North Cathedral, Patrick St, Grand Parade, South Mall, City Hall, High Street, Eglantine, Well Rd, Douglas Village, Rochestown, Passage West, Monkstown, Raffeen, Ringaskiddy.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Sep 15th 2024, 11:29 PM

    That money is for the next BAM job.

    11
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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Sep 15th 2024, 9:32 PM

    Trump will do anything to get elected.

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    Mute Watchful Axe
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    Sep 16th 2024, 1:00 AM

    What about a citizen’s assembly which decides on the best way to spend it, make it a multi-annual event if there are cumulative surpluses. I’ve don’t trust the impartiality of TDs, they seem fickle or unpatriotic these days.

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    Mute Tommy
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    Sep 16th 2024, 2:42 AM

    @Watchful Axe:
    And waste another fortune

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    Mute Mick Hanna
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    Sep 15th 2024, 8:42 PM

    Share 5 billion among the population. That’s what I would do. But they would have kittens. They could make people’s lives so much easier.

    9
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    Mute Alan Hayes
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    Sep 15th 2024, 10:10 PM

    @Mick Hanna: You know that’s 1 thousand for each citizen, yeah? Would be great but making your life easier…..

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    Mute Mick Fitzsimons
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    Sep 16th 2024, 11:16 AM

    Why are this Government so afraid of this money.

    4
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