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THE MINISTER FOR Expenditure and Public Reform, Brendan Howlin, said they would debate the terms of the Household Bill for those who cannot afford it and are struggling to repay mortgages when it comes through the Dáil in the coming weeks.
The Minister was responding to calls from Fianna Fail TD, Billy Kelleher and Independent TD, Mattie McGrath who both raised the issue separately during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil this morning.
They both called on the government to introduce reductions for people who are struggling, especially since they believe that some pressure has been lifted since a deal was reached last week on the promissory notes.
Kelleher referred to yesterday’s CSO report which found that the number of people unable to afford basic necessities has jumped significantly. He said the property tax was unfair and unjust and “doesn’t take into account ability to pay”.
Howlin responded by blaming many of the problems they were dealing with today on Kelleher’s party. He said: “Fianna Fail brought this country to economic ruin… It was the worst government in the history of this state.”
McGrath referred to the elderly who are in “desperate” situations and those who have paid a lot of money in stamp duty as examples of groups who should be exempt or have allowances made when it comes to paying the household charge. He called on Howlin to give some relief to the people who most need it.
Howlin responded to Kelleher’s and McGrath’s demands by reminding them that “we are still borrowing over a billion a month”. He added that we needed to “broaden the tax base” and part of that is introducing a property tax.
Howlin said the “detail of the property tax” will be debated step-by-step and will be looked at “in as fair a way as possible”.
Both discussions caused a lot commotion from other TDs around the chamber and the Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett, had to interject on numerous occasions.
Finally, Howlin defended the ‘snitch clause’ that says people selling their home face fines of €500 if they have not disclosed to the new buyer the correct value of their property, by calling it “open and transparent”.
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To be fair you have to say that America has elected a person who should not be allowed to own a box of matches……
@Kerry Blake: brilliant :-)
@Kerry Blake: I wouldn’t trust him with a pair of scissors.
The truly sad thing i, that even though Donald Trump has proven himself to be the most outrageously inept President of the US in history, there isn’t even a whimper from the American people? No mass protest, nothing. It would appear that the Breitbartification of the populace is complete. The new slogan of the dumbass racist Alt-Right should be, “We are all Kardashian’s now, Heil Trumpf!”.
@Grainne Abdulaziz: i dont think its fair to say that Americans have not protested against Trump… the real plan, in case you missed it, is unfolding precisely as planned. Step 1: put incompetent joke in charge. Step 2: after his inevitable failure… he is impeached. Step 3: once Trump has been forced to step down, the real crazy begins. This has always been the evangelical Christians plan. Thats why they were the largest group of pro Trump voters.
@Kerry Blake: And the fact he hasn’t lit those matches there is a lot of smoke billowing around him
It seems as if Trump does not want to be in the White House and is actively sabotaging his own presidency. But on the other hand, I’m doubting he is capable of even that strategy.
The comedy sketch just writes itself here… Trump singing the song from Frozen….
I wonder if Paddy Power is taking bets on Trump being impeached before the end of his term?
Trump Impeachment Specials
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/politics/other-politics/donald-trump?ev_oc_grp_ids=2944322
@Mick Tobin: Paddy Power have very short odds on Trump seeing out 2017!
@Grainne Abdulaziz: also, 50/1 for him to sue them
Trump holds a grudge forever and always retaliates.
@Tony Daly: he doesn’t have the attention span to hold a grudge. That’s why he’s so retaliatory.
This is probably taking viewers away from House of Cards, couldnt make this guys presidency up!
The liberal press has turned into the theatre of the absurd.
Most American journalists harbour a secret ambition to write a Hollywood script.. They’re certainly outdoing themselves on Donald Trump reporting.
Impossible to take them seriously anymore.
@Jack Cassady: the problem is that the coverage is true. Trump’s wilfulness and narcissism will be his eventual undoing. He has lost self control,
@Jack Cassady: “Impossible to take them seriously anymore.” You talking bout yourself again..
@Jack Cassady: 90% of the press is owned by 6 mainly liberal corporations, compared to 50 in 1983. The result is liberal groupthink. (They are Viacom, Comcast, Disney, CBS, Time Warner and News Corp). Only News Corp is conservative.
@Tony Daly: Tony the Star Chamber was abolished in 1640. The media are not a court. If they were Trump wouldnt have been allowed stand
@Rosa Parks: again, this story was printed by a Republican owned media group
@Dave O Keeffe: The Washington Post is Democrat owned
@Dave O Keeffe: Wrong again, the The Washington Post is democrat :)
@Mark Mcloughlin: my bad, I got mixed up between this and yesterday’s “fake news”
Trump is a known liar. Asking Comey to let it go sounds very like something Trump would do.
@Reg: Comey is a wimp. J Edgar Hoover wouldn’t have put up with this. He had both Jack and Bobby Kennedy running scared.
@Reg: trump threatens Comey with “tapes” of their conversations. Turns out Comeys been keeping notes all along of every meeting they had. Comey has all angles covered. Trump is a moron who is so far out of his depth. He’s in the big leagues now and he is sinking faster than a.. sink..
Let me guess both the leaker and author of the memo are annonomous .
@Joe Caulfield: it’s a way of avoiding annihilation.
@Joe Caulfield: the author of the memo is clearly named
@Joe Caulfield: The author of the memo is named in the second sentence of the article. I bet you stopped reading at the picture….
Trump certainly believes in political policing.
Takes a wise man to act the fool.
If you become Commander and Chief and you don’t trust or even like your minions then its your job and responsibility to remove them.
Executive Office means exactly that.
Whether non- Americans don’t like the colour of his skin or his politics or world views: tis no matter.
He is the Man in the Big Job and if he cant deliver Big or Biggly decisions then he has no place there.
Wait and see.
Tittle tattle and armchair world leader opinions matter nout.
He makes decisions.
Thats what he’s supposed to do.
As I say – wait and see.
@Brendan McLaughlin: What horse shite
@Brendan McLaughlin: So basically he’s got the top job so he can do anything he wants? That’s now it works kid……
@Brendan McLaughlin: Yup well said
More sources and anynomous people. Comey himself will clear this up. Whether it’s true or not.. saying i hope is not the same as i order you. Time will tell.
Leaked memo claims Trump asked Comey to drop FBI probe. A leaked memo that the media have not seen.. so it’s not a leaked memo. It’s someone claiming a memo. Bit of difference.. like i said Time will tell if this is true or not…
@LITTLEONE: the New York Times is a reputable media outlet and will not risk Presidential hostility by making up false stories.
@Tony Daly: reputable media. The new York times. Dear lord . They have run so many fake stories. I have lost count.. new England patriots springs to mind..
@LITTLEONE: Go back to Russia, troll.
@LITTLEONE: this coming from the person that earlier pushed a story based on evidence a guy said was on a laptop he had never seen or held.
His name was Seth rich
@LITTLEONE: so he’s still alive? You total and utter moron. Or are you saying the family hired a detective named Seth Rich? The detective said he was in contact with wikileaks based on proof on a laptop that he had not seen or touched. Your bias is showing clown.
@Tony Daly: The NY Times published a later retracted story that Russia had hacked the US electricity grid. Their editor has said because they dont like Trump they dont have to be objecftive. So understandibly the voters didnt trust the media last year. A Quinnipiac poill a few days ago showed 58% unhappy with media coverage of Trump. The bias is just too much
@LITTLEONE: When it comes from your boss with the power to sack you, “I hope you can….” is exactly the same as “I order you to…”. And the fact that he then did sack him can tell it’s own story, if are not too blind to look. And that exact point won’t be lost on the others in his employ when he asks them to do something next time.
@Tony Daly: Oh FFS do you own shares in the times or owrk for them . Many corrections https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/pageoneplus/corrections-april-20-2017.html
Dave. The simple fact you wrote what you did After i said his name was Seth rich tells me a lot.. dear lord Dave . Do some reading… Calling someone a moron and clown after you the idiot thought i meant Seth rich was the detective or is still alive… Ah Dave your flustered again. Calm down…. Get with the story Dave. Stay up to date… Wow.. that’s some rant Dave.
Here to set you off again.
His name was Seth rich. No that’s not you now .. don’t be getting flustered again…
@LITTLEONE: “@LITTLEONE: this coming from the person that earlier pushed a story based on evidence a guy said was on a laptop he had never seen or held.” your reply: “his name was Seth Rich” no, the him guy I was referring to was not named Seth Rich. Jeez your lack of comprehension skills are letting you down badly today.
@Dave O Keeffe: : your definitely flustered… Here Dave … Just for you… Brad Bauman a professional Democrat crisis PR consultant with the Pastorum Group. Remember him.. wonder what he meant yesterday on his personal Facebook page when he said this… Considering there is meant to have been no contact with wikileaks.. he says this. The emails are doctored.. their timing is suspicious… What emails????? Jump on over to his Facebook page.. comments alone are worth a read… Dave for some one not interested in the Seth rich story ,. You sure are doing your best to keep me intrigued… Thanks …. Always find when people are trying to push you away from something . The more you should stay looking. Amazed what you see…
@LITTLEONE: all I’ve ever said is there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of your claims. Also he is a spokesman for the family, that is what they asked him to do. You’re so wilfully trampling over the wishes of the family, its disgusting. Bring evidence or you’re talking nonsense. You have only presented assumptions and conspiracy with no substance whatsoever. All I’ve asked is that you provide something solid but you can’t do that. All you do is lie, repeatedly, like you did with your false accusations against me earlier.
Somebody get him out before he asks what the big red button does..!
Governance MY way or the Highway . Trumps everything.
The American press is wearing an Anonymous mask.
These reports are based on anonymous sources which suggests people may be lying to avoid getting sued or charged under the Espionage Act 1917.
The yanks would elect my dog
Obviously someone is out to get him… hope they do, much harder to do now, then the Watergate thing! As in claming its all *fake news* & sure who really knows?
@Colette Kearns: Watergate took 2 years.
A source claims…….
Schmidt of the NYT is the reporter. He has yet to confirm or deny his wiretapping and reporting back to Obamas WH gem published on January 20th.
@Joe Caulfield: because that’s not what that article said and you know it.
I don’t think Comey would be leaking too many memos about Putin if he’d been working for him, if he had any sense of self preservation.
Let me guess the white house response. “fake news”. Easy. Maybe the reason trump likes shouting about fake news is because of the skeletons in his closet
Some amount of leaks coming out of the Whitehouse. It’s crazy.
Zero evidence for a probe damaging American trust and democracy. If he did ask comey he was right to do so.
@Dean Burroughs: right to break the law? The mental gymnastics you’re performing are fantastic
He’s going down faster than a Russian hooker. He will quit before he’s impeached because he’s a thin skinned coward like his backers.
What goes up must come down
What has Comey to gain by lying or making things up ?
Trump is such chump and is so poorly educated generally but is particularly ignorant on “civics” that he doesn’t even know what, who or why all members of the FBI give an oath to!
So to ask Comey to give undying fealty and loyalty to the office of President was as dumb ass as it gets for me . Futile, moronic, imbecilic, incredible and GUBU all come to mind . HAIL to the chief indeed !
@James Kelly: Revenge?
Trump is bringing American interests to an all time low. He’s got to go.
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