Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AS GORSE AND forest fires continue to break out across parts of the country, the Minister for Agriculture has taken the unusual step of notifying people about the potential high risk fire conditions.
Minister Simon Coveney TD from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has sent out a message today reminding forest owners, forestry managers, farmers, turf cutters and the public that there will be an ongoing risk of land and forest fires in many parts of the country over the coming days.
Last night saw more gorse fires breaking out in Tipperary, in the Silvermines mountains, which burned from before 9pm until they were fully extinguished at about 10am this morning.
Gardaí were at the scene of the fire and the local fire service worked on fighting the blaze and ensuring no residences were in danger.
Photo: Fires in Silvermines/Killoscully area of north Tipperary last night, submitted by a reader
Coveney’s warning comes after wildfires were reported over the Easter Weekend and into this week, including at the ‘Little Sugar Loaf’, Giltspur Mountain, in Co Wicklow, which took nearly four hours to bring under control.
The Minister said that due to the dry and windy weather at the moment, ‘high’ to ‘extreme’ risk conditions for fire will persist until the coming weekend at least, according to Met Eireann’s Fire Weather Index.
The Minister said:
My department’s Forest Service took the unusual step of notifying foresters, forestry companies and other stakeholders of the potential high risk fire conditions developing in recent days and I would like to reiterate that message to forest owners, farmers, turf cutters, members of the public and anyone working in or enjoying our countryside.
He said that they do not have information yet on the source of the wildfires reported over the Easter weekend, but the incidents “demonstrate the danger of uncontrolled fires and show that the risks of damage to property and to the rural environment and the threat to peoples’ lives are very real”.
In addition, these incidents have a significant impact on the resources of our emergency services.
Up to seven appliances from Bray, Greystones and Wicklow attended the Little Sugar Loaf fire on Wednesday night. The Minister reminded land owners and the public that it is illegal to burn growing vegetation on uncultivated land between 1 March and 3 August.
He has asked all rural dwellers to be vigilant for fire, to report any suspicious activity to the gardaí and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires to the Fire Service.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
This is all very well and good, but neither the students nor the government are providing any sort of suggestion as to how third level education can be funded in the future. The reality is that someone has to pay!
I agree with you that the reality of the situation is that the money has to come from somewhere, and merely suggesting that “no fees should be brought in” is, in theory excellent and I am all for it, but it is not practical.
I would like to see the government bring in a loan scheme, like the one currently in place in England. It makes the system a lot fairer, no upfront fees paid and it alleviates the stress currently facing families with mortgage repayments and bills to pay. It means that every person who wants to enter third level education and has the academic capabilities to do so can, it is not whose parents can pay, it is who has the determination to further their education.
Rebek’ah; Are you not involved with the USI in relation to this campaign?
Free fees over the last 15 years have done nothing to bring the poorest members of society into the third level system; rather they have benefited the middle classes enabling them to afford grind schools and doing nothing to close the education gap. The idea of a loan scheme where the student pays back the cost of their education in the future makes better sense. In any case it will free up funding to actually get poorer students into third level rather than just putting free fees on the table and hoping that this in itself will target disadvantage.
@Kevin…..
see reply further down the page!
@Conor,
totally agree with you! They need to free up the funding for primary education in disadvantaged areas, in families where maybe no-one has had the opportunity to pursue third level education!
However, the government won’t bring in a loan scheme unfortunately as it takes on average 16 years for them to reap back the money they lent and under the conditions of the EU-IMF deal this is untenable.
Rebeck’ah, Ireland’s most valuable export over the last three years has been its citizens. While the vast majority of them have been low-skilled labourers cast awash by the housing downturn, a fairly significant portion of them have been highly skilled university graduates. It’s true to say that emmigration is quite popular among young graduates.
Given this, a student loan scheme would be nonsensical right now. It would prove disastrous for the government, forced to pick up the tab for students that skipped off abroad. It would also provide a disincentive for citizens to return here after the crisis is over, as they’d be returning shackled with debt.
A student loan scheme works well in England, because a culture of youth emigration hasn’t established itself there. This of course is a double edge sword, because impoverished families in North-West England (an area that was devastated by the Great Depression and never truly recovered since) remain impoverished. There are no jobs for young people there, but with few notable exceptions, they remain fiercely tied to their localities.
However if graduates in England decided to seek work abroad en-mass, the system would collapse. Thankfully it hasn’t, so far.
That’s a good point Fiachra. It would be a difficult system to administer in Ireland. Nonetheless the problem remains that some sort of proper funding system needs to be put in place that actively targets educational disadvantage. Fees will inevitably have to be a part of this!
@OP “This is all very well and good, but neither the students nor the government are providing any sort of suggestion as to how third level education can be funded in the future. The reality is that someone has to pay!”
I’m sorry, this is absolute nonsense. There are plenty of alternative funding solutions that have been suggested, if you managed to miss them all please head down to your local FEE branch and I’m sure they will be more than happy to enlighten you.
I am sick to death of hearing this sorry excuse that no one has any better solutions, it is absolute garbage. In Europe alone there are plenty of progressive systems in place to fund higher education.
Please educate youself as to the alternative policies and for the love of god remove that god-damn rose from your profile!
@WIlliam – The alternative policies? You mean the Trotskyite nonsense that FEE harp on about ad nauseum – say no to any practical suggestion because of intransigent arrogance. I am familiar with FEE and their work – all you people say is ‘no cuts’ but don’t back this up with anything except ‘make the bankers pay’.
Things are tough, there’s no denying that. The government levying increased fees on ALL students isn’t a positive solution; neither is a blanket ‘no’ to the introduction of any sort of fees. There are vulnerable students who need protecting, perhaps you should focus your effort on them rather than on outmoded aims irrelevant to what people need. Efforts need to be concentrated on getting more of the poorest students into third level and funding our universities properly.
Also, I never said I wasn’t aware of alternatives, I merely stated that neither the government or the USI are coming up with practical suggestions. Perhaps you should lose the aggression and engage with people rather than abusing them when you haven’t even read their statements correctly.
“all you people say is ‘no cuts’ but don’t back this up with anything except ‘make the bankers pay’.”
Absolute bollocks. You clearly have very little idea what FEE is about and how we operate. Please make an effort to find out more or stop talking non-sense
Students seems to have way too much time on their hands these days.
They’ll have plenty of time on their hands next year when they’re on the dole because they can’t afford to go to college!
Interestingly they’re never short for night out…
Some….not all. Indeed only some get the grant, some have difficulty paying fees, some have enough money for a night out, some take college seriously , some don’t so what was your point again?
Hopefully this will spur a response from the Labour Party who have stayed completely silent on their pre-election pledge. Good to see USI take direct action when needed. Fees of up to €5,000 would be disastrous for our future knowledge economy
This should have been planed in consultation with FEE. We know very well how to plan these sorts of things and know that you can;t effectively take a government building with only 10 people.
There is a committed activist network across the country that live and breathe for actions such as this with a wealth of individual experience. Ye should have spoke to us first, asked for our help and advice and maybe this would have been a great deal more effective. It for sure would have lasted through the night!
While I commend the USI in its efforts, it should be seeking to work with all of its members and with all organisations that have the same goals.
And Aodhán, you yourself have openly criticised actions like the occupations of government buildings when it is by student groups other than USI, now you praise such an action. Care to explain your backflip here?
Your opinion on direct action is well known to the FEE members you love to alienate.
Forward the revolution!!
FEE Abú!
Wow Fee are really good at turning every comment on a Journal story into a personal attack. i’m not a student or a member of USI or employed by USI. I’m not USI so please watch it when you use the term “ye (you)” .
But I do think our national Union should lead our direct action campaigns after a series of marches/ talks. In the past they have held some of the biggest and best occupations are country has seen. I’d also prefer elected officers to lead our campaigns so they can be accountable other than unelected student groups. Also I like the way you make yourself out to be an expert in direct action???
What do you think my opinion is on direct action as you don’t know me? I’ve been involved in plenty of occupations in last few years. Reply to my facebook if you want as here is not the place for a conversation
Quote:”I’d also prefer elected officers to lead our campaigns so they can be accountable other than unelected student groups. ”
Occupations by paid representatives are ok, occupations by ordinary USI members (such as those in FEE) are not?
FEE is not a representative group, it’s based on direct democracy – any member can go along to a meeting and vote on something. As a campaign based on direct democracy, it’s much more accountable to those in it, compared to USI.
That said, some in FEE need to get over themselves. They’re not the student movements equivalent of the A-Team,, an elite squad who can be called upon in times of trouble. USI officers have no interest in working with FEE, FEE should get the message, and concentrate on its own thing.
Personal attacks??
How sensitive, poor baby. X
“Members of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) had planned an extended occupation of the building in Dublin city centre, but left when Gardaí arrived on the scene.
The students had brought enough food with them to last for several weeks – as well as a portable toilet – to the government ministry on Kildare Street in Dublin.”
What a bunch of cowards. Ran like little girls as soon as the cops showed up.
I thought the same thing…..prematurely by some accounts.
I think this whole thing is farcical. Were USI members balloted before an occupation was decided upon? Do most students get to choose whether they are USI members or not? No.
I’ve no problem with the fight against fees but as I understood it they were mandated to negotiate and deliberate, not to occupy buildings.
I absolutely agree Sarah. The USI seems to believe that it wholly represents the views of the Irish student population when in reality they are a bunch of self-serving, immature, careerist little boys and girls pretending they are grown-ups. I certainly don’t in any way feel represented by their childish antics and unwillingness to engage in any real fourms of discussion and debate!
I might be wrong, but Calling for a ballot of general members might have affected the element of surprise.
@Conor Kirwan
I think that is an over-simplified misguided and a cynical view of USI.
Have you personally met any of the officer board? Whatever you may think of certain individual members and their reasons for being involved (which I would again label as short-sighted) you cannot tar them all with one brush, that is simply unfair.
What, if I can ask are you doing to ensure the grant is not cut and fees are not brought back or increased? Whatever you may think of USI at least they’re doing something.
Rebek’ah; Are you not involved with the USI in relation to this campaign?
@Kevin
What do you mean by involved? I’m a de facto member of USI being a member of UCSDU. Other than that I have no affiliation whatsoever to USI. Or are you asking am I involved with the occupation? That would be a no.
@ Rebek’ah: I am actually engaging with public representatives, and in my writing (admittedly much of which is unpublished), I am putting forward practical suggestions to combat educational disadvantage. Free fees have not succeeded the way they were supposed to, and it is time to let go of the idea that they were supposed to dramatically increase participation in third level amongst lower socio-economic groupings.
The USI’s silly little occupation of a government department does not constitute doing anything to ensure the grant is not cut and fees are brought back. It’s a pathetic PR stunt devised to put something on the cover of the Trinity News and the UCD Observer. It is not engaging in any meaningful way with the real issues.
And by the way, over the years I have met and engaged with many USI officers, and they have a lot of growing up to do!
@Kevin.
I phrased that badly. What I meant was, I am an ordinary student, I am not a member of UCDSU executive or USI officer board so I am not merely defending USI because I am a “hack” as some would say, but because I think they’re getting an unnecessarily hard time and their intentions are fundamentally good.
@Conor.
It’s funny that we’re having two separate conversations and there is such disparity between them!
Glad to hear it, I wasn’t accusing you of doing nothing, I was just genuinely curious as a lot of people who slate USI are themselves not doing anything to resolve the problem. I would be very much in favour of the loan schemeI mentioned above and have written to my local Councillors and TDs on the matter.
Yes, it is a PR stunt, but at this late stage the topic needs all the media attention it can get, and I have to admit I am disgusted and frustrated with the Labour Party and would indeed also like clarification on the issue. The simple issue is, if fees go up to 5,000 my family can’t afford to send me to college next year and I will have to take out a loan anyway. There are a lot of students out there like me who want clarification and transparency about what is coming in budget 2012. USI have attempted to call on The Labour Party only to be met with the eternal excuses politicians seem to have.
Rebek’ah I was just curious because I saw your promoting a few SU events and have a Facebook profile picture with the USI “Stop Fees” twibbon. Plus your friends with the USI Education Officer. Aside from that, I see your having a go at Fine Gael and Labour on twitter. Makes me wonder, are you just an ordinary student defending the USI or are you more involved than your letting on.
The USI have spent THOUSANDS of money trying to highlight the issue of fees, on the past few weeks alone never mind during the lifetime of the anti-fees campaign. They, including Garry Redmond USI President, are not offering any solution to the problem facing the country. The governments education department is trying to address the issue by raising funds by charging students more to go into college. Could this be done more fairly? Sure. Should it be a top down approach? Sure. Are the USI even proposing other ideas such as cutting the public servants in the college (Administration for example) plus lecturers pay? It would appear not. Are the USI trying to campaign hard and lobby hard to get the disastrous grant system sorted ensuring its fairer, easier to apply for and quicker? It would appear not.
Here we have a group of student representatives being paid by students to go out and spend thousands on a campaign. A campaign that’s utterly pointless. They money needs to come from somewhere. The USI needs to wake up, acknowledge that, and try campaign for a fairer introduction of fees, the grant system, education in general etc.
The money being spent on this campaign could part fund students in hardship. Those students who are really effected and cant pay their way through college. Instead of dragging students out of college (missing vital hours and days of education, which the tax payer is forced to pay) in a pointless protest the USI should be campaigning on more pressing issues that they can change. Its an awful shame the waste of money that is going on at the USI when there are students struggling to get by and there is not enough help for them.
As a side note in relation to “call on The Labour Party only to be met with the eternal excuses politicians seem to have.” The USI were very quick to delete Facebook comments from myself and many others who pointed out that the USI seemed to be operating in a biased fashion while pushing the whole Labour message during the General Election. Likewise, comments pointing out that Labour were clearly doing this as a publicity stunt and would turn around and do the opposite while in power were removed.
Now Labour are the bad guys and the poor USI are innocent in all of this? Rotten to the core the whole fiasco was.
I think we would all like some clarification as to what will happen. It looks like we won’t see it until budget day though! There are a lot of people in the same boat as yourself who will not be able to afford fees without a loan and as a supporter of the Labour Party, I am thoroughly ashamed with the way this issue has been handled.
The pledge should never have been made in the first place. A six year old will tell you that making a promise you can’t keep will bite you in the ass at some point. The money is simply not there and FG were never going to allow the retention of free fees in the programme for government.
However, I still feel very strongly that the USI needs to let go of its out-dated view on fees. Universities cannot survive without the funding that either fees or increased taxes will bring. If they won’t accept fees then the only alternative is higher taxation, and I’m quite sure that’s not a runner in middle Ireland. The USI has failed to sound out student bodies and third level families on the issue and come up with a practical solution.
@Kevin.
Cheers for the Facebook and twitter stalk, much appreciated.
I’m promoting an SU event? Well yes, I’m a member of the UCDSU Welfare Crew and I was promoting mental health week, or is that not allowed?
Yes, I am friends with Aengus, and other members of the USI officer board, as are hundreds of other ordinary, non-affiliated students. What was your point again?
No, I had a go at Fine Gael on twitter and defended Labour long before this campaign, I’m sorry if my having my own opinions and political views somehow insinuates I’m in USI… Oh wait, they don’t.
I do agree that another solution has to be found, but the platform USI are arguing this on is that both Labour +Fine Gael said their manifestos were “fully costed and implementable”, so, in their own words, the government need not introduce fees. Personally I would be in favour of a loan scheme (see above) but that’s just me.
USI have an obligation to represent their members, and fronting a national campaign is the best way to do so, they have the chance of bettering the situation of many than just a few. Also, touching lecturers salaries is unfortunately not possible at the moment as you will know, due to the Croke Park agreement so of course they’re not going to advocate that.
@ Kevin – I definitely agree with you that the USI are totally misguided in this campaign an ought to direct their resources elsewhere. There is no emphasis on genuinely helping the poorest and most disadvantaged students, rather maintaining a pampered middle-class lifestyle. I have also encountered their Soviet style censorship on their FB page, they don’t seem to take criticism well!
I forgot to mention this before, but after the student march two weeks ago I encountered a few of the protesters in red t-shirts complaining that their 46A had been cancelled. Perhaps blocking the main thoroughfares in the city centre may have had a small bearing on this?
Rebek’ah; Ah I just had this feeling that there was a USI connection. A lot of people who go out there in full defense of the USI make me a bit suspicious and I was curious if you were just a general student or someone involved in a SU/USI. :) Forgive me for the “stalking” but your posts link to twitter which links to Facebook so I assumed you were not concerned about privacy! :)
I would be very familiar with how a Students Union works, the people who get involved in such, and the USI. I know some past and present members of the USI also. My point was, that you are here pushing a bit of a pro-USI agenda and knocking others who point out some of the flaws and stupid things they do. Your clearly biased. Your heavily involved in your Union and friends with many in the USI. Your bound to be biased! Your knocking the government also, which a lot of people do but your doing it while also pushing a pro-USI vibe here on TheJournal. Your also re-tweeting a USI post. It stinks to the high heavens of a USI connection and a pro USI person.
Not every student gets a chance to get on these “crews” as they tend to be given to people close / heavily involved in the SU. Id assume (possibly incorrectly, but in many cases its correct) that you are a Class Representative for your Union. Its how the whole SU cycle mostly works, plus they tend to run for a position in the past or get involved in the officers election etc.
With all of this considered, you don’t appear as an average student with no bias towards the USI. Your very much biased. :) Saying all that, I am not suggesting for one second your not entitled to your views. I would feel that you are indeed, as you put it yourself, a “hack”.
In relation to the whole Croke Park agreement – it would appear then, that the USI don’t support a “top down” approach and feel students should take the pinch while lecturers/public servants in these colleges and universities get to walk away with big wage packets and pensions – plus, in many cases, a job for life. That’s hardly representing students fairly, many of whom are struggling big time financially and also with getting through college in general (tough course, poor lecturing staff etc). The USI should be calling for a top down approach – many students outside of the union (who tend to follow blindly what the SU Officers and USI tell them) are calling for this. Just the other day I spoke with a student who is based off campus for his course, because the college doesn’t have the facilities to run the course on campus. He was telling me that there is no transport to it, and he must get there by driving his own car there. Likewise, lecturing staff who have to head out here must make their own way but are paid EXTRA to go there.
There is a huge amount of savings that could be made in Education, there is massive room for reform and there is major more pressing issues for the USI to be campaigning for which can make a difference.
I note that you have yet to even comment on the spending by the USI in this campaign and how it could have been directed towards a student in financial need. Disappointing.
Get a room guys! Lol
That’s a pretty piss-poor occupation. “We’re not coming out until the Tánaiste comes and… Oh shiut, they called the guards! Bugger this!”
Fair play to them. Are they special students that don’t have exams starting in the next few weeks?
I read that they are sabbatical officers so to answer your question albeit with second hand information, yes they are special students / students representatives. I also read on USI Facebook page that the occupation is ongoing with 4 protestors.
Some people just can’t wait one more week until the budget…. This is a publicity stunt and nothing more. They should be fined for wasting Garda time. They’ve better things to be doing than looking after these idiots. I thought the USI would be better than that. It seems us students have a very immature leadership.
Better things to do like arresting criminal bankers, corrupt politicians and the crooks responsible for the socialisation of private debts?
Yeah I agree.
Kudos on bringing the portable jacks but Enterprise is headed up by Richard Bruton, Fine Gael. They should be down outside the Dept of Education or Gilmores office. Signing a pledge was a cynical stunt pulled by Quinn when they were particularly under pressure in
the polls, coupled with the about turn, it sends a terrible message to young people about how to achieve in life, thought Ruairi Quinn was an honourable man up to this.
Problem is Department of Ed is one of the hardest to get into. Well guarded and security to get in. They would have had to check where they could get in/ where they wouldnt be expected also
Ah right, still impressed with them bringing the toilet, lateral thinking on a practical problem.
@Aodhán Didn’t NCAD students hold an occupation there in the snow last year? They brought 2 toilets, a 40 ft marquee, petrol generator, 1000 watt sound system, projector, and carpeting. It took 7 minutes to set all of this up. Everyone was dressed in suits and they held a conference on the future of education in the country with talks, workshops and video lectures. When they asked the USI for help they recieved absolutely nothing. Leaving when the gardaí arrive is pathetic. I hate when people try to aggravate the gardaí but that doesnt mean you should bend over backwards to facilitate them.
Bottom line is USI have not done a good job at really applying pressure and maybe they should contact NCAD for advice (again) rather than exclude them.
Or better yet talk to their local FEE branch for advice on basic direct activism and how to not get busted after 15 mins. Seriously guys, you need to be consulting with the pros when planning stuff like this.
After Fee’s record of occupations I don’t think so. If you occupy a building its not really a good idea to go in chanting or banging drums.
They left as soon as the filth turned up?? Radical dudes!!!!
It is totally unacceptable for the government to consider increasing college fees at the same time as it is withdrawing funding for post grads and also making it more difficult for young people to access BTEA. It’s just giving the message to our brightest and best “we don’t want you, f…. Off out of here. Another flight of the earls!
The guards showed up and they left? wtf kind of protest was that. Hahaha
This is all well and good, but on the eve of the budget, is too late.
1. Kick the gobsh!tes out of college for bunking off.
2. They’ve enough money for a months worth of food and 3 nights in coppers a week! So not that stuck are we kids?
3. So much passion for their cause they run at the first sign of trouble. Thank F they weren’t around in 1916!
15 minutes! Ah for fuck sake. Occupy a pair of balls lads.
Keep the money for pre, primary and secondary education. Anyone wanting to study at 3rd level for a future career should view college fees as an investment in their future. It might stop some of the idiots smoking joints and drinking through first year if they have a student loan to repay after flunking and wasting tax payers money. Student loans is the fairest way to go given our limited resources. A guarantor system (the folks) could prevent those emigrating after qualification from defaulting on their loan.
Look at UK, Australia and New Zealand. You are clearly wrong, especially considering the Irish’s love of emigration.
Not to mention that graduating into the workforce with a load of enforced personal debt is kind of one of the main causes of the recession we’re in now. Your idea is made of fail.
Will.. 1. I’m looking for what exactly in the countries you list? 2. The recession has been partly caused by people taking on massive mortgage debt which has become unsustainable… Not student loans as you claim. Loans that can be repaid once you start earning, hence investing in your future. I argue given the fact the country is in receivership we need to prioritise education spend on the majority in the system so young kids get a decent basic education. Destined to fail over love of emigration you claim. No system is perfect but I seriously doubt most graduates are going to bail out and never return over a €10,000 student loan. About the same as an average car loan. Most Irish people want to live and settle here eventually. I would love if there was free education for all but the money is not there and the world is a cruel place beyond the ideology of the lecture hall.
€10,000 loan? What college courses have you based that figure on, hair and beauty?!
While your overall point is a fair one (in your opinion) your mostly off the mark here, and the loan system doesn’t work as well or as simply as you suggest..
1. Kick them out of college for bunking off. Free Ed and they decide to doss!
2. They’ve enough money for a months worth of food and 3 nights in coppers a week! So not that stuck for funds are we kids?
3. So much passion for their cause they run at the first sign of trouble. Thank God they weren’t around in 1916!
Free ed? Where? Not in this country.
Yay guys go for it, take over a room for 2 minutes, the revolution has started , I hear the nxt target is the bus stop at the end of abbey st
that made me laugh chicken ball…he he he
A shower of pampered brats,, the boy scouts would put up a better show, anyway there was probably a drinks promotion on somewhere
fair play to them. more protests like that from larger crowds and things will start to change when the government shits itself at the thought of the the masses going rouge
Agreed, NVDA needs to be conducted in tandem with mass mobilisations of people and media friendly campaigns. It’s essential to put across the message that we are serious force to be reckoned with yet at the same time not a threat to the ordinary working man or woman.
The aim of the occupation was to get Labour to ‘clarify’ their position on fees.
In case USI haven’t worked it out, here it is – they want to increase them. Now that that’s out of the way…
@Rebek’ah, I respectfully suggest that you check your ‘facts’.
Quote:”Fine Gael said their manifestos were “fully costed and implementable”, so, in their own words, the government need not introduce fees. ”
Fine Gaels pre-election manifesto advocated fees – additional graduate prsi contributions which would raise the amount students currently contribute towards the costs of their education to 30% of the total cost (page 37 of their manifesto).
Quote:”I know for a fact that the average lecturer in UCD gets more than 100,000.”
This is not a fact, this is – the highest salary level for a lecturer in UCD was €81,452.00 in 2010 (on a 7-point pay-scale starting at €50,807.00) Even if you were talking about Senior lecturers, they can’t earn an average of €100,000, they can’t even earn that as a maximum in UCD.
There are a number of high paid admins in UCD – Des Fitzgerald, the Bursar, Brady, the other VPs. These people are not lecturers.
It’s important to keep things in perspective (based on evidence). For every 7 people in Higher Education who earn over €100,000, there are 93 who do not. People on over €100,00 should have their salaries cut, if possible.
As for sources of funding to cover the project €500 million deficit (according to the Hunt report), here’s a few ideas:
Abolition of property based ‘Legacy Reliefs on non-residential property – €450 million
Reduce the level at which individuals and companies can claim interest repayments against tax for residential rental properties from 75% to 40% – €350 million
Reduce income tax relief on pension contributions to the standard income tax rate – €500 million
There are always alternatives.
They would have appeared to move building, and a number of them were removed by force and taken to Store St. Garda Station. Negotiations between Gardai and Colm Murphy (Deputy President of USI) were taking place prior to this. All taken from the University Times twitter!
If the USI would support a Free Education for Everyone occupation we would have the place taken over permanently. Piece of cake.
Bout fucking time.
“Members of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) had planned an extended occupation of the building in Dublin city centre, but left when Gardaí arrived on the scene.”
Ha ha ha ha! It’s like an episode of Citizen Smith, all talk no guts or determination. Go run home to mammy for a cupa and some sympathy.
@Kevin.
I don’t go “in full defence” of the USI, I’ve already said I don’t agree with how they’re approaching the fees topic, they have no viable alternative and the “5,000″ figure that was being bandied around somewhat illlegitimised the campaign. I am not a sheep who blindly follows a body, anyone who knows you will tell you how fiercely opinionated is and how I am a promoter of independent though.
Haha I was joking about the stalking, was merely a friendly jibe :P Nope, not a class rep, just interested in student welfare and current events :) I wasn’t knocking anyone for anything they do to further to promotion of the student agenda :) Haha I wouldn’t say I am “friends” with any of the USI officer board members, I just know them from attending USI demonstrations. I’m not heavily involved in my Union, I’m heavily involved in my university generally, because I think college time is about more than just the academics, I’m also involved in various societies for that very reason, one of them yes, being the welfare crew. I was retweeting it to let people know what was going on, I myself had no idea what was going on, something I am critical of USI about, they cannot stage these things without involving the entire student population or at least informing them.
I would completely disgree with what you’re saying there, every student had the opportunity to get involved with a ” crew” whether it be ents, welfare, campaigns, sports etc:. All you have to do is email to register your interest and then it is up to you to decide how heavily involved you are :) I don’t think I’m a hack, as in my opinion a hack is someone who gets involved merely to further their own ambitions and ask anyone who knows me that is not why I am involved.
Croke Park is a contractual agreement thus binding on the parties privy to the contract. There is no “top down” approach, it is legally binding and that’s that. I don’t support the Croke Park agreement and voiced my opinions at the time, before it was signed. Of course it is not fair how much lecturers get paid, the average Cambridge lecturer (arguably the most prestigious university in the world) get 75,000 sterling and I know for a fact that the average lecturer in UCD gets more than 100,000.
There are huge amounts of savings to be made in education? Bearing in mind the legal ramifications of the Croke Park Agreements where are these savings? I did make a comment regarding the USI spending on this campaign. “USI have an obligation to represent their members, and fronting a national campaign is the best way to do so, they have the chance of bettering the situation of many than just a few. “
Rebek’ah; Sorry, didn’t see your reply till now as it didn’t come under our original conversation. I was worried that I had possibly forced you to retreat and hide away from our little debate!!! :p
I’m delighted your not freaked out by my investigative skills coming out anyway!! Perhaps your not as strong in the line of defense on the whole USI issue. I guess when I saw your name appearing here a few times leaning more towards the USI, plus your involvement in college elections, having the USI no fees Faecbook twibbon, retweeting the USI, knocking the government, etc. I got a little suspicious. Because a lot of people claim to be completely innocent in defending them, but on digging they have generally very strong links with the USI or similar anti-fees campaign (such as Sinn Fein and the Socialists, who tend to jump on bandwagons to get votes). You just seemed to be putting a “Poor USI” front out a little at the start and expressed a bit about how people are slating them. Well, I think its obvious why they are being slated anyway!
As for getting involved in these “crews” – its done a tad different in other colleges and is more a closed shop. Its great though that with your involvement in the USI/SU that your not one of these union heads that are so locked up in the union bubble that you cant see beyond it. Most union folks I met are the opposite and are convinced that what their union and the USI say is gospel and they can do no wrong.
Though id hardly call “USI have an obligation to represent their members, and fronting a national campaign is the best way to do so, they have the chance of bettering the situation of many than just a few. “ a decent comment on their spending. The figures thrown around come directly from the President of the USI, Gary Redmond. Their campaign is dropping in support because people (students) are slowly seeing that its a complete waste of money and that fees of some sort are coming regardless. They are spending massive money on a dead horse campaign, money which could be put to better use elsewhere. That plus their general behaviour (forcing Guards to knock down doors and arrest several reps) doesn’t go down well in the eyes of the public.
Now, are we getting this damn room or not?!?! ;)
have your say