in thinking Ireland are going to go bust?

[BagofHolly]

Doesn't look good!
My friends are pulling everything out of Irish based financial institutions and I can't imagine we're alone in that!

That's as may be, BPB. Certainly, when I compare the health treatment received by members of my family in Ireland over the past couple of years to what they would have received in the UK I never fail to be grateful that I no longer live in Ireland.

And on many occasions, its vice versa. I have had amazing and free treatment from our health service, certainly the treatment my DH got a few years ago I can never imagine happening so swiftly and easily in the NHS.

Just because its not the NHS doesn't mean we're all dying on trolleys in corridors. Its far from perfect and yes I'm jealous in many aspects of the NHS, but its not quite as bad as many like to make out.

Do you have to pay to see a GP in Ireland?

You are so completely wrong otchayaniye.

It won't be 10 years, more like

"More austerity measures, more cuts, working longer, swingeing cuts to public sector "

Surely all of the above measures are pretty meaningless because there simply needs to be massive changes to the banking system that brought about the entire mess in Ireland and globally?

Fair enough, BPB, but as it happens my 83-year-old aunt, who is dying of cancer, was left on a trolley next to the (continually opening and closing) emergency room door of a large city hospital for 36 hours a couple of weeks ago. So it happens.

allnew, yes about ?55 a pop unless you have a full medical card or GP visit medical card. A lot of people have private insurance, many plans include for part payment of GP visits.

I grew up in Ireland and I really hope that they get their act together. My mum is still over there, retired now, and they are incredibly generous to their OAPs (puts us to shame really, though if the country is struggling, its probably not that advisable). The healthcare service over there has been brilliant to her and she (and I) will defend them all the time. as BonniePrinceBilly says its far from perfect, but then so is the NHS.

With regards to the bailout, the UK are borrowing the money because we have a better credit rating and lending it to Ireland. It only becomes a problem to us if Ireland default, which I genuinely don't think will happen (at least I pray it won't). We, the public, are not bailing anyone out at the moment, its all down to banks.

It happens, and its awful. But the NHS has more than its fair share of horror stories too.

This is breaking my heart. I don't live in Ireland any more but I see what's happening to my family. My brothers are about to be crushed by the next budget and my poor Dad was made redundant last year and has no hope of working again now at his age. This after just about managing to keep it together in the 80s with a mortgage and four kids, it's awful. I've started to think about moving home since having my daughter this year but as things stand that's not going to happen.

What are Cowen and Lenihan doing? What were they doing? Why were developers allowed to get away with the outrageous borrowings? Why is nobody from Anglo Irish Bank in prison? Along with Bertie Ahern? I get so angry about this, I'm starting to feel like an 18th century French peasant.

"Mayorquimby - the one I lived in for years - interesting how we have a different perspective, we obviously moved in different circles!"

When did you move? As soon as the late 90's hit everyone thought we were millionaires and got 100% mortgages for a one bedroom flats at e250K in "satelite towns" because they were told they had to get on the property ladder before it was too late as prices would never come down.

And if you didn't rock SoCoDu circles then you're probably right.

SoCoDu FTW

I was a culchie! No Dublin4 hijinks for me!
I moved in 2002 having been living with the son of a property developer who was selling flats at astronomical prices and who thought the good times would never end!

Your very unlikely to lose your money as an ordinary depositor. If the bank defaults, it's people who have leant them money such as bond holders who will lose their money. Deposits are not considered 'loans' although strictly speaking they are.