To say Ireland has the right idea: Budget 2023

[50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself]

I watched agog at last weeks UK mini budget...an absolute travesty.

Today was Ireland's Budget 2023, which was much more impressive.
Hightlights include:

25% reduction in childcare fees
Extension of free GP care to cover half the country
Free contraception
Large reductions in third level fees (which were already a third of the UK)
Increases in lower tax bands
Increases in all social welfare payments
Double payment of child benefit
Electricity credits of 600€ per household
Reduced tax on fuels and energy costs
Increase rent tax credits
Funding for 10,000 new social homes
Increased third level grants
Removal hospital charges and free contraception extended

It's all concentrated on the cost of living, on making things easier for people on low and average wages, looking after those with less.

It's what a budget in these times should be

I’m sure aldi in the uk is cheaper than aldi in Ireland though! I’m actually finding Tesco cheaper for lots of things at the moment (I live in Ireland!).

Got a giggle from this take on the Irish budget 😂

I think your thread is very misleading and a bit goady

Only on MN would somebody be praising a positive budget possibly be seen as goady.

Not in the slightest bit misleading. Nothing I have said here is untrue. Point out anything misleading.

It is completely misleading and goady.

I would rather live in Ireland than the uk for a lot of reasons (housing is my main bone of contention here), I also welcome much of what was in the budget yesterday. But I feel as though you’re painting us to look like some kind of utopia and we’re really not.

and yet you are unable to point out where it is either misleading or goady?

Utopia? Perhaps you didn't bother to read all of my comments, such as:
Is Ireland perfect? Far from it
I didn't say it wasn't (dire)
Renting in Ireland might not be the best

So again, what precisely is misleading or goady?

@VeryImportantTitle

It is a tax haven because it's corporation tax is about 50% lower than anywhere else.

Your reasons are weird. The very idea that the UK doesn't have a highly trained tech industry workforce is clearly nonsense. I'm not sure why anyone would make such a claim.

www.uktech.news/news/industry-analysis/uk-tech-industry-valued-1tn-20220329

"Last year, UK tech companies raised a record £29.4bn. Government research published last year found that the UK digital sector is on track to add £190bn in value to the UK economy and create nearly 700,000 jobs over the next three years."

It doesn't have a highly trained tech workforce IN THE EU with access to everything that entails, was the point being made.

The UK can't do what Ireland has done.

Misleading:
‘Yeah, but we earn more money’

‘Lots of kids get free braces on the HSE’

‘Food is no more expensive that UK now’

‘Childcare is far from non-existent, it's everywhere’

‘Renting in Ireland might not be the best, but its miles ahead of the UK’

Goady:
‘I watched agog at last weeks UK mini budget...an absolute travesty’

‘It's what a budget in these times should be’

‘Quite a big difference actually. In Ireland you don't feel hated for being poor, and you don't feel like your government doesn't care at all about you’

By the way,

The average annual earnings for employees in Ireland is €44,202 per year

In 2021 the average UK salary was £38,131

None of that is misleading!
We DO have higher wages, thats a fact.

Lot's of kids DO get free braces on the HSE, 2 of my children have, 3 of my neices/nephews. The clinic we go to for them is full of kids every day with their free braces/

Food isn't any more expensive than what I see when I visit family in London.

Childcare IS widely available, there are now 8 creches in my surrounding area, including a new one at the end of my road.

Renting IS better than the UK, we have PArt 4 tenancies, rental pressure zones with rent control, and more social housing.

And as for the goady...that's called my OPINION,and you're just pissed at someone being positive instead of all the usual whining on here!!

Cop yourself on.

Lol

@50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself

Sorry it didn't read like that to me.

As regards the UK doing what Ireland has done and whether it will be possible for the UK to create a dynamic and thriving economy based on low corporate taxation, I am unsure as to whether it will be possible. But I suspect we are soon going to find out.

Impressive debating skills there.

How is "‘I watched agog at last weeks UK mini budget...an absolute travesty’ goady? Do you not agree? Do you think it was a good budget?

I suspect you are too. And I can't see any reason why multi nationals would choose the UK over the EU anymore, but perhaps I'm wrong

Better than yours [insert biscuit]

In Ireland you always have to pay for GPs - unless you fulfil certain criteria due to income or illness or are a child.

I can manage full words and answering a question, so no, I don't think so

David McWilliams: The ‘Ireland is crap’ brigade are way off mark but we need to sort the housing crisis

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/09/24/david-mcwilliams-the-ireland-is-crap-brigade-are-way-off-the-mark-but-we-need-to-sort-the-housing-crisis/

Quite balanced and factual

I’ve actually learned stuff from this thread so thanks @50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself . I genuinely thought if you had no medical card and no health insurance you would need to pay 100 euros for every night you stayed in a public hospital.
I agree that the budget has been a positive one overall.

So much for the unemployed, I would have liked to have seen the tax free allowance increased. I only earn 31k so less tax over 40k won't help me!

But you might earn 37k next year, and now you won't go into the higher tax bracket.

I think my biggest take away from the budget is that the government doesn’t hate us.
Hate us, they'd be unemployed without us and came very close to losing their place.

I'm personally still angry at the energy companies massive profits that the government haven't addressed as they enjoy their dividends.

They'd be in opposition, but very few would be unemployed.

The point being, its a much kinder budget. It's for the people

So much for the unemployed, I would have liked to have seen the tax free allowance increased. I only earn 31k so less tax over 40k won't help me!

Yes, the average earner won't see much of a difference while inflation rates will continue to climb.

Granted the government has been buried in disaster after disaster between Brexit, Covid, now the Ukrainian refugee crisis leaving the every day issues festering for years.

Can't stand Darragh O'brien.

I have two friends who have good jobs to return to after maternity leave but there are no childcare facilities available.

Ecce workers are leaving as the age has been reduced by a year, they signed up for preschool teaching not nappy changing, the government has reduced the amount per DC on the ecce too, pushing preschools to close down or work with minium staff.

That's why many crèche won't take babies as the ratio is tight and not worth the money to man baby rooms.

Totally agree!!

That sounds like a much better budget and that’s excellent. Hopefully England/the UK will take note!

I was surprised contraception isn’t free (has been forever here) but given the turmoil over abortions and religious element in Ireland that makes sense. Another positive step forward though!