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

Do you think Ireland would ever extend free healthcare to whole population?

*Do you think Ireland would ever extend free healthcare to whole population(
No.
I wouldn't expect that either.
I'd be happy if outpatient services were better.

Yes, it's part of the plan.
However a lot of people with private health care may prefer to keep it.
The money could be spent elsewhere - asd services, reduce waiting lists for public patients etc

The govt have a limited budget and have to spend it as best as they can, they cannot fix everything at once but it's good to see improvements being made in lots of areas.

The balance of public and private is a good one, those who can afford to pay takes some of the pressure off the public list.

Come January I'm ready to board the ship of private health care.

The ever diminishing Irish-America vote in the US would be more likely to put the US first. One has to remember Biden has been pursuing an America First policy. Afghanistan is one example.

The majority of Biden's votes wasn't from Irish-Americans.

IIRC, the EU lost the Google tax case and the ROI Government argued against the EU case:

"The Commission ordered Apple to pay €13 billion, plus interest, in unpaid Irish taxes from 2004–14 to the Irish state.[2] It was the largest corporate tax "fine" (in fact a recovery order, technically not a fine) in history.[3] On 7 September 2016, the Irish State secured a majority in Dáil Éireann to reject payment of the back-taxes,[4] which including penalties could reach €20 billion,[5] or 10% of 2014 Irish GDP.[a] In November 2016, the Irish government formally appealed the ruling, claiming there was no violation of Irish tax law,[6][7] and that the commission's action was "an intrusion into Irish sovereignty", as national tax policy is excluded from EU treaties.[8] In November 2016, Apple CEO Tim Cook, announced Apple would appeal,[9] and in September 2018, Apple lodged €13 billion to an escrow account, pending appeal.[10] In July 2020, the European General Court struck down EU tax decision as illegal, ruling in favor of Apple."

Yes, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael don't want to let Provisional Sinn Féin get into Government, hence the budget.

Yes, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael don't want to let Provisional Sinn Féin get into Government, hence the budget

That ship sailed a long time ago I'm afraid

Not so. Indeed, a political expert did say recently that it would be difficult for Provisional Sinn Féin to form a government. The ROI would have an unwanted fact in all Europe - a political party still controlled by a private army in government according to all intelligence reports. Most of the ROI population doesn't want PSF in judging from previous election results.

It'd be a different story if the Republic of Ireland had FPTP. But it doesn't.

Sure they would....by putting everyone's taxes up to cover the cost. Then it wouldn't be really free would it? Everyone would be paying for it....like they do in the UK with National Insurance and taxes there.

Government want to get re-elected? Shocker!

Indeed, a political expert did say recently that it would be difficult for Provisional Sinn Féin to form a government.

A political expert? So what, there are hundreds, all with different views.

Most of the ROI population doesn't want PSF in judging from previous election results.

They performed best at the last election and FF and FG have been fairly catastrophic for young people ever since then. I speak to young people in my job all the time. They are through with the current government and many older voters are exactly the same.

I don't particularly like the shinners either, but you'd be a fool not to take them very seriously in the next election.

Is performing best the same as most people wanting them?

Of course not. Didn't 75% of voters not vote PSF?

Your point would be relevant in a FPTP scenario, but that's not what the ROI has.

That's NOT how the EC and ECB saw it.

“It was the Irish banks that created a big problem for Ireland but also the other countries in the euro area. This should be taken into consideration.

“It would be wrong to give the impression that Europe has created a problem for Ireland.

“It was the banking sector in Ireland that was one of the biggest problems in the world in terms of banking stability, let’s be honest.”

- EC President Barroso in 2013

They were blaming the ROI for harming the EU sector.

Of course not. Didn't 75% of voters not vote PSF?

And even more than that didn't want the other parties, duh.

They weren't far off having enough seats for the win last time and things have only changed in their favour. You can delude yourself however you want however. 😉

If SF had fielded enough candidates in the last election they would've got in IMO.

Didn't one of their candidates go on holiday for the last week of the election, and STILL topped the poll?

Sorry for the serial post, but I think the Government is spending all this money in a) a populist move and b) an attempt to shaft the Shinners when they inevitably win the next election.

"Let's see you deliver in your housing and health promises now Shinners"

Possibly not. They would have taken seats from the small left parties and left independents. The Paul Murphy types. Those groups and SF between them still didn’t have a majority.

Will be different after next election I expect.

We're in a similar situation to the UK there is no decent reliable political party to run the government.

If SF got in they would d spend the next 4 years discussing a united Ireland given the amount of time that was spent on Brexit while the country fell apart is enough for me for a decade.

Better the devil you know. 😈

"Out of the frying pan into the fire" comes to mind.

No, FF and FG combined was 43.1% which is the point I was making. Hence, most Irish voters didn't want PSF in government. You'd be right if I was referring to single parties which I certainly wasn't with the sole exception of PSF I demonstrating it is a feature of democracy that sections of the electorate DON'T get the government they voted for.

The Irish system means parties must agree to a coalition, no? A refusal to form a coalition with PSF is all that's needed since its not a FPTP system. It will be difficult for PSF due to that.

The Irish system means parties must agree to a coalition, no?

A party can simply win enough seats which I expect they're capable of doing.

A refusal to form a coalition with PSF is all that's needed since its not a FPTP system. It will be difficult for PSF due to that

Not at all, plenty of independents and smaller parties who'd love a crack at power. Plus I wouldn't put it last either of the main parties to do so either. Not that I think it will come to that. The idea that no one would have a coalition with them is ludicrous. I'm getting the impression you don't actually know that much about ROI politics.

Apart from a few Independents and very minor parties like PBPS, who do you think would go into a Coalition with SF, for them to get the numbers to have a majority?

Apart from a few Independents and very minor parties like PBPS, who do you think would go into a Coalition with SF, for them to get the numbers to have a majority?

If they get their election strategy right, I don't think they'd need any more than that.

And I wouldnt put it past FF in particular to do a U turn on this.

A quick google confirms that Martin won't rule out a coalition with SF. Interesting, I hadn't realised he'd been as explicit.

Michèal Martin's party has similar values to SF supporting blue collar workers.

I thought Leo Varadkar done well throughout the Brexit negotiations he held his own.

I think they may have saved themselves with this budget.