The protests over fuel costs

[Papercompany]

I support them ..they seem like decent, hard working people who are at the end of their tether. Threatening them (as the Guards Representative did earlier) is not the way forward.

Seriously? I have an oncology appointment in the morning 😢

All these muppets think about is themselves. They expect everyone's support but will not return the favour. Driving around in their 200k fixed assets. And we're meant to feel sorry for them 🤣

I’m so sorry about the disruption. It’s not fair. I really hope you make it to your appointment okay.

State exam practicals postponed...people too young to vote are having their lives disrupted which isn't helping a lot of families. (I remember the constant practice for home economics junior cert curry).

I swear now that makes me want to get out and protest them. How dare they.
Our young people.
@Berlinlover i am sorry. You have no idea how angry this makes me.
Where is our humanity?

I want a lower col, but not at this cost.
This is how you end up with a rapist felon in exchange for cheap gas. Which no one bloody got.
Ill not trade my humanity for pieces of silver.
Shameful behaviour.

The rolling protests are still ongoing...a joke. They will really lose whatever bit of public support they had.

@Papercompany agree I think people are starting to get really pissed off . It’s trump people should be protesting about to be honest. Have these people no jobs to go to themselves

I think a poll of how many people who joined in on O’Connell St are long term unemployed would be interesting.

yes that would be interesting indeed . I’m just getting messages from work from all the people who can’t get in and meetings being cancelled etc and people panicking about getting in it just makes me think where do these people get the time to sit on a motorway for hours on end .

Farmers have always cried the 'poor me' act. They've had it good for so long.
Grants for their children's studies regardless of income. Everything handed to them when they shout. Me me me.
How is that fair on the rest of the country? And I can guarantee that they won't return the favour if the rest of us need it. With their expensive tractors and machinery. And plenty of land. We should not support them.

I’d wager the expensive machinery is on hire purchase.

It’s very odd to me that the EU are now seen as big & bad when Id understood that the EU has been hugely beneficial for Ireland, including giving grants to farmers, funding roads etc.

I wasn’t aware that there was a special grant for education, had a quick look, not sure what to make of that.

I'm amazed that there is still support for the protesters. How much more do they want?! This protest is going to cost the country an absolute massive amount of money. The Garda overtime bill alone is huge.

I think there is a huge number of people who make up their mind based on a few tiktok videos and a vague sense of anger towards the powers to be.

It’s Ireland, we have many systemic issues but we also have people who will never be happy. I don’t know why anyone half decent would waste their potential income & peace of mind running for politics.

Is it true that there's a vote of no confidence in the government?

Friend has actually managed to get his trip postponed I think it's something to do with the proximity to the protest site

They're actually having trouble getting stuff in and out of the warehouse anyway

I think there's a vote of no confidence but they will doubtless do deals with independents to get through .
Less importantly has Mary Lou had her hair done with a lighter colour? Had work done?

Yep. But its unlikely to bring down the government. The support for the blockades as been a bit of anti government rabble rousing, but the complaints of "where is my money " from everyone else is already starting.

Apparently a 14 year old boy was pepper sprayed in Whitegate and there's talk of him suing the government... He was there 'supporting' his father - who brings a child to an event like that?! Where is the personal responsibility?! The Guards had repeatedly asked them to leave and warned that force will be used.... If anything the parents should be in trouble for bringing a minor to an event like that.

Just seen her on 6 one news. I think she must have got a better hairdresser. She has nice highlights, much better that the box dye black she had before.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/revenue-has-registered-judgment-mortgages-against-home-and-farmland-of-fuel-protest-leader-who-claimed-he-owed-taxman-no-money/a311414126.html

I’m torn on this story. Low income PAYE workers can’t choose not to pay tax. if you are working 40 hours in a low paid job, you may not have time to get a second job. So in that sense this family were better off. And lots of people can’t have as many children as they would like so I do someone feel a bit weary of “supporting a large family”.

On the other hand farming is essential, maybe small farms need to be looked at to see if and how they should be better supported.

m.independent.ie/farming/legal-advice/my-elderly-parents-never-declared-any-income-from-their-small-farm-and-im-worried-revenue-will-come-after-them/a1199640237.html

I mean really. Not declaring it?
Im a SME. I cant be a week late with returns before i get a revenue letter. Or take a fiver without declaring it.
Fuck them.

The problems in Ireland are not unique to the government or the civil service. You could have Michael O’Leary running the civil service & people would still come up with a reason to evade tax.

We do need some systemic changes particularly in the civil service. We have a country where the private sector have defined contribution pensions & a public sector on defined benefit pensions. That’s nuts for starters.

But we also have people evading tax & people sitting on welfare who don’t intend to come off it.

The people 'sitting on welfare who don't intend to come off it'... This really needs to be addressed. But there is often a disincentive to better yourself as it may affect your benefits.

For example, I have to pay €65 to see a doctor...whereas those with medical cards can be seen for free.. why not charge a small nominal amount - say €10? Nothing should be free.

And Free Legal Aid must be costing the Country an absolute fortune... I think benefits should be directly affected by any convictions - even just a small amount.

I have free travel as a pensioner. Now I'm not wealthy and have rent and bills to pay. But what's wrong with a fee of say €5 for Intercity trips. Tenner to see a Dr. Fair enough. When I was working I couldn't afford private insurance and didn't qualify for medical card. Thank God I didn't fall sick very often. The squeezed middle ie low paid workers.

I think free travel for pensioners is a good thing, it encourages people to get out & about which is probably positive for their health.

Im more referring to people of working age who simply don’t want to work. The hardcore element of that needs to be looked at. The people who can’t afford to work needed to be helped through income supplements. For the people who won’t engage I think a voucher system needs to be considered for very long term offenders.

And generally I think €10 to see a doctor is fair enough.