Irish Politics Thread (Budget 2018)

[Socialist Mercanda]

I made one of these a long time ago, pre-Kenny resignation, but it's long dead. What with the Budget 2018 being announced, I thought it fair to reboot this thread.

BUDGET 2018
https://www.rte.ie/news/budget-2018/201 ... ey-points/

The above RTE article gives a good quick rundown. There's been some ""tax cuts"" (the higher rate of tax entry is higher, and USC rates are lowered) and some expansion of welfare payments (Dole is up a fiver it seems), as well as investment into housing. Sunbeds got a big tax hike! The minimum wage got a bumb to €9.55

I don't think this budget is too bad, but not too good either. But I don't think the Government's dedicated itself to healthcare reform, or any sort of reform really. Varadkar and Pachal have deemed it to have 'something for everything', but I don't think it any special. It isn't the budgets of the Celtic Tiger, where we dangerously increased spending while slashing taxes everywhere - although that was more fun than the budget for next year.

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In my opinion, the government's doing a lacklustre job. Varadkar's focusing on style over substance and the government is forgetting those outside Dublin. The recovery has picked up good pace in Dublin, but being from Tralee, I can say the recovery is a far away land, with Tralee having turned into a rough, dead, run-down ghost town since the crash. Being a FG-hater, I don't hate any passionate support for any political party, although I cautiously support FF if there were to be another election soon. I also have a soft spot for Sinn Féin, but I don't think it's ready for power. Also, although I may be a Kerryman, don't mention the fucking Healy-Rae's. Shame to our county Much like our other TDs...

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HOT ISSUES

• Homeless Crisis/Housing Crisis
• The HSE - when is it not an issue and crisis? Bed shortages, bla bla
• Abortion (Referendum on the 8th Amendment due for next year)
• Shane Ross's drink-driving bill (Opposed by the Holy God of Kerry, the Healy Raes, and other TDs)
• will add more when i get the time

[Chestaan]

The whole drive to cut taxes is so stupid and is just a way of Varadkar and FG to reward themselves and their rich buddies. Investments in services should be a priority rather than constantly cutting taxes.

[Ifreann]

Tax increases on fags, sunbeds, and fizzy drinks. Something something Tallaght something something.

[Socialist Mercanda]

The whole drive to cut taxes is so stupid and is just a way of Varadkar and FG to reward themselves and their rich buddies. Investments in services should be a priority rather than constantly cutting taxes.

Investment in services? This is Taoiseach Varadkar! The peasants below him shouldn't be handed out services by his great cabinet! How dare you say such a thing!

But yeah, I agree.

Tax increases on fags, sunbeds, and fizzy drinks. Something something Tallaght something something.

Wait till the travellers catch wind of the sunbed tax hike.

[Union of Despotistan]

So the Irish have choices between a wide range from very socialists to somehow socialists. Irish are doomed.

Let's say Fine Gael for now but they have been very unimpressive so far.

[The Grene Knyght]

I think FG realises it doesn't need to tackle the housing crises because of the impending property crash caused by over saturation of office blocks in dublin city centre will cause an en masse repeat of Apollo house as the dozens of structures are abandoned and taken over by thousands of homeless.

The free market takes care of everything

[Ifreann]

So the Irish have choices between a wide range from very socialists to somehow socialists. Irish are doomed.

Let's say Fine Gael for now but they have been very unimpressive so far.

If from "very socialists" and "somehow socialists" you mean "populist centre right" and "populist centre right".

[The Grene Knyght]

Anyone else been seeing those stickers around for that white supremacist group Identitarian Ireland?

[Major-Tom]

So the Irish have choices between a wide range from very socialists to somehow socialists. Irish are doomed.

Let's say Fine Gael for now but they have been very unimpressive so far.

If from "very socialists" and "somehow socialists" you mean "populist centre right" and "populist centre right".

Not even populist, really. Fine Gael sold out Ireland to foreign companies and did some stupid stupid things, Fianna Fail is just "hurrr we're different and sorta anti establishment," despite being the same.

Your party choices are crappy, but then I look over here at the US and what we have and it's like oy damn.

[Major-Tom]

"Labour - Centre-leftish. Was in gov't 2011-2016 w/ FG, fucked it up big time."

Sounds like any social democratic party that has been a coalition partner in like every Western European country. (See PVDA in Holland, SPD in Germany, etc).

[Socialist Mercanda]

If from "very socialists" and "somehow socialists" you mean "populist centre right" and "populist centre right".

Not even populist, really. Fine Gael sold out Ireland to foreign companies and did some stupid stupid things, Fianna Fail is just "hurrr we're different and sorta anti establishment," despite being the same.

Your party choices are crappy, but then I look over here at the US and what we have and it's like oy damn.

I just wanna correct you on a few, I mean, everything

Fianna Fail 'sold us out' to foreign companies (see: IDA), not Fine Gael. And why act like it's a bad thing? It's a popular thing. IDA/FF was able to attract major MNC's to set up in the most ridiculous places, but it was great and is still great, driving local economies and providing jobs. One example of this near me is Astellas who have a site out in Killorglin in Kerry, a little town that every year holds a festival about a goat. Attracting these huge transnationals is a good thing, they didn't 'sell us out'.

The only party who really calls itself 'anti-establishment' is Sinn Fein, not so much FF. FG/FF are definitely not the same. They might look the same to a foreigner when all they see is 'Centre-right' on wikipedia, but FF is definitely more populist and is populist. We want to be sold out.

"Labour - Centre-leftish. Was in gov't 2011-2016 w/ FG, fucked it up big time."

Sounds like any social democratic party that has been a coalition partner in like every Western European country. (See PVDA in Holland, SPD in Germany, etc).

exactly lol

Labour basically was Fine Gael's bitch during austerity. Has never recovered since.

[Trumptonium]

Hang on

Did FG just promise that Ireland will build more social housing than Britain?

Fair enough, it's not hard to beat that, but I'm amazed that a place the population of Scotland can do it when we can't. (3k homes UK-wide 2015/16)

[Socialist Mercanda]

Hang on

Did FG just promise that Ireland will build more social housing than Britain?

Fair enough, it's not hard to beat that, but I'm amazed that a place the population of Scotland can do it when we can't. (3k homes UK-wide 2015/16)

Well, I don't know how it works in the UK, but the way the government really 'builds' social housing here is buying normal developments off builders for a heavily discounted price - so if you want to build a big block of luxury flats, you are required to sell a number of them to the local council for really low prices. I might be wrong, but I'm fairly sure how that's how they're working it now. I think theres a few planned developments by councils but I'm not too sure.

[Eibenland]

Not even populist, really. Fine Gael sold out Ireland to foreign companies and did some stupid stupid things, Fianna Fail is just "hurrr we're different and sorta anti establishment," despite being the same.

Your party choices are crappy, but then I look over here at the US and what we have and it's like oy damn.

I just wanna correct you on a few, I mean, everything

Fianna Fail 'sold us out' to foreign companies (see: IDA), not Fine Gael. And why act like it's a bad thing? It's a popular thing. IDA/FF was able to attract major MNC's to set up in the most ridiculous places, but it was great and is still great, driving local economies and providing jobs. One example of this near me is Astellas who have a site out in Killorglin in Kerry, a little town that every year holds a festival about a goat. Attracting these huge transnationals is a good thing, they didn't 'sell us out'.

The only party who really calls itself 'anti-establishment' is Sinn Fein, not so much FF. FG/FF are definitely not the same. They might look the same to a foreigner when all they see is 'Centre-right' on wikipedia, but FF is definitely more populist and is populist. We want to be sold out.

What's the definition of "populist" being used here? It's typically used as a pejorative term.

[Shofercia]

There's a party called "Fail" in Ireland? Does it succeed?

[Major-Tom]

Not even populist, really. Fine Gael sold out Ireland to foreign companies and did some stupid stupid things, Fianna Fail is just "hurrr we're different and sorta anti establishment," despite being the same.

Your party choices are crappy, but then I look over here at the US and what we have and it's like oy damn.

I just wanna correct you on a few, I mean, everything

Fianna Fail 'sold us out' to foreign companies (see: IDA), not Fine Gael. And why act like it's a bad thing? It's a popular thing. IDA/FF was able to attract major MNC's to set up in the most ridiculous places, but it was great and is still great, driving local economies and providing jobs. One example of this near me is Astellas who have a site out in Killorglin in Kerry, a little town that every year holds a festival about a goat. Attracting these huge transnationals is a good thing, they didn't 'sell us out'.

The only party who really calls itself 'anti-establishment' is Sinn Fein, not so much FF. FG/FF are definitely not the same. They might look the same to a foreigner when all they see is 'Centre-right' on wikipedia, but FF is definitely more populist and is populist. We want to be sold out.

"Labour - Centre-leftish. Was in gov't 2011-2016 w/ FG, fucked it up big time."

Sounds like any social democratic party that has been a coalition partner in like every Western European country. (See PVDA in Holland, SPD in Germany, etc).

exactly lol

Labour basically was Fine Gael's bitch during austerity. Has never recovered since.

Can't argue that - my knowledge of Irish politics is rather limited.

[The Grene Knyght]

There's a party called "Fail" in Ireland? Does it succeed?

Only in elections...

[Socialist Mercanda]

I just wanna correct you on a few, I mean, everything

Fianna Fail 'sold us out' to foreign companies (see: IDA), not Fine Gael. And why act like it's a bad thing? It's a popular thing. IDA/FF was able to attract major MNC's to set up in the most ridiculous places, but it was great and is still great, driving local economies and providing jobs. One example of this near me is Astellas who have a site out in Killorglin in Kerry, a little town that every year holds a festival about a goat. Attracting these huge transnationals is a good thing, they didn't 'sell us out'.

The only party who really calls itself 'anti-establishment' is Sinn Fein, not so much FF. FG/FF are definitely not the same. They might look the same to a foreigner when all they see is 'Centre-right' on wikipedia, but FF is definitely more populist and is populist. We want to be sold out.

What's the definition of "populist" being used here? It's typically used as a pejorative term.

I would definitely label Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein as 'populist parties' - and not in a dismissive way, Fianna Fail is the party I support and SF second. They seem to generally go with the opinion of the people - anti-water charge, end to austerity, although our political parties can often be extraordinarily vague in policies unless you go way in depth to try and find their true views.