Via Irland Inside and The Sunday Times
“HSE’s 4-star hotel bill for evicted travellers”
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is picking up the bill for a family of eight travellers who checked themselves into Dublin’s Citywest hotel after being evicted from their home in Clondalkin earlier this month.
The Doherty family booked into the four-star hotel on June 20 and the HSE has since agreed to fund the cost of at least €2,000 a week.
Thinking of going somewhere for the weekend without leaving a massive carbon footprint behind? How about BallyB! Some of the newer attractions;
The Ballybunion Surf School - www.ballybunionsurf.com
Ballybunion Leisure Centre - www.ballybunionleisure.com
The easy and funny argument Spoofers guide to the Lisbon treaty HT: Paul Browne
There is a strong view that after struggling to get this treaty for so long, the rest of Europe would simply decide to go ahead without the Irish.
If 490 million citizens wish to accept Lisbon via their elected parliaments - who are we to hold them back? We already do not participate in the Schengen Agreement (abolition of border controls), the UK is not part of the Euro Zone while Norway isn’t even in the EU but has access to the common market via the EEA, is oart of Schengen and implements almost all EU directives. Voting no (for the 2nd time) is a clear indication that Ireland is either not willing or able to ratify EU treaties and other states can bolster the argument that enhanced cooperation is needed to allow those member states that are willing to move forward. A no vote increases the likelihood of enhanced cooperation (Ireland isn’t excluded because a rule of enhanced cooperation is that it is open for any state to join when they wish)
First off, corporation tax, arguably the most important factor for multinationals moving here, along with our access to EU markets and educated, english-speaking workforce. Without the EU market, the tax would be meaningless.
Our veto on our corporation tax rate is rock solid It is a direct tax and is a fiscal policy which the European Court of Justice has ruled is a matter for member states, not the EU.
Article 93 of the Lisbon Treaty opens another door to EU tax meddling. Where national differences in company tax lead to “distortion of competition”, it would enable the European Court of Justice to apply the internal market rules on competition, where majority voting applies, to matters of corporation tax thus bypassing our much touted “Tax Vetoâ€, which is relevant to tax harmonization but not other key aspects of Ireland’s tax policy. - Libertas.org
Article 93 clearly states that it applies to indirect taxes, which corporation tax is NOT!
On Questions and Answers, Declan Ganley and Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Fein changed tack and claimed that enhanced cooperation would lead to our veto being bypassed. This is totally misleading and has nothing to do with the Lisbon Treaty. Lisbon changes nothing with regard to enhanced cooperation apart from increasing the minimum number of countries involved from 8 to 9. Approval of Enhanced Cooperation has been QMV for years and will be whether we vote yes or no afterwards. The Irish Times explains it well too
What is clear, however, is that the Lisbon Treaty doesn’t change the rules on enhanced co-operation or on corporate tax. Tax experts also suggest that groups of EU member states can already club together and try to renegotiate their bilateral tax treaties with Ireland outside the EU framework to create their own common consolidated tax base.
Furthermore, the common consolidated tax base as proposed refers to the method of how taxes are calculated as opposed to the rates. Other countries are opposed to this either in principle like Sweden and the UK or because of their own low corporation tax rates like many Eastern European states.
Rejecting Lisbon does nothing to protect our corporation tax rate unless pissing off our allies somehow helps…
The commissioner debate is another red herring. In the next commission there will not be a commissioner for every member state, with or without Lisbon. This is because there are now 27 EU member states and Nice stated that once that number is reached, a system of rotation of commissioners must be agreed. Lisbon only defines how commissioners are rotated. Note that big countries like Germany, France and the UK have signed up to exactly the same rights to nominate a commissioner as us. They have even gone from 2 commissioners to 1 as recently as 2005. Furthermore, commissioners are not national representatives. The treaties specify that they must work independently of national governments and groups. Ireland is represented as a country in the Council where Ireland has a veto and a voting weight. Ireland resolves disputes with a commissioner such as Mandelson at the Council of Ministers where it can use its veto.
“The Members of the Commission shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and their independence shall be beyond doubt.
As Nice has been ratified already, any system of rotation could be agreed from my understanding of this text (with or without Lisbon)
The number of Members of the Commission shall be less than the number of Member States. The Members of the Commission shall be chosen according to a rotation system based on the principle of equality, the implementing arrangements for which shall be adopted by the Council, acting unanimously.
The number of Members of the Commission shall be set by the Council, acting unanimously” - Nice Treaty
Voting No does not prevent rotation of Commissioners
The provisions of the Treaties do not affect in any way the competence of Member States to provide, commission and organise non-economic services of general interest.
and even if people argue over whether health and education are or aren’t non-economic services, the treaty states that the shared values of the Union in respect of services of general economic interest include
the essential role and the wide discretion of national, regional and local authorities in
providing, commissioning and organising services of general economic interest as closely as
possible to the needs of the users
Lisbon does not force the privatisation of public services
Also, the European Court of Justice reinforces the right of member states to provide things like health services - Case C-222/04 Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze [2006]
Health services are also part of the wider framework on services of general interest. Article 152 of the Treaty makes clear that Community action in the field of health services must respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the organisation, financing and delivery of health services and medical care
The Lisbon Treaty now proposes to give the European Council (Heads of Government) the power to propose changes to certain parts of the governing Treaties. Any such changes cannot increase the competence of the EU. Any such proposals must be agreed unanimously by the European Council. This means that any national government may veto such a proposal. If the European Council does agree a proposed change, then in order for it to come into effect, it must be ratified by the Member States in accordance with their own constitutional traditions. This may require a referendum in Ireland as happens at present.
UPDATE 2:And voting no because other countries aren’t having referenda! I believe we should respect the constitutions and elected representatives of other EU member states.
Should we have rejected past EU treaties because some countries ratified them without a referendum?
Should we keep rejecting treaties until we have forced every country to have a referendum on Lisbon?
Places like Switzerland have referenda on non-constitutional laws regularly. Are Ireland’s laws undemocratic or invalid because we didn’t have a referendum on each law?
It is a sign of desperation when people try to excuse the behaviour of Bertie Ahern by comparing it with Garret FitzGerald having £200,000 written off by AIB like Eoghan Harris did on the Late Late Show (28th March ‘08)
What is not said, is how the Moriarty Tribunal investigated this matter including FitzGerald’s personal financial situation during their work. They found that FitzGerald had to effectively sell everything to pay his debts and the rest was written off.
To say that he acted improperly or dishonestly beggars belief in my humble opinion
Via Semper Idem and page 48 of The Moriarty Report
In summary it would appear that in compromising his indebtedness with the Bank, Dr. Fitzgerald disposed of his only substantial asset, namely, his family home at Palmerston Road, a property which would now be worth a considerable sum of money. As in Mr. Haughey’s case, there was a substantial discounting or forbearance shown in Dr. Fitzgerald’s case. However in contrast with Mr. Haughey’s case, Dr. Fitzgerald’s case involved the effective exhaustion of his assets in order to achieve a settlement whereas Mr. Haughey’s assets were retained virtually intact.
Although Dr. Fitzgerald continued to enjoy an income from writing, lecturing and consultancy work, he had considerable outgoings, particularly in relation to his wife’s declining health, and he was, in terms of the debt he faced, not a wealthy man. The sole asset of substance was the mortgaged family home at Palmerston Road, Dublin 6; an agreement was entered into with his son, Mr. Mark Fitzgerald, whereby the latter sold his nearby family home, and purchased the Palmerston Road premises, with a view to converting it into accommodation for both families.
An independent valuation had assessed the price with vacant possession at £200,000.00, but discounted to £150,000.00 if Dr. Fitzgerald and his wife took up residence in an upstairs flat. That sum was paid to Dr. Fitzgerald, but by the time he had discharged the mortgage, contributed to the re-conversion works and paid certain other liabilities, he was left with a residue of only approximately £30,000.00
…
Dr. Fitzgerald had initially been hopeful of discharging his indebtedness in full through income, but Mr. Dowling had had to dash those hopes as unrealistic, and was given reluctant permission to approach the Bank with a view to settlement.
…
He offered the £30,000.00 in settlement of the debt, in response to which the Bank concluded that a cash settlement was preferable to expending such limited assets as were available on legal costs, but sought an increase to a sum of £40,000.00. This was accepted, paid and, other than realising the very limited value of the shares pledged, the remaining securities released. Regarding the course taken by Mr. Mark Fitzgerald and his wife in ease of Dr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Dowling stated that he viewed it as one of the great acts of selfless family solidarity that he had experienced.
UPDATE:
Harris has printed his comments in the Independent
Second, how come the Mahon anoraks are so adamantly sceptical about Ahern’s finances and so mellow about how AIB, bailed out former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in 1993 by writing off bad debts to the tune of IR£200,000 — ironically the same amount as the alleged IR£200,000 in Ahern’s account?
Via RTE: Trichet looks to Asian, oil crises for lessons
Trichet stressed repeatedly today that the ECB saw its role amid the turmoil as one of anchoring inflation expectations, making clear that an interest rate cut called for by some investors and politicians should not be expected in the near future
‘If we don’t learn the lessons of the past we will find ourselves faced with the same problems that we encountered during the first oil crisis,’ when countries responded to higher prices by raising wages and salaries, he said.
That had fuelled an inflation spiral, choking off growth and causing widespread, stubborn unemployment that dogged Europe for decades. ‘Never forget, mass unemployment in Europe started with the very bad reaction after the first oil shock’ in 1973, Trichet noted.
Note too that the German economy hasn’t slowed yet and the metal industry there is experiencing the strongest boom in decades. Even the Ifo index has increased this month showing that the business climate has improved in March instead of getting worse.
Register before 22nd March - Adults €12.00 / Students €8.00 / Over 65 €8.00
Entry forms available at the UL Arena Reception desk or www.plassey10k.com
For further info contact
Catherine dot Dooley at ul dot ie or Phone (061) 213596
Colm Meaney i ‘Kings’
A chairde,
Liosta thÃos dos na himeachtaà atá ar siúl in Ollscoil Luimnigh inniu le haghaidh Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Fáilte roimh chách.
Please see list of events below which take place today in UL as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Everyone welcome.
Dé Máirt 4 Márta
10.30 Maidin chaife do bhaill foirne / staff coffee morning
SuÃomh: Seomra Caidrimh, Ãras Clóis Shruth an Mhuilinn
13.00 Ceolchoirm Lóin sa PAC, Foirgneamh na Fondúireachta
(Simon Thoumire ar an gconceirtÃn agus David Milligan ar an bpianó)
Comhimeacht le Dámh Chruinne Éireann Rince agus Ceol
à chur i láthair ag Máire Nà Ghráda
Lunchtime Concert in the PAC, Foundation Building
19.00 OÃche ScannánaÃochta / Film Night
Comhimeacht le Féile ScannánaÃochta Ollscoil Luimnigh agus an Cumann Gaelach
Scannán / Film: ‘Kings’
SuÃomh: ERB001
Eolas faoi ‘Kings’:
I lár na seachtóidÃ, chuaigh grúpa d’fhir óige ó Iarthar na hÉireann go Londain ar thóir saol nÃos fearr in áit ina bhféadfaidÃs maireachtáil mar ‘Kings’. Casann siad ar a chéile arÃs trÃocha bliain ina dhiaidh sin. Tá a gcara is óige, Jackie, imithe ar shlà na fÃrinne. Tá trÃocha bliain crua caite ag cuid acu. Tá siad tuirseach traochta anois i ndiaidh a gcuid oibre crua, agus chaill siad a misneach ar na bóithre agus ar láithreáin tógála na Breataine. Gruaim agus mÃdhÃlseacht gan dóchas atá anois orthu. Nuair a thagann fÃrinneachtaà báis Jackie agus sean-rúnda loma chun solais, soiléirÃodh do na fir gurb iad do chairde a bhriseann do chroà - agus do chairde a thugann chun suaimhnis é.
In the mid 1970s a group of young men left the west of Ireland, bound for London, filled with ambition for a better life in a place where they could be kings. Thirty years have passed when they meet again. Their youngest friend, Jackie has died. For some of them those thirty years have been hard. Their muscle has been spent, their hopes dashed on the roads and building sites of Britain, to be replaced with a sense of hopeless disaffection. As the truth about Jackies death is uncovered, and long-held secrets are laid bare, the men discover that ultimately it is your friends who break your heart - and your friends who can save it.
A chairde,
Liosta thÃos dos na himeachtaà atá ar siúl in Ollscoil Luimnigh inniu le haghaidh Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Fáilte roimh chách.
Please see list of events below which take place today in UL as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Everyone welcome.
Dé Luain 3 Márta 2008
12.00 Ceolchoirm le ceoltóirà agus rinceoirà na chéad bhliana den BA sa Cheol agus sa Rince inGaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh.
Concert with first year BA Irish music and dance students in Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh
13.00 Comórtas ‘Twister’ trà Ghaeilge (Comhimeacht leis an ‘G-Soc’)
Ceol agus Craic i gClós na Mac Léinn
‘Twister’ Tournament through the medium of Irish (Co-event with the ‘G-Soc’)
Music and Craic in the Student Courtyard
19.00 Aoiléacht
MáirtÃn Ó Direáin: Ãrainn, Oileánachas agus an Ghealchathair
le Mairéad Conneely
SuÃomh: B1005
20.00 Tráth na gCeist/Table Quiz
SuÃomh: Seomra Caidrimh / Common Room, Aontas na Mac Léinn.
Because the West Link Toll Bridge has just been sold to the government for €420 million. It was built for €38 million.
Fred Barry, the Chief Executive of the State agency National Roads Authority (NRA), told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee in early 2006, that lawyers had advised the NRA that the 1987 contract was so vague that there were no remedies to take NTR to task on issues such as the standard of service.
Former EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn and disgraced ex-planning official George Redmond, signed the controversial deal for the operation of the West-Link Toll Bridge with National Toll Roads Ltd, in August 1987. - finfacts
If just one “mistake” like this can be prevented, it would pay for many, many tribunals
Nothing much to say really - a few quid here and there which will be meaningless after 5% inflation (caused instead of combated by government policy).
Quite significantly - EU states have agreed a major change in VAT. Now, VAT on e-commerce, telecommunication and satellite television services will go to the country where the consumer is, rather than where the service provider is located. Amazon, Paypal, Skype and Apple’s iTunes are based in Luxembourg partly because of their 15% VAT rate (EU minimum on services). Under these new rules, Luxembourg will probably lose EUR 220m per year.
This moves the VAT collected from low-tax economies to enconomies with a large number of customers and/or high tax rates.
This is worrying for Ireland because a similar principle has been suggested by the same commissioner (Laszio Kovacs) and Charlie McCreevy has some out strongly against it. See this article from the Indo.
Luxembourg used it’s veto twice and were granted a delay until 2015 and 30% of VAT until 2018. I would expect Ireland to use it’s veto too but what caused Luxembourg to cave in ultimately? Size?