Iceland's Government collapses..are we next?

murphaph

They couldn't work their financial difficulties out together and their coalition has collapsed. If we don't get some decisions on public sector spending (pay!) immediately, our own international reputation (what's left of it) will evaporate along with Iceland's. Cowen MUST lead now or call a general election. FG MUST make their position re: public sector pay crystal clear so we have an alternative to vote for. Nobody in Dail Eireann is standing up to be counted right now-cowards!

Síle28

Yeh Iceland, Ireland, the similarities in name alone should ring the warning bells

Matt Holck

sounds like CA every june

wolf

The_Minister

murphaph wrote: »

Cowen MUST lead now or call a general election. FG MUST make their position re: public sector pay crystal clear

They already have made it clear.

They are in favour of clear, strong reform in the public service, with no-one fired and only people earning over a 100k losing any pay.

Leon08

The_Minister wrote: »

They already have made it clear.

They are in favour of clear, strong reform in the public service, with no-one fired and only people earning over a 100k losing any pay.

Haha! If it wasn't so serious it would actually be hilarious.

BlaasForRafa

The_Minister wrote: »

They already have made it clear.

They are in favour of clear, strong reform in the public service, with no-one fired and only people earning over a 100k losing any pay.

The public service couldn't care less that private sector employees are suffering. They've got their unsackable jobs and partnership pay deal already locked in.

I saw an article in the sindo mentioning that biffo was looking for a 10% pay cut from public servants. Theres as much chance of that happening as a comet hitting leinster house. Actually probably more chance of the comet hitting.

Tabnabs

Iceland failed because their banks were completely unrestrained.



We have a very different economy our banking exposure is only twice our GDP. The UK's is 3 times their GDP, and they have sterling...

murphaph

Dyflin wrote: »

We have a very different economy

There are similarities. Our economy is also built on sand. It's been many years since our export industries generated the required proportion of tax revenue for our nation to be economically viable. We seem to have all missed the point when the practice of feverishly buying and selling houses to/from each other began generating a significant proportion of exchequer funds. That has all ground to a shuddering halt, AS WELL as our remaining export industries suffering badly. We're in trouble and need strong leadership.

If all FG are offering are pay cuts for public servants earnng in excess of 100k and no redundancies they are useless and FF will probably do a better job cutting the public service wage bill. That's quite frightenning isn't it?!

Vadrefjorde

I imagine the recent public rebuffal and protests against their defunct government were the reason their government collapsed.
I personally think that our just as defunct government are praying they don't upset the unions or other organised body that might take to the streets to protest in any way, as the public sentiment and dissatisfaction with our own government would inevitably lead to the same protests as seen in Iceland/Latvia/Lithuania/Greece/Bulgaria.
All the EU member states are more than worried about this unrest and are waiting to see who will be next.
No-one has taken to the streets to protest here yet, but if the unions were to fall out with our buffoons then i'm pretty sure it'll be the platform for many people to take their protests to the government and provide just the vehicle many dissatisfied people are waiting for to voice their opposition.

Tabnabs

When (as in Iceland) inflation has climbed towards 20 per cent and the national currency, that has lost so much value that some see it on par with the nearly worthless currency used in Soviet-bloc countries during the Cold War, single mothers, who suddenly have to cope with 100-per-cent rent hikes, will stand then shoulder- to- shoulder with prosperous-looking middle-class Irish facing the abyss due to credit pressures for their new apartments and cars.

It wasn't the unions that brought the Icelandic government down and their Irish comrades won't do so either. It's the mass population, especially the middle classes, who alone have the power to put an end to our current (or any future) government.

Until then, we are a long way off the Icelandic situation. There's an awful lot of scaremongering and fear being put out to the Irish people. It's now we need to keep a cool head, be sensible and ride this thing out.

mike65

Dyflin wrote: »

It's the mass population, especially the middle classes, who alone have the power to put an end to our current (or any future) government.

Thats the best news the government could have isn't it? Dispite the reputation of the fighting Irish, the population are pussycats about this sort of thing. Not that a massed uprising would actualy change anything much, as the opposition isn't talking of Year Zero type change.

AlekSmart

single mothers, who suddenly have to cope with 100-per-cent rent hikes, will stand then shoulder- to- shoulder with prosperous-looking middle-class Irish facing the abyss due to credit pressures for their new apartments and cars.

The reality is different as the Lone Parent will never have to cope with the 100% rent hike,at least not if they have been "in-the-system"...which will instead levy those prosperous looking middle class folk even more in order to pay that increase..or perhaps even taken over some of those new apartments and give them to the Lone Parent instead.....Not as fanciful as it may first appear !

The rebellion won`t ever be a middle-class one...it will start lower and move upwards more in the manner of a Civil War.