you are bord snip your 10 biggest cuts?

opo

The Economist wrote: »

Out of interest, how many people do you think would die if we did this? Honest question.

I suspect that less people would die from a lack of funds to overseas aid if the onshore bottomless pit of funds fired into processing globe-trotting bogus asylum claims was clearly addressed for once and for all and delivered to overseas aid.

j1smithy

In the spirit of the thread I will only focus on cuts, not revenue generators. To achieve any meaningful savings the cuts have to be meaningful, this means cutting services, unfortunately the trouble we're in means that simple efficiencies won't be enough. As unpopular and unpalitable as this may be here are my ideas:

Restructure the payments in the dept of social welfare. for the dole take into account age and the posssible ability of particularly young people to move home for a while. The results of this would be twofold, a large saving could be made as well as incentivising young people to get out to work (I mean after you've left college you should want to have flown the nest, who wants to live at home?!). Follow this up with a 20% reduction in payments to all recipients.

Means test child benefit.

Abolish the free travel for OAPs

Abolish free fees for third level institutions

Cut services at hospitals, close wards and theatres, particularly at underused locations. For unusual/uncommon illnesses it may be more cost effective to send patients abroad for treatment rather than keep expensive specialist units open here.

Centralise more heavily used specialist services in the Health service. ie one cancer unit for the country/region.

Abolish the medical card as a right for OAPs. Means test it.

Reduce the number of gardai

Reduce the number of teachers

Abolish payment for landline to OAPs. Replace with PAYG mobile phone, renewed annually.

Remove fuel and electricity allowances.

Abandon decentrilisation for departments that haven't started the move and force PS to be more flexible (easier if all offices are located in the one city)

Replace the pension levy with a pay cut. This will be able to include those that are on a civil service pension and their payout reduced accordingly.

Sale of some state assets such as ESB Customer supply and Bord gais. I would keep the infrastructure in public ownership though.

A cut in all administrative divisions of PS numbers in all departments

Abolish and almalgamate some departments. Art sport tourism, community rural and gaeltacht affairs being two.

Reduce council budgets by 10%. However make them flexable and not allocate money for certain projects.

Re-examine the NDP and transport 21. Slash by a third.

Scrap or reduce by 90% the amount paid out in overseas aid. (Perhaps replace with an opt-in overseas aid tax for people who want to still contribute)

Oh and bring CS pay into line with that private sector

irish_bob

j1smithy wrote: »

In the spirit of the thread I will only focus on cuts, not revenue generators. To achieve any meaningful savings the cuts have to be meaningful, this means cutting services, unfortunately the trouble we're in means that simple efficiencies won't be enough. As unpopular and unpalitable as this may be here are my ideas:

Restructure the payments in the dept of social welfare. for the dole take into account age and the posssible ability of particularly young people to move home for a while. The results of this would be twofold, a large saving could be made as well as incentivising young people to get out to work (I mean after you've left college you should want to have flown the nest, who wants to live at home?!). Follow this up with a 20% reduction in payments to all recipients.

Means test child benefit.

Abolish the free travel for OAPs

Abolish free fees for third level institutions

Cut services at hospitals, close wards and theatres, particularly at underused locations. For unusual/uncommon illnesses it may be more cost effective to send patients abroad for treatment rather than keep expensive specialist units open here.

Centralise more heavily used specialist services in the Health service. ie one cancer unit for the country/region.

Abolish the medical card as a right for OAPs. Means test it.

Reduce the number of gardai

Reduce the number of teachers

Abolish payment for landline to OAPs. Replace with PAYG mobile phone, renewed annually.

Remove fuel and electricity allowances.

Abandon decentrilisation for departments that haven't started the move and force PS to be more flexible (easier if all offices are located in the one city)

Replace the pension levy with a pay cut. This will be able to include those that are on a civil service pension and their payout reduced accordingly.

Sale of some state assets such as ESB Customer supply and Bord gais. I would keep the infrastructure in public ownership though.

A cut in all administrative divisions of PS numbers in all departments

Abolish and almalgamate some departments. Art sport tourism, community rural and gaeltacht affairs being two.

Reduce council budgets by 10%. However make them flexable and not allocate money for certain projects.

Re-examine the NDP and transport 21. Slash by a third.

Scrap or reduce by 90% the amount paid out in overseas aid. (Perhaps replace with an opt-in overseas aid tax for people who want to still contribute)

Oh and bring CS pay into line with that private sector

i agree with nearly every proposal in this post , in particular the one about means testing old age pensioners though after last years hysterical outcry , we know those sacred cows wont be touched , i believe it is immoral though that a young couple in this thirties who are mortgaged up to thier eyes are having to pay tax so a retired garda superintendant on a 600 a week pension can visit his GP every month for free

as for cutting public sector wages to private sector levels , while i would most certainly cut them , i would not benchmark them again private sector wages , i would bring them into line with public sector wages in other european countries , this would mean at least a 30% pay cut for police , teachers , nurses and a halving of salarys for consultants

while i think dole is too high , a better move might be to sack thousands of civil servants ( who do nothing anyway ) as theese people are on minimum 22 k a year , that would save 10k per head and could be used to maintain the dole , i would however reduce dole for those who are long term unemployed and instead provide them with vouchers

Spiritoftheseventies

j1smithy wrote: »

In the spirit of the thread I will only focus on cuts, not revenue generators. To achieve any meaningful savings the cuts have to be meaningful, this means cutting services, unfortunately the trouble we're in means that simple efficiencies won't be enough. As unpopular and unpalitable as this may be here are my ideas:

Restructure the payments in the dept of social welfare. for the dole take into account age and the posssible ability of particularly young people to move home for a while. The results of this would be twofold, a large saving could be made as well as incentivising young people to get out to work (I mean after you've left college you should want to have flown the nest, who wants to live at home?!). Follow this up with a 20% reduction in payments to all recipients.

Means test child benefit.

Abolish the free travel for OAPs

Abolish free fees for third level institutions

Cut services at hospitals, close wards and theatres, particularly at underused locations. For unusual/uncommon illnesses it may be more cost effective to send patients abroad for treatment rather than keep expensive specialist units open here.

Centralise more heavily used specialist services in the Health service. ie one cancer unit for the country/region.

Abolish the medical card as a right for OAPs. Means test it.

Reduce the number of gardai

Reduce the number of teachers

Abolish payment for landline to OAPs. Replace with PAYG mobile phone, renewed annually.

Remove fuel and electricity allowances.

Abandon decentrilisation for departments that haven't started the move and force PS to be more flexible (easier if all offices are located in the one city)

Replace the pension levy with a pay cut. This will be able to include those that are on a civil service pension and their payout reduced accordingly.

Sale of some state assets such as ESB Customer supply and Bord gais. I would keep the infrastructure in public ownership though.

A cut in all administrative divisions of PS numbers in all departments

Abolish and almalgamate some departments. Art sport tourism, community rural and gaeltacht affairs being two.

Reduce council budgets by 10%. However make them flexable and not allocate money for certain projects.

Re-examine the NDP and transport 21. Slash by a third.

Scrap or reduce by 90% the amount paid out in overseas aid. (Perhaps replace with an opt-in overseas aid tax for people who want to still contribute)

Oh and bring CS pay into line with that private sector

or we could call a general election for tomorrow morning!

LookingFor

Social welfare needs serious cutting.

I have a friend who works in a social welfare office, and he tells me of people who are walking away every week with more money than he is earning - just from the dole and from rent allowance. Some people living with higher rents are getting over €400 a week! Then they get welfare for any kids, free medical etc.

That's a slap in the face for people like him who are barely scratching passed €400 after the pension levies etc. He's struggling to make ends meet the way his salary is at the moment, and there are many COs he knows of who're thinking they should go to the other side of the counter.

So I'd seriously cut back rent allowance. I'd put a total cap on ALL benefit at €1000 a month. That'd be the total between all benefits any one person could claim. Social welfare really just makes it too comfortable for some people to not bother with work.

AlekSmart

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/medb-ruane/an-bord-drip-drip---i-wish-they-just-told-us-the-bad-news-1805676.html

A well crafted piece here for Mr Cowen to ponder upon....;)

I have a friend who works in a social welfare office, and he tells me of people who are walking away every week with more money than he is earning - just from the dole and from rent allowance. Some people living with higher rents are getting over €400 a week! Then they get welfare for any kids, free medical etc.

I can indeed empathise with LookingFor`s friend in DSFA.
One of the most perplexing aspects of the current situation is the extent of stasis within the Government on this basic element of survival.

It is perplexing to know that the DSFA is still considering Private Rental Accomodation Allowance applications at all.

What is worse is that the DFSA is still considering them from young people with no employment history (Fás Course exepted) whose only requirement is to get a place to "live together when the baby is born"

Currently (in one case I`m aware of) the pregnant young girl and her fella both live with their Mum`s in Council Houses.
With a baby on the way,all parties,after a joint family meeting have decided that renting a house "close to Mammy" is the best for all.

Interestingly,the best advice appears to come from a pair of respective siblings who have successfully utilized the system in recent years to accquire their own Council Properties and who supplied a VERY detailed game-plan which would guarantee a positive outcome for all.

Being a tad naieve,I fully expected to hear of their refusal at the first DSFA fence,but I was wrong.
Following the advice given,a couple of supportive letters from a medical personage and AFAIK a local representative of some sort produced a positive response from the DSFA Official.

Yes indeed the application will be considered and all things going well it`s looking good for approval,a process which appears to have no hard and fast rules at all.

Yes,I`m sure it`s all indicative of a truly caring and sharing society.
Yes,It will allow to young people,deeply in love,to get a foothold on the ladder of family life.
Yes,It is just what the DSFA is there for,to support Families and ensure their functionality in a Social Environment.

But....at what cost to the remainder of the same diverse Society,that element which will be Paying this new rent supplement along with the Lone Parent Allowance to the Girl and the Jobseekers Benefit to the Lad.

How many PAYE/PRSI contributions will be required to set this little "New" family up in the style they fully expect.

Chatting with the Mother-in-Law was truly jaw-dropping for me as I listened to the tales of how they were choosing buggies,baby clothing and a few little extras for the new place as well...pride of place being a new Flat Screen which our new Dad-to-be had SAVED UP FOR ??????

Sadly this little scenario represents just one of what are probably thousands of ongoing applications for similar DSFA allowances/benefits.
The key issue is not the Benefits themselves but the extent of the "additional" supposedly discretionary benefits which stack-up on top of the basic schemes.

Whats to happen ....I have little idea,as it appears that Ireland,it`s people and particularly it`s Political Leaders have entered Darby O`Gill mode wistfully poking about in the undergrowth for a crock o`gold to save the day. :rolleyes:

irish_bob

LookingFor wrote: »

Social welfare needs serious cutting.

I have a friend who works in a social welfare office, and he tells me of people who are walking away every week with more money than he is earning - just from the dole and from rent allowance. Some people living with higher rents are getting over €400 a week! Then they get welfare for any kids, free medical etc.

That's a slap in the face for people like him who are barely scratching passed €400 after the pension levies etc. He's struggling to make ends meet the way his salary is at the moment, and there are many COs he knows of who're thinking they should go to the other side of the counter.

So I'd seriously cut back rent allowance. I'd put a total cap on ALL benefit at €1000 a month. That'd be the total between all benefits any one person could claim. Social welfare really just makes it too comfortable for some people to not bother with work.

unless your OFFICIALLY VULNERABLE in this country , you have no one to speak up for you , the working poor are the real vulnerable in this country where as the official vulnerable are the new unemployed ( even those construction workers who had ten golden years ) the elderly ( even those with a 600 quid a week pension ) and of course the long term established vulnerable , immigrants , lifers on the dole and tinkers

gerry28

irish bob

a better move might be to sack thousands of civil servants ( who do nothing anyway ) as theese people are on minimum 22 k a year

irish bob

unless your OFFICIALLY VULNERABLE in this country , you have no one to speak up for you , the working poor are the real vulnerable in this country where as the official vulnerable are the new unemployed

Such a contradiction irish bob! So a civil servant on 22K a year should be dumped onto the dole regardless of their commitments.

These people have mortgages, debts and living costs aswell. Someone dealing with life in this country is certainly among the working poor on 22K a year.

LookingFor

"Working poor" is definitely a good description. Plenty of my friends are 'working poor', including that CO in the welfare office (as I say, scarcely pulling in 400 euros a week..likely will fall under 400 in the next budget).

There's really very little advantage given to people on the lower end who are productive (and often very productive) relative to the people who are completely unproductive. My friend is one such person..he earns enough that he's not eligible for any help, but not enough to be comfortable. And whatever people might say about civil servants in general, please spare a thought for those working in social welfare at the moment. They're run ragged and they're not getting the staff they need.

We should be rewarding the productive in society.

Speaking for my own personal situation, I'm trying to run an early-stage business with currently a minimal income.. basically for people like me - trying to establish businesses, trying to do precisely what the government should be encouraging people to do - there is zero help. There is no welfare for people in the early stages of trying to work for themselves.. nothing at all. I often, OFTEN consider throwing it all in, signing on the dole and scarcely making the effort to find work as so many do..because it seems to be just so easy to be unproductive in this country.

irish_bob

gerry28 wrote: »

irish bob

irish bob

Such a contradiction irish bob! So a civil servant on 22K a year should be dumped onto the dole regardless of their commitments.

These people have mortgages, debts and living costs aswell. Someone dealing with life in this country is certainly among the working poor on 22K a year.

why should a surplus to requirement clerical officer with a mortgage be spared yet a secretery in an ailing auctioneers office be let go , people get let go all the time regardless of their personal circumstances , my point was that it would be cheaper to pay thousands of civil servants dole instead of wages around 22k , even after reduncancy money is paid

Tommy T

As a low paid Ciivl Servant and a proud member of the CPSU, the only Union with a pair of b*ll*x in the Public Sector it would seem, there is no way on Earth that we will either countenance compulsary redundancies or cuts in our meagre salaries... Anything else will be considered as long as our mandate is respected by the Govt...

bonzos

performance related pay needs to to introducted in the civil service,flexi-time is a total joke..your work starts at 8.00/8.30 which means your at your desk 5mins later dealing with the public no more of this come and go as you please carry on"ill make up the hours",nobody should be in a job that they cant be fired from no matter how many years of service they have behind them!it whole system is far too laid back...we got hit hard in the budget and our pay is down so we will do less work etc....

Firetrap

I don't see the problem with flexi time. Yes, if somebody has to man phones or deal with the public then that's another issue. But if a person is working at a desk job and doesn't deal directly with the public, what is the problem? You still have to work the same number of hours as ordinary 9-5 staff. There are core times set that people have to be on the premises.

bonzos

Firetrap wrote: »

I don't see the problem with flexi time. Yes, if somebody has to man phones or deal with the public then that's another issue. But if a person is working at a desk job and doesn't deal directly with the public, what is the problem? You still have to work the same number of hours as ordinary 9-5 staff. There are core times set that people have to be on the premises.

I dont think it is a good idea having the employee deciding when he/she turns up for work ..does it not disturbe other people workng in the same area or a client not knowing if someone dealing with an issue will be in on time

Tommy T

bonzos wrote: »

I dont think it is a good idea having the employee deciding when he/she turns up for work ..does it not disturbe other people workng in the same area or a client not knowing if someone dealing with an issue will be in on time

Flexi-time is one of the only tangible perks of our low paid existance in the Civil Service. If the Govt want to pay us 10K upfront and tax free I'd consider giving it up but not for anything less...

jimmycrackcorm

Tommy T wrote: »

As a low paid Ciivl Servant and a proud member of the CPSU, the only Union with a pair of b*ll*x in the Public Sector it would seem, there is no way on Earth that we will either countenance compulsary redundancies or cuts in our meagre salaries... Anything else will be considered as long as our mandate is respected by the Govt...

Why not? After all the private sector has to countenance it in the real world, what makes the public sector so special other than being privileged to wear those blinkers tat they put on horses!

gurramok

Whats a 'meagre' salary?

Anything else will be considered as long as our mandate is respected by the Govt...

What mandate is that?

Generous benchmarking in the past perhaps?

Tommy T

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Why not? After all the private sector has to countenance it in the real world, what makes the public sector so special other than being privileged to wear those blinkers tat they put on horses!

Because we, in the CPSU, refuse to be treated as yellow pack fodder in the IBEC race to the bottom. We already pay the descriminatory Pension paycut and will not accept another cent being taken from us. We'll do whatever it takes to protect our Terms and Conditions of employment...

CDfm

Tommy T wrote: »

Flexi-time is one of the only tangible perks of our low paid existance in the Civil Service. If the Govt want to pay us 10K upfront and tax free I'd consider giving it up but not for anything less...

Flexi-time is not really a perk and is only to be used in the private sector should work demands allow it. It just means as a work practice its not enforced and that work practices in the civil service do not match those in the private sector.

Ten cuts - well vasectomies for 10 young male TDs of marriagable age would be a start to end political dynasties.

Tommy T

CDfm wrote: »

Flexi-time is not really a perk and is only to be used in the private sector should work demands allow it. It just means as a work practice its not enforced and that work practices in the civil service do not match those in the private sector.

Ten cuts - well vasectomies for 10 young male TDs of marriagable age would be a start to end political dynasties.

Flexi-time gets me 18 days off per year on top of my annual leave. If thats not a perk I don't know what is...

The_Conductor

Tommy T wrote: »

Flexi-time is one of the only tangible perks of our low paid existance in the Civil Service. If the Govt want to pay us 10K upfront and tax free I'd consider giving it up but not for anything less...

Flexitime in the civil service is a privelege, not a right- and is only available when business needs allow. It does not state in any terms and conditions that it is a right- it most certainly isn't. This is identical to in the private sector- and indeed the wording was agreed in common.

gpjordanf1

So while this is a fascinating discussion and there has been some brilliant points made.

Is there a political party in this country who would impliment even 10% of these ideas and I doubt theres a party who would touch the public sector with some of the above suggestions.
Is there scope for a new party who would support the back bone of this country, the private sector, ya know the people who pay for everything>?

Some more cuts I would be in favour of:

Abolish Maternity pay for public sector ( majority of private sector dont get it)

Reduces holidays to 25 days per year ( Council staff get 36 days and up)

Reduce middle management in public sector by 50% ( most of them aren't there most days anyway)

All public offices closed mondays open Saturdays ( no extra pay for saturday )

Reduce government holidays by 60% ( who gets 11 weeks off FFS )

Teachers deployed to FAS or similar ( but have to work for summer or no pay )

Once foriegn national PRSI entitlements run out then the well has run dry, sorry! ( Unless in a family situation with irish born family, but each case to be verified )

Tender all public projects, right down to road sweeping.

Every sick day taken backed up with medical certs

All expenses verified & approved by independent body ( from private sector preferrably)

Overhaul trade unions, seem to live on another planet.

Implement & fully support Spirit of Ireland project & make Ireland Energy Independent

CDfm

smccarrick wrote: »

Flexitime in the civil service is a privelege, not a right- and is only available when business needs allow. It does not state in any terms and conditions that it is a right- it most certainly isn't. This is identical to in the private sector- and indeed the wording was agreed in common.

What does that say for work ethos when a Civil servant thinks its a perk and puts out the myth and mantra that its low paid employment.

The current crisis may mean that the Civil and Public service unions issues that were avoided may no longer be avoided as there is no money to placate.

Tommy T

smccarrick wrote: »

Flexitime in the civil service is a privelege, not a right- and is only available when business needs allow. It does not state in any terms and conditions that it is a right- it most certainly isn't. This is identical to in the private sector- and indeed the wording was agreed in common.

Flexi-time is freely available to all CO's and HEO's in my Dept...

NewDubliner

Tommy T wrote: »

Flexi-time gets me 18 days off per year on top of my annual leave. If thats not a perk I don't know what is...

Don't you have to work up the 18 days by coming in to work early, leaving late or taking a shorter lunch. You make it sound like something for nothing.

One of the advantages of flexitime from an employers point of view is that it reduces absenteeism. Instead of people taking uncertified sickies to bring their children to the doctor, they use flexitime. It's also a cost-effective substitute for over-time. People can work late when there's more to do and take time off when things are slack. Well managed, it can also facilitate earlier and later opening times.

Firetrap

bonzos wrote: »

I dont think it is a good idea having the employee deciding when he/she turns up for work ..does it not disturbe other people workng in the same area or a client not knowing if someone dealing with an issue will be in on time

No it doesn't. I worked in the public service with flexi-time and it was brilliant. Everyone had to be in by a certain time and couldn't leave until a certain time. There are still plenty of hours in the working day when everyone is in the office. Now, what you're talking about is a totally different issue. If someone is dealing with the public, it's only common sense that there are people there at all times.

The_Conductor

Tommy T wrote: »

Flexi-time is freely available to all CO's and HEO's in my Dept...

It most certainly is not this way across the civil service- the public sector or the private sector. Each government department is run on an independent basis- I think there is a lot of merit in centralising personnel functions- and applying similar rules across the board. I do not understand why someone would even think they are 'entitled' to flexi-time. If your work is sufficiently flexible to allow it- I don't think anyone can argue against it- but it should be applied so that it is strictly when business needs allow, and if business needs change- so too must people be flexible to reflect those changing business needs.....

The_Conductor

CDfm wrote: »

What does that say for work ethos when a Civil servant thinks its a perk and puts out the myth and mantra that its low paid employment.

The current crisis may mean that the Civil and Public service unions issues that were avoided may no longer be avoided as there is no money to placate.

Its unfortunate that some people simply do not recognise what their terms of employment are. Where flexitime is available- certainly it could be construed as a 'perk'- but not one that you have any right to expect.

Vis-a-vis low paid employment- certain elements of the public sector are reknowned for threatening or undertaking industrial action in favour of often ridiculous pay claims. Without pointing fingers- the CPSU and their members- are at the forefront of this brigade. They represent the lower levels of the civil service, public sector and some staff in formerly state owned companies (such as Eircom etc). Their members are in many cases better paid and have more holidays than officers more senior to them- simply because the government gives in to their pickets.

It is generally accepted that the lower levels of the civil service (in particular COs and SOs- but extending to a much lesser extent to EOs and HEOs) people are paid significantly higher than comparable posts in the private sector. For higher grades- they are paid too much- but their reciprochal equivalents in the private sector also are. It really is time to have a whole new negative benchmarking scheme- but it should be entirely transparent- so everyone- the public and those affected by it- know exactly where the figures are coming from.

Ps- I am not sure how county council employees get 36 days annual leave. Current policy in the public sector is statutory min for all new employees- and you'd need to be a Principle Officer or an Assistant Sectretary of a government department to get 36 days annual leave. For certain grades in the civil service- you may get an extra day's leave after 5 years service, and a further day after 10- in the case of an EO- which has been graduate recruitment level in the main for the last several years- this would equate to 23 days annual leave, after 10 years service.

irish_bob

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

So while this is a fascinating discussion and there has been some brilliant points made.

Is there a political party in this country who would impliment even 10% of these ideas and I doubt theres a party who would touch the public sector with some of the above suggestions.
Is there scope for a new party who would support the back bone of this country, the private sector, ya know the people who pay for everything>?

Some more cuts I would be in favour of:

Abolish Maternity pay for public sector ( majority of private sector dont get it)

Reduces holidays to 25 days per year ( Council staff get 36 days and up)

Reduce middle management in public sector by 50% ( most of them aren't there most days anyway)

All public offices closed mondays open Saturdays ( no extra pay for saturday )

Reduce government holidays by 60% ( who gets 11 weeks off FFS )

Teachers deployed to FAS or similar ( but have to work for summer or no pay )

Once foriegn national PRSI entitlements run out then the well has run dry, sorry! ( Unless in a family situation with irish born family, but each case to be verified )

Tender all public projects, right down to road sweeping.

Every sick day taken backed up with medical certs

All expenses verified & approved by independent body ( from private sector preferrably)

Overhaul trade unions, seem to live on another planet.

Implement & fully support Spirit of Ireland project & make Ireland Energy Independent

i fully agree with your post , especially the bit which begs the question , is thier no political party which will stand up for the private sector worker , labour have always been the party of the public sector and fianna fail under cowen have though thier lack of action on public sector reform made it clear that they see the public sector vote as thier only hope of winning the next general election , to hell with the tax payer

which is why i cannot understad for the life of me what fine gael are doing or not doing as is the case , surely they realise that their is a sleeping giant of middle ireland , mr and mrs private sector tax payers who are crying out for a voice , the public sector have the unions ( who own fianna fail now and have always owened labour ) , the wellfare class have a well established poverty industry with ready access to an overwhelmingly left wing media yet the people who actually pay for the country have no one , while i see no other option but fine gael , i was incredibly disapointed to hear enda kenny state back in the spring that no public sector wages of under 100k should be touched , kenny has been at best luke warm around the whole area of public sector reform but being the populist that he is , this shouldnt really surprise anyone , kenny is happy enough to merley get into goverment , if that means not touching the public sector so as to appease labour , so be it but that getting into goverment should not be the height of fine gaels ambitions , they have a golden once in a lifetime opportunity to form a goverment ( without the boulder round thier neck which is labour ) that can make real change if they play thier cards right , they need to 1st ditch the populist and turn off to swing voters that is enda kenny , swing voters and an increasing number of soft ( celtic tiger ) fianna fail voters want to vote FG but kenny is what makes them think twice , with the right man at the helm , fine gael can not only form a goverment without labour but restablish themselves as a proper conservative party and thus redfine the irish political landscape , with fianna fail in opposition , this could very likely result in a proper left - right divide in the political landscape of this country , centrism or BERTIE,sm is no longer any use to this country , it was fine when things were rosy in the garden , we need some idealogy to deal with the hard times , the left are resurgen , why not the same on the right

bonzos

I a friend who works in the civil service and he openly admits that it is a total holiday camp. I often recieve 15-20 emails(jokes etc..) day from him,he also admits that he is reminded by other "employees" when he has sick days unused that cant be carried over to the next year...his own view on it is "its like a game,you just have to knoe hoe to play it to your advantage"