This country..........

Freddie59

Becomes more surreal by the day:

SIPTU calls on the government to scrap the household charge and "tax the rich". Obviously, because the "Labour" Party is in power, they won't demand that people boycott it, organise protest marches, etc. And Jack seems to forget that he is one of the "rich" (high earners) with his own salary worth €124k in 2009.


On the same day, Spain slashes the pay of bosses of State companies:

The Spanish Government is to cut pay for heads of state companies by around a quarter, as part of its crisis spending cuts.

Pay is to be limited to €105,000 for the heads of the biggest State firms, €80,000 for medium-sized ones and €55,000 for the smallest.

"Today we are taking a further step in our austerity policy of cost containment," Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said.

"We are setting limits on pay, slightly lower than those that are being introduced in the private sector [for comparable companies]."

The pay caps represent cuts of "between 25-30%" compared to current levels.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/spanish-government-to-introduce-pay-caps-for-state-company-bosses-540245.html#ixzz1mfzT4LPF

FFS €105k:eek: The Head of Coillte - a forestry company - has a package worth almost €500,000.

Spain population almost 50 million.

Ireland population less than 10% of that.

And look at what we pay to these people.

Honestly. This country is nuts.



Lastly, it has been revealed that opposition leaders salaries are 'topped up' from the Public Purse:

"Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has defended the payment of state funds to top up his salary whilst he was in opposition.

A €13m fund is used by political parties in opposition for day-to-day running costs such as media training and polls, according to a report today.

The Irish Independent report said Taoiseach Enda Kenny received a €50,000 salary boost while he was leader of the opposition, with Labour's Mr Gilmore and Joan Burton receiving a combined total of €22,000 in 2010".

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/tanaiste-defends-use-of-state-funds-to-top-up-opposition-salaries-540202.html#ixzz1mg0VV1oA

The holier-than-thou "Labour" Party. Who'd have though it?

As I said, a complete joke. This house of cards is going to implode on all of us. And very soon.

DjFlin

Yeah! Everything is the worst.

AngryBollix

Yeah we know

FearDark

YAWN

44leto

Is there enough rich???

Yakult

I wonder what did people talk about before the recession? Other than how many houses you are buying of course.. I'm sick of hearing about this doom and gloom for the past 4 years.

woodoo

This government increased pay to advisers despite the pain inflicted on ordinary earners. The last government cut pay of public servants but reversed the cut to the very top guys when they kicked up a fuss to Brian Lenihan.

Don't expect the top guys in this state to be put under any financial pressure it just won't happen. They are the ruling class here

Freddie59

woodoo wrote: »

This government increased pay to advisers despite the pain inflicted on ordinary earners. The last government cut pay of public servants but reversed the cut to the very top guys when they kicked up a fuss to Brian Lenihan.

Don't expect the top guys in this state to be put under any financial pressure it just won't happen. They are the ruling class here

It will when the money runs out.

Pacifist Pigeon

SIPTU, SIPTU, Jack doesn't have a clue.

Freddie59

Yakult wrote: »

I wonder what did people talk about before the recession? Other than how many houses you are buying of course.. I'm sick of hearing about this doom and gloom for the past 4 years.

Yeah. You're probably right. We should ignore it all and let these lads keep going on the gravy train while the rest of the country is under a financial cosh.

KeithAFC

FearDark wrote: »

YAWN

The sort of reason why your country is in such a mess. No one seems to care if that response is anything to go by.

Phill Ewinn

Austerity Spain is best Spain

Freddie59

KeithAFC wrote: »

The sort of reason why your country is in such a mess. No one seems to care if that response is anything to go by.

Don't often agree with you but that's about it really.

Yakult

Freddie59 wrote: »

Yeah. You're probably right. We should ignore it all and let these lads keep going on the gravy train while the rest of the country is under a financial cosh.

What do we do so? Sit at our PC's Humming and hawing for the next 12 hours until tomorrow comes with another scandal? As effective.

woodoo

KeithAFC wrote: »

The sort of reason why your country is in such a mess. No one seems to care if that response is anything to go by.

100% agree. People from other countries just wouldn't tolerate it. So many here just want to shrug their shoulders... aw well.. so what.. nothing we can do.. lets just give up and accept it... thats life blah blah blah :mad:

mar48

To be honest did anyone expect anything different from this government, as the saying goes- same ****e, different day

Freddie59

Yakult wrote: »

What do we do so? Sit at our PC's Humming and hawing for the next 12 hours until tomorrow comes with another scandal? As effective.

What do YOU recommend? This stuff has to be exposed at every turn. It's the only way things will change.

Lawrence1895

mar48 wrote: »

To be honest did anyone expect anything different from this government, as the saying goes- same ****e, different day

To be honest, the majority of people had some reason to vote for them, otherwise they would not be in government. And some of them did believe, what the likes of Enda K, or Richard B. promised them.

squod

Lars1916 wrote: »

To be honest, the majority of people had some reason to vote for them, otherwise they would not be in government. And some of them did believe, what the likes of Enda K, or Richard B. promised them.

They didn't even lie! Noonan had said we would ''pay our way'' well before the election. By ''pay our way'' he meant ruin the place. It was clear from the outset. 70% of people voted either FF or FG in the previous election.

dxhound2005

Why do people expect political leaders to work for peanuts compared to the vast riches private companies pay their bosses. Who would have the harder job, Barack Obama on €300,000 a year or Michael O'Leary on €1m plus? Very hard to find figures for Irish bosses but plenty of them are on more than a million a year.

Badgermonkey

KeithAFC wrote: »

The sort of reason why your country is in such a mess.

With the amount of subvention you've received, NI should have a rocket on the f*cking moon by now Keith.

Freddie59

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Why do people expect political leaders to work for peanuts compared to the vast riches private companies pay their bosses. Who would have the harder job, Barack Obama on €300,000 a year or Michael O'Leary on €1m plus? Very hard to find figures for Irish bosses but plenty of them are on more than a million a year.

Read my earlier post about the comparison between what bosses of State companies are paid in Spain and what they are paid here. It is truly surreal.

Michael O'Leary (whom I cannot stand) has made it in the private sector by sheer hard work. What, precisely, for example, does the boss of any State company do in comparison?

Freddie59

Badgermonkey wrote: »

With the amount of subvention you've received, NI should have a rocket on the f*cking moon by now Keith.

The North is so far removed from reality it really isn't funny.

KeithAFC

Badgermonkey wrote: »

With the amount of subvention you've received, NI should have a rocket on the f*cking moon by now Keith.

At least we get that help. The Republic gets next to no help and is in a complete mess. Will take years to recover. Thousands of people leaving every year because they just can't get work or even have the potential to get work.

Toby Take a Bow

Are you not saying that pay for top state executives should be slashed? So, surely you'd agree with the whole 'tax the rich' policy? It may seem like the SIPTU guy is being hypocritical, but maybe, just maybe he's actually one of those turkeys who are voting for Christmas.

I'm not a fan of SIPTU, less so the head of SIPTU, but I'd agree with increased taxes on the wealthy.

4zn76tysfajdxp

KeithAFC wrote: »

At least we get that help. The Republic gets next to no help and is in a complete mess.

So... we should be... helped?

KeithAFC

Conrad Salmon Hitchhiker wrote: »

So... we should be... helped?

It would help.

Lawrence1895

Conrad Salmon Hitchhiker wrote: »

So... we should be... helped?

How does that proverb go again? 'Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for one day. Teach him, how to catch the fish, and you will feed him for the rest of his life'?

Drumpot

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Why do people expect political leaders to work for peanuts compared to the vast riches private companies pay their bosses. Who would have the harder job, Barack Obama on €300,000 a year or Michael O'Leary on €1m plus? Very hard to find figures for Irish bosses but plenty of them are on more than a million a year.

Is ryanair bankrupt or relying on a bailout from the EU?

People are rightly angry with the fact that Bankers are walking away with nice pensions and lump sums irrespective of the job they do, why should we feel any differant towards politicians?

Lab/FG have done little to change the status quo or the way politicians think the state is their ATM. They have no moral authority to implement cuts that they simply cannot comprehend how it effects people on lower incomes.

They have shown to be a spineless, vested interest group of FF lite gits that are still doing everything they can to avoid having to tackle the upper levels of public service.

If they were FF they would be getting rightly lambasted for showing so much ignorance and looking after themselves at our expense . .

Anyone

Really dont see the benefit of comparing country to country, especially when they are very different. If your going to compare wages in one country to another, maybe you should link it to how expensive things are?

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp

Now look at Dublin, then find the first Spanish city and look at the difference.

While I dont agree that people should be paid huge sums of money, can I ask those who complain about the well paid. Would you take a pay cut of 40-50% to be on par with other nations?

Drumpot

Lars1916 wrote: »

How does that proverb go again? 'Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for one day. Teach him, how to catch the fish, and you will feed him for the rest of his life'?

We have a teacher that loans us a fishing rod and bait, but we already owe them a couple of fish we havent even caught before we can feed ourselves . .

hmmm

If Jack O'Connor wants to sacrifice his salary, about 1200 families could have their household charge paid by him.

Lawrence1895

Drumpot wrote: »

We have a teacher that loans us a fishing rod and bait, but we already owe them a couple of fish we havent even caught before we can feed ourselves . .

I can't beat that in the moment, tbh

Drumpot

Anyone wrote: »

While I dont agree that people should be paid huge sums of money, can I ask those who complain about the well paid. Would you take a pay cut of 40-50% to be on par with other nations?

Would anybody want a significant pay reduction if they didnt have to take it ? Thats the way certain sections of society seem to feel . . Its compleletly ignorant to the state the country finds itself in . .

Doesnt seem to matter what the governmemt does to people on welfare, why should it treat its employees with any less contempt ? Oh yeh, cause the governments first loyalty is to itself not the country . .

I can assure you it is not in the countries best interest to keep on funding the existing pension arrangements, to allow certain areas to keep their salary increments, to allow certain perks/expenses to continue or indeed to not really tackle the cost/size of the public service (in proportion to our situation), but hey they think they are worth it so its ok . .

Anyone

I had something typed out, but then I thought meh....this is just another whine thread. And to be honest, reading them and getting dragged into them is depressing at times. Some people just moan,moan,moan so I'll give this one a miss, its nothing new.

Doc Ruby

KeithAFC wrote: »

The sort of reason why your country is in such a mess. No one seems to care if that response is anything to go by.

Don't you mean our country Keith.

Freddie59

Anyone wrote: »

Really dont see the benefit of comparing country to country, especially when they are very different. If your going to compare wages in one country to another, maybe you should link it to how expensive things are?

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp

Now look at Dublin, then find the first Spanish city and look at the difference.

While I dont agree that people should be paid huge sums of money, can I ask those who complain about the well paid. Would you take a pay cut of 40-50% to be on par with other nations?

€100k for the head of Spanish State Company.

€473k and beyond for heads of Irish State companies.

NOTHING can excuse it. Ever.

nice_very

beware, the fascists are once again in govt in spain...




....and thats 400!

mattjack

KeithAFC wrote: »

At least we get that help. The Republic gets next to no help and is in a complete mess. Will take years to recover. Thousands of people leaving every year because they just can't get work or even have the potential to get work.

Keith , did ya hear Celtic are on for the treble again ?

Rangers gone into administration and Paisley and Thatcher both on the way out.

LH Pathe

........is rugby country.

So stand proud, in arms, bolstered by your priviledged upbringing and let the warrior spirit course through you... and fail to close out a result v shîtty wales

policarp

Election promises:-

Burn the bond holders.
Not an other penny to Anglo.
Keep Roscommon hospital open.
Abolish the Seanad.
Total transparability.

This country..........?

Mully_2011

policarp wrote: »

Election promises:-

Burn the bond holders.
Not an other penny to Anglo.
Keep Roscommon hospital open.
Abolish the Seanad.
Total transparability.

This country..........?

the funny thing is people believed them and come around the next row of elections people will believe whatever ****e Fianna Fail come out with and thats how it works and if people did go out and protest they would be looked on as gob****es.

But in my opinion what this country really needs is a party and a leader with brains and balls go back to basics shake up the public sector get rid of all this waste and midddle management and put put people who actually know what there doing in the departments.

cocoshovel

im drunk and didnt even read the op WHAT SO EVER


dont like this country, end of. Tis terrible isnt it? brb emmigrating.

TwoShedsJackson

policarp wrote: »

Election promises:-

Burn the bond holders.
Not an other penny to Anglo.
Keep Roscommon hospital open.
Abolish the Seanad.
Total transparability.

This country..........?

Don't think they actually promised to burn bond holders did they?

Anglo - yes.

Roscommon - yes, another lie.

Seanad - that takes time, not to mention a referendum.

Total transparency: not sure why anyone would even believe this.


People should start realising that politicians will promise anything and everything to get in, and stay in. They never fulfill most promises. I'm just surprised anyone ever thought they would.

Toby Take a Bow

Freddie59 wrote: »

€100k for the head of Spanish State Company.

€473k and beyond for heads of Irish State companies.

NOTHING can excuse it. Ever.

Differences in standard of living could excuse it. Not saying it does, but holding up two figures is meaningless without exploring exactly how much they're worth (but, sure, you well know that).

Freddie59

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Don't think they actually promised to burn bond holders did they?

Anglo - yes.

Roscommon - yes, another lie.

Seanad - that takes time, not to mention a referendum.

Total transparency: not sure why anyone would even believe this.


People should start realising that politicians will promise anything and everything to get in, and stay in. They never fulfill most promises. I'm just surprised anyone ever thought they would.

In fairness, the "Labour" Party have really shown their true colours. If someone else were in power the unions would be organising mass protests, etc.

Freddie59

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

Differences in standard of living could excuse it. Not saying it does, but holding up two figures is meaningless without exploring exactly how much they're worth (but, sure, you well know that).

Not really. can €473k a year be justified when the average industrial wage is around €35k? I think not. It is truly a scandal.

Nine thousand Euro a week??!! WTF?

Lawrence1895

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Don't think they actually promised to burn bond holders did they?

Anglo - yes.

Roscommon - yes, another lie.

Seanad - that takes time, not to mention a referendum.

Total transparency: not sure why anyone would even believe this.


People should start realising that politicians will promise anything and everything to get in, and stay in. They never fulfill most promises. I'm just surprised anyone ever thought they would.

I was talking to Richard Bruton's crowd, when they were canvassing the area, asking them about the bankers and bondholders...they changed the subject. So no promise at all.

ART6

The difference between a large private sector company and a public sector one is that in the former an annual general meeting of shareholders is called, and executive salaries and appointments are approved. The shareholders can object to a salary level, but generally are prepared to pay a top executive well if he is getting results for them. It is, in law, their company.

In the public sector the politicians act for the shareholders (you and I), and we only get an AGM every five years. Even then, we don't get to have any say in the appointments of the companies executives. What we do get is the same old faces defending the interests of their mates against the proles who actually pay.:mad:

Toby Take a Bow

Freddie59 wrote: »

Not really. can €473k a year be justified when the average industrial wage is around €35k? I think not. It is truly a scandal.

Nine thousand Euro a week??!! WTF?

Oh, we're comparing it with the average industrial wage, now, and not with similar jobs in Spain.

Regardless, a higher tax for the wealthy would solve the issue, and you wouldn't even have to switch the goalposts whenever you like.

Quazzie

Lars1916 wrote: »

How does that proverb go again? 'Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for one day. Teach him, how to catch the fish, and you will feed him for the rest of his life'?

Give a man a fire and he will warm for one day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.