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Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s Speech In Dáil Eireann Today 7/2/2013:
“I wish to make an important announcement for the information of the House.
The Government has met in the last hour to consider a proposal from the Minister for Finance to once and for all remove the Promissory Notes relating to the former Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society. This proposal follows the conclusion of discussions between the European Central Bank and the Irish Government. When Fine Gael and Labour formed a new Government in 2011, we promised to renegotiate the bail-out programme inherited from the previous Government to secure a fairer and more affordable solution to our banking and sovereign debt crises.
 In particular, we committed to replacing short-term, emergency Central Bank lending secured against the Promissory Notes used by the previous Government to bail-out the worst Irish banks with longer term, more affordable financing that reduces the burden on Irish taxpayers and restores confidence among other potential investors in Ireland.
The Promissory Notes represent, in this Government’s view, a highly onerous and unfair legacy of the banking crisis. Under this Promissory Note arrangement put in place by the previous Government, Irish taxpayers due to pay €3.1bn next March and every March until 2023, and declining payments until 2031, to cover the massive private losses of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide.
Including interest costs, the lifetime cost of the Promissory Note would have been almost €48bn. I am pleased to announce that today, Ireland has reached a conclusion to its discussions with the European Central Bank that delivers on our commitment to put in place a fairer and more sustainable arrangement.
This is the outcome, the liquidation of the Irish Bank Resolution Company, as legislated for by the Oireachtas this morning. The remnants of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide, stains on our international reputations and dents to our national pride, have now been removed from the financial and political landscape. Their closure bookends a tragic chapter in our country’s history. The annual Promissory Notes payments are gone.
Continue reading Promissory Notes – Text Of Enda Kenny’s Speech
 For the past 200 years, literary giants, world statesmen and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of other tourists intent on kissing the Blarney Stone, thus gaining the gift of eloquent speech. The unrivalled power of this stone has been proven unquestionable as any visitors will confirm after they have leaned backwards, held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements of Blarney Castle. However this Blarney Stone is now to be removed from its current position and incorporated in the battlements of Dublin Castle, in time for ‘The Gathering 2013.’
At the time the announcement was made I believe I was having troubled thoughts about either the European Central Bank’s (ECB) insistence on the payment of the 3.1 billion promissory note, or maybe it was Olivia Mitchell TD’s resentment in having to pay property tax, which in turn she felt would be squandered to supply badly needed Footpaths, Dart Services, Public Transport & Street Lighting to the red-necked residents of rural Ireland.
Anyway, whatever my thoughts last night, I was quickly & without warning transported into the real cold light of day with the news announced by my favourite TV 3 Star & News Anchor, Thurles born & gorgeous Collette Fitzpatrick, as she interviewed the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & gentle Kerry man, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, via her 9.00 news bulletin.
“Quite a few changes must now be made in advance of ‘The Gathering 2013,’ following our Cabinet Meeting last week, which discussed in great detail our government’s failure to create employment,” the Minister stated. “This was quite a disappointing meeting and some hard decisions had to be made,” continued Mr Deenihan. “There were 20 TD’s present round the cabinet table, three of which have no vote.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Mr Ruairi Quinn is trying to sack teachers, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Mr Phil Hogan is trying to sack local & county councillors, together with unnecessary office staff, the Minister for Health, Mr James Reilly is intent on reducing nurses and other staff in the HSE, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Mr Alan Shatter is attempting to remove 1,500 serving Gardaí and last, but by no means least, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin is attempting to get rid of 4,000 civil servants, so hard decisions were the order of the day,” went on Minister Deenihan.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mr Richard Bruton stated that he had created one hundred new jobs in Limerick last week, with the €100m expansion of manufacturing operations at Vistakon, but when he got home he found over 300 jobs gone at HMV. To further add fuel to the fire Minister Phil Hogan had taken the “bread from the mouths,” of employees involved nationally in the Stationary & Office Equipment sector, latter caused by his insistence that public offices in each county, must now buy their blotting paper, pencils & photocopying paper from a central stationary company appointed by him.
“If that wasn’t bad enough,” stated Mr Shatter, “this new EU demand for improved security protection on Driving Licences had further placed the jobs of some 500 employees in the photography sector in jeopardy, not to mention placing a massive burden on struggling self employed photographers, who would now end up on social welfare payments, due to required identity photographs now being handed over to just one government appointed Body. Sure I am close to a mental breakdown,” stated Minister Shatter.
Minister Deenihan then went on to say; “That left only 12 of us to come up with ideas and we have now decided in the interest of the voting public to move the Blarney Stone in Cork to Dublin Castle, solely in the interests of safety & security.” (A bit like the Derrynaflan Chalice, I remember thinking at that time.)
Mr Deenihan stated also that ‘Fungi,’ the Dolphin would be now moved as soon as possible from Dingle to Dublin Zoo in case of water pollution from Phil Hogan’s septic tanks, the 5000 year old Passage Tomb at New Grange would be moved to St Stephens Green, Dublin, thus giving much needed employment to the ailing construction industry sector, while ‘The Giants Causeway,’ may now be moved to Dublin Bay by the Office of Public Works (OPW), as part of future ongoing Cross Border Co-Operation.
Meanwhile, An Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny stated he would be having talks very soon with the Egyptian Government and was hopeful that at least one of ‘The Pyramids,’ could be moved to the Phoenix Park, hopefully, as he was careful to point out, without effecting any reduction on Egypt’s tourism trade.
It was the sudden fall from my bed that awoke me from my troubling nightmare. To say my heart was racing & my new Christmas pyjamas were soaking in sweat would be an understatement. Still it had been just a weird dream, obviously brought on by thoughts of TD Olivia Mitchell. Sure who, in God’s name and in their right minds, would remove artefacts, which could bring a strong tourist trade from Ireland’s Gateways to historical locations like the Boyne Valley, Dingle & Blarney?
No, now that you ask, I haven’t received a reply to my open letter forwarded to Jimmy Deenihan by Leo Varadkar or indeed from North Tipperary elected TD Alan Kelly, latter always so anxious to demonstrate his political ability and quick to influence the return of such items as the Derrynaflan Chalice to their rightful home here in Thurles.
Not to worry, I have promised myself never again to eat any more of that cursed French blue cheese, well prior to bedtime anyway & forgive me but I must now go in search of some dry pyjamas.
In the words of St Matthew’s Gospel: “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: He who has ears, let him hear.“
A new law governing persons who are observed smoking in cars where children are present, has been approved by Health Minister James Reilly and will come into force, if passed by government, with effect from possibly July next.
Smoking
Under this new draft legislation, to be completed by the end of January, passengers as well as drivers will face fines of €3,000, if they are observed to be smoking in a private or commercial vehicle, where children are being transported. Forest Éireann, a group who represent the views of consumers who choose to smoke, say the ban and fine amount to government bullying, especially in the context of people who are totally guilty of ruining this country financially, both while in government & in opposition.
 There are presently one million smokers in Ireland, which is equal to a third of the adult population and smokers contribute €1.5 billion per annum to Revenues in tobacco duty alone.
The Irish Cancer Society, who now welcome these latest plans, have continued to support the government in increasing legalised tobacco taxes and by doing so, in reality, also now indirectly support Irish criminal gangs, who openly sell cigarettes, focusing directly on young people, thus making it easier for children themselves to take up the habit.
These sellers of illegal low cost tobacco cost the Irish Exchequer an estimated €581,963,500 in VAT and excise last year, equivalent to €1,594,420 per day. These easily available illegal cigarettes have been found to contain up to six times the level of lead, five times the level of cadmium and three times the level of arsenic found in ordinary cigarettes. These cigarettes also contain rat and mouse droppings, dead insects, floor sweepings and dust.
It is understood, under this latest proposed legislation, Gardaí (If we still still have any available & working by the summer) will be allowed to rely solely on their visual evidence, when cases come before Irish courts.
Meanwhile, talking about children, in the same crisis-prone Minister Reilly’s area of responsibility, teachers who report serious issues of continuous child neglect, to the Health Service Executive (HSE) are being completely ignored. This is despite last November, the children’s rights referendum having passed by a narrow margin of 58% in favour, versus 42% against and hailed, “A historic day for the protection of children in Ireland.”
Still I suppose anti smoking fines can generate easy indirect taxes, especially in a State which continues to be governed by overpaid & pampered union representatives, working mainly in the HSE & Public Service, for decades.
Cyber Bullying
Definition of Cyber Bullying: Use of communication technologies that seek to intimidate, control, manipulate, put down, falsely discredit, or humiliate the recipient.
Meanwhile South Tipperary TD Deputy Tom Hayes, has been appointed by the government to investigate cyber bullying. This is the same Deputy Tom Hayes who was involved in playing the ‘pizza prank phone call,‘ on Tipperary constituency colleague Deputy Mattie McGrath, a humiliating & intimidating event, publicly now referred too as ‘Pizzagate.’
You will remember five overpaid TDs, including Tom Hayes, rang the Tipperary Independent TD, pretending to be from a Pizza Takeaway Restaurant and said they too didn’t like banks and would send food to support McGrath’s worthy sit-in.
McGrath at the time was taking part in a protest at a ‘Friends First Dublin bank,’ in support of an impoverished farming family, when the call was received from the Dáil Éireann Bar. (I often wonder why the Minister for Health James Reilly hasn’t taken action to close this Dáil bar, especially given his governments policy in tackling our drunken culture.)
In “The Nationalist,” newspaper, (dated 3rd January 2013) this same South Tipperary TD Tom Hayes, chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communication, stated he was concerned about the growth of cyber bullying and abusive remarks generally made on social media. “People have to be made accountable for what they are saying. Members of the public across a wide section of Irish life are being subjected to bullying and harassment. Politicians are just one group of people affected by this. The fierce problems this issue is creating is very evident and it is of huge concern.”
How right you are Deputy Tom, & as my old Granny (God be good to her) used to say, “To err is human, to blame it on somebody else shows management potential, and when you decide to ridicule stupid people, sure remember this: Without them, you’d only be average.“
Current reliable Irish statistics inform us that there are 250,000 children currently residing in families that now live below the poverty line.
Just a few short weeks ago we had the Children’s Referendum, held to supposedly strengthen the rights of children under our Irish Constitution. With this Children’s Referendum amendment now passed & with less then one week to go until Budget Day, planned leaks state that our current Fine Gael & Labour coalition government are about to cut child benefit. Such cuts, if true, would reduce benefits from €140 per month, per child, to €130, thus hitting these same vulnerable children and their families the hardest.
 With each recent budget introduced, there has been a deepening of divisions within Irish society and this action, if continued, can now only lead to Greek style protests.
All policy choices made in next weeks Budget needs to be carefully assessed, not in just monetary terms, but in terms of how they will immediately impact on those in society who already cannot afford a basic minimum standard of living.
Any, & indeed all changes must be proportionate and equitable and based solely on the ability of different sectors of Irish society to pay.
While a large majority of the present electorate have given up all hope of Fine Gael leading us out of this current recession, the question now remains has the Labour Party forgotten its founders, James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O’Brien and their birthplace here in Clonmel Tipperary, one hundred years ago?
Remember The Words Of One Labour Party Founder, James Connolly
Quote “Ireland, as distinct from her people, is nothing to me; and the man who is bubbling over with love and enthusiasm for “Ireland,” and can yet pass unmoved through our streets and witness all the wrong and the suffering, the shame and the degradation wrought upon the people of Ireland, yea, wrought by Irishmen upon Irish men and women, without burning to end it, is, in my opinion, a fraud and a liar in his heart, no matter how he loves that combination of chemical elements he is pleased to call Ireland.” (Brendan Howlin & Joan Burton take special note.)
Meanwhile, note your TD’s Salary – € 92,675. Expenses €12,000 to €37,850 for unvouched travel & accommodation. €12,000 unvouched or €25,700 vouched for office costs. Automatic right to employ wife or other family members. Subsidised Dáil Bar, Free Gym and wait for it … FREE VHI Membership … etc etc.
No 77 minute road trip to an over burdened Limerick Hospital waiting room for our pampered over paid TD’s.
 Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald. The referendum to enshrine Children’s Rights in the Irish Constitution has passed today by a margin of 58% to 42%.
The referendum was voted on yesterday with voters going to the polls, 48 hours after a potentially damaging Supreme Court ruling had deemed the Government’s use of public funds illegal. This court also found that extensive passages on information leaflets provided, breached rules of integrity. The essence of these courts findings stated that public funds cannot be used to promote a voting outcome, based on the previous 1995 McKenna judgement.
Yesterday was the second time only that a referendum has been held on a Saturday, the first being 10 years ago, in the second vote on the Nice Treaty.
Counting of votes from all 43 constituencies began at 9am this morning with the full and final outcome announced this afternoon.
Three of Ireland’s 43 constituencies voted against the Government’s plans to enshrine Children’s Rights into the Constitution. These constituencies were named as; Donegal South West, Donegal North East and Dublin North West.
While voter turnout in the county was relatively low at around 33.49%, some 1,066,239 people did vote out of a total electorate of 3,183,686. Figures now indicate that 615,731 voted Yes and 445,863 voting No.
Counting of votes here in Tipperary North & South indicate the following returns:-
Tipperary North: YES – 55.75%, NO – 44.25% – with a voter turnout of just 37.22%.
Tipperary South: YES – 54.17%, NO – 45.83% – with a voter turnout of just 35.18%.
It is now quite possible that this decision could be challenged once again in the Courts, in light of last week’s Supreme Court ruling, the written findings of which have yet to be published.
Photo courtesy G.Willoughby
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