Randomosity
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Brian Cowen in legal tangle over investment property
Brian Cowen, the Irish prime minister, is facing legal action in the English courts over his ownership of a buy-to-let flat which his landlords say he is illegally sub-letting to Leeds University.
Mr Cowen is part of a group of Irish investors who invested in a block of “student cluster apartments” designed and built as a hall of residence in the city.
The Newcastle-based freeholder is seeking payment of ground rents and management fees from the Irish group believed to be more than £100,000.
The disclosure of the legal tangle over his British investment property will be highly embarrassing to the Taoiseach as he struggles to navigate the Irish economy and national banks through the worst financial crisis in decades.
The purchase of the student apartment block, which cost around £12.5 million, was financed through mortgages taken out by the investors with Allied Irish Bank, whose share value plunged 98 per cent in the last year because of bad property loans.
Last September, amid fears that a bank was about to go bust, the Taoiseach and his finance minister Brian Lenihan stepped in to extend a 440 billion euros government guarantee to six mainly-Irish owned financial institutions, including Allied Irish with whom Mr Cowen secured his mortgage for the Leeds apartment.
http://www.politics.ie/current-affairs/60635-brian-cowen-legal-tangle-over-investment-property.html
Our Government are a bunch of lying, robbing gits...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter
Thought it was about time to post drunkenly to the blog... enjoying having very drunkin night with singing and beer here in Dublin... forget religion and eggs, beer and 'horses douvers' are the theme of the night and we are havin a ball... all invited for next year!
xx
xx
Thursday, April 9, 2009
I should really be in bed...
Its late now and I cannot sleep, still
Going over figures in my head and trying to make
Something out of my pockets full of nothing.
When I thought that I was being sensible
I was making all of the wrong choices
And no matter how I add them up there is not enough
Just to pay what needs to be paid, and live.
In the past it has taken less then this
For everything to spiral away from me
And with every part of myself I try to resist
The urge to bury worries in a bottle, as is our way.
Things seem harder today then they need to be
And I am tired, having no fight left, just for the moment.
Going over figures in my head and trying to make
Something out of my pockets full of nothing.
When I thought that I was being sensible
I was making all of the wrong choices
And no matter how I add them up there is not enough
Just to pay what needs to be paid, and live.
In the past it has taken less then this
For everything to spiral away from me
And with every part of myself I try to resist
The urge to bury worries in a bottle, as is our way.
Things seem harder today then they need to be
And I am tired, having no fight left, just for the moment.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Impact of Budget
Just used budget calculator on Irishtimes website, according to this I will now earn €1900.00 per month.
My rent is €650, my loan repayments are €270.00, electricity comes to about €70, gas about €145.00, NTL €32.00, TV licence €13.00, travel to and from work €40.00, Union Dues €30.00, Internet connection €30.00, Phone €20.00, grocery bills about €220. Leaving a grand total of €380.00 to live on per month.
I suppose it could be worse, but currently spending about 180.00 on smoking, which would leave €200.00 per month, or €50.00 per week.
The smokes have to go, thank God I don't have any kids!
My rent is €650, my loan repayments are €270.00, electricity comes to about €70, gas about €145.00, NTL €32.00, TV licence €13.00, travel to and from work €40.00, Union Dues €30.00, Internet connection €30.00, Phone €20.00, grocery bills about €220. Leaving a grand total of €380.00 to live on per month.
I suppose it could be worse, but currently spending about 180.00 on smoking, which would leave €200.00 per month, or €50.00 per week.
The smokes have to go, thank God I don't have any kids!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Kenny calls for election over Budget
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has today called on the Government to put its Budget to the electorate.
Speaking during leaders' questions in the Dáil ahead of the Budget announcement, Mr Kenny told the Taoiseach that people were being "penalised" for the mistakes of Fianna Fáil and challenged Brian Cowen to call an election.
Responding, Mr Cowen said people were aware of the challenges facing the country and that today's Budget was "another step in making necessary adjustments". People were ready to "make whatever sacrifices necessary" to restore the economy and the public finances, the Taoiseach said.
"That's the usual, you don't answer questions, Taoiseach," Mr Kenny told the House. Irish people "know well" who created the problems and are lying in wait for the Government, which will not give them opportunity to have their say, the Fine Gael leader said.
"The country is not working under Fianna Fáil . . . will you put budget to people in general election and give someone a mandate to lead this country out of the mess you and your people created?"
Mr Kenny accused Mr Cowen of pulling the "greatest con job of all" in May 2007 by putting out adverts in national papers claiming 97 per cent of taxpayers would be better off under FF.
The Taoiseach told Mr Kenny there would be sufficient support among people for the budget in what was a "clearly different" situation to May 2007.
"The important point is we will come through this recession as we did in the past . . . people will have to take some steps back to go forward. There will be a greater degree of sacrifice required, but it is far better to be open and honest about that."
from: Irish times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0407/breaking43.htm
Speaking during leaders' questions in the Dáil ahead of the Budget announcement, Mr Kenny told the Taoiseach that people were being "penalised" for the mistakes of Fianna Fáil and challenged Brian Cowen to call an election.
Responding, Mr Cowen said people were aware of the challenges facing the country and that today's Budget was "another step in making necessary adjustments". People were ready to "make whatever sacrifices necessary" to restore the economy and the public finances, the Taoiseach said.
"That's the usual, you don't answer questions, Taoiseach," Mr Kenny told the House. Irish people "know well" who created the problems and are lying in wait for the Government, which will not give them opportunity to have their say, the Fine Gael leader said.
"The country is not working under Fianna Fáil . . . will you put budget to people in general election and give someone a mandate to lead this country out of the mess you and your people created?"
Mr Kenny accused Mr Cowen of pulling the "greatest con job of all" in May 2007 by putting out adverts in national papers claiming 97 per cent of taxpayers would be better off under FF.
The Taoiseach told Mr Kenny there would be sufficient support among people for the budget in what was a "clearly different" situation to May 2007.
"The important point is we will come through this recession as we did in the past . . . people will have to take some steps back to go forward. There will be a greater degree of sacrifice required, but it is far better to be open and honest about that."
from: Irish times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0407/breaking43.htm
Focus Ireland Aftercare campaign
I have just sent an e-mail to support Focus Ireland's campaign to ensure continues to support young people leaving State care, and I am asking you to do the same.
Every week, we hear about children being put into care. Often the circumstances they are being rescued from make it sound like a happy ending. But when a child reaches 18 the state no longer has any legal responsibility to look after them. Even if they have been in care for most of their lives, they must suddenly survive in the adult world - alone. Many people struggle in these hard circumstances and can even end up homeless. There is some support but not enough for everyone - so more needs to be done.
Focus Ireland has now organised a petition to Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, who is currently considering a proposal to change the law and provide a guarantee of Aftercare where it is needed.
I have written to Minister Andrews to support this call, I thought you might be interested in doing the same. Click on www.focusireland.ie and click on Take Action.
It only takes a couple of minutes and will make a difference.
Every week, we hear about children being put into care. Often the circumstances they are being rescued from make it sound like a happy ending. But when a child reaches 18 the state no longer has any legal responsibility to look after them. Even if they have been in care for most of their lives, they must suddenly survive in the adult world - alone. Many people struggle in these hard circumstances and can even end up homeless. There is some support but not enough for everyone - so more needs to be done.
Focus Ireland has now organised a petition to Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, who is currently considering a proposal to change the law and provide a guarantee of Aftercare where it is needed.
I have written to Minister Andrews to support this call, I thought you might be interested in doing the same. Click on www.focusireland.ie and click on Take Action.
It only takes a couple of minutes and will make a difference.
Mini Budget (part one)
Its mini budget day, so it remains to be seen if the Irish government will make sensible decisions for the good of the country or continue to target those sections of society that have the least.
I know what I'm betting on... who exactly voted for Fianna Fail in the last election? (bet you feel really silly now)
I know what I'm betting on... who exactly voted for Fianna Fail in the last election? (bet you feel really silly now)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Religion makes us healthier, says study
Read the article here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0403/1224243935577.html
and then look up the Iona Institute here
http://www.ionainstitute.ie/
Then decide on the likelyhood of the there being any merit is this 'study'.
I'm saying nothing!
and then look up the Iona Institute here
http://www.ionainstitute.ie/
Then decide on the likelyhood of the there being any merit is this 'study'.
I'm saying nothing!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Take action to end female genital mutilation
Every day 8,000 young girls are subject to the horrors of female genital mutilation (FGM), in Africa, Asia and Europe.
END FGM IN EUROPE, a campaign run by Amnesty International Ireland, calls upon individuals, MEPs and organisations to support this initiative.
http://www.amnesty.ie/amnesty/live/irish/action/default.asp?page=29741&rec=20&pos=1
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Pilot who paused to pray in emergency gets 10 years
A Tunisian pilot who paused to pray instead of taking emergency measures before crash-landing his plane, killing 16 people, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail by an Italian court along with his co-pilot.
The 2005 crash at sea off Sicily left survivors swimming for their lives, some clinging to a piece of the fuselage that remained floating after the ATR turbo-prop aircraft splintered upon impact.
A fuel-gauge malfunction was partly to blame but prosecutors also said the pilot succumbed to panic, praying out loud instead of following emergency procedures and then opting to crash-land the plane instead trying to reach a nearby airport.
Another five employees of Tuninter, a subsidiary of Tunisair, were sentenced to between eight and nine years in jail by the court, in a verdict handed down yesterday.
The seven accused, who were not in court, will not spend time in jail until the appeals process has been exhausted.
(Irishtimes)
The 2005 crash at sea off Sicily left survivors swimming for their lives, some clinging to a piece of the fuselage that remained floating after the ATR turbo-prop aircraft splintered upon impact.
A fuel-gauge malfunction was partly to blame but prosecutors also said the pilot succumbed to panic, praying out loud instead of following emergency procedures and then opting to crash-land the plane instead trying to reach a nearby airport.
Another five employees of Tuninter, a subsidiary of Tunisair, were sentenced to between eight and nine years in jail by the court, in a verdict handed down yesterday.
The seven accused, who were not in court, will not spend time in jail until the appeals process has been exhausted.
(Irishtimes)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Bloomin work...
It is very hard to work when the street outside is full of tourists who have started the Patricks Day celebrations already!!
Happy Paddy's Day
Happy Paddys day in advance of tomorrow, when I plan to be too drunk to type anything at all...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
This is starting to feel personal...
It looks like the emergancy budget will put €2 on a packet of smokes, and the price of drink will go up also...fair enough but between the pension levy, the promised increases in tax and this it is starting to feel like the government have got together and planned how best to get as much tax as possible out of me personally...
I mean, its unlikely that I'll actually stop smoking... I've tried it before and it didn't work for me... I'll be surrendering any small element of sanity I have left if I can't afford to smoke or drink anymore... at least meet me halfway here lads!
I mean, its unlikely that I'll actually stop smoking... I've tried it before and it didn't work for me... I'll be surrendering any small element of sanity I have left if I can't afford to smoke or drink anymore... at least meet me halfway here lads!
€3,000 hike for TDs as workers' pay is cut
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/83643000-hike-for-tds-as--workers-pay-is-cut-1669838.html
Honestly what the hell do they think they are playing at????
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Joke my Brother told me... it made me laugh
An American doctor, an English doctor and an Irish doctor are sitting in a bar.
The American doctor, showing off, says
"We are so medically advanced in America that we took the heart our of a thirty year old man, put it in a 70 year old man and two months later he was out looking for a job."
The English doctor, not to be outdone, says
"That's nothing, in England we took the brain out of a 25 year old man, out it into a 75 year old man and one month later he was out looking for a job."
The Irish doctor laughed and said,
"You think that's impressive? In Ireland we took an arsehole out of Offaly, put him in Dáil Éireann and two weeks later half the country was out looking for a job."
The American doctor, showing off, says
"We are so medically advanced in America that we took the heart our of a thirty year old man, put it in a 70 year old man and two months later he was out looking for a job."
The English doctor, not to be outdone, says
"That's nothing, in England we took the brain out of a 25 year old man, out it into a 75 year old man and one month later he was out looking for a job."
The Irish doctor laughed and said,
"You think that's impressive? In Ireland we took an arsehole out of Offaly, put him in Dáil Éireann and two weeks later half the country was out looking for a job."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Irish Prayer
Our Taoiseach,
who art in Dail Eireann,
what on Earth's thy game?
Thy taxes come,
our economy's done,
from Cork to Sligo to Dublin.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our mortgages,
as you forgave banks who trespassed against us.
Lead us not into depression,
but deliver us from bankruptcy.
Amen.
who art in Dail Eireann,
what on Earth's thy game?
Thy taxes come,
our economy's done,
from Cork to Sligo to Dublin.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our mortgages,
as you forgave banks who trespassed against us.
Lead us not into depression,
but deliver us from bankruptcy.
Amen.
Pension Levy
Pretty much the first bunch of weekly paid staff were hit with the pension levy today, we recieved detailed information about this levy and a few points stuck out with me.
'Other than the President of Ireland and members of the Judiciary, the legislation does
not stipulate any exemptions.'
'Unlike the Income Tax Levy, the Act does not provide for any exemptions to be
made from the PRD should an individual hold a Medical Card.' (medical cards are means tested, so even those on lower incomes will have to pay the so called levy - but lets be honest and call it an additional tax)
'All remuneration will be subject to the PRD – regardless of whether or not this income is deemed pensionable or non-pensionable. This includes, but is not limited to, all overtime payments, “acting up” payments and allowances (pensionable or non-pensionable) that are payable.'
The unfairness of taxing one section of society is obvious to everyone, the fact that even those on lower incomes will be hit by this tax is unfair.
At the moment, in the current climate, many people are already struggling to make ends meet and this tax will only add to the stresses and difficulties that they are facing, this will certainly have a knock-on effect throughout soceity.
The Government is attepting to pit public sector against private sector in a bid to take attention from their own inept decisions in the past, we need to ensure that they are not successful.
Ireland has, under a FF goverenment, experienced dramatic economic growth in recent years, but no provision was made 'for a rainy day'
The current Taoiseach was previously the Minister for Finance, so there is no one that he can pass blame too.
Once again, those who work for this country in the public sector are being punished for governmental mistakes.
So what are we going to do about it?
'Other than the President of Ireland and members of the Judiciary, the legislation does
not stipulate any exemptions.'
'Unlike the Income Tax Levy, the Act does not provide for any exemptions to be
made from the PRD should an individual hold a Medical Card.' (medical cards are means tested, so even those on lower incomes will have to pay the so called levy - but lets be honest and call it an additional tax)
'All remuneration will be subject to the PRD – regardless of whether or not this income is deemed pensionable or non-pensionable. This includes, but is not limited to, all overtime payments, “acting up” payments and allowances (pensionable or non-pensionable) that are payable.'
The unfairness of taxing one section of society is obvious to everyone, the fact that even those on lower incomes will be hit by this tax is unfair.
At the moment, in the current climate, many people are already struggling to make ends meet and this tax will only add to the stresses and difficulties that they are facing, this will certainly have a knock-on effect throughout soceity.
The Government is attepting to pit public sector against private sector in a bid to take attention from their own inept decisions in the past, we need to ensure that they are not successful.
Ireland has, under a FF goverenment, experienced dramatic economic growth in recent years, but no provision was made 'for a rainy day'
The current Taoiseach was previously the Minister for Finance, so there is no one that he can pass blame too.
Once again, those who work for this country in the public sector are being punished for governmental mistakes.
So what are we going to do about it?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Speaking with a purpose
'Speaking with a purpose' came up as a feed on my RSS on the Dawkins website, http://richarddawkins.net/article,3629,n,n
Strangley enough, in my slightly hung over brain I read this as 'Speaking with a porpoise'... which would be a very different article altogether.
Slightly dissappointed to tell the truth, but it is still worth a read, despite the absence of small cetaceans.
Strangley enough, in my slightly hung over brain I read this as 'Speaking with a porpoise'... which would be a very different article altogether.
Slightly dissappointed to tell the truth, but it is still worth a read, despite the absence of small cetaceans.
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