We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated 8.20pm
THE SO-CALLED Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a fatal attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
Yesterday a lorry ploughed into the market, killing 12 people.
Through its Amaq news agency, the terrorist group called the attacker a “soldier of the Islamic State”.
Earlier, the Pakistani asylum seeker arrested after the attack was released due to lack of evidence.
“The accused, detained over the attack on the Berlin Christmas market on 19 December, 2016, was let go on this evening on the orders of the federal prosecutor,” authorities said in a statement.
The forensic tests carried out so far did not provide evidence of the accused’s presence during the crimes in the cab of the lorry.
As the shellshocked German capital reeled from the country’s deadliest attack of recent years earlier today, doubts emerged over whether the man detained overnight actually committed the atrocity.
Berlin’s police chief, Klaus Kandt, had said “we may have a dangerous criminal in the area”, and announced that security would be boosted while urging “heightened vigilance”.
German newspaper Die Welt first reported from police sources that the culprit may still at large and is armed and dangerous.
“We have the wrong man,” Berlin police are quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Twelve people were killed and almost 50 wounded when the truck tore through the crowd yesterday evening, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims, in scenes reminiscent of July’s deadly attack in the French Riviera city of Nice.
Speaking earlier today, Germany’s Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told journalists the arrested man had “denied the act”.
De Maiziere confirmed that the detained man arrived in Germany on 31 December 2015, seeking asylum.
Despite the blow to the investigation, De Maiziere said: “We have no doubt that this terrible event was an attack.”
Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said ”according to what we know, we have to assume this was a terrorist attack.”
Merkel, visibly moved and dressed in black, told reporters:
I know it will be especially hard for us to take if it is confirmed that the person who committed this attack sought protection and asylum in Germany.
Before that revelation that the man arrested did not carry out the attack, Merkel had said that if the attack was carried out by an asylum seeker it would be “particularly sickening in relation to the many, many Germans who are involved every day in helping refugees”.
She added it would also be repugnant “toward the many people who need our protection every day and who are working on integration in our country”.
Merkel said she personally was “horrified, shocked and deeply saddened” by the attack and would visit the site later today with the interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere, and Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller.
She pledged that German authorities would “get to the bottom” of the assault and that it would be “punished with the full force of our law”.
The arrival of 890,000 asylum seekers last year has polarised Germany, with critics calling the influx a serious security threat. Another 300,000 people have arrived this year.
Investigation
An MP for Germany’s CDU Party and a member of the German Parliament Foreign Affairs committee Roderich Kiesewetter said nobody has taken responsibility for the attack yet, but as far as German intelligence is aware, there is an Islamist background to it.
In a Twitter message the police service said it was carefully investigating the “probable terrorist attack” in which a truck was driven “intentionally” into a crowd killing 12 people and wounding dozens more yesterday evening.
“Our investigators assume that the truck was intentionally steered into the crowd at the Christmas market,” the police said in a Twitter message about the suspected attack late last night.
The Polish-registered vehicle, which was loaded with steel beams, had cut a bloody swathe of 60-80 metres into the market in the once-divided city’s inner west.
At least six of those killed were German citizens, authorities said, while countries from Israel to Spain said their nationals were among those injured in the busy tourist spot.
A Polish man, killed with an gunshot, was found on the truck’s passenger seat, said de Maiziere. He was believed to be the vehicle’s registered driver.
PolizeiBerlinEinsatz / TwitterThe temporary arrested suspect denies the offense.
— Polizei Berlin Einsatz (@PolizeiBerlin_E) December 20, 2016
Therefore we are particulary alert.
Please be also alert.#Breitscheidplatz
A German newspaper is reporting that the now released suspect was arrested with the help of a witness who followed the man after he fled the scene on foot.
The Die Welt daily said that a bystander said they saw the man jump out of the cab of the lorry after it had ploughed through the crowd.
The anonymous witness then trailed the suspect for about two kilometres, while staying on the phone with police to keep them informed of his location, according to the report.
‘Blood and bodies everywhere’
Ambulances and heavily armed police rushed to the area after the vehicle mounted the pavement of the market in a square popular with tourists, in horrific scenes reminiscent of July’s deadly truck attack in the French Riviera city of Nice.
Australian Trisha O’Neill told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she was only metres from where the truck smashed into the crowded market:
I just saw this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people and then all the lights went out and everything was destroyed.
I could hear screaming and then we all froze. Then suddenly people started to move and lift all the wreckage off people, trying to help whoever was there.
O’Neill said there was “blood and bodies everywhere”.
Irish reaction
Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night condemned the attack as a “barbaric attack” and extended his condolences to the families of those killed.
“Our thoughts are with those injured and their families. Any Irish citizens with concerns should phone 00353 1 4082000,” he said.
With separate terror incidents occurring yesterday in Ankara, Turkey, and Zurich, Switzerland, Kenny added his condemnation for those attacks also.
“I condemn the callous murder of Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey and offer condolences to Ambassador Karlov’s family,” Kenny said.
I condemn the cowardly attack on worshippers at prayer in Zurich this evening. These acts of violence have no place in society and constitute an attack on our fundamental values.
A statement from President Michael D Higgins also offered condolences to the victims of all three attacks:
As President of Ireland I wish to convey my condolences to the families of the victims of these acts and the solidarity of the people of Ireland with all those affected by the violence. I wish all the survivors and their communities strength and confidence in these difficult times.
Separately, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan described himself as “horrified by the loss of life” seen in Berlin.
“Ireland stands in solidarity with Germany,” Flanagan said.
Charlie Flanagan / TwitterHorrified by the tragic loss of life in Berlin. Irish citizens in area: please follow advice of local authorities & consult @dfatravelwise pic.twitter.com/Tw36usXcDr
— Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) December 19, 2016
Speaking about the Berlin attack, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said that it was an attack “on freedom itself”.
“This appears to have been an attack not just on people innocently going about their business preparing for Christmas, but on freedom itself,” she said.
Our values of democracy and liberty are the target of those who wish to see a world of dark tyranny imposed on us all.
‘Safer than Paris’
Traditional Christmas markets are popular in cities and towns throughout Germany and have frequently been mentioned by security services as potentially vulnerable to attacks.
“It’s awful. We were in Berlin for Christmas,” American tourist Kathy Forbes said. “We also thought it would be safer than Paris.”
The crash happened in the shadow of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church whose damage in a World War II bombing raid has been preserved as a reminder of the horrors of war for future generations.
The square is at the end of the Kurfuerstendamm boulevard, which was packed with holiday shoppers.
Police said the truck made it as far as 80 metres into the Christmas market before it came to a halt.
High alert
Europe has been on high alert for most of 2016, with terror attacks striking Paris and Brussels, while Germany has been hit by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum seekers.
An axe rampage on a train in the southern state of Bavaria in July wounded five people, and a suicide bombing left 15 people injured in the same state six days later.
In another case, a 16-year-old German-Moroccan girl in February stabbed a police officer in the neck with a kitchen knife, wounding him badly, allegedly on IS orders.
The attack in Berlin comes five months after Tunisian extremist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a truck into a crowd on the Nice seafront, killing 86 people.
In response to the suspected attack in Berlin, France beefed up security at its own Christmas markets.
“The French share in the mourning of the Germans in the face of this tragedy that has hit all of Europe,” President Francois Hollande said.
The Nice bloodshed – as people were watching a fireworks display on the Bastille Day holiday on 14 July – further traumatised a France already reeling from a series of jihadist attacks.
The United States labelled yesterday’s incident an apparent “terrorist attack” and pledged its support.
President-elect Donald Trump blamed “Islamist terrorists” for a “slaughter” of Christians in the German capital.
Additional reporting by Cianan Brennan, Cliódhna Russell, Rónán Duffy and Órla Ryan
The massive support for independents and the amount of undecided voters is proof that we are in a broken form of democracy. We need a new system. I haven’t got the solution but as the saying goes you don’t need to be a fireman to point out a building that’s on fire.
This poll reminds me of the old advert – “We don’t like your type round here !”
To all backbenchers who can’t do maths – 16% means you LOOSE your seat !
So stay in for another few weeks and become absolutely despised or organise an election – those Fine Gael and Labour backbenchers who leave now and stand as Independents are the only ones that have a hope of retaining their seat …
Not enough voting emigrants left for ye at 16% !
It’s not unreasonable to still be “undecided” fifteen or sixteen months before the election is due. This isn’t an American presidential election.
Stay in Fantasy land Neal …say hello to Mark Kennelly for me – tell him I said he isn’t as smart as he thinks he is !
It’s a great point! We don’t trust any party. I think they lack expertise!
@Dermot Ryan:
“…..LOOSE your seat!”
Does that mean that their arses will become detached?!
John – it shall be known as the jettisoning of the brains !
Regardless of who is put in we need a mechanism to directly lobby the government by referendum. We currently only get that when our constitution is impinged on and I will vote for any party or group of independents that put that in bold on the manifesto.
Direct democracy, works for the Swiss very well. Public votes every few months on important issues. Let the people decide, not these idiots we have in our government.
enda finally in where he belongs the shisters club,,with haughey ahearn and cowen
FG and Lab were given a chance to help the people of Ireland. They have decided to tax and levy those who are working into near poverty. Five point plan(Bull&hit) should be renewed to include restoration of peoples living standards to above breadline. Let the politicians hit the European bondholders as hard as they hit those who did not gamble or finance overpriced bricks and mortar.
I’ve said it before, the electorate are now in the habit of voting parties out not in. A warning for the next party that gets in, your jobs are on the line if you don’t start serving the people who put you there. No more lies
Simon, when the next election is on and they cone banging on my door, I will be handing each and everyone a ‘contract’ to sign so if in power they break that promise/ contract they will see me in court. I really believe any promises should be legally binding, we are THEIR employer after all. There has to be consequences for break of contract. A bit idealistic of me I know, but this whole area needs to be looked at.
myownboss – they actually are – McKenna and McCrystal judgements …..legally binding
If independents gained control, one priority should be to slash the salaries and exorbitant pensions that ministers and senior civil servants get after the next election- and apply it retrospectively.
The thought of the Labour, FG and FF so-called elite having the smug look wiped off their faces would bring a little cheer to anybody’s heart.
It’s a sad day when 16% of people would still vote for FF .
There will always be idiots unfortunately.
anyone who votes for fianna fraud are either their family members or masochists after the way those gangsters destroyed the country
Ah, sure, didn’t my father and mother always vote for them. And their parents before that.
Sad, but true!
I think somewhere around the 12/13% is their core vote. So they clawed a bit back. Used to think it was going to be a ff/FG next gov. With these polls it could be anything. More likely ff/FG/ selection of indp candidates.
History repeating itself. FG had a chance to actually make a difference & decided that they’d screw the country & guarantee their own futures financially if not politically. They have lied & when theyre not busily screwing the country they spend the remainder of that time just screwing up. The only surprise in this story is that 16% of voters would waste a vote on them. Roll on Dec 10th.
Ends & Joan now do you hear what people are saying. Your Governments time is up, RESIGN NOW.
That’s what happens when you take orders from vulture capitalists (the troika) rather than your electorate.
In 2011 they’d all be taking orders from the Troika in fairness.
that’s what happens when you want people to vote for you and promise them things will change at least in the running of the country and you get voted in and completely change become more arrogant and uncaring, pick on the least well off in society and continue to spend taxpayers money like it is water
good riddance to them all, the generation of politicians we have had in the last 20 years are a shame on us
Headline is misleading – they were this unpopular last week.
Headline should have read they wont be this popular for another decade
They are even more unpopular today.
Tick tock tick tock.
The real battle ground is the 22% undecided.
SF, FF and FG will target this group. The question is will they return to their traditional pattern of FF or FG.
Or will they go over to SF.
ABOLISH THE…………..U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C, U.S.C,
People go on about it bringing in €4.5 billion in taxes but if the scrapped it they’d get most of it back in VAT and income tax from all the extra people that would be put back to work. I suspect FF will promise to scrap it if elected and then we’ll be back to that shower of c..ts again.
@ RS: As seen in the locals, SF/Independents could make SERIOUS gains in a GE. The fact that a GE would allow the public, unlike the local elections, to bring about a decisive sea-change in our politics may bring even more to the polling booth for the first time.
Perhaps it could jam-man but the seas ebb and flow when it comes to general elections, hence you get clowns like Mick Wallace representing nobody other than themselves.
There is no such thing as a popular politician they are all conniving b@stards at the end of the day
Pretty vapid statement in all fairness.
@ stephen, the way politics has treated the electorate of this country recently, Sarah’s statement is mild in all fairness
Kenny always strikes me as someone who spends a lot of time conversing with himself in front of a mirror, running his finely manicured fingers through his silky hair and with the Wu Tang Clan providing the soundtrack to his life in the background.
He would make a great spitting image character.
I thought he was one
He’s a plank wearing a mask!
Hey David. Leave The Wu Tang Clan out of this. I think Kenny is more a Celine Dion fan.
Maybe Status Quo with the seminal, Down Down Deeper and Down which is quite obviously about FG poll ratings.
Thats equostic Charlie…..
It seems no one is giving a feck about all the good news released to date or all the mud being slung at SF.
The 10th will be interesting ie numbers on the street.
The nation fawned at Fianna Fail’s feet and the party took us to the brink of collapse, despite all the obvious signs that Fianna Fail were just in it for themselves, corrupt and embezzling.
Now it is irrelevant to so many people that the mud slung at Sinn Fein is largley composed of rotting truths.
We are fools waltzing once again towards our next infatuation with a party ‘of the people’ that will whisper sweet nothings in our ear and whitewash over reality.
John, it all depends on one’s view of what reality is. Reality for the rich and the political classes is totally different to reality for ordinary people.
We live in a time of information, people see siteserv, people see IW, people see patronising attempts of the media to skew peoples wills, people see destroyed letters, people see junior bond holders getting paid, people see water balloon ‘terrorists’, people see waiting lists, dead health care system, bloathed inefficient services, people see obsence pensions and a lack of accountability…people see people rising and it’s frightening the status quo..shiiiiiiiiiit, let them hear us loud and clear on the 10th!!!
If you suspect you have cancer, it doesn’t automatically follow that you should drink the bottle of bleach being marketed by a snakeoil salesman just because he tells you it will cure you.
mudslinging at sf…. fine gael have form here as well in 96 when they were in power they refused to set up an inquiry in the wexford/ferns debacle and called two local councilers who brought it to their attention irresponsible for suggesting that there would be any enquiry. Michael noonan should remember not to throw stones as he was the health minister who refused to meet with the councilers and passed them off to Austin curry
strange that was not reported recently… thank you phoenix magazine
@ J Gahan. Repeatedly saying things like ” composed of rotten truths” etc does not make your assertions true or factual. So would you like to furnish us with some evidence to back those claims up please.
If you suspect you have cancer you get an informed opinion…media tries to convince us that this cancer in our society (fg/lab/ff) is doing us good…people are becoming informed, Irish people are rising above the smearing and petit name slinging…let them hear us all on the 10th, let them know we are not lying down anymore settling for scraps and patronising pats on the head..return the country to the people
Ok M Bowe, let make a random start with the eur700,000 siphoned off for ‘research expenses’ in NI by SF and the eur50k of print toner?
Can you explain that in a few sentences without any whataboutery?
Joe Costello on Morning Ireland singing the Government chorus, Mary Lou trying to distract attention from Sinn Fein. Joe your Government is the only ones trying to distract attention. It will not work Joe leave with some dignity now.
In addition to SF.. Independents, People before profit, Socialist party will be the big winners come election time, I truly believe most Irish people have woke up and realised the vicious cycle of FF, FG, Lab isn’t and won’t work as they are all the same.
Of course you’ll always have certain types who’ll vote for them but I think their days are numbered.
The ballot box will be the ‘charge’ against the government that will dearly cost them.
My daddy voted Fianna Fáil so I have to .are we ever going to cop on f fail and f Gael have lied to us since the foundation of the state.
Regressive taxes make it harder to buy a loaf of bread. Progressive taxes make it harder to change the Mercedes for a new model. This Govt has introduced nothing but Regressive taxes. Thus the unpopularity.
Taxes in this country are too progressive, you can’t expect the better off to pay for everything, it removes any incentive to work hard. The top 10% of households pay 50% of the tax in this country. To be in the top 10%, the household needs to be earning €100k, that could be a couple on €50k each. That’s a very progressive tax rate. What regressive taxes has the government brought in?
so by normal banking mortgage rules only the top 10% can purchase a property in Dublin …
2.5 times the salary …
I’d say the top bankers made an absolute fortune in bonuses when the billions were being ran through ould Eire – would they have joined the new Landlord class I wonder
I’m playing the smallest violin.
No you’re not. The violin I’m playing can only be seen with an electron microscope ;)
The options aren’t great.
FF. Have proven themselves to be corrupt over the years.
FG. Promised us a complete change in how things are done, they’re no better.
Labour. I’d never vote for labour due to their links with trade unions.
Greens. Who?
SF. Not a hope in hell would I vote for them.
SP. Let’s create a Union of Irish Socialist Counties. Someone needs to show them communism didn’t work.
Independents associated with AAA. NO. They love that word. No to everything.
I’d like to see a new party started by someone like Shane Ross, with members of similar quality and standards. I’d give them my vote.
Good analysis, Tom.
I certainly won’t vote SF after Mary Lou’s disgraceful stunt in the Dail yesterday.
FG/FF/Labour – no thanks. Never.
Looney Left/Trotskyites – definitely not.
Seems like there is no one to vote for.
We’d better just hope that we get 50 TDs like Shane Ross rather than 50 like Michael Lowry.
To be honest, most of the Independents in the Dail aren’t worth voting for.
I’d like to see more analysis of the Others figure.. Is it all votes for Independents or does it disguise a rise in support for the Socialists, SWP/PBP or even the Greens.
Where is all this Shane Ross love coming from? He’s just like the rest of them.
Ive news for you Tom.
Shane is working with leftwing TDs in his new alliance such as Cuba Admirer Finian McGrath and ex WP pro SME and living wage stalwart John Halligan.
Shane spurned what he called the Fundamentalist ideals of Lucinda Creighton, despite her sincerity in her fundamentalism.
As the man himself says, he goes abroad quite a lot and he has some good ideas on political, justice and democratic reform, supports reversing the worst of the cuts on disabled and others, and some form of Direct democracy and power decentralisation like in Switzerland where he studies, as well as ending cronyism and inbred Gombeenism.
Hardly the PD people paint him as and sounds to me from his speeches and attacks on the main parties he and others would be all too happy to go in with SF or prop up SF in exchange for real reform.
As Einstein said Tom, insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. Change is what is required. Here are some Eu countries that have seen fit to elect left wing governments recently. Spain,Italy,Portugal,Greece,Slovakia. Do you see a connection between these countries and Ireland. Are the peoples of these countries “loonies” or gullible fools buying easy cures from the snakeoil salesman. I think not.
Unless your name is Creighton, Ross or Martin this was a bad poll.
FG would have a better chance if they kicked enda out now
No they wouldn’t because that lying smug snake Varadkar would just slither in and he is just as revolting as Kenny. Sooner a general election comes the better FG are gone regardless of what they do. Only difference is do they leave with honor or do they drag out to 2016 and become the second most hated party in this state. Behind FF and with Labour nipping at their heels.
Top up the pension Enda.
Labour would be this biggest party in Ireland today if their leadership had picked the people who voted for them over their own personal gain, Gilmore, Rabbit, Burton and their ilk saw the last election as their last chance to grab a ministerial pension. Shortsighted greed will see them go the same way as the PDs and the Greens.
See the problem with FG/Labour is the result of the last GE. Both party’s arrogance grew out of this result but what they both forgot was it wasn’t an endorsement of FG or Labour it was a anti Fianna Fail vote.
FG/Labour had the best chance of making a huge difference but they blew it by continuing where Fianna Fail left off.
Fine Gael get what they deserve. They had their chance to get rid of Enda Kenny and they chickened out. He got elected simply because there was no one else. If they want any chance of survival they must dump him now.
Can’t – they fought the election on a very clear mandate – “Enda fo Taoiseach !”….. the second he goes – off to the high court – hey presto election !
They are a bunch of €&@”?€&/)…….. Let us not forget we have a Collision Government. That makes them all Guilty
Two things to take away from this poll:
1. Support for FG/LAB is almost equal to support for SF alone
2. Gerry dropped 11 points, but still is the #1 most liked leader in the country, while Enda is on the bottom and Joan is next to him.
The government can try and spin it however they want, but it is pretty clear they have no mandate and their numbers will only continue to drop. If they don’t pull the plug now, wait until the first water bills hit peoples doorsteps the same week this government pays out hundreds of millions to junior bondholders, something they also promised during the run up to the last GE that they would by no means ever do.
Don’t forget that fg are planning to privatise the health system and hit us all with a bill for compulsory private health insurance which will run into thousands per family per year. Way in excess of current rates
That is what happens to PIXIEHEADS.
In fairness to Enda, he did go to the Pantibar.
Rumour has it that he dropped a 2 euro coin while he was there and had to kick it halfway up the street before he could bend down to pick it up.
Personally, I don’t believe that happened at all.
That’s nonsense James O’ Sullivan. Why would Enda need a 2 euro coin when he has us to pay for everything?
Martin,
I stand corrected.
Mea culpa
” I only use notes!” …Ivan Yates – and he expecting us to think that he had to rummage down the back of a couch for the dinner – Anglo-Saxon to his self-admitted core !
Enda has the lowest popularity rating because ENDA IS A DlCK
Blueshirt liars and Labour spare tyres…
The people have had enough of you waffle. .
Justice will be done..
Roll on December 10th…
Anglo junior bondholders to be paid on April 1st . Frankfurters way then ! And where’s gilmores game changer deal on bondholders
One thing is clear the FG parasites days are numbered.
It now seems that they are asking the people that are reading the comments on the journal. We will now see them being much more humble to other posters :)
Fine Gael were warned, back in 2010, about the inadvisability of retaining a buffoon-like empty vessel such as Enda Kenny as their leader. A plurality of the Fine Gael parliamentary party did no listen, and now the desert of barren fruit is plain to see.
People will only vote independent if there is a good independent to vote for. I certainly wouldnt vote for an ex ff or ex fg independent. Sf probably wont get transfers so we are looking at a fg/ff coalition it seems.
you would think FG/IRA and FF/IRA would join together and form a new party, they are two cheeks of the same arse anyway
Your kidding
No, you’re kidding.
Y’all kiddin’…Shiiiiiit
Vote clay Davis.
You bet i was
Inda, MeHole, Mungo Jurry and iPhone Joan…Jaysus, have we nobody better to represent us in our wonderful island of talented, creative, articulate people than those 4 muppets?
Unpopular .. Out of touch .. Deluded.. Worse government in the history if the irish state .. Liars ..
BE careful what you wish for, Paul Murphy on Radio wants a wealth tax of 10,000 on anyone who is a millionaire. Idiot would send every company and entrepreneur out of the country.
You do realise that if you have a million sitting in the bank, you pay about that in CGT anyway? Very wealthy people are used to paying some tax on what they gain, and would not be put off by a wealth tax as much as you think (as long as they don’t pay it twice)
Of course, everyone would always like to keep as much as they can.
Where is every millionaire going to go with their money.
Its a myth to think something disastrous will happen if a few millionaires leave our shores, bye bye.
”Sinn Féin is again the most popular party in the country according to this poll, as 17% of people said they would vote for them, though the party has fallen slightly since the October poll. The Maíria Cahill controversy does not appear to have damaged party popularity much but leader Gerry Adam’s own rating dropped 11 points. Despite that, he is still the most popular party leader.” Sinn Fein and Ming the merciless and Barrett and Ruth Coppinger and Joe Higgans could rule and do well. FG and FF and Labour can F right off….Broken promises!!
Doesn’t matter who’s most popular party. Fact is politics is changing . The ‘old’ parties haven’t changed with the times and think they’ll be elected because of their fathers/uncles etc. Dynasty politics is well gone. We’re tired of the same old stuff, same faces that have been around for decades.
Shows you what idiots there are in this country that Fianna Fail are likely to be the biggest party in the next Dail. I guess people are so thick they don’t realize that Fianna Fail are actually the ones who signed an agreement with the Troika to introduce water charges.
The stupidity of the faceless nameless trolls.
The people have seen the LIGH,WOW
I applaud Fine Gael for taking the unpopular yet necessary decisions. They are probably expecting not to be popular after doing what needs to be done.
Can’t think of one thing that may have contributed to this.
You’re obviously not suffering.
have your say