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.
SO THAT WAS Budget 2018.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe this afternoon made his first solo budget speech.
Among the measures announced were:
Here’s how it all went down:
Good morning, and welcome to our Budget 2018 liveblog. It’s Christine Bohan here covering the run-up to this afternoon’s announcement.
It’s a bright, sunny day here in Dublin as the countdown is on to the big announcement. We can expect Paschal Donohoe to get to his feet at 1pm in the Dáil chamber, with the speech to last at least an hour (but possibly more – this is the first time in almost a decade that the speech has been given by just one minister rather than being broken up into two speeches).
After that, Fianna Fáil TDs will respond to the speech between 2pm and 3pm, followed by opposition parties from 3pm until around 8pm tonight. In other words: long day ahead for Budget wonks.
What’s Paschal Donohoe up to right now, you ask?
It’s been an unusually subdued run-up to this Budget, with both Leo Varadkar and Paschal Donohoe ramping down expectations of any major changes. As my colleague Killian Woods wrote over on Fora.ie:
After several years of bad-news budgets, followed by a few better-news budgets, 2018 could be the first ‘no-news budget’ for some time.
Here’s what we know already:
If you’ve heard any Fine Gael minister talking about the Budget at all over the past week, you’ll probably have heard them promising a quiet Budget with no surprises – and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is no exception.
Speaking this morning outside Government Buildings, the Taoiseach was giving few details away but promised there would be “further investments in health and education – more teachers, more nurses, more gardaí” along with a “very significant increase on spending on infrastructure – with big increases for housing and transport in particular.”
He described it as a “good Budget overall” albeit one with “no fireworks, no big bonanza.”
“There’s also a tax and welfare package which puts more money back in the pockets of taxpayers, working people, families, pensioners, people on welfare as well as measures to reduce the cost of living – particularly in relation to childcare and prescription medicines, he said.
Some good news for families: the “average family with two incomes” will be getting an extra €500-€600 per year, according to the Taoiseach. “It is modest but it is real,” he said.
Ok, that’s the main points covered. Now to the crucial issues: what colour tie will Paschal Donohoe wear to deliver the speech?
At a briefing with reporters this morning, the Minister for Finance didn’t wear a tie (just to ramp up the anticipation?).
Place your bets now for what colour you think it’ll be. The winners get the glory of knowing they correctly anticipated Paschal Donohoe’s sartorial choices.
What colour tie will Paschal Donohoe wear?
Speaking of Leo and Paschal… TheJournal.ie will be hosting a special one-off Facebook Live with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance at 8pm on Wednesday night.
We’ll be putting your concerns and observations about the Budget to them, and digging into the thinking behind the decisions made for the country and what it means for our collective future.
You can watch it live on our Facebook page from 8pm tomorrow night and submit your questions either here on the site from this evening or else directly on Facebook once the broadcast starts.
How are things in Leinster House right now? Our political reporter Christina Finn says TDs and ministers have started to roam around the corridors in the past few minutes. Fine Gael politicians are upbeat – Education Minister Richard Bruton says he’s “all set” and seems pretty happy.
Out of all the quirky little stories that emerge on Budget Day, the Examiner has got one of the best ones so far.
Political editor Daniel McConnell reports that Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe will have to write a letter to Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in order to get clearance to increase the spending ceiling for his department.
McConnell writes: “Because they remain two departments and technically he is minister for both, under existing rule, the minister for public expenditure must write to the finance minister to approve increases in spending ceilings for departments, as required under legislation.”
Previous years have seen a heavy garda presence outside Dáil Éireann during and after the Budget speech with large numbers of protesters converging, particularly during the worst years of recession and austerity.
This year, however? Not so much. At least, not yet.
Hello everyone, Cianan Brennan here, I’ll be manning the liveblog for the next couple of hours as political power duo Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe lead us through our Budget 2018 paces.
We all think we know almost everything there is to know about this year’s no frills entry in advance – but surely there’ll be a surprise or two in store?
Time to shine Paschal.
Less than 10 minutes to go…
Immediately after the two Paschals are done outlining the tax and expenditure movements we can expect in 2018, the whole shebang will go live on the government’s own Budget site.
You can check that out here as soon as Donohoe retakes his seat.
Here we go, TDs are filing to their seats in Leinster House.
The Ceann Comhairle reminds deputies that the budget documents are confidential prior to Donohoe announcing them. Cue much guffawing in the chamber
Heeeeeeere’s Paschal.
The Minister is currently outlining the state of Ireland’s financs.
We’ve 19 consecutive quarters of employment growth, says Paschal. Things are looking good.
“This is close to the recognised level of full employment in Ireland.”
Eyes down on the government benches…
“The forecast deficit for 2018 is 0.2% of GDP,” says Donohoe.
“Our debt to GDP levels have come down impressively in recent years, but it needs to come down further.”
Fine Gael’s official Twitter feed is monitoring proceedings too:
Incidentally, Paschal has thrown us all, and is wearing a purple tie.
Delightful.
We’re still going through the financial fundamentals.
Meanwhile, opposition deputies are using the time to get in some feverish Budget reading.
Ok here we go.
Tax reductions on income are to be introduced worth €335 million.
The Department of Finance is to raise additional revenues of €830 million, giving a total Budget Day package of €1.2 billion.
Paschal is talking housing.
“Commencement notices for new housing are up 47%,” he says.
I am allocating €1.83bn for housing in 2018, 3,800 new social homes will be built by local authorities.
The government will increase the Housing Assistance Payment by €149 million in 2018. An additional 17,000 homes and households are to be accommodated by next year.
Funding for homeless services will increase by to €18 million to €115 million next year.
Donohoe is set to make €750 million of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund available for commercial investment in housing finance.
Stamp duty on commercial property sales is to increase from 2% to 6%, about a percentage point higher than expected.
This is still less than the maximum rate of 9% charged between 2002 and 2008 Paschal stresses.
What does it all mean, thinks the Opposition of various hues:
Now we’re onto health.
Funding is already at record levels says Paschal. But it’s about to go even higher.
He’s set to increase the overall budget for the Department of Health by €685 million to €15.3 billion.
As was well flagged (it was put back from last year), a tax on sugary drinks is being introduced, it’ll stand at 30c per litre.
Meanwhile, more bad news for smokers (again, as was well-flagged) – excise duty on cigarettes is set to increase by by €0.50 on a packet of 20.
Onto education.
The National Training Fund levy is set to increase from 0.7% to 0.8% to provide additional investment in higher education.
An additional €310 million is to be made available until 2021 to address the infrastructure needs of higher and further education.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education is set to announce details of an additional €200 million investment in public private partnership in the sector to support regional development.
Onto the gardaí.
800 additional gardaí are set to be hired in 2018, along with an additional 500 civilians.
Paschal announces the provision of a Brexit Loan Fund.
It’ll see up to €300 million made available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them prepare for Brexit.
Transport and sport now.
€9 million extra is to be allocated for public transport and roads up to €414 million to 2018.
Meanwhile, €111 million capital is being provided for sport next year.
Back to Brexit.
In addition to the previously mentioned Brexit Loan Fund, Donohoe announces an additional Brexit Response Loan Scheme for the agri-food sector.
He’s also set to keep the stamp duty relief of 1% for inter-family farm transfers for another three years.
Childcare.
An additional €20 million allocation will support ‘a range of childcare measures’.
Child and family agency Tusla’s budget increases by €40 million.
Electric vehicles.
In order to incentivise the takeup in non-fossil fueled cars, Paschal is bringing in a 0% rate of Benefit in Kind (BIK) for such vehicles, for a period of one year to allow for a ‘comprehensive review’ of the sector before next year’s budget.
The tobacco industry ain’t happy at the latest increase in excise duty on its products:
Donohoe announces an increase in social welfare payments across the board of €5, again, as was widely expected.
Those increases will kick in from the end of March 2018.
The Christmas bonus this year, meanwhile, will be 85%.
ICYMI:
Now onto the USC and tax bands. There’s a fair bit here.
The 2.5% rate of USC will reduce to 2% and its ceiling will rise from €18,772 to €19,372.
The next rate up reduces from 5% to 4.75%.
Income tax bands – the first higher band is increasing from €33,800 to €34,550.
The top rate of tax moves up to 48.75% on income up to €70,044.
Good old corporation tax – the rate is set to remain unchanged once more at 12.5%.
Regarding the USC and PRSI – it looks like they’re set to be amalgamated – again, this was widely flagged.
Paschal is establishing a working group to plan over the next year how to bring them together.
And that’s it!
Paschal commends the budget to Dáil Éireann. Now we’ll have a lot of reaction.
First up are Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary and finance spokesperson Michael McGrath.
Michael says he “welcomes the progress made via many of the agreements we made” with Fine Gael via the confidence and supply arrangement.
Will this be the last budget negotiated with regard to that particular marriage of convenience?
McGrath is done with the government, and now has his sights set firmly on Sinn Féin – “they’re the classic hurler on the ditch – when the chance comes to have their say, they run for the hills”.
The Rainy Day Fund is set to be one of the talking points of the Budget just announced – McGrath says it is “the right thing to do”, so you know where Fianna Fáil stands.
It’s not a particularly fire-and-brimstone-y speech by McGrath. By far the most scorn he’s poured has been on his fellow opposition party Sinn Féin.
If you missed Paschal Donohoe’s Budget speech, you can get a handle on all the main points here.
Something we missed earlier as Paschal raced through his speech – the vacant site levy is set to double to 7%.
Given the ongoing housing crisis, will that be enough to bring stagnant properties back onto the market?
Boxer is happy:
Just €3 million has been allocated for cycling. Eamon Ryan isn’t one bit impressed:
Back in the Dáil, Michael McGrath is still talking.
“Online shopping is exploding,” he says. Not literally we hope.
The various government departments natty Twitter graphics explaining the various initiatives Paschal was talking about are everywhere at present – here’s Public Expenditure and Reform talking about the Brexit Loan Scheme:
There’s 800 new gardaí on the way next year:
So, what are your initial reactions to Budget 2018?
There’s a lot of new stuff in there, but is it revolutionary, or more a case of as-you-were?
Let us know. Leave a comment on the blog, tweet us @thejournal_ie or mail us at tips@thejournal.ie.
Michael McGrath has concluded his speech. Now it’s time for… Dara Calleary, also of Fianna Fáil. He’s not particularly animated either:
He likewise draws attention to the fact that Fianna Fáil’s “mark is on this Budget”.
Which sums up the party’s problem – it’s had a huge amount of input into this year’s entry, so there’s only so much its representatives can say to admonish the government.
Which makes for dull enough speeches it has to be said.
The Social Democrats’ Catherine Murphy isn’t particularly impressed by what’s going on today – it’s a budget of “squandered opportunities” she says.
She pours particular scorn on the increase in the vacant land levy – saying that if it doesn’t even keep pace with land inflation then what’s the point?
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin doesn’t think much of the Budget’s housing provisions:
Zing:
Tonight on RTÉ News, Fine Gael will be debating… Fianna Fáil. Paschal won’t be talking to any representatives from the next largest opposition party Sinn Féin.
Wondering how the Budget is set to affect your own income? Our Budget Calculator is now live here.
The Strategic Communications Unit, one of Leo Varadkar’s signature initiatives as Taoiseach, is set to cost the exchequer €5 million next year:
Dara Calleary signs off saying that the Budget “is a lot more ambitious than it would have been if we hadn’t been involved”. Indeed.
Now, it’s time for Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty to have his say. Expect this to be a good bit more confrontational.
Doherty says: “at the centre of this Budget is a lie”.
“It’s a lie that says you can solve housing and health crises while at the same time lowering peoples’ taxes.”
“Sinn Féin showed you how this can be done, in our alternative budget,” he says to Donohoe.
What does the Budget mean for the child who has to listen to his mother crying in a hotel bedroom, night after night, because she feels like she has failed her child?
Doherty wants to know why the Strategic Communications Unit is going to cost €5 million when the Taoiseach had previously argued it would be cost-neutral.
He brands it “just crazy” that in a €1.2 billion budget package the government prioritises tax cuts over building any additional social housing.
Fair point:
As Doherty speaks in the Dáil, the Sinn Féin statements are starting to arrive.
Here’s Eoin Ó Broin on the Budget and housing:
Meanwhile, here’s how today’s budget will affect you if you earn about €40,000 a year:
Doherty isn’t impressed with the €645 million in additional funding for the Department of Health in 2018:
“You have failed to run a functioning health service, and are continuing to preside over a litany of failures.”
He raises the plight of a child with scoliosis who was left waiting two years for spinal fusion surgery:
She has no set date as of yet. That is a result of your policies. No one would set out to do that. But when you underfund your health budget that is what happens.
The income tax cuts in the Budget are drawing a fair bit of criticism, not just from Sinn Féin. Union Siptu’s Jack O’Connor isn’t happy either:
Meanwhile, the various Ministerial post_Budget press conferences are shuffling along.
Business and Enterprise ministers Frances Fitzgerald and John Halligan are currently having their say at Government Buildings:
“Today is World Homeless Day,” says Pearse Doherty. “Though I doubt the Minister is aware of that fact”.
“No additional social housing units on existing targets?” he asks incredulously.
For all the muted speeches that went before, no-one could accuse Doherty of delivering similar.
He’s been loud, pointed, and angry.
“We’re actually incredulous,” he says of what Paschal Donohoe announced regarding housing and homelessness initiatives, or the lack thereof in his party’s opinion.
“Fine Gael doesn’t believe in social housing. We expected the government to do what it always does. But to do nothing at all. It’s actually incredible.”
Meanwhile:
Here’s what the Garda Representative Association had to say about the announced increase in Garda numbers for 2018:
Doherty’s marathon speech finally comes to an end.
Assuming Donohoe is paying rapt attention, he’s getting a helluva chastising.
“Minister, this could’ve been a very different budget. You’ve done what you always do. You’ve got one eye on the next election. You hope that you’ve done enough to pick up enough people to safeguard a return to the government benches,” he says.
“But Minister we’re elected to lead this country. At a time of crisis we have to prove that we can lead.”
I said I would judge this budget on housing and on health. On both counts you have failed, and failed spectacularly.
I will repeat, I cannot for the life of me understand that no provision has been made to deliver additional social housing compared to what was promised by the previous Housing Minister Simon Coveney.
No more has been given to health to stop that service from running to stand still.
“I am extremely disappointed in this budget,” he concludes.
Labour’s Joan Burton is up now, with Alan Kelly.
It seems some bad news has been released by the government on Budget day:
The Department of Justice has a specific initiative in store with its additional budget allocation of €63 million.
An anti-terrorism Passenger Information Unit is on the way.
There’s trouble brewing on the health front. The National Association of GPs (NAGP) has reacted angrily to the levels of funding announced by Paschal Donohoe for the Department of Health – specifically a lack of ‘meaningful’ investment in General Practice.
They say that GPs are set to consider industrial action as the government has declined to reverse the application of FEMPI (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) for General Practice:
Meanwhile, back in the Dáil chamber, Joan Burton says that the Budget shows “an alarming lack of vision”. She’s particularly concerned about rural development.
Alan Kelly, who’s sharing the Labour speaking duties, then gets to his feet.
“Wake up there Minister,” he says. We’re not sure which Minister he was talking to, most of Fine Gael have fled the chamber for press events. But to be fair, it has been a long three-and-a-half hours.
Kelly has brought a prop with him…
… it’s a cup of coffee!
For this is the Cup of Coffee Budget, Kelly says, “because the price of a cup of coffee is all you get”.
In fact, it’s a Charlie McCreevy cup of coffee, because it’s once more totally reliant on the property market.
Alan had this planned out we’d say:
Here’s what the Budget means for you if you’re making about €30,000 per year:
Kelly takes aim squarely at Minister for Transport Shane Ross:
“I can’t tell what Shane Ross is doing in this government, for the life of me. I can tell by the chairman’s face that he can’t tell either.”
Back to the coffee cup analogy, which is about as close to a diversion as we’ve come unfortunately, Kelly says that the government’s promise to raise social welfare payments across the board by €5 is something of a misnomer:
Will the government stop telling lies when they say they’re giving €5 a week [in social welfare payments]? When you take out the calculator it’s €3.80.
Our sister site Fora spent the duration of the Budget speech breaking down the significant aspects of what Paschal had to say from the point of view of Irish businesses.
You can have a look here.
Solidarity-People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy is speaking in the Dáil now.
Earlier, the allies’ Twitter feed came up with this zinger, which is a stark statistic to put it mildly:
“It’s a state hallmarked by inequality,” Murphy says of Ireland.
In reality the crisis will get even worse, and this Budget will only deepen inequality.
Over in Government Buildings, meanwhile, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy is talking about, well, housing.
He’s in bullish form. He says that the government’s year-old housing strategy Rebuilding Ireland “is working”.
The Minister says that 5,000 social homes will be constructed next year, up from 3,100 last year, with 900 of those coming from acquisitions.
There are a lot of different interpretations of the government’s housing figures coming out of today’s Budget, it must be said. The government says it’s making progress. The opposition says its gobsmacked at the lack of initiative being shown at the height of a full-blown housing crisis.
It should be noted that it’s not particularly warm today in Dublin. Nevertheless, Eoghan Murphy’s sleeves remain stubbornly rolled-up.
Murphy has just described the Minister for Finance as Paschal the Privatiser.
It trips off the tongue you can’t deny.
Richard Boyd Barrett follows Murphy. He says today’s Budget is one “of crumbs”, that does nothing to solve the “huge crises this country faces”.
RBB doesn’t have a prop, but he is armed with Beatles references:
One of Paschal’s favourite words is ‘prudence’ and I feel like quoting a line from the Beatles song ‘Dear Prudence’ to him:
‘Dear Prudence open up your eyes’.
While saying this, his Twitter account posts the following:
Now that’s multitasking.
Health Ministers Finian McGrath and Simon Harris are now holding their Budget presser in Government Buildings.
Health, along with Housing, is attracting more criticism than any other provision in the new Budget:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Bunch of children
Why is this even news?
Oh wait it’s Hugh the FG laptop dog.
If the shoe was on the other foot it would be notable news…..
Is that what we pay them for? Childish oneupmanship at its worst.
Poor old Gurry….A schoolboy error even by his standards….
Mean while Mr Kenny is mixing with the elite deciding on what national asset to give away next.
You couldn’t make this stuff up.
Hugh is the Adrian Durham of the journal.
Is it too late for Beardy to sit his O Levels….
Sinn Fein is great at maths, as the largest party in Ireland with 14 TDs.
Shinnerbot whether I agree or disagree with your comments one thing is for certain they always make me laugh! Never change!
Won’t to long now before DOB will be offering Hugh an Irish Indo job….
Nearly there Hugh….
Political correspondence, or political commentating.
Owwww! I’d put some water on that burn Hugh!
Can’t see Gerry getting his hair ruffled in Europe though.. Can you?
he is good cvompany,,enda doesnt know the min wage,,leo cant count bed trollys ,noonan doesnt know diff between billans and billions and labour well enough said
That was a queer mistakea to makea.
Seriously Hugh?
I was watching it live yesterday. Adams was remarking about the cutting of time for discussing the redress package to the magdelines and said “……Now I’m not good at maths, but….” as part of a tongue in cheek remark about the time difference WRT the disgraceful way the government was refusing to allow proper debate on a most serious subject.
Given the seriousness of there ladies plight, the reaction from the government benches was childish and disgraceful.
This article stinks of the ‘we built it’ slogan that the romney campaign ran (and lost) on the last US Presidential election.
Seriously man. You were actually watching it live yesterday? You need to get a life. Every time there’s a spat involving Sinn Fein in the Dail, were jammin comes on here with “I was watching it live” blah blah blah. I know you work as a full time shinnerbot on social media but still..
Hahahahahahahaha
Hugh, it is outrageous to poke fun at our dear leader, you should apologise.
Love all these new twitter accounts spouting pro government bs. Was the training in a fancy hotel? Did you all get new ipads? Did iphone burton sign the cheque?
Yeah Pepper, god forbid Were Jammin has an interest in something and then likes to spend time learning and talking about said interest. He needs to get a life and stop doing things he enjoys. ^_^
Here we go again: everyone is against us. Even Hugh in The Journal.
Just to remind the Shinners: only 24% if the electorate want to see SF in government. That means 76% are against SF.
26% actually; that’s more than any of the parties supported by Tax-Dodger-O’Brien.
Looks like Leo isn’t too good with maths either as he had the worst number of people ever on trolleys only a few weeks ago.
Embarrassing carry on from a government party currently running the country.
Dylan, I think you meant ruining the country.
just look what they passed in NI budget over 20,000 job cuts!
Ronan ni rely on pocketmoney from london – thats were the cuts were made
You know that its a voluntary redundancy scheme, rather than compulsory ronanm, yes?
Well aware of how it works but the cuts will destroy NI. SF go for the big I am and it fails. The exact same would happen in Europe with a debit write down!
“Well aware of how it works but the cuts will destroy NI”
Melodrama much??
Jaysus ronan way to make a voluntary redundancy scheme read like a michael bay movie script
funny how a voluntary redundancy scheme in the south was an absolute disaster but in the north its okay… for shinners… getting harder and harder to speak out of both sides of your mouth sam jammin
26 + 6 = 2
Stupid story, not worthy of any further comment.
Absolutely agree. Embarrassingly low brow journalism.
Why did you read the article and comment so?
Haha, the shinners are annoyed. Of course, if it was a FG or a Labour TD, they’d all be chuckling away in the comment section. So salty.
I am not going to comment on this either. It offends my allegiances.
So it must of been Jarry that came up with the SF bumper sticker “26 + 6 = 1.
“So it must OF been” says the sneering illiterate. People in glass houses . . .
The majority of the members of the Dail are professional politicians, in the sense that otherwise they would not be given jobs minding mice at crossroads.
If only they were.Professionals would have studied and qualified in their trade.Not one of ours I believe has a degree in political science for example.We have a school teacher as leader and one as minister for finance and half a dozen other things.The rest are made up of solicitors , publicans , medical doctors and a few other odds and ends thrown in for good luck.No wonder they get shredded by the big boys in Europe.Basically we have amatures running the place who have found cushy numbers for themselves , 78 of whom cost the taxpayer a combined €100 million in the past three years.
FG maths at not to hot… We are over 200 Billion in debt because of their policies and they won’t even try to get a reduction off Europe … At least Adams would have tried!
I think you’ll find it was ff that caused the debt.
FG/Labour added 30 billion (60 including 40 years worth of interest) to our sovereign debt by converting the prom notes.
Two thirds of the debt was incurred paying our bloated public servants and on social welfare payments. Why should we be entitled to a write down on that money?
shh Pepper.. spin feign rely on welfare payments to keep their constituents happy
Pathetic, Leo isn’t too hot at maths either
…”not one red cent”.
It really is beyond a joke that these idiots are actually paid to carry on like this.
The carry on is akin to the script of a remake of Halls pictorial weekly.
Brendan O’Carroll should be taking notes.
Ok then pepper,I’ll bite…
You seem to know so much about me could you please show an example of where I have ever stated that..
It’s ok,I’m out sick so I’ll await your post.
You’d make a great politician mike. Answered none of my questions but instead asked some of your own. Sinn Fein hack
Look brooks your making yourself look more of a gobs*ite .
Kindly prove your statememt and I would be happy to answer your questions..
Otherwise crawl back under one of your other accounts and stfu.
Bunch of children. Shameful carry on from this government. Sickening watching them in the dail skitting and laughing and on their phones tweeting. Shows the respect they have for the dail if all their are doing is acting like kids tweeting during dail time. Maybe leo should be doing his maths a bit better and learn subtraction and get the trolley problem sorted.
FG following Labour now with this childish carry on. A deep burn you say Hugh, yeah right, whatever you think yourself!
None of those tulips in that Wendy house are good at maths……
It’s not Gerry’s fault, I blame this government’s education policy.
Fg have some nerve to criticise another partys economic policies. Enda cant even speak english. What a joke of a leader he is.
Given your spelling deficiencies, you probably don’t get irony.
Hugh your talents are wasted here, you should be writing for the Indo.
Why?
Because his biased,tabloid style of journalist would be more suited to the Indo, that’s what they do over there.
“Gerry Adams not great at maths” by Hugh O Connell.
“Here’s what Leo Varadkar thinks about being Ireland’s most kissable politician” by Hugh O Connell.
But why? Have you evidence?
You’re obviously not very bright.
I’m sure the author of this article didn’t think he’d solicit this response. This article, about a government party undermining democracy with an allegedly “witty” retort was a massive own goal for the journalist and the politicians involved.
Fan of the old hyperbole there I see
Love it Ted, Love it
And FG/LB aren’t great at governing.
You are a great laugh.
And you are a bad egg.
This reminded me of the following insightful dialog from that Simpsons episode where Lisa becomes a vegetarian:
Janey: Are you going to marry a carrot, Lisa?
Lisa (wearily): Yes, I’m going to marry a carrot.
Janey: She admitted it! She admitted she’s gonna marry a carrot!
Can Leo add up how many people are currently on trolleys in our hospitals? Can Enda ably grasp the English language so he can debate live? Stones in glasshouses comes to mind.
How can they laugh at the abuse and torture of women and children. Not a SF supporter, don’t support any party.. But he was asking for more time to talk about this topic… Leo how do you have time to tweet??? The HSE is falling apart. Less time laughing at very serious issues and more time doing your job would be helpful , they should apologise to all victims for laughing at their misery and suffering . And Leo .. How many people on trollies the last few weeks???? Maths… Or should we talk about your early intervention for autistic children ??? 15 months I waited to be seen and have my son diagnosed. Now I have the pleasure of waiting 12 months (yes a YEAR) to meet with any autism specialist to go on more waiting lists by them…. In the meantime I am now approaching my second year of unpaid leave from my job, because I cannot get the care or facilities that he needs.. So Leo , look up the meaning of ” EARLY INTERVENTION ” and see if 4-5 years from awaiting assessment to having everything in place for your child, ADDS UP????
good on ya Sharon….
Bet they’d go into government with them all the same though, if their political lives depended on it. Deck chairs on the titanic and all that.
Can i tempt you with a ministerial pension?
Amos your kindness knows no bounds, Ferrero Rocher?
Pathetic article.
I find it outrageous that government ministers are tweeting during dail time.
If they put as much time and effort into running the country efficiently and looking after the best interests of the people, WE MIGHT HAVE A COUNTRY THAT WASN’T COMPLETELY SCREWED. Bunch of time-wasting prats. It’s infuriating.
Hugh you’re such a pathetic, bias journalist.
Would it not be better for fine gael to spend their time sorting out things like the A + E departments than constantly taking swipes at the opposition.this government seems to have already ended their term in government and are now on an election campaign V. disappointing.
Speaking time turned into joking time- let’s hope the electorate have the last laugh-
I thought Varadkar was the man who dismissed these kind of jibes as “old politics”?
I’m sick and tired of this Blueshirt nonsense.
People are being crucified and the rotten despot Government doesn’t give a flying Fouck.
The sooner we gave an election the better. And before all the Blueshirts lapdogs get excited, i’m voting for a left candidate.
Well I am from fine gael family who voted for fine gael for decades. So not a shinner. Thats the problem you assume every one who has had enough of this government are shinners. Some of us are just sick and tired of lies and cronyism. I voted for a government to act for the people not themselves and think tds and ministers should be respecting the dail and not tweeting. That goes for all tds of all parties
Its the dail they are in not a playground .
More faux outrage from the shinners here. It’s interesting how selective this spleen venting is. Poor auld jarrie
Charles, this one of the most outrageous events in Dáil history. So outraged right now.
Prov you’ll do yourself a mischief. Be careful.
Yet another anti Sinn Fein, anti-democratic article
Leo the liar is not much better at it either
I remember chatting to a SF councillor during the bailout and explaining that Ireland was getting money below market rates given Ireland’s poor standing. His response will stay with me forever: “Why don’t we sell bonds in Ireland that people from all over the world to buy.”
I smile every time I recall this story. Tragically such poorly thought through utterances aren’t rare in SF.
Another SF councillor apparently told a Waterford Co Co meeting that it was unfair to expect councillors to balance a budget.
Thickest bunch or morons since FF…And nastier.
Remember the fine Gael guy that said water doesn’t fall from the sky.
How many of the Ansbacher crew et al had excellent mathematical ability?…
Gerry “the terrorist” Adams
I’ll say one thing for adams he has a level of self awareness of his short comings that the mayo muppet obviously lacks
No, i will not have this sort of thing going on , so i won’t.
It is surprising that there are so many comments from the little Shinners because it is the secondary school teachers that are on strike and not the primary school teachers.
Shurrup Lyings ye bleedin knob end.
Judean People’s front….. We’re the people’s front of Judea
On a day when statistics were released showing just how many people in this bent republic are living in dire deprivation it would suit fg to examine their own math.
lies are not calculations.
Banter
That’s rather egregious mixed metaphor.
And Leo is able to remember a 6 worded sentence, now how is the maths for the HSE going Leo, can you count the number of people on the trollies still or has the radio show taken over from those on the trollies…
Sinn Fein should propose a Tax Rate of 200%.
A crazy Party!
Mary Lou has lost her “marbles”!
That video appears to be in contravention of standing orders:
“… recordings or extracts of the proceedings shall not be used in programmes of light entertainment, political satire, party political broadcasts …”.
have your say