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FORMER FINANCE MINISTER Charlie McCreevy provided a robust defence of his record while appearing before the banking inquiry today.
The former Fianna Fáil TD, who served in the Department of Finance between 1997 and 2004, spent several hours answering questions about his time in office.
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He defended his fiscal strategy and insisted at one point that “we were more responsible than any other government in the history of the State”. His evasiveness in responding to some questions caused the inquiry to be suspended for a brief period earlier today.
Later during the hearing, McCreevy was asked by Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath if he ever got anything wrong as Minister for Finance. His response was fairly blunt and uncompromising, despite McGrath’s best efforts:
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oh, i remember wee Bertie all too well!
this is a “man” who sold our country out to scumbag thieving property developers who promptly put the next 2 generations of irish citizens in hock to foreign banks just so’s he could remain on as Taoiseach for a few more years.
that he has the gall to be commenting from the sidelines would be amazing, but for the fact that the chap is TOTALLY delusional, and has been for a long number of years now.
the sooner he takes himself off to Traitor’s Gate, and avails himself of some of the medicine he advised others to take in years gone by the happier i’ll be.
The American lottery system is set up to pay out annually for 20 years so they can collect accumulating interest on money sitting in their accounts.
Also, $10 million isn’t $10 million. About 32.5% comes off the top in taxes and THEN the winner can start collecting annual payments. At $337,000 x 20 years is only $6.74 million.
Still, I wouldn’t pass up $337K a year for the next 20 years. I’d put at least $250K of it into account annually and not touch it, but also accruing interest of my own. :-)
Thank you for that tax lecture…duh! I am a Tax Accountant by the way. I just don’t practise anymore. Got fed up of City life and the rat race.
However, I am surprised that the US lottery winnings are taxed. Most other countries, especially in Europe, let you have the money free of taxes. And in some lotteries if you pay the tax when buying the ticket (peanuts compared to what you may win) that’s the end of your obligations.
I don’t think two lines account for a lecture, Dan. And unless you go around with a sign on your head that says Dan the Accountant, who’s to know?!
I’m not surprised the US lottery winnings are taxed. America taxes everything. They even have the right to tax American’s living and working in Ireland if their annual income covers over a certain limit. But I don’t have to tell you that. You know everything! ;-)
We always try to make the 9th item in the 9 at 9 something a little off-beat and less serious – sorry if it’s not to your tastes… 8 out of 9 ain’t bad?
Oh! Didn’t realise that! Fair enough I suppose, to distract us from all the bad news. Point taken!
PS – given your reasoning, maybe you should rename it the 8 1/2 at 9 :-)
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