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Ireland today. (Dramatisation, may not have happened). Shutterstock/vetkit

Ireland was €343 million in the black at the end of last month

Apartments in Bulgaria for all!

IRELAND HAS REPORTED a €343 million surplus for the end of November 2015.

The exchequer returns released today by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform show that the country has taken in €41 billion in tax so far this year.

That is over €3.8 billion ahead of last year. In total, tax receipts were €739 million (11.9%) higher when compared to the same month in 2014.

It is the first time the country has had a surplus at the end of November since 2007. However, the underlying deficit is around €1 billion when one-off expenditures and incomes are removed.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan says that the strong performance is down to better-than-expected corporation tax yields.

“Corporation tax receipts have been particularly strong, finishing the month €312 million or 24% above target. The Revenue Commissioners have advised me that this over-performance is primarily related to improve trading conditions and is broad based.”

With November a massive month for the intake of VAT receipts, receipts are now already up €934 million or 8.6%.

“This is a reflection of improved consumer confidence and increased retail sales for the year to date,” says Noonan.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says the country has spent €48.2 billion this year, but expects to close the deficit by a full percentage point more than had been planned in the Budget.

Read: Dublin Christmas market told it CAN’T use old John Player factory

Read: Denis O’Brien is waving goodbye to his Topaz service station empire

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103 Comments
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    Mute Dave Hogan
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:47 PM

    If I ear anything I will let them know.

    105
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
    Favourite Brian O Reilly
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:27 PM

    The victim’s new nickname is “18 Months cos he’s got an ear and a half”

    35
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    Mute Andy Dwyer
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:48 PM

    Mike Tyson filming the new Hangover movie.

    23
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    Mute winston smith
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:17 PM

    The suspect was a well-built, white man in his 30s, who is around 5ft 8in tall with short dark has, has a tattoo on his neck, and was wearing a tight t-shirt and was chewing on an ear lobe…can’t be too difficult to find.

    22
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    Mute Ted Murray
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:08 PM

    At least he’s still got an ear for music.

    14
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:47 PM
    16
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    Mute SteveW
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:56 PM

    “The dance floor scuffle” sounds dangerous.

    14
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    Mute filthypete
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:48 PM

    @SteveW: “strictly” after dark

    4
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    Mute Minom Pnom
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:12 PM

    Bud, belfastian nordie, lend me your ear

    11
    Lily
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lily
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    Aug 21st 2017, 8:56 PM

    Dolph Lundgren in Universal Soldier had a fondness for ears. Often seen wearing a necklace made from them.

    10
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    Mute Brendan McLaughlin
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    Aug 21st 2017, 10:25 PM

    Club is well known in Belfast as, “Sophie Ellis Baxter’s place”.
    Theres Murder on the Dance Floor.
    True!

    10
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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Aug 21st 2017, 11:42 PM

    @Brendan McLaughlin: v good

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    Mute Denis McCarthy
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    Aug 21st 2017, 10:49 PM

    If found and convicted, will he ordered to keep the peace?

    9
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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Aug 21st 2017, 11:42 PM

    @Denis McCarthy: the piece(of ear)

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    Mute john culhane
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:13 PM

    Tastes like chicken

    8
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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Aug 21st 2017, 9:00 PM

    A dance floor scuffle? Usually a cringe worthy, mortifying dance off solves that issue, but no, someone needs to take a chunk of ear off instead of just getting a kebab like they rest of us.

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    Mute DubKid
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    Aug 21st 2017, 11:46 PM

    Must have been doing the haka

    2
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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Aug 21st 2017, 11:40 PM

    Hungry devil

    2
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