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.
WE’VE HAD WEEKS of discussions about the prayer which has traditionally opened every session of Dáil Eireann with TDs being told they now must stand for it, before 30 seconds of silent reflection.
We were in the gallery today to find out if there would be protests, as well as to keep an eye on what issues would be raised by the Opposition benches.
So, this was the scene during today’s prayer.
Richard Boyd-Barrett, Brid Smith, Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger are all sitting down.
Coppinger then unfurled a sign that said ‘Separate Church and State’
Joan Collins also remained seated during the prayer.
No immediate disciplinary action was taken by the Ceann Comhairle.
Solidarity-PBP TDs had all signalled that they would not stand for the prayer, with Bríd Smith saying, ‘No way we won’t pray.’
Meanwhile, Leaders’ Questions got underway.
Micheál Martin brought up the “shocking” number of people waiting on hospital lists for procedures.
He said, amongst other things, that 10,000 children were waiting on appointments and that Waterford “needs serious attention”.
Enda Kenny, in response to his Fianna Fáil counterpart, said that his government has committed to a promise that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a day procedure.
Next up, Gerry Adams asks about a story printed in today’s Irish Times. Political reporter Sarah Bardon wrote that “testimony given by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan to a Dáil committee has been undermined by written records of a two-hour meeting at which financial irregularities at Templemore Garda College were discussed”.
Adams insisted that the Commissioner should no longer be in the top job.
The Taoiseach, however, repeated his confidence in O’Sullivan.
Adams also asks Kenny, “Have you and the Fianna Fáil leader discussed [the] issue [of Nóirin O'Sullivan's job]?”
Kenny’s response:
To be honest, the answer to your last question is no.
Richard Boyd-Barrett is now up and is discussing the latest Daft report which showed another jump in rent prices across the country.
He brings up an example of an apartment block in, formerly owned by Nama, in his constituency.
He says that at least 15 of the 52 Balally apartments in the property have been vacant since it was put into the bad-bank.
“In May of last year, Dun Laoighaire/Rathdown County Council asked could they purchase 15 of the vacant units. They were told they could only buy the whole block,” he continued.
Nama has since sold the block as part of Project Gem to vulture fund Cerebrus, Boyd-Barrett claimed.
“Since that deal went through, Cerberus has started to move to evict the tenants… Five of the 21 that I have met are to be evicted in June.
“Others have been told that they will have to pay another €250 a month in heating and hot water charges, previously included in rent. A back-door rent increase of 20%.”
Maureen O’Sullivan now has time to put her question to the Taoieach. She wants to talk about Moore Street.
She wants to know what the plans for the area are, claiming there have been years of indifference to the battlefield sites and the livelihoods of the street’s traders.
We actually visited Moore Street recently, and found some distressed workers.
O’Sullivan appeals to Kenny’s love of cycling using an analogy about the momentum needed on a bike…
“…if you stop cycling, you’re eventually going to wobble and fall off,” she tells him, asking for Moore Street to be kept on the agenda.
That’s it for today. Just to recap on some of the key points of today’s Leaders’ Questions:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The longer it takes the more interest AIB will have to pay won’t they?
The bailout is bigger than 21 Billion, the low interest rates and DIRT @ 41% are not taken into account.
True Martin but the more interest they have to pay , the longer it will take for them to get back to profitability.
Future tax on profits written off against taxpayer covered debts.
Profits earned for a large part by charging crazy customers fees to those that bailed them out.
Investment ?!! More like theft !!
Woohoo we’ll all be rich again. I’ve an option on some apartments in Bulgaria if anyone’s interested?
Bulgaria is old news Kim, Cape Verde is where its at, the new Canaries!… Ryan Air will be flying there soon. Yer man from Cork that knows about the money is selling them!
Brendan oil own fake is it ?
I like your style Ronan, just for that I’ll throw in a hot tub.
Brendan Investments …come on now people keep up ….
The Irish taxpayer paid out €21 Billion to bail out the Bank, then the senior bailed the pension fund with over €1.5 Billion, they retired on huge Pensions. Then they closed the pension to new members. The tax payer is paying 1000 staff salaries of over €100,000. Tax payers are taken to the cleaners by the AIB. You would want to be a gxxxxxxe to Bank with them.
In 1984, AIB was bailed out, at a cost of £400 million to the Irish taxpayer, when its subsidiary (ICI) collapsed. The following year AIB paid out a dividend to its shareholders, while still in-hoc to the taxpayer.
Less than 25 years later AIB was back, cap in hand, for another draw down.
As from the last budget, it would appear, the government will, now, be incentivising even greater incompetence and negligence through its revised taxation policy.
I despise that bloody bank, really actively despise it, I have more respect for a junkie thief than I have for anyone working for it.
Saw that in the paper today, Martin. I nearly choked on me sandwich. 1000 AIB staff on over €100,000. Nothing has changed, these people live in a different world, on our money and nobody seems to care.
All the sheeple red arrowing me- the type that doff their cap to their “betters”
A bankrupt state in tatters because of AIB- generations enslaved to paying for this God awful mess and these sad sacks red arrow someone pointing out how despicable this bank is- third time being bailed out by the tax payers and it’s these clowns attitude will see them bankrupt us again.
Anybody that owes the AIB money shouldn’t pay it until they give all that money back to the taxpayers
jaysus!
yep – this is a brilliant idea and will definitely help the borrower, the lender and the State finances all in one go.
I look forward to the next economic marvel from you Denise.
Well we’ll keep it so until you do – all of it ! not 75% ……” there’s a big bonus for ye lads and a few share options Isn’t the Irish public really stupid”,
ALL OF IT !
A fraction of this €21b would fix our water system and therefore no need for any Irish Water charges
That’s like €4.5k for each citizen. That would give the local economy some boost. Can I expect a cheque in the post?
Too f***ing late AIB the people have already had to suffer from your mess
Well they could start by returning the €18 they stole from my account, which f***ed up a direct debit payment.
If we get double digits billions back from the bank we will be doing well. AIB isn’t worth 21 billion.
The big swing is the taking back the provisions for bad loans which were the worse worse case. That’s why they made big losses as they had to put huge money aside and now they don’t need it so they can take some and call it a profit.
But that’s a short term thing as the economy improves and losses reduce. They still haven’t shown they can make money long term.
IF I was a sausage I’d dance at the crossroads with a pink tutu on, while reciting the government ignored out of copyright amhran na bfhiann backwards on a bicycle !
What about some decking Kim, a hot tub and some decking and im in!! I already have one in Kusadasi.
DO YOU NEED A LOAN TO START UP OR EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS? Zion financial services is a sincere and certified private Loan company approved by the Canadian Government, we give out international and local loans to all countries in the world, Amount given out $5000 to $10 Million. We offer loans with a dependable guarantee to all of our clients. Our loan interest rates are very low and affordable with a negotiable duration.
Available now are
MORTGAGE LOANS, STUDENT LOANS, PERSONAL LOANS, START-UP & EXPANSION OF BUSINESS LOANS AND NEW ARE UNSECURED & SECURE LOANS, CONSOLIDATE LOANS
Apply for a loan today with your loan amount and duration, Its Easy and fast to get 3% interest rates per annum and monthly installment payments. email us now to apply: zionloanfirm.ltd@aol.com
TO APPLY TO APPLY:
Regards
Peter James
General Manager
Zion capital investment, Canada
Email: zionloanfirm.ltd@aol.com
It’s about time we took our fingers out of our holes and marched on the banks think about what they done to this country and how easy they got away with it . FFs Ireland’s paying 42% of the over all debt of the eu, so how dose the smallest end up paying the most
Bing!
So how much will my bank shares be worth by then…??
As Paul said they will be worth “Bing”
I have got to be the worlds lousiest fairy.
have your say