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Brendan Howlin Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Well done you guys: Howlin says today about rewarding 'incredible effort of the Irish people'

Meanwhile, Mary Lou McDonald has said that the proof of austerity being over will be in the pudding.

Updated 11.30am 

TODAY’S BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT must sustain the recovery and reward “the incredible effort of the Irish people”, the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister has said.

Brendan Howlin said today’s Budget announcement will “sustain recovery” as he headed into the final Cabinet meeting before this afternoon’s Dáil proceedings get under way.

Ministers are expected to sign off on the final details of Budget 2015 today including tax measures that include an income tax cut and changes to USC that will be aimed at benefiting low and middle income earners.

“Our objective from the very start, and it was regarded by many as an impossible objective, was to get a deficit below 3 per cent by 2015. We’re going to achieve that and we’re going to achieve that with a margin,” Howlin told reporters this morning.

He said that the Budget has to be done “in a way that sustains and rewards the incredible effort of the Irish people.

“Government has to govern in accordance with the will of the people as well and after seven years of the harshest difficulty people want to see the horizon, they want to see the shape of a better Ireland and that’s what we have to begin today to plan out.”

Howlin said that while it would be impossible to undo the “difficult decisions of the past” he said the “real success” of recent years had been that both ecomomic and social targets have been reached.

He said the government hoped to get unemployment below 10 per cent – it currently stands at 11.1 per cent – by the end of next year.

Opposition reaction

With much talk of this Budget heralding the end of austerity, the opposition parties have said much will depend on the content of the measures announced today.

Speaking to reporters at Leinster House this morning, Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams says his party would get rid of property tax and water changes and put money in people’s pockets.

He added: “The fact is people cannot pay these charges and we’re facing into Christmas.”

Also speaking at Leinster House this morning, Sinn Féin’s deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald was adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach.

“There has been a lot made of this end to austerity. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, as they say. Let’s see what the government come forward with today,” she said.

First published 9.28am 

State of the Nation: Will this be the day austerity finally came to an end?

Video: Here’s Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin introducing Budget 2015

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84 Comments
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    Mute Rose Shanahan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:32 AM

    Today’s budget is all about the next election!!!

    446
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    Mute Miguel O'Reilly
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:40 AM

    this is exactly it Rose. whether or not there was money in the coffers, the government would have magically found some, just enough to keep people tied over in the eyes of FG/LAB for the next 12 months.

    “Let me be clear on this….Mark my words” (as every politician is trained to say when trying to think of something to say), the October budget of 2015 is going to be the real giveaway. We are going to get tax breaks on tax breaks in that budget to soften us up for the Election 2016.

    Sad thing is that many people will fall for it. Same as they do every 5 years.
    It’s politicians playing with peoples lives

    225
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    Mute Pete Foley
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:56 AM

    They can f right off next ge

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:37 AM

    And anything that opposition parties have said for the last 4 years – e.g. we’ll scrap the property tax, we’ll scrap the water charges – have been about the next election too.

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    Mute Notnews Justspin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:38 AM

    Hope they have enough time to translate it from German.

    131
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    Mute Dave O'Shaughnessy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:19 AM

    Exactly Ignoreland, to think that if opposition politicians were in power, and let’s be honest here, this includes Sinn Fein, wouldn’t approach these next two budgets with that frame of mind of re-election, is very naive – this is Politics, the most conniving, devious and vicious fist-fight in the land and FG/Lab are playing this re-election game perfectly, whether you like it or not. I’d wager a tenner in Paddy Power they’ll get re-elected in 2016 (possibly with a few independents who can be convinced) but I reckon I’ll get very low odds by this evening.

    40
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    Mute Rubber Head
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    Oct 14th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Is there anyone out there with the balls to state the obvious, the social welfare is the problem with this country. Those who are LONG term unemployed CHOOSE to be, it pays too much to sit and home and do Fu*k all, now lets give them free water and a Christmas bonus for all their sacrifice. It’s a fuc*ing joke. The WORKER pays yet again.

    23
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    Mute Mark Cullen
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:30 AM

    I definitely feel like I’ve been a good boy through all this. Thanks massa Howlin. *Curls around a few times and lies on the floor*

    344
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    Mute una barrett
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:32 AM

    Words fail me.

    199
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    Mute Jopmarsy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:31 AM

    Patronising pig, won’t make any difference to the Labour Party, curtains for them at election time.

    201
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    Mute Coddler O Toole
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:36 AM

    Most countries run a budget deficit most of the time and it makes perfect macro economic sense to do so. It’s really only the Eurozone countries that are required to borrow their own currency in the market at an interest rate determined by the market. Fiat currency issuing nations like the U.S and U.K do not need to obtain dollars and sterling from the bond markets to finance a budget deficit or indeed to cover private banking debt in the domestic currency. When they do choose to issue government bonds the primary objective is to implement monetary policy (e.g. drive their chosen base interest rate to target) not as a necessity to raise revenue. In addition, when those countries do ‘borrow’ in the market, they effectively decide what the yield/interest will be unlike the Eurozone nations subject to the tender mercy of the speculators.

    In contrast, the Euro single currency was deliberately designed to allow speculative financial capitalism to profit massively from member state sovereign debt as monetary policy is now in the hands of the ECB who impose destructive neoliberal economics on the citizens with the assistance of member state puppet governments including our own FG/Labour quislings and FF before them.
    The Austerity program imposed by the Troika and 2 successive governments achieved exactly what it was designed to do. That is to slash the social support structures like Health and Education and drive down the wages, working conditions and living standards of ordinary people to pay for the economic crisis caused by the capitalist elite. Privatization of our national infrastructure like the water network will follow soon as per the old IMF playbook. To justify austerity, they peddle the economic fairy tale that nations need to ‘balance the books’. This is nonsense in a macro economic context. Most countries run a budget deficit most of the time and always have done. Vicious austerity is applied to the people of Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece while in contrast the ECB has created over a trillion euros by pressing keys on its shiny computer in Frankfurt and made it available at extremely low interest rates to the parasite banks whose greed and stupidity triggered the economic crisis in the first place. Austerity is for the little people.

    In fact with the fiat floating currencies we’ve had since the 1970s there is no need whatsoever for a sovereign currency issuing government/central bank like the U.S. or Japan to ‘borrow’ at all in its own currency. They can simply create the currency at will electronically on computer keyboards. This is a major factor in why sovereign currency issuing governments actually control bond interest rates regardless of the state of their economies and with far higher debt to GDP ratios than the Eurozone nations. The government ‘debt’ market is in reality an extremely generous, risk-free, interest bearing deposit facility for the large financial institutions and ultra wealthy. Continuing this neo liberal agenda, the Eurozone was deliberately designed to allow private banks (markets) to profit to an even greater extent from member state debt and so allowed them to set the borrowing rate for Euro countries on an individual basis.

    116
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:36 AM

    Patronising, insulting smug little gimp.

    177
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    Mute Skip Goose
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:50 AM

    Little bollox. Always reminds me of Lord Farquaad from Shrek

    162
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    Mute LesBehan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:06 AM

    It was hilarious watching Lorraine Higgins asking Vincent Brown why he wouldn’t consider this coalition being returned to government? The Labour party are deluded,Howlin will retire in the manner befitting a Fianna Fail politician, Burton will whinge every chance she gets to whomever will listen and the rest of Labour will be left scratching their heads. Roll on 2016!

    113
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    Mute Ann Glasgow
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:15 PM

    @ tony skillington, i was thinking the exact same, patronising! howlin and his gang can come out with these gems , to try and win favour with the ordinary person in the street, hopefully no one will fall for this crap and remember how the boys looked after themselves during these stressful years….as you can be sure non of these clowns had to budget and look after the pennies as it was we the people paid for the their expenses and pay rises….it actually makes me sick to listen to the crap they come out with!

    35
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    Mute Lee Brennan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:30 AM

    With the right hand they give. With the left hand they taketh away….

    258
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:32 AM

    Or in Labours case with the left hand they promise to give but with the right hand they take it away

    199
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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:18 AM

    He should just go and flip off.Labour will be history after next election but his pension will be massive.

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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:22 AM

    Howlin water tax !!!!

    Take us for fools.

    103
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    Mute Mike Hall
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    Oct 14th 2014, 2:47 PM

    An intrepid Irish citizen journalist has been door stepping ministers & other polticians for some time now with a video camera…. asking politely one simple question….

    “Minister X…. can you tell us how +you+ have been affected by ‘Austerity’?…”

    The results are on youtube….

    NOT ONE has deigned to answer the question…. many have rudely dismissed him & walked off or away…

    That, to me, tells us +everything+ we need to know about +all+ the major parties in Ireland….

    And none of the Austerity – which still continues – has been necessary at all….

    Forthcoming budget give aways – we are told – will pay for themselves by ‘economic growth’ because more employment means tax takes will be higher….

    Oh, right?…. so now they are telling us Government spending +does+ have a positive effect on growth… whereas 5yrs ago… it wouldn’t….

    Government spending is part of GDP and like all spending increases (by any other sector) goes on to circulate round and stimulate even more jobs & economic activity.

    Notice that there is only faint protest from the Troika about Ireland’s budget plans… because there is now tacit admission among the EU’s mainstream ‘useful idiot’ economists & pundits, that Austerity – killing aggregate demand – was precisely the opposite, wrong policy…. and has now spread economic contraction to all the major economies of the Eurozone… including Germany itself….

    5
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:32 AM

    And if we’re good little boys and girls for one more year he’ll get us something nice from the sweet shop.

    236
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    Mute Fozz
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:14 AM

    I like sweets.

    72
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    Mute Setrakian
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:33 AM

    The will of the people is to see the back of you & your pro 1% euro gravy train party Mr Howlin. You’re giving back some pittance today – oh the largesse! Whatever you’re giving back was ours to begin with unlike the 42% millstone bond holder bailout the Eurocrats decided was ours & agreed by FG & Labour. Find a rock and stay under it !

    188
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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:33 AM

    The government is in the process of trying to buy votes while running a huge deficit. The Irish people are pawns in their power game. We must wind down government.

    159
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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:36 AM

    This is pure spin and the buying of the GE 2016. A few months ago they were going to take another two billion out of the economy and suddenly we are being given money back. Has this anything to do with public discontent? Labour know that they are in trouble with the electorate and are trying to butter us up.

    152
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    Mute Donncha Foley
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:45 AM

    So would you prefer they didn’t listen to ‘the people’? Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

    26
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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:57 AM

    @donncha, they are only listening to the people because they are afraid of losing their seats in the next GE.

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    Mute LesBehan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:58 AM

    Don’t be silly Donncha, this has nothing to do with listening to people, and all to do with buying the election in 2016, if you can’t see that, then you must be very naive?

    112
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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:16 AM

    Donnacha is making the point that no matter what the government do they’re going to be criticised, usually by the same people. If they spend anything, it’s to ‘buy votes’, if they don’t, it’s because they’re helping their banker buddies/the rich/screwing us over etc.

    26
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    Mute Damian Moran
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:26 AM

    Labour do tend to tell lies and make false promises.

    79
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    Mute Michael Wall
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:42 AM

    They’re not listening to the people, they are simply trying to create the perception that they are listening to the people.

    63
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    Mute thetruth
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:42 AM

    So, they are only listening to the people now? Thats wierd. Why haven’t they listened before now? Its taken 3 years?

    29
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    Mute whynotme
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:08 PM

    Broadband is very slow in rural Ireland . That’s why!

    12
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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:50 AM

    What a patronising little Troika Quisling Howlin is!

    119
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    Mute Toby_Parker
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:52 AM

    Forked tongued compliments from Brendan Howlin mean nothing to me.
    This Govt had acted inappropriately for its entire time in power.
    They feathered their nests and the nests of their relations and cronies while they treated everyone else with pure contempt.
    I can’t wait to vote these guys out.
    And I am fighting the water charge for all of the above reasons.

    104
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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:51 AM

    Smug little pri/k

    94
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    Mute Ruairi Colton
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:54 AM

    Labour with their condescending remarks again

    93
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    Mute Witszend
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:17 AM

    100 billion+ debt on our children to maintain an the pampered elite

    90
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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:23 AM

    That’s a very unfair aspersion to cast on welfare recipients and public sector workers (most of our debt).

    10
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    Mute Bob Moore
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:29 AM

    That’s funny because i thought this was about paying unsecured Bondholders debt and IMF extortionate loan sharks ? I didn’t realise it was welfare recipients and public sector workers. Silly me.

    77
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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:16 AM

    It helps to visualize the debt. It’s like every man, woman and child in Ireland has to buy a new Hyundai car and give it to someone in Brussels.

    38
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    Mute Jack Cass
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:36 AM

    Sean, just the Bank Debt means that Ireland has to give €8 to every man, woman and child on the planet. That is what our elected elite have done to us, €8 to every man, woman and child on the planet.

    32
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    Mute Bob Moore
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:20 AM

    Condescending a$$h*le.
    Still not paying Irish Water a red cent.

    88
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    Mute Enda Curtin
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:32 AM

    I can see Hugh’s made his Labour party contributions this year.
    I’m sure Brendan will be round to give you a pat on the head later.

    84
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    Mute Donncha Foley
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:48 AM

    Sorry, are you calling (in a passive aggressive way) the journalist corrupt? If you have facts please elaborate. If not please apologise.

    13
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:29 AM

    STFU Howlin. Don’t patronise me with a fiver when You’ve hit me for hundreds every month.

    I will not be voting Labour at the next election no matter how much you try to bribe your way back from annihilation.

    83
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    Mute ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:08 AM

    Still going to be voted out of office in 2016 (just like 1997)

    71
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    Mute Gerald Gallagher
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:08 AM

    Will enjoy not voting FG/LAB in the next election cant wait till the Labour liars join the greens

    67
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    Mute Tony Le Blanc
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:56 AM

    F**k you Brendan, f**k you very much.

    54
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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:50 AM

    What a condescending and patronizing p***k.

    54
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    Mute Mrs Shalakalananaka
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:43 AM

    Please let him reward us with a national orgy day, that’s all I really want.

    54
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    Mute whynotme
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:09 PM

    Mrs.S

    We’re being screwed enough,thank you .

    17
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    Mute Niall Betty Swollocks Mulligan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:47 AM

    What really makes me laugh is that the Irish electorit will forget about all the pain come half seven this evening and vote FF and FG back in

    54
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    Mute John Carmody
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:46 AM

    Exactly Niall. Then come next year will complain again about why nothing is being done. They will get screwed over again and then will start complaint for a few weeks and then its all over. No wonder the government does what they want, because they know the Irish complains for a couple of weeks and then forgets about it. Well i am certainly not one of those people.

    29
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    Mute David Kavanagh
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:03 AM

    Another budget day when I fear we’ll get rode by the Germans

    53
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    Mute Paul Newsome
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:53 AM

    So Robespierre Howlin congratulates us all for baling out the Dusseldorf and Killiney Hill bondholders who drove worker’s house prices up by over four and a half THOUSAND PER CENT between 1990 and 2007. He congratulates us for paying water charges which will fill up the bank accounts of private investors and Irish Water executives every time a tap is turned on after the taxpayer has paid for installing the meters and it is privatized to the moguls. Robespierre says thank you for living in an E.U. member State which has none of the Landlord/Renter regulations and legislation which all Mainland E.U. citizens take for granted. i.e. statutory nine year leases for renters, rent rises in line with the cost of living, six months notice to quit etc. etc. Yes Robey baby we’re all delighted with your gratuitous plammasing.

    48
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    Mute John Carmody
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:44 AM

    Get those parasites OUT once and for all and let them swallow their empty, PR ridden words.

    47
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:22 AM

    I am sooooo pleased and grateful that my master applauds my stamina at enduring years of pain and suffering at the behest of his gift of austerity (a Scooby snack or two would have been nice ‘tho).
    I’m Howlin with pleasure.

    30
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    Mute Catherine Sims
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Well now isn’t that’s nice. I feel like a little pet pooch getting a patronising pat on the head for being a good girl .

    24
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    Mute tax slave
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:59 AM

    One question for you Mr howler”" how did austerity affect you did you have problems making ends meet did you ever have sleepless nights wondering how you where going to pay your mortgage I don’t think so . You condensing pile of C@@P

    22
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    Mute Theresa Kavanagh Connell
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:19 AM

    Looking forward to a pay increase so.!! Thank you for all the sacrifices we have made.

    20
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    Mute Andrew Dagg
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    Oct 14th 2014, 9:55 AM

    I think you’ll find it was FF/PD governments that bought elections. Rewarding couples to have more kids by almost doubling the child benefit. Rewarding dole cheats with increases in social welfare and rent allowances. Reducing capital gains tax.
    This is what started the slide into recession. Giving away money, and getting zero return. Buying votes.
    Michael Noonan could be retired now, enjoying his well earned pension, but he is a worker, and a committed politician, unlike Bertie, Cowan, Harney, Flynn etc etc, who have their pensions and they still want more cake, double jobbing.

    20
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    Mute Johnny Downes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:16 AM

    Noonan is nothing but a Troika enforcer, who likes his head patted by the Euro/IMF/ECB austerity junkies, as much as Enda does. He’s been Lagarde’s poodle. Howlin and Noonan are the Troika’s version of Zig and Zag!

    72
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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:22 AM

    I sometimes wish we had a ‘control’ Ireland where we can see what would’ve happened if we’d burnt all the bondholders, destroyed people’s savings, hadn’t requested a bailout and hadn’t co-operated with the EU, just so people could see.

    11
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    Mute why?
    Favourite why?
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:44 PM

    see Iceland.

    they’re grand.

    13
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    Mute Richarddoherty
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:42 AM

    He says government has to govern in accordance with the will of the people it didn’t ask people if wanted a property tax or water charges which means hes talking bull and doesn’t know what hes talking about this government has lost touch with reality and irish people time for them to be kicked out

    18
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    Mute Peter Grimes
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:37 AM

    How much of an effort did you put in.

    16
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    Mute John Cassidy
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:28 PM

    “the incredible effort of the Irish people”. Does anybody else find this comment to be incredibly patronising and condescending? The only incredible effort being made is by the government in beating down the people of the country. I will never ever vote FF/FG/Lab. As much as it pains me, I will vote SF next time round.

    15
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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 2:21 PM

    Go and eff yourself Howlin; we are still not going to pay the water charges and how dare you insult us like this……parasite.

    10
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    Mute Bridge Cabs
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    Oct 14th 2014, 1:51 PM

    Why is this clown thanking the Irish people,they forced all. These cuts on us,and drove many to drink, destitution,and unfortunately for some death.

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    Mute Daniel Dudek Corrigan
    Favourite Daniel Dudek Corrigan
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:19 AM

    I guess some people are never happy.

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    Mute Keith Murray
    Favourite Keith Murray
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:55 AM

    Palming I believe it’s called distract u with one hand whilst ripping the guts owa ya with the other….. Illusionists and cronyism amongst the elite

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    Mute Tim Kearney
    Favourite Tim Kearney
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:12 PM

    This is the minister for lies whi wants to set up a National Debt Collection Agency so that he can hire bully boys to collect for himself and his cronies…

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    Mute Pól Mag Shamhrain
    Favourite Pól Mag Shamhrain
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:10 PM

    Well then Howlin why are there early reports of a tax cut for those on the highest salaries in the country?
    My point is not that I don’t think higher earners deserve it. But that there are far more middle and low income workers that deserve respite.

    Every Little Hurts.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
    Favourite Dave Doyle
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:29 PM

    @Daniel. Why would anyone be happy with liers, parasites and leeches governing you? This is buget is all about GE 2016, nothing else.Did you see what happened Saturday. That was just the start, we wont stop now just because we hear a few patronising words, and get a few crumbs from the table.

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    Mute Keith Murray
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:58 AM

    Palming I believe it’s called distract you with one hand whilst ripping your guts out with the other !! Magicians and cronyism amongst the elite!! What wrong with this post journal too accurate?

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    Mute John Ralph
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    Oct 14th 2014, 10:42 AM

    They had a big mess to clean. I prefer to do the hard-work first, best way out of a recession is the fastest.

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    Mute ITS Student
    Favourite ITS Student
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    Oct 14th 2014, 2:02 PM

    But they had choices which they clearly ignored. If they wanted to do “hard work”, they should start looking at corporation tax, tax reliefs, tax loopholes, wealth, and those at the top. Not taxing residential homes or water.

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    Mute Watcher-on-the-Wall
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:30 PM

    A few gnawed chicken bones. I want my chicken back…

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    Mute Joe McKenna
    Favourite Joe McKenna
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    Oct 14th 2014, 1:34 PM

    ‘Hey, look! Here’s some of that money we robbed from you. Now, wouldn’t you agree we’re great people?’ Survey says….UH UH!

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    Mute Declan Carr
    Favourite Declan Carr
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:48 PM

    Indian giver!

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    Mute Simon Prunty
    Favourite Simon Prunty
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    Oct 14th 2014, 12:04 PM

    This government are the dog’s bollocks. Lovin’ it. Let the good times roll lads.

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:07 AM

    We wont be fooled by this so called “end of austerity” budget… start packing your bags burton and kenny

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:09 AM

    We wont be fooled by so called “end of austerity” budget.. start packing your bags kenny and burton

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    Mute John Byrne
    Favourite John Byrne
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    Oct 14th 2014, 11:44 AM

    We will not be fooled by this so called “end of austerity” budget……pack your bags lads……we will not forget, last saturday was just the start

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