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IAN FITZHENRY LEFT his house ten minutes earlier than usual yesterday morning to make sure he was in time for his English Paper 1 exam.
He said he “left the house extra early because I knew that the bus was early the morning before”.
Speaking on the John Murray Show, Ian recalled texting his sister asking her to check if the bus was still running when there was no sign of it. She was asleep and didn’t reply.
“That’s when I kind of started to panic,” Ian said.
The Limerick student tried to contact his mother and his other siblings but they were all at work or in bed. Eventually, he got through to his brother Gary who said he’d pay for a taxi.
The car arrived at about ten past nine, twenty minutes before the exam was due to start.
The taxi driver said he’d do his best to get Ian to CBS Sexton Street on time, but traffic was quite heavy.
While on the way, a garda car appeared on the road behind them.
The driver knew he wouldn’t make it on time so flagged down the guard, who agreed to give them an escort.
Once we just got to the start of Raheen the guard turned on the lights and took us the whole way through Raheen. I was looking at the clock on my phone and I was like ‘I hope I make it on time’.
Ian got to the school four minutes to spare.
He said it was his “first time ever being late to anything in CBS”, adding he found it “fairly funny” he had to get a Garda escort.
As for the exam itself, Ian said it “went grand”.
He got the bus to school again today, but left his house a lot earlier.
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If love to keep the euro but the gov keep taking it off me
Haha….. Answer of the week lol.
Vote for someone who won’t then!
Good one Patrick!
67% want the euro but only 29% trust the system that backs up the same currency. Weird country we live in.
It’s not as weird as you think. The question was simple – basically, do you want to keep the euro? I would answer yes, simply because there is no alternative. However, that still doesn’t mean that I trust the system that backs it up. I hate the euro (to me it represents a European identity that I feel I have nothing in common with, as well as the fact that it is simply ugly, and doesn’t cope well with the diverse economies of Europe), but reverting to the punt would be disastrous.
You’re right, reverting to the punt would be disastrous to the point that we become ultra competitive. Maybe Iceland is the way to go. Better to get it over and done with than this fake stability recession that could last 10 years or more. It would be a real disaster for the political classes pensions etc as they would get wiped out.
It has become an article of faith. The atheists are growing all over Europe though as the proof in its divinity and credibility fade away.
Whatever happens to it the Euro is not even remotely out of danger yet. If anything the challenges are growing.
Not likely, bring back the Punt.
Richie
What Currency would you benchmark the Punt against. North Korea or Yemen?
Sterling
Benchmark against a basket of currencies. Sterling would just be as problematic for us, they have a completely different economy. Much of our economic problems has been the link to sterling. A small rural economy linked to a global superpower. What a dumb idea it was.
The Euro will be linking to North Korea for stability the way it is going.
Love her or hate her, this quote if from Maggie Thatcher’s last day as PM :-
“Mr. Alan Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed): Will the Prime Minister tell us whether she intends to continue her personal fight against a single currency and an independent central bank when she leaves office?
Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover): No. She is going to be the governor. [Laughter.]
The Prime Minister: What a good idea. I hadn’t thought it. But if I were, there would be no European central bank accountable to no one, least of all to national Parliament. Because the point of that kind of European central bank is no democracy, taking powers away from every single Parliament, and being able to have a single currency, a monetary policy and interest rates which takes all political powers away from us. As my right hon. Friend (Mr. Lawson ) said in his first speech after the proposal of a single currency, a single currency is about the politics of Europe, it is about a federal Europe by the back door. So I shall consider the proposal of the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner ). Now where were we? I am enjoying this.
Mr. Michael Carttiss (Great Yarmouth) You can wipe the floor with these people.”
How right she was, Greece has had an unelected Prime Minister installed because of the euro crisis see and Italy has also had an unelected Prime Minister installed, who then appointed an entire government cabinet without a single elected politician because of the euro crisis.
The ‘Federal Europe’ Margaret Thatcher PM spoke of has become the European Union and Eurozone of today.
Be careful what you wish for.
Greece AND Italy have unelected PMs not because of the Euro but because their corrupt inept politicians made a complete balls of running the country, their money ran out and to get more they had to do what the EU told them. Weren’t they lucky the EU was there?
The EEC project always had this as one of its objectives !
In fact it goes back as far as A Hitler in Mein Kampf
Maggie was simply living in the past (as the brits still are) as to the influence britain has in the world. Sterling is the last vestige of dominance/influence they have so they are hardly going to give it up.
It would be better for everyone if the Brits left – (it woud affect the value of our exports in the short term ) it would keep them happy and everyone else could just get on with it
Jim, where in Mein Kampf does it say that?
Its in the back somewhere..
I’ve never read Mein Kempf but Goebbels set out a vision of union of nations across Europe after the war. A Europe of states working together.
Here it is. There were many in the militant left that were outlining the same plans.
” I am convinced that in fifty years people will no longer think in terms of countries – may of today’s problems will have faded into obscurity, and there will be little left of them. In those days people will think in terms of continents, and European minds will be filled and swayed by quite different, perhaps much greater problems.
http://www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/brussels_eu/roots/08_goebbels_europe_future.html”
Gordon Brown saved UK from Euro. Time will prove how brilliant a move that was. The Euro is useless and in reality its on constant life support. One day they’ll switch the machine off.
Useless? The Euro saves us several percent of our money by not having the banks cream off a few percent every time something is imported or exported or we go abroad. It also avoids the cost of buying forward for importers and exporters. Many of the large US companies are here because of the Euro and the EU. It helps simplify all accounts that relate to other Euro currencies. I remember having to write software to handle import accounts in a dozen different currencies including daft ones where there was 200 to the Punt. Having a strong Euro makes Europe strong and it also makes individual countries run their economies properly instead of running them badly and have massive inflation as a correction. I could go on but you are just looking at some minor teething negativities.
LONG LIVE THE EURO!
Can I have yours if you don’t want them.
William – “some minor teething negatives”????
I’m sorry but this isn’t some piece of software that you can just go in and fix with some more code.
This is a currency used by 332 million people!!! It’s been in circulation for over 12 years!!! Any teething problems should have been fixed before it was adopted as the measure of value for the population of the eurozone and started to affect their lives and their children’s lives!!!
But there in lies the underlying problem with the euro. It’s inability to meet the economic needs of all member states and not just the officials in the Bundestag.
You are correct that Gordon Brown did keep the UK out of the Euro during the Blair years. But what would have happend if there was no opt out of Maastricht ? The opt out was gained by Major due to what Thatcher did previously. It may have been different if Labour had been in when Maastricht was signed
Kevin, what need does it not meet? The ability to have hyper inflation? Some need!
Euro Positives:
Good to compare prices in other euro countries
No exchange costs
Euro Negatives:
We lose control of our money supply, and thus are victim of orchestrated boom/bust cycles.
We pay interest to the ECB for money they make out of nothing.
No accountability for decisions and policies made by the untouchable European central bank.
The ability to fight the economic crisis!!!
How do the ECB fight the credit crisis under Mario Draghi??? On his first day in office he sets about pumping credit into the eurozone to increase the availability of credit in countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Result – in countries like Germany increased mortgage applications due to cheap borrowing costs have led to a property boom that is starting to scare the shit out of German economists such as Hans-Joachim Dübel, Thorsten Lange, Franz Eilers and Konstantin Luettger. The credit crisis has trumped the boom crisis because it benefited German exports to keep borrowing costs low. Now that it’s having a negative affect on their economic well being, what do you think will be Draghi’s next move??? Increase interest rates???
As you can see using the Euro to solve a problem in some member states is causing a problem (a very big one) in others!!! Thus backing up my point that the Euro’s underlying problem is its inability to meet the economic needs of all member states!!!
Kevin, I’m amazed to here that property booms don’t occur in countries that don’t have the Euro.
William – Did I ever say property booms don’t happen in non-eurozone countries??? Did I ever say I wanted hyperinflation??? You are answering my questions with statements that show your idealistic view of a currency which is fundamentally flawed.
Kevin, the Euro doesn’t cause property booms any more than any other currencies. You blamed the Euro, what do you blame in other countries like the US which has had a property crash? The US also has an enormous diversity in incomes across states. If Greece had its own currency then it would have suffered a serious crash in its currency and or inflation. If the Greeks hadn’t cheated and kept to the Euro rules it wouldn’t have such a problem at all. Its problems therefore have nothing whatsoever to do with the Euro. The Europeans signed up to a common currency and a set of rules to control inflation and government spending, they now know they must stick to those rules, therefore that’s an advantage to the Euro and not a disadvantage. There are people theologically opposed to the Euro, you’re obviously one of them. The Euro is a fantastic and necessary currency; corrupt politicians are the only ones who can ruin it.
Lou, Gordon Brown is now regarded as a complete idiot. Isn’t it amazing he was right about the Euro?
They didn’t ask me!!
Nobody asked me either! Just who did this survey? what was the sample rate? Was it independent or is this just another case of grovelling toadies in Dail Eireann telling Europe what it thinks they want to hear?
@joe was just about to say the same thing.i never get asked in any of these surveys.its just propaganda to make people believe that a majority is happy with the way things are.
Is there a place you can register to get asked these questions in future?,
I nor has anybody I know ever been asked to participate in questionnaires, polls or given opinions in any survey.
For the record, I’m anti- EU, what’s the point of being the servile dog sitting in the corner getting the occasional pat on the head for that servility and the the occasional kick in the face for the exact same reason?
Eurobarometer surveys are usually carried out annually over the phone. The selection process is much the same as that used by telemarketing companies in that people are randomly chosen from the telephone directory and those who have opted out of receiving unsolicited phone calls are excluded.
Usually, there are 1,000 respondants per year in each member state. With that being 1,000 people out of over 4.5 million, the chances are you or I wouldn’t know someone who has responded to one of these surveys.
Cheers Donncha.
@donncha so 1000 people is now 2/3 of irish people? these surveys are complete rubbish.
I love it when some one comes into the pub and expects me to change British money, I tell them its not legal tender in the republic and they go all quiet.Years ago I was told to get lost with the irish punt in London so its payback time now.
Take it but only give them 80 cent in the pound :))
Richard,Your correct British money is not legal in Dublin I was told to go to Bureau De Change and I got evens on it because they charged 20p ind the pound handling fee.
I guess you would be happy for Britain took back the billions it lent to bail this country out then. We can then have even harsher budgets to make up the difference.
Richard, they got a good interest rate. They will make millions on the deal.
Richard. They charged the loan at 7%, that is a lot of thanks in return. There are no friends in foreign relations, that is the norm.
The low interest rates set by the ECB set in motion our housing bubble, and ultimately the crash. We then used taxpayer’s money to bail out private financial institutions to stop the Euro from collapsing.
Very prone to Stockholm Syndrome, us Irish.
Most Irish are trained at this stage to defer to the status quo no matter the cost.
if we went back to the punt and pegged the value to that of the pound sterling would that be such a bad idea?
I would of thought we’d get more stability and more control of our money.
Opinions anyone?
Why can’t an elected government be responsible for printing debt free money for its country? Take away all the power from the profit thirsty banks and allow a country to take more control of its finances? For example why does the US need the federal reserve to print it’s money and charge the gov interest for doing so?? Why can’t the gov create its own federal monetary dept and print the money interest free?
I don’t think you understand the monetary system very well.
They are given significant financial “incentives” not to pursue this policy.
An example of public representatives with true understanding, selflessness and vision for their people, who tried to bring this in, were John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.
…also, I think you understand the monetary system perfectly well Gzeit.
Cillian, care to explain it to me so instead of making a silly incorrect statement based purely on assumption?
He he controls a countries money supply will own that country.
We were flooded with fake money/unlimited loans during the Celtic Tiger era from the euro/ECB, the ECB then stopped the supply of money to us, we crashed into depression. Now the ECB owners buy up the state assets at fire-sale prices.
It is the oldest central banking trick in the book.
Pay many taxes and charges to your new landlords as they use your property taxes etc for securitisations to make them even more fabulously wealthy.
Love the euro at all costs.
I agree and now it’s time for diversification, printing our own currency is the only way, to be honest the euro has done nothing for me, what was the point of it. To destroy lives. The euro was never going to work, question is was it ever ment to work or was it just a means for Europe to develop their superstate like they had planned on. Lisbon treaty all these treaties did nothing only had over more of the power of our small island to Europe , Michael Collins and all them men in my eyes died for nothing cuz we have given up our freedom. 12,000 fine a day because the gov did not introduce the septic tank and water charges, lump sum of 2 million also , that’s it Europe push us more and more into death so we have to choice but to hand our lovely island over to ye. That’s when people will realise what a total disaster it was joining the euro. Europe has hitler origins amazing how Germany is doing so good while the rest of us sink. Hmmmm interesting do your research it gets even more interesting.
Julie the euro worked perfectly, for the private owners of the ECB, your new landlord.
Interesting you mention Hitler, he brought his country back from ruin by throwing out the central bankers who caused the depression which lead to the World Wars, but those that write history will not mention this.
History, we only are told what they want to tell us. And that is not just with regard to history. I just want the euro to collapse and for all countries to go back to printing their own currencies. We are borrowing with huge interest rates . We should have let the banks go belly up have out own state back with low/no interest . What is the next move with Europe to me it looks like the Europe is just crippled with debt and is never going to recover so I just don’t see why we would want to be involved in that.
* our own state bank not back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCpgJhYhHpI
have a listen too this link, would be hard leaving the euro but what is it that we are going through at the moment. something has to change.
I want to keep BOTH of my €s.
Richard Keogh,What about all the money us Dublin taxpayers gives to ye Athlone farmers.
Who do they ask in these poles everyone I talk to would be happy to see the euro go and bring back the punt…
Keep the euro? I still have my communion money…
look at the headline – “Two-thirds of Irish people want to keep the euro” ,
why could it not be “One third of Irish people dont want to keep the euro” ????
the reason is the media are benefiting substantially from the eu and will not rock the boat , you will never read an article opposing the eu or even slightly anti eu ,
Witty Patrick very good :)
have your say