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Thousands of students stage walk-out from lectures in cost of living protest

The protest aims “to remind college authorities and politicians that students aren’t an endless money pit”.

THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS staged a walk-out from lectures this morning in protest against the rising cost of living and its effects on young people.

Third-level students left midway through lectures and tutorials at 11.11am to symbolise the risk of students dropping out of courses due to financial burdens. 

Massive crowds gathered together on campuses around the country, calling on the government for change.

The Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) said the protest aims “to remind college authorities and politicians that students aren’t an endless money pit”.

Since the UK left the EU, Ireland has had the highest third-level fees in the bloc of €3,000, which is the student contribution charge levied on students who qualify for the ‘Free Fees’ scheme.

Budget 2023 announced a once-off €1,000 reduction to the student contribution charge. The USI welcomed the reduction but lamented that it applies for only one year.

“While the ‘once-off’ €1,000 reduction is of course welcome, students are left not knowing where they stand for the future,” the union said in a statement.

“And the reduction comes too late for students who have already deferred their places in college this year because they could not afford the costs.” 

The protest this morning is demanding the abolishment of the student contribution charge, increased funding for the higher education sector and a minimum wage that matches a living wage, particularly for PhD researchers.

It is also demanding protections for renters, rent reductions and subsidisation of purpose-built student accommodation from public funds.

Hundreds of students at Dublin City University (DCU)’s Glasnevin campus gathered outside their student union building to support the walk-out. 

Glenn is in his final year of studying Economics, Politics and Law in DCU. He told The Journal: “ Students have had enough”.

“I’ve been in college now for three years and every single year, we are let down by the government. Since 2000, every single budget has done absolutely nothing for students,” he said.

“This year, they’re advertising it as they’re reducing the fees, that’s after they promised last year that they’d get rid of the fees within three years. It’s a one off €1,000, that does nothing for people that are going to be studying next year.”

He said that students who want to complete their studies are struggling due to financial stress. 

“Financial stress is like drowning. There is nothing worse, especially for students that are from disadvantaged areas. The SUSI grant is there to help students, but that is only the fees. This does not take into account travel costs or accommodation costs.”

‘There’s people living in tents’

He added that there was “not a penny” put towards student allocated accommodation in the last Budget.

That is a joke. There’s people living in tents. We’ve seen in other colleges – we’re lucky that it hasn’t happened on this campus – but other colleges have had students on the streets. What does that say?

“In particular to international students coming here who see Ireland as a place for prosperity. How is it prosperous, if it’s people living on the streets?”

Emma Monaghan is in her third year of studying Communications at DCU. She told The Journal that she had to find a new place to stay after the price of her off-campus student accommodation increased before the academic year began. 

“I’m from Donegal, so commuting is not an option. I was in the same accommodation for my first and second year, got in touch with them about third year and I was informed that the room that I’d been staying in was going up by €3,000,” she said.

“This for me, I just couldn’t do it. I don’t have the money. I’m on Susi and then because I live so far away, even that isn’t covering my rent as it is.”

She has since moved to new accommodation, but is now “paying more than I ever was” to share a single room with one of her friends.

“It’s a room that, if you walk into it, you can tell it was intended for single occupancy, not for two people. There’s five of us living in a flat that’s made for three.”

Monaghan said the Government needs to step in and ensure more affordable, purpose-built student accommodation is delivered.

Students don’t need this luxury accommodation, with cinemas and swimming pools and gyms. They need a roof over their heads, they need a bed and they need a place to study, a place to eat and a place to just wind down after coming back from college.They don’t need to be thinking ‘where am I going to sleep tonight? Am I gonna have to sleep in my car tonight? In a tent tonight?’.

Ethan Bradbury, a second-year Electronics and Computer Engineering student at DCU told The Journal that there is no accommodation available for students in Dublin. 

Fe8Vde3WYAAq75E Students protest in Trinity's Front Square Emer Moreau Emer Moreau

“I was meant to move out with some friends over the summer and it fell flat on its face, none of us could afford it even though we were working full time at the time,” he said.

‘There’s nowhere in Dublin right now’

“I’m working four days a week on top of four days in college, and I still can’t find anywhere. Even the few places that do pop up every once in a while, they’re semi affordable and you know, definitely lower in quality than they should be. They disappear within five minutes. There’s nowhere in Dublin right now.”

He said new student complexes are being built by private companies who charge “through the roof”. 

“They have all these amenities that you don’t need when all you’re looking for is a place to stay, because when you know you have nowhere else to go, you’ll take a room at that point.

People are being left out on the streets in tents, they’re having to crash with their friends, putting that stress on other people as well. It’s becoming everybody else’s responsibility but the Government’s, it seems.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that the “rise in the cost of living is affecting everyone and it’s affecting students too”.

“We understand that, we get that. Students want their voices heard and by protesting today. they’re making sure that their voices are heard and their voices will be heard in this house and by this government.”

He pointed to the measures in the Budget for students, which also include expanded eligibility for the SUSI grants.

“Like all sectors of society students are really suffering when it comes to the impact of the housing crisis and very high rents and we absolutely acknowledge that.”

The Tánaiste said that hundreds of student accommodation places are currently under construction.

IMG_6453 Students protesting on DCU's Glasnevin campus. Jane Moore Jane Moore

He said that students earning income are eligible in theory for the new €500 rent tax credit but that many students are not earning enough money to be paying income tax.

“[Finance] Minister [Paschal] Donohue is examining whether it’s possible to extend the rent tax credit to parents who pay student fees on behalf of their children.

“We hope we can do that. Sometimes these things are easier promised than done but we hope we can do that and we should be in a position to confirm whether or not we can do that by next Tuesday when the Finance bill comes to Cabinet.”

The USI encouraged students to email TDs to bring their attention to today’s protest and the challenges faced by students paying for college fees, accommodation, transport, learning materials and living expenses.

An email template said: “As I’m sure you are aware, the students in third level have been facing significant financial pressures as a result of the cost of living crisis, and I do not believe Budget 2023 tackles the root cause of the issues.”

“The current student accommodation crisis – coupled with Ireland’s high third level fees, have put a huge strain on the wellbeing and finances of students in Ireland,” the email outlined.

“It is imperative for the future of higher education in Ireland that the student voice can be heard at all levels in a non-tokenistic manner, and your support in our action would be greatly appreciated.”

Trade union Siptu issued a message of support for the student protest yesterday.

In the Dáil last week, Sinn Féin spokesperson on higher education and TD Rose Conway-Walsh said the students walking-out of lectures have “well-justified demands”.

“Three of their demands centre around the crisis in student accommodation, yet this year’s budget is the third consecutive budget from the Government with no allocation for student accommodation,” Conway-Walsh said.

“Students have had to defer their courses, sleep in cars and travel long distances. Will the Government look again at student accommodation and stop avoiding the inevitability of investing in such accommodation? Will it listen to these students?”

In response, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said the government is “pursuing a new policy in regard to student accommodation”.

“For the first time as a State, we are going to invest in getting underway projects that have been stuck and building college-owned affordable accommodation. We will update the Cabinet committee on housing on this next week,” Harris said.

The minister said he was due to meet representatives of the USI on the matter.

He said the government “took a number of cost-of-living measures in the budget, such as the first reduction in the contribution fee in more than two decades”.

Meanwhile, Harris today announced €1.5 million in funding to address the issue of sexual harassment and violence on college campuses.

17 sexual violence and harassment prevention and response managers will be appointed in all higher level institutions as part of the Government’s zero tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Speaking today, Harris said: “I have been very clear that the tertiary education and training sector must lead the way in changing cultures, behaviours and practices across society to ensure that sexual violence and harassment are not tolerated.

“There is a particular responsibility on those charged with educating the next generation in ensuring that their students and learners are equipped to lead the change more widely across society.

“To manage the implementation of institutional consent programmes and to engage appropriately with internal and external stakeholders, we need to resource our institutions. This new funding will further enhance the capabilities of our higher education institutes to support the Government’s zero tolerance approach to all forms of sexual violence and harassment.”

Additional reporting from Jane Moore and Emer Moreau

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    Mute Pius Flynn
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    May 28th 2015, 8:02 AM

    If they know that things are that bad and they stay then they are part of the problem.

    283
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    May 28th 2015, 8:26 AM

    This is free advertising for them. They will flog the shite out of this. Can’t see them going anywhere

    82
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    Mute Rocky Raccoon
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    May 28th 2015, 9:10 AM

    Before the world cup in Brazil, Fifa forced the government to change the law to allow alcohol be served in stadiums just because Budweiser were ‘official sponsors’. The reason it was banned in the first place was due to the carnage it caused with their over passionate football fans. All of these companies are as bad as each other. They act as if they’re best bud’s in their adverts but they’d stab each other in the back if there was a chance anything would negatively impact the image of their company.

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    Mute Anthony Ryan
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    May 28th 2015, 9:24 AM

    When you see that $100million was spent on bribes for next year’s centennial Copa America in the USA and that 2/3s of the cost of this year’s Gold Cup in the USA was spent on bribes then the sponsors must be thinking “what the hell are we paying for?”!

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    May 28th 2015, 9:39 AM

    I’m lovin it…

    16
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    Mute Garrett Mc Keon
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    May 28th 2015, 10:26 AM

    Not only did Budweiser get the law changed not one penny of the millions they made during the World Cup went back into the community .

    27
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    Mute fiachra29
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    May 28th 2015, 8:19 AM

    It’s a sad state of affairs when the arrest of prominent FIFA officials has sponsors contemplating pulling out, but the reports of scores of Nepalese workers dying on building sites in Qatar didn’t elicit the same response.

    246
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    May 28th 2015, 8:38 AM

    1200 dead so far – I think. I guess the world thinks this is OK as the killings continue with not too many looking for it to stop. Btw how many died building the Olympic stadium in London – none!

    145
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    Mute Friendo Friendo
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    May 28th 2015, 11:16 AM

    Liberals always cherry pick outrage.

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    Mute fiachra29
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    May 28th 2015, 11:42 AM

    I don’t see how this story proves liberals cherry pick outrage, this is a case of large multi-national corporations cherry picking outrage and companies like these tend to be much more heavily supported by conservatives than liberals.

    18
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    Mute weeya
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    May 28th 2015, 2:34 PM

    Actually it was 1 death in London, but unsurprisingly Beijing and Sochi had a much higher death count.

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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    May 28th 2015, 4:08 PM

    They’ll never pull out for any reason….if Visa pull out Mastercard waiting to replace…..if McDonald’s pull out in comes BurgerKing….Coke replaced by Pepsi…..it’s like being up front at a gig, there’s no way you’re movin’ and losin’ your spot…no matter what happens. They won’t give it up that easy. It’s about the mighty dollar and as long as it’s not happening in the US they’re usually fine with it.

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    Mute Shane Hickey
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    May 28th 2015, 8:04 AM

    The sponsors have no intention of taking action. If they had they’d have done it two years ago

    128
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    Mute Fifty Shades of Sé
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    May 28th 2015, 8:18 AM

    When Coca-Cola are taking the moral high ground with you, you know you’ve done something wrong.

    106
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    Mute HRH The Brummie
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    May 28th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Now is a good time to disband the whole corrupt system. Get rid of the Qatar world cup, it is probably to late to cancel Russia, if it’s not, and anotyer country can stage it it in 2018 let that happen too. UEFA should pull out of all games and have their own competition at the same time as FIFA see what happens then the sponsorship would fall apart. Time for change from top Dow. It’s not today or yesterday we knew Seth & Co were as bent as a nine bob note.

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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    May 28th 2015, 8:20 AM

    why does everyone want the Russia one cancelled Russia is a perfect place for a world Cup they already have the stadia. bar a few upgrades they are as fit to hold a world Cup as England. they may have bribed a few people but by the look of things so has every other country that got a world Cup, it seems that’s how you get one thanks to me blatter

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    Mute Bob Beaman
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    May 28th 2015, 9:21 AM

    Not the point Richard. It’s how they were awarded the WC in the first place. If it was via corruption then it should be pulled from under them.

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    Mute Bob Beaman
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    May 28th 2015, 9:23 AM

    UK, France, Germany, Italy even Spain, USA. Many countries could get their shit together in 3 years.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    May 28th 2015, 9:30 AM

    “why does everyone want the Russia one cancelled Russia is a perfect place for a world Cup…”

    Yes, a corrupt country filled with drunken mercenaries on a trip home from the Donbass is a fantastic place to hold a World Cup.

    21
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    Mute VinHeffer89
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    May 28th 2015, 9:37 AM

    I’ll put it to you this way;
    If you were a gay football fan would you go to the Russian World Cup?

    34
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    Mute Richard
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    May 28th 2015, 9:52 AM

    If you leave out the homophobic legislation, racism, fans rioting at Euro 2012, rampant corruption, state totalitarianism and domestic terrorism – Russia doesn’t sound that bad. And that’s not even getting into the fact that they bribed their way to being hosts.

    Australia, England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy (among others) could all host the tournament tomorrow if necessary.

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    Mute HRH The Brummie
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    May 28th 2015, 8:31 AM

    Brasil 2014 had to change their alcohol laws to allow people to drink alcohol in the football stadiums after pressure from an American sponsor, I wonder would the Arab world allow drinking of alcohol in their stadiums ? Or females in bikini tops and shorts walking around the streets. It will be interesting if it goes ahead in Qatar, especially if Israel qualify!!!!!!!

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    Mute Lar Cooney
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    May 28th 2015, 9:26 AM

    Israel will have a settlement close to there stadium by the time the World Cup kicks off in Qatar..

    54
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    Mute Pat O'Dwyer
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    May 28th 2015, 10:44 AM

    Coincidence ?
    FIFA vote to kick Israel out of world football conveniently blocked by US intervention.
    The FIFA corruption crisis came just as its annual congress was due to debate a motion calling for Israel to be suspended from world football.
    http://stopwar.org.uk/news/fifa-vote-to-kick-israel-out-of-world-football-conveniently-blocked-by-us-intervention

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    Mute Ian イアン [STGオタク]
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    May 28th 2015, 7:56 AM

    Sepprise! Sepprise!

    Weekly entertainment show. Disgraced FIFA starlet Sepp Blatter surprises unsuspecting wrongdoers in tantalising real-life situations.

    #LifeAfterFIFA

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    Mute Richard Cynical
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    May 28th 2015, 8:14 AM

    all I see is lots of free advertising for the brands, all they did was issue statements and if they did pull out Pepsi burger King and master card would just take their place. sepp blatter needs to step down or at the very least not run for a 5th term, he is clearly power hungry and I’m sure he fears prosecution that at the moment holding all the cards and as soon as he doesn’t he will be the no1 target.

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    Mute Walt Jabsco
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    May 28th 2015, 8:38 AM

    If coke pulled out due to corruption, there’s no way in the world pepsi would step in – what message would that send out? Not even the dumbest PR consultant in the world would recommend that!

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    May 28th 2015, 9:49 AM

    Yes but the demand from sponsors is because if the Global audience is a billion viewers or whatever and there are no shortage of global brands that would be interested – they don’t see it as a corrupt FIFA they see it for the global reach they can get – and if Samsung , Red Bull ,Snickers or who ever are sponsors when the games come around the public won’t be outraged at all so that’s why Coke Mc Donalds etc threaten but are reluctant to cancel those sponsorships.

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    Mute Robert Allen
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    May 28th 2015, 8:04 AM

    Do yourself and everybody a favor and resign your cushy number blatter.

    59
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    Mute Brian Antoniotti
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    May 28th 2015, 8:27 AM

    Coca Cola so outraged to learn of fifa corruption that they are asking for the return of all the brown envelopes they handed over to secure major sponsor status for the last two world cups

    38
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    Mute Brian Antoniotti
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    May 28th 2015, 8:29 AM

    Surely arrests need to be made on both sides of this scandal

    18
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    Mute Oliver
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    May 28th 2015, 9:16 AM

    Reminds me a bit of this:

    Hans Blix ‘I’m sorry,but the UN must be firm with you. Let me see your WHOLE palace, or else…’

    Kim Jong-il ‘ Or erse what?’

    Hans Blix ‘Or else we will be very,very angry with you… And we will write you a letter, telling you how angry we are with you’

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    Mute Nollaig Kelly
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    May 28th 2015, 12:22 PM

    Oh No not Hans Blix!

    oh hello Hans

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    Mute stephen
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    May 28th 2015, 8:43 AM

    Countrys should refuse to play.

    31
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    Mute Frank Garrett
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    May 28th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Countries is the plural form of country.

    4
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    Mute stephen
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    May 28th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Please forgive my auto correct on my phone oh wise one

    14
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    Mute J.Rudd
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    May 28th 2015, 8:35 AM

    Sepp Blatter will make a token effort – then carry on as normal like a dictator ignoring real change needed.

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    Mute Reg Gordon
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    May 28th 2015, 8:50 AM

    You know you’re in trouble when companies like coke, McDonald’s and Adidas, who aren’t exactly known for ethical practices are running away….

    20
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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    May 28th 2015, 9:01 AM

    Ah yes, these guys have just realised there is something iffy about FIFA. Now, this very minute, didn’t even have an inkling before this. Corruption only works if both sides are prepared to allow it to.

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    Mute Murray Porteous
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    May 28th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Put a puppet in charge and help yourself. Explains why he kept being re-elected.

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    Mute cosmological
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    May 28th 2015, 9:22 AM

    Just another example of corporate ethics, run a mile if propriety is in question and your product might suffer harm.

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    Mute Red Marauder
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    May 28th 2015, 8:02 AM

    A good start would be to make that worldcup throphy out of carbon fiber. Why is not Interpol or any other EU institution involved besides the Swiss authorities I wonder. It is like Bin Laden was living in Zurich and the Americans came to get him while nobody else knew.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    May 28th 2015, 9:33 AM

    Why would the EU be involved in an investigation that involves Switzerland, Russia, Qatar and the US? Not one of those countries involved in this bribery scandal are in the EU.

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    Mute Friendo Friendo
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    May 28th 2015, 11:19 AM

    It all began when they crossed Bill Clinton. A blind eye was turned before this.

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    Mute Friendo Friendo
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    May 28th 2015, 11:57 AM

    The Clinton foundation will not be touched well at least thats what he is betting on.

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    Mute Neil Corcoran
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    May 28th 2015, 2:17 PM

    Swiss Police have confirmed that when arrested all 14 FIFA officials threw themselves to the ground and pretended to be injured.

    6
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    Mute Andrew Maher
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    May 28th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Blatter the new Teflon Don . Won’t be a gangsters paradise .

    5
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    Mute Darragh Flynn
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    May 28th 2015, 12:06 PM

    Its all hitting the fan now. In fairness these sponsors are cowards and possibly abusers of human rights themselves. I’m no human rights activist, but its a bit rich coming from the likes of Coca Cola certainly.

    They knew that people are dying on site in Qatar and that the whole operation is a sham, but it took the FBI and the PR nightmare that faces FIFA for them to put pressure on FIFA.

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    Mute Eddie Geraghty
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    May 28th 2015, 11:54 AM

    Blatter should resign: if he knew there was corruption and did nothing he is complicit; if he didn’t know then he is not in control any longer and is unfit to be in charge; either way he needs to go.

    3
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    Mute Stephen
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    May 28th 2015, 2:42 PM

    It’s time for e.u.f.a.to break away from f.i.f.a

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    Mute Randle P McMurphy
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    May 28th 2015, 5:34 PM

    On the subject of Corruption, where has the ‘Catherine Murphy tells us all about what Denis didn’t want RTE to tell us’ story gone to Journal?????

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