Huge protest over Irish economy

BlondeHeadOn

Surprised I can't find this posted yet...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7903518.stm

"

Up to 100,000 people have gathered in Dublin city centre to protest at the Irish government's handling of the country's recession.
Many are angry at plans to impose a pension levy on public sector workers.
Trade union organisers of the march said workers did not cause the economic crisis but were having to pay for it.
In a statement, the Irish government said it recognised that the measures it was taking were "difficult and in some cases painful". The pension levy was "reasonable", the government said. reflecting "the reality that we are not in a position to continue to meet the public service pay bill in the circumstances of declining revenue".

One protester said he was "sick and tired of the way this government conducts itself and what it's doing to this country."

"I've worked all my life, I've never broke the law, never walked out on strike. Instead I've went to work and done my job," he said.
"I've a mortgage to pay, I've children to put through school, and now I'm being told I have to take cutback, after cutback, after cutback." Ireland, which was once one of Europe's fastest-growing economies, has fallen into recession faster than many other members of the European Union.
"

amcluesent

The Irish have also already had exposed the corruption and cronyism amongst their politicians, bankers and experienced a greater fall in house prices and employment.

Another few months, and England will have got there; could be a long, hot summer. I predict a riot!

Prudent

What is a pension levy?

tirano

Its a tax on Public sector Employees

The pension-related payment will form the main part of the cost-cutting package. Mr Cowen said that it would save €1.4 billion on the public pay service bill. The levy will be graduated with those public employees on higher earnings paying a higher percentage of their income. He also said that the payment would apply to local authority employees.

Later in the D!il he gave more details of the package. Those earning €40,000 per annum would pay €2,750 or 6.9 per cent; those on €50,000 would pay 3,750 or 7.5 per cent; and those on 100,000 would pay 8,750 or 8.8 per cent. At the highest scale of pay in the public service, those earning €300,000 will pay €28,780 or 9.6 per cent. However, the contributions will be calculated on gross income and not on taxable income.

I suppose at least the Irish are trying to raise more taxes, wonder when UK will face up and increase taxes here

Spiv_2

tirano wrote: »

wonder when UK will face up and increase taxes here

November. VAT goes up to 18% ( I think) and higher rate tax to 45% for those on £150k+

fatpig_2

tirano wrote: »

I suppose at least the Irish are trying to raise more taxes, wonder when UK will face up and increase taxes here

Very true. It's better to do this than what the UK government is doing i.e.borrowing billions of pounds we can't afford and that future generations will have to pay back.

horace_2

Ah but did they protest when the `bountiful` E.U. were pouring our U.K E.U contributions into their economy?

Thought not.

Let them reflect on the good times?

h

ukcarper

Spiv wrote: »

November. VAT goes up to 18% ( I think) and higher rate tax to 45% for those on £150k+

What before election

ffacoffipawb

BlondeHeadOn wrote: »

Surprised I can't find this posted yet...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7903518.stm

"

Up to 100,000 people have gathered in Dublin city centre to protest at the Irish government's handling of the country's recession.
Many are angry at plans to impose a pension levy on public sector workers.
Trade union organisers of the march said workers did not cause the economic crisis but were having to pay for it.
In a statement, the Irish government said it recognised that the measures it was taking were "difficult and in some cases painful". The pension levy was "reasonable", the government said. reflecting "the reality that we are not in a position to continue to meet the public service pay bill in the circumstances of declining revenue".

One protester said he was "sick and tired of the way this government conducts itself and what it's doing to this country."

"I've worked all my life, I've never broke the law, never walked out on strike. Instead I've went to work and done my job," he said.
"I've a mortgage to pay, I've children to put through school, and now I'm being told I have to take cutback, after cutback, after cutback." Ireland, which was once one of Europe's fastest-growing economies, has fallen into recession faster than many other members of the European Union.
"

And they have a better government than we have.

Count_Dante

fatpig wrote: »

Very true. It's better to do this than what the UK government is doing i.e.borrowing billions of pounds we can't afford and that future generations will have to pay back.

The Irish are doing all that as well!

leftieM

The Irish public sector workers are raging because the government has slapped a huge pay cut on them rather than raise taxes, which would have spread the financial burden fairly.
I can understand why they are so furious.