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Irish lessons for the UK

2

Comments

  • Emy1501
    Emy1501 Posts: 1,798 Forumite
    marklv wrote: »
    Nowhere near as much as Ireland or Greece. That's why our economy is in much better shape and why there is no need for the sort of panic measures that the Conservatives are advocating.

    I doubt the treasury went to Ireland on holiday. Yes we are in better shape that both those countries were but we are going to see harsh measures on a smaller scale after the election who ever gets in.
  • chucky
    chucky Posts: 15,170 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    marklv wrote: »
    Nowhere near as much as Ireland or Greece. That's why our economy is in much better shape and why there is no need for the sort of panic measures that the Conservatives are advocating.
    too right - no where remotely near comparing the same economic issues in those countries.

    at least these types of threads give the frothers some sort of a release :T
  • marklv
    marklv Posts: 1,768 Forumite
    Actually, its worse than that Mark.

    Contributions based JSA in Ireland is €196 (approx £175), paid for the first twelve months, while it's only £65.45 paid for 6 months here.

    Little wonder the Irish economy is suffering when welfare rates are so high.

    Exactly my point. Our welfare state is already pretty tight - it can be tightened a little more maybe, but not too much, unless you want to bring back the workhouse.
  • Pobby
    Pobby Posts: 5,438 Forumite
    Ireland is a basket case. Simple as that. If anyone thinks that things are bad here, forget it when compared to the Celtic ( unwell ) Tiger. This is coming from someone who has visited and done business with them for over 30 years. The UK has deep problems but look out the Irish.
  • bigheadxx
    bigheadxx Posts: 3,047 Forumite
    Deeply concerning that George Osborne believed that Ireland's economic model is something worth emulating:
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article733821.ece

    The three things he actually passed comment on are:

    1. UKs education system was ranked 33rd compared to Irelands 3rd or 4th ranking,
    (and we have put £billions extra into it)

    2. "simple and effective" approach to R & D and innovation compared to complex UK system,

    3. Lower business tax rates

    I think that those are quite good things to emulate as opposed to the current state of affairs in the UK:

    " By contrast, in Britain productivity growth has fallen in recent years and is far behind the likes of the US and Ireland. Indeed, it is one fifth the rate it was when Gordon Brown walked into the Treasury. Poor skill levels, rising taxes, bureaucratic planning controls and chronic overregulation are high on the list of culprits. Britain is being left behind. "

    Not to mention the fact that Ireland is already tackling its current economic problems which the UK is also far behind on. So which country will be best placed to succeed when the upturn actually comes?
  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 10 April 2010 at 7:54PM
    Pobby wrote: »
    Ireland is a basket case. Simple as that. If anyone thinks that things are bad here, forget it when compared to the Celtic ( unwell ) Tiger. This is coming from someone who has visited and done business with them for over 30 years. The UK has deep problems but look out the Irish.

    I was warning people over there about the housing market back in 2000 and I am considered a housing bull on here.
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
  • StevieJ
    StevieJ Posts: 20,174 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Great Britain is already out of recession, while Ireland is not yet there which I think answers your question.

    Britain's independent currency, Britains industrial legacy, and our entrepreneurial spirit is behind our recovery, and is something that small open countries like Ireland, Iceland, and Hungary lack.

    Being propped up by huge EU cash inflows and the euro can only get you so far. When the tide goes out, its easy to see who has been swimming with no trunks - most recently the Greeks and the Irish have been left red faced

    It doesn't help when the multi-nationals head for the exit door at the first sign of strife :eek:
    'Just think for a moment what a prospect that is. A single market without barriers visible or invisible giving you direct and unhindered access to the purchasing power of over 300 million of the worlds wealthiest and most prosperous people' Margaret Thatcher
  • FATBALLZ
    FATBALLZ Posts: 5,146 Forumite
    Actually, its worse than that Mark.

    Contributions based JSA in Ireland is €196 (approx £175), paid for the first twelve months, while it's only £65.45 paid for 6 months here.

    Little wonder the Irish economy is suffering when welfare rates are so high.

    This is quite a selective example, JSA is the one benefit I can think of that is so stingy over here. The problem welfare payments in the UK are housing benefit and the ones doled out to people with kids.
  • tara747
    tara747 Posts: 10,238 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    sarkin1 wrote: »
    We know we're in for some unpleasant medicine after the election, but exactly how bad will it be? That's the question none of the politicians really want to answer. But you can get some interesting clues by looking across the Irish Sea. There you find a small country that has been going through something colossal: not just the steepest recession of any developed country since the war, but one of the most ambitious programmes of budget cuts as well.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/stephanieflanders/2010/04/irish_lessons_for_the_uk.html


    I believe house prices are down 40% over there

    50% down and further falls highly likely.
    Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
    Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
    eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.73
  • tara747
    tara747 Posts: 10,238 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    FATBALLZ wrote: »
    This is quite a selective example, JSA is the one benefit I can think of that is so stingy over here. The problem welfare payments in the UK are housing benefit and the ones doled out to people with kids.

    I agree. .........
    Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
    Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
    eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.73
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