I was thinking the same thing myself . Every time they go some where they tell them before they tell us ….
I am sick of it . I am sick of feeling let down by them . We deserve better but I have given up of expecting better .

Not only is Quinn costing the economy billions from its debt to the former Anglo (now IBRC) but also from Quinn’s operation of a cartel in the cement industry (along with CRH). Prices of cement in Ireland are currently over €100 per tonne. The same cement is being exported to Britain for €50 per tonne.

In 2004 Dr John Fingleton, as head of Competition Authority stated anti-competitive practices were costing the Irish economy circa €4 billion a year. Thats approximately €2400 per household. It’s really puts the household charge into perspective!

The Government is now operating a cartel through Anglo’s ownership of Quinn Cement. So the Government are ripping off consumers and taxpayers with both hands. People need to be made aware of this. Why is the Competition Authority not doing anything?

The Competition Authority are being starved of funds by Minister Richard Bruton so they cant investigate anything. They might as well not be there. It must be noted that Richard Bruton is a former employee of and current shareholder in CRH. Complete conflict of interest! This is political / regulatory capture and it’s costing the economy billions of euros as is evidenced from above!

Declan .
You seriously need to f**k off and leave me alone .
I do not care about you or what you think of women or of me
.If you have something to say ,I wish you would come
out and say it before you choke on your own bitterness.

Eileen you have mentioned quite a few things there about women care to elaborate?

So Donal tell us all what is so positive about all of this in your own opinion ?

It could mean a €2Bn or more a year not being spent on this s***e.

Something like 2-3% interest rate and spread it over 30 or more years would mean some serious savings and a lot less pain.

FF lumbered us with an 8% interest rate on this.

(For the sake of not having a meaningless argument, let’s just assume that not paying it back is not one of the options open to us.)

Sorry Donal . I can not see any other option .
We need employment growth .We need to trust our politicians and as long as they keep selling us all out
we will have nothing . They need to stand up for us .

Eileen, to get employment growth we need to stay at the big boys table. Defaulting removes us from it.

Look at horror of what is happening to Greece and their managed default (this is what you are asking for). Despite that, they are doing everything they can to avoid an unmanaged default because they know the even more horrific consequences that will bring.

I believe our politicians are standing up for us. They are getting results bit by bit. It may not be at the pace and by the route that you would like but it is happening.

This is not to say that I am not concerned at their incompetence in managing public sector reform (e.g. the recent retirements BS, the glacial pace of Croke Park implementation).

Donal
I respect anyone’s opinion when it is given fairly and with out malice ,
Can I ask you then Why is it you think that our politicians are feeding us information
through foreign media. Why are so many people angry.
For myself , I am so angry, so frustrated at the lack of explanations coming from the people we elected as our government . They are answerable to us not to other countries. .I am seriously disheartened . I can not accept that we are in such a serious situation all because of greed …
Tell me where do you find the ability to trust these guys , because I can not .

Eileen, I don’t think the fact that this story came to us the way it did is an issue whatsoever. Media is media. Are you saying you wouldn’t be peed off if he had revealed this in response to a question from an IT journalist?

You say you are so angry, so frustrated at the lack of explanations coming from the people we elected as our government – are you telling me you voted for one of the Government parties? Of course, even if you didn’t vote for them, you are perfectly entitled to expect everything from the Government, just wondering at the phrase.

I think they have been explaining a tough situation the best they can. The problem for a lot of people, I suspect, is not how they are saying things but the truth of what they are saying. It’s all very well to be angry about how we got here but being angry at the solutions is not helpful. in my book.

I’m not saying for 100% that it will all work out but I am saying that we should give it our best shot according to the rules. That way if it works out, we will be in a far better place. And if it doesn’t work out, well then we won’t be any worse off than if we defaulted now. We are all in anyway so we might as well stay in.

Yes .I voted for them ,The sorriest thing I ever did . I even defended them saying that hard decisions must be made . But to be ignored and treated the way we are being treated in our own country by our own government is unacceptable .
We will default . There is no surer thing . And I am not usually pessimistic. But this has absolutely changed me for the worse.
In the meantime The EU / Troika/ banks have paid unsecured bondholders …. While our hospitals, schools, garda station s, airports, army barracks are all closing down OR cutting back on services. Yes I feel angry .
Thanks for your response . There is after all nothing you and I can do if we oppose each other …

Indeed Eileen, a bit of national unity would be a good thing.

Donal
”I believe our politicians are standing up for us. They are getting results bit by bit. It may not be at the pace and by the route that you would like but it is happening.”
Do you still believe this ?

Donal this morning in TheJourna.ie I read
”TÁNAISTE EAMON GILMORE has acknowledged that Ireland did actively seek to have the new eurozone ‘fiscal compact’ treaty amended to minimise the need for a Constitutional referendum.”
Yes a little unity would go a long way

As it happens I think avoiding a referendum is crucial. It would turn into a circus that had nothing to do with what we were actually voting on. People wanting to ‘send a message’ etc.

Donal
That is democracy ,every vote sends a message to somebody !!

Here is an idea Eileen how about all the Men in ireland stay at home and mind the kids and all the women go to work or would that be irrelevant too!! Yeah unfortunately they divorced and he left his job due to depression so the court awarded full custody to the woman with the kids and the bloke has to pay maintenence,I suppose that’s just the way it will be I’m the irish judicial system anyway back to the topic its good that this toxic debt can be reduced,as for all political parties and politicians they are all the same I couldn’t give a fuck about any of them,nobody will help anybody you have to protect ypurself and your loved ones by making your own decisions in life,life is too short now ill finish trolling byeeeeeeeeee

Declan
I think maybe you need some professional help. I will let you decide what type .