Comment of the week by a country mile! I’m still chuckling! lol

@Too Trueleft: Great reply, I haven’t laughed as hard as i did reading that comment in ages!

I agree with Ian. I think Mr. Kenny is taking the easy option. Why could he not debate the issue with people who are pro and anti? The whole thing is a shambles. Some voters I know are voting NO because of reasons other than economics. They think this government is incapable of telling the whole truth and also have got some things so wrong ie. the household and water charges, the public servants retirement scheme, the closure of Columb Bks. not sticking to the cap on advisors etc. Also we see the salaries and expenses of our Oireachtas members while some people live from day to day. Are they not acting more like a ruling class than our elected representatives?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody just turned off in protest over him not doing a live media debate. Can you imagine the headlines?

‘ Ireland put Enda on stand by”

Betty, you are right – people shouldnt vote no just because the government and Enda are a complete shambles (who would never have got in power if FF didnt completely stuff things up)
Fine Gael felt they had a right to power after so many years in opposition. Lets not forget they couldnt win against Bertie and FF when everybody knew Bertie was a finance minister without a bank account. Even when they did win they couldnt do it on their own.
I think FG wouldve tried to enforce this austerity on us even in good times – they are wannabe thahtcherites – and can only do their worst because of the situation we are now in.
They do consider themselves our betters and entitled to lord it over us and I hope the Irish people dont forget this come election time

Maybe this time he’ll tell us, “It’s not your fault you mad feckers, and I’m not going to use scare tactics, but I have been reliably informed by my Environment Minister that the sky has big problems. It is falling in”

house i win…. no wait its been reposessed ….

Leslie, you forgot the snivelling sound of the intake of breath through the nostrils, for dramatic effect!!! And the gleefull hand rubbing! Tosser makes me sick!

Absolutely! This man (supposedly Taoiseach of our country), WON’T enter a debate on the issues,but will gladly sit, unchallenged to say whatever he wants!

This really is an self-admission of is inept,and inability as a Weak leader of this country!!

He simply has no class, questions scare him & his handlers know there is one big gaffe on its way, they are just keeping him on a short leash just like they have hogan, howlin & shatter,

….Veradkar and the rest .

Address the nation.
Whats it gonna be this time Enda?

Is it going to be more
”I know everyone in Ireland is
broke,
getting repossessed,
emigrating,
not able to feed their families,
getting robbed by their banks,
being forced into the abyss,
so we are just gonna screw ye all even more”

He will wish us all good luck, just like he did when I wrote and told him how bad it was ..yellow belly.

No Harry probably he just tell us we all went crazy borrowing again…. And it’s not our fault but we have to pay for it….

Hope it’s not Enda story.

If Inda is being invited to speak on Sunday because Gerry will be speaking on Saturday what would happen if Gerry were to say nothing about the referendum? I assume this would pull the rug from beneath Inda and, if everything is to be balanced and fair, he won’t be allowed to speak about it either. This makes him sound like a spoilt child who has to have the last word.

The man has not got the balls to go head to head with any one in the no camp

So will Kenny be talking to the Nation or Davos this time around? Maybe he could get one of his many special advisers to clarify that before the event.

Ok folks here it is THE REFERENDUM DRINKING GAME! Every time Enda says the word “Certainty” you take a drink every time he says “Confidence” you take a drink and every time he says “Uncertainty” you finish your drink.

@ Francis Devenney …maybe also include “let me be clear”, “the train is leaving the station”, “heart of europe”, “facing the right direction”, “open for business”. Bonus drinks if he says “Paddy” or “don’t kick the future in the face”.

I’ve been working on an Enda Kenny action figure – although action may be a misnomer. It has a string come out it’s arse and when you pull the string, It rattles of one of the above sound bites. I also considered an Enda Kenny puppet, but then I’d have to build an an Angela Merkel RoboCop to pull it’s strings.

Barra. Great idea but I’d be afraid I’d get drunk enough to think he’s making sense, Because repeating the same meaningless phrases over and over again seems to make sense to drunk people.

You know selling the naming rights to the deal could raise a lot of money…..

Of course this counts as MY idea now :D

Jayzuz, David
You have got to be proud of this!
Real david Higgins….this is hilarious!

*couldn’t*

So

So what Jerry?

Erm no, you are wrong.

Countries will contribute to the ESM ‘on-demand’ should it be required. The whole point of the stability treaty is to bring stability and hence there should be no need for any country to need access the ESM. Remember, we gave money to bail out Greece and all nations gave money to bail us out.

So ourselves, Greece and “tethering on the brink” Spain won’t need money so? So why are ye making a big deal about access so?

Oh by the way James you didn’t answer the question either, when NOT if the full ESM is required and our €11 billion gets called in, where are we going to get it? I’d appreciate a direct answer please!

Think about it, if the full ESM is ever needed, the €11bn will be of no concern to us as the Euro will implode and the dream will be over. There are a number of countries too big for even the ESM to bail out. I say it again, the treaty is a means to create stability, stability will bring lending prices down which will let us re-enter the markets.

James I don’t know where you’ve been hanging out but a quick flick through European news would show you Greek people starving in soup kitchens, Spanish banks tethering on the brink, Portugal and ourselves in a mess and looking for bailouts of bailouts, German and French banks creaking under bad debt from peripheral Europe and all we have from Brussels and Berlin is inaction and an ever longing desire to keep German inflation low while the rest of Europe burns.

So sorry to break it to you but Europe is already imploding, time to recognise that and face up to reality. Not until that reality is faced by our supposed “union” will any type of recovery begin!

The full cost will appear on our “balance sheet” and will affect the cost of borrowing.

You can’t make these macho promises and ignore the consequences. We should have learned that from the famous “Bank Guarantee”.

Greece will be out of the Euro and deservedly so. They are not saddled by banking debt and all their debts are through piss poor financial management. Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium are all victims of the contagion effect brought about by lack of confidence.

James

now seriously – “victims of the contagion effect brought about by lack of confidence”. We are in the mess because of the greed of bankers, developers and politicians. Their debt was added onto the sovereing debt thanks to inefective leadership.

@James
You know quite well that Mr Kenny & co have done the complete opposite to their pre-election proposals. Their mandate was not austerity nor was it to be the best boy in the class. I was expecting an army of politicians & experts to go to Europe & tell them this is how the Irish people want it done & “if you don’t like it you can go & fcku yourselves,” They probably would of been slaughtered by Europe but at least Europe would of known that we the irish people were behind our government & they were only doing what we elected them to do. I cannot vote yes to anything they ask because I have no respect for any of them & just don’t believe what they tell me. History will not be kind to this cabinet.

Ann, you are correct. Our banking system, regulatory function and government let us all down badly. However, in order to get back into the markets, the markets want to see growth, to get growth we need stability, hence the treaty. Anyone who voted for FG and/or Labour who thought that the austerity would stop are deluded. I have to laugh at the SF slogan ‘austerity isn’t working’ because we have managed to reduce our deficit by nearly 10% which (as shit as the last few tears have been) is no mean feat. Growth will return but not without stability.

And can you explain to us what part of the treaty will bring stability James?

Balance the budget now… This year…. Do what has to be done… Quick sharp correction…. No need for markets no need for ESM… Say no to austerity treaty…. Kick these muppets out of government…. Let’s get the show on the road again…

James the ironic thing isI don’t believe in the whole austerity treaty lark and I am certainly not a SF supporter, however, we are concerning ourselves with a dusty mantlepiece while the house is engulfed in flames. For stability and growth, and as Declan Ganley would say much better than I, we need to face up to insolvency and write off debts that will not be paid back and stop expecting states to bail private companies out. This treaty does nothing to add stability, only proves how short Irish peoples memories are!

The stability comes from proper fiscal management (mandatory) in all states. This was one of the very reasons we are where we are. I have always said it (and I’ll say it again), Ireland needs and will get a writedown of the majority of our banking debt before the end of the year. The EU are working in it as it is not a simple process but it will happen.

Who cares treaty going to be passed YES YES. YES

James this is another cod, have you seen the power the ESM is given. It is not answerable to any court or state. It’s alot more than proper fiscal management, if that’s all it was I would be voting yes!

That is also incorrect. Each state will have an elected Government representative overseeing the function of the ESM. By the way, are you suggesting a big EU conspiracy? If so, what is your theory?

Also incorrect? I proved you were waffling above, not the other way around there buddy. The fact remains that the Irish people are being tried of told what to do, how to vote, that they should pay back debt that’s not theirs and being lied to by politicians. This is more dissolution of sovereignty to unelected bureaucrats who can fine us if we break debt caps. Excuse my language, but it’s F**KING nonsense! Are ye listening to yourselves like? This treaty couldn’t be more irrelevant in todays Europe if it tried!

Please also refrain from snide “conspiracy theory” remarks. Being smart enough to see the enormous democratic deficit in Europe while its people are starving is not akin to being a conspiracy theorist, moreso just having a bit of common sense and respect for the fellow citizens of Europe!

Every comment you make is factually incorrect so forgive me for not understanding your motives. I have listened to your conspiracy theory nonsense before. Face up to it, you don’t like austerity and you wan’t someone to blame.

Ah give over, I’m done talking to you, you’re rambling out your backside now and resorting to the usual bull rhetoric when I am NOT A LEFT WINGER!

What are you then? Central Midfield or Center Forward?

And there we have a sum up of your intelligence!

James, only one nation in history has sustained the levels of debt that Ireland now has without either devaluing it’s currency or defaulting or both.
That nation was Britain in 1815 during the industrial revolution. When it had the largest empire on earth.
I am not a socialist by any stretch, but anyone who believes Ireland can sustain this debt is delusional.

Sean, great comment but if you read my comments you would see that I have already made that point.

Well done James, you have buckets of persistence. Your contributions are very helpful.

@ James, would the fiscal compact have prevented Ireland getting into the mess they are in now?
Ireland had a budget surplus until 2008 when the ass fell out of the economy. My understanding (limited) as it is, is that the fiscal compact wouldn’t as the economy was earning so much of property development and when that imploded, the country was screwed. Secondly, if that compact was in place when Ireland started to have a budget deficit, we would be penalized until we got it to a certain percentage.

So boring

James, I appreciate that you feel it in your bones that the EU/ECB will grant Ireland a write down at some point in the future.
In fact, your bones are wrong for a number of reasons.
Firstly, no write down will be granted until it is requested (ideally demanded) However, our glorious leader has ruled this out. (By itself an excellent reason to vote No. Remember the Irish state never requested any guarantees on corporation tax until after the first Lisbon vote)
Secondly, several euro-nations have debt in around the same level. A write down cannot be granted to Ireland in isolation. This would be political suicide for senior German politicans.
Thirdly, the stability of German national finances are often overstated. Germany national debt exceeds 80% GDP. Meaning it needs to retrench. In addition several other issues. An impending pensions crisis, Internal German states in financial crisis, German banks highly exposed to the periphery and still carrying Wall St toxic securities and €1/2 trillion liability on bundesbank books.

“‘Caught in a Trap’

As long as the monetary union continues to exist, this isn’t a catastrophe. The money is virtual, created by central banks, and its existence doesn’t mean that an equivalent amount is lacking elsewhere. But as soon as a country leaves the euro zone, or the currency union collapses entirely, things get critical.

“We’re caught in a trap,” Sinn says. “If the euro breaks apart, we’re left with an outstanding balance of nearly €500 billion, owed by a system that no longer exists.” That figure, €500 billion, is more than one and a half times Germany’s annual federal budget.”
Der Spiegel

While this means that Germany is not as liquid as often portrayed, it is much more vulnerable to the demands of a struggling nation than we are lead to believe.

Talk about being a drama queen. You know the answer to this, but ill happily clarify a few bits for those who are floating voters.

Firstly, its important to know what voting Yes or No makes absolutely no difference to how the ESM will operate and our part to play in it. The piece of legislation covering the ESM will more than likely go through the Dail, as required, and be passed. That means we contribute to the fund without having access to it. Its nothing to do with the treaty. Voting Yes, the fund and our contribution remains. Voting No, the fund and our contribution remains. Ireland was a contributing members to the existing fund, the EFSF.

Secondly, the emergency / bailout fund total is going to be €500bn (on top of €200 billion already committed to bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal) funded by 17 euro area member states. An initial paid-in capital is required by all such states. For Ireland, we must pay initially €1.273bn in five equal installments starting in July 2013. We have such money readily available without needing to draw down or ask for an additional loan by the state.

Thirdly, do not need €11.3bn for “membership” as some would describe. This figure you quote is our overall guaranteed sum in the event that the ESM draws down the full €500. So, like other states, if the ESM needs to give someone a massive bailout which means drawing down all funds available (ie €700bn) than that is where we would need to pay out.

Finally, the maximum current commitment Ireland would have to the ESM is €11.15bn including the initial payment. While that’s a large amount, as anything in billions is, it’s only about 6-9 months deficit. This is raised, like the EFSF, on the market. It doesn’t apply for countries in a bailout programme.

On a separate note – the fiscal treaty is like the steps we have taken before in previous treaties and pacts. It is not the full answer. There is nothing to say its going to fix all our problems. But it goes some of the way. Its a step by step process, and it always has been. This move is all about stability and keeping countries more in check – because it enforces the existing rules and financial requirements (which even if we vote No, they will still be there) we are bound by in such a way to try prevent against the problem previously where people just simply left.

Stability? I say stability because its austerity no matter which way you vote. It does not enshrine austerity into our constitution or laws. It does not give a hall pass for permanent austerity. It is not designed, nor will it operate, to give such. It was designed so that we could all agree not to over-spend a considerable amount (certain over spending IS permitted, just within reason) and keep our budgets in check. By agreeing to that, we are showing investors that Ireland is committed to getting its finances back in order, we are open for business and we want growth, investment and jobs. In order to get that, we need to show we are a stable country economically by agreeing to the new fiscal rules while also letting others know that we have a European Bailout fund we can access if required if another bailout is required.

Instability? More caused by stepping into the unknown. By deciding to swim into uncharted waters that are simply unknown. By rejecting the treaty, we immediately state we are not going to keep our finances in order the way the European Union requires and we want no part of the ESM (European Bailout) and shall head to the markets or the IMF, for example, to get funding. While that sounds good in principal, there are no guarantees we will get money from either nor do we know the interest rate and bailout terms given by any such body that agrees to fund us. The No side agree, and have offered alternative proposals which do not stack up – not enough cash, not instant cash, and making bigger problems for yourself down the road.

I suspect a lot of people will rate this red, as they do on the Journal when you point out facts and avoid fiction taking the treaty at face value. So don’t take my word from it. Don’t take your politicians word if you don’t agree with them. Look at the experts that even the No side claim as experts. People like Karl Whelan and Seamus Coffey. Look at independent neutral bodies who take the treaty at face and factual value. Look at small organisations, medium organisation and large organisations who require stability and a strong economy to succeed. What are they saying?

But for the love of god – please, for the sake of the country, do your own research and avoid silly Youtube videos and campaigners that selectively quote what sounds better than the truth, pluck figures from the air claiming its fact and make up stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with the treaty (taxation, abortion, conception, bank debt, bankers, jedward, water charges, household charges etc). Ignore the outside noise such as the scale of our debt, which does need to be addressed but separate to this treaty, the faults of Europe, and the faults of our current and past governments. Look for the future, look at the facts and look at the actual figures. Examine the treaty in full, not just places that pick random parts and make it sound good or make it sound bad.

On May 31st Ireland is calling. It is calling for our future. It is calling for stability which can help bring us jobs, investment and a better future. On May 31st please use your democratic right, which so many other countries are fighting for daily, and vote in the Referendum. Together, we can make a difference for our future and our children. Thank You and God Bless. :D

Karl Whelan: the economics of this treaty are pretty awful, but on balance we should vote yes.

What a weasel.

A few simple facts.
As Hans Werner Sinn points out, one nation departing the Union could crystallise a €500 billion lose for the German taxpayer. This probability has increased significantly since the Greek elections.
As pointed out above, Ireland will not sustain it’s current debt levels without either a devaluation or restructuring. Ireland has a strategic advantage in negotiating a debt writedown not available to other distressed nations. Ireland is the only nation holding a referendum on the fiscal union treaty.
If Ireland cannot ratify, the Germans will have to decide to either agreeing to restructuring in an attempt to avert Bundesbank liabilities or cut Ireland adrift for the sake of debt that amounts to one-tenth of those liabilities. €30 billion of Irelands debt could be written off at the stroke of a pen as these are seignorised funds (promissory notes).
Currently, the ball is in the Irish voters court. If we refuse to ratify this treaty Germany will have no option but to agree to a restructuring in our favour.

European bank exposure to the periphery nation; €1.2 trillion.
The EU cannot afford to cut Greece loose.
Is the penny dropping yet anyone?

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-22/european-banks-unprepared-for-pandora-s-box-of-greek-exit.html

Susie,
got to say Yeah! on this one

And what will Adams being doing on Telly?

Not that Adams would have a history in scaring people……

What a load of shite you are spouting

It’s all about dignity.

Very well put McBab.

Hilarious mcbab and o’reilly!!
dignity..hehehehe…..
eeehhhhh ok then

Good to see ya Joe. Thought you were worm food!

Not yet me aul traitorous pal, but shure dat day comes for us all…

Speakin of worms tho, well relatives of theirs anyhow,
I’ve seen more backbone in the maggots in the fields
than on ur leader.
C’mon me aul son, tell the truth publicly what u really think privately,
you must be cringing a wee bit at his lack of bottle……

Your still good for a laugh Joe!

I can only infer from ur post that u concede
that ur ‘uncomfortable’ with dear leaders yella-ness!
Yo! Yella Bellie!!!

now that would be something

Puppy : ) Hmm.. reckon more like ferret eyes …

How in gods name did he even get a teaching job! There’s a village out there somewhere being deprived of a first rate idiot !!!!

Did u not hear the saying….. “He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches”

Makes sense to me

James your statement that the stability this brings will mean we won’t need to add money sounds very very like our wonderful government which told us “This is the cheapest bailout in history ” good god when will we learn?

Yeah… what I said :)

What fray? Teleprompters don’t ask questions Paul. The man has no spine.

RTE are required by law to offer balance and fairness in any campaign. The No side will be on TV making their point. Therefore, someone from the Yes side needs to make theirs. Thus, complying with the laws.

Bullshit.

Makes perfect sense. A TV debate is controlled. Meeting the people face to face in towns and cities across Ireland is a lot more of a challenge and is much better leadership getting out there and meeting people individually hearing their concerns and issues.

Its not like he is hiding away in Leinster House. Where is Gerry Adams these days? Keeping him well away from debates, its all Mary Lou.

P.S. Sinn Fein Ard Fheis will be live on the comedy channel…

As the leader of the ‘yes’ campaign, is it not ‘right and proper’ that he should be out making his argument instead of cowering behind a teleprompter?

Trueleft, he’s at public meetings the length and breadth of the country debating the issues, unlike all of his predecessors…As for TV debate, he’s being quite clever in not giving SF any more high profile airtime. Which is all they are interested in…

Really, I’ve only seen him being shuffled around among his cronies getting the odd heckle.

Can you provide links please to videos, audio or even transcripts of these “public meetings the length and breadth of the country” he’s been at “debating the issues” please?

No. Watch the news, read a newspaper. Get your head out of those Hard left mags. It will do ya good to get off the collective farm and away from the commune for a while…

Respect?
Respect a coward who hides behind scripts, telepromters and leaflets instead of going on live to debate why he thinks we should accept his BS austerity plans and further secession of sovereignty to his EPP cronies?

Pfffft.

o’reilly, you made a ridiculous claim that kenny has been attending “public meetings the length and breadth of the country” and “debating the issues”. I can’t recall seeing him at ANY public meetings.

Can you tell us where these meetings happened and when?

Trueleft, he was inLimerick last night…

Trueleft, hes just entered a public meeting in south Dublin in the last 5 minutes. But youve not heard about any public meetings….

Any link to him ‘debating the issues’ with members of the public in limerick please…….

Trueleft, to paraphrase yourself, that request is “Ridiculous”… he’s out there doing his job.

I think that when Enda shows real respect for the Office , then the rest of us will offer him his due respects!
In the meantime , gutless might be the appropriate word methinks !
Shame on you Enda !

O’Reilly I can respect the office but not the office holder. Kenny demeans the office and has lost all my respect since his Christmas speech to the nation and then his about face to his friends in Davos.

Is ‘right & proper’ your new catch phrase for the day?

In fairness Kenny is travelling around the country and visiting various places where people have been expressing their opinion of his “leadership”. However, not quite sure that qualifies as “debate”.

Which loop would that be Robert? Address to the Nation ‘not our debt’ or his address to his friends in Davos ‘we all went a little mad’ BTW do you not know Jack Lynch and CJH addressed the nation in times past?

whats the point in addressing the nation when its goin to be filled with lies? based on his track record to date thats all hes goin to do, lie to us