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GREEK LAWMAKERS HAVE adopted another batch of controversial spending cuts and tax hikes, two days before a crunch eurozone meeting expected to unlock the next tranche of much-needed bailout funds for the debt-ridden nation.
The 7,000-page bill that raises the sales tax cap and introduces a contingency mechanism to slash spending further in case of budget overruns was passed thanks to the Syriza-led coalition government’s slim majority in the 300-seat parliament, according to an AFP count.
All 153 of the coalition’s MPs voted in favour, while outside the parliament building in Athens more than 10,000 people protested against the unpopular reforms.
Syriza MP Vassiliki Katrivanou, however, voted against several of the bill’s articles and later resigned from the party, citing a “deep political and existential impasse”.
“We (Syriza) implement measures and policies that are against the core of our values and also of our politics but I cannot think of any other trustworthy alternative. That’s why I resign,” she wrote on Facebook, handing her seat back to the party.
She had voted for the bill overall but against the articles calling for the contingency mechanism and the creation of a state privatisation fund.
The so-called contingency mechanism, labelled “the cutter” by Greek media and designed to cut spending if the country fails to meet fiscal targets in 2018, is of chief interest to Greece’s international creditors.
“European leaders get the message that Greece is sticking to its promises. Now, it’s their turn,” Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras said ahead of the vote.
EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici hailed the deal.
“A key step has been taken… towards the conclusion of the first stage of the Greek programme.”
Greece urgently needs the next tranche of bailout money to repay big loans to the European Central Bank (ECB) and IMF in July, and has already fallen behind in paying for everyday government duties and public sector wages.
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, bottom, addresses lawmakers during a parliamentary session in Athens
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Marian, fertilisation has not occurred thus there are no products to abort…the MAP is a higher dose of a type of contraceptive pill. Is that abortion too?
Having an aul tug classed as mass genocide
It’s interesting that my post, that didn’t fit in with the sanitised version of events in relation to the morning after pill presented here, have been removed. I was used to that kind of supervision of free speech in China. I’m very disappointed in http://www.journal.ie.
Just for the record, Mark and others – ‘the fallopian tubes are the female reproductive organs where an egg is fertilized. The fallopian tubes nourish and carry the fertilized egg to the uterus.’ The morning after pill is designed to thicken the uterine wall and make it impossible for an already fertilised egg to implant and develop.
Sanitise your choices all you like. My comments are not based on any religious affiliation. A scientific physiological fact remains a scientific physiological fact – a fertilised egg is destroyed by the use of the morning after pill.
Marian, you need some education on the matter before you comment.
Why is taxpayers money spent on the pill?
trying too hard to be a troll mate. comes off as needy.
because the person can’t afford to buy it maybe?
Would you rather your tax pay for the morning after pill or years of children’s allowance David?
For some of these girls it’s the difference of being a single mother or being able to go onto higher education and earn a decent living, contributing to the exchequer instead of relying upon it.
Oh no wait. You would rather give it to the banks and Bondholders…
I agree David. Taxpayer money should not be spent on someone’s lifestyle choices.
Lifestyle choice, are you serious Luke. So unless you can afford it, people shouldn’t have sex. Anything else you want to take away from the people struggling. Before the morning after pill became available over the counter, it would cost €60 for your doctor visit and another €40 for the emergency contraceptive. Do you think some one on the dole could afford that. Or would you prefer them to risk it and another child be born into a low income family.
Sarah. Unless people can afford to, they shouldn’t have children. Why should the state pay for other people’s lifestyle choices? A lot of responsible people postpone having children because they simply cannot afford them but per usual in this country the reckless and irresponsible get looked after!
John your argument doesn’t really make sense in relation to this article because by going and being pro- active, people are being responsible and postponing having children whether it’s for financial or other reasons.
@ John F,
I think you’ll find that the Morning After Pill is to prevent a possible pregnancy so maybe those that take it are being responsible…..
@Sarah. You call taken the morning after pill being ‘pro-active’. Maybe if they were responsible enough in the first place, used contraception they wouldn’t need to take morning after pill? I think morning after pill will be abused as a method of contraception for the lazy!
Other forms of contraception don’t always work. There are many other reasons for seeking emergency contraceptive, besides laziness. I’m not saying that factor may be there but in the smallest minority. Don’t paint everyone with the same brush John.
@Sarah. Fair enough but you mentioned earlier that the morning after pill costs €40 and you also suggested that it should be given to people on the dole for free? If it were free it would be used irresponsibly and as a substitue for contraception, leaving aside the massive costs to the exchequer there are also serious health implications of abusing this drug!
@john f…must be great up there on your high horse…never hear of a condom splitting?
@siobeli. Every hear of Double contraception? Using the pill on its own is not fool proof, missed timed doses, stomach bugs? And condoms are by no means perfect either, they occasionaly rip as you mentioned. Using both methods is far superior, help prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs !
I didn’t suggest that it should be free, it is free with a medical card, once you have a prescription from your doctor. Which is why I think laziness is only the minorities reason for using the morning after pill. If you want to receive it on your medical card you first have to visit your doctor who monitors if you’ve had it before. As far as I know most doctors will not prescribe it more than three times. @John is it that emergency contraception is available on the medical care that you have a problem or that it is available at all. The reason why I talked about people who are receiving the dole, because unfortunately that is one of the few ways to receive a medical card anymore.
@johnf…you may not be aware that the pill, ‘the contraceptive bar and other chemical contraceptions often don’t suit women due to other health issues. You can be in a long term relationship and a condom can split, or have a one night stand and it can split. There is a perception that the morning after pill is only used by young women who were out drinking etc. it is used by women of all ages and circumstances.
@John F, there are more side effects associated with the morning after pill than just not becoming pregnant and is not something that one typically takes likely…
friend of mine got the morning after pill after she got food poisoning and was afraid she threw up her pill, how is that irresponsible??
@John F “Why should the state pay for other people’s lifestyle choices?”
Why is taxpayer’s money spent on viagra? If a fella can’t get it up, why should I pay for him to get his jollies?
Why is it spent on oxygen tanks for emphysema sufferers? If you’ve smoked for years, it’s your own fault!
Why is it spent on bypass surgery for people who’ve clogged their arteries due to eating crap for years? Should have laid off the pies, Fatty!
I hope you never face anyone as judgemental as you in a doctor’s surgery.
Marian …are you for real !!!!
Marian, I think you need to go back to church and say a few hail Mary’s for all the sinners of Ireland.
The fornicators will be looking for condoms to be legalised next…
The ignorance of some posters on this article makes me laugh.
is Marian, Margaret Hayes in disguise!?!
@marian…If conception has occurred the morning after pill will NOT work… The reason it is recommended to be taken within 24 hours is that it prevents the sperm engaging with the egg. Any time after this lessens the ability of this.
This is scientific fact.
Why isn’t there a morning before pill? Make it a fraction of the price. Give to the fella. He fires blanks for a day. Every fella should take it going out for the night.
You are either a troll or extremely lacking in intelligence.
I guess some people aren’t so anti abortion that they actually want to spend money on something which will prevent abortion. Anti abortion, pro shaming?
Personal comments against me – a non-religious person, are pointless and a little predictable on this site when people don’t like what is said. I think you call it ‘trolling’ for want of a better word. However, the scientific fact remains, that the morning after pill is designed to ensure that if conception has occured, it is ‘nipped in the bud’
Our Anti-natalist government in practice!
Marian check your facts! You sound intelligent, maybe have a read about the morning after pill! It works by delaying ovulation. If fertilisation has already occurred, IT WILL NOT WORK. Are u thinking of the mirena? This works a number of ways one being that in the unlikely chance an egg gets fertilised (unlikely as it stops this in other ways) then it cannot attach to uterus. I worked in a pharmaceutical making various contraceptives for 10 years.
Sorry for repost, damn iPhone!!
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