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TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS had a snappy retort today after he was accused of bribing the electorate ahead of an election, telling opposition TDs to email him which cost-of-living payments they don’t want their constituents to receive.
During Leaders’ Questions, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan asked if there has “ever been a more blatant attempt to buy an election”, referring to the 10 cost-of-living payments set to be paid before Christmas.
“The government parties are cockahoop with this schedule because it’s right around when most of us expect to be going to the polls. I think their glee will be short lived because bribery is a bad look,” O’Callaghan said.
O’Callaghan argued that while the supports will be very welcome, they won’t last long into the new year.
He also made reference to an analysis from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which found that Budget 2025 will not reduce the child poverty rate.
Last month, the ESRI also published a report which found that a means-tested extra child benefit payment could potentially take 40,000 children out of poverty.
Instead however, as part of Budget 2025, the government introduced two double child benefit payments to be paid before Christmas this year to all households with children. This was done instead of increasing the rate of child benefit.
“You had a record surplus at your disposal, and all you managed to do was to tinker around the edges,” O’Callaghan said, asking the Taoiseach if he agrees with the ESRI’s assessment.
In response, Harris said: “I’d love to know which of the cost-of-living payments that will be paid out to people in all of our constituencies between now and Christmas you’d like us to cancel.”
The Taoiseach said it was his experience that people are still struggling with the cost of living.
“And actually I make no apology for giving people a little of their own money back in the here and now.”
He continued: “I’m fed up with this sneering and scoffing. Tell me which of the payments you don’t want please and let me know.
“And if any other opposition parties [feel the same], email me: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie let me know what payments you don’t want, because I’d really like to hear from you in relation to that.”
The Taoiseach added: “It’s not bribery, it’s called listening to people and delivering. It’s called acting on what they said: ‘Give us a little bit of help Simon, help us now.’
“That’s what we did.”
In response, O’Callaghan said: “Taoiseach, I want you to put in place long term supports and changes, not temporary measures. Let’s be very clear about that.”
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Apple are an awful shower of bastards altogether.
Sent from my iPhone.
Comment of the week!
About time, absolutely astonishing & disgraceful this company can only offer a 12 month warranty on its phones with base models costing €550. Most if not all other manufacturers offer 24 month warranties.
Name one
O let me see, I’ll spoil you, Samsung, HTC, Sony, Nokia, even the humble alcatel & hawuai to name but a few, is this enough for you?
Samsung 2 year warranty on a range of tablets
Apple really think they can do and say what they want… Though honestly anybody who listened to the crap they were spoofing them really must have had no clue, alot of them are apple zombies anyway who will do what they’re told. Know your rights when you buy something… You can return any purchase within a certain period after committing to buy something regardless of what any company tell you for a refund.. And to say they won’t cover any manufacturer fault in first 12 months is a joke… Make the biggest scene you can in the store and refuse to leave anywhere till it’s sorted… They’ll accept it then…!
My Sony xperia has a 24 month warranty.
Had am issue with an acer laptop when the hard drive went 6 weeks after purchase. All pc world would offer was a repair
And make do without the laptop.
Eh no you can’t stop misinforming people….
In law you are only entitled to your money back if you have purchased a faulty product(the most common one) or else if you can prove you have been misled during the sale or the product is not fit for purpose.
If you just change your mind as a consumer the retailer can technically tell you to go suck a lemon it’s your problem you changed your mind about the item.However most company’s will have an exchange (not refund)policy to be consumer friendly within a certain time period and some also may give money back on purchases in certain situations (or the whole time within a certain time period if that is the company policy)but they are not legally obliged to do so…
Apple has a 2 year warranty too – in Europe. They have to under European law.
That’s right, Emily. Nobody should allow themselves to be convinced that they are only covered by a 12 month warranty. European law makes 24 months the minimum.
Samsung warranties are a joke. They will tell you your phone has moisture damage and the warranty doesn’t apply. Google water damage Samsung.
Actually the European Consumer law is a little more hazy than you think. It doesn’t state you have a 2 year warranty, it says you have 2 years to make a claim. And Apple on their own site state that in most European jurisdictions the onus is on the consumer to prove there was a fault when the product was delivered. Either way, Apple are clearly a law unto themselves in their eyes. And either have little faith in their products lasting more than a year or are just the ultimate example of corporate greed. The latter me thinks….
By law you’re not entitled to a refund unless it’s faulty!
samsung 24 months send you a free jiffy bag to send the phone back to them to repair.and if like myself they cant repair it they replaced it with a newer model
By law the retailer can either refund, replace or repair an item which was not fit (faulty) for purpose. Not obliged to refund only. The choice lies with the retailer. You are correct about when customer just changes mind. No obligation whatsoever on the retailer to take it back.
Samsung
LG
Toshiba
Sony
er
Panasonic
Do I win?
Nokia
Funny you should say Samsung, their S4 is apparently waterproof but the bloody warranty doesn’t cover water damage.
Not sure were u got that info re waterproof, the S4 is certainly not and was never advertised as being so. The Z1 does claim some protection against water damage but all manufacturers will void a warranty if there is liquid or water damage.
The s4 is not waterproof. There is however a waterproof model called the s4 active.
The z1 does more than just claim some protection against water. It’s fully water proof. I have taken underwater videos and pics with it.
I bought a laptop from click.ie, nothing but trouble. All they are offering me was repairs. Found out later they are operating even though they are in liquidation.
Great isn’t it! Mine got a bit dusty at work and I just took it in the shower with me
Apple tried that crap on me over a charger, the folded when I asserted my rights. They put that as a ‘gesture’ they were replacing the faulty unit after 12 months when in fact they are legally obliged. Feel sorry for people who take their word and pay for repairs and replacements they are legally entitled to.
Thought this might be of interest http://www.apple.com/legal/additional_legal_rights.html. It’s post on the apple store website, the same rights extend to products from other manufacturers. People are seemingly obsessed with bitching about Apple, many issues with other companies, remember when Microsoft were the big evil monster corporation?
Much like many fanboys are obsessed with defending them. All in the same boat.
I remember very well when Microsoft were the bad guys. Apple was then the fair crowd and people would say how Apple would never be like Microsoft.
Time has shown us Apple are much much worse. The ideals the once stood for is gone completely. Mind you anybody who thought they wouldn’t do this were just being stupid.
Android battery life sucks balls. That is all.
I agree completely.
With Karl
Kal, good lord, being in the swamp with samsung and android fan boys has actually lowered my intelligence,
My galaxy note 3 has a 3200mAh battery and I can squeeze 2 days out it even with plenty of use, iphone I was lucky to get 2 hours.
The Galaxy Note is more a tablet than a phone. You should carry around an iPad if you like bigger screens. Excellent battery life. 2 hours from your iphone? – total BS. You wish you had an iphone more like.
I have a toshiba laptop 1 year later the fan went. They booked an Irish contractor who sent a courier to collect it, fixed in 5 days and returned no hassle.
How do ye think Apple would fare here? Is Irish consumer law strong enough? I doubt it, but….
Read the article before making stupid comments.
Wasn’t it only last year that in Europe Apple were forced to put an explainer on their websites homepage and they didn’t make it prominent enough and so were forced to make it bigger
As far as I am aware it is the customers reasonable expectation of the product that dictates the guarantee, you buy a cheap item and it is ok to expect it to last a 12 months, you pay a lot for an item and it is your expectation of the product. I use this argument all the time if goods fail, never let me down yet. I have has to threaten small claims court but no problems so far.
A lot of misunderstanding there, it’s actually quicker to deal directly with Apple, quicker and a more efficient service for repairs and service. People tend to be just afraid to make a phone call.
have your say