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Report that mental health funding to be diverted to "more politically sensitive" areas condemned

The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and Mental Health Reform have expressed their “dismay”.

VARIOUS GROUPS HAVE expressed their ‘dismay’ at the news that a significant portion of state funding that had been ring-fenced for mental health services may be diverted to other areas within the Department of Health.

A report in this morning’s Irish Times suggested that junior health minister Kathleen Lynch had written a letter to the Department of Health last week, in which she voiced her strong objection to the move.

Lynch is quoted in that letter as saying there are “no circumstances where I could agree to one-third of my budget for developments in mental health being transferred to another service for 2016″.

€35 million was allocated in last October’s budget specifically for the bolstering of mental health services in Ireland.

The latest reports suggest that €12 million of that money is to be diverted to other areas.

Dismay

Several groups have today voiced their objections to the diversion of that funding.

The College of Psychiatrists in Ireland expressed its “dismay” at the news that Lynch is under pressure to allow mental health funds to be dispersed to “more politically sensitive” areas.

“The percentage of the Irish Healthcare Budget dedicated to Mental Health Services already lags behind that of similar democracies. Mental illness affects the lives of more than 1 in 5 Irish people,” the college said in a statement.

“This must be resisted as scandalous and discriminatory,” said the college’s director of communication and public education Dr John Hillery.

Meanwhile, director of Mental Health Reform Dr Shari McDaid told TheJournal.ie that there is a “pattern” to such budget dispersal.

“This is nothing new. In 2007, after the mental health plan was published, €24 million was diverted elsewhere, which led to the government making a decision in 2008 not to give any more such money to the HSE because it was concerned about transparency about where it was going,” she said.

Mental health services are being seen as a soft touch. They are already being asked to deal with extra funding pressures from within their current cost base, unlike other parts of the health services which are being given extra funding to deal with pressures like pay scales and increments.

McDaid says that she “doesn’t know” where the funds were supposed to be diverted to.

“What is clear is that mental health needs to be high up the food chain when it comes to funding,” she said.

We have 11,000 people presenting as self-harming at emergency departments every year. There is a huge need for mental health services in this country.

In a statement, the Department of Health said that the 2016 HSE Service Plan was agreed and signed off by Government last December, and sets out on page 8 “that additional funding for specific initiatives in the areas of mental health, primary care, therapy services for young people and the nursing task force pilot implementation will be allocated as specific implementation plans are agreed”.

This is the case every year, said the department.

Proposals for the €35m for mental health (see pages 64-69 of the Service Plan), principally involving the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments including early intervention and counselling services, are at an advanced stage. Staff recruitment does take time, and the Service Plan provides that time related savings from these and other planned initiatives in the areas set out above, on a once-off basis, would be used to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds, and for vaccine procurement, but not for hospitals, acute services, or to address waiting lists.

It said that the outgoing Government provided an extra €160 million for mental health services during its term.

The extra funding for 2016 will be used principally to enhance services and recruit additional staff.

Read: ‘She was like the gospel in action’ – Derry nun among over 270 dead in Ecuador earthquake

Read: Veronica Guerin’s killer has application against his conviction rejected

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32 Comments
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    Mute Blind Faith
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:11 PM

    Loads of people claiming ‘this will happen’ or ‘that will happen’ if Britain decide to go their own way. I don’t know how anyone can accurately predict Britain’s future whatever the outcome. If they do vote to leave it could well make them stronger independent nation, while also sending a firm message to the rest of us that the European Union experiment simply hasn’t worked.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:33 PM

    Each side is attempting to paint the bleakest possible future in event of the other side winning. It’s insane and does little to inform the electorate.

    121
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    Mute MackPilon
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:05 PM

    The people of GB will be wearing ‘Free at Last ‘ tee-shirts after they vote leave. Brexit then Denmark and the dominoes fall. We however will still have Enda and co.

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    Mute Peter
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:11 PM

    And the Netherlands Mach

    41
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:13 PM

    Blind..that’s why the elite are so rattled. All the prophecies of doom are being ignored and the British are acting and thinking for themselves. If Britian doesn’t go down the pan (like it ever was going to), the other countries in Europe will see this and will for some, want out. Death by a 1000 cuts and the sooner the better.

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:31 PM

    “prophecies of doom are being ignored”

    Not every potential downside is a “prophecy of doom”. When you start ignoring the possible consequences of your actions then that is true blindness.

    14
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    Mute MackPilon
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:30 PM

    If Enda can interfere with Brexit then why is there any suggestion that the British newspapers should not express their point of view? The remain crowd are showing themselves to be a despicable lot and giving good enough reason for decent people to want out of this totalitarian mess of Merkel and the unelected Junker and his ‘commission’

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:14 PM

    ‘Totalitarian mess’? Do you actually have much experience of the real world Mack? You’re a genuine dictators dream, blind and unthinking, lashing out at an imaginary enemy.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:48 PM

    If I was British, I’d probably do the exact opposite the The Sun is recommending

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    Mute Derek Walsh
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:05 PM

    Unless you were a Sun “reader” in which case you probably wouldn’t vote, but if you did, you’d probably vote the way they incited you to.

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    Mute Daniel R
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:10 PM

    And maybe that’s Murdoch’s plan.
    Can’t think of a worse endorsement than the sun.

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    Mute Malachi
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:13 PM

    Lol, if Murdoch supports remain, it’s a big agenda for remain.

    If he supports leave… well it’s still a big agenda for remain.

    You’ve gotta love it.

    53
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    Mute tomeenoldstock
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:07 PM

    If you were a Sun reader you probably couldn’t read.

    90
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    Mute ads20101
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:47 PM

    I’m feeling more than a tad nauseous.

    I can’t believe I’m actually saying this. I agree with the mail.

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    Mute Darren Mccarthy
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:01 PM

    I hope they leave and its the beginning of the end of the German superstate thats called the EU.

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    Mute Paul Tao
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:47 PM

    The UK leaving would remove the largest counterbalance to Germany in the EU

    74
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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:09 AM

    And would do untold damage to all our economies, but don’t let facts get in the way of darrens paranoia

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    Mute Machiavelli O'Reilly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:50 PM

    The Brits on the verge of saving the continent of Europe from super state fascism for the second time in their history. Time to put the Great back into Great Britain and Vote Leave.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:04 PM

    A unique way of looking at it. Another is that the likely domino effect could plunge individual European countries into deep economic uncertainty. Could that end the longest period of peace across Europe?

    60
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    Mute The Oracle of Delphi
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:09 PM

    No it won’t. Nato rather than the toothless EU is the reason for the peace across western Europe and that is going nowhere.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:10 PM

    You seem to be trying to counter a point I didn’t make.

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:18 PM

    I’m not sure Tony, we have come a long way from WWII, even though I’m sure it doesn’t look that way at times.

    Trade and communications have evolved so much that Politicians have to tread carefully with the people as they can’t get away with as much now.

    I don’t agree with where the EU is taking us, and I personally believe that on its current path, we would end up fighting some form of war internally, probably because of cultural and political differences.

    The argument that the EU is somehow maintaining peace and stability doesn’t work for me.

    57
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    Mute Pádraig Ó Raghaill
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:25 PM

    NATO is an irrelevant entity that needs to be dissolved and is responsible for many of the refugee issues, countries destabilised, and works in hand with the EU idea of a greater EUSSR. Thank all that is good for Russia

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:49 PM

    John, what was Europe like before the EU? Do you not think that after the EU wars might be more likely? I don’t understand your line of thinking at all.

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:52 PM

    Thank all that is good for Russia? Wow … The mind boggles at some of the stuff posted here.

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:15 PM

    Corbyn on Marr this morning said that uncontrolled immigration is inevitable with the EU. I sometimes wonder whether he actually wants Brexit but is being forced to say he’s in Remain.

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    Mute Bobby Phelan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:39 PM

    I want out too

    129
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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:47 PM

    But you aren’t the leader of a remain supporting political party.

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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:16 PM

    Like Sanders in the U.S., Corbyn has been lifted onto the shoulders of those searching desperately for an alternative to the exploitation of the current system.
    That alternative means exiting the viciously anti working class and anti democratic E.U. to build a socialist Britain which protests the welfare of all of if’s people instead of grossly enriching the few at the expense of the many.
    If Corbyn is a socialist then he’s on the wrong side in this referendum.

    67
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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:27 PM

    When the daily fail, express and the sun say leave and the guardian and times say stay I think I know which makes more sense!

    64
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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:40 PM

    Makes sense for who Greg?

    The E.U. is an anti-democratic behemoth which viciously protects the interests of capital over the welfare of the majority. In the past number of years, we’ve seen de facto coups in Greece and Italy and the subjugation of the Irish, Spanish and Portuguese working classes (with the collusion of our own governments) to pay for the failure of speculative finance capital. The E.U can’t be reformed to meet the needs of the majority. It’s time follow Britain’s lead and hold a referendum here on exiting the E.U. trap.
    http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/22880/25-05-2016/eu-referendum-can-bring-the-tories-down

    85
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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:45 PM

    Wally the EU has protected workers rights and human rights through legislation for years. Do you really believe that the Tories or UKIP in power are going to give better rights for the ordinary Brit?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:49 PM

    I hate your behavior Wally, here I am with a comment on something actually to do with the issue at hand and because it’s higher up the rankings you’ve subverted it into your c&p windbaggery bashing your socialist drum. Can you not just start your own comment thread?

    69
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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:49 PM

    Nonsense Greg. Workers rights were fought for and won over centuries of socialist struggle, not gifted to us by the E.U. We see this currently in France where the workers and youth are engaged in a wave of industrial and social unrest to combat the assault on their wages and working conditions under Hollande’s neo liberal agenda. And we can see the true face of the E.U which is imposing a 6 day working week on Greece to pay for the debts of the big capital owning elites.

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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:55 PM

    Damocles,
    You made a comment on Corby’s position on Brexit. I responded on the same topic. It’s an open comments section so you’ll just have to deal with it.

    P.S. I see you’ve just replied on another comment higher up the rankings.

    25
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    Mute tommy macdonagh
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:58 PM

    I’m looking forward to fun around the border going back up.

    19
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    Mute john g mcgrath
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:14 PM

    Eirexit let the discussion begin!!!

    58
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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:17 PM

    As yes France, with the tiny proportion of its work force in Unions. Lazy ass surrender monkeys.

    27
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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:40 PM

    If the French unions are surrender monkeys then ours ran before the battle had ever begun. Though there are some signs of improvement now with the great Luas drivers victory despite the best efforts of the Siptu leadership.

    P.S. A high percentage of French workers are members of their workplace organizations (syndicat) which play the same role as the unions here and fight local industrial sector battles.

    The national union confederations in France are organized by political spectrum and not by industrial sector. So the CGT for example is allied to the communist party and so if you join this confederation you’re making a clear statement on your political position. The membership of the union confederation is around 8% and is dominated by activists. The membership of the syndicats is far higher.

    19
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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:33 PM

    There is no logical pathway between leaving the EU and the emergence of a “socialist Britain”. Britain is one of the more market-leaning economies.

    27
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    Mute Patrick Daly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:10 PM

    Great luas drivers victory ! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ! Best comment yet !!

    25
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    Mute MackPilon
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:20 PM

    Why does a lewd act with a ragman’s trumpet seem appropriate whenever Corbyn is mentioned?
    PS @Damocles, I agree with your sentiments regarding ‘Peaceful Protest’ constantly sticking his irrelevant oar in ;-)

    8
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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:49 PM

    SE,
    The logical pathway to a socialist Britain is a mobilized working class organizing and fighting to make it so. The same as in any other nation. The working class will be battling the capitalist class of Britain, the EU and the U.S. as international capital endeavors to crush socialism wherever it emerges.
    A good first step in this war would be a rejection of the neoliberal E.U in the referendum next Thursday. If they vote to remain then they’ll only have postponed the battle that the working class will always be forced to fight eventually as capital drives ever greater numbers of us into poverty and misery in it’s quest for eternally increasing profits.

    6
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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:59 PM

    Are you serious Greg? The only people who repeatedly use the Human Rights acts are criminals, failed asylum seekers ,and the lawyers cashing in on them.

    The U.K. Judicial system was a beacon to the world, long before the EU came along. And if I recall correctly, the U.K. provided more workers holidays than the EU legislation.

    27
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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:32 PM

    Well Wally, I have generally agreed with your principles but on this issue you seem to be suffering from a desperate case of delusion. It’s no wonder that there is no serious left option in this country. Britain leaving will be a victory for the right, not the left, so how you think that will be a step in building a socialist country beggars belief. Sure, Europe is neo-liberal, that’s the global economic model, but it has far more checks and balances and protection for workers than the USA, Russia, China and other existing and emerging capitalist economies. If the EU fails, socialism dies with it. You only have to read what it’s critics say to realise this.

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    Mute Wally Mooney
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    Jun 19th 2016, 9:51 PM

    Neil, Any worker protection were won by the working class not gifted to us by E.U checks and balances. The working class can only ever depend on itself for protection as legislation is changed at a stroke of a pen by our capital serving governments and the E.U. So for example we see the E.U. gutting the Greek economic and imposing a 6 day working week on the Greek people. Or do you think reality is a “desperate case of delusion”?

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 10:21 PM

    As much as I sympathise with the Greeks Wally, facts are they made a basket case of their own country first. And yes, worker protection was won by workers themselves but it has been incorporated into the EU. It is in part what makes us so uncompetetive in this feral capitalist world, and something which the Brexiteers wish to unravel. The EU is based on co-operation at the end of the day, imperfect as it is, and there are far more possibilities of keeping these protections within than out.

    9
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    Mute Kevin Hayes
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    Jun 20th 2016, 4:39 AM

    Except the Daily Mail said to REMAIN!

    1
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    Mute Kevin Hayes
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    Jun 20th 2016, 4:56 AM

    Oops, my bad. Should have said the Mail on Sunday recommended REMAIN. The Daily Mail is in the leave camp. The British in the end are truly conservative people, in the small c sense, and will vote REMAIN. This referendum is shaping up to be a replay of how the Scottish referendum played out. And that is a good thing. It’s surprising how so many (presumably mostly Irish?) people in these comments want BREXIT, a policy clearly against Ireland’s interest.

    1
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    Mute Adrian
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:59 PM

    They have to leave, for the better of us all!
    If they don’t, it’ll just be the same dysfunctional domineering EU status quo, where they’ll be controlling everything from Brussels.

    127
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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:05 PM

    Everything is not controlled by Brussels.

    45
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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:19 PM

    But it will eventually, at the current rate.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:02 PM

    It mostly does already. Once national supreme court’s are no longer supreme you’ve pretty much lost control to the unelected non-entities in the European Commision

    33
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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:07 PM

    Except Jynx they are elected in Europe by the people. We all vote for our MEPs in our countries and the MEPs legistlate in parliament on our behalf.

    13
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:21 PM

    Tony Canning you’re right. The ECB in collusion with the IMF control everything.

    23
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    Mute Malachi
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    Jun 20th 2016, 1:46 AM

    How do you sack Commissioners you don’t like, Greg? You can’t. That’s not democracy.

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    Mute P. ENNIS
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:50 PM

    I would like to see the UK vote out and do well on there own and if they go down the hole sure im sure we tue EU will take them back again….

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:56 PM

    Fair point. Is leaving irrevocable? Haven’t heard anyone talking about that yet. Are the EU missing a big scare tactic trick there?

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:01 PM

    If they leave and then look to come back again then they would have to accept the euro also.

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    Mute Paul Tao
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:50 PM

    Tony there’s no requirement for acceding EU members to join the Eurozone. They are separate clubs.

    41
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    Mute UndieGrundy
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:58 PM

    The Guardian is remain, the Telegraph is leave. I’m hoping they leave, that we escape any potential economic turmoil, and that other countries follow suit one by one until the EU realises it cannot continue ramming liberal laws down the throats of an EU population now deeply divided on the direction it has taken. Being liberal sounds great, but liberals never worry about consequences. They just expect conservatives to clean up the mess they make for them.

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:36 PM

    “Being liberal sounds great, but liberals never worry about consequences. They just expect conservatives to clean up the mess they make for them.”

    This literally means nothing.

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:40 PM

    I hope Brexit will open Angela Merkels eyes

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    Mute Donal O'Brien
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:19 PM

    Merkel is one of the best leaders Europe has had since WW2.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:58 PM

    Wow Donal

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:05 PM

    She’s s great tribute to her previous party.

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    Mute MackPilon
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:07 PM

    @Rosa, what do you mean previous ;-)

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    Mute MackPilon
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:54 PM

    Further, those of us who have been watching this EUSSR grow will remember the high position the Angela, or Anita as she was code-named,held in Stasi and her expertise in propaganda is certainly a factor in trying to block Brexit

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:07 AM

    nothing like a journal article to bring out a load waffle by rightwing zealots and conspiracy theorists. How come none of you bother to work in your fields of expertise considering you seem better informed than everybody connected to the real economy? What really stands out though is the lack of intelligent and logical counter proposals, just dogma, self loathing and blame.

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:33 PM

    Vote leave,and stop German domination.

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:04 PM

    Ye it’s ironic that German domination is now the a major problem for Europe. It has always been the goal, they’re just going about it differently this time.

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    Mute Search Eagle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:35 PM

    Is this the “Fourth Reich” shite again?

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    Mute thejynxeffect
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:36 PM

    No, just German domination by different means other than war

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:37 PM

    Well, as a short-term returnee to Ireland, I would say Ireland is dominated far more by America and Britain and their cultures and influence. Can’t find any hint of German domination anywhere.

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:11 AM

    lots of mail readers like to comment in the journal, they confuse hyperbole with facts

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    Mute John Clancy
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:22 PM

    Leave or stay won’t make much difference in the long run. Governments today are puppets for corporations. Do people still believe that governments are there to help them? Naive beyond belief.

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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:19 PM

    Governments are voted in by the people not corporations, so the people get who they vote for on the basis thats what the majority of the people want. Its called democracy yes.

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    Mute Ronan Mitchell
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:36 PM

    Jet fuel can’t melt steel beams, Greg.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:20 PM

    Greg Kelly so Irish people voted based on various party’s manifesto and stated commitments to the voters. Once in power those who the people elected to represent them do a uturn on their manifestos and commitments.
    You call that democracy???

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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:50 PM

    Dave the parties set out manifestos yes, but when there is a coalition (as is almost always the case here) then the parties must all compromise on what they set out and often have to change based on coming to common ground between other parties such as now with FG, FF and independents and a programme for government . Then there is also outside forces at work such as promising something and then finding there is no money like happened in the recession after the parties were elected that time in 2011. We all have good intentions in life but no government anywhere in the world can deliver on 100% as you well know

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    Mute John Fergus
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:01 PM

    whether or not the UK leaves the EU it will collapse albeit at a slower pace. anti EU sentiment is rapidly spreading across the continent, anti EU sentiment is greater now in france etc. than in the UK.

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    Mute Motherofdivinejebus
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:50 PM

    Meanwhile Switzerland has withdrawn it`s application to join the EU,
    http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/european-policy_swiss-to-withdraw-dormant-eu-bid/42229112

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    Mute Brian Hannigan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 4:37 PM

    I pray Britain votes to leave the EU and then watch the whole EU crumble… I’ll leave you with this,If the EU defended workers rights why would Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley be paying for the campaign to persuade the British to vote to stay in

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    Mute Brian Hannigan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:36 PM

    This post has been edited…why

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:59 PM

    The word “Brexit” should be strangled…then burnt.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:10 PM

    Curiously The Sun article mentions the economy/unemployment in Greece, Italy, Spain as reasons to leave. No mention of Ireland. Does this mean that they think we have weathered the storm or is it that they think we are not worth mentioning……

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:44 PM

    a European success story doesn’t suit the agenda sinead

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:55 PM

    What success story is that Patrick? The Irish public are crippled with paying back the bankers debt.

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    Mute Kieran O'Sullivan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:34 PM

    The main aspect of our national debt was caused by the gap in spending over tax, not banking debt.

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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:40 PM

    I think, if Britain leaves, the EU will fall apart. The EU has kept the peace in Europe for 70 years. before the EU there was a major european war every few decades. 1871 1914 1939. If not for the EU the yugoslav conflict would have spread to the rest of Europe. germany sided with Croatia Russia sided with Serbia Britain and France sided with Bosnia. I hope Britain stays in sest we forget

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:53 PM

    Actually NATO has kept the peace in Europe since 1945

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:19 PM

    It didn’t keep the peace in Northern Ireland.

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:01 PM

    Rubbish!

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:02 PM

    My response was to Patrick’s post about the EU keeping the peace.

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    Mute Neil Mcdonough
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:54 PM

    Nato has kept the peace regarding external threats such as our Russian neighbour but it’s the EU that has kept the peace internally.

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    Mute Gerard Ryan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:57 PM

    I’m voting to remain. Nothing has convinced me otherwise.

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    Mute Gerard Ryan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:11 PM

    Is that wrong?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:06 PM

    Look at Merkel bringing in austerity and controlling the budgets of Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal and us, when has the E.U. been a dictatorship with Merkel and the IMF in charge?

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:16 AM

    true to form, its the Paddies who have never left their village or housing estate think horseshite spouted down the pub has some basis in fact.

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:20 AM

    Merkel doesn’t control the budgets. each government controls their budget but these must be within the terms agreed with our creditors during the bailout. It is standard practice in debt restructuring, personal, corporate or national. Would you lend someone money so they could keep going to the bookies.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jun 20th 2016, 1:34 PM

    Matty then why did the German government do 7 of our last 9 budgets with the last 2 being done by the ECB, that is as good as an adult wiping your rear.
    Imports and exports AS IN TRADE for the U.K. are controlled by the E.U. as they are for Eurozone countries to control the value of the Euro using austerity…
    Lets see about the Troika, the IMF, Merkel and the ECB?
    John Perkins, Former Advisor IMF.
    “My job was to identify countries with resources that corporations covert, like oil and then arrange a huge loan to that country from the World Bank or from one of its sister organisations. The money however would not go to the country, it would go to our own corporations who would make huge profits, but the majority of the people would suffer terrible as a result, because money would be diverted from Education, Healthcare and other Social Services to pay interest on the debt.”

    What happened when the IMF moved in and the debt couldn’t be repaid?

    “We go back into that country and say, since you can’t pay your debt, sell your resource oil or whatever real cheap to our corporations without any environmental restrictions or, or social regulations. Privatise, sell your electric utilities, your water, sewage systems, your schools, your jails, all your public sector businesses to our corporations, and in the few cases where we failed economic hitman, the jackals went in and still do and aah, they either assassinate the leaders of the country or overthrow them in coups.”

    THEN Greece has got 84 billion in loans over 3 years and Greece in return has to put 50 billion worth of assets into a segregated account that will later be sold off to the global community and when they are sold off by the Troika to banks and to hedge funds. It is estimated that it will make the Troika under 200 billion minus the 84 billion.
    These assets will collateralise the loan but is a LEVERAGE BUYOUT by the global community, banks and Hedge funders.
    Yet banks and the E.U. knew everything before loaning the money to these countries especially Greece, Many who were in Goldman Sachs are employed in the E.U. civil service like Dragi and it was Goldman Sachs who cooked the books for Greece joining the E.U. in the first place.
    Yet only the Troika are the only ones who can sell Greece’s Income Producing Assets and make a profit from them to the Hedge Fund Community.

    In 2010 Merkel protected the European banks and Hedge Funds from Billions in losses by putting the debt onto European tax payers. So PRIVATE DEBT from the loans made to countries like Greece were made knowing that they were bad loans. Yet Merkel knew in 2010 what was going to happen.
    Then Merkel stepped in as the saviour of the E.U. and transferred all the bad debt from the banks and put it onto the European tax payer by making private debt sovereign debt issue then and therefore a problem of the whole E.U. falling apart.
    Austerity was brought in for this, to look after the financial system using politics to cause LEVERAGE BUYOUT SENARIOS. Remember at the beginning of the Euro that the ECB made countries borrow Euros cheaply at low interest rates to banks that caused a boom and a rise in the value of the Euro and yet the ECB knew the financial make up of every country in the Eurozone in tax intake and debt.
    Yet these same people knew that AUSTERITY causes debt to rise, to cause job losses and therefore countries to borrow more as jobs create taxes, imports and less borrowing on the international markets but the Troika forced Austerity as it looks now to create LEVERAGE BUYOUT SCENARIOS.
    The TROIKA played us, they fed us, they pretended to look after us and when they are ready they will slaughter us like a butcher and that is what the E.U. is.
    After Greece then who else as there is Italy, Portugal, Spain and us before they start on Eastern Europe? We have been fattened like farmyard PIGS for Farmer Merkel and friends.
    What is left will be used to make TTIP soup with and the only thing that won’t be used is our squeal as no one is listening.

    The E.U. is a con anti democratic con job…

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    Mute Golden Days
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:02 PM

    During the vote on independence for Scotland I heard a lot of people say they would have voted to leave the Union but were afraid on the financial consequences on the Scottish economy. If the UK does vote to leave the EU does that mean the people of Scotland will suffer anyway?

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Jun 19th 2016, 2:53 PM

    I hope the British people votes remain.

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    Mute Paddy Fagan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:02 PM

    Some other guy hopes they leave

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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:11 PM

    Doubt any Irish person in the uk or other immigrants that have mi wd there there would vote to leave. It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas.

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    Mute Greg Kelly
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:18 PM

    *moved there

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:04 PM

    I’ve just sent my postal vote for leave Greg. Been living mostly in the UK since 1998. I’m not selfish enough to vote against anything that will better the UK in the long term.

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 3:56 PM

    The Daily Express is very reliable in its coverage of horse racing. That’s all I’ll say in its favour.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:58 PM

    Look at the harm the E.U. has done to Greece, Italy, Portugal and us or are peoples memories so short?

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    Mute Paul Lane
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    Jun 19th 2016, 9:03 PM

    I want Brexit and then I want EirXIT and more so just to have a laugh at how the fools and cap-tippers in FG and FF deal with this one when the Dáil will be full of headless chickens. Oh! and it also make great sense as we would regain our competitiveness, our independence and more importantly; our dignity.

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    Mute Matty Reese
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    Jun 20th 2016, 12:23 AM

    Ye, this would be great because Ireland doesn’t trade or interact with the rest of the world. Ardnachrusa, Bord na Móna and comely maidens at crossroads are all we need.

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    Mute Himself
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    Jun 19th 2016, 1:56 PM

    So you’ve come as far as the comments now go back up to the second paragraph, if you wrote that in the leaving cert you would get an NG. As far as the next paragraph which talks about the Sun on Sunday declaring in its daily edition ….. Foundation English for you!!

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    Mute Rosa Parks
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    Jun 19th 2016, 8:54 PM

    Remain have tried to copyright this BBC interview with Jeremy Corbyn where he tells Andrew Marr there can be no upper limit on immigration. It’s disappeared from BBC sure by unfortunately for Remain it’s now on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZLSsvYZDxjk

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    Mute Sandra Duffy
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:34 PM

    On the contrary the EU has been the most positive development in the history of civilisation. Not only has it enabled diverse countries to cooperate economically but socially it has dragged much of Europe out of the clerical age and resulted in progressive social and work conditions that are some of the best in the world. Our working conditions are half a century ahead of the US for example.
    The British however never really got over the loss of their empire and their feelings of superiority which has resulted in whinging about the EU constantly over the decades. I hope they vote to stay in but if they exit, the EU will need to make that really hurt to keep other nationalist types in line and keep the venture going.

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:15 PM

    Are you for real Sandra? Yes, I agree that the EU, in the beginning, was responsible for streaming trade and industry growth in the member states. But it has evolved into something ugly, a political version of capitalism gone wrong.

    We are at a stage now that it is run by unelected officials who act above the law and answer to no population. Just look at how they destroyed Greece when it dared to stand up to the EU. And listen to the threats from Junker to the UK if they leave, and even if they stay!

    It’s not fit for purpose, it’s like a spoilt child who is given the controls to the train set, and it must be stopped and reset. There is absolutely no reason why countries could not go back to the original version of the EEC, without political meddling.

    I’m Irish, I will never class myself as ‘European’, and I love my countries culture and heritage. We should never be forced to give up our national identity for something that will not work. It’s like ‘mandatory fun days’ in offices……everyone has to put the hats on a smile but ultimately, no one wants to be part of it.

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    Mute Kieran O'Sullivan
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:37 PM

    The EU destroyed Greece, don’t make me laugh. The Greeks did that to themselves.

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:40 PM

    *streamlining* and *country’s*

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    Mute Garry Coll
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:13 PM

    There is something absurd about the entire thing. If it were here in Ireland, and either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail were wracked with internal divisions over a particular issue and fought out those divisions in full public view, the other party and everyone else would be rolling about howling with laughter wondering how best to take advantage of the situation. Not in Britain however. Instead we have had to put up with thirty years of po-faced seriousness, first from Thatcher and her rebels, then Major and his b’stards and now the idiot offspring of the wretched ideology spitting their toffee nosed bile at one another, while their nation looks on transfixed, thinking that it all is of the utmost importance. The reality of course is that Britain can’t afford to leave the EU. The abject state of it’s economy as the true legacy of Thatcherism reveals itself, means that they wouldn’t last five minutes on their own should they leave. It has lost much of the industrial muscle it had when Thatcher came to power, it has privatise and sold off its public utilities abroad, it has wrecked it’s agriculture sector and is dependent on imported produce, and it can no longer provide for it’s own energy needs. Should they leave they would soon find it difficult to be able to feed themselves or to keep the lights on. And the morons think they have a choice in this?

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    Mute theedgeproductions
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    Jun 19th 2016, 6:36 PM

    I laugh when many of them think that “Great Britain” has a meaning of superiority or power when it’s actually just a geographical name with no meaning of being better than anyone else..
    Deluded country and totally insecure wanting to regain their pillaging imperioral past when the empire is long gone ..
    No longer the big boys any more on the world stage ..

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    Mute John Payne
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:16 PM

    And will never be anything else if it stays in the monster that is the EU.

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Jun 19th 2016, 10:31 PM

    “Britain’s right- and left-wing publications are taking a variety of positions, citing the pros and cons of staying in or leaving the union.”

    A very refreshing change from what we get here….. blanket pro-EU propaganda from the entire MSM.

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    Mute garb yakob
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    Jun 19th 2016, 7:51 PM

    I’m genuinely excited about this, can’t wait to see which side scare mongers or emotionally riles up enough folk

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jun 19th 2016, 5:29 PM

    The whole Brexit campaign has become so emotive and divisive, especially with the murder of the mp Mrs Cox, that the whole enterprise should be suspended for at least 6 months as the outcome is so vital. If this is not done either side who win might regret it because the wounds created now may never heal.

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    Mute Kevin Hayes
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    Jun 20th 2016, 3:57 AM

    The British will vote REMAIN. I’m going to enjoy a lot of the blowhard commenters on journal.ie bite it on June 23.

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    Mute Dessie Deratta
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    Jun 19th 2016, 10:46 PM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLSsvYZDxjk&feature=youtu.be

    Very interesting…Corbyn didn’t actually say he didn’t want an upper limit to immigration (as some of the knee-jerk “anti-Lefty” clowns have suggested)….he said he didn’t think it was possible within the EU.

    And in that he is simply stating a fact.

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    Mute Rory Carthy
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    Jun 20th 2016, 9:16 PM

    Have no worries about a Brexit. It won’t happen. If it happens there is a negative vote to leave the E.U., the UK will have two years to negotiate a good exit deal. If that deal is unsatisfactory to the UK then a second referendum will be initiated to unsure a positive outcome to stay within the EU.

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