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THE SOCIETY OF Saint Vincent de Paul launched its annual winter appeal today, saying the charity is expecting a record number of calls this year – mostly requesting help with food and energy during the festive season.
SVP National President Rose McGowan said that while the one-off payments announced in the Budget were welcome, they fell far short of what’s needed to address the continuing cost-of-living crisis.
“We would prefer that it is weekly payments, which means people can budget. It’s up to the government though,” McGowan told The Journal today.
“There are many people who will continue to struggle to meet basic family expenses. particularly on special occasions such as Christmas.
“Those hardest hit will include one parent-families, low-income workers; households on fixed social welfare incomes; low-income households in rural areas; people with disabilities and their carers.
“That is why we are seeking donations to help families pay for food, heat their homes and ensure their children get a decent Christmas.”
The charity had recorded over 180,000 requests for help by October – up 1.4% on the same time last year.
“Help with food and energy continue to be the main reasons,” McGowan said.
Broadcasters Marty Whelan and Mary Kennedy were on hand to launch the appeal, alongside fellow presenter and podcaster Doireann Garrihy.
Adding his voice to calls to support the appeal Whelan told The Journal:
“I think if there are problems, there should be long term solutions. If people are in difficulty and you can help them now, help them now, but let’s also work in the long term.”
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Excellent article, the Irish state must have the best minds on this. Apple may be a one-off, but if anything is found re the Apple tax arrangements the investigators will be looking at other multinationals located in Ireland.
Apples is not a one off but at least they can justify their tax deal with the amount if people they employ here. There are several companies who employ very few here that have similar deals
The EU is not interested in how many people they employ. They are interested in tax rules. And they will fine if they find fault and as usual not care about potential damage to the people of Ireland.
It’s quite shocking how people wrap themselves in the national flag to defend these highly questionable tax arrangements. Apple has made staggering profits, paying hardly any tax in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU. It contributes very little to the Irish or European economy. In a time where the poor and vulnerable are paying the highest cost for economic crisis it is only fair that these multinationals pay a fair share.
It’s not that black and white. They leave Ireland – then say goodbye to over 3000 jobs in Cork. It would be catastrophic to the area.
indeed it would be “fair” that Apple does not take advantage of a favourable tax deal with Ireland. It would be “fair” that it paid tax in France for the profit made in France. The point here is that it would be a serious blow to the Irish economy because, yes, we are partly funded by the money we unfairly allow companies to not pay into other countries’ tax coffers. Any return to “fairness” here would be our loss. So if you want fairness, be prepared to pay more tax, Dom, as we may soon lose the taxes (unfairly) paid by Apple here.
If there is proved to be a sweetheart deal with Apple, as opposed to Apple taking advantage of a loophole, we should not defend the indefensible. We should close the gaps open to creative accounting, remove the Double Irish loophole and lower the corporation tax rate to 9% to offset losses. Our tax regime should be airtight legally, but low in percentage.
Hi Neil
Thanks for the comment.
The matter is not one of defending the action, it is about defending the country from having to pay a fine that would wreck the public finances. Companies are now being fined close to €1Bn. A similar or larger fine would do horrible damage to the country.
Bye, bye apple. The core is now rotten. Time to plant the seed somewhere else. USA up to its old tricks again.
Apple metaphors. Nice.
Scary
Are people not aware you or I would go to prison if we engaged in the same practice’s as Apple and the rest. Tax dodging is tax dodging end of. While they might benefit cork., they do nothing for our economy as a whole. So we continue to get hit with more taxes while these parasites avoid contributing.
13 trillion folks and that is only the tip of the iceberg of what these parasites are hiding in taxes globally. Wake up.
so say they find ireland and apple clean does this mean the irish state can sue the US senate and newspapers and media that actually might not of done any back checking at all so we could get rid of water charges and property tax cause that would be swell but you know thats a if ireland are clean sure we will be grand ;)
Our problem is we think if we don’t give into these big companies they will leave, now its too late we did it once too often. The Governments have over the years sold this Country
as a free for all, just look at the expense of medicines here the highest in Europe. Our government thinks thats ok.
Sure they will pay they wont say a word
Lets show them by uniting next Saturday for the water rates, and we wont stop there.
Why do we sell ourselves short
Interesting.
have your say