Why, over the past couple of decades are we in Ireland and around the world subjected to the incessant march towards privatisation of national public services?
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Yearly Archives: 2014
Irish Water : time to flush it away, refill later.
Irish Water : time to flush it away, refill later..
Thoroughly logical assessment, resolution and recommendation by Prof. Brian M Lucey.
REALISTIC take on The Economic side of Budget 2015 Projections.
Here’s a REALISTIC take on The economic side of Budget 2015 projections:
Your honest response is invited Minister S Harris, TD?
Gross current expenditure for 2015 will be just over €50 billion. This figure represents an increase of €429 million over the 2014 Revised Estimates.
Note: in H1 2014, Government spent €35.567 billion which is €1.255 billion more than in the same period 2013.
As unemployment fell, social benefits rose from €13.823 billion to €14.016 billion. General Government Deficit has fallen only €307 million year on year in H1 2014.
THESE FUGUES ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH A STRONG ECONOMY OR A STRONG POSITIVE FISCAL PERFORMANCE.
Meanwhile, the state took out of the economy €1.893 billion more in taxes and social contributions in H1 2014 compared to H1 2013. Where did this increase of funding go?
Government deficit target for 2015 is 2.7% of GDP under ESA 2010 classification. This means that going back to Troika programmes-comparable measure (ESA 1995 classification), the target deficit is closer to 3.2% of GDP. This is ahead of 3% target and shows how much debt we owe not to GOOD MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES, but to accounting rules changes.
Here’s a set of economic puzzles courtesy of the Department of Finance:
Real growth is slowing down from 2014 levels, but employment generation is rising.
A puzzle?
Especially as domestic demand is expected to grow at same rate in 2015 and growth rate is expected to fall in years after.
As compared against other organisations forecasts:
Added puzzle:
IMF projections for Irish economy real GDP growth are:-
2015 3.045% – full 0.85 percentage points lower than DofF, 2016: 2.538% which is full 0.87 percentage points below DofF, in 2017 : 2.649% or 0.75 percentage points below DofF… and so on.
And another blatant kick in the teeth… the promise of fiscal rectitude and ‘no going back to boom-and-bust cycles’:
All of the above is rather academic, since the Department of Finance refuses to forecast Gross Voted Current expenditure of the Exchequer beyond 2015, setting all of it at €50.075 billion for each year 2015-2018.
This means the estimated effects on deficit and on borrowing are based on assuming zero growth in spending and continued growth in tax revenues.
Happy times roll on, even though Haddington Road agreement is about to expire.
Still, as you can see, debt/GDP ratio is expected to fall, courtesy of higher GDP, including the new classification effects that came into force this year.
Debt itself is not expected to fall.
Instead, from €203.2 billion, Government debt is expected to rise to &215 billion in 2017 and basically stay there in 2018.
We will be BACK TO SEVERE AUSTERITY AFTER NEXT GENERAL ELECTION, if party politics system prevails in the election.
>>>MARK MY WORDS<<<
On balance: a bit too much optimism, especially past 2015.
Not enough risk cushion.
THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.
You are not being honest and truthful with the sovereign, which is a SACKING offense!
Theft of Luxury Cars in West Dublin North Kildare, South Meath 2014.
It is understood many executive/luxury car thefts are taking place in West Dublin, North Kildare and South Meath and in other parts of Ireland during 2014.
The stolen vehicles are not bring recovered. It’s obvious they are taken to order. The stolen vehicles are given new identification and exported or sold in other parts of Ireland to unsuspecting buyers.
Obviously the criminals scout around looking for suitable cars. They break into the owners house during the night, even when occupants are there and steal the keys. Unfortunately most people keep their vehicle documentation within the vehicle, which makes it easier for the criminals to alter the identification.
It’s most surprising that we see little warning from the police, or for that matter the media.
People do need to be made more aware.
Can any pointers be given that would assist the public in keeping a look-out for any suspicious signs in relation to what these criminals may look like, where they’re likely from and what type of garage premises they might have. Are they driving these vehicles immediately to car ferries?
Surely there are many characteristics the people can be on the look-out for?
Give the people more information and the gangsters will be tracked down quickly. Create the awareness and reap the benefits for the common good.
Any information should be passed on to the Garda.
The Garda Confidential Line Number is: 1 800 666 111
In an emergency, dial 999 or 112, as these will elicit an immediate response.
Any victim of such a car theft can post information, without identity, here for free.
Hey! Let’s be careful out there!
Let’s smack down these criminals that are in our midst!
Mon 18 Aug 2014.
Win a New Luxury Supercar in this brilliant online competition.
Guaranteed happy winners twice monthly! Simple and Secure!
GO: http://goo.gl/o5xWJr
Muslim Fundamentalism. Islamic Fundamentalist Indoctrination has Covertly, Secretly, Successfully infiltrated British Society.
Elements of Muslim Fundamentalism and Islamic Fundamentalist indoctrination have stealthily, covertly and secretly successfully infiltrated British Society, the United Kingdom judiciary, legal profession, senior medical professionals, educational institutions, media, social services, the Law Courts, House of Commons, Lords, the police and security services and are at a progressive stage of advancing deeper into all branches of the UK armed services. The more important communities groups and charities have also been targeted and subsumed in so far as is presently necessary.
In England it is highly inappropriate and frowned upon to highlight and speak about this topic. “I say old chap”!
Britain has effectively lost the plot through the type of wrangling and tangling that can only be described as loco lunatic, illogical political correctness, dire house-keeping and extremely poor management and governance of the affairs of state on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.
This is something that has gone on for decades and not confined to an absolute degradation of duty by any one political party or their less than average leadership personalities. In willingly forgetting about the sovereign for personal gain they have been had as a ‘soft touch’. Practicing bewildering democratic and judicial principles better describes how they have been infiltrated, not to mention discreet OTT manipulative persuasive monetary sweeteners!
I have been carefully studying Middle Eastern affairs and fundamental terrorism, terrorists and their activities since 1987.
I have experience, anti-terrorist connections and deep-seated genuine Islamic interaction-ability since Dublin, Ireland was the central supreme terrorism secure communications hub utilised by certain Embassy’s given legitimacy in Ireland by dysfunctional corrupt government, businesses and businessmen.
Political Correctness needs to be cast aside immediately, especially in Great Britain.
It’s never too late to save the day.
Win a New Luxury Supercar in this brilliant online competition.
Guaranteed happy winners twice monthly! Simple and Secure!
GO: http://goo.gl/o5xWJr
Car Boot Sale Maynooth Co. Kildare – Bank Holiday Monday 27th October 2014.
Car Boot Sale Maynooth Boys National School Car Park – Bank Holiday Monday 27th October 2014.
Sellers fees: €10 Cars and Vans.
Sellers set-up time: From 9:00am.
Public admission with car: €2. FREE Without Car.
NO PRE-BOOKING required, just turn up and pay on site.
Excellent tarmac surface.
Refreshments/Catering: YES. Fatimas Kitchen
Toilets: Sourcing
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204771077306677250798.0004d82f542d6ac3a85b2&msa=0&ll=53.383284,-6.59479&spn=0.003808,0.012392Car Boot Sale Maynooth.
This Month we have some surprises!
Depending on the turnout, best turned out stall by a Vendor will receive a special award. One and possibly two buyers will also receive a special award.
http://www.maynoothkilcocklionsclub.org/car-boot-sale-maynooth.html
Guerin Report Published Fri 9 May 2014 – Garda Siochana Sergeant M McC Download Full Government Version
Download Government reports and associated letter on Inquiry of Senior Counsel Sean Guerin.
The Government has today Friday, 9 May 2014 published the Report by Mr Sean Guerin SC on a Review of the action taken by An Garda Síochána pertaining to certain allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
The Government will give careful consideration to the contents of the report and it will be discussed at the Government meeting next week.
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Final-Redacted-Guerin-Report1.pdf
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/doc04733120140509110739.pdf
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2014/05/government-publishes-guerin-report-2/
You will always get the full behind the scene picture from Arthur O Hara.
People can say what they like about An Garda Siochana – its their right! A right that is protected by the forces of law and order – An Garda Síochána.
Irrespective of how badly some may wish to portray the force, it’s work goes on 24X7X365 under circumstances that are being made extraordinarily difficult by the powers that be and additionally without adequate realistic resources. The members of An Garda Siochana are forced to improvise with their own personal resources and in their own time to try to get the job done and to endeavour to keep us all safe and have someone we can, as citizens turn to when in real trouble and in order to prevent anarchy and massive social disorder, which is not far below the surface in present times. Hardly a news bulletin goes by but that we hear of the daily multiple successes all over the country of the Gardai against criminals, the major investigations being conducted, even under such adverse working conditions. Also the compassionate actions taken daily in matters of tragedies and disasters.
A simple in-service training programme does not exist to keep members of the force up-skilled on an on-going basis with rapidly changing times and legislation. Yet the full rigors of the law will be brought to bear on a member of An Garda Síochána should he or she fall short in the exercise of their duties. There is no shortage of money when it comes to paying the legal profession to prosecute members of the force who can be actually ignorant of their expected duty requirements principally because they do not have an ongoing upskilling programme. That is simply unfair and UNJUST.
There is one very big flaw in the Guerin Report that nobody seems to have picked up on. What does Senior Counsel Sean Guerin really know about policing? Is he familiar with the Garda Siochana Code – rules and regulations members of the force must abide by? I’m afraid Sergeant Maurice McCabe did not abide by the Garda Siochana Code and operational regulations – the Guerin Report clearly indicates and identifies so but does not countenance or probably realise the Sergeant was in such contravention! While one takes for granted that ‘wrong-doing’ is not an option for An Garda Siochana, every member in such a large organisation must abide by the force working code, regulations and guidelines, including Sergeant McCabe. It is a case of ‘the tail wagging the dog‘. I doubt very much that most members of the existing force would ever want to work with him! To have Senior Counsel Guerin draw up a report in such a short length of time and form opinions, on which he recommends action by Government is a disgrace and a totally dangerous undermining of the police service generally. The fact the work of An Garda Siochana continues successfully is testament to that!
It seems to me once again that an Irish Government further wishes to denigrate the effectiveness of the policing service in Ireland, a service being conducted by a world renowned force. Ask the United Nations. The main problem – the real elephant in the room regarding any perceived adversities within the police service in Ireland is that it is too closely aligned to politics and politicians, from whom they have learned some very bad lessons. They are making a dogs dinner of the service. After all VIP’s in Ireland cannot still step outside their doors without a Garda presence – the same Garda personnel they trust to do this job but at the same time they are determined to destroy and denigrate. Does not make for logic.
All of this adverse publicity being foisted on the public from dysfunctional state services by a bought media helps to create a greater danger for the men and women serving in An Garda Siochana, giving drunken louts and criminals an excuse to have a serious go at the Gardai as they try to undertake their duties on behalf of a grateful public. This is actually a major breach of Health and Safety regulations.
Members of An Garda Siochana do carry out their duties irrespective of the odds and any added threat, full well knowing that if they are injured and in many cases assassinated in the line of duty they or their families will be left to wait 10 to 13 years for any compensation issues to be addressed. This is how those “WHO SERVE” are treated in Ireland.
The core problem lies with politicians and the Senior Civil Service in the relevant Ministries, in particular Justice and Home Affairs. The senior management ranks in An Garda Siochana have been looked down upon and treated with disdain by even the most junior of civil servants in these ministries.
Where else but in Ireland would you have senior Civil Servants meeting agents of the British Security Services MI5 and MI6 and also other national security services in other countries when it was the place of the National Police Service to do so. To do otherwise would take what they perceive and interpret as a junket away from them. We can only guess at what such people had to say after copius amounts of alcohol plied during the course of such meetings. They won’t comment on these liaisons quoting the usual ‘state security’ covers all bit – bull!
Mark my words – nothing substantial will take place as a consequence of what is going on at the moment. The present status quo will remain. All of this is a dangerous smoke-screen to try diverting attention. It could really backfire though!
One of the first things a Government must do is enshrine the function of its policing service in its constitution. Garda or police are not mentioned in Bunreacht na hÉireann – the Irish Constitution.
Any further inquiry that might be conducted will only serve one purpose – to re-line the pockets of the legal profession who were so badly stung in the property bubble burst.
More to come…
Anarchy and Criminality in Ireland
There is an unhealthy anarchy in Ireland overseen by criminals in many spheres of society.
New York, once riddled with crime is a much safer place.
We are no longer able to live peaceably and in safety in Éireann.
It is a wonder that major commercial interests and industries decide to locate in Ireland, based alone on security considerations.
Let the good honest hardworking citizen unintentionally fall short, even for something of a summary nature the full rigours of the law is brought to bear. It is different for the known gouger, knacker, criminal hobo persons who engages in serious crime. Everybody is afraid to deal with their ilk because they know that there will be serious sometimes fatalistic retaliations.
We don’t have a proper policing service because it’s direction has been hijacked by government. The police service has been taken over and is now in the total control of political interests. We have the best rank and file policemen and police-women in the world. They however lack proper direction, resources motivation and respect. Their will and spirit has been broken. They however do have the support of the vast majority of the ordinary people, though that is not sufficient to allow the police service conduct it’s business lawfully. There is a major breakdown in police morale. Many have been killed and seriously injured. If they do their job a complaint is made and it takes precedence in the hands of the Garda Ombudsman Commission, a totally unnecessary over the top highly paid and financed usurper organisation. There were never full and proper grounds for its establishment, other than as a junket-ridden quango. Moreover, there is much more justifiable reason that the legal profession should have a similar stronger oversight body. A strong oversight body is most necessary to try curbing the massive doubts and mistrust that is very palpable in the legal and judicial professions.
GSOC should be abolished forthwith.
Politicians have done all in their power to negate the effectiveness of the police service so that they have no obstacles to their nefarious self-interests. They effectively silenced the Garda Commissioner in legislation introduced in 2005.
Difficult to understand how the Garda Commissioner, heading the lead investigation service in the state was never asked for any real evidence by the so-called learned people of the very costly lengthy planning tribunal inquiry that went on in Ireland for sixteen (16) years plus. Nothing worthwhile ever came out of it other than legal people becoming filthy rich with massive amounts of money in the form of fees. The Police service would be disbanded for such a lengthy, costly, useless inquiry.
Police personnel readily give life and limb in the service of their nation yet the legal profession have hijacked, as a cash cow the lengthy meager compensation process that is in place to compensate. The legal profession are awarded about half the amount, and some years much more than half that awarded to long-suffering appellants. The legal profession fiscal take has grown steadily since inception. While the Judge presently cites the fiscal problems of the country in lessening awards to appellants, she increases the costs paid to the legal profession on both sides and also administrative costs. Many senior counsel never even study the file before the morning of the court, as has been evidenced. Such incidents of gross negligence and misrepresentation are simply laughed off by the Judge. The Garda Siochana Compensation scheme is unfit for purpose and ancient, dating back to the forties. Full of complete treachery overseen by the High Court. Evidence supporting the Minister for Finance and the state is allowed from the same group of experts in the various fields who readily tell lies on behalf of the state to counter claims. A massive growth in additional administrative fees has consequently grown in addition to legal costs.
In 2011 €6 million was awarded to appellants. €3.25 million was paid in legal fees and a further €1 million was paid in administrative fees. They are making hay as quickly as they can because they know that their abuse of the system for personal gain is coming to an end. A national disgrace and a complete insult to afflicted members of An Garda Siochana and their suffering families. Some have lost their homes and all of their savings because of the delays, not to mention their sanity.
It is sad that we have such an excellent policing talent and commitment in An Garda Siochana when one considers that there is no provision in the Irish constitution for a police service or even mention of An Garda Siochana.
We are going nowhere as a nation. Criminals and self-interested politicians and their cronies rule the roost in Ireland. This will only be stopped by another civil war. It is a pagan land without saints or scholars.
Ireland has no rightful place among the politically evolved post-WWII nations of Western Europe because it’s government of the day cowered away and chickened out of its responsibilities with a deceitful preference that Hitler might win.
Lucinda Creighton has warned that Irish political life is being destroyed by what she called “a deathly culture of brutal pragmatism”.
What can we now expect?
arthurohara.com 