Advice from Tom Parlon. Anyone listening?

[Xray]

http://www.examiner.ie/business/cif-state-to-meet-only-half-of-investment-commitments-127805.html


"CIF director Tom Parlon said that if Government departments "released the brakes" to bring projects forward, it would provide a boost for the economy and reduce the level of fiscal adjustment required in upcoming budgets. "At some point a decision will have to be made to focus on helping maintain existing employment in order to encourage confidence and activity in Ireland.""

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/business/cif-state-to-meet-only-half-of-investment-commitments-127805.html#ixzz0wbGoQSYa



How would it "reduce the level of fiscal adjustment required"?

So we cant afford hospitals, to pay public servants, to pay social welfare, we cant borrow money without the help of the ECB this week. We have a load of half dead banks crying out for more cash. So lets borrow a few billion to keep Tom happy? If the CIF is looking for something to do I would suggest cleaning up the unfinished estates that are around the country before building anything else we cant afford.

[ang]

I certainly would not listen to a word Tom has to say.

Tom is still living in "the bubble" and the sooner someone bursts it and brings that man down to earth with a thud the better it will be for us all.

[concernedparent]

Didn't he have a Dail seat for the PD's a few years back.

Well we know what side of the mast his colours are nailed to.

I am beginning to think that some of these people do not have two brain cells to rub together.

There is absolutely no cohesion, no policy, absolutely no comprehension as to where to start rectifying the problems this country faces.

Just each little section of the government trying to hold onto their last little bits of power.

Wake up and smell the roses. You have no power. You gave it to Brussels. You have been left with the fools gold. And still you think that Europe is the answer to all our problems

[antiestablishmentarian]

Didn't he have a Dail seat for the PD's a few years back.

Well we know what side of the mast his colours are nailed to.

I am beginning to think that some of these people do not have two brain cells to rub together.

There is absolutely no cohesion, no policy, absolutely no comprehension as to where to start rectifying the problems this country faces.

Just each little section of the government trying to hold onto their last little bits of power.

Wake up and smell the roses. You have no power. You gave it to Brussels. You have been left with the fools gold. And still you think that Europe is the answer to all our problems Well they know Europe ain't the answer to their problems but it sure as hell provides a convenient excuse whenever they have to do something they know will be unpopular.. 'hey you know its not our fault we have to introduce water charges/ carbon taxes/ privatised healthcare/ whatever your having yourself.... its dem fellas in Brussels who are makin us'

[Xray]

Well they know Europe ain't the answer to their problems but it sure as hell provides a convenient excuse whenever they have to do something they know will be unpopular.. 'hey you know its not our fault we have to introduce water charges/ carbon taxes/ privatised healthcare/ whatever your having yourself.... its dem fellas in Brussels who are makin us'

It doesnt really though, because unless you have an IQ of less than 70 it wont work.

[C. Flower]

Essentially, we allowed more than 15% of our economy to be soaked up by construction.
The main idea that Government has to deal with this seems to be emigration.
I wouldn't be against work being done if it will have a real long term value and would make a difference to peoples' lives. But things like Metro North are just more costly boom time vanity projects.

[Xray]

I would be all for sinking money into metro north rather than anglo, I would pay builders to pick black berries rather than waste it on the banks.

[concernedparent]

I wonder what would have happened if the government had taken the money used to bail out Anglo, and used it to fund worthwhile projects that would project a return to the economy, as well as bailing out the poor hapless house owners encouraged to buy at the height of the boom?

Would the funding needed for this even begin to equate to the cost of Anglo?

[Cassandra Syndrome]

Most people in the construction trade are very p1ssed off with the government, banks and particularly the CIF. It was the greed of the few that had the majority of others running around like scalded cats trying to keep up with the bubble. Meanwhile the CIF and the banks and the government reneged in their duty to monitor the activity growth and too ensure a crash would not happen from a bubble. They completely failed.

A lot of tradesman were self employed contractors and are now entitled to little or no social welfare now that the work has evaporated. All that training and experience and work for what?

[concernedparent]

There is a lot of bitterness and anger out there on all fronts.

I am beginning to detect a bit of a sea change in that the private v public sector battle, encouraged on all fronts by the government, is beginning to wane and that everyone sees that the vast majority of the electorate has been taken for a ride.

I hope the powers that be are prepared for the tidal wave that hits them come the next election.

[C. Flower]

I would be all for sinking money into metro north rather than anglo, I would pay builders to pick black berries rather than waste it on the banks.

I would agree, but for the cost of Metro North every city in Ireland could have a state of the art bus service. Metro North runs to the airport but doesn't link to the rail network. The whole notion is beyond belief daft.

[concernedparent]

I would agree, but for the cost of Metro North every city in Ireland could have a state of the art bus service. Metro North runs to the airport but doesn't link to the rail network. The whole notion is beyond belief daft.

Yep. More fantastic planning by the powers that be.:rolleyes:

Does every city in Ireland need a state of the art bus service. Do we have the population for it. Would they not be better placed trying to improve the rail service with more linkage between cities and major towns?

[Gruffalo]

I would agree, but for the cost of Metro North every city in Ireland could have a state of the art bus service. Metro North runs to the airport but doesn't link to the rail network. The whole notion is beyond belief daft.

That is not true. Interconnector/DART Underground is the link that ties it all together. Passengers from the Sligo and Navan (If it ever happens) lines will change to Metro North at Drumcondra. DART will change at St Stephens Green As will LUAS green line. South and Western Rail customers will take a DART to the Green and change there so it will all be connected.

And it will not just serve the airport. It will be used for Croke Park, Mater Hospital, Mountjoy and DCU along with other suburbs but those four stops together will have a higher footfall than most rail lines in the country.

[ang]

Some news here on "Noel Demsey's secret meeting with important people"

Tom Parlon is one of the important people mentioned above.


Transport Minister Noel Dempsey was attacked by several of Ireland's leading business figures over the cuts in government capital spending, its handling of the economic crisis and the expenses controversy at the private meeting hosted by a leading law firm in Dublin last Thursday.



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dempseys-secret-meeting-with-the-important-people-2297983.html

[concernedparent]

Some news here on "Noel Demsey's secret meeting with important people"

Tom Parlon is one of the important people mentioned above.



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dempseys-secret-meeting-with-the-important-people-2297983.html

The man has been vested with powers above his weight:eek:

[Xray]

I don't live in Dublin but it needs a serious infrastructure up grade, I would be slow to bin Metro North to be honest. It should have been build 30 years ago along with an underground. When you visit similar cities abroad it is shocking how far behind Dublin is. There should have been twice as many buses years ago, but also rail and light rail. The problem is we cant afford it. The same people that tell us we cant afford to borrow for day to day spending see no problem in borrowing 40 billion to invest in all these things in a country with a decreasing population and rapidly shrinking economy. We have ghost estates, no ghost infrastructure please. What the CIF or anyone in the building thinks does not interest me because they were so wrong about housing. The would not see a freight train coming towards them.

[C. Flower]

I don't live in Dublin but it needs a serious infrastructure up grade, I would be slow to bin Metro North to be honest. It should have been build 30 years ago along with an underground. When you visit similar cities abroad it is shocking how far behind Dublin is. There should have been twice as many buses years ago, but also rail and light rail. The problem is we cant afford it. The same people that tell us we cant afford to borrow for day to day spending see no problem in borrowing 40 billion to invest in all these things in a country with a decreasing population and rapidly shrinking economy. We have ghost estates, no ghost infrastructure please. What the CIF or anyone in the building thinks does not interest me because they were so wrong about housing. The would not see a freight train coming towards them.

There has never been a proper cost benefit study of Metro North. How many people travel from Stephen's Green to the airport ?? The figures they produced were based on a City being built at Swords.....

It goes through Bertie's turf - that's the long and the short of it. The tender would be very likely won by a non-Irish firm and good bye to most of the cash from our economy.

The cost would pay for bike schemes and bus services across the whole country. As a lot of people won't be able to afford to run cars, this isn't a luxury.

[Xray]

There has never been a proper cost benefit study of Metro North. How many people travel from Stephen's Green to the airport ?? The figures they produced were based on a City being built at Swords.....

It goes through Bertie's turf - that's the long and the short of it. The tender would be very likely won by a non-Irish firm and good bye to most of the cash from our economy.

The cost would pay for bike schemes and bus services across the whole country. As a lot of people won't be able to afford to run cars, this isn't a luxury.


airport with buses?:confused:

[C. Flower]

airport with buses?:confused:

But who goes from Stephens Green to the airport?? With their luggage?

Options from outside Dublin - drive - to Stephen's Green - ??? surely not. Much quicker to drive direct to the airport via M50.

Rail - option then is bus direct to airport or bus to Stephens Green to get the Metro - which do you use?

Coach - to Bus Aras - where then - direct bus to airport or bus to Stephens green and then Metro ?

Most Dublin hotels are outside the centre and run free buses straight to the Airport.

What is the logic of destroying Stephens Green for this ?

[Xray]

But who goes from Stephens Green to the airport?? With their luggage?

Options from outside Dublin - drive - to Stephen's Green - ??? surely not. Much quicker to drive direct to the airport via M50.

Rail - option then is bus direct to airport or bus to Stephens Green to get the Metro - which do you use?

Coach - to Bus Aras - where then - direct bus to airport or bus to Stephens green and then Metro ?

Most Dublin hotels are outside the centre and run free buses straight to the Airport.

What is the logic of destroying Stephens Green for this ?

Almost every tourist that enters the country goes into the city center. And Swords is heading for small city status. Buses are fine and there should be more of them, but its the 21st century. My only objection to the broad thrust of the plan is that it is late and we cannot afford it. In fact we cannot even afford buses. In reality it will not be built for decades, they just have not found a way to break it to the local voters yet. It is about as likely as the new prison or hospitals to go ahead.
And the construction industry knows it. If you are depending on discretionary state spending to save your business in the next two or three years you have a major flaw in your business plan. A new gov will "review" all such projects and make sure they get the credit if and when they do go ahead in the future. Anything remotely "Bertie" is off the agenda.

[Gruffalo]

Metro North will not just be about passengers travelling from St Stephens Green to the airport. Thanks to the DART Underground it will connect with all of our rail and light rail systems so people will be able to travel from anywhere on the rail system to anywhere on the Metro North system (it is not just about the airport).

As for paying for it, expect a congestion charge to be part of the plan once it and DART Underground are built.

[C. Flower]

Metro North will not just be about passengers travelling from St Stephens Green to the airport. Thanks to the DART Underground it will connect with all of our rail and light rail systems so people will be able to travel from anywhere on the rail system to anywhere on the Metro North system (it is not just about the airport).

As for paying for it, expect a congestion charge to be part of the plan once it and DART Underground are built.

I expect it to be done "off balance sheet" as a PPP we'll pay for indefinitely.
If it happens at all.

Would you have a map to show how the rail-metro link is meant to work?

[culmore]

Tom who. lost one good job (people rejected him) and was given better job not on ability but because of who he knows, just put him in the garbish bin with the rest

[Slim Buddha]

Most people in the construction trade are very p1ssed off with the government, banks and particularly the CIF. It was the greed of the few that had the majority of others running around like scalded cats trying to keep up with the bubble. Meanwhile the CIF and the banks and the government reneged in their duty to monitor the activity growth and too ensure a crash would not happen from a bubble. They completely failed.

A lot of tradesman were self employed contractors and are now entitled to little or no social welfare now that the work has evaporated. All that training and experience and work for what?

For what? For many involved in the construction industry, the experience will stand them in good stead back home in Poland for the work needed building and upgrading football stadia for Euro 2012.

Seriously, the CIF unquestionably belong in the dock for their part in the vapourisation of the economy, along with the banks and the Fianna Fail/PD coalition.

[C. Flower]

Almost every tourist that enters the country goes into the city center. And Swords is heading for small city status. Buses are fine and there should be more of them, but its the 21st century. My only objection to the broad thrust of the plan is that it is late and we cannot afford it. In fact we cannot even afford buses. In reality it will not be built for decades, they just have not found a way to break it to the local voters yet. It is about as likely as the new prison or hospitals to go ahead.
And the construction industry knows it. If you are depending on discretionary state spending to save your business in the next two or three years you have a major flaw in your business plan. A new gov will "review" all such projects and make sure they get the credit if and when they do go ahead in the future. Anything remotely "Bertie" is off the agenda.

Really ? When they get off the plane with their bags? I'm not so sure and I would like to see figures.
I'm presuming they mean to do this as a PPP, like the toll roads. The question is will any company risk it.

[wickedfairy]

Some news here on "Noel Demsey's secret meeting with important people"

Tom Parlon is one of the important people mentioned above.



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dempseys-secret-meeting-with-the-important-people-2297983.html

yes, but it doesn't say a word about who he met in London. Weren't they "imporatant people" too, so important that he took the government jet? Who did he meet and why? Jesus, there seems to be important people everywhere who want to talk to him.

[concernedparent]

yes, but it doesn't say a word about who he met in London. Weren't they "imporatant people" too, so important that he took the government jet? Who did he meet and why? Jesus, there seems to be important people everywhere who want to talk to him.

Yea.

But if these 'important people' are of the same calibre as Tom Parlon, I think we may be assured that the problems of the country are not going to disappear overnight.:rolleyes:

[Gruffalo]

I expect it to be done "off balance sheet" as a PPP we'll pay for indefinitely.
If it happens at all.

Would you have a map to show how the rail-metro link is meant to work?

I think it is meant to be PPP.

I think this video includes a map. If it doesn't, let me know and I will try and dig something up.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJyp7GPqJ8

[Gruffalo]

One might wonder why Tom is back on a media campaign. I bet it had something to do with his latest lovers tiff with everybody's favourite politician - Noel Dempsey:


Mr Parlon began his comments by referring to a previous attack by Mr Dempsey on him, when he said the construction chief was "talking out of his hat". Mr Parlon responded by saying: "Now, we can all use colourful language, but based on our figures, you haven't a snowball's chance of spending the €5bn next year as promised."

It is believed Mr Parlon referred to analysis that showed the Government was well behind on its own capital spending commitments set out at the end of June.

Mr Dempsey is said to have revealed that much of the €5bn promised for next year will not be used to start any new major projects, but will be used to pay off projects already under way.

Mr Parlon was highly critical of that, saying following the completion of major projects like the Limerick Tunnel, the Aviva Stadium and the Convention Centre, there is nothing left but "Mickey Mouse" developments.

"There is a real famine for decent work out there," he said.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dempseys-secret-meeting-with-the-important-people-2297983.html