Irish Budget 2011 - Farmleigh Bank Holiday Meeting - "EU Will Parse Every Line"

[C. Flower]

Today is the day when the Cabinet is meeting at Farmleigh (our equivalent of the Petit Trianon ?) to decide how the shrinking cake is going to be cut.

The Independent is anxious to tell us that the game is up, and that we are only kidding ourselves if we think we don't have to bring in water charges etc.

No reference to taxation loopholes, except for the prospect of taxes on the family home.

I would like to know more about the influence that the EU Commission will have on our National Budget. Why should they be involved in anything beyond the bottom line of the Stability Pact ?





Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s Government is believed to be working towards a cuts-and-taxes package of €4.5 billion to €5bn. These figures are spectacular and will change all of our lives dramatically but only time will tell if they are enough to satisfy the European Commission and the international lenders we have become utterly dependent on.

The truth is that the wishes and expectations of Irish people are a distant third in this triumvirate. We have mismanaged our affairs to such a degree that we have squandered our sovereignty and are being forced to put others’ expectations before our own. And, it seems, these will have to be satisfied before we can begin to rebuild our economy.

The EU cares not one whit whether we cut welfare by 4% or 5% or whether we continue to pretend that drinking water is free or that we delude ourselves by not having a property tax. They only care that our economic instability is contained and that we do not become a greater threat to the euro project.

We will know what the EU demands of us on December 7 because Finance Minister Brian Lenihan won’t propose a single measure that has not been approved by Brussels. Officials from the Commission have moved into the Department of Finance in Merrion Street so everything, every idea and suggestion, made at Farmleigh will be parsed to see if might threaten eurozone stability. Ireland and its citizens are now almost irrelevant bystanders in any context other than the threat we pose to the euro. The EU is not prepared to contemplate a recurrence of the crisis brought about by the Greek collapse earlier this year.


Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/editorial/budget-2011--our-needs-third-on-a-list-of-three-134406.html#ixzz13NB5nRWq

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

The Republic of Ireland 1916-1937 (RIP)
'Eire' 1937-2010 (RIP).

Destroy Fianna Fail.

[DCon]

I wonder if the EU are aware of all the FF waste in our annual spend.

Or if they even care

[Ah Well]

I wonder if the EU are aware of all the FF waste in our annual spend.

Or if they even care

The EU are concerned about the EU

Ireland comprises a very small part of that Entity

So no, I'd imagine all they are concerned about is ensuring the bad ship Ireland stays afloat so as the EU itself doesn't get badly holed below the waterline

Their interest in us is at best fleeting and limited to bare necessity

[ang]

The EU are concerned about the EU

Ireland comprises a very small part of that Entity

So no, I'd imagine all they are concerned about is ensuring the bad ship Ireland stays afloat so as the EU itself doesn't get badly holed below the waterline

Their interest in us is at best fleeting and limited to bare necessity

Spot on Ah Well, the EU have no concern for the fate of the Irish Citizen as long as the numbers are correct, they do not give a thought or care for how that is achieved.

The one policy that is to be most protected by the EU is Save the Euro.

[MediaBite]

But maybe the EU will care less about property developers and the reckless Irish financial services sector than our government would if they were writing the budget themselves?

[BrendanGalway]

Its just like having the IMF amongst us. Having lent us the money(through buying our Bonds), they will now instruct us on how to proceed Economically. And that usually means a heavier load for workers.

Good thing the Irish have strong backs. We would be complaining like those French otherwise.

[Sidewinder]

'Eire' 1937-2010 (RIP)

Ain't that the truth. I do believe we now have confirmation that officials from both the IMF and the EU are in situ in the Department of Finance, have been for some time, and have essentially the final say on the next four budgets?

Independence is over, we've been colonised again by external masters. And nobody even noticed. Or cared.

[C. Flower]

So, this meeting hasn't even begun yet.
Not only is it only an evening session. but according to the RTE reporter waiting outside,
only one person arrived on time (neither Lenihan nor Cowen) and the meeting has been put back half an hour, until 6.30 p.m.

[Ah Well]

So, this meeting hasn't even begun yet.
Not only is it only an evening session. but according to the RTE reporter waiting outside,
only one person arrived on time (neither Lenihan nor Cowen) and the meeting has been put back half an hour, until 6.30 p.m.

Is this any surprise tbh ...

Gombeen Gov - playing games with the country, your future ... and between themselves

[Slim Buddha]

Spot on Ah Well, the EU have no concern for the fate of the Irish Citizen as long as the numbers are correct, they do not give a thought or care for how that is achieved.

The one policy that is to be most protected by the EU is Save the Euro.

The way the Euro is going right now suits the Germans. Why would they change anything? It is to their advantage to have the PIIGS exactly where they are, acting as a drag on the currency to keep it at a level to suit German exports. No Euro and the Germans have a serious problem with a strong D-Mark.

[C. Flower]

Worse than that - the meeting started 45 minutes late as Brian Lenihan was stuck in Brussels with Ollie Rehn.

I kid you not :( :( :(

[Xray]

The first cut they can make is the new Audis and the palace meetings.

[DCon]

Worse than that - the meeting started 45 minutes late as Brian Lenihan was stuck in Brussels with Ollie Rehn.

I kid you not :( :( :(

Lenihan was probably waiting for the 2011 Budget to be printed. He was hardly going to turn up without it

[Ah Well]

Worse than that - the meeting started 45 minutes late as Brian Lenihan was stuck in Brussels with Ollie Rehn.

I kid you not :( :( :(

Uh oh .... a pre Meet chat with the European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs

Question is ... was Lenihan bringing him up to speed as to what they intended to include in the Budget or was he told what to include

[C. Flower]

Lenihan was probably waiting for the 2011 Budget to be printed. He was hardly going to turn up without it

To be printed by the EU Commission ?

Brian Cowen was at Galway, celebrating perhaps the victory of his horse on Saturday.






RACING: A RARE plus for Brian Cowen recently has been the form of his horse Donnas Palm, and that can continue at Galway this afternoon.


The Taoiseach is one of the members of the Grand Alliance Racing Club which owns Donnas Palm, who can score a ninth victory in the amateur flat race.
Nina Carberry teams up with the classy grey whose two flat starts to date have yielded a Navan win last year and a November Handicap second to Rite Of Passage.
An even better National Hunt profile was added to earlier this month when Donnas Palm beat his stable companion Aitmatov at Tipperary, and that makes him a much more attractive proposition in today’s context than Natural High, who is rated his superior.
The Cheltenham winner Berties Dream has his first start since landing last March’s Albert Bartlett at the festival when he makes his fencing debut in the Beginners Chase.
Andrew Lynch again takes the ride, but they face a serious opponent in Venalmar, who returned to action a month ago with an encouraging third to Realt Dubh at Navan.

[Ah Well]

To be printed by the EU Commission ?

Brian Cowen was at Galway, celebrating perhaps the victory of his horse on Saturday.





That horse has won some decent cash

http://www.goracing.ie/Content/HRI/HRIData/hriownerdata.aspx?oid=19595

Never mind the Anglo Bondholders, who are the other members of this Grand Alliance Racing Club? :D

Donn McClean says included were Liam Cosgrave, Noel Davern and Frank Fahy

http://donnmcclean.com/2010/01/24/noel-meade-2/

[BrendanGalway]

The first cut they can make is the new Audis and the palace meetings.

Ha ha! I noticed that too on the 9 News. Every car a beauty. A top Audi A6, a Citroen C6... counldnt see the Years on the Reg plates through. Hanafins car had some interior, leather everywhere. They certainly travel in style.

And Farmleigh. They certainly Dine in style. And will no doubt Sleep in top-class comfort having poured immense hardship onto those who can least afford it.

The whole thing looked absolutely terrible. A crew of Gombeens living Royal lifestyles, paid for by the people they have sold out. The false look of concern on their faces, the promises of Hard work and Fairness. Pravda making sure to mention they were working on a Bank Holiday, even at night..... It resembled Marie Antoinette and the Palace of Versailles.

Im desperately disappointed in the Irish as a whole. No one gives a toss. Why are we so easily beaten?

[BrendanGalway]

It resembled Marie Antoinette and the Palace of Versailles.



I wasnt too far off the mark. Check out the webpage of the Palace they are staying tonight (http://www.farmleigh.ie/TourofFarmleigh/TheBallroom/)


The Guinness' guests could not fail to be impressed with the superb decoration in the style of Louis XVI


The people of Ireland could not fail to be impressed with the attitude displayed by our Rulers toward us, in the style of Louis XVI.

[PaddyJoe]

Worse than that - the meeting started 45 minutes late as Brian Lenihan was stuck in Brussels with Ollie Rehn.

I kid you not :( :( :(


The meeting was delayed because of the late arrival of Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan. He travelled to Brussels yesterday and met the EU’s economic and monetary commissioner Olli Rehn for 1½ hours.

According to spokespeople in Dublin and Brussels, both men discussed the economic situation and the budget but not the four-year plan, which will be submitted to Brussels in mid-November.
Nice one;):)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/1026/1224282004942.html

[C. Flower]

Nice one;):)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/1026/1224282004942.html


Told yer' :(

[jinnyjoe]

Ha ha! I noticed that too on the 9 News. Every car a beauty. A top Audi A6, a Citroen C6... counldnt see the Years on the Reg plates through. Hanafins car had some interior, leather everywhere. They certainly travel in style.

And Farmleigh. They certainly Dine in style. And will no doubt Sleep in top-class comfort having poured immense hardship onto those who can least afford it.

The whole thing looked absolutely terrible. A crew of Gombeens living Royal lifestyles, paid for by the people they have sold out. The false look of concern on their faces, the promises of Hard work and Fairness. Pravda making sure to mention they were working on a Bank Holiday, even at night..... It resembled Marie Antoinette and the Palace of Versailles.

Im desperately disappointed in the Irish as a whole. No one gives a toss. Why are we so easily beaten?
How eloquently put Brendan. This show of wealth seems to have struck a chord with everyone. Some VERY lively discussions on Joe Duffy this afternoon. Maybe Cactus the insurrection isn't as far off a you thought, people are getting mighty pissed off and the anger and frustration seems to be gathering considerable momentum!! Will Lenihan set out his stall before December, or shall we have to wait until D Day as usual?:eek:

[C. Flower]

Confirmation from the Cabinet that €15 billion will be removed from the budget in the next four years, with front loading.

BREAKING NEWS: Government says overall adjustment of €15 billion over the next 4 years is warranted