Today's papers reviewed (courtesy of newstalk and twitter)

[Baron von Biffo]

The newer private health insurers are continuing their campaign against risk equalisation. They affect to be greatly concerned about younger people dropping their PHI but don't acknowledge that without equalisation health insurance will become a product that can only be afforded by those who are least likely to need it.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ce-212036.html

[Baron von Biffo]

IF you don't have adequate staffing levels you can't get the job done. Who would have predicted that?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ay-212064.html

[DCon]

The newer private health insurers are continuing their campaign against risk equalisation. They affect to be greatly concerned about younger people dropping their PHI but don't acknowledge that without equalisation health insurance will become a product that can only be afforded by those who are least likely to need it.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ce-212036.html

Why would anyone get health insurance to be treated by the same public doctor in the same public hospital as a person who does not have health insurance?

[Baron von Biffo]

Why would anyone get health insurance to be treated by the same public doctor in the same public hospital as a person who does not have health insurance?

Many people have a SW history that doesn't qualify them for cover under the public system so they could potentially face huge bills in the event that they fell ill. The self employed, pre '95 public servants, returned emigrants from non-EU countries and perhaps others that I'm not aware of would be affected.

[Baron von Biffo]

Gump gets in touch with FG roots.

[culmore]

Biffo and all other biffo!s it must be very hard for ye to take Endas success, first Time magazine and now European of the Year., maybe ye will see the light yet and acknowledge the Messiah from the West.

[Baron von Biffo]

Biffo and all other biffo!s it must be very hard for ye to take Endas success, first Time magazine and now European of the Year., maybe ye will see the light yet and acknowledge the Messiah from the West.

We are not worthy to touch the hem of his raiment.

[Baron von Biffo]

Elegant put-down of a John Waters piece by a Mr. Phelan in today's IT letters column.

http://www.irishtimes.com/letters/in...#1224325894367

[DCon]

Lowry, Leo, Sandy

THE IRISH TIMES

Teenagers interviewed over girl’s suicide

Confusion reigns as Sandy visits death and damage on east coast

Varadkhar critical of proposed work stoppage at Aer Lingus

THE IRISH INDEPENDENT

Gardai speak to Erin bullying suspects as texts checked

Counting the $50bn cost of Hurricane Sandy’s onslaught

Death toll mounts after pounding from wind, rain

THE IRISH EXAMINER

Teens quizzed by gardai over Erin suicide

Lowry: I’ll hold on to UK site until it realises full value

http://www.newstalk.ie/2012/featured...-october-2012/

[DCon]

Strange one

A recent decision in China, if it could be made into any binding precedent, could be bad news for women — or at least for the women of China. After Jian Feng married his attractive wife and had a baby, Feng was alarmed that their children was “incredibly ugly.” Reasoning that neither he nor his wife were ugly, he concluded that his wife must have cheated.


Apparently this wasn’t the case, but the “ugly” baby really did resemble the mother — before her $100,000 in plastic surgery. The Northern Chinese man, according to a report from PlanetIvy.com, divorced his wife and sued her, apparently, for being ugly — and won!

Since his wife used intense plastic surgery to drastically alter her appearances before she met Feng, and since she never told him of it, the courts determined that she had convinced Feng to marry him under “false premises,” and thus awarded him $120,000. What a sting, to be divorced for being ugly, and then having to pay for it!

http://www.jdjournal.com/2012/10/29/...baby-and-wins/

[Baron von Biffo]

FFs Sean Fleming seems to see putting the boot into PS workers as the way to advance his career. Recently he flounced out of a PAC meeting after subjecting a senior public servant to a hysterical tirade of abuse, now he's demanding that Howlin speeds up the introduction of the new, much poorer, PS pension scheme.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ff-212492.html

[Baron von Biffo]

Another white collar crook locked up. The old 'I'm repaying the money' was offered in mitigation.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-3278640.html

[homer]

FFs Sean Fleming seems to see putting the boot into PS workers as the way to advance his career. Recently he flounced out of a PAC meeting after subjecting a senior public servant to a hysterical tirade of abuse, now he's demanding that Howlin speeds up the introduction of the new, much poorer, PS pension scheme.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ff-212492.html

Actually I think Fleming's remarks at that PAC meeting were justified.

There was a Sir Humphreyesque attempt by the public servants attending to limit th e scope of the Committee's inquiry

[Baron von Biffo]

Actually I think Fleming's remarks at that PAC meeting were justified.

There was a Sir Humphreyesque attempt by the public servants attending to limit th e scope of the Committee's inquiry

There were two issues involved - Were the civil servants attempting to improperly limit the scope of the inquiry and if so, was Fleming's response appropriate?

I suggest that the answer to both questions must be, no.

As I recall, civil servants told the PAC that they were prohibited from discussing policy matters and they were only allowed to deal with historic financial matters. If either of those assertions was untrue or even questionable, then it's reasonable to say that there would have been repercussions both in the Dail and the media.

That said, even if the accusation had been true there are appropriate ways of dealing with that situation. Screaming abuse at people is not appropriate behaviour in any context but it's absolutely unacceptable to subject anyone to that sort of tirade in their workplace. That the chair of the committee sat back and allowed it made it a lot worse.

The episode showed how lucky we are that Howlin's Star Chamber referendum was rejected by the people.

[Baron von Biffo]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking42.html

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