Government gearing up to cut social welfare- Joan Burton wants to monitor 'suspicious bank accounts'

[HarmlessPoorOulDivil]

There are good arguments to be made about SW rates (not that I agree with them) but this is not one of them.
It's almost Orwellian in it's deliberate reversal of truth.

[Baron von Biffo]

There are good arguments to be made about SW rates (not that I agree with them) but this is not one of them.
It's almost Orwellian in it's deliberate reversal of truth.

Truth is most unwelcome in some circles when SW is being discussed.

[Kitty O'Shea]

There are good arguments to be made about SW rates (not that I agree with them) but this is not one of them.
It's almost Orwellian in it's deliberate reversal of truth.

What good arguments, care to expand?

[fluffybiscuits]

The IMF are blaming high social welfare, and not a lack of jobs, for people being unemployed



http://www.independent.ie/national-n...f-3173272.html

Yeah €180 a week means I can live like a king . As per usual the IMF have their heads so far up their holes that they ignore the real issues. A recent curvey showed Dublin is the 72nd most expensive city to live in (http://www.joe.ie/easygoing-joe/dumb...irut-0026082-1) but if we take into account that there is no jobs as it was one of the top ten until seven years ago then the standard of living is not all that great on social welfare. Fresh fruit and veg cost a fortune, people are encouraged to buy ready made meals while electrcity, gas, phone , clothing etc all cost a bomb. Again IMF should really do their homework, did they ask Kevin Cardiff to add up the figures?...

[Kitty O'Shea]

Yeah €180 a week means I can live like a king . As per usual the IMF have their heads so far up their holes that they ignore the real issues. A recent curvey showed Dublin is the 72nd most expensive city to live in (http://www.joe.ie/easygoing-joe/dumb...irut-0026082-1) but if we take into account that there is no jobs as it was one of the top ten until seven years ago then the standard of living is not all that great on social welfare. Fresh fruit and veg cost a fortune, people are encouraged to buy ready made meals while electrcity, gas, phone , clothing etc all cost a bomb. Again IMF should really do their homework, did they ask Kevin Cardiff to add up the figures?...

I emailed the IMF and complained, should have rang them, don't think they respond to emails from insignificant people!

[HarmlessPoorOulDivil]

What good arguments, care to expand?

Well I did say I don't agree with them - but the basic foundation of all of them is that The Country Is Broke Something Must Be Done. Which is hard to argue with really.

But no, I'm not in favour of cutting SW rates, especially not on the pretext that it will encourage people to work.

All those jobs, jobs, jobs out there, unfilled, because people can't be bothered? Cynical baiting talk.

[Kitty O'Shea]

Well I did say I don't agree with them - but the basic foundation of all of them is that The Country Is Broke Something Must Be Done. Which is hard to argue with really.

But no, I'm not in favour of cutting SW rates, especially not on the pretext that it will encourage people to work.

All those jobs, jobs, jobs out there, unfilled, because people can't be bothered? Cynical baiting talk.

I'm sorry, I jumped the gun there. I agree that the country is broke, of course it is. What on earth do people expect?
But why am I, after losing my job, still paying to protect the wages and life-styles of those working in Leinster House?
I've had my C.V checked by very qualified person and she can not figure out why I am not working. I'm not even getting for interviews!!
I am sick to the back teeth of being blamed for circumstance beyond my control. Which is why I emailed the IMF ( a phone call on Monday is in order).

[Andrew49]

Poor people aren't as circumspect about hiding their money though, PaddyJoe.

Seriously though, Social Protection. It can actually mean a couple of things and I foolishly thought it was meant to be about taking care of the less well off. Evidently it involves protecting those of a certain social standing FROM the less well off.
Bank accounts of the unemployed, Joan? She'll have cupboard inspectors checking they haven't bought suspiciously expensive groceries next.

There is the means test that involves an official from Social Protection counting how many vests, underwear, socks etc., an applicant has! I don't know if this is still practiced but it was a standard practice during the 80s and before.

We have a 'welfare' system that owes more to the Poor Laws of Dickensian times. People without work are seen as a burden on the rates rather than people with employment needs. The fact that the Irish Labour Party (sic) is involving itself in casting aspersions on people with work needs is no surprise.

[fluffybiscuits]

There is the means test that involves an official from Social Protection counting how many vests, underwear, socks etc., an applicant has! I don't know if this is still practiced but it was a standard practice during the 80s and before.

We have a 'welfare' system that owes more to the Poor Laws of Dickensian times. People without work are seen as a burden on the rates rather than people with employment needs. The fact that the Irish Labour Party (sic) is involving itself in casting aspersions on people with work needs is no surprise.

Labour are gone so far from their routes its hard to believe that they were a party there to protect the working class people. Even their name is meant to indicate they are there to support the working class, the people of this country whom are in or out of work but they are now completely so much to the right they are as bad as Fine Gael. Joan Burton in particular forgets how her bread is buttered and what her job is, to protect the working class of this country. Labour are no longer the party of the working class, they are now as much of the establishment as the ones they sought to castigate all them years ago.

[Kitty O'Shea]

It would seem that once politicians get a wiff of power some kind of metamorphosis occurs whereby the turn from reasonable people into money grabbing power hungry entities. What happens outside of Leinster House stays outside Leinster House.

[Baron von Biffo]

Brian Hayes looking for cuts in welfare.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ff-204793.html

[disability student]

Brian Hayes looking for cuts in welfare.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ff-204793.html

It's easy way for him to look at as an excuse for CUTS just like lifestyle choice minister Burton. Most of the cuts were untouched especially at higher class... politicians, wealth classes et al.

Why not look at expenses, various schemes that benefited the politicians, ibec, business people et al- higher spectrum of the society as they were the cause of the crash especially the bankers, regulators, FF govt too.

FG/Lab have already declared war on low end of the society as they were given the discretion of where to cut & slash/burn by the IMF/ECB.

[fluffybiscuits]

It's easy way for him to look at as an excuse for CUTS just like lifestyle choice minister Burton. Most of the cuts were untouched especially at higher class... politicians, wealth classes et al.

Why not look at expenses, various schemes that benefited the politicians, ibec, business people et al- higher spectrum of the society as they were the cause of the crash especially the bankers, regulators, FF govt too.

FG/Lab have already declared war on low end of the society as they were given the discretion of where to cut & slash/burn by the IMF/ECB.

Joan the moan herself has said that there is no way the middle classes can accept any more cuts. Brian should have at least consulted with Joan before shooting his trap off . Again this is a case of Labour and FG being at odds over what to do about the situation. Not the first time if I remember that Joan has said something and then FG contradicts it. Isnt there a huge gap in the social security/PRSI fund?

[disability student]

Joan the moan herself has said that there is no way the middle classes can accept any more cuts. Brian should have at least consulted with Joan before shooting his trap off . Again this is a case of Labour and FG being at odds over what to do about the situation. Not the first time if I remember that Joan has said something and then FG contradicts it. Isnt there a huge gap in the social security/PRSI fund?

There is a distinction of talk and doing. I think they are testing the public's reactions before they decide. ... standard tactics by Joan the moan and FG.

FG = Fe*k Gump.

[fluffybiscuits]

There is a distinction of talk and doing. I think they are testing the public's reactions before they decide. ... standard tactics by Joan the moan and FG.

FG = Fe*k Gump.

You are being too polite