Enda Kenny/ BBC Radio4 interview/ 18th April.

LordSutch

Heard a very strong interview with Taoiseach Enda Kenny this morning on BBCR4, I thought Enda sounded very strong, very positive, very determined, free thinking, and not at all 'wooden' as he has undoubtedly sounded in the recent past, especially during the election campaign!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9461000/9461276.stm

All in all, I would have much greater confidence in Enda as our leader, after hearing this interview on the Beeb.

later12

Yes it was a very well polished interview, EK came across as being an assertive, confident statesman, untroubled by history even when he spoke of the 'well established links' between our two countries.

Although he didn't really engage with the question about the effect that the Greek restructuring will have on Irish debt.

Liam Byrne

As one of the people who opted to put style over substance back when Enda was dissed by most, I would be glad that he came across well, however if he doesn't start doing something to stop us having to foot the bill for other people's debts then he'll have lost any respect I had for him.

Yes, he was elected at a difficult time, and yes, the problems are of FF's making, but he knew all that when he was applying for the job.

He needs to do something for the many of us who - as the Credit Union survey showed last week - have €70 or less left over at the end of the week, all the while paying out for those who refuse point-blank to honour either their debts or their gambles.

loldog

Upgrade successful.

.

hmmm

Liam Byrne wrote: »

He needs to do something for the many of us who - as the Credit Union survey showed last week - have €70 or less left over at the end of the week, all the while paying out for those who refuse point-blank to honour either their debts or their gambles.

Even if he wiped out all the bank bondholders, it would make little or no difference to our current economy or deficit. It's not the bondholders fault that we are living beyond our means.

tayto lover

hmmm wrote: »

Even if he wiped out all the bank bondholders, it would make little or no difference to our current economy or deficit. It's not the bondholders fault that we are living beyond our means.

Well if he did that it would make me feel better. Why should i suffer when the gamblers are not ?

hmmm

tayto lover wrote: »

Well if he did that it would make me feel better. Why should i suffer when the gamblers are not ?

You're trying to distract from the question.

tayto lover

hmmm wrote: »

You're trying to distract from the question.

What was the question ?
I have not come to honour Caesar but to question him. Is it only a praise Enda thread?

20Cent

He's always been a good communicator particularly on radio because his body language can be a bit stiff on tv. Miles better than that fat drunk fool we used to have. He defo needs to stop paying private debts with public money though.

Liam Byrne

hmmm wrote: »

Even if he wiped out all the bank bondholders, it would make little or no difference to our current economy or deficit. It's not the bondholders fault that we are living beyond our means.

It's true that it's not their fault that there is a budget deficit, however the budget deficit isn't the reason why Ireland is locked out of the markets.

It's even also true to say that FF's disastrous decisions aren't the bondholders "fault"; they just took what was offered (i.e. our hard-earned cash) by FF.

However the bottom line is that they are getting money that they should not be entitled to.

Zubeneschamali

Liam Byrne wrote: »

the budget deficit isn't the reason why Ireland is locked out of the markets.

Really? What do you imagine is the reason?

Donal Og O Baelach

loldog wrote: »

Upgrade successful.

.

Is new software downloaded and installed automatically, or do they have to search for the latest "Taoiseach Apps"?

Liam Byrne

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Really? What do you imagine is the reason?

It's "part of" the reason, but the billions thrown away on the banks are a bigger part of the reason.

Firstly, Ireland can't afford it. Despite the billions wasted there is still a risk that the bailout for the banks will be called and the country doesn't have the money to even stand over the basic deposit guarantees.

Secondly, it proved that the (then) Irish government would do anything other than risk pissing off the gamblers, including robbing their own people, which makes us seem like a walkover. The new government

Add those two together and you have ample reason for us to be shafted at every opportunity.

Zubeneschamali

Liam Byrne wrote: »

It's "part of" the reason, but the billions thrown away on the banks are a bigger part of the reason.

No, you have that backwards. The banks are a one-off bailout cost, the deficit is 20 billion a year, every year until we sort it out.

The deficit is a much bigger problem than the banks, and would have crippled our borrowing ability even if our banks were hunky dory.

Of course the bank bailout is unfair, unjust and infuriating, but it's not our biggest problem, not by a long shot.

Liam Byrne

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

No, you have that backwards. The banks are a one-off bailout cost, the deficit is 20 billion a year, every year until we sort it out.

I do not have it backwards, because it would take over 5 years of the deficit to match the approximate bailout cost, and that's even on the assumption that the basic deposit guarantee doesn't get called on.

Not only that, but at least we get something in return for the outgoings in an average budget, meaning that the total 20 billion cannot be regarded as waste.

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

The deficit is a much bigger problem than the banks, and would have crippled our borrowing ability even if our banks were hunky dory.

It would certainly have damaged it, of that there is no doubt.

But the absolute crippling is based on both together and the fact that FF were a pushover for throwing away our hard-earned money to those who were not owed it (by "us") and who didn't even ask for it.

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Of course the bank bailout is unfair, unjust and infuriating, but it's not our biggest problem, not by a long shot.

It's indicative of the fact that we have - or rather, hopefully "had", but that remains to be seen and FG have done nothing significant yet to prove that they are different - clueless politicians who believe in shafting their people.

It - and NAMA - are also indicative of the deluded mindset that ignores the fact that the property market has recovered, reaching a realistic level, and that those people are hoping that it will go back to what it was.

Neither of those is particularly enticing for either the electorate or investors.

r3nu4l

I listened to this interview in the car on the way to work and was majorly impressed! I watched Enda kenny on the Late Late Show when I was back home in Ireland at one point last year and was bitterly disappointed by him and his stock responses. However, this interview was very different. He was well prepared, knew what he was talking about and didn't try to pass off too many soundbites. Perhaps that's because he wasn't trying to get one over on the opposition but was instead representing the country on a UK national station. I'm not sure what it was but he did a great interview.

Whether that means he'll actually be any good in the job is something we'll have to wait a few more months to determine imo. Either way, it was a huge step up from his disastarous appearance on the LLS.

LordSutch

Best radio interview I have ever heard him give . . . .