Seriously worried ...

Lenin Skynard

H3llR4iser wrote: »

Last thing - If you are a guy. Irish women are, on average, STUNNING

You mean they're carrying stun guns and using them? That's the only context in which Irish women would be stunning.

kraggy

Mango Salsa wrote:

Ireland? Socialist? That's one of the funniest things I've ever read on boards.ie

flyswatter wrote: »

Fine Gael are the most far right party in the country, if you're comparing our government with France's.

But would be very left wing if compared to the Democrats in the US.

We have one of the highest Social Welfare budgets in the world.

Our minimum wage is ridiculous.

We've a ridiculously high level of public sector employment.

Socialism isn't just about having hight taxes (which we don't, but they if you count the USC and levies etc, the real deductions are starting to approach high income tax countries).

FTA69

H3llR4iser wrote: »

"Crime is nearly non-existent when compared to other big cities in the EU (London, Paris, Rome, Liverpool, Madrid, Berlin, Naples, Marseille...you get the idea)."

It is its arse. If you threw a stone in Dublin city centre you'd hit some variety of a drug addict or ne'er do well, not to mention open heroin dealing and use in various places around the town. Estates in Cork, Limerick and Dublin are far bigger sh*tholes than anywhere you'll see in the likes of London. Crime rates in Ireland as a country may be quite low, but Irish cities and big towns are rough as guts in many respects. If you think there's more hassle in the likes of London or Barcelona than there is in Dublin you're off your nut.

"Last thing - If you are a guy. Irish women are, on average, STUNNING "

My hole.

opinionated3

H3llR4iser wrote: »

THAT. I am sorry, but it's true - I know people who bought 2 bedroom apartments for 450k; I am no financial nor property advisor but come on, even a blind monkey would have questioned that price.

Now the people that were sensible enough to live within their means will end up paying the mortgages for the foolish.

As for you OP, if you have a job ready in Dublin, do it. It's a great city, vibrant and alive - loads of options for just about any taste, from cultural nights to getting drunk to levels you didn't imagine possible (I'm a total non-drinker, anyway ).

Do not listen to Irish people as they seem to be the most pessimistic, self-esteem lacking bunch on the effing planet - a country of only 4 million inhabitants that keeps having a profound cultural, artistic and industrial impact worldwide is a force to be reckoned with, no matter what.

Problems, all country has them. Excessive drinking is definitively one; It's a cultural staple that will be difficult to beat and causes much more damage than most realize (from torn families to lost jobs). This said, most Irish people are NOT hopeless permadrunks but extremely well educated folks and excellent professionals; Unfortunately, the drunken minority happens to be the most visible and noisy, so wrong first impressions amongst foreigners are a common thing.
Crime is nearly non-existent when compared to other big cities in the EU (London, Paris, Rome, Liverpool, Madrid, Berlin, Naples, Marseille...you get the idea).

All in all, the main thing is to keep your mind open - modern Ireland is a quite unique blend of old traditions mixed with British and, more recently, American influence. It will be different from France. Not better, not worse - different. Forget all preconceptions, be open to new ideas and things and you'll enjoy this country a lot.

Last thing - If you are a guy. Irish women are, on average, STUNNING

I have been to both London and Liverpool and they feel way safer than the scumbag ridden streets of our capital.

Qualitymark

Maybe make the move for a year and see how you feel then.

Ireland is rapidly becoming two countries. In one, people who are doing fine sneer at anyone who's got into trouble by losing their work or investing in a home at a time when homes were expensive. In the other, people are, in Thoreau's phrase, living lives of quiet desperation.

The suicide rate is spiralling upwards, with a new name, 'financials', for suicides caused by the stress of debt or trying to make ends meet on the dole or in low-paid work.

Irish people, once so warm and generous, are becoming cold, cynical and absolutely heartless.

There is an enormous divide between the well-paid - politicians on a starting salary of almost €93,000, with the same amount in perks; medical consultants on €200,000 basic who treat private patients for profit, with the use of publicly-owned equipment such as PET scanners, while neglecting the public patients. Your visit to your family doctor will cost you €60 a time, and if s/he sends you to a specialist (you have to be referred, unlike France), you can set the meter running for hundreds; each test will have to be paid for. Many people, especially the old, are now unable to pay the rising cost of private health insurance, and so after a lifetime of paying for others' treatment through mutual insurance, are now left without cover and desperately afraid.

Here is how the changes in tax and welfare have affected the people of Ireland (poorest to the left, richest to the right):

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/business/Ireland.png

(From The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/austeritys-wake-why-irelands-spending-cuts-should-scare-us-too/255181/)

By the way, how do I add a .png image so it's visible as an image rather than as a link?

If I could get a job in France you wouldn't see me for dust.

OurLadyofKnock

Scioch wrote: »

Isnt there too many people hating liveline now for it to be cool ? Should you not be moving onto the next thing in a desperate attempt to distance yourself from the "sheep" ?.......Along with all the other "non sheeps" doing the same thing, hating the same things, constantly bitching about the same things simply because its cool to hate what most people like ?

So you fell for crap like this I take it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_URy6gEijg

"ah, shure the poor young people only wanted to get their hole, god love them..."

HellFireClub

Qualitymark wrote: »

Maybe make the move for a year and see how you feel then.

Ireland is rapidly becoming two countries. In one, people who are doing fine sneer at anyone who's got into trouble by losing their work or investing in a home at a time when homes were expensive. In the other, people are, in Thoreau's phrase, living lives of quiet desperation.

The suicide rate is spiralling upwards, with a new name, 'financials', for suicides caused by the stress of debt or trying to make ends meet on the dole or in low-paid work.

Irish people, once so warm and generous, are becoming cold, cynical and absolutely heartless.

There is an enormous divide between the well-paid - politicians on a starting salary of almost €93,000, with the same amount in perks; medical consultants on €200,000 basic who treat private patients for profit, with the use of publicly-owned equipment such as PET scanners, while neglecting the public patients. Your visit to your family doctor will cost you €60 a time, and if s/he sends you to a specialist (you have to be referred, unlike France), you can set the meter running for hundreds; each test will have to be paid for. Many people, especially the old, are now unable to pay the rising cost of private health insurance, and so after a lifetime of paying for others' treatment through mutual insurance, are now left without cover and desperately afraid.

Here is how the changes in tax and welfare have affected the people of Ireland (poorest to the left, richest to the right):



(From The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/austeritys-wake-why-irelands-spending-cuts-should-scare-us-too/255181/)

If I could get a job in France you wouldn't see me for dust.

This is EXACTLY how I feel, this is a country where it's like some kind of fúcked up parallel universe. There are so many people now unemployed, as if that isn't bad enough, it's a country where the less inclined you are to do something about your state of unemployment, the more likely you are to be left alone and in fact rewarded.

The more you are inclined to drag yourself out of unemployment, maybe create a job for yourself, start up a business, then the more you are going to feel like shooting yourself in the head when you run into the banking system and the "for the file" public sector mentality that very subtly obstructs everything you try to do.

Then every time you turn on the television in the evening, be it the FrontLine, Vincent Browne's Tonight Show, you'll see night after night, lying overpaid corrupt bástard cúnts from political parties trying to appease the whole nation with hugely expensive spin doctoring and lies about a recovery, lies about how we are going to get out of this, lies lies and more lies, always spoken by a man or woman paid around 200K a year from taxpayers money.

It's a horrible place to live it's a hopeless place to live, crime is everywhere, especially the kind of crime that affects you, like anti social behaviour, petty theft, petty crime, etc.

Avoid the place as you would a leper colony is my advice.

OurLadyofKnock

HellFireClub wrote: »

This is EXACTLY how I feel, this is a country where it's like some kind of fúcked up parallel universe. There are so many people now unemployed, as if that isn't bad enough, it's a country where the less inclined you are to do something about your state of unemployment, the more likely you are to be left alone and in fact rewarded.

The more you are inclined to drag yourself out of unemployment, maybe create a job for yourself, start up a business, then the more you are going to feel like shooting yourself in the head when you run into the banking system and the "for the file" public sector mentality that very subtly obstructs everything you try to do.

Then every time you turn on the television in the evening, be it the FrontLine, Vincent Browne's Tonight Show, you'll see night after night, lying overpaid corrupt bástard cúnts from political parties trying to appease the whole nation with hugely expensive spin doctoring and lies about a recovery, lies about how we are going to get out of this, lies lies and more lies, always spoken by a man or woman paid around 200K a year from taxpayers money.

It's a horrible place to live it's a hopeless place to live, crime is everywhere, especially the kind of crime that affects you, like anti social behaviour, petty theft, petty crime, etc.

Avoid the place as you would a leper colony is my advice.

That's a tad hysterical to be fair.

HellFireClub

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

That's a tad hysterical to be fair.

It's not at all, I'm self employed in the domestic economy so maybe I'm a bit closer to the real economy of this country than you are, are you a public sector worker on 50K a year by any chance?

RobbieTheRobber

HellFireClub wrote: »

It's not at all, I'm self employed in the domestic economy so maybe I'm a bit closer to the real economy of this country than you are, are you a public sector worker on 50K a year by any chance?

Does that mean your a drug dealer?
Maybe that explains why you see so much crime.

Scioch

OurLadyofKnock wrote: »

So you fell for crap like this I take it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_URy6gEijg

"ah, shure the poor young people only wanted to get their hole, god love them..."

Me ? No I'm not a home owner. I almost bought a house as the view at the time was it was dead money to rent and people could afford to buy. Thats why the house prices went up to where they did, people could afford to buy houses. At the time people were not really living beyond their means.

People will always live based on their income and people back then were on huge incomes. Not everyone bought houses for 450k, I dont know anyone who did and I know a lot of people who bought during the boom. In fact I know quite a few who got in early and turned over their first property leaving themselves now mortgage free.

This "sheep" and "group think" shíte just bugs the fcuk out of me. Its just a lazy mans argument to try and pat themselves on the back for doing nothing just because everyone else is doing something.

Maserati23

HellFireClub wrote: »

This is EXACTLY how I feel, this is a country where it's like some kind of fúcked up parallel universe. There are so many people now unemployed, as if that isn't bad enough, it's a country where the less inclined you are to do something about your state of unemployment, the more likely you are to be left alone and in fact rewarded.

The more you are inclined to drag yourself out of unemployment, maybe create a job for yourself, start up a business, then the more you are going to feel like shooting yourself in the head when you run into the banking system and the "for the file" public sector mentality that very subtly obstructs everything you try to do.

Then every time you turn on the television in the evening, be it the FrontLine, Vincent Browne's Tonight Show, you'll see night after night, lying overpaid corrupt bástard cúnts from political parties trying to appease the whole nation with hugely expensive spin doctoring and lies about a recovery, lies about how we are going to get out of this, lies lies and more lies, always spoken by a man or woman paid around 200K a year from taxpayers money.

It's a horrible place to live it's a hopeless place to live, crime is everywhere, especially the kind of crime that affects you, like anti social behaviour, petty theft, petty crime, etc.

Avoid the place as you would a leper colony is my advice.

Well said.. I am a man of few words.. I have had enough, self esteem with myself is non existent. BTW. Is that red haired lapdog going to inform the nation what Angela said to him after the kissing was finished.I would not be surprised what happened to the British embassy on Merrion Square might happen at the Dail.If the fighting Irish have any balls left.....

BUBBLE WRAP

OP, just remember, when you get off that plane in Dublin airport, dont expect to see alot of ginger people wearing green jumpers, drinking guinness. Its all LIES....

donegal_road

wait until December's budget. Things could change drastically overnight here, if its the blood-bath we have been warned its going to be

HellFireClub

Maserati23 wrote: »

Well said.. I am a man of few words.. I have had enough, self esteem with myself is non existent. BTW. Is that red haired lapdog going to inform the nation what Angela said to him after the kissing was finished.I would not be surprised what happened to the British embassy on Merrion Square might happen at the Dail.If the fighting Irish have any balls left.....

I can feel it welling up, people are absolutely fúcking furious and the day is soon coming where civil unrest is going to happen, it's only around the corner and I personally won't be found wanting when it does kick off.

Btw, I'm the kind of person who just keeps my head down and tries to get on with it, last time I was at a protest was in my college days many years ago, I just try to work hard and get on with it, but it's time now to face up to reality and hit the stop button, this country can't take another round of this austerity bullshít nonsense, it's a self-destruct mission that has proven itself to be just that and nothing else, instructed by those at the very top of the EU political hierarchy who are trying to tell us that they have the answers to the very crisis that they caused. No fúcking way, not anymore, not in my name, I'm not having any more of it.

Maserati23

Its a two tier system here, you have plenty or nothing. Example. The most expensive shopping centre in the country Dundrum, is packed everyday. Also out today Brown Thomas profits rise by 13%.


When I see a 12 D BMW or Merc, I used to be jealous, not anymore, I agree there is some people making money by hard graft and skill. But most in my opinion who drive these cars are middle aged 40-55 and more than likly enjoying our generous pension plans, and able to work as well.

Blood boiling sorry ... I will stop posting for now, ( Sigh of relief from the upper classes I bet ).

Qualitymark

Fairly typical of what's happened is the ending, in 2007 (Minister for social 'welfare' then: Martin Cullen, Fianna Fáil) of the Pre-Retirement Allowance. This allowed people who lost their work in the couple of years coming up to pension age to go on the old age pension early. (The likelihood of getting work again when you're in your 60s is not great, to say the least!) The old are one of the groups hardest hit by job loss and poverty, and the least likely to be re-employed.

poussin78

Wow ... thanks for the feedback !!!

My MAIN concerns are : health insurance (used to seeing a few specialists in France, covered by social security ...), social life for the (early) thirty something professionals, general happy vibes -;) ...

P.S. I'm a girl.

Toby Take a Bow

fkt wrote: »

A choice between Ireland and a socialist country... You have my sympathies.

France isn't a socialist country.

Fr_Dougal

poussin78 wrote: »

Wow ... thanks for the feedback !!!

My MAIN concerns are : health insurance (used to seeing a few specialists in France, covered by social security ...), social life for the (early) thirty something professionals, general happy vibes -;) ...

P.S. I'm a girl.

Stay in France, seriously.

LivelineDipso

HellFireClub wrote: »

It's not at all, I'm self employed in the domestic economy so maybe I'm a bit closer to the real economy of this country than you are, are you a public sector worker on 50K a year by any chance?

I wish - I run a small business. I agree everything in this county is essentially against the self employed modest business person, but it is not as bad as you are making out.

LivelineDipso

poussin78 wrote: »

Wow ... thanks for the feedback !!!

My MAIN concerns are : health insurance (used to seeing a few specialists in France, covered by social security ...), social life for the (early) thirty something professionals, general happy vibes -;) ...

P.S. I'm a girl.

Talk to French people who live here.

You should be OK, considering your circumstances.

Micky Dolenz

poussin78 wrote: »

Wow ... thanks for the feedback !!!

My MAIN concerns are : health insurance (used to seeing a few specialists in France, covered by social security ...), social life for the (early) thirty something professionals, general happy vibes -;) ...

P.S. I'm a girl.

Health insurance is expensive and once you pay , you are more or less locked in. I would not be without it.

I moved out of Ireland for work reasons but will return in late spring. I live in Belgium now and things are as expensive, tax is high here. You will probably find things in Ireland very similar to other European countries cost wise.

I was in Dublin a few weeks ago and had the best craic ever, chatting ****e with random strangers, it really is a good town for a social life. I've always found Ireland to be great fun to go out. It's fun here too but different.

Speaking from personal experience and having worked in a few places, you can't beat home. And the the Atlantic, how I miss it. Once you can deal with the poor weather and have a job, it's all good.

Abi

L'Irlande, c'est..... Irlande. Météoroloiques merde, tout couteux, et les bas salaires.


What part of France are you in? Honestly speaking, the morale here is a bit on the low side. Though if you're set up with a job and you've some where to land on this side, the go for it.

poussin78

Thanks !
I'm in Paris at the moment ...
Hence my hesitations (culture, mentality, ...)

Nonoperational

unkel wrote: »

Welcome to boards

Ireland is a great country with great people and you will have a great life here. As long as you don't lose your job or your health. If either happens to you, you're fukced and nobody gives a sh1te. Harsh but true!

Couldn't disagree more with this. Jesus.

staker

poussin78 wrote: »

Hi guys
I'm about to make the decision to leave France for Dublin (job in hand).
Am I mad ?
Is everything negative I'm reading really true ?
Or is there still fun to be had over there ?

Thanks !

A long way to go for a bit of relief no?

poussin78

staker wrote: »

A long way to go for a bit of relief no?

Hilarious.

Abi

poussin78 wrote: »

Thanks !
I'm in Paris at the moment ...
Hence my hesitations (culture, mentality, ...)

I've family over there at the moment, they love it

When it comes to a career it has to be head over heart though.

Qualitymark

Ireland is a lovely country, and people are good at having fun. But compared with France, its social systems are dreadful.

When the Irish had to decide what to cut, when the prosperity drained suddenly away and poverty crept in through the door, the choice was to cut the poorest, to take away the right to free heat from old people in some of the coldest months of the year; to take away carer from people with mental and physical disabilities; to cut and cut education and hospitals and anything that might show kindness - while civil servants continue to receive an automatic pay rise every year, and politicians (whose salaries are linked to those civil servants') grow fat and sleek in their designer clothes. These are the choices Ireland makes; these - remember it, and don't be fooled by the easy smiles - these are the values of Ireland.

Take, for example, cystic fibrosis. We have the highest numbers in the world. We now have (since about a month ago) *one* small ward where CF patients can be treated without mixing with people with infections that can kill them. There's a device known as a Vest, which can be worn for an hour or so daily to stimulate the ejection of mucus - vital to people with CF; this costs €6,000. The health service refuses to pay the money to provide these to CF patients.

If you need, say, a knee replacement and you are paid for by private insurance, you can be seen within a month or so, but you will still have to pay a couple of thousand euro over and above what the insurance pays for, to have the operation and subsequent care. If you are a public patient (without private health insurance), you can wait years (no exaggeration) before reaching the top of the list for the operation, while your health collapses as a result of being in pain, stressed and unable to exercise.

Tests for children and adults that are the norm in European countries are not routinely done in Ireland. The standard of medical care is not good. A friend of mine died this year of cancer that progressed while she kept asking her family doctor if she needed tests for a weeping sore, for instance. Read the headlines; you'll see many examples of hospitals being sued for tragic mistakes.

Crime in Ireland is far lower than in France - at least, reported crime; but not everyone believes that crime is honestly reported statistically. The general sense is that crime is becoming a real problem, which it wasn't during the prosperous years.

Education is of a much lower standard, generally. Teachers are disaffected and angry.

Dealing with the civil service is a nightmare; civil servants have an indignant sense of entitlement and resent having to give any service to the public. (Not all of them, obviously! There are still honourable and conscientious people. But it's the baseline.)

There are things in Ireland that are much nicer than France: in Dublin and Galway and Cork, for instance, you're between the mountains and the sea, and there's always somewhere beautiful to walk or cycle. If you make a circle of friends, you'll have a nice social life. But...

As I said, if you want to come and work here, do so for a year while you make your decision. But I'd be going the other way, if I could.