Ireland

Having come across someone who's job/career is paid about 2.5 times less in NI than in the republic of Ireland, how historically has this occurred we have broadly similar economies to the UK, there are lots of areas where this is happening such as trades which are much better paid here that in the UK.

Historically why is Ireland such an expensive country in comparison to the uk, even simple things amaze me such as being able to get 20 painkillers for 20p in the uk yet the same product is over a euro here.

Morrisseeee

What about the comparison with:
1. Insurance (house, car, health)
2. Home heating oil
3. Gas
4. Electricity
5. Taxes, charges, PRSI, USC, pension, LPT, etc etc
6. Rubbish
7. Car tax, Petrol
8. Food
9. Drink
10. Child care, child allowance, school fees, doctor fees
11...........should I keep on going !

Is the person 2.5 times much better off after those comparisons ? I dunno, I'm just asking the Q ?

sarumite

According to the OECD, Ireland and the UK have a similar purchasing power parity.

http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=CPL

So its more a perception than a reality that Ireland is more expensive than the UK?

sarumite

mariaalice wrote: »

So its more a perception than a reality that Ireland is more expensive than the UK?

Perhaps the prices are higher in Ireland, but for the PPP to be similar it would be that so are wages. When you look at the OECD data, Ireland and the UK were either within 1 point of each other or the same. The cost of goods in Ireland and the UK is similar relative to the earnings of a person in each country.

Geuze

mariaalice wrote: »

Having come across someone who's job/career is paid about 2.5 times less in NI than in the republic of Ireland, how historically has this occurred we have broadly similar economies to the UK, there are lots of areas where this is happening such as trades which are much better paid here that in the UK.

That gap is huge.

Those workers should move south.

Riskymove

in parts of the UK ther size of the market leads to great competition and thus lower prices/good deals etc

e.g. I remember being astonished by the mobile phone deals on offer

Godge

mariaalice wrote: »

Having come across someone who's job/career is paid about 2.5 times less in NI than in the republic of Ireland, how historically has this occurred we have broadly similar economies to the UK, there are lots of areas where this is happening such as trades which are much better paid here that in the UK.

Historically why is Ireland such an expensive country in comparison to the uk, even simple things amaze me such as being able to get 20 painkillers for 20p in the uk yet the same product is over a euro here.

I am not saying I don't believe you but can you provide some evidence to back up your post. 2.5 times less in Northern Ireland is a lot but what type of job are we talking about?

If we are talking about a low-paid job, it is possible because of the higher minimum wage down South and the higher dole down South.

Godge

Godge wrote: »

I am not saying I don't believe you but can you provide some evidence to back up your post. 2.5 times less in Northern Ireland is a lot but what type of job are we talking about?

If we are talking about a low-paid job, it is possible because of the higher minimum wage down South and the higher dole down South.

It is working in the charity/not for profit sector and outside of urban areas NI the rates of pay start at 7.60, where as here it is never a min wage job, the situation is a bit complicated by the different qualification between the two areas, it is not just about work its other areas as some one mentioned the cost of broad band/ mobile phone deals ect.

Rightwing

Headline in today's Ir Times:
Apple paid $36m tax on $7.11bn profits at Irish unit iPhone maker avoided $850m of Irish tax

Apple paid $36m tax on $7.11bn profits at Irish unit

iPhone maker avoided $850m of Irish tax between 2004 and 2008 using unexplained ’lower rates’

--
Companies can afford high wages on that basis, and of course the PS is vastly overpaid, that's funded on borrowings.

chopper6

Rightwing wrote: »

Headline in today's Ir Times:
Apple paid $36m tax on $7.11bn profits at Irish unit iPhone maker avoided $850m of Irish tax

Apple paid $36m tax on $7.11bn profits at Irish unit

iPhone maker avoided $850m of Irish tax between 2004 and 2008 using unexplained ’lower rates’

--
Companies can afford high wages on that basis, and of course the PS is vastly overpaid, that's funded on borrowings.

How do you arrive at this statement?

Apart from a feeling on your own part,that is.

And what do you work at,asuming you actually have a job?

creedp

chopper6 wrote: »

How do you arrive at this statement?

Apart from a feeling on your own part,that is.

And what do you work at,asuming you actually have a job?

Its OK .. you should know by now that its OK for private sector workers to be overpaid but it affront to all things decent when there is a perception (a feeling in my waters) that every single last one of public servants might be over paid

Gumbo

mariaalice wrote: »

Having come across someone who's job/career is paid about 2.5 times less in NI than in the republic of Ireland, how historically has this occurred we have broadly similar economies to the UK, there are lots of areas where this is happening such as trades which are much better paid here that in the UK.

Historically why is Ireland such an expensive country in comparison to the uk, even simple things amaze me such as being able to get 20 painkillers for 20p in the uk yet the same product is over a euro here.

mariaalice wrote: »

So its more a perception than a reality that Ireland is more expensive than the UK?

Perception my ass!

My little fella used Piriton Syrup for his skin condition. Doctors vist costs me €50, just to get the prescription and then the syrup costs me €19.49 in our chemists.

up in Newry, i can buy the same Piriton over the couter for £3.59 in McNallys Pharmacy, perception my ass i tell ya!

And that is one but example.

BMW 530d motor tax in IRL = €1500
BMW 530d motor tax in NI = £300 (Maybe less IIRC)

johnwd

One company manages to avoid paying more in taxes than the whole of the property tax will probably get in this full year and all I can find on social media is on here and it seems the result is arguing about how much public sector earn. On the radio they're going on about how its a bad time for this to be coming out because the european lads are in town and they might find out about it. F**k sake, why are we not RAGING about these bloodsucking cos and about our govts attitude to these guys paying their fair taxes - if it was you or me (or a local company struggling to pay VAT or rates) we'd be nailed to the cross with penalties but they seem to want to help these cos do their upmost to avoid paying. If these cos paid even their 12.5% we'd all be ok.
Sorry for going off on one but these companies making fortunes and paying no tax is disgusting and naturally unjust.

sarumite

kceire wrote: »

Perception my ass!

The data from the OECD suggests that it is perception. The PPP for both Countries in December 2013 was more or less the same. It pointless comparing costs of a particular item in a country without relating it to the purchasing potential of a person within that country.

chopper6

creedp wrote: »

Its OK .. you should know by now that its OK for private sector workers to be overpaid but it affront to all things decent when there is a perception (a feeling in my waters) that every single last one of public servants might be over paid

The poster in question seems to limit his contributions to that sort of inflammatory statement.

I'd be much better off ignoring him.

Gumbo

sarumite wrote: »

The data from the OECD suggests that it is perception. The PPP for both Countries in December 2013 was more or less the same. It pointless comparing costs of a particular item in a country without relating it to the purchasing potential of a person within that country.

I 100% agree, and its the same when people argue that an NI PS employee earns X amount while an ROI PS employee earns Y amount, its irreleventdues to many other factors.

sarumite

kceire wrote: »

I 100% agree, and its the same when people argue that an NI PS employee earns X amount while an ROI PS employee earns Y amount, its irreleventdues to many other factors.

I'm confused. I assumed when you said "perception my ass" you didn't think it was just perception, rather something rooted in reality?

Godge

mariaalice wrote: »

It is working in the charity/not for profit sector and outside of urban areas NI the rates of pay start at 7.60, where as here it is never a min wage job, the situation is a bit complicated by the different qualification between the two areas, it is not just about work its other areas as some one mentioned the cost of broad band/ mobile phone deals ect.

How do you know it is the same type of job?

sarumite

johnwd wrote: »

One company manages to avoid paying more in taxes than the whole of the property tax will probably get in this full year and all I can find on social media is on here and it seems the result is arguing about how much public sector earn. On the radio they're going on about how its a bad time for this to be coming out because the european lads are in town and they might find out about it. F**k sake, why are we not RAGING about these bloodsucking cos and about our govts attitude to these guys paying their fair taxes - if it was you or me (or a local company struggling to pay VAT or rates) we'd be nailed to the cross with penalties but they seem to want to help these cos do their upmost to avoid paying. If these cos paid even their 12.5% we'd all be ok.
Sorry for going off on one but these companies making fortunes and paying no tax is disgusting and naturally unjust.

While I understand the frustration, the truth is that avoiding a tax is not the same as evading a tax. I was listening to the economists 'money talks' podcast and they were discussing the topic of corporation tax. Apparently (according to the economist at least) Ireland extracts more in corportation tax as a %age of GDP than France, despite have an officially lower rate.

Geuze

johnwd wrote: »

One company manages to avoid paying more in taxes than the whole of the property tax will probably get in this full year and all I can find on social media is on here and it seems the result is arguing about how much public sector earn. On the radio they're going on about how its a bad time for this to be coming out because the european lads are in town and they might find out about it. F**k sake, why are we not RAGING about these bloodsucking cos and about our govts attitude to these guys paying their fair taxes - if it was you or me (or a local company struggling to pay VAT or rates) we'd be nailed to the cross with penalties but they seem to want to help these cos do their upmost to avoid paying. If these cos paid even their 12.5% we'd all be ok.
Sorry for going off on one but these companies making fortunes and paying no tax is disgusting and naturally unjust.

Here is an explanation of how Apple avoid CT:

http://economic-incentives.blogspot.ie/2014/03/ireland-and-apple-again.html

Dob74

mariaalice wrote: »

Having come across someone who's job/career is paid about 2.5 times less in NI than in the republic of Ireland, how historically has this occurred we have broadly similar economies to the UK, there are lots of areas where this is happening such as trades which are much better paid here that in the UK.

Historically why is Ireland such an expensive country in comparison to the uk, even simple things amaze me such as being able to get 20 painkillers for 20p in the uk yet the same product is over a euro here.[/quote




Pay rates for the trades are definately higher in the uk than hear now. Especially around London. NI is poorer part of the uk. But if you compare Dublin to anywhere else in the country i bet there would he close to a 2 to 1 differents


When it comes to the trades the uk rates are way higher at the moment ewpecially around London.



Pay rates are definately higher in the uk