Is the present FF/FG/GP government the worst in the history of the state?

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195587#Comment_121195587

All areas for improvement, sure.

But show me a country that doesnt have work to do and improvments to make.

The bottom line is we are near the top of the Premiership for standard of living, in global terms.

There is more to do, I agree, but the vast majority of countries are below us, there are very few above us.

One thing I would say that is related to a lot of the points you make is that we havent been able to keep up with infrastructure requirements vs our rapid population growth and of course, that impacts housing, healthcare and transport etc.

But staffing projects is very difficult when we are already at full employment and our very generous welfare state keeps plenty of folks out of the job market. If we could incentivise more people to work that do not currently, we could pour more resources into fixing some of those infrastructural projects.

Our non working household numbers are too high, but the flipside is we have a very well funded welfare sysytem, which is a positive, of course.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195674#Comment_121195674

I voted for Catherine Connolly (IND) since 2016 and she is a very honest woman and has held this shoddy government to account many times. I will never vote FG again. FF never an option. Very unlikely to vote SF but I would vote SD. I think we need a new party or two with candidates/TDs that have integrity and vision. Most are just plain greedy now and block all reform. We still need the New Politics that FG promised in 2011. All lies of course.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121194663#Comment_121194663

To be pedantic, it's 48.5% over €40k. 52% kicks in after €70k (70,044 I think, to be precise).

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195713#Comment_121195713

It's not about a few "improvements to make". These are fundamentals. The basics. Major major failings. Take your head out of the sand. I hope you never have to watch a relative try to sleep on a trolley in a busy corridor in pain. When did Enda promise to end the Trolley crisis ??

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195587#Comment_121195587

THIS is precisely the point of this thread as never in the history of the state has a government boasted of so much revenue at its disposal and delivered so little. Where is all the money going?

Nothing summed it up greater than earlier today in Dail Eireann with Leo Varadkar trying to win a round of punch n judy politics with Mary Lou McDonald on the basis of 80,000 young people have emigrated over the last 3 years but 90,000 returned (he never declared their ages).

Other governments have been bad but they arguably have achievements to their name. The Ahern governments revolutionised the road network and introduced and extended broadband. They made huge investments in public sector bringing strikes to NIL from an era of industrial rest in the 1980s and Ahern can claim credit for peace in NI.

The present government seems to give billions away to NGOs to promote what they think. Millions provided to RTE and radio stations under the guise of "Government of Ireland" (TM) adverts.

It's a government which literally delivers next to nothing.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195734#Comment_121195734

Not many countries dont have similar issues. Take a look over the water to the UK, as an example.

They have a major trolley crisis in hospitals.

Again, more workers required to provide the level of care we need.

We need more people in the workforce to support a growing population.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195056#Comment_121195056

Common knowledge that HAP pushes up rents - its more money chasing finite supply of rentals. How would it not inflate rental prices?

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195722#Comment_121195722

Vote SD or some party, you might as well stayed as home instead of wasting the fuel driving to a polling booth to vote for independents.

mykrodot

it always makes me laugh when posters claim that people going abroad for holidays is a barometer of how wealthy we are!!

They are going abroad because its a hundred times CHEAPER than trying to holiday in Ireland! These are the hard working families who pay for everything, taxed to the hilt, kids in school, doing everything right! They are going abroad because its either that or no holiday at all!

(and I guarantee you if restuarants are packed every night of the week, it is with tourists or stag/hen parties, nobody in my family or friend circle can afford meals out anymore!)

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121194920#Comment_121194920

That doesn't mean what you seem to think it does.

if it did every government would also have to provide food and clothing, healthcare for everyone also

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121196688#Comment_121196688

What do you think social welfare payments are designed to pay for? Or HAP payments? Or Back to School payments? Or Childrens Allowance? Or higher tax credits for those with children?

paddyisreal

they have been a disaster

healthcare is a shambles.

housing is a shambles

schools cant get teachers

guards are on strike

childcare is a disaster

mental health services are a disgrace

legal strikes

lots of posters here seem to judge a governments performance on how wealthy we are and jobs number etc which is important but there is no point in having a good economy if your pissing it all against the wall ( childrens hosptital ffs ). I would vote for anyone who can solve healthcare and housing, this government have made a woeful attempt at housing/healthcare and their legacy will be one of failure hence their poll ratings.

during the 80s we might have been poorer but we had a half decent health system, housing was actually being built by the government and gave people a chance to own their own gaff now we have massive private building companies building houses and the local county council paying over inflated prices for a 20 year lease - crazy ****.

Lets be honest we are in the middle of another boom with another kick in the balls just around the corner - our economy is built on a house of cards (corporation tax could fall off a cliff at any moment and where would that leave us ? ) basically because we are a tax haven and not because of some brilliant government policy. our only indiginueus economy farming has been sold done the river to satisfy the crazy greens.

its only a matter of time before its crash number 2

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121194920#Comment_121194920

Of course there are many Paddies who are now so rich that they consider housing to be a commodity like oil, coffee or metals.

If people considered housing to be a commodity they wouldn't insist on its value only ever increasing. We could do with it being more commoditised to be honest.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121196102#Comment_121196102

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I think you have Stockholm syndrome.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121196878#Comment_121196878

I know what they are to pay for. They are to assist those persons who cannot assist themselves (social protection )

Article 25 of the UDHR does not put a responsibility on government's to 'provide affordable housing for all its citizens' no more than it makes them responsible to clothe and feed all its citizens.

And, let's just say they did have that responsibility, where do you think the money comes from to do those things?

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121197368#Comment_121197368

I never stated any article places responsibility on anything.

It's a simple fact that the responsibility of government is to provide the basics - sanitation, clean water and housing (shelter) initially with roads, education, health, policing etc. . thereafter. This has been the case for thousands of years. The Romans were doing this 2000 years ago.

Otherwise what's the point of taxation?

It must also be pointed out that various Irish governments have abdicated from their responsibility to build houses via the councils and corporations since basically the 1980s (leaving it entirely to the private sector).......and look where that has left us.

If you want to claim that government has no responsibility to build houses then government is going to have an even bigger mess coming down the line for not taking on that responsibility. It must also be pointed out that most pay for their own houses. . . . I'm stating that it is the responsibility for government to ensure that houses are built. It's the responsibility of the house occupant to pay for it at a fair price.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121194874#Comment_121194874

This is exactly what you said.

Glad to see you have changed your mind.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121197861#Comment_121197861

Uh

this u?

BagofWeed

The unleashing of racism just to undermine the opposition is one of the if not the most cynical, evil and divisive things ever done to this country. The amount of people in everyday conversation who blame immigrants for all our ills is shocking. The racism was always there in the background, in hushed tones but now it's open and has been normalised. But it also shows up how stupid a lot of people are, complete and utter lack of critical thinking.

Jim Allisters insult towards Varadkar the Venomous was the truest thing he ever uttered.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198880#Comment_121198880

Who are these people that blame immigrants?

Are you exaggerating the extent of racism in Ireland?

hotmail.com

This government and the last one has almost no major infrastructural achievements.

The Children's Hospital is the only legacy and that's not even finished and is a financial mess.

The Greens in government over 3 years and no changes to public transport. It's the do nothing government.

oceanman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121194959#Comment_121194959

leaving any government in power for too long is dangerous....history has taught us that.

Sam Russell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121199468#Comment_121199468

The PT has improved. The fares have been reduced overall and the 90 min fare has been introduced. The Bus Connects is beginning to be rolled out. Metrolink is awaiting the ABP Railway Order, but meanwhile procurement is progressing. The purchase of electric buses has happened, but no charging stations - oops.

Following the reduction in fares, usage has increased.

The mess with the Children's hospital occurred because the political wrangle over the site. It should have been put in a better site and without an underground car park. The current site is overcrowded but well served with PT.

Government only manage 3 thing’s

Humans

Environment

Economies

All failing badly i think except the economy

but it’s the way governments form policy that’s causing chaos.

Until we have a holistic context to our decision making and policy’s we wont change anything. What I mean by that is, how do we want our lives to be?

we all want clean air, water, food, money, housing, time off etc

Now develop policy’s based on that

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121199468#Comment_121199468

https://geohive.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=26b6e93dcd1044ff8fa2bd1a772a6080

It's all available here in terms of major projects

A lot of changes in public transport, especially around buses. Cycle lane, greenway etc. The 90 min fare is a huge plus.

Also the introduction of FiT for home owners.

The location is issue with Children's Hospital.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200135#Comment_121200135

political wrangle over the site

The only political wrangle over the site is from politicians who won't shut up about it being in the "wrong place".

tesla_newbie

Absolutely, both Martin and Varadkar are the two worst Taoiseachs we have had , both happened to be leaders during a period when the big American corporations are doing great , a well trained monkey could handle huge corporation tax windfalls, in every other area they are not only awful but actively harming the country

Cowen and Garret Fitz were both failures but you never thought they didn’t give a damn about the Irish people

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121195722#Comment_121195722

Catherine Connolly is a Marxist clown of the highest order

Did you smash it

What’s the best government in the history of the state and why?

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200612#Comment_121200612

Impossible to say which one was best , the 1994 to 1997 one managed the emergence of the Celtic Tiger very well, the 1997 - 2002 government did well before Bertie went mad post 2002 throwing money at everyone and making construction the heart of the economy

the 1987 to 1992 Haughey government sowed the seeds of our prosperity and had to make tough decisions

the 2011 Enda Kenny government wasted opportunities but overall did well and as the media didn’t like Enda , they were never going to be an appreciated government, Labour also were unfairly portrayed during this period

due to our awful PR electoral system, we will never elect a decisive government of unshakable purpose

Hermy

Never got the impression Cowen cared all that much, particularly given his refusal to accept responsibility for the hames he made of the economy.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200135#Comment_121200135

They were all welcome changes but minor in the grand scheme of things. Journey times for using the bus hasn't changed in the last few years.

What happened with Bus Connects and creating more bus lanes. Nothing.

Greens have been bitterly disappointing from a public transport point of view.

mikemac2

The government that was interning hundreds in jails and shot 77 prisoners may be worth consideration OP in your very dramatic thread title

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200304#Comment_121200304

The cost over runs and the delays in completion have nothing to do with the location.

No major transport infrastructure is being built at the moment - no Luas extension to Finglas, no Metro, the Maynooth line hasn't been upgraded (talked about for years and years) etc etc.

Cycle lanes are few and far between and where they have built them, they look horrible.

I would imagine Green voters are wondering why they bothered voting Green.

BagofWeed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121199461#Comment_121199461

Are you Sir, An ostrich ? It's like open season for insulting immigrants in our city centres nowadays but in good ol' Oirish style it's ignored and/or swept under the carpet.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200862#Comment_121200862

The bus corridors, like many other projects, are stuck in ABP. It's ridiculous how many issues boil down to that one blockage. It is the fault of the government to have under resourced it but not specifically the Greens whose remit it does not fall under.

hotmail.com

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121201085#Comment_121201085

I don't see it as a mainstream thing.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198880#Comment_121198880

One can blame immigration for things without being a racist.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121201085#Comment_121201085

Maybe among those who hang around city centres, usually young people of low intellect or self respect, the same type of people who call others fat, ginger, stupid - its low hanging fruit for them.

To tar anyone who argues against immigration as a racist is dangerous.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202003#Comment_121202003

I would be against uncapped immigration because we don’t have the resources available to look after our citizens as it stands.

It’s not because I’m racist. But that aside how can a European be racist to another European..?

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202053#Comment_121202053

That poster did not mention the nationality of the people allegedly getting racially abused - then again though most people who pull the racism card don't know how to use it.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202053#Comment_121202053

If you're gonna take that approach how can anybody be racist to anybody else? Considering that we are all the same race.

Anyway, words change meanings over time, racism includes 'race ' and ethnic background.

Clo-Clo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200886#Comment_121200886

Green Party got into government and have implemented policies, policies that people voted for.

oceanman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202490#Comment_121202490

no chance the greens will be in next time...not a chance.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121200304#Comment_121200304

We shouldnt be looking to buses as the primary upgrade to Dublin's transport network.

Its always the same cheap, half baked ideas. Buses. More buses. Buses that share the road with cars. Buses that have no drivers so roll out of extended network is delayed anyway.

Buses that are slower than your car. So why bother?

Give us an underground system and be done with it.

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202490#Comment_121202490

What policies did people vote for that the Greens pushed?

Greens have dropped off a (very low) cliff in terms of support and will be out of govt for the next election cycle.

They are only in govt now to make up the numbers and be the fall guys for FFG in terms of climate targets.

The Soc Dems or Indies will take their place in making up the numbers this time around.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202243#Comment_121202243

are you trolling?

BlueSkyDreams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202714#Comment_121202714

Trolls have feelings too, you know.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202490#Comment_121202490

What have the Greens actually achieved? What policies?

Ireland had highest EU greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Q2 last year – new report | Independent.ie

Ireland had the highest emissions of greenhouse gases per head in all of the EU in the second quarter of last year, according to a new Eurostat report.

Ireland’s emissions still continue to rise despite government commitments for many years to lower the country’s carbon footprint. The data is reported up to Q2 of 2022 and shows Ireland’s emissions grew once again, making it the biggest emitter per capita in the EU.

================

They will we wiped out.

hotmail.com

The Greens promised action if they got into government. 3 and a half years later - no achievements. Same as the last time.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121202740#Comment_121202740

They did manage to implement policies that closed down some of our energy plants during a energy crisis and a policy that directly targeted the primary heat source of the elderly and other people living in rural Ireland!