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How would you rate the quality of life in Ireland?

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  • #62
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,190 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Ireland generally has a very good quality of life. It's one of the few countries that doesn't have massive extremes in any area of life - we have a relatively small rich/poor divide, a good work/life balance, never too hot or too cold, very few weather extremes. On the expensive side but not insanely so. No far left or far right politicians with any influence. No dangerous flora or fauna. Not a lot of crime and without a draconian justice system. No massive problems with racism or ghettoisation. Low levels of corruption. Moderate levels of tax and government waste.


  • #63
    Galwayguy35
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,191 ✭✭✭✭Galwayguy35


    Candie wrote: »
    I think what Irish people get for their very high taxes is poor value for money. The level of waste in some public bodies is studiously ignored and people pay the price in other ways for that. Property in major urban areas is highly priced, infrastructure is below the average in developed countries. Education, though 'free', needs improvement in many areas. If you work in a particularly specialized area, you have to leave. It's easy to be a big fish in a small pond, so the opportunity to reach the top of many careers is pretty good - because it's much more difficult to be a small fish in a big pond and rise to the top in a larger and more populous country. Irish food is good, Irish cuisine - not so much. The arts scene in Ireland is very small (to an outsider), and entertainment options that don't revolve around drinking are limited. Recreational sports etc suffer from poor facilities, and those that are available exclude all but the better off, as most things are expensive.

    On the other hand, Irish people are friendly and likeable, the weather doesn't present much in the way of danger, heathcare is free (if needing much improvement), and it's relatively safe. The size of the country fosters a community feel, and families tend to be close (probably because they can't get too far away from each other!).

    On a global scale, it's a great place to live. Relative to other developed countries, I guess it's a question of preferences.



    PS: We're calling poor people in developing countries 'peasants' now?

    Healthcare is free if you're not working, it certainly isn't if you are a working taxpayer.


  • #64
    mzungu
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,310 Mod ✭✭✭✭mzungu


    Electric Sheep wrote: »

    I honestly think that the Irish weather contributes to the high suicide rate.

    I doubt it is the weather. Guyana has the highest rate of suicides in the world and the weather there is pretty good. Sri Lanka and Suriname are in the top 5 too. So, there is a lot more than just crap weather behind it.


  • #65
    Arcade_Tryer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,021 ✭✭✭Arcade_Tryer


    Cina wrote: »
    People on the dole in our country get more money a month than 70% of the planet do in a year.
    70% of the planet don't pay the same prices for goods and services as people in Ireland do. The world is unequal. And so is Ireland. Let's not pretend or perpetuate the myth that those on the dole are living lives of luxury in Ireland.
    seamus wrote: »
    Low levels of corruption.
    Corruption is institutionalised in Ireland; the legal and insurance industries for example.


  • #66
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    Arcade_Tryer wrote: »
    70% of the planet don't pay the same prices for goods and services as people in Ireland do. The world is unequal. And so is Ireland. Let's not pretend or perpetuate the myth that those on the dole are living lives of luxury in Ireland.

    Even accounting for purchasing power parity (that's what you meant to say), the difference is still huge. Let's not pretend or perpetuate the myth that those getting free money, education and medical expenses are somehow on par with the TRULY impoverished in the world.


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  • #67
    Arcade_Tryer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,021 ✭✭✭Arcade_Tryer


    Saipanne wrote: »
    Let's not pretend or perpetuate the myth that those getting free money, education and medical expenses are somehow on par with the TRULY impoverished in the world.
    Nobody is doing that. Why would anyone do that? However, people in this thread are trying to say the opposite, that those on the dole have a great life relative to those in third world countries. Both are false comparisons. Both are pretty much meaningless. The difference? Only one comparison is being made by people i.e. the dole heads have it great compared to 70% of the world. But you already knew all of that that.


  • #68
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    Arcade_Tryer wrote: »
    Nobody is doing that. Why would anyone do that? However, people in this thread are trying to say the opposite, that those on the dole have a great life relative to those in third world countries. Both are false comparisons. Both are pretty much meaningless. The difference? Only one comparison is being made by people i.e. the dole heads have it great compared to 70% of the world. But you already knew all of that that.

    I suppose the point is that even the worst off in Ireland (excl drug addicts/etc for a moment, that is hell no matter where you live) have it better than the vast majority of the human race.

    And yet we have people making moronic claims by saying Ireland is an awful place to live.

    It isn't. There are actual, truly awful places to live in the world. Most of the human race live there.

    That is why I refer to them. Not because people criticise Ireland, but because they make it out like Ireland is hell. Ireland has to be one of the top 10% of places to live. To be born here is to win the lottery, relatively speaking.

    Anyone who denies that, is simply not in touch with reality.


  • #69
    wakka12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    Stonedpilot wrote: »
    Utter bollocks. You are simply comparing us to some peasants in Uganda.

    And peasants in Namibia. And peasants in Thailand. And peasants in Peru. And peasants in India. And peasants everywhere, because the thing is most of the world are living peasants lives compared to the life we live here


  • #70
    wakka12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    And as many people pointed out, it is a very good place to live and every Irish citizen should feel privileged to live here. Though there are some problems, not major ones, but theyre not minor either. I think some aspects of education system could be improved upon and obviously public transport and healthcare and both poorly run.


  • #71
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    No premiership team that wants to stay there says ah sure we're good enough in some areas, and we get good enough results.

    We need to focus on any areas that need improvement, and keep working at them.


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  • #72
    Electric Sheep
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,111 ✭✭✭Electric Sheep


    Deedsie wrote: »
    People complaining about the weather in Ireland are being ridiculous.

    Irish people have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world we are blessed with the climate we have. Cloudless skies 3 months of the year would be a health hazard here.

    A massive amount of our economy is based on the agri food industry. Our climate makes Ireland the perfect country for various farm practices.

    Professor John Crown highlighted last week on the radio that Irish people who emigrate to hotter climates are at a significantly higher danger of developing skin cancer. The sun doesn't suit us.

    People in Ireland have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world precisely BECAUSE of the climate you have. The tendency to run out and burn yourself as soon as you see a very infrequent ray of sun, and the habit of taking two weeks to bake yourself in the sun on a yearly basis are the cause of the high frequency of skin cancer among Irish people. Unused to the sun, unable to deal with it like adults.


  • #73
    Saipanne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭Saipanne


    Skommando wrote: »
    No premiership team that wants to stay there says ah sure we're good enough in some areas, and we get good enough results.

    We need to focus on any areas that need improvement, and keep working at them.

    No mid table premiership team thinks that they are completely sh1t in every way.


  • #74
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    Saipanne wrote: »
    No mid table premiership team thinks that they are completely sh1t in every way.

    nor tries to pretend what wasn't said was


  • #75
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    Deedsie wrote: »
    Of course, that goes without saying. Loads of areas we can improve, doesn't mean the majority of Irish people don't already have a relatively privileged lifestyle.

    Privileged compared to who ? do you mean like with like with our actual competitors in Western Europe ?
    Do you think a professional athlete aims to raise the bar, or lower it ?


  • #76
    Goya
    Closed Accounts Posts: 464 ✭✭Goya


    The question is "How would you rate the quality of life in Ireland?"

    To me, quality of life refers to availability of clean drinking water and a variety of nutritious foods in sufficient quantities, it refers to accessibility of education and healthcare, work and a living wage and reasonable working conditions, electricity, hot water, transport, minimal risk of violence, no war, no famine, being able to voice our views on the government, state supports for people who need them.

    In Ireland, people's concerns can be whether there's anything good on Netflix ffs (and that's great isn't it?)

    So in terms of quality of life, it is high in Ireland. If the question were "Is Ireland the best place to live in the world?" well that's a different discussion.


  • #77
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    Flimpson wrote: »
    To me, quality of life refers to availability of clean drinking water and a variety of nutritious foods in sufficient quantities, it refers to accessibility of education and healthcare, work and a living wage and reasonable working conditions, electricity, hot water, transport, minimal risk of violence, no war, no famine, being able to voice our views on the government.

    All of things need care and maintenance , and without continued vigilance and hard work, significant threats to all of them are possible, with the possible exception of widespread famine.
    Flimpson wrote: »
    In Ireland, people's concerns can be whether there's anything good on Netflix ffs (and that's great isn't it?)

    For you and the comfy maybe, it's let them eat cake, but do you really think that's the concern of the unacceptably high number of Irish citizens who are lying on trolley's in A&E's or have to sleep outside tonight on the streets ? Or the people trying to help and care for them, or those carers fighting against the odds every day ?


  • #78
    darlett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,316 ✭✭✭darlett


    Skommando wrote: »
    For you and the comfy maybe, it's let them eat cake, but do you really think that's the concern of the unacceptably high number of Irish citizens who are lying on trolley's in A&E's or have to sleep outside tonight on the streets ? Or the people trying to help and care for them, or those carers fighting against the odds every day ?

    We have a much lower rate of people sleeping outside compared to other countries. We are all disgusted that someone would be homeless and we can all agree that one is one to many. The title asks 'how would you rate the quality of life in Ireland?'. .o do so fairly means you have to fairly compare it to other countries as that is what Ireland is.

    I think taking over Apollo House is a wonderful symbolic act and indeed the best tribute to 1916 that this centenary year has seen, it's very appropriate. But the fact is in the city tonight, most people actually sleeping out of doors are addicts who are hard to house. That's not homelessness. That's a drug problem. The reason they 'have' to sleep outside is more complex than them not being provided a bed.


  • #79
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    darlett wrote: »
    We have a much lower rate of people sleeping outside compared to other countries.

    Compared to what countries ? What countries should Ireland be comparing themselves with ? Third world ones, or Western European ones ?

    It's bad enough, that even the government and public servants have found the honesty to admit Ireland has a homeless crisis.


  • #80
    darlett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,316 ✭✭✭darlett


    Skommando wrote: »
    Compared to what countries ? What countries should Ireland be comparing themselves with ? Third world ones, or Western European ones ?

    It's bad enough, that even the government and public servants have found the honesty to admit Ireland has a homeless crisis.

    Up to you. Go ahead and pick them and rate us. Lets see what our betters do and where we should look to improve. Countries you've experienced or know something about. I've spent a good amount of time in USA, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. A mixed bag. But all with worse levels of homelessness. I really haven't spent much more than a few odd days in other Western European countries to speak an informed opinion/


  • #81
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    darlett wrote: »
    Up to you. Go ahead and pick them and rate us. Lets see what our betters do and where we should look to improve. Countries you've experienced or know something about. I've spent a good amount of time in USA, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. A mixed bag. But all with worse levels of homelessness. I really haven't spent much more than a few odd days in other Western European countries to speak an informed opinion/

    So even the government, politicians, civil servants and media, who've managed to find the honesty to acknowledged the crisis, are in fact all lying and we don't have a homeless and affordable accomodation crisis ?

    Can you imagine if some gombeen politican came out and tried to say compared to Mozambique we don't have any homeless problem here ?

    Do you really think that's an acceptable political excuse for it ?


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  • #82
    Nermal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,836 ✭✭✭Nermal


    No plants or animals liable to kill you. No earthquakes, no hurricanes, no tornados. No deserts, no glaciers, just hundreds of square miles of beautiful greenery. No overpopulation or underpopulation (we have exactly the same population density as the rest of the earth!), no serious pollution, no serious risk of famine or war, the sea and multiple borders separating us from every conflict zone. A stable, long-lived democracy, free healthcare, education and one of the most generous welfare systems there is.

    It's paradise.


  • #83
    Widdershins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,633 ✭✭✭✭Widdershins


    Skommando wrote: »
    All of things need care and maintenance , and without continued vigilance and hard work, significant threats to all of them are possible, with the possible exception of widespread famine.



    For you and the comfy maybe, it's let them eat cake, but do you really think that's the concern of the unacceptably high number of Irish citizens who are lying on trolley's in A&E's or have to sleep outside tonight on the streets ? Or the people trying to help and care for them, or those carers fighting against the odds every day ?

    I think it's representative of the average person. It's a different story for people on the margins of any society. A bit of a horrible expression but accurate. Although, anyone can find themselves the victim of a field hospital style overcrowded A and E dept.


  • #84
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    Widdershins wrote: »
    I think it's representative of the average person. It's a different story for people on the margins of any society. A bit of a horrible expression but accurate. Although, anyone can find themselves the victim of a field hospital style overcrowded A and E dept.

    Do you really believe only those on the 'margins of society' are lying on trolleys in A&E for example ?


  • #85
    Widdershins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,633 ✭✭✭✭Widdershins


    Skommando wrote: »
    Do you really believe only those on the 'margins of society' are lying on trolleys in A&E for example ?

    I just edited my comment, probably at the same time as your post..


  • #86
    justshane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,120 ✭✭✭justshane


    Truth. Unfortunately under no circumstances is Irelands health system better than New Zealand's, having the misfortune to require th use of both. Lights years ahead.


  • #87
    namloc1980
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,442 ✭✭✭✭namloc1980


    snotboogie wrote: »
    We get too smug in these threads comparing ourselves to third world countries. We have a high cost of living (Dublin sits at the top of European rental prices in between London and Paris), poor public services, drastically outdated infrastructure and low wages. That gives most people a lack of disposable income and forces them into long commutes. Our climate isn't great, the no natural disasters is a complete farce as we have had numerous serious floods in the last decade, not a high death toll (was there any?) but how many people die from natural disasters in the western world every year? It's hardly much of a brag. At the end of the day we have a climate that at best makes outdoor activity uncomfortable and at worst impossible for most of the year. Compare that to France where a huge portion of the population can spend 3 months on the beach every year.

    The weather here really isn't that bad. We get some rain but in reality it's pretty decent. We get long dry spells and decent sun. Although listening to some people you'd swear we live in monsoon conditions all year round. Dublin sits at the same latitude as Calgary and Moscow, yet has nowhere near the extremes you'd find in those places. As for outdoor activities ranging from uncomfortable to impossible, now that's just pure nonsense.


  • #88
    Johngoose
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭Johngoose


    It can't be too bad when Brian O' Driscoll and Amy Huberman are buying a fixer upper for €2,000,000 in Rathmines.The house has no heating system.Things are boomy baby.


  • #89
    darlett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,316 ✭✭✭darlett


    Skommando wrote: »
    So even the government, politicians, civil servants and media, who've managed to find the honesty to acknowledged the crisis, are in fact all lying and we don't have a homeless and affordable accomodation crisis ?

    Can you imagine if some gombeen politican came out and tried to say compared to Mozambique we don't have any homeless problem here ?

    Do you really think that's an acceptable political excuse for it ?

    I've invited you to compare us to any country doing it better than us that we can learn from and you come back with politics. Mozambique? No, I never mentioned that. Stop deflecting. I mentioned countries I was familiar with (USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia) as it's too important a topic to pull facts out of ones hole. If Mozambique is your chosen knowledge go ahead and enlighten us because either way I know nothing of the homeless situation there. If it's western European countries, go at that.


  • #90
    Johngoose
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭Johngoose


    http://evoke.ie/news/irish-news/amy-and-brian-house-rathmines


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  • #91
    Skommando
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    darlett wrote: »
    I've invited you to compare us to any country doing it better than us that we can learn from and you come back with politics. Mozambique? No, I never mentioned that. Stop deflecting. I mentioned countries I was familiar with as it's too important a topic to pull facts out of ones hole. If Mozambique is your chosen knowledge go ahead and enlighten us because either way I know nothing of the homeless situation there. If it's western European countries, go at that.

    you were the one that said compared to some countries, and you still can't even offer one ?

    again, I'll ask you , even the government and public service admit there is a homeless crisis in Ireland, are they lying ?


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