John DoeReMi wrote: » The front page of today’s Daily Mail was given over to a slimy Fianna Failure gombeen called Michael McGrath, who’s making a pathetic and transparent attempt to pick up a few cheap votes by attacking Bono over a non-issue in relation to his tax arrangements. Let’s just remind ourselves briefly of the record of the political party this parish pump buffoon belongs to. TWICE in the last 40 years, FF have destroyed this country’s economy – the first time being in the late 70’s – by throwing money at everyone in the country in the form of massive welfare and public sector pay increases, purely to buy votes. FF have been investigated and condemned in tribunal after tribunal for corruption from the top of the party to the bottom, with a number of their members jailed for a variety of corruption related offences. During the last years of their 13 year reign of mismanagement, they suspended the democratic right to vote of the people of THREE constituencies to cling onto power. Robert Mugabe would be proud. I could devote an entire website to the list of gross hypocrisies and lies peddled by the party, but let’s just mention one recent one – the party who signed the agreement with the Troika to introduce water charges to Ireland now trumpets it’s supposed opposition to the same charges at every opportunity. The same party has a long record, or course, of facilitating and encouraging tax evasion and avoidance: Charlie McCreevy, during FF’s last reign of terror, lost no chance to introduce tax breaks for private healthcare companies – a move which has directly contributed to the two tier health service. The slimy buffoon McGrath is of course, trying to pick up a few cheap votes by pandering to the army of infantile, knuckle dragging gobshi*tes out there who mouth off at every opportunity about how much they hate Bono. Of course, the reason they hate Bono has nothing to do with his tax affairs, but is based purely on infantile begrudgery – he’s rich and famous and they’re not. U2 have done more for this country in their 40 year career than this slimy poltroon could ever even dream of achieving. Hopefully his pathetic attempt to whip up more Bono hatred will backfire on the imbecile.
kbannon wrote: » Member of corrupt tax evaders party complains about legal tax avoidance schemes?
server down wrote: » This is basically a long winded argument to whataboutary
John DoeReMi wrote: The front page of today’s Daily Mail was given over to a slimy Fianna Failure gombeen called Michael McGrath, who’s making a pathetic and transparent attempt to pick up a few cheap votes by attacking Bono over a non-issue in relation to his tax arrangements. Let’s just remind ourselves briefly of the record of the political party this parish pump buffoon belongs to.
John DoeReMi wrote: » No, it isn't. It's an attempt to highlight the disgusting hypocracy of a party who may yet manage to slither back into power and destroy the country a third time.
blanch152 wrote: » I agree with everything you say about FF, I disagree with everything you have to say about Bono. Yes, U2 have produced some great music, but they don't pay their taxes. They are equally as bad as Denis O'Brien. He moved to Portugal to legally avoid capital gains tax in Ireland, they moved their royalty company to the Netherlands to legally avoid income tax in Ireland.
Hitman3000 wrote: » In the interests of fairness should you not declare your own political leanings John?
John DoeReMi wrote: The slimy buffoon McGrath is of course, trying to pick up a few cheap votes by pandering to the army of infantile, knuckle dragging gobshi*tes out there who mouth off at every opportunity about how much they hate Bono. Of course, the reason they hate Bono has nothing to do with his tax affairs, but is based purely on infantile begrudgery – he’s rich and famous and they’re not. U2 have done more for this country in their 40 year career than this slimy poltroon could ever even dream of achieving. Hopefully his pathetic attempt to whip up more Bono hatred will backfire on the imbecile.
kbannon wrote: » "They don't pay their taxes" - are you saying they are not tax compliant because I'd wager that you're completely wrong!
chicorytip wrote: » The scandal and corruption associated with Haughey, Burke, Ahern and others is of a bygone era so it's unfair to relate McGrath with the sins of his political predecessors. He is the party finance spokesman so is fully entitled to comment on this subject. Were talking about a sophisticated form of tax dodging here whereby the super wealthy can avoid paying tax on income which is earned in Ireland thus depriving the exchequer of tens of millions of euro annually. This is most certainly a matter of public interest.
John DoeReMi wrote: » All four members of U2 are resident in Ireland. Ergo they must pay personal tax here. Here's another thing: U2 are a business which employs, both directly and indirectly, a significant number of people. A lot of ordinary, decent,, hard working tax payers make their living off this band. That means that they have an obligation to run their business as efficiently as possible. If that means they want to use LEGAL tax avoidance strategies, I have no problem with that. The history of rock music is full of globally successful musicians who went bankrupt because they took their eye off the ball when it came to their finances.
blanch152 wrote: » Well if you consider that Apple and Denis O'Brien pay their taxes, then yes, U2 pay their taxes. If you believe that artificially changing your tax domicile to avoid tax is fine and dandy, then you believe that U2 pay their taxes. I don't want any of their charity, I want their taxes fully paid.
server down wrote: » We have no idea where they are tax resident. And I doubt that U2 inc would collapse if it paid tax.
kbannon wrote: » Hang on a sec - arent we still talking about the party led by a man who lodged a donation into his personal bank account?
John DoeReMi wrote: » They live in Ireland. Everyone knows where their houses are. If they really wanted to avoid paying any tax they'd move to the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands or wherever. However they continue to live in Ireland despite the abuse they get from gobshi*es.
Allinall wrote: » I've a house in Manchester , but I don't live there. You really haven't a clue what your talking about.
John DoeReMi wrote: » a pathetic and transparent attempt to pick up a few cheap votes by attacking Bono
I love Sean nos wrote: » Do you think Bono's tax affairs are going to be a major voter issue come the next election?
John DoeReMi wrote: I'm not a member of any political party if that's what you mean. I grew up in the '80's and witnessed the appalling behaviour of the arch shyster Haughey, which coloured my politics from then on. How anyone can vote for these people given their track record of corruption and mismanagement is beyond me but of course that's the Irish for you. Always admiring the cute hoor.
John DoeReMi wrote: » This is Fianna Fail we're talking about. They'll do ANYTHING to get a vote. Why else would McGrath single out Bono? He's obviously decided that there's popularity to be gained by appealing to the knuckle dragger begrudger brigade.
