General Irish politics discussion thread

The last time that happened, the Irish government just took the politically easy route out, as usual. The imf dodnt make direct decisions. Id love them to come in and sort out the problem areas that our politicians will never touch....

And if they broke the rules they should pay the price.

This doesn't excuse anybody else for breaking the rules.

SIPO must be given the power to stamp out these abuses.

No, the equivalent penalties would be Leo and Mary Lou resigning.

And both are not the same either. We need to know if Paschal bestowed favours for the donation he recieved. SF ommitted to submit an expense. Different offences.

Quite clear the only thing important to you is vindicating FG. When the story was posted here about Paschal, you made no comment on what should happen but pointed at SF.

I have been clear in criticising both here and calling for sanctions related to what has been done or not done.

Yes, if you only hang on the problems SF have with the issue.

However there is other information in the public domain that needs to be investigated whether SF think that is appropriate or not.

Get it blanch?

Not everything is about SF. If SF broke the rules too then they should also face investigation and sanction.

Why would Mary Lou need to go?

Whoever was responsible needs to face whatever sanction is decreed.

There is no whiff of cronyism off what SF have done or not done either. I don't see what SF had to gain from their ommission and breach of the rules, if it was one, (late submissions have not drawn any sanctions up to now.)

We need to know more about what Paschal has done...whether or not SF or anybody else thinks we don't. And if there is more to what SF have done, we need to know that too.

Is it wrong that successive governments have hampered SIPO from doing this work? Yes or No?

Where did I say he needed to resign exactly?

That is what you called for.

SF have an issue here and have ennunciated it. So what? They aren't the only ones with issues.

Others have bigger issues with it.

I want to know did Paschal appoint somebody to a state body on foot of this 'favour' which is far more serious an offence.

TD get (more or less) the same pension as all public servants, with one key difference:

The amount of service required for a full pension.

Typical PS = 40 years.

TD pension = 20 years

Considering the average private patient only visits their GP about twice a year and people on full free visit 5-6 times a year, 2 free per year is a no brainer. Especially when our GP system is already creaking and oversubscribed in so many areas.

The problem with "on full free visit 5-6 times a year" is it's not a very accurate breakdown of medical card holders.

It doesn't distinguish between old people and people with serious medical conditions who probably need to go every few months, dole enthusiasts and time wasters and people who get cards because they have dependants or students who probably don't use it much at all.

Those stats can be misused to suggest we will all be off to the GP 5 or 6 times a year which most working people probably won't.

As the report says though there will be an increase as we just don't have the doctors for full free GP care.