I am 14 months now trying to find a GP, and 7 months waiting for a consultation with an ENT consultant. To "help" solve my problems, Jennifer Carrol McNeil wants to add money to peoples shopping bill.
I am taking this proposal as her unofficial resignation from politics, because it's going to achieve nothing and be unpopular with at least 70% of the voting population.
A quick google tells me that alcohol related illnesses cost the exchequer anywhere from €500 million to €1.5 billion per annum. If an increase in excise causes some people to drink less or brings in more money, I don't see the problem.
Except for problem drinkers an increase in price does not work.
All it does is take food out of the mouths of children.
And actually, this measure is not an increase in excise. No additional monies would be going to the government. It would achieve less than nothing.
What was the name of the car dealer in meath?!
"Up after the break, the latest from Rome".
He died on Monday, unless they are expecting him to rise again 3 days later, what "latest news" is there going to be from Rome?
Oh is it an increase in minimum pricing instead? So more money to the off licence? In that case, boo.
Same here, but his obsession with Trump (how he often covers Trump) is one of the things that has diminished him a bit as a public broadcaster for me.
When responding to texts this morning about the very easy time he gave the Chinese ambassador (e.g. no questions on human rights issues), Pat said that the focus of the interview was on the current trade issues…ah Pat. He's not fooling anyone with that - it's become almost comical how he routinely tries to bring even the most unrelated topic back to Trump in some random way, but he stays on topic when dealing with the ambassador of a undemocratic and repressive state.
The Trump fans on this thread and their constant repetition of the same complaint against Pat is getting far more tiresome than Pat giving out about a dangerous leader.
Anyone who uses even an ounce of critical thinking to comment on how Pat covers topics ie. Trump is actually a secret Trump/MAGA loving fan? This has to be one of the most ignorant comments I've ever read on here.
Good to hear Larry Donnelly on…always has a very good analysis of US politics.
No, its not that either.
The proposal is to do away with the "clubcard price". So instead of being able to buy Jameson for €24 with the clubcard, you will pay the full price of 32.50. The difference will go straight to the supermarket. Do not pass Go, do not give 8 euros to the HSE.
Similarly, a bottle of wine that is €12 but with the clubcard is €9, you will then pay €12.
No-one benefits except shareholders in supermarket chains who have loyalty schemes.
It's the same comments over and over and over again. And to be honest I think a lot of people see straight through them "Oh we don't mind that Pat doesn't like Trump it's just the way he goes about it" I'm not buying it. A lot of people here who like Pat as a broadcaster also like Trump, and it irks them that Pat doesn't feel the same way. There's not much more to it.
I thought they had done away with that already !!
You've now backed up your view on anyone being critical of how Pat covers Trump with supporting 'evidence' - this is now even more ignorant than your first comment.
the problem is the price increase won't affect those that are the problem drinkers, they will still drink. It will just be more expensive, or instead of buying cheap beer, they may find cheap vodka is more efficient
notice how the minimum pricing didn't affect the pubs, or the posher booze. A direct tax on the poorer in the country.
I tried to buy some alcohol in SuperValu at Christmas using my vouchers and was told you can't use vouchers to buy alcohol(it wasn't the only thing I was buying).
So I think they got away with buying alcohol using loyalty points. The clubcard price is an incentive for people to register for a clubcard.
That shouldn't be allowed. You can't use gift cards for alcohol, you can't use clubcard points for alcohol, you can't claim points for alcohol. I'd be well in favour of saying you can't discount alcohol like that.
That shouldn't be allowed. You can't use gift cards for alcohol,
You can't already.
you can't use clubcard points for alcohol,
you can't claim points for alcohol.
I'd be well in favour of saying you can't discount alcohol like that.
Hahahaha. All it really does is inconvenience the person who forgot their clubcard at home. The non-clubcard price is an artificially raised price. The clubcard price is not a discount on the actual price or RRP(regular retail price).
The Chinese Ambassador interview really was quite bizarre even for Irish hypocrisy standards. No questions about Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia.
The whole interview undermined any pretence Pat has about freedom of the press. In fact he's never done any segment on our draconian libel laws which of course protects his own wealthy class.
Alcohol is a legal product that the vast majority of people enjoy. This kind of nanny state nonsense makes the zero craic crowd feel satisfied while ignoring real problems related to weed/coke/heroine addiction.
He asked a diplomat about China's relationship with Russia and surprise surprise the diplomat's answer was diplomatic, saying "We have a 4000 mile border with Russia".
Do you feel the same about cigarettes? Honest question.
What's your question. Cigarettes are legal products as well and people are free to enjoy them if they wish to.
Hospitals are there to treat sick people.
This same zero craic crowd don't seem to mention anything about obesity I've noticed.
I find a lot of people make the argument "as long as it legal" its fine except when it comes to cigarettes.
The zero craic brigade is getting bigger and more influential. Claire Byrne is their spiritual leader. Pat Kenny usually not as bothered about this kind of stuff. He's more into Trump and nothing else.
Given that Trump is a non drinker I suspect Pat Kenny will take the oppositie view and complain that people aren't drinking enough.
When Pat gave Bertie Ahern his first interview after the tribunal, he responded (to texts) that any questions on that would be for another day.
We're still waiting for that day to arrive.
His weekly disinformation slot which usually has nothing to do with Ireland and is aimed at his American listeners perhaps because it's all about American disinformation, Pat decried the 2020 stolen election theory but speculated without any evidence that the 2024 election was rigged.
How does Pat Kenny get away with this rubbish?
100%., Its not just alcohol though, there seems to be this thing in Ireland for the last few years that, if you make enough noise about something you don't like or don't agree with it…just ban it or tax it, It rarely if ever solves the problem but it makes the usual possee of the permanently outraged feel better…until they find the next "crisis"
Damn close thing.
Trump won 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the votes cast for president. Harris won 74,999,166 votes or 48.3 percent of the votes cast.
Pat Kenny was suggesting the election was tampered with in some way. Although he didn't explain or give any evidence. He just threw out a conspiracy theory.
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