Retrospective view of budget: What would you have cut / not cut if you had your way?

Neewbie_noob · 09-12-2012 10:07PM #1

Sorry if this has been done before, but I'd like to make a thread specifically devoted to ranting about what should have been / should not have been cut in budget 2013:

Here goes:

Cut Pavee point
Cut Overseas Aid
Cut funding to conradh na ngaeilge by 75%
Abolish Seanad
Stop giving dole to people who are not Irish Citizens
Stop giving child welfare payments to children living abroad.
Sell 50% of Irish Rail and Dublin Bus to private investors

Anyone who is on the Dole and who is offered a job by an officer, and refuses the job, will be stripped of all benefits and never be allowed reapply. Job offciers will pay for themselves in long run

Welfare fraud = mandatory 5 years in prison.

Cut road tax and incorporate it into petrol

Introduce a 150 Euro levy for cyclists

Cut Enda Kennys Salary and Higgins' down to €100, 000 ( and they have to pay a portion of their own expenses)

ALL politician's expenses must be accounted for

Ideas??

My name is URL · 09-12-2012 10:08PM

What's a 'non-Irish' citizen?

coonecb1 · 09-12-2012 10:12PM

I'd have cut politician's salaries first.

The cut funding for Arts, and foreign aid.

Then move on to the other things.

Thrill · 09-12-2012 10:13PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Anyone who is on the Dole and who is offered a job by an officer, will be stripped of all benefits and never be allowed reapply.

HeyThereDeliah · 09-12-2012 10:13PM

The problem with your non Irish citizen is if they have worked here for years are they not entitled to be supported when they fall on hard times?

I would cut all allowances for ministers, the rest of us don't get expenses to go to work.

RichT · 09-12-2012 10:16PM

What would I have cut?

Michael Noonans "jacobs" off!

seamus · 09-12-2012 10:16PM

I'm not in favour of completely cutting off payments to anyone who's living here. As much as we complain about the welfare state, we should be proud that unlike in many other western countries, we don't leave anyone on the street without a bean to feed themselves.

road_high · 09-12-2012 10:29PM

Cut dole payments for those on it for over 2/3 years by about 50%. Can't expect the state to support you indefinitely.

Fr_Dougal · 09-12-2012 10:31PM

mfitzy wrote: »

Cut dole payments for those on it for over 2/3 years by about 50%. Can't expect the state to support you indefinitely.

I disagree with this. But I'd certainly cut it for those that were on it during the boom.

Mint Sauce · 09-12-2012 10:40PM

Well to start with, cuts to TD salaries and expenses. Just seen today that they are all now entitled to shiny new iPads as well.

Means testing of child benefit once you earn over a certain amount. No way should the highest earners be getting more that the lowest paid.

A gradual decrease of JSB/JSA the longer you are signing on for, wouldn't let it reach zero, but to a minimum point.

A decrease of Motor tax, to actually maybe encourage more to pay for, therefore to maybe increase revenue.

A cut in foreign aid. Need to look after our selves at the mo.

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Anyone who is on the Dole and who is offered a job by an officer, will be stripped of all benefits and never be allowed reapply. Job offciers will pay for themselves in long run

About a year on JSB after getting made redundant, another few months on JSA after my stamps ran out and working a few hours part time a week, not once was I called in to see an officer. Also had problem after problem with my payments after getting the part time work.

Was also going into FAS on a regular voluntary basis, and yet was still ordered to make a compulsory visit to them even though had been in a week earlier, probably by a computer generated letter.

Been off the dole now for about 18 months, after getting a FAS course which led to a full time job. Called in a few weeks ago to collect my FAS/FETAC certs, to see a newly laid out office incorporating this so called new social welfare service and the new name for FAS. Firstly got a smart answer saying there's no such thing as FAS any more, then them spending several minutes trying to work out where my new certs were.

One thing showed, despite the money spent on so called new services, which is probably no more than an PR stunt, they are obviously not spending the money on communication.

keith16 · 09-12-2012 10:41PM

150 levy for cyclists is a ridiculous suggestion.

Mint Sauce · 09-12-2012 10:51PM

keith16 wrote: »

150 levy for cyclists is a ridiculous suggestion.

Absolutly, define a cyclist, would a 15 or 16 year old using their bike to get to school be liable.

Max Power · 09-12-2012 10:53PM

Give out free condoms, might save us a fortune.

Mint Sauce · 09-12-2012 10:54PM

FionnMcCool87 wrote: »

Give out free condoms, might save us a fortune.

Can already be got for free from family planning and STD clinics.

Neewbie_noob · 09-12-2012 10:56PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Absolutly, define a cyclist, would a 15 or 16 year old using their bike to get to school be liable.

Cyclists over 18. Full stop.

All cyclists must carry an ID / bike license obtainable from Post Office / Council Office / etc. It costs 150 baloons and is renewable once a year. This can be used as an identification for Gardaí to tackle the menace that is cyclists.

Stabshauptmann · 09-12-2012 11:00PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Sorry if this has been done before, but I'd like to make a thread specifically devoted to ranting about what should have been / should not have been cut in budget 2013:

Here goes:

Cut Pavee point
Cut Overseas Aid
...
Stop giving dole to people who are not Irish Citizens

So I hear you're a racist now, father?

Anyone who is on the Dole and who is offered a job by an officer, and refuses the job, will be stripped of all benefits and never be allowed reapply. Job offciers will pay for themselves in long run

I'm not a fascist. Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do

Introduce a 150 Euro levy for cyclists

LOL.
Why?

In before the lock :pac:

Mint Sauce · 09-12-2012 11:09PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Cyclists over 18. Full stop.

All cyclists must carry an ID / bike license obtainable from Post Office / Council Office / etc. It costs 150 baloons and is renewable once a year. This can be used as an identification for Gardaí to tackle the menace that is cyclists.

Not all cyclists are a menace. There are alot of bad drivers out there as well. Plus I have seen Garda Cyclists break the rules of the road as well, and not always in the line of duty.

starbelgrade · 09-12-2012 11:13PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Sell 50% of Irish Rail and Dublin Bus to private investors

Who the fuck would want to buy 50% of two major loss-making state-run companies?

keith16 · 09-12-2012 11:15PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Cyclists over 18. Full stop.

All cyclists must carry an ID / bike license obtainable from Post Office / Council Office / etc. It costs 150 baloons and is renewable once a year. This can be used as an identification for Gardaí to tackle the menace that is cyclists.

How exactly are cyclists a menace?

Skylinehead · 09-12-2012 11:18PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Cyclists over 18. Full stop.

All cyclists must carry an ID / bike license obtainable from Post Office / Council Office / etc. It costs 150 baloons and is renewable once a year. This can be used as an identification for Gardaí to tackle the menace that is cyclists.

Well this is a very poor attempt at hiding an anti-cyclist thread.

Neewbie_noob · 09-12-2012 11:21PM

keith16 wrote: »

How exactly are cyclists a menace?

Skylinehead wrote: »

Well this is a very poor attempt at hiding an anti-cyclist thread.

irish-stew wrote: »

Not all cyclists are a menace. There are alot of bad drivers out there as well. Plus I have seen Garda Cyclists break the rules of the road as well, and not always in the line of duty.

Stabshauptmann wrote: »

So I hear you're a racist now, father?

I'm not a fascist. Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do

LOL.
Why?

In before the lock :pac:

irish-stew wrote: »

Absolutly, define a cyclist, would a 15 or 16 year old using their bike to get to school be liable.

Let's not turn this into a cyclists defence thread, it's about retrospective view of budget and what should be cut / fees introduced. Let's be civil folks, let's not bash cyclists either (or foreigners).

keith16 · 09-12-2012 11:23PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Let's not turn this into a cyclists defence thread, it's about retrospective view of budget and what should be cut / fees introduced. Let's be civil folks, let's not bash cyclists either (or foreigners).

You started the bashing and now you can't defend it and ask everyone else to politely stop? :pac:

Outkast_IRE · 09-12-2012 11:24PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Cyclists over 18. Full stop.

All cyclists must carry an ID / bike license obtainable from Post Office / Council Office / etc. It costs 150 baloons and is renewable once a year. This can be used as an identification for Gardaí to tackle the menace that is cyclists.

Silly idea really people who regularily cycle are aiding the state in many ways.

1. Easing traffic by not driving.
2. Staying in good health and i would say less likely to need the health services.
3. Cyclists generally spend alot in alot of local shops for tyres,tubes, clothes.

Thats just off the top of my head im sure others can find studies etc.............. if you impose a levy and some of these people start driving again its a lose lose situation ......... also being on a bike your a hell of a lot more mobile than a car trying to stop someone on a bike if they didnt want to be stopped would be tough going.

Basically as someone who cycles and drives, your idea is stupid and its you just taxing a group you dont like.

09-12-2012 11:28PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

ALL politician's expenses must be accounted for

Ideas??

Brendan Howlin did announce the ending of unvouched expenses...

Have you costed how much your ideas would save?

Amirani · 09-12-2012 11:30PM

Most of your ideas are either incredibly silly (cycling one and 5 year jail terms) or completely pointless in terms of saving money. You'll save about 200k by cutting Taoiseach and Presidential salaries. A whopping 0.001% of our annual deficit. Well done, you've saved the nation.

narddog · 09-12-2012 11:30PM

How about reducing the number of TD's, as a starter for 10. We are way over represented. Take Israel for example. Roughly the same pop., but they have 120 members in the Knesset. We could easily reduce our current 165 down to a similar number. Won't happen of course, turkeys voting for Christmas and all that....

Mint Sauce · 09-12-2012 11:33PM

Neewbie_noob wrote: »

Let's not turn this into a cyclists defence thread, it's about retrospective view of budget and what should be cut / fees introduced. Let's be civil folks, let's not bash cyclists either (or foreigners).

Your the one that called them a menace.

Neewbie_noob · 09-12-2012 11:37PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Your the one that called them a menace.

I never called foreigners a menace, and I was referring to manace cyclists, not that all cyclists are a meance. I was referrring to the fact that my 150 levy and mandatory ID for cyclists would mean that the exchequer would gain some much needed revenue and law-unabiding cyclists will be punished appropriately for breaking lights, as they can't just skip off on their merry way. I have seen many cyslists sail merrily though red lights across me as a driver or in my path when I cross a pedestrian light. I have seen them clipping off wing mirros and continuing on.

charlemont · 09-12-2012 11:40PM

Skylinehead wrote: »

Well this is a very poor attempt at hiding an anti-cyclist thread.

A very poor attempt. Full stop.

stateofflux · 09-12-2012 11:40PM

a levy for cyclists?...unenforceable, especially given the slashing of gardai numbers...will never happen....EVER

Sky King · 09-12-2012 11:42PM

You'll save about 200k by cutting Taoiseach and Presidential salaries.

This attitude is the exact reason they won't cut their own pay. We all know that TDs pay is a tiny miniscule drop in the ocean of the annual expenditure and either cutting it or doubling it would make not the slightest bit of difference in the grand scheme of things. But that's not the point

If they cut their own pay it would do two very important things.

1) Make the public think that they are taking this seriously (which we don't)
2) Make us feel just a little bit better when we are getting ass raped at every juncture in cuts and taxes.

I would pay taxes all day long if i thought they were being used properly. What pisses me off most of all, is the fact that my hard earned cash is used to bankroll bereavement cards and other nonsense.

Retrospective view of budget: What would you have cut / not cut if you had your way?

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