Shock Horror

force eleven · 13-09-2013 08:35AM

See what you get for voting Yes to Lisbon.

Czarcasm · 13-09-2013 10:17AM

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Correct me if Im wrong but iirc some time ago an American was talking in their senate and mentioned how he was paying almost no tax at all in Ireland, owing to a "sweetheart deal". Obviously our govt denounced it immediately but I reckon that's whats under investigation with a veiw to hitting us with a fine of many billions -or- abolition of our corporate tax..
Clever.

I genuinely don't know about the American guy in the Senate, but I do remember Obama's mention when he was inaugurated about bringing American companies back to America and for many it was throwaway rhetoric at the time, but I remember thinking it had massive implications for Ireland. It's expanded on here -

http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-manufacturing-jobs-plan-2013-2

I consider myself privileged in that I encounter on an almost daily basis some of the best business, scientific, technological, creative minds in Ireland, we're still churning out some of the most gifted graduates from our colleges and universities, even our secondary schools have some of the most brilliant minds I've ever met (Fish waste as a biofuel, I mean, I'm just left speechless!), and yet, because of the way this country's company laws are structured (they're simplifying the process now somewhat) and the lack of support in place unless you're an HPSU, we're losing these brilliant minds to countries where entrepreneurship and enterprise is part and parcel of their culture.

Those guys I mentioned with the fish waste idea, I've practically begged them, short of getting down on my knees, to stay in Ireland if I could cut through the red tape for them and get them the support they need. They're not interested. Why? Because they're off to San Fran to develop their idea and take advantage of the far greater opportunities over there. It sickens me, and they're not the only ones that have left, I know one 19 year old who one week he's working in a computer store, the next week he's off to Los Angeles to join a company who have offices in three major US cities and he's joining their development team and bringing his project with him!

We don't NEED multi-nationals in this country, we don't NEED foreign investment! We DO need to start appreciating our own home-grown talent and working on putting structures in place to encourage them to stay here, develop and export their products and services and THAT, is the only way Ireland's economy will recover and prosper without being dependent on everyone else to do it for us.

Amirani · 13-09-2013 10:34AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

We would've been in a far stronger position to negotiate our way through the financial rapids had it not been for a cox like Noonan making not so thinly veiled threats about the budget if we didn't ratify the Lisbon Treaty.

Except for the fact that Noonan wasn't in Government when the Lisbon Treaty was being ratified?

Czarcasm · 13-09-2013 10:36AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Except for the fact that Noonan wasn't in Government when the Lisbon Treaty was being ratified?

Was he not?

http://www.thejournal.ie/noonan-warns-budget-2013-will-be-harsher-if-ireland-votes-no-435893-May2012/

Sorry Niall, I see the confusion-

No, I meant the second time we were told to say yes or else to the Lisbon Treaty. The first time we rejected it in 2008, Michael Noonan was still reeling from the Hep C scandal a year earlier, when he was the Minister for Health.

Amirani · 13-09-2013 10:55AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

Was he not?

http://www.thejournal.ie/noonan-warns-budget-2013-will-be-harsher-if-ireland-votes-no-435893-May2012/

That wasn't the Lisbon Treaty (Lisbon was ratified in 2009), it was the Treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism. Your point is still relevant though.

Sorry Niall, I see the confusion-

No, I meant the second time we were told to say yes or else to the Lisbon Treaty. The first time we rejected it in 2008, Michael Noonan was still reeling from the Hep C scandal a year earlier, when he was the Minister for Health.

I think you might be mixing him up here? Michael Noonan wasn't Minister for Health in 2008?

SEPT 23 1989 · 13-09-2013 11:05AM

When push comes to shove,our spineless shower of wasters will do as they are told

Czarcasm · 13-09-2013 11:16AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

I think you might be mixing him up here? Michael Noonan wasn't Minister for Health in 2008?

No at that stage he had lost out in the 2007 General Election, but he was Minister for Health in 2007 when he rather incompetently handled the Hep C case.

That's why I said a year earlier, because I thought you meant he wasn't in Government for the Lisbon Treaty the first time in 2008, but turns out you're right all round!

But yeah, I just remembered that so vividly because I watched the news clip where he was telling people they'd need to ratify that particular treaty or face harsh measures in the budget... as he slid into the seat of his chauffeur driven Lexus! :pac:

(I'm terrible with dates and times too btw!

)

jimgoose · 13-09-2013 11:19AM

Czarcasm wrote: »

...(I'm terrible with dates and times too btw! )

You sure are - the Hep-C case was in the mid-'90s!

Czarcasm · 13-09-2013 11:30AM

jimgoose wrote: »

You sure are - the Hep-C case was in the mid-'90s!

Fcuk me I'm losing my marbles altogether! You're right Jim, it was '97, not '07

:pac:

Fuzzytrooper · 13-09-2013 11:36AM

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Why do people go weak at the knees when you call Multi nationals out for what they are. They are not charity's they are not giving people jobs, There coming somewhere where they can pay as little wages tax rent and so on. If someone said to them ahem you know that low tax rate your fiddling to 3-4% were going to fix it so you can only fiddle it down to 8% i wonder how fast they would be out of here. People need to realise there a huge liability once (a lot of our economy local shops and such are dependant on them) the lads in Europe have there way guess how many more people will be out of work after there precious multinational charity's have left.

My last job and my current one have both been with American multinationals. Same goes for my wife's current job.

darkpagandeath · 13-09-2013 02:26PM

Fuzzytrooper wrote: »

My last job and my current one have both been with American multinationals. Same goes for my wife's current job.

I have worked for them too .. I remember one time a guy from America turned up apparently he was a manager. He was not he was from a streamlining company. We were all interviewed and then ahem the not so team players you know the people who know there rights and will stand up for them were got rid of quietly. Under the guise of streamlining departments and such. I remember when I joined the company I was made to sign a contract that had on the first page “You are not part or will not join a union when employed by said company” which disappeared when we requested copy's of them.

brandon_flowers · 13-09-2013 04:56PM

I work in Monaco for a Dutch listed company headquartered in Switzerland operating under British law and I get my pay cheque from a Monegasque company. My colleague sitting a few seats away gets paid from a Cayman Islands company.

Large companies avoiding tax is hardly a new development in Ireland or any other country.

People need to stop being so naive, "oh the multinational came in and gave us jobs but now they want to leave and screw us over". Well you took their job in the first place, if nobody was taking their jobs they wouldn't come here. At the end of the day you are there to make profit for shareholders and nothing more, you should make the best out of it and if you think you are not getting the best deal you are free to leave. It is easier said than done but by agreeing to take their job you effectively cancel your right to any argument against their presence in Ireland.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

What needs to be stopped is companies like Beats using an office in Clonakilty to filter all their money through Ireland without creating a single job and paying **** all tax. (and making ****, wanker-identifying headphones)

Shock Horror

Comments