If you could change one thing about Ireland...

12-06-2019 6:15pm

I'd make politicians more accountable - starting with a mandatory course for all voting age citizens on their personal responsibility to vote for politicians who will actually improve life for all the people in the Country, as opposed to the current method of political parties using demographics to "target" enough votes to get them elected...

MadYaker · 12-06-2019 7:42pm

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

The weather, think France has the best all round climate, I'd happily change ours for theirs.

You ever lived in France all year round? There's better on offer. California would prob be the best if they got a tiny bit more rain. Still fcuk all rain but enough, and 80% of the time it's warm, dry and sunny but never too hot.

I change the pubs and clubs all closing so early, ridiculous in this day and age.

Galwayguy35 · 12-06-2019 7:49pm

Bring back the death penalty.

seasidedub · 12-06-2019 8:02pm

Former Observer wrote: »

Outlaw private health care and private schools.

Everybody should contribute to the same system. If rich people want their children to go to better schools then they should invest in the whole system.

Eh, everyone who works does contribute to the "same system"

It's called paying taxes.

Private health is something you pay for if you choose and it's available in Scandinavia too for example. Also, by using a private health provider you take yourself out ofthe public system thereby (in theory) freeing a place for a less well off person.

Private schools: poorly understood that the state provides the same per student subsidies to the private school as they provide to a public school. The parents then pay the extra. The private student gets what they are entitled to via parents taxes. Many parents sacrifice a lot, cars, holidays etc to pay the extra.

Your "everyone gets the same" has never worked. Even in north Korea.

Brendog · 12-06-2019 8:13pm

I'm sure its the 1657th time its been said but, THE WEATHER.

I'd love a North American climate. I'd happily suffer 6/7 months of harsh freezing winter and enjoy day to day dry sunshine from May to September.

nice_guy80 · 12-06-2019 8:58pm

seasidedub wrote: »

Eh, everyone who works does contribute to the "same system"

It's called paying taxes.

Private health is something you pay for if you choose and it's available in Scandinavia too for example. Also, by using a private health provider you take yourself out ofthe public system thereby (in theory) freeing a place for a less well off person.

Private schools: poorly understood that the state provides the same per student subsidies to the private school as they provide to a public school. The parents then pay the extra. The private student gets what they are entitled to via parents taxes. Many parents sacrifice a lot, cars, holidays etc to pay the extra.

Your "everyone gets the same" has never worked. Even in north Korea.

Not true
The private healthcare system in Ireland takes consultants and beds out of the public system

The state shouldn't be subsidising private schools when many of the state schools are falling down or bursting at the seams.

Hamsterchops · 15-06-2019 9:55am

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

A united Ireland first and foremost.

Many negative posts on here re our very high taxes, take car insurance for example, would they (in NI) really want to abandon their UK system for ours? would they also give up free GP visits courtesy of the NHS????

We may WANT (demand) a United Ireland, but maybe they don't. I would only change that if there was consensus...

biko · 15-06-2019 10:37am

Free daycare for children, in creches run by only OAPs so the kids learn from the people that built Ireland.
Also it keeps old folks young at heart and challenged so they don't waste away home alone.

15-06-2019 11:03am

biko wrote: »

Free daycare for children, in creches run by only OAPs so the kids learn from the people that built Ireland.
Also it keeps old folks young at heart and challenged so they don't waste away home alone.

I’m bordering on being one of those OAPs. My retired mates wouldn’t have time for helping in crèches! They wonder how they ever found time for work! They’re busy with active retirement groups, walking, swimming, golf, days out etc. not all old folks sit home alone!

bobbysands81 · 15-06-2019 11:04am

Unite it.

bobbysands81 · 15-06-2019 11:06am

Hamsterchops wrote: »

Many negative posts on here re our very high taxes, take car insurance for example, would they (in NI) really want to abandon their UK system for ours? would they also give up free GP visits courtesy of the NHS????

We may WANT (demand) a United Ireland, but maybe they don't. I would only change that if there was consensus...

There will be consensus. The partition of such a small island is senseless.

However, it’s not romantic ideals that will unite Ireland but capitalist ones.

corner of hells · 15-06-2019 11:17am

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Unite it.

Untie it from what ?
Oops, my dyslexia is strong this morning.

Hamsterchops · 15-06-2019 11:49am

bobbysands81 wrote: »

There will be consensus. The partition of such a small island is senseless.

However, it’s not romantic ideals that will unite Ireland but capitalist ones.

Ironic that this island "may" become one political entity just as the neibouring island "may" split in two?

With Scotland possibly handing over control to Brussels while NI may possibly be run by Dublin, leaving London to support England & Wales

It's all change.

Nikki Sixx · 16-06-2019 1:59am

bobbysands81 wrote: »

Unite it.

We can’t afford to take on Northern Ireland. It gets a disproportionate amount of u.k. funding for its size. It doesn’t matter if you are a tricolour waver or a Union Jack waver. The Republic of Ireland cannot over to make N.I. part of the republic.

Yer Da sells Avon · 16-06-2019 2:08am

seasidedub wrote: »

Eh, everyone who works does contribute to the "same system"

It's called paying taxes.

Private health is something you pay for if you choose and it's available in Scandinavia too for example. Also, by using a private health provider you take yourself out ofthe public system thereby (in theory) freeing a place for a less well off person.

Private schools: poorly understood that the state provides the same per student subsidies to the private school as they provide to a public school. The parents then pay the extra. The private student gets what they are entitled to via parents taxes. Many parents sacrifice a lot, cars, holidays etc to pay the extra.

Your "everyone gets the same" has never worked. Even in north Korea.

In what specific way would ensuring that everyone, regardless of wealth, has access to the same healthcare and education 'not work'?

emilymemily · 16-06-2019 2:13am

More opportunities for the less privileged and connected/less nepotism

bodhrandude · 16-06-2019 3:16am

Since we're into summer season and festivals in full flow I would like to see the Irish camping music festivals bring in a law that all campsites are BYEco, in otherwards if you don't clean up after yourself you might be fined or something to that extent. The same with single day events like Slane and the like.

Slane

Electric Picnic

mikhail · 16-06-2019 4:18am

Ragnar Lothbrok wrote: »

My change would be to round up everyone who rants like this and deposit them on an uninhabited island.

How do you think they founded Ireland?

bobbyss · 16-06-2019 5:49am

I would make It illegal for people to start sentences with 'listen or 'look it'.

I would fine people, especially TDs who speak like Bertie's Dis and Dat.

All adults who use upspeak e.g. Miriam O'Callaghan, Brendan what's his name and many many more.

Wanderer78 · 16-06-2019 6:32am

bodhrandude wrote:

Since we're into summer season and festivals in full flow I would like to see the Irish camping music festivals bring in a law that all campsites are BYEco, in otherwards if you don't clean up after yourself you might be fined or something to that extent. The same with single day events like Slane and the like.

How would you 'police' this?

16-06-2019 6:46am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

How would you 'police' this?

With attack dogs, batons, rubber bullets and teargas. A few kicks in the hole might be worth adding into the mix to keep it interesting.

Wanderer78 · 16-06-2019 6:49am

JayZeus wrote:

With attack dogs, batons, rubber bullets and teargas. A few kicks in the hole might be worth adding into the mix to keep it interesting.

Haha excellent, just create a riot at all festival events, at least it ll be a bit of crack

FutureGuy · 16-06-2019 7:03am

Our unhealthy obsession with alcohol.

kildare lad · 16-06-2019 7:20am

I'd change the welfare system . It rewards people for having lots of kids and their parent/ parents are to lazy to work . My friend is paying 1300 a month rent for a small 2 bed apartment. He has 2 kids and a girlfriend. The banks will only lend him 180,000 which won't buy you anything. He hasn't missed a months rent in 4 years and the mortgage loan he wants ( 280,000 ) is less than the rent he's paying .

Across the road from his apartment are two families living in nice semi detached houses. They don't work , have 5 or 6 kids each and pay for nothing. Anytime I see one of the women she's always in her pyjamas. Now how is that system fair?? One person is breaking his b@llix working and is worse off than the person who does nothing expect fire out babies for a living.

willowthewisp · 16-06-2019 7:41am

The weather.

Wanderer78 · 16-06-2019 7:52am

kildare lad wrote: »

I'd change the welfare system . It rewards people for having lots of kids and their parent/ parents are to lazy to work . My friend is paying 1300 a month rent for a small 2 bed apartment. He has 2 kids and a girlfriend. The banks will only lend him 180,000 which won't buy you anything. He hasn't missed a months rent in 4 years and the mortgage loan he wants ( 280,000 ) is less than the rent he's paying .

Across the road from his apartment are two families living in nice semi detached houses. They don't work , have 5 or 6 kids each and pay for nothing. Anytime I see one of the women she's always in her pyjamas. Now how is that system fair?? One person is breaking his b@llix working and is worse off than the person who does nothing expect fire out babies for a living.

or maybe theres something fundamentally wrong with the world of finance, land and property?

kildare lad · 16-06-2019 8:46am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

or maybe theres something fundamentally wrong with the world of finance, land and property?

Yes I'd agree with that too, but I think it's unfair that layabouts/bums get things to easy here .

Wanderer78 · 16-06-2019 8:52am

kildare lad wrote: »

Yes I'd agree with that too, but I think it's unfair that layabouts/bums get things to easy here .

ive spoken to many unemployed people, their lives dont seem all that great, i do personally believe the issues are truly with the entities ive mentioned above, but these are very intangible at best, so its becomes easier to simply blame the unemployed

kildare lad · 16-06-2019 9:01am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

ive spoken to many unemployed people, their lives dont seem all that great, i do personally believe the issues are truly with the entities ive mentioned above, but these are very intangible at best, so its becomes easier to simply blame the unemployed

Where did i blame unemployed people on anything??That's their own fault their lives aren't great . I just don't think it's fair that they should they be given things free, while other people have to go and work for it.

16-06-2019 9:07am

I’d make it an offence to hijack threads and take them OT. Punishable by two roots up the hole. Even for the unemployed.

janfebmar · 16-06-2019 9:18am

I wish as a country we could afford new cars, instead of being taxed to the hilt to buy over 100, 000 second hand imports from the UK each year, their second hand rejects.

Wanderer78 · 16-06-2019 9:30am

kildare lad wrote: »

I'd change the welfare system . It rewards people for having lots of kids and their parent/ parents are to lazy to work . My friend is paying 1300 a month rent for a small 2 bed apartment. He has 2 kids and a girlfriend. The banks will only lend him 180,000 which won't buy you anything. He hasn't missed a months rent in 4 years and the mortgage loan he wants ( 280,000 ) is less than the rent he's paying .

Across the road from his apartment are two families living in nice semi detached houses. They don't work , have 5 or 6 kids each and pay for nothing. Anytime I see one of the women she's always in her pyjamas. Now how is that system fair?? One person is breaking his b@llix working and is worse off than the person who does nothing expect fire out babies for a living.

kildare lad wrote: »

Where did i blame unemployed people on anything??That's their own fault their lives aren't great . I just don't think it's fair that they should they be given things free, while other people have to go and work for it.

interesting!;)

sometimes when the term 'free' is used, people actually mean 'subsidised'!

kildare lad · 16-06-2019 9:33am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

interesting!;)

sometimes when the term 'free' is used, people actually mean 'subsidised'!

If you get something that you don't pay for, it's free is it not

janfebmar · 16-06-2019 10:25am

kildare lad wrote: »

If you get something that you don't pay for, it's free is it not

Not for the people who pay for what you are getting for "free".

Marhay70 · 16-06-2019 11:40am

janfebmar wrote: »

Not for the people who pay for what you are getting for "free".

Years ago you only got full Social Welfare benefits if you had the required number of Social insurance contributions , if you had no contributions you got a much reduced payment. Today, regardless of whether or not you have paid a contribution, payments are virtually the same. Also, there was no Childrens' Allowance, if you had the kids you supported them.
I have absolutely no problem with payments to pensioners and the long term ill, but there is absolutely no incentive today to get up off your arse and go to work.

bodhrandude · 16-06-2019 1:04pm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

How would you 'police' this?

Perhaps a deposit scheme when you purchase an event ticket that is allocated for your tent space which you will get back at the end of the event, I don't know really, when your talking about 55,000 to 80,000 people its not possible really, but the OP did say 'If you could...' I would if I was Festival Republic or MCD, of course I might well put myself right out of business because of that, the UK and Ireland can be a feckless bunch when it comes to looking after ourselves and the environment at events.

vriesmays · 16-06-2019 1:08pm

Close Waterford Airport.

Nobelium · 16-06-2019 1:13pm

One attitude in Ireland that needs to change, is the "it's good enough".
This country could be so much better in so many areas if we got our act together.
Also the divide and conquer politics of so called "rural" Ireland vs Dublin monocity culture is destroying the country and holding it back.

suicide_circus · 16-06-2019 2:16pm

Gimme A Pound wrote: »

The culture of little to no personal responsibility.

crack this one and everything else will improve.

handlemaster · 16-06-2019 3:53pm

kildare lad wrote: »

I'd change the welfare system . It rewards people for having lots of kids and their parent/ parents are to lazy to work . My friend is paying 1300 a month rent for a small 2 bed apartment. He has 2 kids and a girlfriend. The banks will only lend him 180,000 which won't buy you anything. He hasn't missed a months rent in 4 years and the mortgage loan he wants ( 280,000 ) is less than the rent he's paying .

Across the road from his apartment are two families living in nice semi detached houses. They don't work , have 5 or 6 kids each and pay for nothing. Anytime I see one of the women she's always in her pyjamas. Now how is that system fair?? One person is breaking his b@llix working and is worse off than the person who does nothing expect fire out babies for a living.

Not long ago people were blaming the banks for lending people to much. Cant win!

Mad_maxx · 16-06-2019 4:03pm

janfebmar wrote: »

I wish as a country we could afford new cars, instead of being taxed to the hilt to buy over 100, 000 second hand imports from the UK each year, their second hand rejects.

Owning a car is as good as it's ever going to be again, the greens will demand major penalties for the privelage of driving

janfebmar · 16-06-2019 5:21pm

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Owning a car is as good as it's ever going to be again, the greens will demand major penalties for the privelage of driving

Some people just need a car to be able to get to and from work, because where they live, or for work purposes etc. The government here taxes people so much that for x amount of euro , you cannot buy a new car for that: you can only buy an import an imported secondhand for that.

Atoms for Peace · 16-06-2019 5:27pm

I'd move Rockall closer to Donegal.

FixdePitchmark · 16-06-2019 5:29pm

I wouldn't change much . Except our embarrassing voting in general elections

Gombeen stuff
Fine Fail
Sine Fein
Parish pump
The road the planning permission
No water charge

We have made great progress in elections on social issues . But failed to move with that in our Tds.

One other issues and that makes it two . Is out tendency to rob people blind when the chance is there .

Nobelium · 16-06-2019 5:31pm

The quality of Irish politicians is abysmal, then again you get what you continually vote for. Honest people don't go into Irish politics for good reason.

FixdePitchmark · 16-06-2019 5:33pm

Nobelium wrote: »

The quality of Irish politicians is abysmal, then again you get what you continually vote for. Honest people don't go into Irish politics for good reason.

Some do . But we vote in the lad who got daddy the grant for the shed.

Nobelium · 16-06-2019 5:35pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Some do.

They don't last very long.

is_that_so · 16-06-2019 5:40pm

Nobelium wrote: »

The quality of Irish politicians is abysmal, then again you get what you continually vote for. Honest people don't go into Irish politics for good reason.

The abuse they would get from de internet?

Greyfox · 16-06-2019 6:02pm

Nobelium wrote: »

The quality of Irish politicians is abysmal, then again you get what you continually vote for.

It doesn't matter who you vote for as there's no accountability so there isn't much incentive for them to do a great job

I'd get rid of the idiotic rule of not allowing high rise buildings in Dublin due to effecting the quality of the skyline.

Nobelium · 16-06-2019 6:05pm

is_that_so wrote: »

The abuse they would get from de internet?

nothing to do with that, how long do you think an honest person can compete with compulsive liars, and who can tell lie upon lie and get away with it ?

If you could change one thing about Ireland...

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