Ok ok - we're in a hole - we didn't need to be told.
We just need to be realistic.
The reaction to the An Bord Snip report of An Bord Snip is slightly disingenuous to say the least - in terms of Trade Unions threatening strike action and other political parties saying it targets the weakest in society.
At the end of the day, we have all benefited from the Celtic Tiger
- the average industrial wage increased by 50% from 1997 to 2007 - who paid for that?
- the tax rate in PAYE reduced from 24% to 20% standard rate and 46% to 41% higher rate in the last 10 years
- the number of new cars bought, foreign holidays, restaurant prices all increased - the list is endless.
We all benefited.
We were all willing to pay for buy these when we got PPF increases and tax reductions.
As inflation increased - we needed pay rises to cover our costs - however inflation is now negative.
The argument that this is primarily because mortgage interest rates have fallen and as such only affects a certain demographic is ridiculous - as this was counted when inflation was increasing .
We cannot continue to borrow €500m per week to pay for something which has still got to be benchmarked.
The Public Sector are paying more, most notably in pension contribution, however - their pension is guaranteed. The Public Sector employee can also 'buy back' pension to ensure that the maximum level can be paid at retirement(40 years service).
Private sector employees have no guarantee to pension, current pension funds have fallen 30-35% and that money is GONE.
We need to be realistic if we are to have a future as a community, society, economy and a country.
Everyone has benefited we must all bear the brunt.
The argument saying the most vulnerable and weak are being targeted at least is starting a debate, however we are not an egalitarian society, public sector pay is currently over 20% higher than private sector pay and if we are to provide public services that are paid with tax payers money, those services have to show they are effective, in targeting the right people who genuinely need these services and be efficient in the delivery of that service.
For unions to blame some high paid elite for getting us into this bind in the first place is insulting.
We all benefited.
The problem is we never complained about it when we were getting our pay increases, child benefit and social welfare increases and not to mention the SSIAs, for those of us lucky enough to have them.
Back then, the future was so bright we all had to wear shades.
The problem is now the forecast is scattered showers of heavy rain throughout the country - which is more akin to the real Ireland.
We just need to be realistic.
The reaction to the An Bord Snip report of An Bord Snip is slightly disingenuous to say the least - in terms of Trade Unions threatening strike action and other political parties saying it targets the weakest in society.
At the end of the day, we have all benefited from the Celtic Tiger
- the average industrial wage increased by 50% from 1997 to 2007 - who paid for that?
- the tax rate in PAYE reduced from 24% to 20% standard rate and 46% to 41% higher rate in the last 10 years
- the number of new cars bought, foreign holidays, restaurant prices all increased - the list is endless.
We all benefited.
We were all willing to pay for buy these when we got PPF increases and tax reductions.
As inflation increased - we needed pay rises to cover our costs - however inflation is now negative.
The argument that this is primarily because mortgage interest rates have fallen and as such only affects a certain demographic is ridiculous - as this was counted when inflation was increasing .
We cannot continue to borrow €500m per week to pay for something which has still got to be benchmarked.
The Public Sector are paying more, most notably in pension contribution, however - their pension is guaranteed. The Public Sector employee can also 'buy back' pension to ensure that the maximum level can be paid at retirement(40 years service).
Private sector employees have no guarantee to pension, current pension funds have fallen 30-35% and that money is GONE.
We need to be realistic if we are to have a future as a community, society, economy and a country.
Everyone has benefited we must all bear the brunt.
The argument saying the most vulnerable and weak are being targeted at least is starting a debate, however we are not an egalitarian society, public sector pay is currently over 20% higher than private sector pay and if we are to provide public services that are paid with tax payers money, those services have to show they are effective, in targeting the right people who genuinely need these services and be efficient in the delivery of that service.
For unions to blame some high paid elite for getting us into this bind in the first place is insulting.
We all benefited.
The problem is we never complained about it when we were getting our pay increases, child benefit and social welfare increases and not to mention the SSIAs, for those of us lucky enough to have them.
Back then, the future was so bright we all had to wear shades.
The problem is now the forecast is scattered showers of heavy rain throughout the country - which is more akin to the real Ireland.
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