Archive for March, 2009

My name is Joe Crill! I am from Ruskin, Florida, USA. If I were a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, I would probably be a loyal supporter of Fianna Fail! But I do not think Fianna Fail has the answers to the current fiscal crisis nor does any one in Ireland…

A simple idea designed to slow the rate of job losses, reduce the cost of social welfare, boost competitiveness and put more money back into consumer spending!
Starting out with goals like those above you would imagine this would be a far fetched, costly idea.. its not.
Create a scheme for employers to allow them claim back…

With the huge number of technological, engineering and construction industry lay-offs, and great headway being made internationally in the development of green technology, funds (preferably from the NDP’s transport budget of around 6billion for the Dublin Metro) might be better put to use developing green alternatives to energy production.
Tidal energy production, in particular, would be…

Greenhouses ripening bananas are one thing you don’t expect to see dotted about the freezing Icelandic plains where the glaciers sweep down to the volcanic plateau. The greenhouses, which shelter the hardy Icelandic ponies from the bitter east wind, are powered by geothermal heat, which bubbles away under the lava.

We have gone astray, and we all know it. To right this wrong is simpler to do now than later. We have the benefit of necessity and the opportunity which this presents cannot be passed over.
Our cost-base has gone pear-shaped. This is why the multi-nationals are packing their bags.
The government has shaped these costs so…

Ireland is full of entrepreneurs who are planning to set up small businesses, but simply cannot find the capital to get things moving. The same questions keep coming up, “How can I get angel investments?” “What government agencies will provide me with grant assistance or seed capital?”
The majority of people aren’t looking for large scale…

Hi David,
My idea is one based around technology companies that have gone bust and laid off engineers/developers etc……
Wouldn’t it be good if a government fund was created that could allow these former workers to purchase the IPR and all previous development of the projects they worked on and continue with this development in Ireland?
Less…

Investing 101 – IPO’s raise funds for companies in the so called Primary Market.
The Secondary market (i.e. post-IPO) doesn’t directly help companies fund expansions etc.
Instead of encouraging speculation on the secondary market, the government should incentivize people to get involved in schemes such as BES (Business Expansion Scheme). This is already quite tax efficient for…

The current financial nosedive shows every sign of sliding off The Recession Richter Scale. We have staggered from Celtic tiger to Celtic cripple in one short year; but unless we grasp the sheer scale of what is coming down the tracks, then we will soon become a banana republic – without the bananas. Fortunately we…

Bar myself, a few dour looking cod fishermen, a delegation from the IMF and the tell-tale opportunistic financier looking for bargains, Icelandair 275 from Heathrow to Reykjavik is empty. This is hardly surprising when you consider we are bound for a bankrupt country on a Monday afternoon.