Your Ideas

A blast from the past – a response to the 1980s crisis here in the Republic of Ireland. This was originally published as “Need Government Fail?” in Business & Finance 21 May 1987 “What is wrong with this country? Denis Brosnan, chief executive of Kerry Co-op, asked in his keynote address to the 1986 IMI…

As you say yourself David, only a competitive Ireland will recover from this recession. I suggest cutting the minimum wage to attract foreign investors and to keep small businesses afloat. Combine this with an increase in the standard working weeks hours from 39 to 45 will lead to increased production and savings on wages and…

My idea focuses on providing a tax rebate to those of us who have some credit card debt or short term debt. Target the rebate to the type of people who spend as they earn and therefore turn any rebate into VAT while stimulating the economy. They are the pockets the government needs to inject…

It is estimated that €500m is being lost in revenue due to sale of legal and illegal cigarettes. I am not surprised at ASH continuing to advocate an increase of €2 on a pack despite my having made them aware of the “law of diminishing returns”. I am surprised at Jim Power agreeing with this…

Again the answer is quite simple. We are all aware that €870,000 was spent by HSE on a paedophile – perhaps more. Nothing positive was achieved. I am aware of another case where HSE have spent €500,000 on a man to no avail. The dogs in the street knew this man and that the money…

I am in receipt of Invalidity benefit in addition to my bank pension. Unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland is less than half the rate here. It was great to be able to pay such amounts in the “good times”. Now we cannot afford it. Social Welfare payments need to be reduced by 20% immediately except…

Lead by example is an old saying. Government must lead by example if they expect us to accept paying the price of their mismanagement. Reduce the number of TDs by say 20% now with further reductions to come. Reduce the number of Senators by 50% with a similar reduction in their incomes. After all they…

Make all accountable for their actions. Stealing is a crime – many go to prison for stealing relatively small amounts. If public servants misuse taxpayers funds such as expense accounts this is stealing. Such crimes should be punished as stealing from shops etc. If someone defaults on a bank debt the bank obtains a judgement,…

Being a small country it is a lot easier for us to implement fiscal stimulous direct to the consumer. I have been watching other countries and their attempts at revitalising their domestic economies (USA, Australia etc.) by providing stimulus. I have many many ideas for doing so but i see no DIRECT STIMULOUS from Ireland…

This is a very simple idea. Ireland is known the world over. We are not overly populated and have a wonderfull country. Lots of wealthy people would love to hold an irish passport. A change in legislation might provide that an irish passport lottery could be set-up whereby someone meeting certain criteria such as purchasing…