Sarah Carey - Forget education cuts and freeze public sector pay over €50K

[DaveM]

To a large extent she's just stating the bloody obvious but it's still one of the best articles on the current situation I've read.

Shirtsleeve moment needed to steady the ship of State - The Irish Times - Wed, Oct 29, 2008

[goosebump]

To a large extent she's just stating the bloody obvious but it's still one of the best articles on the current situation I've read.

Shirtsleeve moment needed to steady the ship of State - The Irish Times - Wed, Oct 29, 2008

"ALONG WITH 60 per cent of people, I didn't vote for this Government in last year's election and I was pretty angry about the result."

Does Her Divine Squawkiness understand how PR-STV works?

[badboy2]

I hope she had the decency to give Richard Bruton credit for taking his idea.

[DaveM]

I hope she had the decency to give Richard Bruton credit for taking his idea.

Read the article again... Richard Bruton's ego got ample massaging!

[mccafferty cat]

That's lifted directly from Richard Bruton's policy

Does she credit him with it?

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

Excellent article!!! Sarah Carey and Miriam Lord are by far the best female journalists in the country and part of the crème de la crème overall.

[DaveM]

Cowen is unable to conceal his contempt for Fine Gael but he needs to swallow his bile and listen up. Some Fianna Fáilers have suggested that the Opposition should repeat the Tallaght Strategy and listen to the Government. Is it beyond all conception that the Government listen to the Opposition? Probably. But let's think about it here anyway.

The pay rises due to the public sector each year under the infamous 2002 benchmarking deal costs us €1.5 billion annually. Bruton has proposed a pay freeze for those on annual salaries over €50,000. It would save an estimated €260 million. Scrapping aid for books to pupils in disadvantaged schools costs about €5 million. Which cut is easier to defend? Which cut achieves more? Which cut strikes terror into the heart of a Cabinet used to whipping out the cheque book and asking Jack O'Connor "How much?"

Jesus lads! She tells Cowen to listen to FG and then outlines one of their main policies. What more do you want her to do? Get a picture of Michael Ring tattooed on her buttocks?!!!

[badboy2]

Read the article again... Richard Bruton's ego got ample massaging!

I never read it in the first place - the Times bores me. Even good columnists are reduced to mediocrity by madam

[Darren Mac an Phríora]

I never read it in the first place - the Times bores me. Even good columnists are reduced to mediocrity by madam

And how is that?

[cactusflower]

A very slight article. She should stick to the blogging.