Cabinet agree to €4billion in cuts including 10% in Social Welfare: MoS

[eire_sai]

Well, as I suggested on another thread, the minister's plan seems to be to make life for unemployed people so unappealing that anyone with any skills or initiative will be off. And don't forget that Germany etc are due to open their borders in 2011.

80000+ people on the social for 18 months+ is a lot of money. Even then Germany may not be looking for immigrants and we may be stuck with these
people.

[kerrynorth]

You are taking the piss! He didn't did he?

No. Its on the front page of the Sindo. It actually says 100-150k, quoting Dept of Finance officials.

[myk]

On one of the radio programmes this morning it referred to Brian Lenihan in one of the papers being quoted as saying, or infering, that Ireland needs 150,000 to emigrate pretty soon or the country goes under. Do not ask me what paper they were referring to.

Is he referring to 150,000 FF members and die-hard supporters?

[dotski_w_]

Well, as I suggested on another thread, the minister's plan seems to be to make life for unemployed people so unappealing that anyone with any skills or initiative will be off. And don't forget that Germany etc are due to open their borders in 2011.

Just to clarify (for those less knowledgeable than yourself, of course!) the borders will open for the new EU countries who joined in 2004, they are already open to the Irish, so that may see some Irish-based Poles going there alright (leaving them a few hours drive from home, in some cases).

[kerrynorth]

Is he referring to 150,000 FF members and die-hard supporters?

Oh no. Public service jobs are being created for them so he needs the Shinners, FGers, Labourites etc to bugger off so we can pay for it.

[breakingnews]

Is this just a FF kite? As long as pensioners aren't hurt.

Social welfare should be stopped for those that were unemployed during the boom.

People claiming rent allowance who are under 30 should be made to go home. There's 20 something year olds, single, claiming rent allowance when they could be living at home, not burdening the state.

[Staropramen]

No. Its on the front page of the Sindo. It actually says 100-150k, quoting Dept of Finance officials.

The apple does not fall far from the tree. Like father, like son.

[Catalpa]

Abolish the €600 million Give Away 'Foreign Aid' Scandal 1st

& the €300 million + we pay out to Bogus 'Asylum - Seekers' each year.

[Likely Lad]

If this is true I look forward to it and I will support the government, or any other party, if they propose a cut in social welfare. Social Welfare should never be seen as an alternative to work, which it has become.

Exactly, close to 200,000 people have decided to sign-up to the dole during the past 12 months so they can sit around and scratch their hole and get paid for it while there are oh so many job vacancies out there

i think FF will be more likely to get re-elected if they make truly tough decisions like this.

Sadly, I think you're right. Making the victims of Fianna Fáil's destruction of our economy suffer the most will go down well with alot of people.

i didn't know that this wasa happening in 2011 - we should make every effort to get people to leave.

I really hope you lose your job so you can taste what it feels like to face the prospect your own country trying for force you out on a one-way flight, you won't like it.

The government leaks behind the news stories may be a softening up process to prepare people for big cuts so that there will be a sigh of relief when the actual cuts turn out to be far less than expected.

Bang on. 5% SW cuts in-line with deflation but even with cuts like this they politically will not get away with it unless they chop their own ridiculous six-figure salaries.

[irish_bob]

no mention of public sector wage cuts or job losses , it seems for once eoghan harris was right when he predicted a few weeks back that social wellfare would have to be cut unless the public sector bill was tackled , gutless cowen strikes again ,

btw , i dont agree with those who say newcomers on the dole should be exempt from dole cuts , anyone who worked as a brickie , sparky , roofer , carpenter , has had ten golden years to prepare for a rainy day , if they have only 204 a week to get them by , its no ones fault but thier own , you dont become poor over night after loosing your job