Fine Gael tell us they want reduction in debt in exchange for referendum

[hoppermc]

top dogs are still rich tough

[hiding behind a poster]

Unlike you I posted what he was quoted as saying, so readers can decide for themselves.

Your government wanted to keep the draft treaty text from us.

Ye are some tulips.

Well they're your government too. So, what part of what he was quoted as saying did you consider so significant as to justify posting it up?

[hiding behind a poster]

Pay the piper, call the tune etc.

Well its the same as if you're broke but need help from your bank in order to pay your bills - as long as you're in that position, they have some control over you.

[CarnivalOfAction]

... they have some control over you.

FG/LP seem to like being controlled. Contrast with plucky little Iceland.

Lessons from Iceland: Coming in from the cold | The Economist

"Evidence of economic recovery in Iceland means the Irish can no longer persuade themselves that things are worse elsewhere. Figures released on December 7th showed that Iceland’s GDP rose by 1.2% in the third quarter (Ireland’s third-quarter GDP rose by 0.5%, according to figures published on December 16th). The Icelandic central bank’s benchmark interest rate has fallen to 4.5%, from a peak of 18%. The halving of the dollar value of the Icelandic krona at the height of the crisis pushed inflation as high as 18.6%. It has since fallen close to the central bank’s 2.5% target. The “misery index”, a crude grading that sums unemployment and inflation rates, suggests Iceland is now doing better than Ireland (see chart).

Iceland’s recuperation seems to offer two big lessons for Ireland and other troubled euro-zone countries. The first is that the extra cost to a country of not standing by its banks can be surprisingly small. Iceland let its banks fail and its GDP fell by 15% from its highest point before it reached bottom. Ireland “saved” its banks and saw its output drop by 14% from peak to trough.

A second lesson is that the benefits to a small country of being part of a big currency union are not all they were once cracked up to be."

[blokesbloke]

I don't understand. Are Fine Gael saying they've told the EU that if they get a debt reduction they won't have a referendum? That's illegal, no?

They can't possibly have promised a "yes" vote, beause that's up to the Irish people is it not?

Are they saying if they get a debt reduction they'll campaign heavily for a "yes" vote, frighten people into voting "yes" or at the worst make them vote again until they get the answer right? If so, it won't work - that's been done in Ireland twice already for no incentive at all - the EU won't like to told they actually have to give something in return for it this time!

[He3]

FG/LP seem to like being controlled. Contrast with plucky little Iceland.

Lessons from Iceland: Coming in from the cold | The Economist

"Evidence of economic recovery in Iceland means the Irish can no longer persuade themselves that things are worse elsewhere. Figures released on December 7th showed that Iceland’s GDP rose by 1.2% in the third quarter (Ireland’s third-quarter GDP rose by 0.5%, according to figures published on December 16th). The Icelandic central bank’s benchmark interest rate has fallen to 4.5%, from a peak of 18%. The halving of the dollar value of the Icelandic krona at the height of the crisis pushed inflation as high as 18.6%. It has since fallen close to the central bank’s 2.5% target. The “misery index”, a crude grading that sums unemployment and inflation rates, suggests Iceland is now doing better than Ireland (see chart).

Iceland’s recuperation seems to offer two big lessons for Ireland and other troubled euro-zone countries. The first is that the extra cost to a country of not standing by its banks can be surprisingly small. Iceland let its banks fail and its GDP fell by 15% from its highest point before it reached bottom. Ireland “saved” its banks and saw its output drop by 14% from peak to trough.

A second lesson is that the benefits to a small country of being part of a big currency union are not all they were once cracked up to be."

The comment about the cost of putting banks before people is instructive.

[CarnivalOfAction]

The comment about the cost of putting banks before people is instructive.

Sure is. Did you hear that dopey FG dissembler, McHugh, trying to evade Pat Kenny's simple query re paying red cents into busted banks? And then blaming SF for the "British style of local government" in this state for the past 90 years?