DPP and FF support Enda Kenny's stance on Sentencing

[Deep Throat]

During Enda's speech to the Ard Fheis he stated that the Oireachtas should decide on the punishment to fit the crime by drawing up a list of appropriate sentences on behalf of the public. He also stated that he wants judges to be more accountable for their decisions.

He actually stated that “The judge would then deliver a sentence within that range, and if a judge did not do that, that judge would be expected to give his or her reasons in open court. In other words, the voice of the people would be heard in court.”

Nopw that the DPP has come out in support of this line, it shows that Enda and FG are in touch with people's concerns on crime and punishment and are in fact leading the way on this issue.

(DEPUTY BILLY KELLEHER FF ALSO CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.)

[pfkf]

During Enda's speech to the Ard Fheis he stated that the Oireachtas should decide on the punishment to fit the crime by drawing up a list of appropriate sentences on behalf of the public. He also stated that he wants judges to be more accountable for their decisions.

He actually stated that “The judge would then deliver a sentence within that range, and if a judge did not do that, that judge would be expected to give his or her reasons in open court. In other words, the voice of the people would be heard in court.”

Nopw that the DPP has come out in support of this line, it shows that Enda and FG are in touch with people's concerns on crime and punishment and are in fact leading the way on this issue.

(DEPUTY BILLY KELLEHER FF ALSO CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE.)

Well he is certainly more in touch with the general public than Ahern

[FutureTaoiseach]

What does Labour think? They will have a veto in a FG-led govt remember!

The reality is that the civil-liberties crowd in Labour and the Greens will torpedo this proposal. Hence it will disappear into the depths of the Rainbow stew and it's flavour will be lost in the process. This motley crew of Blueshirts, Reds and Greens is too divided to form a credible alternative govt. :P

[pfkf]

What does Labour think? They will have a veto in a FG-led govt remember!

The reality is that the civil-liberties crowd in Labour and the Greens will torpedo this proposal. Hence it will disappear into the depths of the Rainbow stew and it's flavour will be lost in the process. This motley crew of Blueshirts, Reds and Greens is too divided to form a credible alternative govt. :P

If i can recall correctly, FG/L seems to have worked well together in the past, most notibly 1982-87 and 1994-97, when they saved the country from bankruptcy after CJ Haughey's work, and then in the latter Unemployement from - 18% to 10%
Corporations tax 12.5%
Budget Surplus for the first time in 30 years
Introduction of the CAB

Unlike FF/PD - Violent crime up - Rape up about 30%, Gun offences about 40%, Murders up 25%
Stealth taxes all over the place, bin charges, VRT, Stamp duty, etc etc.....
Relying on the housing market to prop up the economy
only one extra garda put in place in a 12 month period in the (Cork, Limerick and Kerry)
Wanting to release the murderers of Dec Garda Gerry McCabe
Do nothing productive with the transport crises in Dublin
Not meet our Kyoto targets
Not meet our Targets for overseas aid

The list goes on!!!!!!!

[FutureTaoiseach]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland. Unemployment was 10%, and that govt was extremely stingy when it came to pension-increases. It was FF-PD that introduced the minimum-wage not the Labour Party and its crocodile tears for the poor.

only one extra garda put in place in a 12 month period in the (Cork, Limerick and Kerry)

Only if you interpret the statistics in a particular way. The govt has met its commitment to increase the Gardai to 14,000 this year. Latest statistics show despite increases in some categories of crime, that the overall trend is downwards in the latter quarters of the year and that year on year crime has fallen.

[shannonBlueShirt]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland.

What FG and Labour gave back taxes to the people of Ireland by widen the bands... Which helped lower tax for more people in Ireland....? And before you argue this is not right or what the people wanted... It doesn’t look like FF/PD will lower the top rate of tax or remove 80% of the people of Ireland from the top rate... Like that promised they would… More failed promises for this wasteful coalition…..

Proof that once McCreevey was kicked for power by Ahern that the PD lost any influence in government policy... For Rottweiler to Watch dogs to Neutered Mutts in 5 years…

[FutureTaoiseach]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland.

What FG and Labour gave back taxes to the people of Ireland by widen the bands... Which helped lower tax for more people in Ireland....? And before you argue this is not right or what the people wanted... It doesn’t look like FF/PD will lower the top rate of tax or remove 80% of the people of Ireland from the top rate... Like that promised they would… More failed promises for this wasteful coalition…..

Proof that once McCreevey was kicked for power by Ahern that the PD lost any influence in government policy... For Rottweiler to Watch dogs to Neutered Mutts in 5 years…

Actually if tax-credits are taken into account only 20% are effectively paying tax at the top rate.

[shannonBlueShirt]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland.

What FG and Labour gave back taxes to the people of Ireland by widen the bands... Which helped lower tax for more people in Ireland....? And before you argue this is not right or what the people wanted... It doesn’t look like FF/PD will lower the top rate of tax or remove 80% of the people of Ireland from the top rate... Like that promised they would… More failed promises for this wasteful coalition…..

Proof that once McCreevey was kicked for power by Ahern that the PD lost any influence in government policy... For Rottweiler to Watch dogs to Neutered Mutts in 5 years…

Actually if tax-credits are taken into account only 20% are effectively paying tax at the top rate.

I take it from your response that

So you agree that more that 20 % are paying the top and that the FF/PD government are not going to reduce this as they promised....

[FutureTaoiseach]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland.

What FG and Labour gave back taxes to the people of Ireland by widen the bands... Which helped lower tax for more people in Ireland....? And before you argue this is not right or what the people wanted... It doesn’t look like FF/PD will lower the top rate of tax or remove 80% of the people of Ireland from the top rate... Like that promised they would… More failed promises for this wasteful coalition…..

Proof that once McCreevey was kicked for power by Ahern that the PD lost any influence in government policy... For Rottweiler to Watch dogs to Neutered Mutts in 5 years…

Actually if tax-credits are taken into account only 20% are effectively paying tax at the top rate.

I take it from your response that

So you agree that more that 20 % are paying the top and that the FF/PD government are not going to reduce this as they promised....

What matters is the money in people's pockets. The 40% promise was caveated by "when economic circumstances allow" remember in the Programme for Govt.

[pfkf]

I'm amused to hear about FG-Lab "saving us from bankruptcy" given that between 1982-7 the national-debt tripled from 10 to 30 billion euros, and unemployment rose from 8% to 18% because of soaring taxes by the Slump Coalition.

Regarding 1994-7, FG and Labour refused to give the hard-working ppl of Ireland back their hard-earned money - they kept taxes high with rates of 26% and 48%. One of the differences between the PDs and Labour is that Labour believe govt knows best how to spend your money, whereas the PDs believe in returning more of it to the plain people of Ireland. Unemployment was 10%, and that govt was extremely stingy when it came to pension-increases. It was FF-PD that introduced the minimum-wage not the Labour Party and its crocodile tears for the poor.

only one extra garda put in place in a 12 month period in the (Cork, Limerick and Kerry)

Only if you interpret the statistics in a particular way. The govt has met its commitment to increase the Gardai to 14,000 this year. Latest statistics show despite increases in some categories of crime, that the overall trend is downwards in the latter quarters of the year and that year on year crime has fallen.

On the point about the FG/L govt being "extremly Stingy" you must have forgotten the fact that they increased penions by 25% in one budget the highest increase in pensions.

For you to say the Govt has met it's Gardatarget of 14,000
1 you don't know what the govt promised - as they did not promise a garda force of 14,000 - they promised an extra 2,000 garda - which they have not done
2 you are deluding yourself - as Mcdowell is including trainee garda who have just started their first day and have no powers to arrest anyone