Tonight; post-budget discussion

Monday, 14 Dec 2009

Commentators and analysts have considered and opined upon Brian Lenihan’s budget over the last number of days. Some are calling it unfair, others pragmatic; there are critics and proponents in broadly equal numbers.

Tonight we’ll be looking at where the country goes from here.

Will the be budget be enough to whip the economy back into shape or is more pain required? Has Minister Lenihan and his advisors thought through the cuts and tax policy changes they’ve planned? Will this kickstart the ‘Smart Economy’? Are they or are they not fair? If not, why not?

In studio will be Conor Lenihan, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Technology and Innovation and Natural Resources, economist David McWilliams and Patricia Callan of the Small Firms Association. Des Fagan of the CPSU and a number of people impacted by social welfare cuts will also be in attendance.

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Comments:

employers paye contribution for four employees could be diverted to employ one more with benefits such as increase in productivity etc......

Posted by liam on December 14, 2009 at 10:45 PM GMT #

Can you not or any other presenter on radio or television ask the politicians "why they are not taking a proportionate pay cut?" Ye are not asking the quesions that the public want answered, I am paying a televison licence for that service!!!!

Posted by ciaran on December 14, 2009 at 11:28 PM GMT #

Could someone please tell me why the fact that Allied Irish Bank staff got a pay increase of 3% has never been mentioned in any discussion on Public Service pay cuts? It's beginning to look like the media has placed an embargo on speaking about this increase.

Posted by Angela Broderick on December 14, 2009 at 11:30 PM GMT #

I am a 23 year old girl who was made redundant during the year, I have since started a Teaching Assistant course in an institute of further education, I am currently living on the back to education allowance of 204 euro a week. I want to continue next year to complete my fetac level 6 but in order to avail of the allowance again I need to go on the job seekers allowance for the entire summer or I wont be eligibale and Im not eligiable for the local VEC grant. I want to progress further but without financial help I cant do it, how may I ask you is that promoting people working or acheiving a better education. Mr Cowen and Mr Lenihan have alot to ask for and I would seriously be questioning my loyalty to a country which is controlled by a government which is unable to see the working class people. COWEN HELLO IM HERE - ID LIKE TO SEE YOU LIVE ON €150.00 A WEEK AND LIVE IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU THEIVE!!

Posted by Emma on December 14, 2009 at 11:31 PM GMT #

Why on earth the politicians didn't know the consequences occured in the US/Japan and other top GDP countries in the past decades ?! Stimulus package in the construction sector doesn't work. In our case, because foreigners are now gone. The result is massive. Less consumers spending, less consumers buying properties. There is no way to get out from the wrong cycle. The reason why Ireland economy has shrank is that, Irish couldn't use foreigners. Many of them have better 3rd degree, better competency, education than us. Most of them ended up in shops and restaurants. This is totally misjudge by politicians. Shame on you.

Posted by Ed on December 14, 2009 at 11:31 PM GMT #

I have recently graduated with a masters degree and I will be emigrating in January due to the lack of work in my field. I think there will be many more like me next year.

Posted by Sebastian McLaughlin on December 14, 2009 at 11:33 PM GMT #

I am a recent PhD graduate and have found it very difficult to get work. I was recently unemployed for 5 months and I only received any benefit (€91.80 per week) after I got back working. After waiting so long to receive any benefits I immediately rang up to social welfare to inform them I was now employed. For 1 month after this they continued to send me cheques which I was not entitled to. I tried several times to contact them regarding their error but it took 4 weeks to get a hold of anyone. Basically I couldn't get anything out of them for 5 months only then to be inundated with cash I wasn't entitled to! It's a crazy situation! I feel the only hope for me is to emigrate and perhaps my tax would be better spent by a foreign government.

Posted by 192.168.24.19 on December 14, 2009 at 11:44 PM GMT #

19 year old Science Student with a keen interest in Finance and Politics. I am deeply concerned that our financial body as a whole has shown such lack of ingenuity and initiative. By bringing our VAT in line with our Corporate tax, and increasing it on an annual basis, we would see people buying now as, while deflation continues to occur, the price to consumers would increase (after the initial decrease in cost of nearly 10%), i.e. getting us spending now, whilst bringing wholesale costs in line with other EU states. In addition, temporary initiatives or laws to reduce retail rent significantly would promote business as more business' could stay equitable, and bring lower prices to the consumer. This would effectively by-pass the banking sector which is needed at the moment.

Posted by Killian on December 15, 2009 at 12:00 AM GMT #

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