7th December 2009

Budget / Pay Talks

On Wednesday we’re facing one of the toughest budgets in the country’s history according to the well leaked details of Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan’s proposed cuts.
It’s predicted that social welfare will be cut by 4% and child benefit by up to 10% ….while public sector workers face cuts on average of 5% and 6%.
No one will be immune, it seems even Taoiseach is to take a reduction in his salary, one report suggests 14%, and senior ministers salaries will also fall.
So Brian Cowen is heading into another pressurised week – the dramatic collapse of the talks to reduce the public sector pay bill last Friday put his leadership skills in the spotlight and strained the Government.
Meanwhile public sector unions are due to meet later today to discuss the budget and the collapse of the talks amid warnings of a campaign of resistance.
Joining Pat this morning were Harry McGee Political Correspondent of the Irish Times, Suzanne Kelly Barrister + Tax expert and General Secretary of the Irish Nurses Organisation, Liam Doran

Mussolini

One of the most memorable images of World War 2 is surely the sight of Benito Mussolini and his lover Claretta Petacci’s dead bodies strung up by the heels beside a petrol station in a square in Milan. Unlike Hitler who choreographed his own suicide and that of his lover Eva Braun, Mussolini and Claretta suffered at the hands of the people he had led astray in his fascist regime. It may be hard to see how such a sexist, racist bigot as Mussolini could have driven his many lovers into a sexual frenzy during his life……but this is what is revealed in the diaries of his mistress. After 70 years the diaries of Claretta Petacci who met Mussolini in 1932 at the age of 20 have been published in Italy. David Willey of the BBC has been reading the diaries.

Michael O’Doherty

“A few years ago I was struck down with a mystery illness; all the king’s horses and all the kings mean couldn’t diagnose the problem, how could they ever prescribe a cure? I was tired, I had no energy, I couldn’t work and I had to cancel a tour. I was beginning to think I would never be back to full health, then I met Michael O’Doherty and things began to change for the better.“Following my first meeting with Michael I immediately felt better. After an hour of energy-healing treatment, I felt revived and was able to go for a long walk – something I had been unable to do for months. My energy had shifted and was now beginning to flow again.”The words of Michael Flatley.So who is Michael O’Doherty? He joined Pat to discuss his book, “Just Imagine, A Life Without Illness”

Consumer advice with Tina Leonard

With 18 days to Christmas, Santa is busy putting the final touches to all the toys he is making. But aside from Santa’s gifts you may also have to buy toys in shops.However, if you’re looking for the top selling toys you will find differing prices across the stores in the Republic, the North and online.Tina Leonard has done the research and has the best prices for six of the best selling toys this Christmas. In addition, what are the main things you need to remember when shopping on the high street or online this Christmas so that you can be sure you have no consumer headaches in the New Year.

The Toys

Transformers Supreme Combiner – Devastator
RoI: Smyths €104.99; Argos €142.99
NI: Smyths / Toys r Us £79.99 (€88.38); Tesco £99.97 (€110.48); Argos £99.99 (€110.49)
Online: Amazon uk: £87.71 (€96.62) + free delivery, shopireland.ie (Amazon ie) €104.61 + free delivery

Lego Minotaurus
RoI: Smyths €17.99; Argos €26.99;
NI: Smyths £14.99 (€16.57); £14.98 (€16.55) in Toys R Us; Tesco £16.97 (€18.75); Argos £16.99 (€18.78); Hamleys £20 (€22.10)
Online: Shopireland.ie €20.78 + €5.57 delivery; toyshop.com £17.99 (€19.88) + £26 (€28.73) delivery; Amazon uk £34.25 (€37.85) + free delivery.

Monopoly City 3-D
RoI: Tesco €22.49; Smyths €24.99; Argos €26.99; Byrnes €29.99
NI: Tesco £15.97 (€17.65); Toys R Us £19.99 / Smyths £19.99 (€22.09); Argos £19.99 (€22.09); M&S £25 (€27.62)
Online: Shopireland.ie €21.93 + €5.57 / Amazon UK £19.97 (€22.06) + £4.98 (€5.50); toyshop.com £19.99 (€22.09) + £35 (€38.67) delivery; gadgetshop.com £24.99 (€27.61) + £24 (€26.51) delivery

Fur Real Lulu My Cuddlin’ Kitten
RoI: Tesco €42.59; Smyths / Argos €56.79
NI: Toy R Us £39.99 Argos £39.99; Smyths £39.99; Tesco £39.99 (€44.18);
Online: Amazon uk £49.99 (€55.22) + free delivery

Peppa Pig Princess Peppa's Palace
RoI: Smyths €37.49; Argos €50.56
NI: Smyths / Sainsburys £29.99 (€33.14); Toys R Us £34.49 (€38.11); Argos £34.99 (€38.66); Tesco £34.99 (€38.66)
Online: Shopireland.ie €34.64 + free delivery / Amazon uk £29.99 (€33.14) + free delivery

Sylvanian Families Caravan and Family Car
RoI: Smyths €64.99; Argos €71.79; Nimblefingers €69.99
NI: Argos £44.99 (€49.71); Tesco £49.97 (€55.21); Smyths £49.99 (€55.24);
Online: Amazon uk £79.99 (€88.38) +£4.98 (€5.50); Nimblefingers.ie €69.99 +€5 delivery

Consumer rights / tips to remember at Christmas:

Shopping online:

o Know who you’re shopping with:
Shop on a site that is known to you or has been recommended. If you come across a site you’re not sure about do a google search to check for any negative chat on the site. Make sure that the site provides full contact details inc. postal address (not a PO Box), and phone number. An email address or mobile phone number isn’t good enough and web traders must provide this under European distance selling legislation.

o Delivery
The web trader must also provide information on delivery costs and methods, so read it. Make sure you know the delivery costs to Ireland and the length of time it will take. For example amazon.co.uk are accepting last orders for delivery to Ireland on 20th December for standard post (3 – 5 days) and 21st December for priority post (1 – 2 days). Last order dates on amazon.com for Irish deliveries are 2nd Dec for standard, 7th for expediated international and 18th for priority.

o Returns
The web trader must also provide information on returns and your ‘cooling-off period’. Under European law the web trader has to give you at least 7 days after you take receipt for the goods to examine the product and change your mind for whatever reason. You can then send the product back and get a refund. So, if you are buying a present for someone check it when it arrives so that you can use the ‘cooling off’ period if needs be. If you buy someone a sweater online, for example, and it doesn’t fit but you don’t find this out until Christmas day and the ‘cooling off’ period is long up, you know have to rely on the web traders return policy and you might not be able to return for that reason. Note that you’ll have to pay for return postage unless the web trader offers otherwise.

o Cancellation
The ‘cooling off’ period does not apply to services or time specific purchases i.e. hotels / flights, or for custom made items. So if you are buying anything else this you must check the terms and conditions to see what the cancellation policy is. Never buy something without knowing if you can cancel and what the penalties will be. For example, if you book a hotel, you might forfeit the first night if you cancel 36 hrs or 24hrs in advance, but more if it’s closer to the date.

o Faulty goods
It’s the same as when you shop on the high street. The item must be fit for it’s purpose and as described. If not you’re entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. When returning online faulty purchases, the postage you pay for returns should be refunded to you.

o Buying from outside the EU
If you buy from US websites for example, remember that you will also have to pay customs duty and VAT on purchases. For goods bought online you are allowed €150 worth. Over this customs duty is added (on the purchase price and postage costs) at different rates i.e. 2.7% or 3.7% for toys, 12% for clothes, 17% for shoes etc then VAT at 21.5% is added to the new total. This goes for gifts being sent too. Many big web traders will factor the customs cost in when you are at the ‘checkout’ so that it is paid up front.

o Want a US mailing address for online deliveries?
Many US web traders do not provide international deliveries so if you buy a lot online you can subscribe to a site called www.myus.com and get a US street address. You pay a one time set-up fee and then can subscribe and pay monthly fees if you like / buy a lot from the US.
Standard $10 / no monthly fee
Premium $20 / $7 per month
Premium plus mail (i.e. catalogues) $35 / $25 per month

Their shipping rates very per eight depending on which service you choose, i.e. 200g $29.17 / $20.69 / $20.69 or 900g $48.25 / $34.22 / $34.22

+ Membership is automatically renewed but you can cancel in writing any time and receive a refund for unused months if you’ve paid an annual fee. Cancellation occurs within 10 days of notification.
+ You’ll still have to pay VAT and customs duty in Ireland.

o Advice from An Post
If you are ordering online or from a catalogue and you won’t be home during the day when the postman calls, consider having your purchases delivered to your workplace or to an address where someone can accept them for you.

Shopping on the high street

o Returns policy
Before you buy any present ask the shop what their returns policy is. Remember you are only legally entitled to repair, replacement or refund if the item is faulty or has been mis-sold. So, whether the shop will take back unwanted gifts is up to them. Many have a returns period of around 2 weeks or 30 days so make sure you keep your eye on the time. If the shop does not accept returns for unwanted items and you’re not sure about the item, don’t buy it.

o Gift vouchers
The single most important thing with gift vouchers is their expiry date, so check it. The shop does not have to accept the voucher if the expiry date has passed, so if it’s not printed on the voucher, ask what it is and tell the person you are giving the gift to. Most shops will not replace lost vouchers – it’s like losing cash! However the big gift voucher providers do i.e. One4All will replace at a cost for €8 and www.redribbon.ie will replace for free if you have the serial number of the lost voucher.

Marc Roberts

Marc Roberts came to world attention when he represented Ireland in the 1997 Eurovision song contest, where he came a credible 2nd with “Mysterious woman”. “THE PROMISE” is Marc Roberts’s fourth studio album and was with Pat in studio to sing us the title track from the album – The Promise

He has toured extensively all over the world including tours of Australia & headlining festivals in the US. Marc Roberts has firmly established himself as a songwriter.

The title track, “The Promise”, which he co-wrote with Darren Holden (High Kings), was Marc’s first single from the album. This poignant song is at present topical because of the great efforts being made in America to give the “forgotten Irish” an identity. It received critical acclaim & was play-listed nationwide. This anthemic production accompanied by Marc’s ability to relate a heartfelt story, captured the hearts of many…including none other than Michael Flatley

The album “The Promise” is available from all good record stores & his website: www.marcroberts.ie