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Searching for: RTE Cowen
 It all feels a bit pointless, at times, talking about the Irish situation. Earlier this afternoon I spoke to a friend of mine who is finally giving up and leaving the country – he says for good, but who knows what the future holds – due to what he described as the “absolute impossibility” of finding work here in his field (engineering). He wasn’t even angry about it – a better description would be “resigned”, feeling as he does that there is no longer any point in hanging on in there, waiting for a recovery that, when it finally comes, will be too late for him.
I mention this, because to listen to the Minister for Finance on this evening’s six one news, one would be forgiven forthinking he, at least, regards most people in the country...
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 IRELAND'S GREAT JOBS HOPE is a Hail Mary pass down the field of State investment. As postulated by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Ireland's seven-year investment plan would create 270,000 jobs. No econometric analysis accompanied this optimistic projection. I call it optimistic because in previous interviews with RTE News, both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland offered projections significantly lower than the Taoiseach's. On 2 March 2010, the IDA promised to create 62,000 jobs from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by 2014 and claimed that another 43,000 indirect jobs would flow from that same FDI. That means 105,000 total jobs. Then on 26 July, the IDA came up with another target, saying they could create 166,000 total jobs in Ireland over a seven-year period. Theses are big numbers and with EUR 1.2...
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It's good to watch Bill O Herlihy throw the egg on to Dunphy and Brady's face at half time over their prediction that the Aussies would turn one over on the Germans tonight. It didn't take long for 'The Machine' to hit their stride and Australian hopes of an upset began to drown with ice-cold beach side beers.It was a breath taking performance by the Germans as they dictated every moment of this one-sided affair and took a 2-0 lead into their dressing room at half time with goals from Podalski and Klose. It could have been four of five.I'm surprised Dunphy didn't differ with Brady on this one it would have made for better TV but as he asked for mayonnaise for his egg a rather smug looking Didier Hamann sat in the middle and knew he wouldn't suffer the same fate as Souness did last...
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Brian Cowen is paid a salary of €228,446. His counterpart, David Cameron, is paid €237,475, including his MP’s salary of €77,700. The following are paid more than the Taoiseach Sector Function Number of persons JUDICIARY Chief Justice 1 Supreme Court Justice 7 President of the Circuit Court 1 Judge of the High Court 35 EDUCATION President of UCC 1 COMMERCIAL STATE BODIES CEO of Coillte, ESB, Bord na Móna, Bord Gáis, An Post, RTE, VHI. Dublin Bus, CIE, Dublin Airport Authority, Iarnród Éiresann, Irish Aviation Authority 12...
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 “Ummm it was international factors, it was the Lehman brothers“.
From blogs.wsj.com
Who does Ireland’s befuddled Prime Minister Brian Cowen think he’s kidding? In the same day as two seminal reports into Ireland’s banking crisis emerged — a catastrophic event of historic proportions that has brought this small, open economy to its knees — Cowen does what he’s always done: he avoids any responsibility and tries to pass the buck.
Any discussion of this had been censored in the parliament …
Last Thursday, a resolution was bludgeoned through the Dáil by the Fianna Fáil/Green majority which decrees that, on Tuesday June 15, notwithstanding anything in standing orders, oral questions and private members’ business will not be taken; there will be no Order of...
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In recent weeks a friend put me wise to someone I did not know about. His name is Diarmaid Ferriter, and as a result I found myself tuning into RTE and Diarmaid's documentary, The Limits of Liberty. Though I've always loved history it was mostly on a world level as I found our own gut wrenching to digest at times.I know Ireland's history as taught by the system until the third year of my high schooling. Through no fault of my own it was taken off the curriculum in my school for the leaving cert and any choice into what we would like to study was echoed into deaf ears. Anything after that was left to my own devices. I rarely ventured further into Ireland's much after that having always felt that my place to settle would be in fields out in the yonder and I needed to know how they ran their...
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 So somebody from Fianna Fail has finally admitted that its property tax breaks and shelters damaged the economy. Sort of. Brian Cowen is reported by yesterday’s Indo as saying that “governments should never again introduce tax breaks which would make a property bubble possible” and that “property tax incentives in place over the period from the mid-1990s should have been abolished many years prior to his decision to abolish them in December 2005”. Notwithstanding the fact that Section 23s were still being built long after that date – you can still see the developers trying to flog some of them if you buy a Sunday paper – isn’t that a Damascus moment for Cowen? Or is it just the wriggling of a particularly slimy worm on the end of a hook? It’s the latter – as the next...
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Last night’s HREF="http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0514/cowenb_speech.html">statement
by Brian Cowen is perhaps a first acknowledgement of his and his party’s role in Ireland’s economic crisis.
Here is an ostrich finally removing its head from the sand, perhaps.
In his speech in DCU last night, Brian Cowen slaughtered a number of Fianna Fáil sacred cows.
We saw the first tentative admission that Ireland is suffering from a home-grown economic crisis. Cowen talks about the “domestic vulnerabilities” which meant Ireland was completely overwhelmed when the global credit crunch struck.
While Brian Cowen is correct in asserting that he inherited a menu of policies from his predecessors, Bertie Ahern and Charlie McCreevy, he cannot pin all of the blame on those two office holders...
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Many tributes have been made by members of the public and media personalities following the sudden death of RTE broadcaster Gerry Ryan. Once described as “Ireland’s answer to Howard Stern”, Ryan, 53, was found dead in his apartment in Dublin’s Leeson Street Upper at around 12.30pm yesterday.
The Gerry Ryan Show on 2FM had an audience of around 300,000 listeners weekday mornings. The show was a diet of light entertainment, debates and celebrity interviews. Ryan’s frank and often irreverent style on his long-running radio show created a media persona that people either liked or ignored.
His TV shows included Ryan Confidential and Operation Transformation. His longtime friend and RTE colleague Dave Fanning said there was “nobody funnier”. Joe Duffy...
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There’s a point in the current Backroom column in the Sunday Business Post which I very much agree with.
We maybe enjoying a quiet year in Irish politics, at least by recent standards.
There are no elections scheduled, no referendums and we may get by with just the one budget. Having come through Lisbon, Nama and its budgetary hurdles, the government looks more stable than it did six months ago. Without wanting to tempt fate (or perhaps wanting to), the prospect of an election has diminished considerably.
If the last two Dáils can be used as a benchmark- both ran for their full five years – we are only a bit more than halfway through the life of the 30th Dáil. Nonetheless, this benchmark will bring no respite for the backroom teams, for whom all eyes will be focused on...
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Bank Bailout, 'Economic Treason' and a Tussle with Finian: Anyone watching Dáil proceedings last Tuesday and Wednesday will have had that sinking feeling that these days will feature in the 'Reeling in the Years' programmes for years and years to come. Yes indeed - the real check arrived for the Celtic Tiger and the Bertie Boom. Don't take my word for it, have a look at the following article in the New Statesman: http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2010/01/ireland-irish-social-dublin Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore took the bull by the horns and called the Anglo Guarantee and Bailout 'Economic Treason' in the Dáil on Wednesday which greatly upset Brian Cowen. Watch the exchanges here: www.labour.ie My press release on Finian McGrath's support for the bank bailout can be...
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 Forty minutes notice - that is all that Wexford TD Sean Connick got in advance of Taoiseach Brian Cowen nominating him as a Junior Minister at the Department of Agriculture last week.Speculation was rife in the weeks leading up to the reshuffle that Connick would be given the nod - but the 46-year-old New Ross man refused to think anything of it.“I am part of the Brat Pack - all of the new lads that came in in 2007 such as Thomas Byrne, Niall Collins, Michael McGrath and Chris Andrews. There is a whole crew of really good young guys who have come in there who have great potential,” a modest Sean said.By the time last Tuesday morning came, Connick had given up any hope of promotion to the Junior bench - but then came the call.“I was sitting in my office and fielding some of the calls...
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Brian Cowen Quit by John Mcguinness Download now or listen on posterous
John McGuinness – Brian Cowen Quit.mp3 (324 KB)
RTE News at One 25/03/2010
Posted via email from web lab...
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A city councillor has said the city has been left ‘without a voice’ in Government following the cabinet reshuffle by Brian Cowen Wednesday.
Limerick City Councillor Maurice Quinlivan condemned the decision of the Taoiseach not to appoint a Limerick T.D to cabinet following the resignation of former Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea earlier this year.
“Willie O’Dea was clearly responsible for his own demise as a Minister, but Taoiseach Cowen had it within his gift to restore a Limerick voice at Cabinet level”, Councillor Quinlivan said.
He accused Fianna Fail of effectively giving up on the city and the constituency of Limerick East as one that is important and instead focussing on “shoring up their crumbling defences elsewhere in advance of the next General Election.”...
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 This is the moment that intrepid RTE Washington Correspondent Charlie Bird finally landed his prey in the Oval Office.Journalists on the day were under strict instructions not to ask US President Barack Obama any questions following his bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen.But always one with a nose for a story, White House rules were not going to stop our Charlie.Charlie was ideally positioned to swoop in for his prey during the press conference in the Oval Office - he was on his knees in front of President Obama holding a long microphone for RTE.So as Cowen and Obama rose at the end of the press conference, Charlie politely reached out and shook the president's hand.And he wasn't going to let his micro-second face time with the leader of the free world go to waste - so he threw...
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I punished myself again by staying for five minutes to watch the Eurovision Late Late Show. Dana, Johnny Fucking Logan and Marty fucking Whelan pretended to know something about music. Why do we go to the bother of spending so much time and energy on something as fucking harmless as the Eurovision is beyond me. Watching that fucking fruitcake, Dana, say it’s not fair to give an honest opinion and Johnny going on about how big he is in Scandanavia was truly indicative of the car crash that RTE has become. Ryan Tubridy thinks Ireland needs to win the Eurovision to “lift the country”. As if I couldn’t find him pathetic enough! Jailing Bankers, Bishops and Politicians for fucking up the country is a start in lifting the country. Jailing murderers, rapists and general...
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 Limerick T.D Willie O’Dea stood down from his ministerial post Thursday evening concluding days of controversy after he admitted an affidavit he gave to the High Court last year was untrue.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen confirmed Willie O’Dea tendered his resignation as Minister for Defence and the President has accepted it.
“I have come to the regrettable conclusion that my continuing in office will only serve to distract from the important and vital work of Government in addressing the serious challenges that the country continues to face at this time,” O’Dea said in tendering his resignation.
Willie O’Dea’s Resignation Letter
He said he has at all times acted in the interests of the Government of the people.
“It is my belief that I have acted honourably and in good...
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Despite winning a vote of confidence in the Dail Wednesday, Defence Minister Willie O’Dea remains under intense pressure to resign from his post following fresh developments Thursday.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen met Thursday evening with Green Party Leader John Gormley to discuss O’Dea after Green Party Senator Dan Boyle revealed following the vote he had no confidence in the Minister.
“As regards to Minister O’Dea I don’t have confidence in him. His situation is compromised. Probably be a few chapters in this story yet,” Boyle posted on his Twitter account following the vote in the Dail.
The result of the parliamentary meeting was not expected to be made public Thursday night.
Meanwhile the audio tape of the interview between Limerick Leader journalist Mike Dwane and Mr....
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Brian Cowen must be enjoying his steak these past few nights watching the spotlight of the media shine it's badly lit glare on former RTE celebrity of economics, George Lee, as he walked out of politics after just nine months in the Dail, leaving leader of the opposition, Enda Kenny, with a mop in his hand.The chuckles around Fianna Fail watering holes may actually ring to the tune that they are not finished yet watching the events take place. And what of Eamon Gilmore, he must be rubbing his hands with glee in what should prove to be an upsurge in polls for his Labour Party. He could quite possibly be the best taoiseach we never had but that remains a subject open to debate and not to be regaled until one reaches an old age.George for his part walked out of Fine Gael... and his country,...
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Cartoon by Annie West.
Great craic on Twitter the other night. There was a spontaneous eruption of Charlie Bird Facts after @naoisen suggested it. #Birdfacts topped the trendlist for Ireland for a couple of hours, and there were a few curious tweets coming in from around the world wondering what the hell it was all about.
I’ve listed most of the good ones below.
AllanCavanagh Charlie Bird can detect Denis O’Brien even in an earthquake zone.
AllanCavanagh Remember ‘Nam? THAT’S BECAUSE YOU WEREN’T THERE MAN. Except Charlie Bird. He was there.
AllanCavanagh God was all for getting rid of the Angelus until Charlie Bird told him he quite liked it actually.
AllanCavanagh Charlie Bird can see Ann’s underwear, back in the studio.
SeanMoncrieff Like Ryanair,...
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Hi folks, alas it has been a while since we’ve been chatting, but at least on returning it’s to discuss some news of the more positive variety; namely the huge increase in volumes ... more...
There’s lots of nonsense going around at the moment in relation to the recently introduced 30km speed limit in Dublin, however our favourite is this video created by David Rochford: ... more...
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• IMF Chairman agrees with my assessment that global economy is recovering. :) Pity Ireland is so far behind.
• RT @ConcernWorld U2, spaceships and Croke Park: all in a night's work http://bit.ly/10PiGY
• RT @Mark_Coughlan: I am showing a webinar audience how quickly a message can spread on Twitter. Would you please RT? #watchitspread
• @FreelanceWebDev Reminds me of time a friend told me his wife was stripping downstairs....he meant that she was stripping walls of paper.
• When people are filling in a form for the blog directory, we ask what is it's "Title" - sometimes the answer we get is "Mr."
• @fergalbreen @topgold @Eirepreneur http://url.ie/22w3 if you exclude the north then @Adrienne (ops mgr, Dublin) is the first
• @icedcoffee It's back up now.
• Mercer Press pub'd book of short stories by "talented" young writer, Cork, will give copy to blogger who'll read & post about it
• @sineadcochrane @icedcoffee Thanks for RT but it seems to have made our blog fall over!Your obviously very influential or we've a flaky blog
• @Sinabhfuil Last time I checked we had found over 40k - but that's only the no. we've found. There's bound to be much more than that.
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