I’m back from the brink. And in striking form!

The Education Minister Batt O’ Keeffe says it would be regrettable to see teachers taking to the streets to protest the Government’s public sector pension levy.

Minister Batt O’Keeffe’s comments follow Friday’s announcement from the three main teachers’ unions that they will be balloting their members on industrial action.

Union representatives have also urged their members to attend an ICTU protest rally which is taking place in Dublin on Saturday.

Minister O’ Keeffe is appealing to teachers to remember that the country is in a difficult and fraught financial state.

If balloted I will be prepared to go on the picket line.

The fat cats at the top, the bankers, the developers, the speculators and their equals creamed it during the Celtic Tiger years.

Read more »

The Department of Education has confirmed plans to cut special teacher support for around 900 primary school children with learning disabilities.

One hundred and twenty-eight teaching posts are being cut, affected 119 schools around the country, most of them in disadvantaged areas.

The department says the decision has been taken because the schools do not meet the minimum requirement of nine pupils with mild learning disabilities.

Read more »

Biffo, the clown, Cowen has defended the Government’s decision to recapitalise Irish banks and he has said that the details will be finalised within the next few days.

The Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank have reportedly agreed terms with Lenihan (Cowen’s lackluste Minister for Finance) for their recapitalisation.

The deal, worth €7bn, is designed to incentivise existing shareholders to invest in the banks (Yeah … like that’s going to happen).

Great ….. in today’s Irish Examiner it’s said that Bank of Ireland staff are getting a 3.5% pay rise.

Read more »

I’m one of the public sector employees that you have hit with this new Pension Levy!

This levy is a serious reduction of my salary.

May Fianna Fáil crash, burn and die at the forthcoming local elections and at the national election that will inevitably arrive!

Gormless and his Green Pixies needn’t hold their breath waiting for my vote either. Harney and her has been party aren’t even worth talking about … so I won’t.

I’ve joined an Irish based forum called Ask about Money.

It’s quite revealing. The stark economic reality is very evident there.

None more so than in the section called Money Makeover.

It’s a great place for money advice. Have a look. See what you think.

What can I say?

Class sizes are going to increase (doesn’t bother me …. I’m bucking the trend!  )

Overall, to be honest (and I ain’t a Fianna Fáil fan) … it could have been worse considering the shit we’re in.

I will be down a few hundred euro in the year but hey so will everyone else. I just don’t spend it if I ain’t got it.

I guess the new Dell netbook is on hold for the time being!

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Dell is planning to sell its computer factories around the world.

That being the case the Dell manufacturing plant in Limerick (employing 3,000 people) and the the Dell sales and marketing operation in Dublin (employing 1,350 people) would appear to be under threat.
Read more »

Councils are planning to bring in a multitude of local taxes.

The new charges will cost Mr. & Mrs. PAYE Taxpayer at least €200 a year.

What’s on the list?

Read more »

The financial institutions are at it again.

This time their focus is on screwing the elderly.

Prime Time highlighted the abuse of our elderly citizens by banks tonight.

Permanent TSB came across as being blatant liars.

Have a look at the broadcast and judge for yourselves.

Amazing how a wildcat strike by train drivers can affect 10,000 passengers in one foul swoop!

All because a train driver didn’t want to move from his passenger train to take another guy on a training drive.

Boo to you ….. it could only happen in Ireland.

Read more »