Maman Poulet » Live Blogging

Budget witterings

Maman Poulet — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:10:56 +0000

21.01

TheJournal.ie have a virtual panel running on the impact of budget11 on various members of society. Anne is on disability allowance and tells how this budget will effect her.

20.50

OPEN an organisation representing lone parents in Ireland has released their response on the effect of #budget11 on lone parents

20.33

See the comments for information on other cuts of interest.

20.32

I have been asking to get on the FF press list for months – and tonight voila a press release.

One attacking FG on their proposals regarding older people from the Minister for State for Older people – um shouldn’t Minister Brady be press releasing on the fact that FF/GN budget is not affecting older people – or is it effecting older people in other ways and we are not being told?

Fine Gael seeking to punish older homeowners with Budget proposals – Minister of State Brady

Fine Gael are seeking to punish older homeowners in their budget proposals according to Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North and Minister of State with responsibility for Older People, Áine Brady.

“Fine Gael are seeking to punish older homeowners in their Budget proposals which would see those selling their homes have to pay up to 10% in Capital Gains Tax on the value of the sale.”

“While Fine Gael does specify that those in negative equity would not have to pay, it is evident that those older people in particular who were seeking to downsize the family home to secure their retirement funds would be the hardest hit.”

“It seems really unfair that Fine Gael would target older people in this way.”

“This would not be the only charge that those selling their homes would be subject to. Fine Gael also propose retaining stamp duty, although reducing it to 2% for two years.”

“This would mean older people would be paying on the double if they sold their family home. Fine Gael clearly recognise that ‘older wealthier generation that purchased their home before 2002’ would feel the ‘burden of tax’ more heavily with their plan. Yet, often, many of this generation may be cash poor and the family home is their only asset.”

“Fianna Fáil in Government are determined that the adjustments that need to be made are made as fairly as possible with everyone playing their part.”

“Fianna Fáil’s Budget proposes a new flat rate of 1% on stamp duty up to the value of €1million with 2% applying to amounts over €1 million. This will be applicable to all transactions to or after the 8th of December 2010. However, in the interests of fairness, anyone who has entered a binding contract before the 8th of December and who executes the transfer before the 1st of July 2011 will not lose out.”

“It is evident to me that this across the board application of such a low rate of stamp duty is a much more equitable solution that Fine Gael’s proposal.”

“Our Budget is focussed on jobs, growth and stability and in targeting our adjustments we are determined not to focus on one group in particular but to be as equitable as possible. It is a pity that Fine Gael, in targeting older people and their family homes are not so inclined,” concluded Minister Brady.

18.42

Inclusion Ireland press statement – No Croke Park deal for people with disabilities

18.19

Government Press office on website streaming Dept of Health press briefing on budget – says that ‘journalists will ask minister about cost savings’ spin spin spin – cuts become cost savings.

18.16

No cut to mobility allowance, foster care allowances and rehabilitation training payments according Minister Harney

18.14

The response from the Childrens Rights Alliance to the Budget

18.07

Denis Naughten from Fine Gael reacts on impact of budget on people with Disabilities

18.00

The details of cuts to education – significant cuts to supports for Travellers, introduction of student fees, capping of special needs assistants, educational psychologists, and changes to school transport services and how they are operated. Third Level Students will not qualify for higher amounts of grants unless they are living 45km from home.

17.49

Department of Health and Children’s statement on budget and estimates

17.46

There are no increases in the A&E charge, the statutory day and inpatient charges, or the monthly threshold for the Drug Payment Scheme.

17.45

Minister John Moloney – Minister for State for people with disabilities makes a statement on the budget and impact on people with disabilities.

17.38

Those on back to education and VTOS schemes are having their additional payments reduced by from €31 to €20 per week.

17.30

Rent Supplement – those in receipt will have to pay more rent – €2 more per week – so that’s a cut of at least €10 per week.

17.27

ASSISTING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK FORCE

Policy and operational changes are planned that will assist people with disabilities, who choose to work, to do so. As part of a change agenda, the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No 2) Bill provides for a Partial Capacity Scheme which will allow people return to work and retain all or part of their social welfare payment.

17.26

Department of Social Protection publish the main changes to Social Welfare payments and schemes

17.02

More prisons – Dermot Ahern spins

Ahern Welcomes Continued Investment in Justice Sector

The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D., said today that the capital budget provided for his sector will give scope to expand and develop infrastructure and facilities over the coming years.

Minister Ahern said that it was intended to continue investment in the Justice sector which had, in recent years, funded new Courthouses, Garda stations and Prisons infrastructure. In addition, state of the art and leading edge information technology systems have been provided across the various organisations in the sector.

The capital budget of €80 million provided for the Justice Votes in today’s budget is the first tranche of a total capital investment of €330 million in the Justice sector in the period 2011 to 2014.

Minister Ahern said: “Significantly this investment will ensure that progress is continued in relation to the following key projects:

- the provision of additional prison places including the phased development of the new prison campus at Thornton Hall and an extension to the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise

- continued maintenance and upgrade of Garda ICT facilities, including the commencement of the development of a new Major Investigation System for the investigation and detection of serious crimes

- completion of a state of the art laboratory for the State Pathology Service in a joint venture with Dublin City Council

- the development of new juvenile detention facilities at Oberstown

- capital funding will also be provided to the Courts Service and the Property Registration Authority for continued investment in ICT, thus continuing the significant efficiency improvements and range of services provided in recent years.”

16.56

1.6 billion cuts to Health and Social Welfare Budgets 2011

16.33

Book of estimates published

16.28

Budget speech and all related documents now published

16.09

New incentives for tenant purchase of local authority homes, no mention made of those who cannot afford to buy a home or the many homeless or indeed the many empty homes throughout the state.

16.00

Carers, blind pension, disability allowance all facing €8 cut in benefits.

15.56

Public Sector Pensions to be cut by 4% to those earning more than €12,000.

Rules being brought in to stop public servants retiring earlier en masse.

15.51

Child benefit rates cut by €10 for 1st and 2nd child, and €20 for 3rd child
Extra 5000 places on a community employment training scheme.

Minister says that the fine details of all social welfare schemes will be published later.

15.49

No change to State Pension

Child Benefit reduced by 10 percent per child

More money is being made available to those on fuel allowance – with an additional hard weather payment – a once off of €40 being made this year.

15.07

Not a budgetary matter but interesting to see that there were publications last Friday relating to a Value for Money review of services for people with disabilities. The publication includes opinion from people with disabilities with the majority indicating they wanted individual tailoring of services with a range of service providers being available to them. I and others will analyse these further but given that there will be announcements relating to disabilities funding today it is interesting to see these publications out with little or no comment so far.

While we think we know the cuts to come because of the leaks and the four year plan there will be many cuts not announced in the budget speech but in documents released shortly afterwards by government departments.

I will be having a look out for these to keep an eye on the seemingly smaller cuts in schemes and benefits which will have a huge impact on those who receive them. While the news will be dominated by the cuts to CEO wages and ministers and TD's very rarely do we hear much about the cuts to health benefits and increases in charges for prescriptions and health charges.

Budgetjamming the myths

Maman Poulet — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:56:51 +0000

Over on Politico.ie a fine bunch of people are spending time between now and Budget day liveblogging the myths of the economy, reflecting on the state we are in and all the other phrases that make up what we are told is the ‘national discourse’.

The project is part of Budgetjam and there will be a ongoing critique of the media and the coverage of all the budgetary and #bailout/sellout issues.

Go have a look and join in kicking the elephant out of the room.

Claiming Our Future

Maman Poulet — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:40:07 +0000

Claiming Our Future is taking place in the RDS today. 1000 people from all over the country gathering in a type of citizen assembly to talk about the kind of Ireland they want to live in. A movement for progressive, sustainable change.

A live video stream of the event is available here.

The event kicks off at 10.30am and you can join in the conversation at the liveblog below.

Claiming Our Future 30 October 2010

And we’re back in the chicken shed

Maman Poulet — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:12:08 +0000

I’ve taken a little blogging break here for the last ten days or so, but it’s not been completely quiet. You may have noted the post exploring the campaign for marriage and the change in how marriage is interpreted which I wrote earlier this week on The (Fabulous) AntiRoom.

I think some of the point of my post got a bit lost in some of the 77 (!) comments which followed but it’s probably one of the more interesting online debates on the rationale some have adopted in their campaign strategies and the perspectives of those who feel alienated.

I’ll be continuing the debate (or trying anyway) on Global Voices on Newstalk tonight with a representative from LGBT Noise.

Also this week I was invited to speak on a panel at a seminar held by Humanrights.ie and the Public Interest Law Alliance which marked the first anniversary of Humanrights.ie It was a very enjoyable afternoon where I was permitted to rant a little about human rights and medias. I believe there will be video and audio available in the next few weeks. Congratulations to Humanrights.ie for their first very successful year and continued good wishes for the future. (Note to other blogs – this crew had had a birthday cake and bubbly to mark their first birthday – lawyers do it in style!)

In other news

- Ivor, Ann, Labhras and Rónán all sent their excuse notes into the Seanad Members Interests committee, (note that Rónán’s name is separated from the other three in this RTE report.

– Ivor has been spotted brunching in Clontarf,

– Rónán Mullen and the Iona Institute have been moaning about Marriage Equality’s forthcoming conference on Children in Same Sex families and the EU funding that has been awarded for the conference. Where do Iona get their money again?

Fine Gael Heave Liveblog

Maman Poulet — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:48:32 +0000

Since yesterday afternoon a liveblog capturing the latest news, pictures, video from the Fine Gael confidence motion in Enda Kenny has been in full swing.

It will be buzzing throughout tomorrow’s meeting and beyond. If like me you have been too busy (unfortunately) and snatching news here and there you can join in the fun by dipping in and out or clicking on the more button on this post.

The tag for twitter etc. is #fgheave and of course you don’t need to be on twitter to comment or read the liveblog.

Richard Bruton has a PR company handling his press (the FG Press team no doubt being loyal to the leader – some very loyal indeed if the tales of zealotry I’ve heard about are to be believed) and you can read Bruton’s press release sent out this evening here.

It won’t all be over tomorrow of course and some are even hoping that this stuff is catching and that we might see a FF heave soon enough but I’m not betting on it.

Oireachtas Committee on Constitution goes for a wander

Maman Poulet — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:21:25 +0000

Tonight in Trinity College Dublin a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution will take place to discuss electoral reform. It’s believed to be the first time that the committee will have met outside the Oireachtas to debate. Discussions at the meeting will include presentations by members of the public on electoral reform. (Yes I know the meeting is only down the road, but you never know what this may have started! The decentralisation of the Dáil and Seanad cannot be too far away!)

Tonights meeting will then be followed by a panel discussion chaired by John Bowman with participants including Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport, Professor Ken Benoit, head of the Department of Political Science, Senator Ivana Bacik, Trinity Fellow, Sean Ardagh, Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee, Jim O’Keeffe, Vice Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee and The Hon. Mr. Justice Frank Clarke.

The event is hosted by TCD JS Irish Politics (3rd year) class and TCD Department of Political Science.

There will be a liveblog and webcast, more information can be found on TheStory.ie. I’ll be liveblogging at some stage hopefully if the wifi goddesses oblige! So please join in and we’ll try and get some points across from the viewing public!

Watching the Seanad

Maman Poulet — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:13:02 +0000

The Seanad is debating the NAMA Bill and Alexia began a live blog of the debate yesterday which for this injured chicken was a delightful way of continuing my recuperation!

Some intriguing questions – Where was Shane Ross during the debate – ‘Business Regulation Expert’ too busy promoting the book? Or too wary of speaking in the house on the issue? Why is Joe O’Toole of INTO and ICTU fame consistently voting with the Government on the issue? He thinks supporting NAMA is consistent with supporting social democracy according to Senator Alex White.

The Green Party contributions have been as numerous as in the lower house – ie. not a lot.

And then there’s been the tweeting Senators – this is now officially the the most tweeted event from members of the Oireachtas. Paschal Donohue, Jerry Buttimer and sometimes even Dan Boyle are tweeting during the debate from the chamber – the heckles continue online and are captured in the Liveblog.

The debate in the Seanad has actually been of a high quality with speakers generally well prepared. And there has been a flock of ministers into bring the bill thorugh the house (Flock according to Frances Fitzgerald – whirlygig according to David Norris)

Hop over to the liveblog to have a look at the pictures, Duracell Bunnies and Ladybird books as well as the results and commentary as it happens.

Renewed Programme for Government

Maman Poulet — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:35:15 +0000

I’m in the RDS this afternoon for the Green Party Conference on the Renewed Programme for Government. There is a liveblog running and Green Party members are inside the hall tweeting. You can read the full document online and it was available a good hour before the printed version. Loads of reaction online to the contents already this morning. More from me on the liveblog later.

Lisbon Referendum Results

Maman Poulet — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:10:40 +0000

I’ll be in Dublin Castle tomorrow at the National Count Centre with Cian and Alexia and a load of foreign media scratching their heads and wondering what is going on!

There is a liveblog already established for the count results and we are looking forward to pulling in news from around the country as the tallies come in. Cian posts about how to contact us with information and as usual in Irish blogging/online crowdsourcing and all hands on deck is the way to go.

Thanks in advance for helping out if you are at a count or otherwise following results. If you have contacts outside of Ireland who may be interested in keeping in touch with things you should point them in the direction of the liveblog and also to additional coverage and analysis on Irishelection.com.

I’m voting later today and will be on the look out for Cóirites monitoring the goings on. Watching them watching us eh? We even have a blog for watching the votes go in.

Pat Kenny to take to ‘The Frontline’

Maman Poulet — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:38:19 +0000

Emerging from Montrose is the title of the new Current Affairs show to be hosted by Pat Kenny on Monday Nights.

The Frontline will be broadcast in the same timeslot as it’s predecessor but word is that it will be more news driven and flexible rather than panel or audience driven. No news on the Youtube/Twitter effect yet.

The first programme will air on September 28th – 4 days before the Lisbon 2 vote and just as I return from holidays to join in the liveblog fun no doubt!