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Sean's avatar

The Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform should really ditch the ‘reform’ part of that title or halve his salary if unwilling to reform anything!

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Daire Winston's avatar

Lessons must be learnt! The next 'big thing' is the alternative energy sector, as we've heard in recent weeks, Ireland should and probably will become a major exporter of electricity to Europe if we get our act together. Please consider doing a podcast into this, particularly on how important it is to get the proper corporate structure in place in order to maximise the benefits for the citizens of Ireland.

This cannot be left solely to politicians to decide but the question is - who is capable of taking charge?

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Jim Power & Chris Johns's avatar

We are available to become benevolent dictators!

We will definitely do a pod on the alternative energy space.

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Deirdre Mooney's avatar

Very well said, Jim

I do so hope the politicians read and understand it! Then use it to act positively for the irish citizenry

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Jim Power & Chris Johns's avatar

Don't think it will happen Deirdre, but we can only hope

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Ralph Cunningham's avatar

And it's all related. For example, I watched a Resolution Foundation event in London this morning, where a doctor commented on the rise of people coming into her surgery with mental health problems as a result of housing insecurity. No one should be surprised if that is the case in Ireland, too. Other anecdotes abound of people being forced to live together because they can't afford to live apart, with the resultant risk of domestic violence, mistreatment of children etc. which may lead to health service interventions, police involvement

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Jim Power & Chris Johns's avatar

Absolutely Ralph. Hard to argue with that interpretation

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Conor o flynn's avatar

Politicans won’t change those PAC meetings are just opportunities to get their name out and act horrified about RTE spending. Notice nothing much said about the extra billion on the children’s hospital the same week. I doubt there be public sector reform either because that means taking on the unions which no politican will dare do and have the stomach for that battle and lose votes. Again usual story can kicking exercises. Leave it for the next person to sort.

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Martin Murphy's avatar

Finding the spending per head of population and comparing it to our European neighbours for health and education taking into account the ages of our populations would be an interesting slide for the Jim Power statistical microscope. Statistics reveal much more than sensationalist journalistic reporting.

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Jim Power & Chris Johns's avatar

Point well made.

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