Politics in Ireland - Irish Politics » Dublin West

finishing what you start

Politics in Ireland — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:00:18 +0000

Who knows - maybe that’s what Brian Lenihan was doing when he appeared to claim the voting age on these shores was 21. Perhaps in his mind he was answering a question previously asked like : “How many week’s holiday would Fianna Fáil …... Continue reading »

Recession Diet

Politics in Ireland — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:57:39 +0000

Neither of the twin Bs, Brian Cowan nor Brian Lenihan can bring themselves to admit it. Recession. It's a national emergency. As bad as the 80's? My ass - we're headed for the 50's (18 or 19, take your pick). Many of our celtic cubs may …... Continue reading »

July 14th Morning: The Recession Diaries

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:44:46 +0000

Our man from Ongar, Leo Varadkar, TD, is in madness mode. At a debate on the Future of Social Partnership at the Young Fine Gael Summer School he demanded:. ' . . . a moderate pay deal that taxpayers can afford. …... Continue reading »

FAS: the €20m-a-week quango

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:41:16 +0000

The answers are disturbing. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan could find the sudden exposures at FAS the answer to his prayers. FAS has spent billions — and mis-spent millions — in recent years. All Brian needs is half a billion.... Continue reading »

Current spending will be kept in check - Lenihan

Politics in Ireland — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:12:53 +0000

CURRENT SPENDING should not out-distance revenue, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan told the Dáil. “That path leads to unsustainable borrowing, less room for manoeuvre, lower growth and a heavy tax burden.’’... Continue reading »

Mahon and Moriarty legal bills may cost up to €1bn

Politics in Ireland — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:35:38 +0000

TRIBUNALS:THE €1 BILLION that Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has said could be saved in 2009 from the measures announced yesterday, may just be enough to pay for legal bills expected from the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals.... Continue reading »

Government announces plans to save €440m in cutbacks this year

Politics in Ireland — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:35:29 +0000

MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan has announced plans to save €440 million this year and committed the Government to saving a further €1 billion in 2009. The Minister ruled out resorting to large-scale borrowing to deal with the …... Continue reading »

Recession fear weighs on Ireland’s banks

Politics in Ireland — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:19:10 +0000

Brian Lenihan, Irish finance minister, admitted last month that Ireland’s once booming housing market had come to a “shuddering halt”. Bank lending growth has slowed sharply. In addition, the higher cost of funding resulting from the …... Continue reading »

HSE staff paid €2m a week in travel and hotel expenses

Politics in Ireland — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:06:09 +0000

The spending on travel expenses is likely to increase again this year after finance minister Brian Lenihan announced an increase in travel and subsistence payments to civil servants last week. This will be enjoyed by all 300000 …... Continue reading »

Government shuts the door on Ennis Creche

Politics in Ireland — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:01:44 +0000

Fine Gael’s Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Clare TD Pat Breen has voiced his annoyance at the failure of the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD to review the temporary closure of the Civil Service Creche in Ennis. …... Continue reading »

Draghi criticises Berlusconi's economic policy

Politics in Ireland — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:05:40 +0000

Finance minister Brian Lenihan hopes the €500m “savings” on government spending will be enough to prevent Ireland breaking the EU rules on borrowing this year. But that depends on the rest of the economy — outside of building and …... Continue reading »

More on FAS

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:47:40 +0000

Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar on Morning Ireland today. The 2004 letter to Mary Harney gets mentioned. What was Paul Cunningham on about? Where’s the newspaper followup? Oh wait, here it is. Richard Oakley is on the job at the suddenly …... Continue reading »

Busy, busy…

Politics in Ireland — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:20:07 +0000

Last Friday was the official opening of the extension to Oisin's school and Brian Lenihan, minister for finance, attended. I got to see a few old faces from my primary school days! On Saturday I got to go to the midsummer megascrap …... Continue reading »

It’s now clear - we blew the boom

Politics in Ireland — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:20:00 +0000

… having to deal with the Department of Health and Children, it would appear now that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, is having an Angola moment about having to deal with the challenges in the Department of Finance. …... Continue reading »

Responsibility for E-Government has moved from the Department of …

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:33:07 +0000

Brian Lenihan, the Minister for Finance, will bring proposals to cabinet in the coming weeks aimed at modernising and improving e-government services in Ireland. The Department of Finance assumed responsibility for e-government in …... Continue reading »

More than beer and biscuits

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:06:42 +0000

It wasn't the Greens what talked down the economy, it was the Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance! in fairness, I'm taking Brian Lenihan's quote out of context, and he did correct his quote to suggest that only the housing sector was …... Continue reading »

where there’sa will, there’s bertie

Politics in Ireland — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:07:32 +0000

I’ll leave you with the words of outspoken Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar in the Dáil only last night… “This is a defence for drug dealers. This is a defence for pimps. This is not the kind of thing that should be tolerated from a former …... Continue reading »

Race not an issue in treaty debate, says racism watchdog

Politics in Ireland — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:07:30 +0000

said Mr Watt. Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar said he had no doubt the race card had been played. All the way along (immigration) was the elephant in the room that nobody spoke about. Some of the No campaign used Xenophobia.... Continue reading »

Joe Higgins Will Solve The Lisbon Treaty Crisis

Politics in Ireland — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:45:47 +0000

In 1996, he campaigned against water charges and came within 270 votes of preventing Brian Lenihan, Jnr from taking his late father's Dáil seat in the Dublin West by-election. He was first elected to the Dáil in the 1997 general …... Continue reading »

No!

Politics in Ireland — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:47:40 +0000

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said: “I'm very, very disappointed by this result. I think it's a sad day for Europe and for our people as well.” I'm confused, he could be saying saying that he is personally sad or that he doesn't …... Continue reading »