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‘Irish mass emigration, and rising poverty are horrifying to see’ says editorial

Observer newspaper argues Ireland should be given new deal by Europe

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:56 AM
Updated Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:56 AM

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Cork city center


An editorial in the  highly influential Observer newspaper in London makes a strong argument for Europe to give the Irish a break after the country’s economic collapse.

The general election, which has been a resounding success for Fine Gael and failure of monumental proportions for Fianna Fail, will see a change of government but The Observer argues that the incoming group is saddled with the sins of the past.

“They are, however, stuck with those same policies in the shape of the deal made with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union,” reads the editorial.

The perception in Ireland that the bailout was a case of a country being taken advantage of is shared in the editorial.

“This deal is punitive, unjust and unsustainable. The Irish undoubtedly had to pay a price for the follies of the governments they elected. Mass unemployment, mass emigration, rapidly falling standards of living and rising poverty are horrifying to see and clearly punishment enough.”
With that in mind, the editorial goes on to say the EU/IMF should step up to the plate to help. And one way it argues that could be done, is being open to renegotiating the bailout deal with the new Irish government
“If democracy and European solidarity are to mean anything, they should get a sympathetic and fair-minded hearing,” reads the editorial.

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18 Comments

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sirpeter | Mar 05, 2011, 08:52 AM EST
Your 'spiritual' home is in your head,not in any church. It's the "Claudy" bombings,no i didn't..what individuals do is their sin ,so to speak

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Collette2 | Mar 03, 2011, 08:07 PM EST
So your prepared to gloss over the fact that our 'spiritual' home, that claims diplomatic immunity to avoid accountability, the power to bind on earth what is bound in heaven etc. is infested with insidious crimes carried out against our innocents, where they should have been safest above anywhere else. Then good for you. You didn't mention the Cloudy bombings.

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sirpeter | Mar 03, 2011, 01:20 PM EST
Collette2..Why are you using the word Catholic? Is their some difference when it comes to mother's? You need to do a little studying on sexual abuse of kids in the church. There is just as much sexual abuse of kids in protestant churches,but the Catholic church is more centralized so it makes it easier to condemn it.As a matter of fact their is sexual abuse of kids everywhere,even some wife's cover up sexual abuse of their own kids by their husbands.It's everywhere in society from the top down to the bottom.Obviously the Murphy and Ryan reports come as a shock to you,but that's because you are naive.Collette wake up,you're a big girl now

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Collette2 | Mar 02, 2011, 10:37 PM EST
Now that's what one would call getting your paddy up isn't. Great to hear you are'nt a pushover. Unfortunately, the church believes we are when they use spirituality to get out of trouble and with a majority of Irish being Catholics including the government it's a sorry trail and there are may who have suffered under both. I'm glad you aren't one of them. Haven't you read the Murphy and Ryan reports? Then there's the Cloudy bombings. Meantime I will continue to hold up those who have and the many Catholic mothers who continue to weep over their children. Salut'e

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sirpeter | Mar 02, 2011, 08:21 PM EST
Collette2..Stop praying. You have just insulted everybody, and every mother in Ireland. Implying our life's come cheap!! What do you know?!!What a cheek!! WORSE of all..Do you know what the word STOIC means? It means an unemotional person. Are you saying Irish mothers have no emotions? That they have no feeling's? I have two words for you---> patronizing and condescending. Don't worry about Ireland.Three years ago per head of population we were the richest country in Europe. Too rich for the Irish Government and Europe. Now the game is..They want some of it back, and the game is we must try and stop them. So the Government says to Europe,we'll go broke so we can tax the people as much as we can to bring them back in line with the people of Europe and we'll give it back to the bondholders who gave the money in the first place. The people leave Ireland,because they turn off the money supply. They help Ireland because the government doesn't need them, and don't have to support them when unemployed. Simple economics..All the drama is only bulls*it Collette2-- You can get back to your praying now,but take my advice,you have plenty of people to pray for in your own country. PS..These articles on IrishCentral are mostly for fun---Some truth--some half-truths--some pure bullsh*t. Get it now.

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Collette2 | Mar 02, 2011, 06:30 AM EST
I don't know if it's just Irish humour but I seem to have missed the joke of some of these comments. You have been treated like shite, I'm not one for turning the other cheek I'm afraid and I feel very deeply for how you have all been treated by church and government. Your lives seem to come cheap and it doesn't sit well with me. Never mind, I'll keep praying for better times for that wonderful island of yours of deep faith and your stoic Irish mothers.

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sirpeter | Mar 01, 2011, 03:31 PM EST
Georgy..Ever think of the auld suicide yourself? I'll help ya..Just repeat after me. Immigrants...I have nothing to live for...Immigrants...I have nothing to live for... Immigrants...I have nothing to live for...Immigrants...I have nothing to live for...THEN CHANGE..Immigrants...Must buy rope..Immigrants...Must buy rope.

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 01, 2011, 03:11 PM EST
Irish Mass Immigration is even more horrifying. Ethnosuicide.

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esatdigiwank | Mar 01, 2011, 12:13 PM EST
"“If democracy and European solidarity are to mean anything, they should get a sympathetic and fair-minded hearing,” reads the editorial." surely the IMF/EU will see fit to lower the punitive lending rate to us once they see this country is no longer led by misplaced teachers, lawyers and real estate agents, but by a political party which has far more acumen, qualified individuals in economic and fiscal matters. They ought to have more confidence in Ireland from here on in (?)

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sirpeter | Mar 01, 2011, 10:40 AM EST
I posted this over on the topic where that poor 30 year old froze to death. I'll just edit it down to fit this topic.Thought it might put Irish poverty into perspective for the over dramatic here on IC. Since IrishCentral is quite happy to tell the world of Ireland's dire poverty.I thought a little truth would be a nice change...A single mother with two kids have free accommodation.They have a rent free €350,000 Three bedroomed house which is the norm with 2 kids.An unmarried mother's allowance which is €752 per month plus €240.40 per month for her 2 kids.Plus Child Benefit for 2 kids €280 per month (Everyone is entitled to Child Benefit,more kids more money)She is also entitled to 25 EURO'S A WEEK FUEL ALLOWENCE FROM SEPT TO APRIL.(€676 PER YEAR).She could also earn €146.50 per week and still qualify for the full One-Parent Family Payments. Leaving out her working..The Government give her €1272.40 a month cash to live on (1,758.31 USD)Plus €676 per year for HEATING.(935.166 USD)Deserted Wife’s Benefit's are higher. She also has unlimited free doctor's visit's and free meds. (Doctor will call to your house,if too sick to get out of bed)I can't think of anymore freebies..I'm not going to go into what else the government will give her,because I know unmarried mother's don't have a van to pick up her NEW washing machine,tumble drier,kid's buggies,fridge(cooler in yank language)ect..Oh!! silly me..They are delivered free too. I won't go into what the Charities give out. IrishCentral..Don't just believe me..Google it. It's such a hard life of poverty in Ireland at the moment. Irish people just want a job to live better then that. Will they freeze on church steps if they mess up in their new land? Might do better staying at home.

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antoman | Mar 01, 2011, 04:24 AM EST
@sirpeter LOL!

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Collette2 | Mar 01, 2011, 01:39 AM EST
So you really want to know what I think; I'm afraid I'm pretty one eyed as far as the Irish are concerned. They were done over by the government and the church and bishops still grovelling to save their skins (as is everywhere in the world) today. Seeing their loved ones massacared and their children abused; Give them what they need and compensation for all the 'follies' of others. As I have previously stated, forgiveness is overated.

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sirpeter | Feb 28, 2011, 11:54 PM EST
antoman..Quoet"A few feet further is St.Patricks Bridge "ON" which I reside."Unquoet. Here is IrishCentral talking about Irish poverty and you are letting everyone know our homeless beggars have laptops and internet connection's.You are really fu*king up our poor mouth strategy.

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Cranleigh | Feb 28, 2011, 08:20 PM EST
I agree the deal is unjust but the Irish need to cut way back on their spending from the minimum wage all the way to the top of the civil service. No public servant in Ireland should be earning more than 80% of their Anglo-German equivalent. Hospital consultants in Ireland can make in excess of 700,000 dollars and the top GP in the country pulled in more than a million from the public half of his practice alone last year. And don't get me STARTED on the astronomical pay of lawyers, accountants, company directors and other assorted yahoos. Irish people need to get real about wages if they want to restore competitiveness. Enda should have slashed his own pay to 100k and made 150k an absolute ceiling in the public service. Defined contribution pensions should be introduced for all public servants. If Wisconsin can't afford defined benefit plans, how can Ireland?

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antoman | Feb 28, 2011, 01:26 PM EST
How well I recognise the picture in this article.Just a few feet further is St.Patricks Bridge on which I reside.

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