People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Senior New York Times writer launches hit job on Irish economic recovery -- ‘Everywhere..abandoned housing projects rot, waist high weeds sprouting’

Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2013 at 05:50 AM

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		Horses in a field in front of a new house which has been left unfinished in Co Leitrim.

If the Irish government were hoping for a positive spin as they take over the presidency of Europe for six months they will be disappointed with the New Year’s Day hit job article in The New York Times.

In an article entitled 'From Ireland to Greece: The New Fiscal Reality' in the print edition of the newspaper, Suzanne Daley, former National Editor and now a senior foreign correspondent, had nothing good to say.

“In Ireland government austerity measures have pummeled the fragile economy with cuts in service and higher taxes,” she writes.

“Everywhere, it seems abandoned housing projects rot, waist-high weeds sprouting from the cracks on the sidewalks.

“The proportion of households without a working adult is among the highest in the European Union and thousands of Irish continue to leave the country in search of work.

“Yet, the government, under pressure from its creditors, undertook another round of cuts last year, including its programs for children. At the same time it increased property taxes.”

The Times notes that despite European efforts to turn things around, “They have little to show for it in Ireland.”

Certainly not the type of vote of confidence the Irish were looking for at the beginning of the New Year from the world’s leading newspaper! See more: Irish Economy

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casualMBA | Jan 02, 2013, 10:16 AM EST

No need to instigate riots, Suzanne. Ireland will simply extend its "FitzGeralds' Keeps" policy - i.e., ignore, and de-construct wherever possible.

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Paul Hogan | Jan 02, 2013, 10:12 AM EST

The New York Times Artical right on the spot and worse.

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markday | Jan 02, 2013, 10:07 AM EST

"Hit job" is a term often used by those who disagree with the cold hard facts. The function of the NYT is not to do PR for Ireland, but to report the facts, and the facts, as most Irish will attest to, are pretty grim.

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mylesie | Jan 02, 2013, 10:02 AM EST

Jeezz! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!!

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bunkerisland | Jan 02, 2013, 09:43 AM EST

Housing development speculators went wild during the first decade of 2000 constructing excessively large residential developments and holiday home developments all over the country with prices that drastically exceeded a realistic mortgage payment for many families. Had they focused on more modestly sized homes in smaller developments that maintained a sense of village the outcome may have been very different. Greed and speculation exceeded common sense and now those who worked in the housing trades are either in Poland or Australia.

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torbreezy | Jan 02, 2013, 09:16 AM EST

Should "telling it like it is" be proscribed to keep up appearances?

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CarolAST | Jan 02, 2013, 08:53 AM EST

It's the austerity policies that they disapprove of it. They don't want them in the US.

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Smyrnian | Jan 02, 2013, 07:48 AM EST

I know IC loves the NY Times (and has a clear obsession with Maureen Dowd) but hey, this is a NY Times article so you cannot expect balance, accuracy or fairness.

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