Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

The Government was subjected to an intense lobbying campaign by the pharmaceutical industry earlier this year over a HSE decision not to approve for payment new drugs and medicine.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was warned the decision could have implications for 25,000 jobs and future investment.
Early this year, the HSE decided not to reimburse new drugs that had passed all regulatory stages and were becoming available for use in patients. They included drugs for treating skin cancer and cost up to €85,000.
In correspondence with Mr Kenny, up to 20 multinational drug firms claimed that the HSE move was portraying Ireland negatively and could have “unintended consequences” for Ireland.

“Unintended consequences”

Ah sure that’s just the drugs talking.

Major drug companies lobbied Kenny over HSE scheme (Martin Wall, Irish Times)

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have ruled out any row-back on the budget in the light of growing unease among backbench TDs in both Government parties about some of its harsher measures, including cuts in the respite care grant.

The €325 cut in the €1,700 grant for respite care yesterday assumed greater importance as a possible stumbling block for some Labour and Fine Gael TDs.

The new property tax, the €5 a week increase in PRSI and particularly the cuts in child benefit were also being viewed as potentially difficult issues.

Mr Kenny, while accepting that many of the budget changes made to achieve a €3.5 billion adjustment were “unpalatable”, nevertheless insisted that all measures would be implemented.

You’ll take it. And you’ll like it.

Problem?

Kenny and Gilmore rule out any reverse to budget cuts (Harry McGee, Irish Times)

(Barry Cronin/Photocall Ireland)

The problem for Labour is that the party made so many promises in the run-up to the last election. In particular the party produced a poster suggesting that many of the items in yesterday’s Budget, including a cut in child benefit, higher prescription charges, increased student fees and even a rise in the price of a bottle of wine would come to pass if Fine Gael won an overall majority.

Instead the two parties went into government with the biggest majority in the history of the State, and most of the things Labour accused Fine Gael of wanting to do have now been done by the two parties in government.

It is always difficult for a party to convince the electorate that worse might have happened if it were not there, but that is a recurring problem for Labour.

Shame. And they were doing so well, too.

Labour helps bring in changes it warned against (Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

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Minister for Health James Reilly’s constituency office contacted his department eight times before the announcement of a Government stimulus package last July seeking updates on plans to develop a primary care centre in Balbriggan.

Dr Reilly has come under fire over the addition of locations in Balbriggan and Swords in his constituency to a list for primary care centres drawn up by the HSE and his then minister of state Róisín Shortall.

Documents released by the department yesterday include a handwritten note by a civil servant maintaining that a ministerial adviser was told about advanced plans to develop the Balbriggan centre by leasing rather than through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement under the stimulus package. The note says the adviser consulted Dr Reilly and that Swords and Balbriggan were to remain on the PPP list.

Over to you, Eamon.

Reilly official in contact over care centres (Martin Wall, Paul Cullen, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

The new property tax to be announced in tomorrow’s budget will be reduced slightly as a result of the late addition of the so-called mansion tax for properties worth over €1 million.

Government sources yesterday confirmed that the levying of a higher tax rate on high-value properties will have a knock-on effect for middle and lower income households but conceded it would be marginal. The rate to be unveiled by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan tomorrow is expected to be 0.18 per cent of the value of the property, with a rate of 0.25 per cent for properties worth over €1 million.

The new rate would mean a tax bill of €450 per annum for a house worth €250,000 as opposed to €500 if the rate were 0.2 per cent.

Well, woop de bleedin’ doo.

Addition of ‘mansion tax’ will see reduced property tax (Harry McGee, Arthur Beesley, Irish Times)

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

Most of the detail of Wednesday’s budget comprising €3.5 billion in cuts and tax rises was signed off at the weekend amid last-minute tension between Labour and Fine Gael.

Government sources said the spending side was “pretty much agreed”. However, some other elements of the budget, such as an extension of PRSI to cover more income, were still to be concluded.

Key elements in the package are said to include a property tax of 0.2 per cent of house value, with a higher rate or “mansion tax” for residences valued above €1 million; a child benefit rate cut of €10; a motor tax increase of 15 per cent; and a reduction from 12 months to nine for payment of non-means-tested jobseeker’s allowance.

Joy.

Coalition parties sign off on bulk of budget despite rows (Dealglán de Bréadún, Martin Wall, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Accountancy firm Ernst & Young has been appointed the new auditors to the Quinn Group, which is part-owned by the former Anglo Irish Bank.

The appointment comes just two days after the bank started a legal action against the firm over its role as auditors to the bank before it was taken into State ownership in 2009.

Ernst & Young has replaced rival accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditors to the group formerly owned by the bankrupt and imprisoned businessman Seán Quinn.

A spokesman for Quinn Manufacturing Group confirmed it had just appointed Ernst & Young as its new auditors on a multi-year contract after a competitive tender for the job.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan told reporters he was aware of the State-owned bank’s action against the firm. “On they go,” he said.

Indeed.

Quinn hires audit firm co-owner is suing (Simon Carswell, Irish Times)

Heather Perrin, a 61-year-old woman born into a modest background where third-level education was not an option, one who “pulled herself up by the bootstraps” to progress from legal secretary to qualified solicitor at the age of 31, and to a seat on the bench at 57, is now consigned to An Dóchas women’s prison.

Prisoners there now routinely double up in rooms designed as private singles, and sleep in “hard bunk beds with thin duvets”, in the words of one source.

A woman known for her liking for good jewellery and prestigious car marques, one for whom her public face and dignity were perceived to be particularly important, will be reduced to purchasing stock from the prison shop on a stipend of less than €2 a day.

However, one of the biggest challenges she faces in prison, perhaps, will be the known fact of her former occupation, a factor acknowledged by Judge Mary Ellen Ring.

Judge not, lest ye be etc.

Fallout for judge will not end when jail term is over (Kathy Sheridan, Irish Times)

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

Silicon Republic reports that some UK scammers will be taking advantage of the annual hunt for tickets to the Late Late Toy Show.

Uncovered by Paul C. Dwyer, he says:

The plot we have uncovered and hopefully foiled seems to have two vectors of attack. There are two messages planned for use “Congratulations you have won two tickets to the Late Late Toy Show, call xxxxxxxx to claim your tickets now” The number is a premium rate number costing a min of Euro 2.50 to call.

About 2 million text messages were planned on being sent, costing the nefarious grinch-like criminals between 25K and 30K sterling.

BEWARE: Late Late Toy Show Scam (ICTTF)

Beware of Late Late Toy Show SMS scam – UK cyber thieves target Irish consumers (Silicon Republic)

Via Neil O’Gorman

The plastic bag levy should be extended to condoms, sanitary pads, babies’ nappies, balloons, single-use cigarette lighters and other potential litter that’s harmful to wildlife, according to Coastwatch Ireland.

Director Karin Dubsky issued the call yesterday after presenting the results of this year’s Coastwatch survey by more than 400 volunteers to Minister for Heritage Jimmy Deenihan. It covered a representative sample of 3 per cent of the coastline.

 

Coastwatch Seeks Condom And Nappy Levy (Frank McDonald, Irish Times)

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