The Strategic Retreat

Admin at 4:43 pm September 10, 2012

From top: Enda Kenny, Michael Noonan, Lucinda Creighton & husband Senator Paul Bradford; Senator Fidelma Healy Eames; James Reilly; Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran; Leo Varadkar, the guards, and a Shell To Sea protestor at the FG think in Mayo today.

Meanwhile, The IMF to the rescue:

THE Government must find ways to tax and reduce child benefit, medical cards and household benefits and subsidies for middle class college students, the International Monetary Fund said in a report today.

The IMF, which alongside the EU/ECB is lending €67.5bn to the country, also wants reductions in the old age pension because deflation has reduced the cost of goods.

According to the IMF, the Government should look again at the Croke Park agreement.

The coalition should tax benefits or introduce means tests, the IMF added.

Government Must Cut Child Benefits, Medical Cards – IMF Says (Independent.ie)

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

JRR Tolkien Reads An Elvish Poem

Admin at 4:31 pm September 10, 2012

A 1952 recording of J.R.R. Tolkien reading Namárië, an Elvish language poem that appeared in The Fellowship of the Ring.

iheartchaos/neatorama/pic

Meanwhile, In Kilgarvan, Co Kerry

Admin at 4:18 pm September 10, 2012

Hello you.

@auntyamo

(Thanks Lars Biscuits)

That Think-In Feeling

Admin at 4:06 pm September 10, 2012

Enda Kenny at the Fine Gael ‘think-in’ at the Knockranny House Hotel, Co Mayo, this afternoon.

So, how’s it going?

A united party?

The Chairman of the Fine Gael party has today called for elements of the Croke Park Agreement to be renegotiated. Deputy Charlie Flanagan said all sides should sit down together to discuss the payment of increments, which are not part of core pay.

Fine Gael Chairman calls for Re-Negotiation Of Croke Park Deal (BreakingNews.ie)

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today ruled out any re-negotiation of the Croke Park Agreement, saying that the Government is “honour bound”.
Speaking at the start of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting in Mayo however, Mr Kenny said: “I’m telling you what the position is, and I’m not implying what anyone else, as you say, might seem to be saying,”

Taoiseach: Government ‘Honour Bound’ To Complete Croke Park Deal (BreakingNews.ie)

Oh.

(Thanks Lars Biscuits)

(Eamonn Farrell/ Photocall Ireland)