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Monday, October 16, 2006

News from Ireland

horse-trap

NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================

IRELAND MOST VULNERABLE TO US ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

The imminent slowdown in the US economy that is
being part-caused by a drop in house prices there
is likely to have a serious effect on the Irish
economy. Ireland exports over 14% of GDP to the
US, a figure which is far in excess of most other
EU countries. Any serious reduction in exports to
the US caused by a drop in consumer confidence
stateside could possibly trigger a worldwide
recession which would trouble Ireland more
than most.

WORKFORCE CONTINUES TO EXPAND RAPIDLY

The economic prosperity that Ireland currently
enjoys continues to attract workers from around
the world. Irish emigrants are returning in
significant numbers but the real influx has come
from the new EU states of Poland, Lithuania and
Latvia.

87,000 migrants arrived into Ireland in the 12
months up to April of this year. During that time
the Irish population grew to over 4.2M, the
highest figure since the famine and an increase
of 2.5% - a staggering increase by any evaluation.
The Irish workforce grew by 4.6% to over 2M for
the first time.

The focus in recent months has been the number of
construction workers that are flocking into the
country but the real focus should perhaps be on
the 13,200 and 12,500 new jobs that were created
in the healthcare and education sectors
respectively. Unemployment continues at record
low levels, at 4.4%. During the 1980s the
unemployment rate in Ireland topped 17%.

GENERAL ELECTION FEVER HOTS UP

Campaigning for the General Election next year has
begun in earnest despite the date of the ballot
not yet being announced by Taoiseach Bertie
Ahearn. The ruling Fianna Fail and PD coalition
are in real trouble with successive opinion polls
showing a big drop in support for their
centre-right government. Despite the economic
prosperity that continues to wash over the country
the public has a real sense of dissatisfaction with
the current government that has been in power for
the best part of a decade. Opposition parties have
been effective in publicising Government failures
and have teamed up as a potential new Government.

A Fine Gael and Labour coalition would certainly
represent a lurch to the left in Irish politics
but it remains to be seen if their current good
showing in the opinion polls translates into Dail
seats (parliamentary seats) when the votes are
counted in next years election, which is likely
to be held in March or April.

The PDs have been given a boost recently with
Michael McDowell taking over as party leader.
He immediately attacked the excessive stamp duty
on property purchase as unnecessary, thus
identifying his party as the 'tax-cutting' party,
stealing a march not only on the opposition but
on Fianna Fail, the PDs partner in Government.The
continued slide in support for Fianna Fail must
be a mystery to leader Bertie Ahearn, who no doubt
will try to tap into the 'feelgood factor' that
a generous November budget and the maturation of
the SSIA saving scheme will provide.

IRISH WORK MORE THAN THE SWEDES OR GERMANS

An international survey by the European Industrial
Relations Observatory (EIRO) of annual leave
entitlements has placed Ireland near the bottom
of the 'annual leave' league table.

Irish workers receive almost 3 weeks less
vacation-time than their Swedish counterparts, and
two weeks leas than the Danes and Germans. Of the
original 15 EU member states only Belgium allows
its workers less time off than Ireland does.
On average Irish workers get 20 days off annually,
while British workers get 20.4 days.

JUNIOR SCHOOLS CLASS SIZES AMONG EU BIGGEST

An OECD report has shown that the number of
primary pupils per classroom in Ireland, at 24,
is among the highest in the EU. The EU average is
20.3. The situation for second level schooling
seems to be much better however, with Ireland
beating the EU average of 23.8 with an average
of 19.8 students per classroom.

Up to 4000 new teachers have been added in recent
years to the primary school system which caters
for children up to 13 years of age. A massive
program of refurbishment and new builds is still
underway.

The problem of a very young population, an ever
increasing birth rate and the continued influx of
migrant workers and their children represent
serious challenges for the Irish educational
system in the years to come.

FREE TRAVEL SCHEME IS EXPANDED

Ireland is one of a limited number of countries
that allows free travel on public transportation
for pensioners and other qualified groups. The
scheme that was introduced in the late 1960s by
Charles Haughey, is to be expanded to allow
pensioners to use public transport, buses, Luas
and rail, at all times. The original regulation
only allowed for free off-peak travel.

RYDER CUP CONCLUDES IN COUNTY KILDARE

The famous K-Club in County Kildare was home to
the Ryder cup of Golf which resulted in an 18.5
to 9.5 victory for the European team. The extent
of the winning margin surprised many with the US
team sporting the likes of Woods, Furyk and
Mickelson and especially as Europe only had one
team member who has actually won a 'major'.

Irishman Darren Clarke was the star of the show,
displaying real emotion as he won his singles
match on the sixteenth green. The US were
gracious in defeat with captain Tom Lehman
citing the European team as the best ever.

IRISH SOCCER TEAM LOSE TO GERMANY

The Irish soccer team kicked off their European
Championship qualifying matches with an unlucky
defeat in Germany. Despite rarely threatening the
German goal it was a lucky deflected free-kick
that separated the two sides as the Germans ran
out 1-0 winners. Irish manager Steve Staunton was
pleased with the fighting spirit showed by his
team. His enthusiasm got the better of him however
as he was sent off by the referee and will now
have to marshal his charges for the next match
from the grandstand.


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