OIL PRICES TUMBLE - SO WHY NO DROP IN ELECTRICITY OR GAS BILLS?

The average wholesale price of oil and gas has fallen by 40 percent but electricity and gas consumers have hardly noticed any price fall.

‘We were told that privatisation would lead to cheaper prices but the current experience shows that this was a lie.

‘Most of the profitable parts of Bord Gais were sold off cheaply to Centrica, the owner of British gas. The state held on to the gas pipeline network and kept responsibility for its safety. But Centrica took over the supply of gas and electricity to 750,000 customers.

‘At the time it was suggested that privatisation would bring efficiency and lower prices. But despite the fact that wholesale prices have been dropping for three years, the private company is profiteering from the situation.

‘The ESB has been subject to pressure from the EU to make room for greater ‘market competition’ and it was claimed that this would bring lower prices. To facilitate this change, consumers are charged a special Public Services Obligation levy to help subsidise rival firms to enter the market.

‘Prior to the introduction of competition into the electricity market, Ireland had some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe for domestic users. Following the introduction of EU competition rules, the ESB’s prices were set 14 percent higher to encourage other firms to enter the market. Now despite falling oil prices, there has been no substantial cut in our electricity bills.

‘Data from the Central Statistics Office revealed that 15% of the population had difficulty affording heating at some stage — double the number in 2009. Tens of thousands of gas and electricity customers have been disconnected. Yet the private companies who control our energy needs do not care.

‘The reality is that privatisation does not bring lower prices or more efficiency. Instead it leads to profiteering and lower rates of long term investment.

‘Before the last election the Labour Party stated that it was opposed to ‘short-termist energy privatisation’. But the Labour Minister Pat Rabbitte then went and sold off Bord Gais to Centrica for a knock down price.

‘It was another promise broken – another lie told. We should never be fooled again.'

Apple, Enda Kenny, The Irish people want their taxes back !

Apple, Enda Kenny, The Irish people want their taxes back !

Apple boss Tim Cook flew into Brussels on Thursday to lobby the EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestage over a landmark judgement that could see the company forced to pay billions in back taxes to the Irish government. The fact that he can do that is discomforting in itself.

Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that the potential windfall for the Irish Revenue Commissioners could be €8 billion while JP Morgan suggests that Apple could have to pay €19 billion.

  

“You would think that the Irish government would be delighted with getting this huge amount of money. It would allow them to end the chaos in Irish hospitals because they could recruit more staff. They also could use the money to build the tens of thousands of social housing units that are desperately needed.

“But, tragically, Apple has enlisted the Irish government as one of its chief lobbyists in derailing an EU judgement. It has said that it does not want the money and that if the EU commissioner makes a ruling for back taxes they will appeal the decision.

“One immediate result of Irish government lobbying is that the announcement of the EU judgement has been postponed until after the General Election.  We are being forced to fight such an election on a ‘how much does your promise cost’ basis without knowing the full extent of back taxes.

“Irish taxpayers’ money should not be used to send officials to Brussels to lobby against the Irish people receiving taxes that have been dodged for over ten years.

“The Apple scandal shows where the culture of multi-national blackmail leads. We have been told repeatedly that we must give them a low tax regime because they ‘create jobs’. Every proposal to make them pay a modest tax has been dismissed as ‘wrecking the economy’.

"Now we have finally arrived at the greatest absurdity of all – a government that is spending money to ensure that its’ own people do not receive the huge sums they are owed”.

Their effective tax rate in Ireland falls way short of the 12.5% they are supposed to pay. (Some experts say it's only 2.5%)

This means that YOU have to pay USC, property tax etc. to make up the shortfall. This is a government that will never fight for YOU. They'd rather spend your money to save billions for multi-nationals.

Welcome to Ireland, a tax haven, tax-dodgers paradise. But, it's the greatest little country to rob the people in.

IRISH WATER FARCE

IRISH WATER WARS
- may the farce be with you -

The news that 3500 people in Roscommon are now on another boil water notice comes as no shock where Irish Water are involved. They are a glorified, tax collecting, shambles. Their sole purpose is to turn our water into a PRIVATE company. Fixing pipes and leaks will be last on their list. Just like the UK, it will be astronomical charges for far less quality.
On Saturday we can send a message to government.

IRISH WATER must be GONE.

Shannonside FM report ...
Roscommon County Council and Irish Water have confirmed this evening that the water supply served by Ballinlough Cloonfad public water scheme is contaminated with Cryptosporidium and residents should not use water straight from the tap in affected areas.

This alert, affecting three and a half thousand people, follows a precautionary boil water notice that was put in place in late December after the HSE moved to protect customers in the area in light of severe weather conditions.

Areas Affected include Ballinlough, Cloonfad, Trien, Cloonkeen, Cloonbunny, Briarfield, Tonragee, Garanlahan Lowberry and all townlands surrounding these.

Semi Private Group schemes served by the public water supply are also affected.