The following script was broadcast on Newstalk on December 8th, 2009.
Ireland is at an unprecedented economic and social crossroad. The country appears divided. The road ahead seems unbearably bleak. But here at Newstalk we believe that Ireland has a proud tradition of overcoming, of achieving, of finding a way. We believe this is a country worth fighting for.
Charm, culture, energy and engagement have always been part of who we are, but so too have ambition, determination and achievement. We need to lean on these talents to re-position our country. Old solutions will not solve new problems. We need to be imaginative, decisive.
Every one of us must be prepared to accept the challenges that constrained economic circumstances impose.
We spend €56bn and have revenues of €34bn.
Scarcely has any politician in the history of our State faced such difficulties as those which face the Taoiseach now. The challenge is daunting. It calls for strong and determined leadership. The decisions required will be difficult to accept. Brian Cowen must now assert his authority.
Never before has a budget been so important. Our cost base needs radical adjustment; we must all reduce our living standards. Our country cannot afford to pay our politicians, doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses and accountants more than our European counterparts. We can no longer afford to out price ourselves against our nearest neighbours. We must compete against Newry and Bratislava. Competitiveness is essential if we are to create jobs for our young, educated and newly unemployed men and women.
This budget must start Ireland’s recovery.
We need firm, decisive action to replace the fear and uncertainty, the mistrust that has begun to fester in our homes and workplaces.
Newstalk calls on the Taoiseach to lead the country.
Newstalk calls on the Taoiseach to address the nation and give our people a credible, detailed vision for recovery.
Newstalk calls on the Government to make the hard decisions, to reposition our country; to present us with a Programme for Recovery that creates jobs, stimulates business and returns hope.
All party leaders, business leaders and trade union leaders must set aside short term gains in all our interests. All TD’s must see beyond their re-election campaigns to support this vision. When this government’s mandate expires voters will have their say.
The future holds much uncertainty and dark days of difficulty but together, working for each other and as a nation we can rebuild our country.
Taoiseach, please lead us, let’s not meander.
The people of Ireland call on Newstalk to stop claiming the high moral ground when their presenters have consistently followed an anti-union, anti-fairness agenda in favour of protecting their friends in Government and big business.
The people of Ireland call on Newstalk to explain how they signally failed in their duty to ask the hard questions when times were supposedly good and stop their pathetic posturing now that times are bad.
The people of Ireland call on Newstalk to set aside easy crowd pleasing populism in favour of actual proper journalism and hard, long running investigations. If The Sunday Tribune can reveal so much wrongdoing with simple FOI requests, why can’t you ?
Newstalk, please, before you call, repeatedly and annoyingly for leadership, do one thing. Show some.
December 8, 2009 at 3:15 pmI nearly crashed the car when I listened to this (and I have two young kids in the back). What on earth happened to your news editors?
“Every one of us must be prepared to accept the challenges that constrained economic circumstances impose.”
How dare you tell me what I should and should not accept in this budget. How dare you imply that I am incapable of making up my own mind about how this is fair or unfair to my family. How dare you tell me that I should ‘follow the “leader”.’ How dare you tell me my principles are not worth fighting for. If I believe someone is making the wrong decisions, no radio station and no government will stop me voicing my opinion, particularly with regards to child benefit cuts.
“Never before has a budget been so important” what a load of old crap. The country didn’t get in this state over night. It has been important to deliver clever, resourceful budgets every single year, particularly so during our “boom years”. Anyone hear of saving for a rainy day? That did not happen.
The fact is that people know Ireland is in a mess, the entire world knows this country is in a mess – FF & Green politicans appear to have be the only ones behind the times.
Had they acted 18 months ago when Lehman brothers occured, they could have cushioned us somewhat. Had “action” been a verb for them and not a word something more could have been done to stop our huge borrowing. To curtail our debt mountains.
Now though because they left everything to the 11th hour – they are looking at making those on social welfare pay. And more than that they are targeting the vulnerable – our voiceless children. It’s sickening.
Let me remind you Newstalk, budgets have impacts, it is not about making “politically popular” decisions or “showing leadership”. It is about making the right decisions for the right reasons while keeping at the heart of these decisions how it will impact people. Without people Ireland is nothing, worthless. There is no value to put on people, they are our future.
Yes this country needs innovative thinking. But I very much doubt the people who created the mess will be able to deliver the solution, they can’t even own up to their errors. Maybe like the Catholic Church 50 years down the road we will hear an apology, then it will all be too late.
So now is the time to stand up and voice your opinion about the budget, not to sit down and shut up. Irish people have become far too complacent!!
December 8, 2009 at 7:40 pmWhile I was hiding behind the sofa after I first heard this rant I was reminded of a scene in “The Life of Brian” where an incidental character (played by Spike Milligan)took it upon himself to speak for everyone else in the crowd.
Completely self-absorbed in delivering his passionate speech, he eventually drew his attention away from himself to realise that the crowd had vanished and he was left talking to himself.
Something to reflect upon, maybe?
December 9, 2009 at 3:28 pmi thought it was fair budget it could have been worse but it was not
December 17, 2009 at 10:16 pmholy moly i nearly fell off my stool after reading half of this nonsensical rant from another member of the mainstream media desperately flailing about to try and convince people that media really are good and are not liars. haha, yea right NEWSTALK you speak poison with 2 tongues.
i left ireland 5 years ago when it was clear to me that our country was being run by a mafia. dont forget NEWSTALK YOU sacked david mc williams when he was telling the truth about our mafia leaders raping the boom. why were you not up on your soapbox then? its too late now. the horse has bolted, the money is all gone. trillions and trillions of pound or euros or whatever has been looted from the irish economy over the last 2 decades. and no one said boo to their exalted untouchable mafia leaders. its completely sickening.
irish people, the time has come to grow up and forget about moving statues and irrelevent ball games. your country has been stolen from you, the previous generation sold you out to the eurofascist ex communist party of ussr. wake up and smell the coffee. you dont have to live like third world, only if you accept their lies do you have to also accept their conditions.
any government can print its own money and give 2 fingers to the fascists. By accepting their conditions you also accept their designed impoverishment. the irish government has nothing to do with the irish people. it is a foreign owned subsidiary of communism. all you have to do is take away their legitimacy and their house of cards crumbles. but to do this you need balls. pity that all irish men have been eunuch’ed by their womenfolk who have already pledged themselves to communism.
good luck.
December 21, 2009 at 11:54 pm