A quid pro quo too far… January 16, 2018
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.trackback
Dr Mary C Murphy of the Department of Politics and Government at UCC said there may be an element of “payback” for Ireland in return for the support the State has received from others members of the EU27.
Dr Murphy was speaking in the final session of the Killarney Economic Conference which was chaired by Mark Hennessy of The Irish Times.
She set out possible scenarios in which Ireland might be required to be giving in terms of neutrality or taxation, in a debate on the future of Europe.
“It may open up a lot of difficulties for Irish voters. We do not have a strong Eurosceptic party in Ireland. That is not to say that one not will evolve”
But why should the Republic alter its position on neutrality given that other EU states are also neutral. This is something that is afforded far too little attention in this state. The attitude appears to be that Ireland is a solitary hold-out in relation to neutrality. But this is simply not the case.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
This is a major national issue. In the most recent Sunday Business Post , Ray Basset, former assistant secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs, says that there is a suspicion that Ireland Has Joined European Permanent Structured Military Co-Operation (PESCO) to “keep the EU sweet” in the context of Brexit
Defend Irish Neutrality (Including PANA STATEMENT) https://wp.me/pKzXa-Ut
The then President of the right wing lobby group Institute of International and European Affairs(IIEA), Brendan Halligan, advocated that Ireland gives up neutrality precisely for this purpose at the Glenties Summer School.(Also Opinion Piece in Irish Times by Brendan Halligan)
European members of Nato spend 2% of GDP on “Defence”. There will be pressure on Ireland to spend extra billions on defence to meet this target within PESCO. In the context of Government refusal to tax the super-rich and prohibitions on borrowing within the European Fiscal Treaty, this is likely to happen at the expense of necessary increases in public spending on health, housing, education etc.
Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) will host a major conference with international speakers on the implications of the Militarisation of Europe in the Mansion House in Mid-February
NB FrenchPresident Macron is advocating a new invasion of Libya. The Irish Navy has joined the new Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean which is not just a rescue mission, but is now also committed to returning refugees to Libya. Medecin Sans Frontiére says these are detained in torture and rape camps in Libya. Macron is using the awfulness of these camps to justify the new invasion of Libya!!!!!!
LikeLike
We (RoI) need defend neutrality and refuse the 2% spending. Other EU countries are likely to kick that demand down the road as well.
But why concentrate solely on neutrality? Being forced to finally tax US corporations is surely a good thing, from a left point of view?
LikeLike
The phase of EU powers forcing Ireland to increase Corporation tax is long gone. That is no longer their objective. Their intention is to prevent the greater part of the profits of American Multi-nationals which arise from sales or other activities in the EU being “booked” in Ireland. Instead the multi-nationals will be forced to pay tax on sales etc earned in an EU coutry to that country.
The policy of FF, Fg, Labour over recent decades of over-reliance on multi-nationals and privatisation of Irish state cmpanies has left Ireland totally vulnerable and exposed.
Department of Finance Confirms That Irish Economy is in Deadly Danger To-day-Confirms my Earlier Analysis, December 22, 2017
Reclaim our Sovereignty https://wp.me/pKzXa-xK
Irish Times- “Amid the outcry over corporate tax avoidance internationally, social media giant Facebook recently announced it would no longer book global revenues generated in other countries through Ireland, a practice that saves it hundreds of millions of euro in tax annually. (but provides Ireland with much tax revenue-PH)
In a report on tax trends and their impact on the public finances, the department said revenue from the business tax had effectively doubled in the past three years amid a massive transfer of multinational assets here and increased corporate profitability generally.The report cautioned, however, that nearly two-thirds of tax receipts came from a small number of firms paying in excess of €10 million annually and that almost 40 per cent of total revenue could be linked to just 10 companies.“This highlights the potential exposure to idiosyncratic or form-specific shocks,” it said. The department said both the rising share of corporation tax receipts within overall taxation –it now accounts for 16 per cent of total revenue – and the concentration of receipts within a small number of firms posed a significant risk to the public finances.” (Full Irish Times Article at link)
My Earlier Post
Paddy Healy-52.8% of all Irish Revenue Arises from Activities of Multinationals!!! December 22, 2017 at 6:53am
Irish Economy and Jobs In Deadly Danger From Growing EU-US TRADE WAR!
LikeLike
It is indeed, and, from everything we know about our rulers, they are likely to try to negotiate away our neutrality to save our tax rates (and multinational profits).
LikeLike
[…] A Quid Pro Quo Too Far. . . . Follow Discussion https://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2018/01/16/a-quid-pro-quo-too-far/ […]
LikeLike
This is something that is afforded far too little attention in this state. The attitude appears to be that Ireland is a solitary hold-out in relation to neutrality. But this is simply not the case.
The issue in the modern day is that the anti-colonial Irish republican ethos (which was the ideological basis of our traditional non-alignment/anti-war policies) is now actively despised if not opposed by the politicos and media (to say nothing of the Irish military. Have a look at some of the anti-NATO resolutions in the early years of RACO). I would place the blame here on individual personal ambitions, EU patronage and swimming in a sea of incessant pro-imperialism Anglophone media (as a good example of the latter, how many people know that most of Europe was also neutral in WWII unless attacked? Yet we are unquestionally subjected to a pro-British view on the war, recently leading to the obscenity of pardons for Irish Army deserters to the British Army).
LikeLike
I totally agree with EWI. As “payback” for US investment in Ireland the Irish political/media elite has allowed nearly 3 million US troops land in Shannon Airport as they take part in the US doctrine of perpetual war. Now they have joined PESCO which is a major step towards the creation of an EU Army. An example of the hatred of Irish Neutrality in the corporate media was the fact that RTE news gave a 30 second coverage to the Dail debate on PESCO. Our Taoiseach says the EU is worth defending in the way Redmond said the BU needs defending.
I am absolutely certain the corporate media will give no coverage to the major conference on PESCO on Saturday 17 Feb from 11.00am to 5.00pm in the Mansion House.
LikeLike
I believe it was pulled because it “lets the cat out of the bag” on Varadkars Strategy to end neutrality
Varadkar wants to identify neutrality solely with joining NATO which he has publicly opposed.
Lee admits that neutrality can be ended through the PESCO process and greater European political and economic Integration . But we don’t need to worry because it will take “even decades”
I can see why the Government would be worried about the Dorcha Lee article being quoted by politicians and commentators
Softly, Softly, Cathchy Monkey Plan TO END IRISH NEUTRALITY Beginning with Membership of Permanent EU Structured (Military) Co-Operation ( PESCO) Revealed!
Irish Independent Pulled Article-But You Can Read it here!!
Author-Colonel Dorcha Lee (Retired) is a former Irish Military Adviser in Brussels and former Irish Military Representative to the Western European Union and to the European Union
“In the mean time, let us hold onto our policy of military neutrality, not as a rigid ideology but rather as a strategy. As a strategy, it has served us well. However, if and when the time comes to let it go, we need to acknowledge this and give it a decent funeral.” Col.Dorcha Lee
Also: tps://wp.me/pKzXa-Ut Government To Purchase Huge 200 Million Ship From Which Helicopters Can Be Launched and a full infantry batallion put ashore by landing craft-Irish Examiner October 20,2017
LikeLike
Indo doesn’t put all its opinion columns online https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-independent/20180118/282029032640505
LikeLike
Irish governments over decades have put us under te thumb of the big powers
The mainstream parties, over decades, have directed the Irish economy in such a manner that the situation is now far more catastrophic than an increase in corporate taxation would cure. They have privatised the companies (such as eircom) which could have generated indigenous modern industry to replace multi-nationals. When payroll taxes and VAT are included 52% of all Irish revenue arises from the activities of multinationals in Ireland. Because of the changes being made by the EU and By Trump this tax take will plummet as well as associated jobs. Apart from agriculture and food Ireland will have to start from scratch to generate modern industry. Mainstream parties will not tax the fabulously super-rich Irish and under the EU Fiscal Treaty Ireland cannot borrow money on the scale required for such investment. Only political change can solve the problem.
LikeLike
Please Attend THIs SATURDAY AT THe Mansion House!
Public Conference Hosted By Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and Peoples Movement
Defend Irish Neutrality https://wp.me/pKzXa-Ut
The EU-Talking Peace, Preparing For War
Militarization of The Euorpean Union And It’s Implication for Irish Neutrality
Prominent Irish and International Speakers:
Opening Address by Mícheál MacDonnacha, Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lynn Boylan MEP: Lave K. Brock, Peoples Movement of Denmark: Seamus Healy TD; Senator Alice Mary Higgins; Gino Kenny TD; Thomas Pringle TD; Eamonn Ryan TD
Oak Room, Mansion House, Dublin
Saturday February 17, 12.00 Noon
ATTEND the Conference on Saturday Feb 17 in Mansion House to HELP STOP THIS!
LikeLike