I received a messege via Twitter earlier today from the BBC.They wanted to ask me some questions about Ireland ,"The Bailout" and Emigration. The link above os to the BBC News website and below are the original questions.I am too angry and sad to do a proper blog post so I've just cut and pasted
- Your age, location and occupation.
I am 30 ,unemployed living back at home with my Mother in Co.Cork
- What is your view on the bail-out?
We need this bailout.There's no two ways about it.People argue we are signing away our soverignty but that happened a long time ago.It happened when our government and our bankers felt they had the right to gamble with it.The radio talk shows are brimming with rhetoric "people have died for this Republic" , "Connolly is turning in his grave" Is he? If he is then I doubt his postmortem animosity is directed towards this "bailout" but at the sheer arrogance,deceipt and ineptitude that led to it.As I type this the Green Party who form part of our coalition have called for a general election at the end of January 2011.A bit late to the party aren't we Mr Gormley.
I watched the "Bailout Press Conference" last night.It was incredibly sad.The anger,confusion and sense of loss was palpable.Cowen couldn't tell us how much the bailout would be,how it would be drawn down,how long it would take to get us back on track.He could however tell us that he was not to blame for our current situation.So Mr Cowen as our previous Minister for Finance and current (but not for long) Taoiseach answer me this.Who is to blame? Me? I am starting to sense that maybe I and people like me are to blame because it is us the Irish people who are paying with their jobs,their livelihoods,their health care their education.
It is shameful and embarrassing that Ireland is in this position but what choice have we?
I watched the "Bailout Press Conference" last night.It was incredibly sad.The anger,confusion and sense of loss was palpable.Cowen couldn't tell us how much the bailout would be,how it would be drawn down,how long it would take to get us back on track.He could however tell us that he was not to blame for our current situation.So Mr Cowen as our previous Minister for Finance and current (but not for long) Taoiseach answer me this.Who is to blame? Me? I am starting to sense that maybe I and people like me are to blame because it is us the Irish people who are paying with their jobs,their livelihoods,their health care their education.
It is shameful and embarrassing that Ireland is in this position but what choice have we?
- Has it been difficult to get a job and income?
I worked in retail.Last year I became quite ill and had to leave work.As a result I had to move back to my mother's house ass I couldn't afford to pay my rent.The dole here is €196 which sounds quite generous when compared to the UK but our cost of living is quite high.I am grateful for our social welfare system,as flawed as it is.Initially I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt signing on.I had never been out of work.I always had a part-time job while at school and university and as soon as I could started working full time.Access to employment was easy in booming Ireland.I have been extremely luck to have secured some temproary work,a day here and there but nothing permanent
I volunteer with two different charities.I run an acting class for a brain injury charity ( which has suffered quite severe funding cuts) as a way of filling my time but also as a way of retraining.Eventually I would like to work full time as a drama teacher and am trying to get qualifications in this field. When I can I work a few hours in a St.Vincent de Paul shop.
I volunteer with two different charities.I run an acting class for a brain injury charity ( which has suffered quite severe funding cuts) as a way of filling my time but also as a way of retraining.Eventually I would like to work full time as a drama teacher and am trying to get qualifications in this field. When I can I work a few hours in a St.Vincent de Paul shop.
- Are you considerating emigrating to other country? If so, which?
Any doubts I had about emigrating faded this week.I cannot wait 3,5,10 years to get my life back.It's either emigrate or wait for the Irish economy to pick up again.I will be moving to the UK next year.It is very difficult to save while on the dole but I am determined.I cannot wait to get away from here,and that is a heartbreaking thing to say.
- Do you feel there is hope for the young people in Ireland? What difficulties do they face? What would make them stay?
What would make them stay?
A new governmentTrust in our leaders
A change in our political culture,no more gombeen Ireland
A sense of fairness
A very wooly list but that is because it is very difficult for me to articulate just how angry we are.People are confused,sad,ashamed,
