Great start to the New Year

[Melendez]

with their rolls royce pensions

Off topic, but it's interesting to see how the government and IBEC, through the media, have managed to twist peoples minds on this issue to the point they actually believe it.

I'm on a defined benefit pension scheme, albeit without public backing. During the better times over the last 15 - 20 years, similarly placed colleagues on defined contribution schemes found it a point of merriment that when I retired I would take a 50% pay cut while they would be able to afford a small island in the Caribbean. Of course the investments have now taken a hammering and the caribbean dream is not looking so hot. A 50% pay cut is now looked upon with jealousy. In other circumstances at other times, maybe they'd have got their islands, maybe some who retired a few years ago managed it.

Rather than critisize those that have established what is essentially a no-more-than-adequate pension fund, and racing to ensure it will be broken down to convert future funds to the shambles that are privately funded defined contribution schemes, where the investment funds fall over themselves to promote the fact thay have made the greatest ROI's (and therefore taken the greatest risks), maybe the aspiration should be to ensure everybody has an adequate income in their retirement. When high returns are available on investment, pension funds should be encouraged to transfer to even less risky investments at an adequate rate rather than chase the Brucey Bonus.

[unclepat]

Fair point Melendez. I mentioned it only because many of these people have no idea of the reality in the private sector but they are sadly reposnsible for making decisions which affect people's livlihoods in a very real way.

[meatmonger]

Pat,

we got a lot of businesses up here together to try and lobby for a rates reduction. Even got the county councillors into a room to try to make them realise how our costs were so out of line with our Norn Ire neighbours and it's relationship to 26% unemployed locally.

Half the councillors sat drawing pictures with crayons while the county manager treated us like facists as he tried to impress these newly elected timewasters. They came up with a Token 3% reduction in rates instead of the 15% plus reduction needed.

Have as little dealings with them as is humanly possible.

[unclepat]

That sounds about right MM. Extremely frustrating trying to deal with people who's way of thinking is so out of kilter with reality that they may as well be from another planet.

[italian foodie]

We are getting a 0.5% reduction in rates this year, big holiday this summer

[H.P.Pellaprat]

Mother of god

first swine flue --pestilence
flooding of biblical proportions
extreme cold, water cut offs & burst pipes
financial melt down

and now a bloody meteorite--- fire and brimstone!!


the good news is January was up on last year so happy days!!!

[meatmonger]

Originally Posted by H.P.Pellaprat

the good news is January was up on last year so happy days!!!

make that two! I am wondering if it's a blip!

[DonalH]

Dead cat bounce.

[europhile]

http://www.independent.ie/business/i...e-2073513.html

AROUND 2,000 restaurants are now operating at a loss and hundreds could be forced to shut if the Government doesn't take action to reduce costs for the sector.

The Restaurants' Association of Ireland has warned there is no sign of an uplift and the only way many eateries can keep going is if action is taken to reduce regulatory costs such as rent, wages and waste charges.

[Melendez]

Or to put it another way, the Restaurant Association of Ireland are looking for a combination of taxpayers and the lowest earners in the country to subsidise dining experiences for those with sufficient discretionary income.

[meatmonger]

Originally Posted by Melendez

Or to put it another way, the Restaurant Association of Ireland are looking for a combination of taxpayers and the lowest earners in the country to subsidise dining experiences for those with sufficient discretionary income.

way too much charm for a Monday

[sean_dru]

sure haventh they been doing that for fas for years

[unclepat]

Originally Posted by Melendez

Or to put it another way, the Restaurant Association of Ireland are looking for a combination of taxpayers and the lowest earners in the country to subsidise dining experiences for those with sufficient discretionary income.

I'm fairly certain that waiting staff do not fall into the "lowest earners in the country" bracket. Either way, the minimum wage for restaurants is 8% higher than the Statutory minimum so there is room for reduction.
As for local authority charges..businesses are currently paying for water and subsidising households, many of whom waste large quantities.

[Melendez]

It was a lazy comment.

I do think that the restaurant industry is better piggybacking on the likes of ISME\SFA in looking for support for initiatives that reward high-employment-intensive, indigenous businesses rather than looking for exceptions to be made for restaurants in particular.

The main reason restaurants are closing is that spending money in restaurants is on the frivolous end of discretionary income and as such the pot just is no longer big enough to support the current amount of restaurants we now have. There is nothing wrong with demanding rent\rates\wages are in keeping with current times, but, while it's not explicit in that particular article that RAI are trying to do this, trying to keep costs artificially low to keep unsustainable businesses going until the "good times" return makes as little sense politically as it does economically.

[dolores]

Originally Posted by unclepat

I'm fairly certain that waiting staff do not fall into the "lowest earners in the country" bracket. Either way, the minimum wage for restaurants is 8% higher than the Statutory minimum so there is room for reduction.
As for local authority charges..businesses are currently paying for water and subsidising households, many of whom waste large quantities.

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

How would you get by on your waiters' wages?

Tips are discretionary - and on their way through the floor.

[unclepat]

Originally Posted by dolores

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

How would you get by on your waiters' wages?

Tips are discretionary - and on their way through the floor.

Trust me Dolores, I would happily get by on what our waiters earn. As for tips being on their way through the floor....strange comment...not sure where you're coming from.

[punto]

Originally Posted by dolores

Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

How would you get by on your waiters' wages? .

You weren't in the audience on The frontline the other night telling Bill Cullen you want to tax the super rich because he has too much money by any chance. When everyone lists all the problems facing this country, the top of the list should be begrudging little shits that want everything handed to them on a plate.

I absolutly dispise the mentality that because i have no money, you should have none too. Get a fcuking life

[hutspot]

Have to agree with Pat, the waiters in the last 2 restaurants I worked in Dublin were doing very well, much better than the chefs of course. But they were working in good busy restaurants and maybe one of the reasons the restaurants were good and busy was because the waiters were well looked after.
If you go to a restaurant were the owners think all the staff are robbing them and no one gets to see the tips then I think most people will notice and then it becomes a spiral that ends unhappily.
I thought that Bill Cullen was funny on frontline, thought of my cousin who cant get any capital for his new company even though he has a busy order book and wants to employ people but cant do anything, maybe he should sell some apples while hes waiting.

[petitechef]

Originally Posted by punto

I absolutly dispise the mentality that because i have no money, you should have none too. Get a fcuking life

Hear hear!

[pinch]

I must say i have to agree with punto and petite chef. absolutly hit it on the mark there punto. bravo.