How do you rate Ireland? ( Archived) (57)

JohnnyT: Cheers. I think it's a good subject to discuss.

I see there's a majority of votes for "Ireland could be deadly... but it's not" and I think this is very true. The main thing we have going for us is ourselves. I'm not trying to be ultra-proud to be Irish and yea, there's a**hole in Ireland (same as everywhere else) but in general, Irish people are very friendly, decent people. The world over loves us. Wherever we go, they'll ask "You English?" with a slightly suspicious tone of voice. When you reply "No, I'm Irish" you can literally see the change "Ah, Irish! I love Ireland". We have a great reputation.

What I find most frustrating about Ireland is the lack of proper infrastructure and services. I lived in Holland almost a decade ago and they were pretty much at the same level we are now. Actually, they were still further ahead of us back then. One thing that stands out in particular is the chip and pin system. In Holland, you could go into a shop and buy anything - whether it be 10 euro or a cent - on your card. Even now, our shops still have minimum charges for use of your Laser card.

And that's just a minor difference. Healthcare, Transport, Communications, Enviroment, the list goes on and on.

There are 3rd world countries with extensive, 12-lane motorways, built within a very short time period. And look at us!! The M50, a major motorway situated in the most populated part of the country. And we build it with 2 lanes. The M7 down to Limerick. It's one f**king lane either side. A motorway with one lane on either side. And now the government is trying to rectify these problems with a ridiculous policy of favouring Irish construction firms when awarding contracts. Whereas a foreign company would do the job much better, much faster, and much cheaper. And if Irish businesses begin losing out to the competition - It might encourage them to get up off their asses and do something about it!

Hmmn. Ok, rant over. For now.

zarra: I appreciate and hear your rant! I lived in Germany for some years, and while I enjoyed the trains that promised to arrive at 17 52 (and did!!!) I still wouldnt exchange that for the warmth of the peole that I missed while I was there and subsequently came back to with no regrets...
I would also like to add that I feel this warmth is catching! I relish getting into the lift in my building and having a chit chat with one of my multi cultural neighbours, some of whom have adopted some of our mad expressions in an Indian or an Eastern European accent! I love being Irish...

JohnnyT: I know. I missed Ireland too when I lived abroad. And I love the fact that there are now different cultures entering our society. My own son is half Chinese! I just wish we could adopt some of the development policies that other countries have.

JohnnyT: I know. I missed Ireland too when I lived abroad. And I love the fact that there are now different cultures entering our society. My own son is half Chinese! I just wish we could adopt some of the development policies that other countries have.

lorraine: Apart from the cost of living, high taxes, and weather
I rate Ireland very high.
We have it all here, apart from sunshine.

patrickthomas: All what?

lorraine: A beautiful country.

Until recently our economy has been doing extremely well.
I remember when a whole generation did not work, or had to emigrate.
cost of living is extremely high and a lot of people are living below the poverty line but there is work out there and if you are prepared to graft and work hard you can get somewhere.
Cost of property has gone through the roof, but people are queuing up to buy.
Our education is one of the best in the world. Our children are better educated than a lot of other countries.
Problems withing the health service, but although you might have to wait for a bed you still get to see a doctor even if you don't have insurance.

Corruption in politics, but we are weeding that out and our leaders are not committing mass murder on it's people.
No droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes.
Women have come a long way since I was young and although equality is not 100%, they don't have to leave their job because they are married.
The church is no longer ruling this country.
Children have rights, in the past they got a raw deal.
Best scenery.

Ireland has a lot of problems (what country hasn't ). I am happy and content to live here and feel I could be doing a lot worse off elsewhere.
Although I would be the first to point out Ireland's problems and where we need to improve, I think it is a good place to bring up children.
We just need the sun to shine more often.

lorraine: A beautiful country.

Until recently our economy has been doing extremely well.
I remember when a whole generation did not work, or had to emigrate.
cost of living is extremely high and a lot of people are living below the poverty line but there is work out there and if you are prepared to graft and work hard you can get somewhere.
Cost of property has gone through the roof, but people are queuing up to buy.
Our education is one of the best in the world. Our children are better educated than a lot of other countries.
Problems withing the health service, but although you might have to wait for a bed you still get to see a doctor even if you don't have insurance.

Corruption in politics, but we are weeding that out and our leaders are not committing mass murder on it's people.
No droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes.
Women have come a long way since I was young and although equality is not 100%, they don't have to leave their job because they are married.
The church is no longer ruling this country.
Children have rights, in the past they got a raw deal.
Best scenery.

Ireland has a lot of problems (what country hasn't ). I am happy and content to live here and feel I could be doing a lot worse off elsewhere.
Although I would be the first to point out Ireland's problems and where we need to improve, I think it is a good place to bring up children.
We just need the sun to shine more often.

patrickthomas: You have listed as many negatives as positives apart from climate which we cannot change.
Our standard of education has been falling for years and we no longer have a single College rated in the top 100 in the world.

Then there is the two main reasons that foreign investors give for not investing in Ireland are lack of infrastructure and Incompetent Government Bureaucracy. (Time magazine 2008)

Then there are the social problems, an antiquated prison and reform system, Crime rates, Increasing drug use and what seems to be a high level of disillusionment with our young people.

Our inability to provide both of those is nothing short of a national disgrace - the money was there so why was there such bad forward planning.

Unfortunately this lack of planning permeates the Entire system.

I really think that the two points on infrastructure and Government Bureaucracy are linked together, there is something more than just incompetence on the part of the elected Government here.

zarra: Such negativity PT!!! Maybe that relocation you mentioned before in search of broadband has come at just the right time.... sounds like you need a change of scene!!

Mayo_Midfielder: Nah.. music business in London but here in Mayo... I work for nuns and priests at Knock Shrine. Turnabout or what?! I feel like its all just a dream, very weird. But I wake up every morning and think "Oh my god, I did it! I'm in Mayo.." I wanted to do it for 5 years but was too scared to leave London. Its the best thing I ever did. (not sure about the penguins and the father teds tho! )

Losty: Patrick, I think in fairness that no matter what country in the world you move to that they will still have congestion, poor infrastructure, overcrowded hospitals and school and prisons and drug addicts and poverty and so on. We can talk about it here; some countries can't even dream about it.

We have some corrupt people in power but they don't rig elections and our leaders don't inherit seats of power, we vote in parties that get 45% of the vote into power which few countries get to do and we do have an excellent health system once you are willing to give VHI/BUPA a tenner a week. Jobs are plentiful even in a recession hit world and almost everybody gets access to education and opportunities in life.

If is was so bad here, then maybe you forgot the 1970's and 80's here. Moving out of here because your broadband isn't as fast as you like may be somewhat superficial even if it is essential for your work but it doesn't stop most of the major IT and pharmaceutical companies from trading and working happily here.

patrickthomas: I am comparing Ireland to the zone to which it belongs, the Eurozone. Agreed there are lots of third world countries worse off but why compare us to them?

You have got to be the only person in this country that thinks we have an excellent health system!

Moving to another country because broadband is not fast enough for my work is superficial? What do you mean by that? How is relocation superficial?

Most of the IT and other major companies are here for the Tax breaks they get quite simply and can well afford the sweetheart rates given them for broadband access.

Losty: All the Eurozone countries will have woeful deficiencies in their public services; don't think that it is solely us that have problems. I never compared us to third world countries, you assumed that to be the case. Quality of living here is consistently highly rated worldwide, no matter what means of evaluation is used. Yes, we have deficiencies but point to the country that has it all perfect and under control and you won't be pointing very much.

In spite of world recession, things are ok here and are more stable than other countries so clearly something right is going on. Large companies come here for the stable working environment and competent highly skilled staff staff as well as "tax breaks"; if tax was the main reason they have other lower tax economies to go to. Instead, the IBM's and Intels and Microsoft and Apple and Google's of the world choose to remain and even expand here.

On health, I repeat, once you are willing to pay a few € to insurance, you get top cover. Look to the USA, no money no treatment or France, free care but you pay most of your wages to the taxman. Nobody doubts that the public system has big problems but the quality is there when you get to the table.

As for your broadband, I just said it's superficial to move away solely based on it; I'm sure you wouldn't.... or are you here for the tax breaks?

JohnnyT: Ok, this came up in a recent post. Actually it didn't. I brought it up in a very loosely related thread cos I've been thinking a bit about it lately.

Ireland has it's good points. Friendly people, high employment, 2nd highest GDP per person in the world, etc. It has it's bad points. Crap infrastructure, crap weather, soaring prices, etc.

What do you think??