OMEN
01-30-2009, 10:59 PM
A new national opinion poll suggests public confidence in the Government's handling of the economy is falling.
The poll was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research among 1,000 people nationwide earlier this month.
It shows that 74% believe the Government's handling of the economy is either 'very poor' or 'fairly poor', an increase of 11% since the last similar poll in September.
Just 10% believed the Government's economic performance is 'good', a fall of five points, while 16% 'don't know', a fall of six.
Asked about their personal situation, 46% believe they will be worse off, an increase of 23 points since September.
38% think they will be the same, a fall of seven points, while just 16% think they will be better off in a year's time, a a fall of 16 points.
And 56% expect the Government to be forced into a General Election during the course of 2009, while 79% are worried that there will significant tax increases in the next Budget.
Property tax
Earlier, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions denied seeking property tax on residential homes in its talks with the Government on the economy.
Congress issued a statement because of what it said is being implied in some media reports this morning.
However, the ICTU believes a widening of the tax base is necessary.
Regarding property tax, the ICTU is suggesting the introduction of an income-related property tax on all properties other than a main residence.
It believes that the tax could also be included in respect of 'trophy houses' by imposing the tax after a certain threshold has been reached.
Apart from the revenue effect, it says, such a measure would also simultaneously demonstrate equity of approach and also 'disincentivise' non-productive investment.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the talks are going well.
Mr Cowen was speaking in Davos in Switzerland where he is attending the World Economic Forum.
Click here for complete Davos coverage
He said he was keeping in close contact with the social partnership talks in Dublin.
Mr Cowen added that engagement at the talks was 'sincere and deep and constant' and all involved in the process 'would keep at it'.
He said that 2008 had been a difficult year but 130 new industries were brought to Ireland and the Government wanted to keep foreign direct investment and keep marketing Ireland overseas.
SIPTU has said it is not pressing for the imposition of a tax on all homes, but only on second houses.
Going into the talks this afternoon, the General President of SIPTU, Jack O'Connor said his union would not be blamed for any decision to levy a tax on all homes.
The talks at Government Building have been adjourned until tomorrow.
The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has welcomed the ESB's move to pay staff an increase as part of the national wage agreement.
David Begg said the company is more capital than labour intensive and the decision to payout the agreement is not a major one for them.
New Cabinet Cttee on up-skilling
Meanwhile, the Government has set up a new Cabinet sub-committee to look at up-skilling for people who are losing their jobs.
Speaking in Killarney, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said the committee would be looking at how additional training places can be provided in the short term.
Mr O'Keeffe said the committee was looking at resources in the Institutes of Technology, as well as asking the universities if they had scope.
The committee is comprised of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Education, and Social and Family Affairs.
Minister O'Keeffe said it was early days yet and the committee would report back to the Taoiseach when its work is done.
RTE
The poll was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research among 1,000 people nationwide earlier this month.
It shows that 74% believe the Government's handling of the economy is either 'very poor' or 'fairly poor', an increase of 11% since the last similar poll in September.
Just 10% believed the Government's economic performance is 'good', a fall of five points, while 16% 'don't know', a fall of six.
Asked about their personal situation, 46% believe they will be worse off, an increase of 23 points since September.
38% think they will be the same, a fall of seven points, while just 16% think they will be better off in a year's time, a a fall of 16 points.
And 56% expect the Government to be forced into a General Election during the course of 2009, while 79% are worried that there will significant tax increases in the next Budget.
Property tax
Earlier, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions denied seeking property tax on residential homes in its talks with the Government on the economy.
Congress issued a statement because of what it said is being implied in some media reports this morning.
However, the ICTU believes a widening of the tax base is necessary.
Regarding property tax, the ICTU is suggesting the introduction of an income-related property tax on all properties other than a main residence.
It believes that the tax could also be included in respect of 'trophy houses' by imposing the tax after a certain threshold has been reached.
Apart from the revenue effect, it says, such a measure would also simultaneously demonstrate equity of approach and also 'disincentivise' non-productive investment.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the talks are going well.
Mr Cowen was speaking in Davos in Switzerland where he is attending the World Economic Forum.
Click here for complete Davos coverage
He said he was keeping in close contact with the social partnership talks in Dublin.
Mr Cowen added that engagement at the talks was 'sincere and deep and constant' and all involved in the process 'would keep at it'.
He said that 2008 had been a difficult year but 130 new industries were brought to Ireland and the Government wanted to keep foreign direct investment and keep marketing Ireland overseas.
SIPTU has said it is not pressing for the imposition of a tax on all homes, but only on second houses.
Going into the talks this afternoon, the General President of SIPTU, Jack O'Connor said his union would not be blamed for any decision to levy a tax on all homes.
The talks at Government Building have been adjourned until tomorrow.
The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has welcomed the ESB's move to pay staff an increase as part of the national wage agreement.
David Begg said the company is more capital than labour intensive and the decision to payout the agreement is not a major one for them.
New Cabinet Cttee on up-skilling
Meanwhile, the Government has set up a new Cabinet sub-committee to look at up-skilling for people who are losing their jobs.
Speaking in Killarney, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said the committee would be looking at how additional training places can be provided in the short term.
Mr O'Keeffe said the committee was looking at resources in the Institutes of Technology, as well as asking the universities if they had scope.
The committee is comprised of the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Education, and Social and Family Affairs.
Minister O'Keeffe said it was early days yet and the committee would report back to the Taoiseach when its work is done.
RTE