The musings of a team of 20 something friends in Cork, Ireland
My phone defaulted to Vodafone ISP, which charges a Kings Ransom for every MB unless you prepurchase a data plan.
Well I know that now. O’m sure the shareholders of Vodafone will appreciate my money, and yes I have to pay they have a direct debit plus “mandate”.
The Government of Ireland included many unpopular measures in it’s 2009 budget.
But budgets are always unpopular. That is why even the upper house cannot veto a money bill indefinitely, belt tightening is sometimes just necessary, whether we like it or not.
The highlight, or rather lowlight, or the budget for us at Ambrand.com is the €160 levy on private health insurance. For those not familiar with the Irish health system health insurance is a must if you want to reduce waiting times, and stay healthy.
For example it costs € 55 to visit a General Practitioner (GP) and that comes out of the patients pocket. Some people have wonderious items called “medical cards” which are the defacto universal discount cards in Ireland; Free unlimited GP visits, reduced FOI request fees, and a whole host of other non health related benefits.
Alas, I am not self employed and cannot arrange my income figures suitably to enjoy a medical card. So I pay for my own Voluntary Health Insurance from the aptly named VHI.
Unfortunately my renewal date is after 1st January 2009, and so in addition to the premium I will be obliged to pay € 160 which will go straight into the coffers of the Government.
This reminds me of DIRT tax - a tax on saving. Alas, the Government must look after the “sponger” (use in a tongue in cheek fashion) by taxing the “well off”?
Naturally the levy tax has no sunset clause, and just like the 2 percent “temporary” levy on car insurance it will continue next year.
I have just read with interest the fees schedule for FOI.
Access to a non-personal record by a non-medical card holder EUR 15
but also
Request for a non-personal record by medical card holder or dependant of medical card holder EUR 10
It is nice that there is a reduced rate for those on limited incomes. However, look at the phrasing of the EUR 15 “non-medical card holder”, that sounds like the author is under the impression that everyone has medical cards. But moving on to the crux, why are medical cards being used in this way, they have become the universal “discount card”, and should be renamed as such.
Other examples are the Junior and Leaving Certificate fees.
Students whose parent or guardian holds a current medical card do not have to pay the fee.
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