There’s not much more “socialist” than furlough.
There’s surely the will now to sort out housing.
Housing, to be properly addressed, needs to be thought out, and not just building sink estates way out of town. It needs thoughts about lifestyle, sports facilities, schools etc, and also needs to avoid sprawl.
2020 was my best year ever, there I said it. 
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Yep. What it also needs is the state to build and own housing stock. The trial for a basic income for those in the arts sector is also pretty socialist and pretty brilliant.
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Universal basic income is an odd one. I don’t quite know what to make of it. I think in the long term it would cause discord.
I’m wholly against it myself. Giving money to people who don’t need it is a bizarre proposal. But for the arts sector I think it’s a great idea.
Then you run into what exactly is the “arts sector”, who is in it , and who isn’t. It’s been thriving well enough in Ireland pre pandemic. Personally I’d prefer to see a rise in minimum wage to a lad paid to walk round in a Papier mache head.
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I’m the Arts and so is my wife
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I don’t think it’s hard to define at all and I wouldn’t have said it’s thriving either. More it keeps going in spite of the very little support it gets. I genuinely think it should be cultivated further. Recognition of Ireland internationally is built on culture not on “being the best little country in the world to do business”.
Agreed, but can you imagine the types who’d be crawling out of the sindo colour supplement, and into “the arts” if a guaranteed income was available?
Define it then.
Apple, Google, Facebook etc aren’t here because of the macnas parade.
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Ireland is also recognised internationally as a great little country to do business in (and not pay tax).
What’s the remit of the arts scheme Glas? I genuinely haven’t looked into it. I presume youd have to qualify in some way. Imagine how many arts groups would spring up? Itd be amazing.
Are you serious? Most artists are on the bread line. Theatre companies are closing down. Lots of them, and very good ones. This was pre pandemic. The arts are fucked mate.
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Artists exemption?
I’m sure I could make a pretty good fist of it but I’m not going to start drafting legislation of TFK because you’re feeling fussy. “It’d be hard to define it” is not a good reason not to do something.
Art, theatre, music, comedy, it shouldn’t be hard to set out the few areas. Pretty easy to verify whether someone has been earning a living in that sector too, or is seeking to.
Apple Google Facebook aren’t the be all and end all. Is that how we define the country?
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They’re really taken for granted in Ireland. The funding that other countries pump into them is massive compared to us, and we’re still the best at it.
Applies to a very small percentage of artists. Performance artists (actors musicians etc dont get it)) unless they wrote what is being performed.
Also, you cant claim all your earnings through it if you did write and perform etc.
I was in town for the morning and it was busy. People are spending good money for Christmas.
I reckon you see more Christmas lights and displays as you drive the roads than ever before. We were sold out of the quality lights over two weeks back
But… There is a lot of people in retail and hospitality who will struggle. I called into to a shop where I know the owner and staff well. They are closing in January and very upset
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Rathkeale will look like Vegas this year
So you can’t then.
Loads of fat lads in elvis shirts?