Best countries to live in............

[Rossfan]

Anywhere in the 26 counties is good for me. Well apart from Dublin and Roscommon and maybe Sligo and Carlow.

Obviously a person of poor taste

[rosnarun]

High cost of living, non existent public transport, poor public sector/ government accountability, without even mentioning the fact that we're flat broke. How the he'll are we 5th???

nothing wrong with Ireland apart from a hand ful of whining basterds most of who spend their time rining Joe duffy  when they are not in this parish

[Tyrones own]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

They use income from selling their gas to fund their healthcare system which, some of you may be surprised to hear, is slightly more efficient than ours. Apparently in Norway you can see a consultant before the life expectancy of your fatal condition expires. Imagine that?

What's with the slagging (this week) of Socialised medical care

[muppet]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

They use income from selling their gas to fund their healthcare system which, some of you may be surprised to hear, is slightly more efficient than ours. Apparently in Norway you can see a consultant before the life expectancy of your fatal condition expires. Imagine that?

What's with the slagging (this week) of Socialised medical care

Do you understand that the whole world isn't about Republicans versus Democrats.

The Norwegians have a proper Health system which as it turns out is a socialist model.

Our hero, Mary 'closer to Boston than Berlin' Harney, took a bad health service and tried to privatise it and has turned it into the worst in Europe.

[southdown]

I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.

I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.

[lurganblue]

I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.

I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.

replace media for taxes

[Hound]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.

The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

I have always thought that Switzewrland was considered the perfect country - they always been neutral, their Canton sysytem of government is very effective (I know nothing about it but I've heard it is good!), the average train is 7 seconds late and there is virtually zero crime.

I believe Lewis Hamilton moved their to escape the British media.

Helps to get all that Nazi Gold and being a haven for hidden taxes. They have been at war, just not foreign wars in the last 800 years. Switzerland was one of the most sectarian places on Earth during the Reformation and for at least 100 years after, Catholics where really badly mistreated and while I don't know for sure, I reckon the Protestants in Catholic states probably where not treated too well either.

[WeAreBlueWeAreWhite]

"I've been to paradise.....but i've never been to...... Meath"

[muppet]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.

The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.

You are joking right?

They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.

[Hound]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.

The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.

You are joking right?

They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.

€50 billion!!! Hope it is...

There were hundreds of millions spent by those companies before there was any guarantee of any significant gas. Far too risky given we don't have the expertise, and to buy in that expertise would cost us a lot more than those companies who's business it is.

This way we get 40% of the profits (from 25% tax + licence fee) with no risk or outlay.

[muppet]

Norway didn't give their gas away for free.

Nor do we. We have licence fees and taxes. But obviously Norway have an advantage given their vast resources.

The parties involved in Corrib (incl Shell, Statoil, Marathon) have spent €2 billion euro to date between them in trying to get gas out of Corrib. Would have been absolutely insane for the government to take control and make that spend out of taxpayers money.

You are joking right?

They spend €2 Billion of taxpayers money every couple of months on Anglo. And Anglo isn't a gas field worth a minimum of €50 Billion.

€50 billion!!! Hope it is...

There were hundreds of millions spent by those companies before there was any guarantee of any significant gas. Far too risky given we don't have the expertise, and to buy in that expertise would cost us a lot more than those companies who's business it is.

This way we get 40% of the profits (from 25% tax + licence fee) with no risk or outlay.

We give away €50 Billion gas for free and take a mere 25% of the profits (we would get 12.5% corporation tax anyway) and you are happy with that?

What really disgusts me is that Noel Dempsey gave away two more licenses on the same terms in 2006. We have learned nothing.

The Norwegian Government didn't have the expertise either until they decided to get it.