Aid to "Civil Power"

[Sean Tracey]

Hi Andy.Looks like i said the wrong thing about the dole and i do apologize if i caused any offence to anyone. YOou see living here in the U.K. as i do it can make your blod boil when even when times are good watching generations of familys do this when the rest of us work hard for our money . I watch here and see those with a drink problem get paid extra money to feed there habit. I myself have ben on the dole a few times in the past it can be a nasty shock to your dignity. Growing up in the camp i still have nothing but respect for the Forces there and anywhere and it is as the old saying goes When all fruit fails welcome the Hawthorne.Althe best to your self and all that stillll remember me. Chers Sean Tracey

[andybrennan]

Greets Sean,
Another well put point I do understand your view on those that have a capacity to abuse Any system but thats life and it is up to the legislators to sort it out, I feel at times they allow us to vent our spleen at others in order to take the heat from them our leaders No real answers bit like trying to stop ripples in a pond after tossing in a stone,

All the best to you Sean and your family

Andy

[Louis Parminter]

Hi Andy,
Tis a fair point you make and I stand corrected in that I should have qualified my point further and I apologise if I caused any offense to you or any other contributor to this forum. I of course realise that there are many, particularly of late, on the dole who wish they could be given the chance to earn a regular living, but, we must also recognise that there are also many who never really ever want to work as long as they can have the State (be it in the UK, Ireland or elsewhere) support them financially, often to a financial degree not experienced by those toiling away making a living at a regular job. It is difficult to draw a dividing line, but wherever that line is drawn there are those that wish they were not on the dole and those that wish they never have to work. While I am apologising re my post I should also qualify that I should not have referred to commissioned officers as one body, as, with any group, there were the bad ones and the good ones and I came across many good ones too.

[andybrennan]

Nicely put Louis,

Sure isn't this topic heating up nicely, I agree there will always be what I term users of any system and if the man above came down himself he could not change them tis life.
Also through my Army career I came across all types regardless of rank or position I will state that the Army let me see a side to the nature of man not to be found in many jobs a right eye opener

Andy

[Louis Parminter]

Hi Andy,
As you say, tis heating up nicely. I see in todays Independent that troops are out again in various areas as requested by the local authorities / councils, hope they are getting the extra allowances for this.
Good point about seeing what people are really like. I must say that in my years in the Army that I witnessed more of the good side of people than the bad side, more so than I experienced in civvy life after I left the Army. That said, since I left I have been lucky to have practically always had a job of one sort or another, with a one year gap where I was in the Philippines and lucky enough to have enough to get by. Oddly enough I found myself in uniform of a different nature in my main employment after I left and here in the Philippines I again wear a uniform as a member of the Philippine Coast Guard Aux which i am happy and proud to do. One thing comes across very strongly to me living overseas and that is the respect for Irish soldiers in the International community. The Irish it seems are second to none as soldiers....but that could open up a whole new debate could it not.

regards

Louis

[andybrennan]

Louis

I am glad that our lads and lasies are out again aiding our people
I am sure that they must feel a deal of satisfaction having helped others and making their lives a little better by their deeds,
Keep up the good work Defence Forces

Andy

[Louis Parminter]

Hi again Andy,

On that point we are entirely in agreement. Good on you Irish Defence Forces!

[andybrennan]

Ah Louis,

Sure life can't be all bad when you can get two Irishmen on different continents to agree on anything.

Cheers Andy

[Louis Parminter]

Ha Andy!!!

Too right, it must be old age catching up on us both!!!! But the sentiments from us both are unquestionable regarding the 'lads and lasses' of the PDF. Good on you.

Cheers

Louis

[kellquinn]

Hi all.
I have just come in from my walk with the dog, and have been speaking to the Soldiers busily, throwing the grit on the footpaths on the Standhouse Road in Newbridge just off Scoil Mhúire, they are having a great laugh and are enjoying the challenge, they seem to have no qualms about helping out in this time of need and they say it is better than walking around the beat on the magazine, cripes! imagine doing that in weather like this, the proverbial would be frozen to bits, it's pelting snow outside now as I write, and some brave young kids are busily making snowmen, are there any snowwomen out there?.
Louis, you lucky devil, imagine getting the Jemmy for 10 euro, however I have accumulated a good supply and it will see me throughout this cold snap. Cheers! Hic!

Regards
JoeyK

[tommyhetherington]

Hi Guys,
Interesting debate I think when people talk about freeloaders on the dole they refer to the guys who are on it for many years and can be seen in the pubs drinking most days and creaming every thing they can get while the rest of us slog away. I was on the dole in 85 when between jobs until 87 and the same guys are still on the dole.
As for the Defence Forces Members past and present we all know or job and as Matt said we are there for the Government of the Day this is how it should be. I agree we always get it in the neck but are called when the tough jobs are to be done and done with Loyalty maybe have a crib later over a pint
Tommy H

[johnnykelly]

Re:Aid to "Cival Power"
Bin strikes Fire strikes Ambulance strikes Bank strikes Postal strikes been there done them all carried out our Tasks no cribs, Got plenty of thanks and praise with plenty of smiles. many a welcome cuppa scold was received especially on the Bus strikes. when you saw the look on the Peoples faces when we did our job, that was all the thanks we needed. proud to have served when called upon.

[andybrennan]

Also well put Johnny,

was never a chore to look after our own,

give youself a clap on the back,

andy

[andybrennan]

TV3 now Johnny
a very emotional Dunphy

Andy