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The Irish government has a problem. It is a problem that the AA can be very relaxed about because it is something our members are likely to cheer. Vehicle Registration Tax takings have collapsed. This monstrous tax on car owners has always been deeply unpopular and lots of people will be glad to hear that motorists are paying far less of it.

The Irish government has a problem. It is a problem that the AA can be very relaxed about because it is something our members are likely to cheer. Vehicle Registration Tax takings have collapsed. This monstrous tax on car owners has always been deeply unpopular and lots of people will be glad to hear that motorists are paying far less of it.

A new book analysing the Irish system of government provides an important reference material for anyone interested in understanding how politics and democracy work in Ireland.

“Get a mandate!” barked Labour party Rottweiler, Councillor Billy Cameron. This verbal was directed at Dette McLoughlin, the chair of Galway’s United Left Alliance. However as quick as you could say travel expenses, McLoughlin replied: “You have no mandate to implement a household tax, nor to rob the poor to help the rich. If you had any principles you would resign from the Labour Party!”

Fears that funding for a major ‘Greenway’ for the city would be withdrawn by the Government, causing the project to collapse, appear to be unfounded as both City Hall and NUI Galway are determined to press ahead with the walkway.

Budget 2012 is unique in that the proposed expenditure cuts were announced a day ahead of the tax changes and also many of its provisions were well flagged ahead of Budget Day. The financial adjustment was set at €3.8bn with €2.2bn coming from expenditure cuts and €1.6bn coming from increased taxation. Despite all the advance leaks and speculation the Minister managed to keep a number of the changes secret until the Budget Speech especially in the area of incentives to business and measures to kick start the property market.

Kilkenny Fianna Fail Deputy John McGuinness has pledged to thoroughly investigate the recent discovery of a €3.6billion euro ‘double count’ which saw a payment between State agencies being counted twice.

Historical attractions play a major role in ensuring that Galway is Ireland’s premier tourist destination, that is according to Galway West TD Seán Kyne.

The former Garda barracks in Bangor, known as Bingham Lodge, is to be made available to An tSean Bheairic Restoration Committee following representations to the Office of Public Works by Minister of State Michael Ring.

The big story of the election was the collapse of the Fianna Fáil vote nationally but it is evident from the statistics in Galway East that Labour gained substantially from this implosion, increasing its vote by 10.1 per cent, and leading to the surprise election of Colm Keaveney.