4 October 2001 Edition
Sinn FÈin poll increase
It must have been a little bit disappointing for the Sunday Independent this week. After nearly of month of proclaiming that Sinn FÈin's media honeymoon was over and the public were waking up to the party's 'real agenda', an IMS poll commissioned by Independent Newspapers showed Sinn FÈin's voter support to be at 6%, an increase of 2% on the last IMS poll.
The Sunday Independent had to take solace in the belief that 45% of the population oppose Sinn FÈin participating in a future coalition government. An interesting angle in the presentation of the poll results where Labour and Fine Gael were losing ground, was that much of the analysis was directed not at Fine Gael and Labour but at writing negatively about Sinn FÈin.
It seems that in the unconscious mind of the Sunday Independent, Sinn FÈin is the real dynamic and real opposition in Irish politics today. Maybe when they start to recognise this reality, we can move on from the prolonged silly season and begin a real debate about political issues instead of the usual Indo rants. Maybe the chances of that happening should be tested in their next poll survey.
A new report from the National Youth Council of Ireland, aptly titled 'The Plunder Years', shows that the current cost of motor insurance for young people in the 26 Counties is unjustified, intolerable and unsustainable.
This follows news that motor insurers are set to increase their rates by a massive 20%, an act of blatant profiteering that discriminates against young people
The NYCI found that a 24-year-old male driver with a full licence for two years and two years' no claims bonus, living in Dublin, was quoted £2,213 to insure a 1998 Fiat Punto. This is ridiculous money for the right to drive.
Many young people are compelled by the high cost of motor insurance to pay in installments, incurring a further 18.6% interest.
Motor insurance is nearly double the EU average.
There is plenty of evidence of effective price fixing within the motor insurance industry. The government should intervene now on behalf of young drivers.
The Sunday Independent had to take solace in the belief that 45% of the population oppose Sinn FÈin participating in a future coalition government. An interesting angle in the presentation of the poll results where Labour and Fine Gael were losing ground, was that much of the analysis was directed not at Fine Gael and Labour but at writing negatively about Sinn FÈin.
It seems that in the unconscious mind of the Sunday Independent, Sinn FÈin is the real dynamic and real opposition in Irish politics today. Maybe when they start to recognise this reality, we can move on from the prolonged silly season and begin a real debate about political issues instead of the usual Indo rants. Maybe the chances of that happening should be tested in their next poll survey.
Ripping off young drivers
A new report from the National Youth Council of Ireland, aptly titled 'The Plunder Years', shows that the current cost of motor insurance for young people in the 26 Counties is unjustified, intolerable and unsustainable.
This follows news that motor insurers are set to increase their rates by a massive 20%, an act of blatant profiteering that discriminates against young people
The NYCI found that a 24-year-old male driver with a full licence for two years and two years' no claims bonus, living in Dublin, was quoted £2,213 to insure a 1998 Fiat Punto. This is ridiculous money for the right to drive.
Many young people are compelled by the high cost of motor insurance to pay in installments, incurring a further 18.6% interest.
Motor insurance is nearly double the EU average.
There is plenty of evidence of effective price fixing within the motor insurance industry. The government should intervene now on behalf of young drivers.