Amazing how a wildcat strike by train drivers can affect 10,000 passengers in one foul swoop!

All because a train driver didn’t want to move from his passenger train to take another guy on a training drive.

Boo to you ….. it could only happen in Ireland.

A study of young people’s alcohol and drug habits in the south and south east has found that:

• Among 15 year olds - 12% of males and 20% of females said that they drank once a week or more
• The average age for the first drink was 13
• 62% of teens drink regularly (at least once a month)
• 51% of teens binge drink regularly
• 50% of teens have taken an illegal drug at least once in their lives
• 38% of drinkers suffered consequences compared to 11% of illegal drug users
• 20% of drinkers were involved in arguments (4% for illegal drug users)
• 18% of drinkers were in trouble at home (3% for illegal drug users)
• 13% of drinkers were in physical fights (2% for illegal drug users)
• 13% of drinkers suffered an accident as a result (13% for illegal drug users)
• 13% of drinkers damaged property (3% for illegal drug users)
• 10% of drinkers were in trouble with the gardaí (3% for illegal drug users)
• 7% said that their drinking affected theri performance at school (7% for illegal drug users)

The report also found that females were drinking more frequently and drinking more spirits than males.

14% of young people also said that they used cannabis regularly.

The Revenue Commissioners are to clamp down on large scale tax evaders … the banks will now have to provide Revenue with the names and addresses of DIRT liable account holders whose accounts earn more than €635 in interest. If you’ve got €100,000 or more in the bank ….. pay your DIRT tax and get your other tax affairs in order …. ‘cos the tax man is a coming to knock upon your door!

About time too … tax evasion is rife in this country … the fat cats are creaming it while us Joe Fools are screwed in the PAYE system.

And George Redmond has been found not guily of receiving a IR£10,000 bribe from a Fianna Fáil councillor. The wheels of Justice have twirled, twisted and turned. A verdict has been reached. But look at the can of worms he has opened!

And Biffo (Brian Cowen) still hasn’t read the Lisbon Treaty …… neither has Mary Coughlan I believe …. what a wonderful leadership we’ve got. Still it doen’t matter … the Fianna Fail flock et al will vote as they are told to ….. YES …. baa baa baa! (I’m still voting NO …. so stick that into your pipe and smoke it Mr. Cowen. And no bad language in your retort please!)

Mallow G.A.A. club had a concert recently …. tickets were €50 with complimentary cheese and wine …. teetotalers had to pay for their drinks. And then we wonder why alcohol is such a problem in Ireland!

And oil is at €131.70 a barrel ….. I think we’re in trouble. When it hits €2.00 a litre we’ll be fairly broke … when it runs out we’re done for.

My car will stop, the lawnmower will stop, my chainsaw will stop, my brush cutter won’t work either, nor will my hedge trimmer.

No more tarring, no more etc. etc.

Enough said …. I must wash the car …. and cut the grass!

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