EVEN THE alleged terrorist bombing threat last week does not generate enough newsworthy material to justify the purchase of an Irish Sunday paper today. I thumbed through some papers while hanging out at my newsagent so you wouldn't have to waste time away from the sunshine. And here are 10 questions to mark the week in review:
1. What three sectors of the traveling public contribute to the overcrowding on regional bus services in Ireland, resulting in standing passengers on late afternoon runs from Kilkenny to Cork? Visiting backpackers, students out of college for the summer and over-65s who will be granted free travel at peak times by the government in the next budget.
2. What all-day event on 30 September allows people to observe creativity at work? An initiative called VISIT which opens 125 artists' studios to wander-in foot traffic.
3. Whose election-focused podcast was downloaded 400 times in the first 10 days from its release? Pat Rabbite, the Irish Labour Party leader.
4. If a Polish builder put his hard-earned money from constructing homes around the Blessington Lakes into buying land in County Wicklow, could he build his own house there? If a Chinese proprieter of a take-away restaurant in County Clare tied to build on rural land six miles from the doors of his restaurant, would he be permitted by Clare County Council? No. County Councils discriminate against non-locals in unconstitutional practises based on birthplace, bloodline and place of work--de facto discrimination grounded in race, creed or colour. Legal experts are confident that the European Union's guarantee of freedom of movement for its citizens is a likely route to the courts for those who feel aggrieved by Ireland's populist land use policy.
5. Why is an all-island electricity market delayed in Ireland? Because international experts hired to work on the project are self-employed and unable to get work permits from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. When I tried to get a work permit under that category, I was brusquely told by the Department of Justice representative that I would have to lodge 250,000 Irish pounds into an Irish bank. That was a bargain, considering that Arab applicants were asked for at least one million Irish punts in exchange for a passport.
6. Why will house price inflation drop to zero per cent in 2007? Because first-time buyers will be subjected to a stress test by lenders to ensure they can meet interest rate payments 2% above the current market rate. As rates rise, borrowing will throttle back. The net effect is that builders have started reducing the number of new units coming onstream during the next calendar year.
7. Who is taking legal action against boards.ie this week? MCD, the promoters of the Oxegen music festival. Using boards.ie to vent frustration with lax security, a burning tent and looting, a concert-goer upset MCD's solicitors who ordered a take-down and an apology. Lacking an apology, the solicitors are going to court.
8. Who pays Google more for a text advertisement--a credit card company or a personal injury law firm? Legal firms and pharmaceuticals pay a lot more than the other categories cited on the Sunday Times Business Focus pages.
9. What market forces have pressurised Irish consumers to stop saving? Rising mortgage interest rates and spiraling energy costs.
10. Has anybody been charged with terrorism related to a planned attack on aircraft, have any explosives been found, have any combustible liquids posing as bottles of Fanta been located had any DIY guides to blowing yourself up been swept up in police raids, have any flight tickets been purchased by British suicide bombers? No.
[1] Emma Kennedy -- "Free travel to cost state €2m" in "News" with the Sunday Business Post, 13 August 2006.
[2] From Jessie Jones, the ebullient artist.
[3] From IrishElection.com.
[4] Siobhan Maguire -- "Locals Only" in "Focus" inside The Sunday Times, 13 August 2006.
[5] Gavin Daly -- "Work-permit problems delay all-island electricity project" on the front page of the Sunday Business Post, 13 August 2006.
[6] Eamon Quinn -- "Brokers predict major slowdown in housing market" on the front page of the Sunday Business Post, 13 August 2006.
[7] Mark Hilliard -- "Website is Curbed in Oxegen Row" in The Evening Herald, 26 July 2006.
[8] Richard Fletch -- "You are the Target" in "Business Focus" inside the Sunday Times, 13 August 2006. Get more accurate information by reading the Irish Webmaster Forum.
Bonus Link: Previous weeks of "10 Questions".
