From the RTE archives -for Easter Week

[Jim]

We just told you the reasons.

[earl]

And here's more evidence of the Irish running their own affairs to a greater success than with any British interference.

Dynamic Dublin the place to be for top salaries, says new study

The Irish capital is a very 'attractive model' of a prosperous city

RESIDENTS of Dublin enjoy higher salaries and better employment prospects than almost anywhere else in Europe, a new study claims.

The capital has grown more strongly since 1995, on a combined index of employment, average incomes and productivity, than most other European cities.

A report from the University of Glasgow claims that Dublin has experienced "remarkable" all-round economic success over the last decade and is the continent's "most dynamic" city.

The study shows:

l Dublin has experienced the biggest change in income per head of population of anywhere in Europe between 1995-2005, up 93pc. The average income in 1995 was €24,069, rising to €51,194 in 2005. This compares with €36,200 in Stockholm, the next highest ranked country.

l Employment rose from 440,000 to 698,000 in the same period, an increase of 58.6pc. Dublin is now the third-ranked city in Europe for job creation.

l The city has also seen a population rise of 10pc in the period studied. The highest growth was in Palma de Mallorca which showed a 27.5pc change.

l Dubliners are among the highest retail spenders in the EU, with average spending of €4,514 in 2005. In 1995, the city was ranked 28th for spending, which rose to 10th in 2005.

The study, by Professor Ivan Turok and Dr Vlad Mykhnenko, is published today in a new European journal 'Urban Research and Practice'. It surveyed 150 of the largest cities in Europe.

It shows that during 1990s Dublin was catching up more prosperous cities elsewhere, but in recent years has pulled ahead of the rest.

Rising prosperity has gone hand-in-hand with one of the fastest rates of population growth. Its all-round performance over the last two decades is deemed "exceptional" by European standards.

After Dublin, the other strong performing cities have been in Finland (Helsinki, Tampere and Turku) and Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo). They have also successfully combined rising productivity and higher incomes with broad-based employment growth, ensuring high standards of living for most of their citizens.

Conversely, Germany has many of Europe's most sluggish cities, despite being among the most prosperous in the early 1990s.

"The study confirms that cities can be economic powerhouses in the 21st century, although there are different growth paths that we need to understand better," Prof Turok said yesterday.

Prosperity

"Dublin and the Scandinavian cities are following a high-quality growth path, in which rising incomes go together with more jobs and generalised prosperity. This model of a knowledge hub providing high-value goods and services to global markets deserves closer investigation."

The study also notes that Dublin is an "attractive model" of a prosperous city with strong income growth and reasonable jobs growth over the last decade, "suggesting expansion of high-value activity and rising productivity".

However, further work was required to explain the reasons for change.

"We cannot offer a full explanation of the performance of 150 cities from the data we've looked at, but we can say that certain fundamentals have been strong in Dublin, including rising productivity, a shift over time to higher value goods and services and rising population providing both the labour supply and the consumer demand to facilitate strong economic growth," Prof Turok added.

[Wasp]

This is now laughable, you are comparing what I said with today instead of nearly 100 years ago. But if you feel the need to try and 'prove' the great Ireland of today then go ahead. Maybe its because of an insecurity thing or something that yous have to keep going over things.

If you read what I said about Ireland today you shouldn't feel the need to try and prove things.

[earl]

WASP, compare Britain to what it was 100 years ago, and you'll find that much of the same could be applied. Are there race riots in Wales anymore like in the start of the century? Are there any more signs in windows proclaiming 'no dogs or Irish'? I think you'll find that any criticism you have of Ireland of the turn of the last century can be easily put into perspective by comparing other countries woes of the time.

Maybe it is insecurity WASP. Maybe I secretly wish that Britain was running our affairs again...

[Wasp]

Ah fuck Wales I hate the place.

[earl]

I'm sure the Welsh think the same of you too WASP.

[Wasp]

I don't care what the Welsh think, it is the biggest shithole of shitholes. I have a few Welsh mates and I tell them the same.

PS Earl I didn't know all the Welsh know me.

[earl]

Not you WASP. NI in general. I'm sure many Welsh aren't happy at all the money heading to yourselves while many areas in Wales remain under-funded.

[Wasp]

Why don't you get the Irish gov. to send over some money to them then.

[earl]

Sorry, WASP, either that was a genuine question, to which I'm puzzled as to what you mean, or it was an attempt of some form of snide remark, for which I'm afraid I'm too old for that kind of thing to have any affect on me. But cheers WASP. You did remind me of one particular chap I used to know in primary school a lot! Good time, good times.

If you wish to remain debating on this thread, you are really going to have to do more to contribute to it. Your last 3 posts have been un-debatable.

[Wasp]

Well at least you answered them for them being undebatable.

In all honesty my last post was a complete joke, nothing else or nothing less. You seem to be a bit touchy by anything Irish. If you were German or French I would have gave the same reply. Obviously using the 'Irish gov.' in a joke to help the Welsh is a no go area. Why are you so sensitive about anything Irish BTW?

[earl]

No WASP, I touchy because I'm still stuck in feckin' work!

[Wasp]

Tell them you are sick or say some Proddy wanker from N.I is doing your head in and they might understand.

BTW what exactly are you meant to be doing in work if you are on this forum, or is it a break??

[Jim]

"Damn prods, not content with taking our country but they are melting our workforce as well" might be the answer he gets

[Wasp]

jim said:

"Damn prods, not content with taking our country but they are melting our workforce as well" might be the answer he gets

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D