Dave78

Not all of that 'success' no, but the majority of it. Every time there's a job announcement on the news over here (and multinationals the only ones who create enough jobs to make the news these days) they talk about the youthful population, the high levels of education, access to the eurozone etc. They never mention the corp tax rate, but everyone knows that's the main reason for their decision. When the Irish government were negotiating the bailout, they had one 'red line' - that they kept the 12.5% corporation tax rate. It's vital to the Irish economy. I'm not sure i understand where the incentive is. Profit is profit. When deciding how much i can pay myself, i look at how much profit i've made (after paying tax of course) and how much i expect to make in the future. How much of it was taken by the government is neither here nor there.

This "short-term bump" has been going on since the 90's, and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of disappearing.

It's just too simplistic to say giving a tax cut to businesses means all of the money will be pocketed by the owners/shareholders. If the government game my company a £10k gift tomorrow, i know for a fact it would be reinvested in the company (i.e. spent on making our product better - partially through employing people/buying services to improve it (creating jobs!)), as that's what it needs to stay competitive. I imagine the same would be true for most SME's.

But you said earlier that these SNP tax cuts will probably be for SME's, not the faceless foreign shareholders of the huge corporations. Well, Ireland seems to have managed it.

It's brutal on the poor. I'd much rather be poor in Scotland than Ireland. Since the IMF/EU bailout in 2008 we've had tax after tax. There was 200,000 folk out on the streets about a month or so ago protesting the new water charge (basically everyone's water usage is going to be monitored and charged for via a new tax - even though Irish folk have already been paying for it via general taxation since the creation of the state). It also opens up our water to being privatised in the future, which is the part i'm most concerned about. I see your point, and i don't necessarily disagree. But it depends on what the business tax cut actually does. Will it put more money in the pockets of the bosses, thereby making the rich richer, or will it encourage them to employ more folk - lifting them out of poverty?

Aye, great city. Full of 'young ones' (burdz!) at university, and great tourist industry so loads of great pubs/clubs. Party city. 10/10, will visit again. Edit: Last time i was in Galway (few months ago) we found a pub that sold pints of Tennents for 2.50 euros. Aye, two-fifty, in Ireland. Cheaper than Scotland ffs! What's not to like Sounds like a job for Helen?

I got the same 38 degrees email, but i'm not sure how as i don't remember signing up to anything. Who are they? I live in Dublin and see the benefits of their low corporation tax every day on the tram (it's full of folk from all over the world working in the HQ's of the American multinationals. Google, Paypal, Twitter, Intel etc etc etc.) Sure, these corporate behemoths might not pay much tax, but the jobs they create are extremely high value, and their presence alone creates lots of local startups. Dublin has gone from a backwater captial in an agricultural country to a major global city in regards to the IT industry, all thanks to the low corporation tax. Does it not make sense for Scotland to siphon some of this good stuff away from London via slightly lower taxes? Genuine question - are you sure the business tax cuts are to corporations, and not smaller/local businesses? As part-owner of a small Scottish IT company, i like what Nicola is saying. I'm in the broad church though

Ireland are hurting after the celtic park result. They will be fully fired up and looking for revenge against us. Their feel-good-factor was dented by our victory, but the 4-1 friendly win over the USA helped them get it right back. They also unearthed some decent new players in that game (Brady from Hull looks very good). Getting a point in Dublin will be a fantastic result. All this talk of us winning over there is a bit over-confident IMO

You're right GTR. I remember posting on here that i expected Irish fans to twist the knife*, but ye's didn't, so fair play * my Irish mates sure as hell did - before, during, and after!

Had been thinking about getting one of these for a while. Just ordered one tonight. Will probably use it for the 1 day sky sports passes.

And every Yesser knows it. I'm pretty sure the response will be overwhelming. Just ordered my digital subscription. Available here for those that haven't already - http://thenational.scot/

Who is saying that? Do you mean the Wings guy, or folk in the SNP?

Yep, they changed their entire starting 11.

Thing is, we have had the performances, just not the results. We've struggled a bit to finish our chances, and conceded some cheap goals, whereas Ireland have been clinical. I think Ireland will play defensively (at least for the first 70 mins). Scotland will dominate the midfield and have most of the possession. The big doubt is whether we can convert it to goals. Heart says 2-1 Scotland. Head says 1-1 draw.

Police and ambulance called to the Irish team hotel - http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/gardai-called-to-ireland-football-team-hotel-30740600.html

The stuff about Wilson and Rioch. If he's ok with them growing up in England as Scots, then why is he not ok with McGeady and McCarthy growing up in Scotland as Irishmen?

That story has been causing a big stooshie on all the Irish sports sites. The most popular response on the Setanta Sports facebook page is the comment "Bitter orange b@stard". Lovely stuff Very hypocritical comments from McQueen though. We could have done without them IMO.

Only switched on 15 mins ago, but it seems a really good programme. Explaining the lack of social inequality and mobility. Comparing today to the 70s... Loved Bacon incredulously asking "Doesn't this go against what we think Britain is?". Aye mate. Just what exactly do you think Britain is all about? For a hint, start with its head of state and work downwards. And they wonder why 45% of Scots (and rising) want independence...

Well, O'Neill did select them after all. Though it looks like one of them is going to miss the game through injury.

No.

Did you see the BBC documentary called 'The lion's last roar?'? Cracking documentary, link here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04ndzn8 Anyway, in it it shows part of a press conference with the head of the army at the time (General Danatt) saying how much he admired the way soldiers are revered in America, and wishing the same happened in the UK. The armed forces (or the head honchos at least) are just as responsible as the politicians for pushing this agenda.

I've been trying my best to stick to it, as i already took a few weeks off after i fecked my legs by pushing them too hard. You say it's not a totalitarian regime, but Laura from the NHS podcasts is a right dictator. I would ignore her and skive off, but my GPS has told her where i live!

I'm halfway through week 7 of the couch to 5k. Onto straight 25 minute runs now. Legs killing me after tonight. The program says you only need a days rest between runs. My legs disagree!

I don't watch his train programme, but i can't help but like Portillo. One of the better Tories.