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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I see the mega-bucks RTE presenters are falling away like snow off a ditch, and not before time. Fair play to The new Director General."
A pity they didn't axe the TV licence in the budget so we're not doubletaxed to keep some of them in the style they are accustomed to.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8271 - 09/10/2025 19:21:38    2639138

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "A pity they didn't axe the TV licence in the budget so we're not doubletaxed to keep some of them in the style they are accustomed to."
We're not being double taxed on it. we'd be mad to axe tv licence as it would mean RTE would stop producing some of the excellent but not commerically strong items that they do.

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3834 - 09/10/2025 20:46:44    2639146

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Replying To slayer:  "If the island of Ireland is included, does the show Blue Lights cover a lot of what Lockjaw mentions?

As an aside - big fan of both the Sopranos and Breaking Bad. Both had unforgettable, iconic scenes where the acting was superb.

I've never watched a minute of the Wire. Worth a watch?"
I would actually class the wire, sopranos and breaking bad as the top three ever made. Prison break would have if they'd ended it earlier.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3963 - 10/10/2025 08:57:43    2639171

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "I see the mega-bucks RTE presenters are falling away like snow off a ditch, and not before time. Fair play to The new Director General."
And Paschal Donoughue giving Claire Byrne a fairwell gift on air. What was that for.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 402 - 10/10/2025 09:22:17    2639179

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Cases are different and should be treated on particular circumstances.

https://eamondelaney.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/1575/"
Not when someone has in excess of 100 previous convictions, at that point its cheaper to lock them up.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1491 - 10/10/2025 12:40:59    2639213

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Replying To KillingFields:  "We're not being double taxed on it. we'd be mad to axe tv licence as it would mean RTE would stop producing some of the excellent but not commerically strong items that they do."
Each to their own but I don't think RTE produces any good content. The only thing I watch on RTE is sport and even that is just because they have exclusive rights.

RTE are definitely trying to make moves to shake things up with the likes of Kieran Cuddihy. But even with the Late Late Show, all they have done by employing Kielty is to move the content further left. That's their decision, no problem with that but I switched off a long time ago. It's not for me.

I hate paying the TV licence fee but unfortunately it is mandatory. If it was axed and if RTE changed their model to become like a subscription based streaming service, perhaps the quality would improve then.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6597 - 10/10/2025 12:57:05    2639216

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Replying To suckvalleypaddy:  "During Biden's last year, circa 50K Palestinians died in the conflict, since Trump came in it's significantly down but it needs to stop.
But Irish people love the democrats, the bias is unbelievable. If Biden traveled to Dublin in the future he would receive freedom of the city, like Obama. I would not attend a pro-Palestine march because a significant number of protesters are radical racists who want the genocide of the Jews. I am sick of hearing about poor Hamas, real peace rallies should not have their flags allowed, it's total hypocrisy. Hamas did their best to destroy Israel, they are not our friends either.
Should the GAA allow the Hamas flags in our stadiums? Long live freedom of speech."
I have seen Palestinian flags flying, but wasn't aware of Hamas flags being flown, I would be 100% against that, so no, GAA should not allow Hamas flags to be flown.

I would assume that the vast majority of Irish people are anti-Hamas, and are attending Pro-Palestinian rallys because they are strongly annoyed at the suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Netanyahu Israeli government. I would be horrified to think this was being hijacked by some right wing minority with an anti-jewish agenda.

There are many Jewish people both inside Israel and around the world who are appalled by the genocide in Gaza and many who are not pro-Zionist, and I would say most if not all Irish people were shocked and appalled by the Oct 7th Hamas terrorist attack and suffering and deaths of the hostages since then. My heart goes out to those people and their families.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1491 - 10/10/2025 13:01:42    2639218

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I would actually class the wire, sopranos and breaking bad as the top three ever made. Prison break would have if they'd ended it earlier."
I've never watched any of those, I'll have to check them out at some stage.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3489 - 10/10/2025 13:03:48    2639219

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Not that I care who is President that much but for the love of God I hope we haven't to endure 7 years of Heather Humphries going Ehhhh Ehhh everytime she speaks.
I wish the gov would reset this election and start again and see if they can find any better candidates to give the people a choice,
of the current choice I def hope Catherine Connolly gets elected though, if only to spare my ears.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3489 - 10/10/2025 13:09:01    2639220

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Replying To KillingFields:  "We're not being double taxed on it. we'd be mad to axe tv licence as it would mean RTE would stop producing some of the excellent but not commerically strong items that they do."
The broadcast licence is here since 1962 when there was no internet, broadband, online sales, streaming services, subscriptions for apps, websites, podcasts etc. Plus no broadcast hardware for devices like phones, tablets, hardware, modems etc. We play VAT on all this hardware, software and other services but we've a choice to do so. Even if we pay more than the price of a licence in broadcast-related VAT it's illegal to not have a TV licence. It predominantly that pays for one Broadcasting station even if we rarely watch it or listen to their radio station. For me that's a doubletax.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8271 - 10/10/2025 13:41:33    2639228

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Replying To slayer:  "Each to their own but I don't think RTE produces any good content. The only thing I watch on RTE is sport and even that is just because they have exclusive rights.

RTE are definitely trying to make moves to shake things up with the likes of Kieran Cuddihy. But even with the Late Late Show, all they have done by employing Kielty is to move the content further left. That's their decision, no problem with that but I switched off a long time ago. It's not for me.

I hate paying the TV licence fee but unfortunately it is mandatory. If it was axed and if RTE changed their model to become like a subscription based streaming service, perhaps the quality would improve then."
I think they did a great job with Reeling in the Years, but I struggle after that to think of anything else I'd consciously sit down to watch other than live sport or The Sunday Game. I would say the subscription services have pretty much crippled traditional soaps in the medium to long term as well. So I would say the RTE bosses have some serious thinking to do.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10077 - 10/10/2025 14:34:26    2639237

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "The broadcast licence is here since 1962 when there was no internet, broadband, online sales, streaming services, subscriptions for apps, websites, podcasts etc. Plus no broadcast hardware for devices like phones, tablets, hardware, modems etc. We play VAT on all this hardware, software and other services but we've a choice to do so. Even if we pay more than the price of a licence in broadcast-related VAT it's illegal to not have a TV licence. It predominantly that pays for one Broadcasting station even if we rarely watch it or listen to their radio station. For me that's a doubletax."
Should we get duty free fuel because we paid VAT/VRT on cars?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 152 - 10/10/2025 15:21:48    2639248

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I would actually class the wire, sopranos and breaking bad as the top three ever made. Prison break would have if they'd ended it earlier."
Good choices. My favorites would probably be Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad. Honourable mention: Sons of Anarchy, Ozark, Slow Horses, The Shield, Day of the Jackal, Mad Men, Fargo, Boardwalk Empire.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 56 - 10/10/2025 15:42:05    2639251

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Should we get duty free fuel because we paid VAT/VRT on cars?"
Yes

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17219 - 10/10/2025 15:52:30    2639252

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Should we get duty free fuel because we paid VAT/VRT on cars?"
I was talking about subsidising a TV station that you mightn't watch and face the threat of prison if you don't.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8271 - 10/10/2025 15:59:19    2639253

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Replying To Commodore:  "I have seen Palestinian flags flying, but wasn't aware of Hamas flags being flown, I would be 100% against that, so no, GAA should not allow Hamas flags to be flown.

I would assume that the vast majority of Irish people are anti-Hamas, and are attending Pro-Palestinian rallys because they are strongly annoyed at the suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Netanyahu Israeli government. I would be horrified to think this was being hijacked by some right wing minority with an anti-jewish agenda.

There are many Jewish people both inside Israel and around the world who are appalled by the genocide in Gaza and many who are not pro-Zionist, and I would say most if not all Irish people were shocked and appalled by the Oct 7th Hamas terrorist attack and suffering and deaths of the hostages since then. My heart goes out to those people and their families."
"...hijacked by some right wing minority with an anti-Jewish agenda" Eh? Those who are pro-Palestinian are generally left wing. If there are some activists/ demonstrators who are pro-Hamas (and I dont know if there are) it is 100% certain that they are left wing too , but of the radical far left. The right wingers tend to be nearly all pro-Israel no matter what Israel does, up to and including genocide and the strongest Israel supporters tend to be on the far right. There's is the odd far right sort alright that may have a 1930's/40's opinion of Jews but those on the far right are overwhelmingly Zionist and pro- Israel.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2081 - 10/10/2025 16:03:11    2639255

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Replying To slayer:  "Each to their own but I don't think RTE produces any good content. The only thing I watch on RTE is sport and even that is just because they have exclusive rights.

RTE are definitely trying to make moves to shake things up with the likes of Kieran Cuddihy. But even with the Late Late Show, all they have done by employing Kielty is to move the content further left. That's their decision, no problem with that but I switched off a long time ago. It's not for me.

I hate paying the TV licence fee but unfortunately it is mandatory. If it was axed and if RTE changed their model to become like a subscription based streaming service, perhaps the quality would improve then."
Plenty wrong with RTE but a bit harsh they don't make any good content. Prime Time Investigates has done some very good work. A lot of the TV documentaries have been very good on history and culture, just off the top of my head the recent NORAID one, the one on the Famine, the history of Irish dancing, the history of hurling and football, Manchan Magans stuff and the John Creedon place names programmes. Documentaries on 1 on the radio also very good. TG4 also does a lot of great work. Apart from sport RTE 2 is mainly rubbish. A subscription based streaming service goes against public service broadcasting but they definitely need to move away from the licence model.

FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 402 - 10/10/2025 16:38:16    2639263

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Replying To Commodore:  "I have seen Palestinian flags flying, but wasn't aware of Hamas flags being flown, I would be 100% against that, so no, GAA should not allow Hamas flags to be flown.

I would assume that the vast majority of Irish people are anti-Hamas, and are attending Pro-Palestinian rallys because they are strongly annoyed at the suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Netanyahu Israeli government. I would be horrified to think this was being hijacked by some right wing minority with an anti-jewish agenda.

There are many Jewish people both inside Israel and around the world who are appalled by the genocide in Gaza and many who are not pro-Zionist, and I would say most if not all Irish people were shocked and appalled by the Oct 7th Hamas terrorist attack and suffering and deaths of the hostages since then. My heart goes out to those people and their families."
My observable point did not get through yesterday but I will give it another go before giving up.

There is no evidence that I'm aware of that "some right wing minority with an anti-Jewish agenda" are flying what is referred to as Hamas flags. Quite the contrary in fact. What is commonly and casually referred to as the "far right" in Ireland are primarily Islamophobic and pathologically anti- Muslim. They believe too many Muslims are being allowed into the country, that it is changing the fabric of society and they fear the encroachment of Sharia law etc. The bulk of them are solidly pro- Trump and strongly pro-Israel.

If there are people flying Hamas flags in Ireland (and I am not sure that there are) you need to look elsewhere to find them. And based on the statement the new Garda Commissioner made on his appointment I reckon he would agree with me.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2081 - 11/10/2025 09:26:41    2639295

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I would actually class the wire, sopranos and breaking bad as the top three ever made. Prison break would have if they'd ended it earlier."
Prison break was good for a series and a half. It was and never will be in any way be comparable to those shows which were very good for a much longer duration
Prison break can never be put bear those 3 because of how bad it went in later seasons

KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3834 - 11/10/2025 11:12:56    2639301

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The bad eggs of the Israel-Palestine conflict who perpetrated crimes against humanity need to go to trial in the Hague. Silly for Irish lads arguing here.
I don't get the Palestinian flag thing in Ireland, to be honest, and I am not pro either side.
Since 2006, Hamas has ruled Gaza, voted in by the people; they enjoy popular sovereignty. Hamas waves Palestinian Flags all the time. Good and bad people use that flag, like most flags, I suppose.
I'm not for Hamas or Netanyahu. If you fly an Irish tricolour today, they call it racism, which is really sad.
Hope the ceasefire works out for the people of the region, let's pray for peace.

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1242 - 11/10/2025 14:34:42    2639318

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