Irish spring statement far from a Greek tragedy

Last week the Government published its much vaunted spring statement which was met with cynicism and scepticism. While its contents are a legitimate subject of debate, I was more interested by what the statement was juxtaposed with — Greek drama.

While Ireland gets on with a political narrative, centred on how best we can manage a recovering economy, the Greeks are at risk of investing in ‘Keystone Kops economics’, which is defined by open-necked shirts, proximate visits to Moscow and Berlin, alongside utterly chaotic domestic policy decisions that affect the daily lives of millions. Those who care about the future of the Irish economy need to stay focused on comparing and contrasting what is unfolding across both economies. The reason that this analysis is vital relates to the continuing opinion, in certain sections of Irish society, that the main political party in Greece — Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza — has something to offer Ireland.

As Greece undergoes a series of catatonic events around its mind-numbing debts, hard actions on the ground are taking place. The latest wheeze is a decision to grab cash from local councils to pay short-term salaries. Imagine that in an Irish context: The Government snatches a large amount of cash residing in the accounts of Cork City Council to pay teachers next month — can you envisage the turmoil that would trigger among the glitterati and supposed opinion formers that come out of their caves when a quick headline is available.