Reverse ferret - Warning on economic growth

JUST as hospital doctors joined the lengthening queue of public workers threatening strikes over pay demands yesterday a sobering voice pointed out how very tenuous our economic recovery actually is. 

Whether that might influence those demanding a premature return to the days of wine and song or not remains to be seen but in today’s atmosphere of “restoration” entitlement it is unlikely to. The gloves are off and it’s every special interest group for itself.

Yesterday’s warning, that consumer spending had slowed significantly, must be seen along with Brexit and the Trump presidency. All of a sudden we are facing uncharted waters while facing demands that, our Government assures us, are unsustainable. Nevertheless, the concession was made to avert a threatened garda strike.

We all sometimes have to admit we’ve made a mistake and change tack. Is it preposterous to imagine that our soft-touch Government might reverse ferret and hold the line on pay until the economy is on a more secure footing? That it is explains why we are facing such a terrible winter of discontent.