Irish Army Shop Over the Border.

Wednesday August 26, 2009 21:38

by Opinion Jay

Domestic consumers not the only ones shopping across the border.

It not just the domestic consumer crossing the border to take advantage of the lower prices, It seems so did the Irish army. They have awarded a €1.5 million contract to a lucky construction company over in that Lower VAT and minimum wage haven known as Northern Ireland.
They put out to tender the construction of a new building to house up to 300 soldiers being relocated from other army bases. The company that was awarded to contract is located in Omagh, they were chosen over construction companies in Donegal and Sligo.
It is said that the quote the Irish Army received from the Omagh based company was €40,000 cheaper than what they had received from southern based companies.
Some believe that the government should lead by example and shop locally, so what are they saying, the Irish Government should over spend the already dwindling tax funds?
Then the same people that are up in arms over the government choosing the best value option would be shouting about the place that they are wasting the taxpayer’s money by over spending. If the Irish construction companies involved had given a keen price maybe they would have got the contract as opposed to the cheapest option coming from outside the republic. Hopefully this may be the kick Irish companies and indeed the Irish people need to realise we are just not competitive enough.
Of course we are all more than happy to take the trip up the M1 for the cheap groceries. But at the same time none of us are prepared to take a pay cut or cut the minimum wage to try encouraging more companies to do business here. So we as a nation have yet to learn anything from the ‘current economical climate’ we now find ourselves in, as we still want our Celtic tiger flavour cake and eat it to…

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Comments (8 of 8)

Good on ya!!

by jason

Wed Aug 26, 2009 22:12

well done to the irish army at least they are getting value for money and not going with a firm just cause they are from the republic, anyway we're all irish, whats your problem was it you that didnt get the contract????????

all-ireland shopping

by patriotic shopper

Thu Aug 27, 2009 07:54

I once bought a pair of woolen socks made in Northern Ireland in a shop in Sligo instead of a pair of socks made in pagan England. Wasn't that patriotic of me?

32 County Ireland?

by Pete.

Thu Aug 27, 2009 08:09

"Some believe that the government should lead by example and shop locally."

Since when was Northern Ireland not "local" ?

Besides.

I'd put my money over the counter in the North far quicker than I would in the grasping rip-off South any day.

oh dear

by ya rite

Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:36

on a recent over haul and refurbishment of finner army barricks in Donegal all materials sought and contracts were given to english companies in the north and it wasnt about price saving...................

chicken feed

by not my army

Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:44

the army are so concerned with doing any business with the uk that even the food sourced now comes from there so our lads you could well say are been feed by the british again some things will never change !!!!!! nothing like the taste of west brit turkey

You are what you Eat.

by Corporal Ludra-mawn.

Thu Aug 27, 2009 13:53

"We're been feed by the british again some things will never change !!!!!! nothing like the taste of west brit turkey."

You are what eat.

If we keep feeding English food to the Irish army we will end up with an "English Army".

Mark my words!
.

Makes sense

by Dermott

Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:41

A question to the people who are peeved by this.
If you needed something and it would cost you 100 Euro less by going over the border and buying it in the North, what would you do?

The Army, like any other organisation have a budget. Making the most of that budget by getting the best value makes perfect sense. Fair play to them.

The thing is, the same people moaning about this would be flying off the handle if they heard an Irish Company wasn't been considered for a contract because the organisation looking for it done was in a different country and was only considering tenders from companies in that country.

not fair to slate irish people re going north for shopping

by averagejo

Fri Aug 28, 2009 14:17

Whilst it is ironic that the Irish Army is now also taking it's business into Northern Ireland, the overall tone of the piece I felt was a bit harsh - we have had pay cuts etc., but we are still the second dearest place to live in Europe so unless there is a major reduction in the prices we pay for everyday items, people do not have any choice but to fight to protect wages

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Irish Army Shop Over the Border.

Comments (8 of 8)