BTW banks or the postal service aren’t the only organizations that are so inefficient and have no regard for customer service. For example, it takes a month to get an internet connection or a phone line in Dublin! The service provided by Dublin bus is awful at times and I would know because I use it everyday but everyone is well aware of these issues so there’s no point of going into detail.

People enjoy living and working in Dublin and enjoy the culture and environment of the city but don’t expect them to accept appalling service with a smile especially at the prices being charged for these services in this city. I think people have every right to complain about the city they are living in as they are the one’s who are actually dealing with these issues on a daily basis and thus voicing their concerns. Those not even living in the city have no right to pass judgment. What’s wrong with constructive criticism? Should we just keep on living with our heads buried in the sand?

One of the main reasons I left Ireland (like you, to move to Australia) was because of the whole attitude of Irish people. It’s something that really strikes me about living in Oz, just how much everyone loves living here, how much they appreciate all the fantastic things that they have going on for them here, and how no-one could ever imagine wanting to live anywhere else (for a long time!). It’s a totally refreshing change, given that all I ever heard was people complain in Ireland (and London when I lived there too) about everything.

Sorry if I was a little defensive and took you up the wrong way!

When you compare to the slow pace of life, where do you compare to?
All I knew of Dublin was a very fast city that was a Capitalist Utopia.

The slowness that I believe you refer to is actually congestion (postal services included here). The only way to bypass congestion in a Tiger economy, like that of Ireland, is to have an Autocratic Regieme. (Singapore is a good example)

Unfortunately for you, and the other citizens of Dublin, Ireland is still an extremely Democratic country, so planning etc has alot of checks & balances to pass. Maybe we need a good slow down in Growth so that public services can catch up.

Heidi, I understand your frustrations in such situations but a more holistic view to Dublin is required. I’m not sure where you are from, but can you tell me that people from any country could move there and enjoy the opportunities that Ireland has offered new immigrants over the last decade??

My post wasn’t intended as a moan. Yes, I am frustrated at the slow pace of things here and instead of continuing to moan about it, I am doing something positive and moving on. If you notice, I put it in the moving to Dublin section as it was intended to warn people about how slow things are here. If I had been a bit more prepared about the slow pace of life and anarchy, I wouldn’t have been nearly as frustrated at how long it took me to get set up three years ago.

And I am thinking about the things that I will miss. I am waiting until I move to blog about them because they will become more apparent then.

However I have lived in Australia for a number of years now, and although it’s far from perfect here, I love the way people are so more positive.

The fact is that through people like Heidi and other economic factors Ireland is one of the richest countries in the world, but every time I go home, people are still moaning.

Heidi and others have picked up on this and have become moaners themselves.

Look sometimes the glass is half full and there is no reason to have to share with others a long rant about the speed of getting your Laser Card.
I would have thought as someone is coming to the end of their time in another country they would be more thinking of the people and experiences they will miss, rather then whining over Banks.

The scary this is that I don’t understand how someone was able to access my account and withdraw funds at three different ATM machines without having access to my pin. It makes me wonder about the bank’s security practices. I asked AIB about it and they didn’t give me any information about the theft and wouldn’t explain how someone could’ve accessed an account without having the pin.

Why do banks in Ireland insist on mailing pin numbers and cards? Why can’t a client go to the bank, get a card on the spot, and set up the pin? This would be much more secure and efficient than sending out pins and cards via conventional mail.