A Special Saving Incentive Account (SSIA) was a type of interest-bearing account in Ireland. These accounts were available to open between 1 May 2001 and 30 April 2002, and featured a state-provided top-up of 25% of the sum deposited.^[1]

Scheme details[link]

Introduced in the Finance Act 2001, the SSIA was structured so that the Government of Ireland contributed one euro for every four invested by the account holder. The maximum contribution was €254 per month.^[2] For deposit account SSIAs, banks paid interest on top of the government bonus and principal accumulated. Equity SSIAs were also available to investors seeking higher returns than the state-guaranteed minimum of 25%.^[3] The scheme, which was restricted to those over eighteen, was most popular among middle-income earners.^[4] All SSIAs matured five years from the date of opening.

Intended effects[link]

In 2006/7 the maturing SSIA funds were hoped to boost the slowing Irish economy. The funds amounted to €14 billion and were expected to increase the purchasing power of Irish consumers who would in turn help the Irish economy through increased spending.^[4] Due to poor external contribution and the weakening construction sector, consumer spending was expected to help sustain relatively high economic growth, with projections that SSIAs could contribute to a boost of up to 1.9%.^[4] This consumer expenditure was an important factor in increasing government's tax revenue for its ambitious capital expenditure plans.

Criticisms[link]

Opposition parties questioned the effectiveness of the scheme in dampening inflation (running at 7% at its peak) and also the timing of the maturities, which they claimed would benefit the government at the 2007 general election.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Irish Revenue Commissioners' overview
• FinFacts.com overview

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Saint Praejectus
Statue of Saint Prejectus (Pry) at Saint-Prix, Val-d'Oise.
Born	Auvergne
Died	January 25, 676 Volvic
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrine	In 760, relics enshrined at Flavigny Abbey, where most relics remain; other relics elsewhere.
Feast	January 25

Saint Praejectus, Prejectus or Projectus (French: Saint Pry, Prie, Prix, Priest, Prest, Preils; Italian: Preietto (Proietto^[1])) (625–676) was a bishop of Clermont, who was killed with Amarinus. Born in the Auvergne to the lesser nobility, he studied under Genesius of Clermont. He was ordained a priest and then became bishop of Clermont in 666 with the approval of Childeric II.

Praejectus founded monasteries, hospitals, and churches. He was killed as a result of political struggles of the day. Hector, lord of Marseilles, had been accused of various crimes, and at the order of Childeric, had been arrested and executed. Agritius, the man who killed Praejectus, believed that the bishop had been responsible for Hector’s death. At Volvic, the assassin thus stabbed to death Praejectus and Amarinus, abbot of a monastery in the area.

The death of Praejectus was linked to that of Saint Leger (Leodegarius). St. Leger was an opponent of Ebroin, mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions; firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from 675 to his death in 680 or 681. In a violent and despotic career, he strove to impose the authority of Neustria, which was under his control, over Burgundy and Austrasia.

Ebroin’s supporters, which included Praejectus, St. Reol of Rheims, St. Agilbert of Paris, and St. Ouen of Rouen, held a council of bishops that sat in judgment on Leger, at Marly, near Paris. Praejectus’ murderer may have been a supporter of Leger, who was later murdered on October 2, 679.^[2][3]

Veneration[link]

An account of Praejectus’ life was written shortly after his death and he was immediately venerated as a martyr. The account was written perhaps by 690, as it was written during the lifetime of Bishop Avitus of Clermont.^[3]

The author may have been a nun from the monastery of Chamalières. Chamalières was a monastery founded through Praejectus’ efforts, and it was presided over by an abbess who was probably a member of Praejectus’ family. The author may also have been a monk from Volvic or Saint-Amarin.^[3]

During the time of Charlemagne, Abbot Manasses of Flavigny Abbey transferred from Volvic to Flavigny the relics of Praejectus.

His cultus spread to English monastic calendars. The church at Volvic, where Praejectus was killed, is dedicated to “St Priest” (Projectus).^[4] In 1278, some of his relics (a finger) were translated to the town of Saint-Prix (Val-d'Oise).

The valley of Saint-Amarin was named after Amarinus.

• 

  Commemmorative plaque at Saint-Prix, Val d'Oise.

• 

  Fountain of Saint Pry (Projectus), Saint-Prix, Val d'Oise.

Notes[link]

1. ^ Not to be confused with the Saint Proietto said to have been martyred along with Saint Evasius at Sedula (the modern Casale Monferrato where the relics of both are preserved in the cathedral); nor with the Saint Proietto venerated in the area of Cavour (the ancient Caburrum) who has been traditionally linked with the Theban Legion, but is perhaps more likely to have been an early bishop of the town. (See Damiano Pomi (2004), "San Proietto", Santi, beati e testimoni, http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92179 .)
2. ^ Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity (T.Y. Crowell, 1881), 398.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Barbara H. Rosenwein, Emotional Communities in the Early Middle Ages (New York: Cornell University Press, 2006), 170.
4. ^ Bienvenue sur le site de la commune de Volvic

External links[link]

• Saint of the Day, January 25: Praejectus of Clermont at SaintPatrickDC.org
• St. Praejectus
• Amarinus on Patron Saints Index
• Amarinus on Catholic Online

Jason Isringhausen
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – No. 55
Pitcher
Born: (1972-09-07) September 7, 1972 (age 39) Brighton, Illinois
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 17, 1995 for the New York Mets
Career statistics (through May 23, 2012)
Win-Loss	48–53
Earned run average	3.60
Strikeouts	811
Saves	300
Teams
New York Mets (1995–1997, 1999) Oakland Athletics (1999–2001) St Louis Cardinals (2002–2008) Tampa Bay Rays (2009) New York Mets (2011) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (2000, 2005) World Series champion (2006)

Jason Derik Isringhausen ( /ˈɪzrɪŋhaʊzɪn/ born September 7, 1972) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Pro career[link]

New York Mets[link]

Isringhausen was chosen as a draft-and-follow prospect by the New York Mets in the 44th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed in May 1992.

In the mid-1990s, Isringhausen, along with pitchers Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson were all widely hyped as the next generation of New York Mets' superstars, despite all being in the minor leagues. The group received considerable press attention and the nickname "Generation K". However, injuries took their toll and 1995 was the first year that all three started the season healthy.

Isringhausen began his career as a starter for the Mets near the end of the season, posting a 9-2 record in 14 starts. But a steady progression of serious injuries, including tuberculosis, a broken wrist (sustained while punching a dugout trash can) and three major operations on his pitching arm, derailed his progression into a major-league rotation. Consequently, he was forced to miss most of the 1997 season, as well as the entire 1998 season. When he was finally healthy in 1999, he was moved to the bullpen after only five starts. After inconsistent play with the Mets, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics at the trading deadline for reliever Billy Taylor. Mets manager Bobby Valentine was reluctant to use Isringhausen in relief, saying that it would be akin to "[using] an Indy car as a taxi."^[1]

Oakland Athletics[link]

As a relief pitcher and closer for the Athletics, Isringhausen's performance improved. Isringhausen established himself as a top closer with Oakland, as the A's made the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. Isringhausen earned his first selection to the All-Star game in 2000.

St. Louis Cardinals[link]

Isringhausen signed with the Cardinals as a free agent before the 2002 season. During Isringhausen's time with the team, the Cardinals won the Central Division in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 with World Series appearances in 2004 and 2006, winning the World Series in 2006. He had a league-leading 47 saves in 2004 and had a second-best 2.14 ERA in 2005.

Despite this success, Isringhausen's 2006 season began with two losses and a blown save in his first five appearances. He struggled with control problems throughout the season, leading to 38 walks (the most given up by Isringhausen in a season since he became a closer) and a 3.55 ERA, which was his highest ERA as a closer since the 2000 season, in which his ERA was 3.78. Isringhausen finished the season with a 4-8 record and 33 saves along with 10 blown saves. He missed the entire 2006 playoffs due to a hip injury, allowing rookie Adam Wainwright to become the Cardinals' closer for the playoffs and that team's World Series Championship.

Isringhausen pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007.

During the 2006 off-season, Isringhausen underwent his second hip surgery in two years. With Wainwright slotted into the rotation, Isringhausen was returned to the closer role to begin 2007. Isringhausen responded by notching career numbers in 2007, posting a 4-0 record, 2.48 ERA, and 32 saves while walking only 28, striking out 54, and giving up only 4 home runs in 63.1 innings pitched, appearing in 63 games. Batters hit .179 against him.

On September 25, 2007, Isringhausen was named as one of 10 finalists for the "DHL Presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award"; and on October 5, 2007 it was announced the St. Louis Cardinals had picked up Isringhausen's option for the 2008 season.

On May 10, 2008, manager Tony La Russa removed Isringhausen as the club's closer. On July 29, 2008, Tony La Russa announced that Jason had been placed as the closer again.

On August 19, 2008, Isringhausen left the team due to lingering elbow tendinitis and a torn tendon.^[2]

Tampa Bay Rays[link]

On February 20, 2009, Isringhausen signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays with an invitation to spring training.^[3] On April 1, 2009, Isringhausen was added to the 40-man roster of the Rays, and began the season on the disabled list.^[4][5] Once activated, Jason pitched in nine games before it was announced on June 13 that he tore a ligament in the surgically repaired right elbow and would miss the rest of the season to undergo Tommy John surgery.^[6]

Cincinnati Reds[link]

On July 20, 2010, Isringhausen pitched a bullpen session for the Cincinnati Reds. He impressed both pitching coach Bryan Price and former Cardinals and current Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty enough that the Reds prepared a contract offer for Isringhausen.^[7]

On July 22, 2010, Isringhausen agreed to terms with a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.^[8]

Return to the Mets[link]

Isringhausen signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training for the 2011 season.^[9] He began the season in extended spring training, but was promoted to the Mets on April 10.^[10] He had a good outing in his first game, against the Colorado Rockies. He was called in with 1 out in the bottom of the eight and retired both batters he faced. He was being used as the 8th inning setup pitcher for the Mets until previous closer Francisco Rodriguez was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. Isringhausen was then moved to the closer's role. On July 19, 2011, he picked up his first save since 2008. On August 15, 2011, Isringhausen got his 300th save against the San Diego Padres in a 5-4 Mets win, and became the 23rd pitcher all time with 300 career saves.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim[link]

On February 22, 2012, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jason Isringhausen

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal

• List of Major League Baseball saves champions
• Major League Baseball pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches
• 300 saves club

References[link]

External links[link]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)