Election called for Saturday 8 February

lawred2

is_that_so wrote: »

Here's the swinging lady's replacement.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/maria-baileys-substitute-who-is-jennifer-carroll-macneill-38694003.html

Another double barrelled surnamed one..

Never knew we had so many important family lineages that needed preserving..

is_that_so

lawred2 wrote: »

Another double barrelled surnamed one..

Never knew we had so many important family lineages that needed preserving..

Ah, but this one is rugby royalty!

smurgen

is_that_so wrote: »

Ah, but this one is rugby royalty!

Hopefully when this one says she knows the offside rule she's not spoofing.

Water John

Off topic but watch the girl from the swing tucking into feotal position after the bounce.

Loafing Oaf

is_that_so wrote: »

Ah, but this one is rugby royalty!

FG clearly deciding the problem with Bailey was her déclassé GAA links. Not quite the thing for them, in Dublin anyway...

amadangomor

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Can't see a thread on this. That's pretty soon huh? I hope people vote anything but FF/FG. Why not do something different for a change?

We've seen in other countries what can happen if the loonies get their hands on power. This country is far from perfect but it has a functioning economy largely based on a finely balanced niche of being an English speaking country in the EU- low corporation tax model. If people think things are bad now wait until they vote in someone who will **** that up and really see the money tree that keeps the whole show on the road wither and die

For example the greens are great in theory and I like their environmental policies but they have recently voted against Ireland keeping our veto on the EU changing tax policies. As someone that depends on FDI for their job like many do directly and indirectly in the country they can feck right off. For all their flaws - and there are many FG would at least keep the show on the road and make sure the majority of people keep earning a living.

freshpopcorn

The great thing about this election being on a Saturday is. Tubridy won't get to do his exit poll and act all sneering towards candidates.

amadangomor

lawred2 wrote: »

Another double barrelled surnamed one..

Never knew we had so many important family lineages that needed preserving..

Yep, regular Irish names subjected to double barrelling is definitely on my Trialvially annoying list. Just doesn't sit right and smacks of uppity snobbery.

MadYaker

Childrens allowance should be means tested and even those that get it should only get it for the first 2 children. If you want to have a massive family then pay for it yourself. This idea of people living in social housing with no job having 5 or 6 kids and expecting the state to pay for it is ridiculous nonsense. It encourages a lack of personal responsibility, something with is sorely lacking in modern Ireland.

NovemberWren

MadYaker wrote: »

Childrens allowance should be means tested and even those that get it should only get it for the first 2 children. If you want to have a massive family then pay for it yourself. This idea of people living in social housing with no job having 5 or 6 kids and expecting the state to pay for it is ridiculous nonsense. It encourages a lack of personal responsibility, something with is sorely lacking in modern Ireland.

maybe it suited the state to over-ride personal responsibility and to indemnify and to foster this human stock increase in the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's etc.
in deh national 'interest'.

is_that_so

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

FG clearly deciding the problem with Bailey was her déclassé GAA links. Not quite the thing for them, in Dublin anyway...

Ooh, there might have been something else they spotted!

NovemberWren

plus c'a change, plus c'est le meme chose.

saabsaab

Mad Green policy?

amadangomor wrote: »

We've seen in other countries what can happen if the loonies get their hands on power. This country is far from perfect but it has a functioning economy largely based on a finely balanced niche of being an English speaking country in the EU- low corporation tax model. If people think things are bad now wait until they vote in someone who will **** that up and really see the money tree that keeps the whole show on the road wither and die

For example the greens are great in theory and I like their environmental policies but they have recently voted against Ireland keeping our veto on the EU changing tax policies. As someone that depends on FDI for their job like many do directly and indirectly in the country they can feck right off. For all their flaws - and there are many FG would at least keep the show on the road and make sure the majority of people keep earning a living.

See below

THE GREEN PARTY has urged the Government to alter Ireland’s corporate tax regime to close a loophole which it said allows companies to avoid paying the full rate.
The move would give Taoiseach Enda Kenny a strong negotiating position when he travels to Brussels this evening to lobby for economic stimulus measures at an informal summit of EU leaders, the Green Party said.
Party leader Eamon Ryan called on the Government to end the so-called ‘Double Irish’ tax avoidance strategy, which he said is used by multinational corporations to pay far less than the official 12.5 per cent rate.

The Taoiseach will have a better negotiating hand at the European Council meeting if he shows he is willing to change one of the worst aspects of our tax laws. The ‘Double Irish’ tax dodge is a scandal and it is time for it to go.

The ‘Double Irish’ is a strategy in which firms move money between two Irish-registered companies – one located in an offshore tax haven – in order to reduce their tax liability.
BusinessWeek reported in 2010 that Google used the scheme to keep its effective tax rate at 2.4 per cent outside the US.
Ryan said there would be “minimal” risk of companies pulling out of Ireland if the loophole was closed. “It is hard to see how they would justify a practice which shows a lack of any corporate social responsibility,” he said.'

is_that_so

What's he on about? It's been officially closed for about 5 years. Last of them out of it by the end of the year.

gozunda

Riskymove wrote: »

Well, the Greens are running candidates in every constituency

That hardly inspires confidence tbh ...

Caquas

road_high wrote: »

You reckon? Try looking at Greece and syriza then for inspiration. SFs best pals in Europe

I wonder was this why Leo dodged the Greek President who was in Ireland this week on a State Visit?

Wall to wall election coverage, Leo’s every photo-op is analysed but only the Irish Times thought it worth reporting that he ditched the President of Greece. Didn’t even swing by for a hand-shake. Sent Finian McGrath in his place - an Independent super-Junior Minister who is getting out of politics was the only government representative to meet the President of Greece. Contrast that with the red carpet that PM Tsipras rolled out for Michael D. in 2018.http://https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/higgins-s-belief-in-role-of-small-nations-won-hearts-and-minds-1.3415975

The IT report is an essay in Fake News: some anonymous source in the Taoiseach’s Office refuses to comment, hiding behind a blatant lie

protocol dictates we do not comment on the details of the visits of heads of State”.

Details of such visits are always reported and we would have heard all about it if Leo had a decent excuse for dropping his meeting with the Greek President.

The IT report concludes with a phoney claim which the writer seems to have dreamed up:

As a visiting head of state, diplomatic protocol is for Mr Pavlopoulos to meet his equivalent, which would be Mr Higgins, and a meeting with Mr Varadkar as head of Government would only be a courtesy.

I’m sure every foreign Ambassador in Dublin will take note to this new ruling. After a century of Irish diplomacy in which every visiting Head of State was offered a meeting with the Taoiseach (our Head of Government), in future visiting Monarchs and Presidents will be lucky if they get to shake the hand of our Most Elevated and Supreme Leader.

Unless they are President of the European Commission in which case they get the royal treatment, general election or not.
http://https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/hard-irish-border-will-never-ever-come-back-von-der-leyen-says-1.4141043

Amazingly, it was left to FF to say the right thing:

Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil spokesman on foreign affairs, said the cancellation of Mr Varadkar’s meeting with the Greek president “seemed extraordinary and bad mannered”.

And FF’s Sean O Fearghaíl had the decency to receive our Greek guest even though President Higgins dissolved the Dail.

http://https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sense-of-disappointment-varadkar-cancels-meeting-with-greek-president-1.4142306

retalivity

Ming is out canvassing for Saoirse mchugh in Mayo, didnt think they would on the same wavelength at all...

Phoebas

retalivity wrote: »

Ming is out canvassing for Saoirse mchugh in Mayo, didnt think they would on the same wavelength at all...

That's odd.
Wasn't he involved in the turf cutters organisation trying to retain their right to cut on blanket bogs?

Strange bedfellows.

Sir Oxman

BAD times for FG

Sunday Times Poll

LOL

There'll be some craic now :pac:

McMurphy

Charlie Flanagan will be in deep shlt.

gmisk

Sir Oxman wrote: »

BAD times for FG

Sunday Times Poll

So that would suggest a confidence and supply agreement with fg and ff swapping places?

Loafing Oaf

gmisk wrote: »

So that would suggest a confidence and supply agreement with fg and ff swapping places?

No I'd say FF would be able to put together its favoured 'soft left' coalition on those numbers. Guessing, but I reckon 32% of FPV would put them on 60-ish seats

gmisk

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

No I'd say FF would be able to put together its favoured 'soft left' coalition on those numbers. Guessing, but I reckon 32% of FPV would put them on 60-ish seats

Who would that involve? Labour? Greens?

Water John

Yes MM would favour Lb +Soc Dems and + Greens if necessary. Might do a Bertie and go for belt and braces even if those numbers are well past 80.

Loafing Oaf

gmisk wrote: »

Who would that involve? Labour? Greens?

Yes and probably SDs. Should be a fair few independents of that persuasion too if required. Along with a smattering of the dreaded 'FF gene poolers', naming no family dynasties...

Caquas

Sir Oxman wrote: »

BAD times for FG

Sunday Times Poll

Polling was done 2 -14 January i.e. the bad news of the past week is not factored in, so that could put FG behind SF :eek:

Even if this poll proves to be an outlier (MoE is 3.3%), it will change the campaign. Now FF will make the running but they will also have a target on their back.

ACitizenErased

This week could be the nail in the coffin for FG. Many swing voters will look for a radical overhaul with regards to crime based on the way the week has gone. I expect the numbers will be higher than that for FF.

gmisk

Caquas wrote: »

Polling was done 2 -14 January i.e. the bad news of the past week is not factored in, so that could put FG behind SF :eek:

Even if this poll proves to be an outlier (MoE is 3.3%), it will change the campaign. Now FF will make the running but they will also have a target on their back.

I think the Holohan thing might do sf some damage too?

Sir Oxman

FF will soon be singing
"Well hello Mary Lou, goodbye heart"