Fine Gael Demographic

They have been junior coalition partners, which really limits how much they can deliver on. The difference with Sinn Féin is that they actually have a realistic chance to lead a left wing government and deliver on some of their core policies. Voting Sinn Féin is someone's best chance at achieving a government not led by FF or FG. Everyone is free to vote for whatever interest they so chose, but I will be voting Sinn Féin not because it's in my own interest (it's probably not) but because I personally think it's in the best interest of our society.

I was a Labour voter in my youth, mainly cos my family were always champagne socialists, trade union high-ups, upper mid public servants and so on and I adored Ruairí Quinn too.

But now I'm in my 40s I'm firmly a Coveney camp Fine Gaeler. I'm a self employed professional, have some property and other assets, kids midway thru education and so on.

I vote for Fine Gael because they are pro-enterprise, pro economic expansion to lift all boats, pro the rewarding of effort, pro the addition of wealth to raise living standards and so on.

They will protect my created gains more than any other party by current policy and I concur with their general social policy also, liberal personal freedom that does not detract from others.

I would normally still throw Labour a preference,but not while Kelly is leader, he is moron.

And I will work with anyone to use my efforts and influence to keep the malignant Sinn Féin ever from entering Govt in the 26 counties.

There are already supports for first time buyers so I don't see how cutting out the banks is a solution to anything other than maybe this organisation would start giving 100% loans to people who probably couldn't afford the repayments. If you think that would end well then you're delusional.

As others have pointed out we need to build communities, apartments to a variety of sizes properly managed and improve our public transport services. All these will take longer than the duration of a single Dáil and maybe even two. One of the main obstacles will as always be Irish NIMBYism.

No you're right, they haven't done enough. And waiting for the run up to a 2025 election is a mistake, because we've had a few close calls already and an election could be triggered really any month between now and then.

Its time for FG to be FG, to tackle SF on those major SF sticking points:

• Funding the exchequer and running a responsible budgetary position
• Maintaining social cohesion (money grabs, adverse business environment, FDI etc)
• Tackling the Unions and Professions to deliver on policies, have they got the stomach? How far will they push?
• Murky and malign party influences, democratic deficit at local level
• Addressing the ambiguity around socialism/marxism, the constitutional question, Euroscepticism etc

Right, so we need a new scheme that will make it easier for first time buyers but won't push up prices, like set up some new state run/financed 'organisation'? Good luck with that.

What we need in Dublin is more homes in sustainable communities well planned and managed. Supply needs to increase but until that happens little will change.

I'm no FF voter, but I think putting the blame for recklessly destroying the economy is giving them too much credit. Much like FG they don't actually impose any power or strategy on the economy, the policy of both is just leave it up to the market and take the credit if things go well and hide if they don't.

I'm not saying a very interfering government would work in Ireland, as a small island we may just always ultimately be blown by winds outside of our control. But if you ever got that familiar feeling watching the news - 'how did this idiot ever get elected?!' - you are more than likely correct in your initial assessment. A bunch of chancing gombeens getting away with it for as long as possible.

No, because it sounds like lots of things FG claim are their policies when they can get away with it unchallenged like on pamphlets or at their Ard Fheis that don't actually reflect what they have done with 10 years in government.

This may seem abstract but you don't promote enterprise by forcing everyone under 40 who might start up a business to spend 50 or 60% of their income renting a property to live in.