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General Irish politics discussion thread

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    #812
    Loafing Oaf
    Registered Users Posts: 16,475 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120293411#Comment_120293411

    they need to decide what kind of party they want to be and who they want to have as their members.

    Doesn't really matter what they 'want' to be though. In the real world of politics they'll never amount to anything more than Peadar Toibin's political machine, little different from those of Michael Collins, Michael Lowry etc. Except that unlike the case of those guys, there's a good chance they'll fail in their overriding purpose of getting their man re-elected to the Dail...



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    #813
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120293619#Comment_120293619

    The are years of damage to undo. It will involve building trust. Whether or not that is possible remains to be seen.



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    #814
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/defamation-reforms-to-be-fast-tracked-as-sinn-feins-chilling-strategy-targeted-by-fine-gael-42359878.html

    This is quite simply the single most important reform needed in Irish politics. Forget Paschal's man with the van, or the forgetful pub owner, even put aside the millions that SF are siphoning off dead people, making sure that we can have an open discourse on politics and not have SLAPPs cases every second day from SF is the most important objective for our political freedom.



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    #815
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,703 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    As SF are an all-island political party, should SIPO not treat them as such and demand that their all-island funding be subject to inspection by SIPO, particular to funding leaking across the border from a political system that does not have a similar requirement.



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    #816
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120296109#Comment_120296109

    Should SIPO not demand that parties here are compliant first and properly inspect them instead of waiting for complaints or some exposé?



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    #817
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,703 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120296136#Comment_120296136

    SF are non-compliant big time. There is also a large question mark over their funding from outside of the state.

    SIPO needs teeth, and other strengthening of their powers. The ability to police funding from outside of the state is one major requirement.



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    #818
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120296190#Comment_120296190

    Clearly not just SF. And the reason SIPO has no teeth is government inaction.



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    #819
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    Niall Collins is the latest junior minister to have questions asked about a historical planning application.


    https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2023/0228/1359266-collins-politics/




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    #820
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120297158#Comment_120297158

    He's making a 'personal statement' in the Dáil today apparently.



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    #821
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,435 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    The independent with the least worry of re-election is Michael Lowry. More certain than a Healy Rae.



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    #822
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    The Ditich contradicting Niall Collins as he addresses the Dáil is quite something.



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    #823
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    I wonder will The Ditch be as diligent in combing through Government minister's past records when Sinn Fein are in power 😏



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    #824
    Good loser
    Registered Users Posts: 3,198 ✭✭✭Good loser


    The ban on evictions is being let run out. Commonsense at last. Thank God for FG.



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    #825
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users Posts: 34,898 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    The alternative was to nationalise all privately owned rental property. And I'm not really kidding either - you cannot have the government impose severe and indefinite restrictions on private property like that.

    The Dublin Airport cap is damaging the economy of Ireland as a whole, and must be scrapped forthwith.



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    #826
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    Neasa Hourigan was on Claire Byrne's radio show and she wasn't happy about it:

    declaring that it was “completely the wrong decision”, describing it as “heartless” and expressing her disappointment that Green Party leader Eamon Ryan did not “speak up for Green Party values and Green Party policy”.


    She has already lost the whip once with the Greens. She was on the Late Late Show a few weeks ago alongside Holly Cairns (talking about abuse of politicians). I wonder would she think of jumping ship and joining the Soc Dems now that Cairns is leader there. The biggest blocker to that though is her constituency is one of the few in the country that already has a sitting Soc Dem TD, Gary Gannon.



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    #827
    Water John
    Registered Users Posts: 21,435 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Don't think SD would want anyone who has an a la carte attitude to whip.



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    #828
    Loafing Oaf
    Registered Users Posts: 16,475 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120329233#Comment_120329233

    I remember when the interminable process of forming the current government was going on, there was talk of 'Neasa-proofing' any agreement, even though she was a rookie TD who hardly anyone had heard of at that stage. So clearly she has long been a one-woman awkward squad for Eamon Ryan...



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    #829
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120329233#Comment_120329233

    Can't see both Gannon and Hourigan being re-elected. Most likely outcome next time is that Mary-Lou gets her act together and brings in a running-mate. Paschal will take a seat leaving one to be scrapped for. As well as Hourigan and Gannon, a decent FF candidate could be in that scrape too.



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    #830
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330193#Comment_120330193


    Seems like Mary Fitzpatrick has been trying to win that seat forever. Wonder will she be the candidate again next time around. Given that she came 5th last time out I can't see her getting elected next time round, especially with an extra Shinner in the mix.



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    #831
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330366#Comment_120330366

    Agreed, wonder if there is a young Ahern willing to run for FF.



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    #832
    Topgear on Dave
    Registered Users Posts: 4,545 ✭✭✭Topgear on Dave


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330505#Comment_120330505

    Looking at the media the last fortnight there's an old Ahern is certainly available :-)



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    #833
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120330561#Comment_120330561

    He won't be running for a TD slot, eye on bigger things. Next generation is where it is at for Dublin Central, if there is someone thinking of it. The brother had a seat as well at one point, so there may be nephews and nieces. The other brother was Lord Mayor, so who knows? Don't know the local set-up well enough myself.



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    #834
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    There are a few constituencies in the country that are absolute dog fights and Dublin Central is one of them. Others that spring to mind are Dublin Bay South and Cork South Central. Basically anywhere where you have multiple cabinet ministers or party leaders running against each other.



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    #835
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331057#Comment_120331057

    And with boundary changes and at least 20 extra seats to be spread around, the election night will be fun, no matter the result.



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    #836
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    The Greens will have to answer a lot of the criticism in this article at the next election. In a lot of people's eyes this is spot on:

    The Green Party: an inveterate mudguard for the establishment, the political arm of South Dublin farmers’ markets, perpetually trying to convince you – and itself – that things would be slightly worse if not for its efforts.

    https://www.ontheditch.com/green-party/

    I think they'll have major trouble convincing anyone.



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    #837
    BlueSkyDreams
    Registered Users Posts: 3,496 ✭✭✭BlueSkyDreams


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120329233#Comment_120329233

    Yeah she will be off to the SDs.

    She has made her feelings known and undermined the leader.

    O'reillys face on TV this week after the clip played of her saying no green policies were being heard said it all.

    She must be an outcast now.



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    #838
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120331619#Comment_120331619


    The Ditch has branched out into writing Opinion pieces against Sinn Fein's opponents now too?


    Francie imagine if someone shared a hit piece in the Sunday Independent written by someone like Stephen Collins or Anne Harris slating Sinn Fein and said "Sinn Fein will need to answer some of these questions". It'd technically be true but the source would certainly dilute the point greatly.



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    #839
    FrancieBrady
    Registered Users Posts: 68,845 ✭✭✭✭FrancieBrady


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333820#Comment_120333820


    The point stands on it's merits or it doesn't, regardless of where it is written.

    If you don't agree, why not tackle the content.



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    #840
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,909 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333820#Comment_120333820

    That article is laughable. The standard of journalism in it is probably the worst I have seen. Doesn't have a clue about Green policies, just some deeply-held prejudicial bitterness.



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    #841
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120333905#Comment_120333905


    Ok, I will.

    First off the whole thing reads like something from a Student Magazine. The theme seems to be that there are a bunch of easy and obvious answers out there if only the Greens were not too craven and power hungry to take them.

    The purpose of the Green Party is to provide a vote laundering service to middle class liberals who want to support Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael but are too embarrassed to do so.

    This is the sort of lazy statement that you'd see over in one of the many Green-bashing threads on the Current Affairs / IMHO forum. It's the writer projecting his own contempt for the party onto their voters. It's the equivalent of someone saying that the only people who vote for Sinn Fein are people who believe in the magic money tree. It's just plain ignorance.

    He then spends the next few paragraphs bashing Neassa Hourigan and Patrick Costello just because they have been vocal about opposing certain policies. He lists all of the things that they have voted for as if to say "Well why didn't you complaining about those things too". Well it turns that that even if they had and left the party then that wouldn't have been enough for him either since he finishes by saying that even if they left the party the gesture would be meaningless.

    This is the sort of nonsense you hear spouted by the PBP brigade. Where everyone who compromises is a sell-out and a hypocrite and the only way to maintain your activist bona-fides is to never compromise and, coincidentally, never have to make any tough decisions.

    Then there's a section where he accuses the Greens of "implementing racist policies against migrants and asylum seekers" without any link to what they might be. Oh and they're responsible for fascism too apparently.

    Jesus Christ...I'm sorry I can't read any more of this guff.



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