Will the greens be in government after the next general election?

This is what I mean by connections. Personal relationships matter.

https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/07/18/how-ireland-gets-its-way

Seriously? The Paddy's Day junkets are your "connections"?!

"Who are these people I'm meeting?" "The Irish Minister for... er... well, lots. Children, Equality, Diversity, there's a couple of more things. He's with the Green Party. And Stephen Donnelly. He's their Health Minister. He's with Fianna Fáil, one of their centre-right parties, but fairly broad church populist. They'll present you with a bowl of shamrock, you thank them, and there'll be a meeting between officials about trade. We've the press release done up if you want to read over it - usual stuff, 'warm relations, trade opportunities, long history between us', and so on."

Two years later: ""Who are these people I'm meeting?" "The Irish Minister for Housing, Eoin O Broin. He's with Sinn Féin. You know the ones, used to be terrorists, embraced the peace process, also in power in Northern Ireland. Left wing populists. And Micheál Martin. He's their Health Minister. Used to be tea-shock - their prime minister. Tried to get a job in Europe but didn't get the nod. He's with Fianna Fáil, one of their centre-right parties, but fairly broad church populist. They'll present you with a bowl of shamrock, you thank them, and there'll be a meeting between officials about trade. We've the press release done up if you want to read over it - usual stuff, 'warm relations, trade opportunities, long history between us', and so on."

No, not every single member did. That's unrealistic.

But the leaders and majority did.

I wouldn't expect every member of a political party to fall in line for divisive issues, approximately 1/3 of the country didn't so I'd expect political parties to represent the electorate.

The paintings are protected by glass. They threw soup at glass. It can be cleaned in 5 minutes.

They should be lined up and shot for trying to protect our planet.

Our only home in the entire universe.

“What is worth more, art or life?” cried Plummer. “Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis, fuel is unaffordable to millions of cold, hungry families. They can’t even afford to heat a tin of soup.”

Which aspect of this statement do you disagree with?

@orangerhyme I have to correct you on two points in post #136

That is completely wrong. Marriage equality was never “a core FG policy” in fact there was a lot of opposition within FG, both principled and pragmatic, to same sex marriage and the suggestion of a referendum on the subject. This persisted right up to 2014.

100% wrong on this one also. Eamon Gilmore had campaigned for marriage equality for many years, as far back as his student days in fact. It was Eamon Gilmore who insisted on the inclusion of marriage equality in the 2011 Programme for Government. But for him, it would never have been on the agenda. It most definitely was a compromise by FG who were very divided on the subject at that time.

In recognising Gilmore’s role in getting to the holding and winning the 2015 referendum, I’m not in any way taking away from the work done by many individuals, NGOs and other bodies. It was a very broad collaboration by some very unlikely parties. But on the political track Gilmore's role was instrumental, whereas FG were very late converts. And I say this having never given Labour a first preference.

And if I may divert back to the thread topic for a moment, I think the real question is "Will the greens be in government the Dail after the next general election?" As somebody who gave the Greens a preference in every past election where they were on my ballot paper, based on their performance in the current Government (Ryan's in particular) I very much expect that they will be decimated at the next election and loose most of their seats. Which will hopefully allow them to get their act together under a new leader. The many mistakes they made in 2007-2010 could be put down to naivety, lack of preparedness, being outmanoeuvred by the wily ff boys etc. This time around there is absolutely no excuse. They need a leader who can communicate effectively and bring people with her or him, not one who pisses off even their most ardent supporters.

If you want to brush up on the facts of the Marriage Equality referendum there are some very good sources online, here’s a couple that will help you:

Agree OP. I supported the SD’s in the last GE. I would think I’ll do the same next time except for one rumour which refuses to go away - they haven’t ( afaik ) stated yet that they wouldn’t go into a partnership in some form with Labour. Labour ceased being representative of the worker with gilmour etc.

FF - SF more lilkley than other options mentioned, but still less likley that FFG + whomever to make up the numbers.

Greens have shown twice now they'll do anything to get into cabinet, with no return on their policies. (Are they even a party of the left? I don't think so). Labour have done the same. Soc Dems would go into power, I think, if, and only if, their red line issues were going to be resourced and implemented. So I don't see them going into power with FF or FG where those parties were the biggest partner. SF-FF would possibly be an option but SF-FF wouldn't need the SDs.

What are the red lines for the SDs?

Please I was a hippie in my younger days, lol

You're right! Instead, we should vote in massive number for FF and FG, who have been in power for literally 100 consecutive, uninterrupted 100 years, and have done such a wonderful job of running the country! /s

Or - and I know this sounds crazy, but hear me out! - we could try voting in large numbers for parties that haven't a) bankrupted the country (twice, in living memory); b) been responsible for causing the housing crisis (but want more time to fix it now); c) agreed and signed up to Sláintecare, but haven't implemented it, despite record exchequer figures; d) had a finance minister who had no bank account; e) had ministers who had findings against them at various tribunals; f) had ministers who so blatantly ignored their own and independent experts in order to locate things in their own constituency that they caused other ministers to resign in protest.

Just a thought, like.

I do'nt answer your questions.I do support law and order and do not condone any acts of violence or vandalism .You keep on supporting the greens if you want, but they are heading for extinction hopefully.

I didn't say that they wouldn't go in to government, you did.

 I really don't see them going into coalition with either party in the next few years, either

That's going into coalition with FF or FG. FG aren't going to be in the next government, though, are they? And if FF are, it'll be as the smaller party to SF. In which case, who knows. What you won't see is a FG-SD or FF-SD government.

Gods help us...

Why? for all the moaning about the current government the majority of people in Ireland have a very good life, have a good job etc.

“The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side" comes to mind when I see people complaining.

A lot of people may have a good life, but we are facing record numbers of homelessness and homeless families. Health system is a shambles.

If we could think of other people for a change, that would be great.

so you ve asked all citizens, all responded in truth, and then came to this conclusion!

...things would probably change, if things stay the same, makes sense i guess!

...we ve no clue what would happen with a sf lead government, and the fact, theyd have to form it with ff, and others, i some how dont think it would lead to armageddon.....in fact, i suspect change would more than likely be extremely slow, with things continuing to decline for some time, particularly for the first couple of years, so, please stop catastrophising.....

...once again, the most likely outcomes are ffg, sff, or hung, so get ready for a possible sff government, if not, you re gonna be very disappointed, maybe even upset!

70% of people in Ireland own a house. In regards to wages I was a lot better off in Celtic Tiger era.

Emigration? well first off I do recommend everyone to travel once they finish college. You get a lot better view of the World when you travel and Im not talking about two weeks in Spain.

The job opportunities in Ireland are incredible. I also had those chance but look at my parents, both are Irish but met overseas after moving from Ireland at 16. Both of them their entire families moved out of Ireland very young, on my father side any boy was 16 or before to leave. No option. He still laughs at the innocence of them sending envelopes stuffed with cash home to keep their parents going.

First time buyers is running at 60% of houses sold. Thats from 2023. "shoebox apartment" well now that's just nonsense. In reality Ireland hasn't enough stock of apartments, we would be in a lot better position if we started with large scale apartment blocks to meet growing population.

Homelessness is an issue, but also a number of people who sit on the list because they want a 3 bed house in the exact location. If they don't get it they just wait.

Trying to say Ireland and the majority of people are not in a good position is totally incorrect.

I have read all SF policies, I have read their alternatives budgets. I think the best example of Sinn Fein was the "we will tax everyone more over 140k wages", then a few months later "Oh we will tax everyone more over 100k". That a 28% error. I would suggest I read more than most SF supporters who base their opinion on what they seen on X

I don't support FG by the way but I do read their policies. Have you read the FG one because I don't see anything about privitise?

Also in terms of the Greens, which is what this thread is about. The main gripe about the Green Party is renewables. If you read the Sinn Fein alternative budget, which is the most up to date document, They want to speed up the process of investing in wind and solar. Something which I pointed out to a few SF supporters and they knew nothing about.

Yeah, but no. About 36% of people in Ireland own a house. The rest are paying a mortgage, or renting. Or are homeless.

There's a difference between choosing to emigrate, and being forced to emigrate. Not everyone has a choice, if they want a future.

WTF is "nonsense"?! Seriously? Have you actually been in any of the new developments, built in the last few years? 45sq.m. for a one-bed apartment? I've stayed in bigger hotel rooms, and they weren't 5-star!

Yes, absolutely! Unfortunately, though, the ones that are being built are usually the aforementioned shoeboxes, and what's more, most are now build-to-rent. You're never going to have the opportunity to own your own place.

JFC, talk about victim blaming! Believe me, nobody is sitting in a hotel room they have to vacate during the day, with their kids, because they want a 3-bed house next to their ma. Refuse an offer, and you can be de-prioritised, or have points reduced, or the council can remove you from their list.

Which isn't what I said. I said there are people who are very comfortable, and there are people - often the kids and family of those who are very comfortable - who just aren't. If you only care about yourself, and you're comfortable, then sure - Ireland is great!

Any party that doesn't want to vastly increase renewables is pretty f'n short-sighted, in my opinion, and won't be getting my vote. Problem with the Greens is they're a one-trick pony, didn't bargain hard enough (and their sustainability policies are mediocre at best), and they get used as the whipping boys by FFG. Any party going into government doesn't have a choice now about reducing emissions.