Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

aye, he said that decades ago

So did FF and FG and they still do, they celebrate men and women who did that.

The IRA have apologised for the deaths of innocents in the conflict/war.

All sides killed/murdered innocent people, women and children included.

That would just be a political compromise.

The Greens if not in coalition will spend the term criticising FF or FG...FF will criticise FG in opposition. That's the cut and thrust of politics.

One thing they haven't done is say they would 'never' coalesce with FG or FF in fact MLMD is on record saying she would talk to anyone re: forming a government.

Of course you said something different, that doesn't stop it being twisted in meaning.

i genuinely wonder what percentage of the electorate are like me and will never vote for Sinn Fein or indeed for any party who will not categorically state that they will not coalesce with them? My suspicion is that there are still a significant cohort of people who are in my position (probably mainly aged 50+). If FG are the only party who make this clear statement then I think that they will gain a significant number of voters who feel that they have no choice but to vote for them in an attempt to avoid a SF led government.

What? I called you out as the pot calling the kettle black arsè (again)

It's a legitimate retort

If they refused to go in with FF people would complain that they have no interestong in being in government and that they just want to be in opposition so they can complain, If go in with FF they are sell outs. It seems a no win situation for them, which I'm sure their opponents are delighted with.

Nothing new there Augme.

This is QED of exactly what Augme said.

Dammed if they do, dammed if they don't.

Another poster who will admit in one breath that no-one would or will negotiate with a democratically mandated party and then criticise SF in the next breath for the decision other parties take.

Cannot win.

Same hypocrisy says that SF are fine to be in devolved government in the north but not here. The arrogance of that particular one stinks to high heaven tbh.

does anyone truly 'win' an election using the pr-stv system? the party with the largest amount of votes dont always necessarily become a government party under such a system, as negotiations can always fail, and the fact, majorities seem to be done for the moment also.....

Alex Kane on the radio there laughing at the SDLP use of language around elections:

'We have received a mandate to go into opposition' which is a nice way of saying we didn't get enough votes.

Some people see getting the most votes as 'winning' the election.

There was a lot of upset and kneejerk reactions to SF claiming 'victory' last time out, but it's fairly commonplace for people to say that the party receiving the most votes are the victors or won.

You would need to talk to Sinn Fein supporters about that one because we have heard now for 4 years they won the election.

Yes it is.

From Google

Elections for the European Parliament take place 6-9 June 2024

Irish local elections will be in 2024 (May or June). The exact date needs to be decided by government. 

If Sinn Fein are the biggest party after the next general election but don't end up in government, that will be two elections in a row where they "won" the election but lost it. Their inability to get anyone to even talk to them about government is telling.