General Irish politics discussion thread

I don't like FG and I don't like von der Leyen, but you can disagree with somebody on one key policy area but still view them as the best choice for a job. That's politics, it's about compromise.

And fair play to him for making some noise about this - maybe something will happen.

He's not opting out, he's retiring. And I don't see anything wrong with what he's saying. The job has gotten extremely toxic, no idea why anybody would want to get involved in elected politics.

Who's the youtube prankster that's now an MEP BTW?

I wouldn't expect much in the way of any proper accountability as a result of this process, the horse has bolted, so to speak. But fair play to Murphy in seeking to make SIPO accountable and transparent. Hopefully it might help lead to a proper, fully equipped and independent oversight body. Although if the incumbents, who have resisted giving the powers SIPO itself wants, are returned, I won't be holding my breath.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/taoiseach-simon-harris-declares-regulatory-war-on-social-media-over-online-hatred-and-racism/a1193494685.html

Strange that he is declaring war on it then.

shoo-in

@Brussels Sprout Thanks for the link.

Cork South-Central (5 seats): Cllr. Úna McCarthy (Fine Gael), Cllr. Shane O’Callaghan (Fine Gael), Cllr. Laura Harmon (Labour Party), Cllr. Pádraig Rice (Social Democrats), Anna Daly (Aontú), Monica Oikeh (Green Party)

Was aware of 3 candidates so far, FG & SD. Anna Daly ran in the LE but was unsuccessful. Don't know much about the Labour or Green candidates. I assume Micheál Martin will be here as well. Have FF any other candidate as well?

Laura Harmon is a Councillor on Cork City Council for the Cork City South West ward. She was elected in the 2024 Irish local elections with 1,240 first preference votes, and placed 5th in the seven seat constituency.

https://www.carrigdhoun.com/post/meet-the-candidate-monica-oikeh-green-party

Edit: - Corrected spelling Michael to Micheál

You thought it odd that II would associate with known racists? I wouldn't think it odd at all…

Incumbency is a big factor in getting elected though, and beyond their front bench, the rest are numbers to be marched through the lobbies.

They don't really have alternatives. They only have 2 councillors in Tipperary out of 40, Labour have the same.

Tipperary has been split and he will now run in Tipperary South. It is definitely a seat at risk and parachuting in a new candidate would be a sure loss for them. Mattie McGrath and Seamus Healy (if he runs) will both take votes from SF.

I think Mattie McGrath is safe, there is a seat for one of FF or FG, the last seat will be between Healy, Browne and the other FF/FG.

They got 12% in the last election in Tipperary with both FF and FG outpolling them, so a big question mark here.

That would be madness on their part, they had a disastorous local elections.

Holding the two seats will be a challenge, especially with two candidates from different parties with the same name - Eoin O'Broin. The SD version may take a seat, or Joanna Tuffy may arise from the dead for Labour. With a strong local elections showing, FG may look for a second seat.

With so many parties looking to take a seat - FF, FG (2), Labour, SDs, and the potential for an independent like Paul Gogarty or II, not forgetting Gino Kenny who has a seat, SF running three candidates could completely split the vote and lead to it spraying everywhere. Losing one of their two becomes possible under such a scenario.

If you're a unionist now you can only vote for right wing unionist parties or else a more centrist alliance party who are ambivalent on the union question.

On the nationalist side you have a similar quandary though, you have the social democratic SDLP or the populist/left wing Sinn Féin. There's no centre-right party on the nationalist side of the equation, is there?

It’s nothing ti do with right or left or centre, quite simply ‘Unionism’ is at odds with itself. It cannot put aside the belief that Unionism has to be belligerent and isolationist to survive. Beattie tried to give voice to another way but failed.

Should there be a subs bench, like for the EU Parliament elections?

So, Nov GE highly likely? No Govn't will have multiple byelections.

Clare only has one TD. SF and now independent, Violet-Anne Wynne no longer attends the Dail and is living up the country. All the rumours are that the election will be called after the budget and held in very late October/early November.

Joe Carey has announced he won't be contesting the next GE, but is not resigning now, is that correct?

If you've never heard of her, it's kind of hard to argue that she's a "celebrity candidate".

There's a slew of tiny fascist/nationalist parties for a reason; they're not very good at agreeing things.

Plus, it shouldn't make that much difference; in a PR system the fascist/nationalist vote, initially split between several equally revolting candidates, will accrue to the least unpopular candidate as the more unpopular ones are eliminated. If there's a fascist/nationalist quota, then a fascist/nationalist candidate will be elected, regardless of how many fascist/nationalist candidates run.

Tl;dr: If people who give their no. 1 preference to some other fascist/nationalist candidate weren't prepared to give their no. 2 preference to Blighe, then they won't give their no. 1 preference to Blighe even if he is the only fascist/nationalist candidate on the ballot.