Election to be called Fri - predict outcome

Who said election will be called Friday?

I wouldn’t be so optimistic , lots of sitting TDs not going for reelection

It'll be a FG/FF coalition folks.

No other combo.

Progress is being made on housing and with the planning bill now approved, the number of homes being built will rise further.

40k to 50k new homes per year from 2025 is on the cards.

Houses prices rose by 10% in the last year. People's wages and disposal incoming certainly ain't raising at that rate. It's going to be a long time, unless a serious crash happens, before houses become affordable for the average person.

SF in power with FFG? That would be something to see alright.

Martin should be safe, Hourigan might be safe; the rest are very very uncertain.

The Greens are a small player in the government with no ability to implement anything without the support of the major players

They have known since day 1 they are been blamed for stuff they never done, they would never get into government again

Have managed to implement most of the stuff they said they would do for their voters

Like most small parties the population turns against them once they are in government and kicks them out. Has happened to all the parties, will the population ever learn? no chance

Another small party will join probably this government, they will spend 5 years been blamed for everything and come next election will be kicked out.

If the Greens did a quarter of what they are credited with, they would be by far the most effective and hard working party in the country.

Lots of things that they are blamed for is coming from EU directives or other parties.

What have the greens done that upsets you?

It will almost certainly be a Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalition. They will dispense with the Greens (if any are left after the election).

the greens are almost univerally despised for their tax anything that moves besides donkeys and carts approach to climate issues they are all stick and no carrrot

many perceive them to be affluent based dubs with absolutely no understanding of rural ireland and the sheer lack of reality that there are damn all public transport alternatives available

this is the stuff greens salivate over:

Tax on Europe’s frequent flyers could raise €64bn a year – study

Levy rising by €100 for each return flight after the first in a year could cut emissions by 21%, report says

FF, FG and SDs is my prediction - a lot of people are going to be turned off on this election due to lack of alternatives, but will also be resistant to just letting FF and FG back in yet again. With SF struggling, it's now or never for SDs to step up as alternative - and FF/FG would much rather have another party in coalition with clear price tag/requests than 20 odd Independents.

I can see the Left vote fracturing up a lot - a lot of independents gaining from Green or SF voters - so mathematically after the election, it would probably be possible to have a SF, SD, Lab, Ind, PBP government but that'd be like herding cats.

Outside chance that FF go in with SDs and SF and ditch FG. FG would actually probably like a term in opposition, watching an assortment of others trying to be stable, but FF and FG have been so polite to each other and honoured pretty much all their deals that's its unlikely that alternatives would look as attractive

My ideal scenario is FF and FG winning enough seats so that the best option is to go into collation with each other and no one else and not be in a position for either of them to go into collation with anyone else.

We need a strong centre right government than doesn't have to pander to anyone on the left or single issue independents

Being blamed for everything has a bit of merit in relation to the pattsie Roderic but still you can't defend him,Cartin Martin who went into hiding during the RTE scandal or indeed Ryan himself who is a decent sort but utterly clueless of reality.

Independants will be the big story (along with the hilarious collapse of SF) of this election.

I wonder is it possible if FG do really well to form a government with a big number of independents and move away from FF?

Then FF could have a few years in opposition figuring out their identity.SF could then slip back to their natural level of fighting it out with SDs and Labour.

In the Fingal area of his constituency in June, the Greens were outpolled by FF, FG, SF, Labour, Soc Dems, PBP and even fecking Aontu. He could come embarrasingly far from a seat.

I think FF and FG have a fair chance of forming a coalition with no other support, they are more cohesive than in 2020, i.e. they will gain transfers between them, they both did well in local and Euros earlier in the year, not to mention their main alternative (SF)) is in turmoil.

If a third wheel small party is required for security, I would like to see Aontu, though they will need 3-4 more seats minimum. Aontu could pick up some SF disillusionment votes in some area but maybe a breakthrough for them is a long shot.

I think a small number of independents from the FFG gene pool is more likely.