The decline of FG?

The game changes and they all lose their seats at the next election, because the people who vote Independent don't want parties; basically.

I think is a particularly stupid way to vote, but plenty of people do.

Also, I doubt you can get a coherent agreement between more than 5 of the likely independents anyway

Yes, I see your point. Though I think an excess of independents points to a political void in the electorate.

I am not sure there are many voters who are truly satisfied with the offerings or the performance of any of the 3 major parties.

There is a vaccum in irish politics.

I am not sure who or how it can be filled, but I can see a 4th party emerging over this incoming term.

I think this months election will be (another) election of voter apathy, rather than political conviction.

There are possibly a dozen parties claiming to represent the centre right to right.

They get about 2% of the vote between them.

Its going to be another rotating Taoiseach farce, another five years of nothing changing! The only way out of this, is a new credible party emerging…

Can you point to one meaningful thing Simon Harris has achieved in the last 14 years of government. Albeit he is more adept on Instagram than youtube unlike the independent wasters you point to. A catalogue of hand washing and going thru the motions

Thread is not about the Shinners.

Monday of a GE week and if the current poll plays out the FG decline continues.

FG and FF will be up near their current numbers. But if the FG support drops a bit then its FF and SF for the next government.

I can see you getting worried already.

If FG support drops as per this poll, - and it could quite possibly be lower support given the full impact of Harris's biggest gaff is not included here - it means FG are in further decline GE on GE.

*What happens in government talks is for another thread.

Leo I reckon is a bit of a toxic brand. I do know that Coveney is campaigning locally in Cork. You can't really expect more than that, can you? What would it say about the current slate of candidates if a party was relying on retiring members too heavily?

Looking in from the outside, as somebody who doesn't vote FG, all I can say is they are quite an interesting party. It's almost as if there are 2 separate "wings" of the party who have the same beliefs politically but do not like each other. They do, of course, vote in unity when on councils and in the dáil etc but apparently there is a lot of hatred between the 2 groups within the party

The 3 politicians you mention are retiring, might not be the best look for a party to need a dig out from retiring members. The man they need front and centre for this disaster is Paschal Donohoe.

Again I hasten to add I am not a FFG-er but if they want any chance at doing well this election he should be the man in charge.

SDs are using Murphy and Shortall constantly in campaign appearances. Doesn't appear to be having a negative impact on them

They are certainly '2' parties in this constituency and for quite a long time.
What could be called the 'Hughie McElvaney' cumann and the 'Heather Humphrey's' cumann.
As somebody once quipped 'If you think FG hate FF or SF wait'll you see what they think of each other'.

The media are only reporting what they see. Considering nobody buys newspapers they need clicks on their website to make money. More news stories about gaffes from political leaders, no matter who they are is needed. I'm not saying it's right, in fact I personally would prefer a more neutral media overall, but that is the reality

The indo rowing in behind FF in the 1990s and FG in the 2010s was because that's who the owners of the newspaper wanted in positions of power

Guarantee if MLMD made similar f***-**s that SF would be in the firing line

Same in Limerick City, except it's Kieran O'Donnell Vs Michael Noonan - and now Maria Byrne who takes that "side" of the FG party.

Incumbent who has been in power for 14 years…?

You would have to go back to the 1930's and Dev to find a party who were in power for longer.

FF under Bertie lasted 14 and see how they ended up.

As I said, this is not a shock, and for those who think it is, I have magic beans to sell you.

Still FG are more likely to be in power next time out than out of it. Says a lot.

there isnt much to any of the 'leaders' of the three main parties IMHO - they all lead from behind. Harris will literally say anything to get elected and has thrown money at any problem he has ever encountered as a minister, Martin's biggest achievement was 20 years ago in terms of the smoking ban, apart from navigating the internal politics associated with the greasy pole of FF leadership and M L McDonald has a strong brand of moral indignation at ' [insert populist issue of the day] and has amongst other things weaponised housing* with the building trade to be the big winners - not in terms of actual output, but in terms of the enormous amounts of money being flung at it without any discernable improvement. Actually she nearly should be be patron saint of the trade at this stage given the political impact ….

*That is not to say housing isn't a problem but structurally the industry it is incapable of delivering the output required as quickly as it is needed (manpower, planning constraints, improved building standards (cost and technical requirements) land zoning, poor innovation, lack of off-site assembly etc), competing demands in terms of energy retrofit.

What has any independent achieved in 14 years? name a single achievement from a independent that has resulted in Ireland been a better country?

Jackie Healy-Rae, an independent that supported the FF led govts in 1997 and 2007, as part of his deal Kerry had some of the finest roads built in the country which reduced road deaths and improved tourism

In terms of SImon, like it or not but he did get the Children Hospital out of planning and into build. The issue they had with that was they listened to the "experts" who told them to build it in the wrong location. The over spend is down to poor contracting at the start.

And what political party was in charge at the time of these "poor contracts" being signed at the start. Hint: James Reilly

In terms of been part of FG as a party the list of achievements can be seen every day in Ireland with low unemployment, increasing life expentency, more & more companies investing in Ireland. Plus the rest.

You forgot to mention the homelessness crisis, hospital crisis, cost of living crisis and whatever future crisis will happen should FG come back into power

Independents are wasters, just because you don't like people pointing it out won't change that. They are over paid county councillors.

By that logic we shouldn't vote for any backbench TD either then.

MM has said repeatedly that he wont go into govt with SF.

FF and FG still have enough support to form a govt, probably with a smaller third party or group of independents.

I would still say FFG labour is the likely govt.

You are into your 15th year repeating this mantra.

I think the 3 big parties will hold on to their current level of seats or even increase them by 1 or 2 each but with the dail increasing by 14 seats it would effectively be a loss in control

As good as it would be for the country, realistically speaking, there's no hope for a SF led govt this time around, the numbers simply aren't there and they'll never convince every other political party and indie to support them. Open to correction, of course

RTÉ’s Lehane is calling this the Harris halt 🤣🤣

If he falls to 20 seats on these polling numbers,FF will have to seriously consider an SFF or is it FSF coalition

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