|
Welcome to the inaugural Irish Politics Thread wherein we will discuss Irish Politics  ELECTION ALERT: THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING ANY DAY NOW BOYS. DATE EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW (02/02). It's probably going to be February 25thThe Basics The Republic of Ireland is a bicameral parliamentary republic with a ceremonial president. Elections to the lower house, the Dáil Éireann, are carried out using PR-STV to elect The upper house, the Seanad Éireann or Senate, is elected using a system of ancient arcane magics divined through communion with the ghosts of the fallen martyrs of Ireland and only those educated in the black arts of government truly understand it. Here is a simple diagram explaining the process:  Coalitionology No election has returned a single party majority government in Ireland since 1977 and since 1989 coalition governments have been the norm. The head of government is the Taoiseach, a post usually reserved for the head of the largest party in a given coalition. The deputy prime minister, the Tánaiste, has been drawn from both the largest party and junior coalition parties depending on the size of the other parties within a coalition - a handful of seats to prop up one of the big lads usually won't get you a Tánaiste spot but if you have some serious numbers it's usually given out as deference to the junior party. Irish coalitions have a tendency to collapse in acrimonious back-biting. Here is what the Dáil currently looks like:  The Government  Fine Gael: The traditional second party of Irish politics found themselves sweeped into power with a commanding victory in the 2011 election as voters angered by the bursting of the property bubble, the bank bail-out and persistent allegations of corruption and cronyism turfed out Fianna Fáil. However if you where looking for a drastic change in policy FG might not have been the best choice - they have continued the austerity politics of their predecessors and have spun themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility. Centre-right in outlook, they are hybrid of christian democracy and liberal conservatism. Leader: Enda Kenny (the current Taoiseach) European affiliation: EPP  Labour: The other major established party in Irish politics, the Labour party where founded in 1912 and have historically tended to be more moderate than other European Labour parties. Full on Social Democrats now a days they also had a bumper result in 2011 (their best ever) and subsequently formed a coalition government with FG - their traditional coalition partners. Perhaps not the best idea as the subsequent austerity policies have enraged their supporters and they look like they will be facing massive losses at the upcoming elections, they where wiped out in the 2014 European parliament election forcing then leader Eamon Gilmore to resign. Leader: Joan Burton (current Tánaiste) European affiliation: PES The Opposition  Fianna Fáil: Ah, Fianna Fáil. Once the dominating force in Irish politics, they where in power for 61 of 79 years since their first election victory in 1932. Reduced to a staggering corpse by the 2011 election FF have been slowly rebuilding their tarnished reputation with some moderate success. Politically pinning them down has always been tricky; broadly populist, centre right economically (though they insist they are a bit to the left), conservative socially with a dollop of republicanism thrown in. Also hilariously corrupt. I mean like buying private islands corrupt. Leader:Micheál Martin European affiliation: ALDE - Though they only joined cause they couldn't get into the EPP and their only MEP was kicked out of the party after defecting to the ECR  Sinn Féin: Sure everyone knows Sinn Féin don't they. SF as they currently exist originating in a split in the party in 1970 when more explicitly socialist elements moved to end the parties long-standing policy of not sitting in the Dáil, a change in policy that brought to a head tensions within the party relating to the handling of the Troubles. The pro-abstentionism faction is Sinn Féin as we know it today, formerly a political force largely isolated to Northern Ireland who have expanded considerably since 1998. Left-wing nationalist, republican, populist, socialist of some fashion (this leads to very heated arguments). Leader: Gerry Adams European Affiliation: GUE/NGL  Anti Austerity Alliance - People Before Profit: Workers of the world unite! Again! In the 2011 election the various small socialist parties in Ireland united as an electoral alliance that, surprise surprise, collapsed amid mutual recrimination in 2013. They've decided to have another go at it with the major players being the Anti Austerity Alliance, dominated by the Socialist Party, and People Before Profit, dominated by the Socialist Workers Party. They are hoping to see good gains based on their strong representation in popular protests against the much hated water charges. How long it lasts is anyone's guess. A bunch of trots! Leader: It's a collective  NEW PARTY Renua: What happens when you get kicked out of Fine Gael for being too conservative? Well you form your own party of course! Renua where only formed last year and have never stood in an election. Their election manifesto calls on a flat tax and a full life sentence for burglars. Horrible. Leader: Lucinda Creighton  NEW PARTY The Social Democrats: Another new party this time formed by a Labour minister who resigned the party whip, and two independent TDs (one a veteran of the Workers Party, the other a bit of a policy boffin). Very excited about Nordic Social Democracy, they haven't ruled out forming a government with FG - the party for people who think Labour have gone to far to the right but think SF/AAA-PBP are too far to the left. Leaders: Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall, Stephen Donnelly  NEW Independent Alliance: An alliance of independents formed by a bunch of TDs trying to leverage themselves into the best position for government formation negotiations after the election. Oh no I mean they are united behind their strong principles of "reform" and other stuff. Not affiliated with Google in anyway btw. God knows where you would put them on the political spectrum. Independent: What would Irish politics be without the humble independent. For years independents have played a role in Irish politics, the canny politician figuring out that the tendency for coalition governments with fragile majorities means they can extract some pretty strong commitments from governments in exchange for their support. They swing wildly from firey left wingers to conservative right wingers. The next election is probably going to bring even more of these boys in. Workers And Unemployed Action Oh yeah these guys. They're a local socialist party from Clonmel. Don't be expecting them to sweep the board. So you said there's an election? What about THE POLLS    Its looking like the current coalition will not be able to hold onto their majority and will fall well short of the 80 seats needed to form a government. What happens after the election is going to be interesting, whether FG/Lab can continue by jamming together a mish-mash of independents and smaller parties like Renua and the SocDems or FG will look towards FF for support is the big question. An FG/FF alliance has been pretty much unthinkable previously and if there is serious movement on this, as some have speculated, it's a big deal. Some Issues: - Tax: With the economy seemingly in recovery FG have turned their eye on the Universal Social Charge, a sweeper tax introduced after the financial crisis to make up for the massive short fall in tax receipts caused by the collapse of the property bubble. FG want to scrap it all together while most other parties are arguing for adjustments to spare those on the lowest incomes. The SocDems are the only party arguing for no change. -Health: It's all gone to poo poo. Years of budget cuts and hiring freezes have left the HSE in a bad way and crippling bed shortages and long waiting times have become a major national issue. Extra pressure is on current Health Minister Leo Varadkar, who is widely seen to be the favourite to succeed Enda. -Water: The grand mess that is Irish Water remains an election issue, even if FG and Lab insist the matter is largely settled. Every left-wing party is calling for the controversial Water Charges to be abolished and will hammer away at this at the election, it's been a popular rallying point for those dissatisfied with the government -The 8th Amendment: Another left-wing campaign issue that has gathered a lot of steam in recent months. The 8th Amendment, which provides constitutional protection for the unborn, has become a major sticking point for further reform of the Abortion laws. Though FG are not too keen on the idea Labour are pushing for it and may twist their arm to hold a vote on the matter to push for a referendum if the coalition survives. And finally a succient explanation of Irish politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjl8OIZijjY kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 15:56 on Feb 1, 2016 |
#
¿
Feb 1, 2016 15:25
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 00:26 |
|
|
 The Northern Ireland Assembly is the regional devolved legislature of Northern Ireland established by the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Elections, as with Ireland, are conducted using STV using multi-seat constituencies. As the result of the peace process the Northern Ireland assembly has various unique elements which might seem slightly unusual to the outsider: Joint Leaders: The leaders of the Executive are the First Minister and deputy First Minister (that lowercase deputy is not a typo!). Though this would suggest one is junior to the other both positions are equal in responsibilities and all decisions made by the office must be made jointly. If one resigns the other loses their position. As of the St Andrews Agreement in 2006 the largest party of the largest designation has the right to nominate a First Minister while the largest party of the second largest designation has the right to nominate a deputy First Minister Designation: All Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) must designate themselves open the commencement of an Assembly term one of three options: Unionist (supports Northern Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom), Nationalist (supports Irish unification) or Other. These designations are required for cross-community votes which require both a simple majority and separate majorities of Unionist MLAs and Nationalist MLAs. Cross-community voting comes into play with money bills, changes to the standing orders and the election of the Speaker Power Sharing/Mandatory Coalition: The Northern Ireland Executive (cabinet) is appointed proportionally using the d'Hondt method in a system of mandatory coalition that means any party with sufficient MLAs is entitled to an Executive ministry. Until recently there was no official opposition but after a recent rule change any party that refuses to take a seat they are entitled to within the Executive may take up the title of the Official Opposition which comes with the typical speaking rights associated with the position in other parliamentary systems. Petitions of Concern: A mechanism now much despised designed to protect minority rights. A petition signed by 30 MLAs will force any vote to be conducted as a cross-community vote, a mechanism which has sometimes been used as a blunt tool by parties to kill controversial votes. How The Assembly Last Looked:  EVERYTHING HAS FALLEN APART AND THERE'S AN ELECTION THIS THURSDAY (March 2nd)!THE PARTIES UNIONIST:  The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP): The party of "NO" originally set up by shouty god botherer Ian Paisley to oppose the reformist agenda of the then UUP Prime Minister Brian Faulkner. Opposed the Good Friday Agreement. Overtook the UUP as the largest Unionist party in 2003 by absorbing other small Unionist parties and has since severely eaten into it's votes to solidify its position as the largest party and supplant the UUP as the Unionist establishment. Right wing populist social conservatives - oppose same sex marriage, abortion reform, have many prominent creationist members, opposed the bedroom tax and supported rates freezes. Proudly on the wrong side of everything. Leader: Arlene Foster - a former UUP member who defected to the party and has risen through the ranks rapidly Current Seats: 38 2016 1st preference vote share: 29.2% IN GOVERNMENT  The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP): The Grand Old Party of Northern Ireland who controlled the Northern Ireland Parliament with an absolute majority from its foundation in 1921 to it's abolition in 1973 and remained the largest single party until 2003. Has been in steady decline after it's perceived over willingness to compromise with Sinn Fein saw the Unionist vote increasingly shift towards the DUP. Historically associated with the Conservative Party until 1985, an attempt to revive the link in 2008 to boost the party was a complete failure. Think old fashioned Tories - has a staunch conservative stream as well as a reformist Liberal Unionist tradition that have often clashed over leadership of the party Leader: Mike Nesbitt - Largely seen to be from the Liberal wing of the party. He used to be a newsreader. Current Seats: 16 2016 1st preference vote share: 12.6% IN OPPOSITION - Refused their seats in the Executive after the last election but had already resigned from the executive before the election  Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV): Sick and tired of those god drat lefty liberal DUP politicians and their terrorist hugging anti-Unionist ways? A splinter faction of the DUP who opposed the decision to enter government with Sinn Fein after the 2006 St Andrews Agreement. Pretty much a one man party but he makes up for it in terms of sheer volume. Wants to abolish mandatory coalition and maybe bring back direct rule to stop the terrorists from winning! Think the DUP but even more outraged Leader: Jim Allister - Their single MLA who has won begrudging respect from some for his one man opposition act. Current Seats: 1 2016 1st preference vote share: 3.4% IN OPPOSITION - not entitled to an executive seat NATIONALIST:  Sinn Fein: I think we've covered them already elsewhere in the thread? Overtook the SDLP to become the largest single Nationalist party in 2003 but are seeing signs of possible decline after years of consolidation, Nationalist turnout has been decreasing and their vote share dropped last year for the first time since the party began contesting Assembly elections amid discontent from some that they have secured too little from the DUP in exchange for copper-fasting their position as the dominant party through the Fresh Start Agreement. Their decision to have deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resign and not to nominate a replacement triggered the current election. Left wing nationalists, democratic socialist of some flavour Current Leader: HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED Queen In The North: Michelle O'Neill - Recently appointed to replace outgoing assembly leader Martin McGuinness Current Seats: 28 2016 1st preference vote share: 24% IN GOVERNMENT  Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP): Founded in 1970 from a merger of various small local Labour and Nationalist parties, the SDLP advocated for civil rights and opposed the IRA's armed campaign instead calling for a peaceful constitutional nationalist movement based on consent. It's Republican critics have frequently accused it of being too accommodating to Unionism but it remained the largest nationalist vote winner until Sinn Fein overtook it in 2003 amid internal debates in nationalism over police reform. Has been in steady decline since it's popular leader John Hume stepped down and has struggled to maintain it's votes outside of it's traditional Catholic middle class base and it's heartlands of Derry and South Down. The "sister party" of the Labour Party (both UK and Ireland). Social democrats, centre-left but notably staunchly pro-life and opposed to abortion reform. Current Leader: Colum Eastwood - a young'un who has lead the party into Opposition and has attempted to bolster it's Nationalist credentials by growing a beard. Current Seats: 12 2016 1st preference vote share: 12% IN OPPOSITION - Refused their seats in the Executive and joined the UUP in Opposition, have been building links with the party to present themselves as a unified alternative executive. OTHER  Alliance: Created in 1970 as a breakaway from the reformist liberal Unionist pressure group the New Ulster Movement, Alliance is an explicitly anti-sectarian party that drew support from Ulster Liberal Party voters and moderate Unionists alienated from the UUP after the collapse of the Faulknerite reformist tendency. Though it started life as a moderate Unionist party it shifted it's stance on the union gradually and is now officially ambivalent on the constitutional question since the mid-90s, though many traditional nationalist voters still see it as Unionism in homeopathic doses. Often seen as painfully middle class. Liberals - staunchly anti-sectarian and in favour of integrated education, support same-sex marriage but with conscience protections for churches, opposed rates freezes, floated the idea of reintroducing means-tests charges for prescription medication as opposed to universal free prescriptions. Affiliated with the Liberal Democrats. Current Leader: Naomi Long - replaced David Ford as leader at the end of 2016, former MP for Belfast East Current Seats: 8 2016 1st preference vote share: 7% IN OPPOSITION - Not entitled to a seat in the executive under d'Hondt, however Alliance held the Justice Ministry from 2010 to 2016 as part of a political compromise laid out in the Hillsborough Castle Agreement that ensured this post would be filled through a cross community vote with an implicit understanding from the major parties that the post would be held by a neutral third party. Alliance declined to renominate a candidate for the position after the 2016 election.  The Greens: Well, it's the Greens. Technically a regional affiliate of the Irish Green (peep the logo) though they retain friendly links with the English & Welsh Greens. One of the only openly pro-choice parties operating in NI, to the left economically. Managed to pick up their second ever MLA last year. Not much more to say? Current Leader: Steven Agnew - He's gone a bit bald I guess Current Seats: 2 2016 1st preference vote share: 2.7% IN OPPOSITION - not entitled to an executive seat  People Before Profit (PBP): The SWP by any other name. Officially designated as Other though both their MLA's declared themselves as Socialist. As they repeatedly state they are "neither orange or green" and run on a socialist platform, though as an all-Ireland party with representation in the Dáil they have found the biggest success appealing to dissatisfied left-wing Nationalist voters - topping the poll in the traditional Sinn Fein heartland of Belfast West in the last election. Staunch Left-wing eurosceptics, which SF has increasingly focused on as a wedge issue to try to win back voters. Big Old Socialists Current Leader: Technically collective but for registration purposes veteran socialist commentator and activist Eamonn McCann, who won a seat in Derry last year, is listed as leader. Current Seats: 2 2016 1st preference vote share: 2.0% IN OPPOSITION - not entitled to an executive seat THE WEE LADS aka people who wont win a seat but are a thing  UKIP (2016 vote share: 1.5%) exist in NI though this year they are only running a single candidate, they previously had a single MLA after UUP MLA David McNarry left the UUP and became leader of UKIP in Northern Ireland though they failed to hold his seat at the last election. Behold the mythical left-wing unionist party the Progressive Unionist Party (2016 vote share: 0.9%), a working class party with links to the loyalist paramilitary group the UVF who's continued activity pretty much kills support for the party outside of a small base. After the UUP/Conservative pact went down like a lead balloon in 2008 the Tories reshuffled a couple of things and relaunched the party locally as the NI Conservatives (2016 vote share: 0.4%) with a degree of devolved autonomy but still nobody cares. Wait, I though you had an election last year? We did! But now we're having another one! Why? Well because of boilers. The collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive is linked to the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal which was quietly brewing in the background for several months but only exploded in spectacular fashion in December of last year. The controversy relates to a subsidy scheme designed to encourage businesses to switch to wood pellet burning boilers for energy efficiency. The issue being that for some reason the legislation, which is practically a copy of similar legislation elsewhere in the UK, had the paragraphs capping payments completely deleted meaning that those availing of the scheme where actually making a profit the more fuel they used - earning the scandal the nickname "Cash For Ash". With Northern Ireland struggling to cope with a crunched budget the revelation of a multi-million pound overspend outraged a lot of people. Then the whistleblowers started. Several people came forward to say they had raised concerns about the overspend and had attempted to contact then Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster about the issue, who had subsequently become First Minister. With questions swirling about why Foster took no action her successor Jonathan Bell broke ranks and gave a TV interview claiming Arlene Foster and several DUP special advisers had deliberately prevented him from closing the scheme and there was an attempt to alter official records to shield Foster from the blame. At the same time continued digging by journalists revealed multiple businesses connected to DUP advisors who had profited from the RHI scheme raising the spectre of a bit of dodgy dealings. With increasing pressure mounting on a public inquiry to investigate the issue Foster doubled down and refused to temporarily step aside pending an investigation, refusing to budge an inch on the issue. The Opposition tabled a no-confidence motion in Arlene Foster that, although it gained a simple majority as the DUP's partner in government Sinn Fein abstained, failed due to a lack of cross-community support. Sinn Fein over the holiday period warned of repercussions if Foster did not voluntarily step aside, she continued to refuse. On 9th January then deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigns, kicking Foster out of her job as per the Joint leadership mechanism. Sinn Fein have made it clear that they have lost patience with the DUP and it has become increasingly apparent that the RHI scandal is the last straw in increasing tensions between the two parties that have been on a low boil for several years as the Assembly lurched from one scandal to a another. Sinn Fein subsequently refused to nominate a replacement for Martin McGuinness leading to a new election being called for March 2nd as per standard processSo what happens after the election? Nobody knows really. Educated guess is that barring any significant electoral shifts Sinn Fein and the DUP will retain their positions as the largest respective parties. SF have repeated that they will not enter an Executive with Foster as First Minister and have presented a raft of demands which must be addressed, many of them outstanding issues from the previous piecemeal agreements that have kept the Northern Ireland executive ticking over. The DUP are officially refusing to "feed the crocodile" but are making some slightly more conciliatory noises, but most likely not enough to appease Sinn Fein. If no programme for Government can be agreed and no First Minister and deputy First Minister nominated technically we have to go back to a second election - but smart money is on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire presenting emergency legislation at Westminster to temporarily suspend the devolved assembly, a move which could mean a multi-year breakdown in regional politics and another period of political confrontation. SO THE TROUBLES ARE COMING BACK No. kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 23:19 on Feb 26, 2017 |
|
#
¿
Feb 1, 2016 15:33
|
|
|
Badger of Basra posted:Uh, what? They've proposed a three strike system with a mandatory life sentence for serious offences on a third conviction. Burglary is including. They are also very keen on "life means life". Burglary on general is a big issue with rural ireland so taking a hard line on it might actually get them some support in the country. The SocDems are soft left really, they focus on public service investment and taxation and seem keen enough to occupy the same space for the left as the Progressive Democrats did for neo liberalism years ago - a wonkish junior coalition party nudging the big parties finance policy. AAA-PBP and SF have larger aspirations, the difference between the SocDems and the other parties on USC probably shows the difference best - both AAA-PBP and SF want to reform the USC to exclude those on the lowest incomes and reform it into a more progressive tax on the highest earners, the SocDems want to keep it as is to maintain a high tax base to fund expanded infrastructure investment. Whether you vote AAA-PBP or SF has a lot to do with your opinion on SF who still have a spectre of guys in balaclavas hovering over them to some. SFs commitment to socialism gets called into question a bit as well, up here in Northern Ireland there time in government has not exactly been marked with notable socialist reform - a good chunk of the diehard Irish leftists write SF off as populist pretenders. The trade unions backed a transfer pact between various left wing and direct democracy parties which SF signed up to, but AAA-PBP did not due to caginess about instructing voters to give transfers to SF (though frankly that's probably going to happen) And of course a lot of people won't vote AAA-PBP cause they are effectively fronts for well established parties, their insistence that they aren't controlled by the Socialists/SWP respectively and are new broad based movements doesn't convince many people kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 17:55 on Feb 1, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 1, 2016 17:49
|
|
|
Some random thing to sink your teeth into. RTEs election centre is pretty good: http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/ The Indo has managed to wrangle a weekly podcast with Pat Rabbitte, Bertie Ahern and Nora Owen dissecting the election, listen here: http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2016/rightcol/listen-the-front-bench-podcast-1-34407788.html They also have another podcast with more analysis from some less well known names: http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2016/listen-the-floating-voter-podcast-3-34407468.html Nordie Blog Slugger O'Toole are doing detailed constituency by constituency profiles that have been v. good so far. All here: http://sluggerotoole.com/author/saw/ And if you prefer things a bit more web 2.0 the journal has an election feed here: http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/news/ kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 23:20 on Feb 1, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 1, 2016 23:17
|
|
|
Sounds like no date for the election today. Have to wait until tomorrow.  Labour apparently favour a Friday election (26th) so whether they've managed to twist FGs arm on the date will be interesting to see
|
|
#
¿
Feb 2, 2016 12:11
|
|
|
forkboy84 posted:How much can Sinn Fein actually do to enact socialist policies in Northern Ireland though? Aren't they rather limited by the need to work with the DUP who are anything but interested in socialist policies? I'm not trying to sound like an apologist for them, I've not got a horse in this race, genuinely curious about the growth of Sinn Fein in the Republic. I've heard a little about a growing clash in the party between the old heads from Northern Ireland and a younger generation of activists who are less concerned with reunification and more worried about improving social justice in Ireland but aside from that I know very little. Just to get back to this now that I'm at a computer, one of the major issues putting pressure on SF in Northern Ireland in recent months has been their agreement to slash corporation tax to 12.5% (from 20%) as part of the "Fresh Start" deal with the DUP - a deal that the SDLP and other parties have complained froze them out of the negotiation process. SF used to openly support tax harmonization between Northern Ireland and the Republic, 12.5% being the rate in the South of course, and opposed increasing the corporation tax rate in South on various occasions. At a time when cuts to departments are beginning to bite heavily in Northern Ireland, and SF knows this all to well as they have helped implement front-line cuts to education through their control of the Department of Education, it seems absurd to suggest slashing available funding even more. SF did seem to realize that this position may not have been as tenable as it was once before around about the middle of last year and made noises publicly about supporting the devolving the power but not making any commitments to a cut, but never the less they agreed with the DUP to cut the rate substantially (even with very noisy opposition from the Unions and SDLP). There have been some comments from Councillors opposing a cut even after the deal was been made so it hasn't gone down entirely well with all of the party. Of course you could argue this was a necessary price to pay to get DUP support for the deal but it did used to be one of their objectives economically until the optics became a bit too bad. SF is feeling the pinch in some quarters in the North from the left, Gerry Carroll of People Before Profit is set to snatch an assembly seat from them this year in West Belfast which is an SF heartland through and through. He ran in the Westminster elections last year as well targeting SF with criticism from the left and managed to snatch about 10% of the vote from them - giving them their worst result in the constituency since 1992. Similarly, the SDLP (now under new leadership) seem to be gearing up to attack SF as being weak on challenging Austerity at Stornont - though I'm not sure how well that tactic will play out for them.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 2, 2016 23:19
|
|
|
Its Friday 26th Get those posters up https://www.twitter.com/PaschalSheehy/status/694823467200438273
|
|
#
¿
Feb 3, 2016 11:36
|
|
|
Only a few hours into the official campaign and we may have already reached peak cringe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63XaJdZF9cU
|
|
#
¿
Feb 3, 2016 22:11
|
|
|
A reminder that Healy-Rae is considered to be one of the possible kingmaker independents who might be able to replicate his father's success with extracting sweet deals for a confidence-supply agreement. His name is getting thrown around alongside people like Michael Lowry. Yeah, the guy with the novelty country song may have an important role to play in the next few weeks. Jesus.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 3, 2016 23:55
|
|
|
Blut posted:I fear that video is exactly what Americans expect of Irish politics. The SocDem ticket is pretty light on names all together bar the big three. Last time I checked they had only managed to muster about 14-15 candidates in total - considering the Greens managed to find someone to stand in practically every constituency I am slightly disappointed that the SocDems seem to be aiming for something a little bit more reserved. I would have thought they would have least have had a punt at Dublin West/South-West. I guess there's always a chance they will team up with Ross and co to form a technical group if they fail to hit the 7 seats mark. I'm thinking FF pulling some supply and confidence deal seems likely and FG/Lab is probably the outcome, but there is an outside chance that if Labour do very bad (below 10 seats, though I've seen talk of 15 seats or below 10% of the vote being a line for some in the party) Joan could get the heave from within and FG could attempt a single party minority - though realistically they would probably pull in Renua (shudder) to try to bulk out their votes a bit and insulate them.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 4, 2016 00:57
|
|
|
School Nickname posted:Has anyone else heard of this "Dublin Allowance" thing for civil servants? Someone mentioned it to me today, but I can't seem to find any mention of it online. Might be BS, or as a result of skyrocketing rent for Guards (entry guards have really poo poo pay), which will be eaten by landlords anyway. Did they actually introduce pay weighting? I know there was talk about it to cover increased living costs for the civil service in Dublin but I think the CPSU opposed it and favour across the board pay rises - though based on the less than pleasant reaction to the coming Luas strikes for pay parity that seems to be a hard enough sell for a lot of people.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 5, 2016 11:43
|
|
|
I wonder how much of a bump SF would pick up in the event of Gerry finally stepping aside and Mary Lou coming in, I know the last time they ran a poll on it she was preffered by over-50s to Gerry for leader
|
|
#
¿
Feb 5, 2016 17:09
|
|
|
Troy Queef posted:Merging Northern Ireland with the RoI to create a 32-county nation. Unionism means keeping NI part of the UK. As a Northerner I get pedantic about this cause of the subtle differences in terms up here, nationalist is used for someone who simply wants a United Ireland while Republicanism is a specific strand of nationalist thought with its own specific ideological contours and history. Mostly cause Northern Republicans largely embraced a rejectionist stance that denied the legitimacy of the free state and refused participation in electoral politics north and south while we've had a separate strand of nationalist politics descended from the parliamentary IPP tradition since partition. This is only really a Northern thing though.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 5, 2016 22:13
|
|
|
Lots of bickering about costings and "fiscal space" the last couple of days coming of the back of FG launching their Long Term Economic Plan. SF getting their licks in on FG accusing them of over-estimating available funds and fudging their numbers, gives them a chance to counter the “fantasy economics" allegations that gets tossed at them. Fitch also announced a credit rating upgrade for Ireland which is rather unusually timed - announcing this just days into election campaigning is pretty dodgy especially considering the government's campaign is founded on "keeping the recovery going". And in case you missed it Labour Deputy Leader Alan "AK47" Kelly lost the head with Chris Donoghue of Newstalk after they aired a one-on-one piece with controversial independent Michael Lowry, running in the same constituency as Kelly, right before Kelly took part in a three person panel discussion. This isn't the first time Kelly has gotten into bother for being a bit of a megalomaniac, a piece following him in the Sindo last week didn't exactly win him many fans and forced Burton to comment. Which of course is a great excuse to post the recently rediscovered Alan Kelly campaign rap from the 2009 Euros https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UhR2TKwwDo kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 19:03 on Feb 6, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2016 19:00
|
|
|
Coohoolin posted:I'm loving these sick musical campaign ads, please tell me there are more. I've only seen two others so, one for Donegal independent Tim Jackson which is a bit slick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya912HhdCHw And one for another Munster candidate, former FF-councillor turned independent candidate for Limerick County that's more terrifying than anything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV1lla0301w I know some people are probably mortified I keep posting these but I just cant stop myself
|
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2016 19:23
|
|
|
Please do no judge Irish politics but what independents from the country get up to. ty.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 6, 2016 19:26
|
|
|
Cabinet posted:Leo went into an interview and was asked about abortion. He then whined and said abortion wasn't "health or politics" "independent posted:And so I ask, as Minister for Health, what he would say to the 12 Irish women who have to travel to the UK every day for an abortion? Jesus. Mary Lou was on Newstalk this morning and things got a bit heated when FG's Brian Hayes kept pressing her to say whether or not she thought Slab Murphy, currently awaiting sentencing for tax evasion, was a "good republican". It all kicks off about 3/4 of the way through and eventually winds up with McDonald calling Hayes a gurrier a couple of times. Murphy's sentencing is this coming friday so expect another round of awkward twisting from the younger SF-heads uncomfortable with having to tow the leadership line on this one.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 7, 2016 16:56
|
|
|
Some good news. That wee baby faced fucker from Identity Ireland wound up in hospital after the scuffles at the Pegida Ireland launch thing https://twitter.com/AitheantasEire/status/696016755592978432
|
|
#
¿
Feb 7, 2016 16:58
|
|
|
Marenghi posted:Not sure what good getting into scraps with Pegida Ireland does for the anti-racist cause. I have little sympathy for a man who literally used the word "rapefugee" getting punched in the face
|
|
#
¿
Feb 7, 2016 17:14
|
|
|
Rte is lodging a complaint after one of their cameraman got batoned by the guards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFv6ArDBEBY "Ya loving free state bastard ye" ~ secret British infiltrator Another video with a bit of a timeline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z68yTJWXm5g
|
|
#
¿
Feb 7, 2016 18:18
|
|
|
David Cullinane of SF got completely surrounded on The Week In Politics there. Rapid fire references to Slab Murphy, Maria Cahill, Jerry McCabe and Paul Quinn - a lot of push by Labour and FF to focus on the SF policy of abolishing non-jury Special Criminal Courts what with the madness at the weekend. This is probably only going to intensify over the next couple of days as the Murphy sentencing looms.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 8, 2016 01:22
|
|
|
julian assflange posted:Some of the leaflets coming in the door are awful I mean how was that the best photo of you considering its plastered everywhere I your district ? Speaking of leaflets... 
|
|
#
¿
Feb 8, 2016 01:23
|
|
|
Water charges have been a monumental gently caress up but I do think AAA have put too many of their eggs in that basket, hoping to scoop up default protest votes related to the water charges - the problem with that being that a hell of a lot of independents are running on the same platform and I think the Socialists have kind of lagged behind the other parties getting their message out on USC/Property tax.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 8, 2016 18:06
|
|
|
The continuity IRA have claimed responsibility for the shooting at the regency over the weekend. Seems a bit out of left field that. Now Enda is "just asking questions" about whether SF knows anything about the guns used. Some dirty pool that
|
|
#
¿
Feb 8, 2016 18:44
|
|
|
Cabinet posted:Could be a false flag to draw attention to themselves tbh. Aye, I think there's more than a touch of scepticism that the targeted shooting of a member of a cartel engaged in a violent feud with Dublin gangs who was only in the country for the weigh in was the work of the Continuity IRA. I haven't seen anyone outright call them liars but the reaction from the guards seems to be "don't think so"
|
|
#
¿
Feb 8, 2016 21:36
|
|
|
Just in case you thought the election was boring Dublin seems to have decided to have itself a good old fashioned gang war! Law and Order might drown out all the economic stuff in the next few days. The Greens are also pushing ahead with their challenge to RTE to try to get included in the leaders debate. God love em.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2016 12:24
|
|
|
lemonadesweetheart posted:So do ye think that the killing last night means that the claim the previous one was CIRA was bogus or not? Probably, the fact a senior gangland figure was targeted for retaliation makes the feud angle all the crime reporters have been covering much more likely. Looks like the CIRA wanted to act a bit tough. RTE have updated there poll of polls as well and are putting the coalition at a projected 70 seats, just 10 shy of a majority which could yet be reachable with a deal with one of the minors and a few confidence agreements with a couple of independents. https://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/longform/2016/0208/766452-poll-of-polls-8-february/ I still think Renua may have the best chance to be a junior partner, thier red lines are tougher sentencing laws (hardly a big sell considering the current news) and a commission to investigate a flat tax (which may tickle FGs fancy). Labour could block it though. kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 14:36 on Feb 9, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2016 14:33
|
|
|
Cabinet posted:I hope Renua don't get any seats and piss off. Stupidest poo poo to come out of Irish politics in a long time. Guess who's got a new ad out about a certain Mr Lowry https://vimeo.com/154588024 Countdown until himself tries to get it taken down
|
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2016 21:26
|
|
|
Brian Fuckner and Gerry Fist put everything on the table at Bummingdale
|
|
#
¿
Feb 9, 2016 21:34
|
|
|
Renua's manifesto does have some right-wing peaches in there beside the flat tax proposal and sentencing laws which have got the most attention. I mean there are some perfectly grand things in there and then you stumble on something that just makes you shake your head a bit. Examples:
Also, we should all be growing beets and breeding horses Edit: Oh and I forgot this paragraph which just confuses me: quote:The creation of an exceptional power to delay legislation from being passed in the face of significant principled opposition. This power will require the support of the majority of parties / technical groupings in Dáil Eireann, and there will be limits on how frequently it is used. kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 00:34 on Feb 10, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 10, 2016 00:28
|
|
|
In some slightly depressing Nordie news there has been some news on the upcoming vote on an amendment to the Justice Bill scheduled for tomorrow that would allow for abortion in cases of "fatal foetal abnormality" - a hot button issue both sides of the border. After some hope that the SDLP would alter their long-standing opposition to reforming the abortion laws following the election of their new leader Colum Eastwood, who has sought to strengthen the SDLP's left wing and progressive credential for the upcoming assembly election in May, they've released a disheartening statment indicting that there is no change in their stance: Via Slugger posted:The SDLP is a pro-life party and we do not support the extension of the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland. We will be voting against these amendments. With South Belfast an open race in May (none of the candidates who stood in the last election in 2011 are seeking re-election) this may hurt them and benefit Alliance - though their eyes may be on shoring up their traditional middle-class vote base in Derry (Eastwood's constituency)where Martin McGuinness has decided to run this year, aiming to propel SF to one of their long-running goals of eclipsing the SDLP as the largest party in the city. I know people said no Northern Stuff but I am annoyed so there kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 15:14 on Feb 10, 2016 |
|
#
¿
Feb 10, 2016 15:12
|
|
|
StoneOfShame posted:Have there been any more murmurings like those that appeared after Corbyn was made Labour leader from leftists in the North wanting Labour to run candidates and end their agreement with the SDLP? Well the Labour Party in Northern Ireland, the local branch of UK Labour, passed a motion to begin vetting candidates with the intention to field names for the assembly election - this seems to have been more of a pressure tactic though to try to get the NEC to review the no candidates policy (something they do do during the life time of every parliament I think). Nothing much has come of that and the Labour Irish Society is strongly against a move to field candidates. There was a similar motion passed at the Irish Labour conference last year where delegates backed creating a new joint Labour party in Northern Ireland with UK Labour - but that didn't go anywhere and Irish Labour aren't exactly in a position to consider expanding. The only party that's going to start organising here soon is Fianna Fail who where aiming to start things up next year (I think) but are moving things up and will have a presence in the North during the EU referendum campaigning - or so they've said
|
|
#
¿
Feb 10, 2016 18:01
|
|
|
StoneOfShame posted:I cant see where Fianna Fail pull votes from in the North, I mean the obvious base would be Sinn Fein voters but their voter base is so established, so do they try and be slightly less extreme Sinn Fein and play up IRA links or comedy option go nuts and reach out to dissident supporters? The SDLP and Fianna Fail very almost merged back in 2007-8, it was considered a sure thing until the economic crisis and it was only when Margret Ritchie won the leadership (in a hard fought battle) that it was definitively ruled out - the majority of party delegates supported it at one stage. FF do have an active presence at the youth level, the Queens youth branch is rather vocal. I actually know one or two people who were involved in FF pre-collapse as part of the youth wing who now do back room things for the SDLP. Another reason why more Labour inclined voices have grown sceptical of the SDLP. Though the newest generation of SDLP politicos who've come up through their youth wing are considered more progressive than the old guard
|
|
#
¿
Feb 10, 2016 18:59
|
|
|
Troy Queef posted:Wasn't there a (somewhat) left-wing unionist party in the PUP? Or have they completely fallen off the radar? Down to a handful of councillors now, the 2010 decision to retain links with the UVF after they where implicated in a murder didn't help them - their leader at the time Dawn Purvis resigned in protest (and incidentally is now director of the Marie Stopes centre in Belfast which drove the DUP and many other parties up the wall). They are mostly reduced to wards with a strong working class loyalist presence (east Belfast, the Crumlin Road, Torrens) and mix general loyalist ideas with left wing stuff - so you get things like an openly gay councillor married to her partner calling for gay marriage who is pro-choice supporting the Orange Order and taking part in the Fleg Protests.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 10, 2016 19:46
|
|
|
Millward Brown has a poll out putting Joan at only 10% on first preferences in Dublin-West, trailing behind FF's Jack Chambers at 17% and Ruth Coppinger of AAA/the Socialists at 15%, meaning she may struggle to win back her seat - if she makes it will be on transfers from Leo. https://www.newstalk.com/election2016/RealityCheck:-Could-Joan-Burton-lose-her-seat Chambers winning back the seat lost after the by election follow Brian Lenihan's death would be a victory for the party and finally get them a Dublin TD following the 2011 wipeout. If Joan bites it I wonder who would replace her as leader - Alan Kelly used to be favourite but somehow I don't think he'd win a contest following the last few weeks. Also, leader debate tonight on TV3 people
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 15:01
|
|
|
Claire Byrne will be doing a live seven leader debate on Monday FYI, so the big four plus Lucinda Creighton, Stephen Donnelley and either Boyd-Barrett or Murphy - the greens weren't invited cause they had no TDs and haven't been very happy about it. Enda got pissy about it and threatened to pull a Cameron and boycott it, complaining that unelected minor parties (SocDems and Renua) where going to get equal speaking time to him
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 18:36
|
|
|
Cabinet posted:drat, going to miss it in that case. Guess I'll have to play catch up tomorrow if its hosted somewhere. Probably going to miss it myself at this rate but I found a special prerecorded version https://youtu.be/XT5NwNiUW4o
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 21:39
|
|
|
Just tuned in and I think Gerry might be close to clocking Pat Kenny already
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 22:42
|
|
|
This is a right loving poo poo show
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 22:47
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 00:26 |
|
|
"If a woman walks into your clinic and says she just had a an abortion would you call an ambulance or the police" Everyone gawps awkwardly at Pat Kenny
|
|
#
¿
Feb 11, 2016 23:02
|
|