FG leadership heave is go!

[culloty82]

So much at least we can read into tonight's events, with the Irish Times' Fiach Kelly reporting that both Varadkar and Coveney have sought an FG parliamentary meeting next week "to prepare for an early election". Now given that Kenny said he would retire before then, we can take it that both have joined forces to push for a heave:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/starting-gun-fired-ministers-tell-parliamentary-meeting-to-be-election-ready-after-week-of-intense-pressure-for-kenny-35454807.html

[BonnieShels]

He's due to speak to the media tonight after a launch of a new Dublin inner city plan.

[BonnieShels]

Alan (Who?) Farrell released a statement saying he has no confidence in Enda as FG leader. As a semi-Blueshirt it never ceases to amaze me how utterly idiotic FG non-entity backbenchers are. Pat Deering is at least parliamentary party vice-chairman... but still a non-entity.

We all know it's between Leo (who would murder FF) and Simon (who's too nice). And we all know that they're far too good to get into the bother of having a heave (again). They'll carve it up among themselves. Go to Enda and it will be all nice. Even the way the two are talking you know that the machines are working with the Taoiseach in the background to get the handover done as smoothly as possible.

So why these idiots are coming out with guff is beyond me. Idiots.

FF playing a blinder though as much as it pains me to say it.

[NeverFeltBetter]

It has to be Varadker, unless FG really want to get a 2002-esque pasting next time they go to the polls.

[Eminence Grise]

He's due to speak to the media tonight after a launch of a new Dublin inner city plan.

Is Inda building a wall around Rascal Donoghue, just in case?


It has to be Varadker, unless FG really want to get a 2002-esque pasting next time they go to the polls.

I think the pasting is coming anyway, regardless of who takes over. But Varadkar? Only in his mind (and among the media) is he leadership material - he's never done anything of note as minister. Good for a soundbite, but his whole career has been focussed on staying out of trouble in case anything prevents him from becoming Taoiseach.

[culloty82]

New Sindo poll:

Should Enda go?

Yes: 53%
No: 25%
DK: 14%
Depends: 8%

State of the parties:
FF 33% (+6)
FG 25% (-4)
SF 20%
Lab 6% (-2)
Ind All 5%
Ind 4% (-2)
AAA-PBP 3% (+1)
Soc Dems 2% (+1)
Greens 2%

[BonnieShels]

Leo's private life finally brought up in an article:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0224/855093-fine-gael/

Disgusting

[osarusan]

Wrong link?

EDIT: Just realised that was a week ago, they might have replaced the article with another at the same address (though that seems a bit unlikely).

[SkStu]

no, I checked shortly after Bonnie posted and the article linked was the same.

[BonnieShels]

They defo changed the article. The link I had up had a picture of Leo as the main photo. Unless I pasted in the wrong URL... Hardly...

[SkStu]

yeah, its deffo a possibility. I checked on Saturday afternoon, your time, I reckon.

[DeLorean]

Good for a soundbite, but his whole career has been focussed on staying out of trouble in case anything prevents him from becoming Taoiseach.

I wouldn't be too well up on politics but I'd have thought Varadkar had a bit of a reputation for exactly the opposite, shooting his mouth off and upsetting Enda and that kind of thing? I find him refreshing compared to most to be honest without knowing all the ins and outs, he answers the questions he's asked anyway which is a big plus in my book and pretty rare in his line of work.

[BonnieShels]

Harris has ruled himself out. Phew. That anyone outside of Coveney or Varadkar thinks they've a chance is something.

[Eminence Grise]

I wouldn't be too well up on politics but I'd have thought Varadkar had a bit of a reputation for exactly the opposite, shooting his mouth off and upsetting Enda and that kind of thing? I find him refreshing compared to most to be honest without knowing all the ins and outs, he answers the questions he's asked anyway which is a big plus in my book and pretty rare in his line of work.

That's exactly the point: his uses his media profile to set himself apart from Enda and old-fashioned FG, creating an image of himself as a straight-talking maverick. There's a veneer of honesty, and he's one of the best at delivering sincerity (the old doctor's bedside manner, maybe!). But he hasn't one single achievement of note as a minister (unless somebody else here can think of one...?). The only way to come out of Health without a reputation in tatters is to do have done nothing, not fought with unions or consultants but to have looked busy.

[DeLorean]

I get ya. I suppose he only became a Minister during the recession, not exactly a great time to boost your cv for getting things done and implementing new projects, etc. He would have been involved in the early stages of the Rugby World Cup bid I think, maybe he'll be able to hang his hat off that in due course. :) I don't think anybody was going to be able to significantly impact on the health service in the timeframe he was there either. Like I said though, I wouldn't be too well up on these matters. What kind of achievements would you have expected from him at this stage?

[DannyInvincible]

A brilliant piece on Varadkar here...

'These "Ireland's first openly gay Taoiseach" headlines miss the point': https://www.her.ie/news/irelands-first-openly-gay-taoiseach-headlines-miss-point-349587


Leo Varadkar is Ireland’s first openly-gay Taoiseach. In and of itself, this speaks to wonderful social progress within Ireland and is, of course, to be warmly welcomed. But nothing is ever really “in and of itself.” Leo Varadkar is not the first Taoiseach with a seemingly callous attitude towards the rights of women. He is not the first Taoiseach to take a dim view of the rights of workers to seek a better wage. He is not the first Taoiseach to scapegoat the wrong people for economic hardship faced by the middle-class.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I would have thought Varadkar would fancy a snap election based on recent polls, but the way things have gone for the Tory's might make him think twice.