Irish Presidential Election 2025

What a mess, the ballot papers are gone to the printers, so he'll be on the ballot regardless and we now have people asking if people still vote for him, are their second and third preferences still valid ? Or are they spoiled votes ? And if he were to ( unlikely ) win on second preferences or vote transfers, we'd have a constitutional conundrum. Surely the fix has to be to somehow, however inconvenient, reprint the paperwork here, but so far, computer says no.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

To be honest, the idea that Gavin has stepped aside over this - a €3k matter from 15 years ago that to be honest the tenant can't have exhausted their options over either - is a triumph of muck-raking over real politics, which can only be damaging for the country.

I'd no intention of voting for him - but really the bigger focus where FF are involved should be the party's overall position as the party of the lecherous landlord and the obsession with property prices, despite the obvious detriment this has caused the next generation. But not this. Deal with the matter (with penalties for late payment if required), get a sense of perspective and move on

---

I am surprised at you on this, thought you'd be more law and order above all. In terms of options exhausted it seems like Gavin is the one who exhausted all his, avoiding the person and his debt to him, rather than vice versa, all the way & as far as he could push it & then bent the truth on national airwaves for a finale.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

I am surprised at you on this, thought you'd be more law and order above all.

---

Fair - but let's be honest, if this case went to court, it'd be thrown out immediately for being way beyond any statute of limitations. Gavin isn't required to have kept any documentation which could clear his name (accounting info has to be kept at least six full years plus the current one, unless there's an active legal case), and if he can't clear his name, then it's not a fair case.

That said, while the case against Gavin can't be proven in court, I do think it happened for the reasons you say. The "We all partied" tone of his denial is ******. The other option is that he genuinely didn't have a clue about the guy of course, and just confessed up rather than deny it and be shown to be wrong. Bit like an alco apologising for something they fear may have happened the other night, even though they've no recollection of it.

But equally I despise stories which have a clear one-sided bias, and this one does. This case seems to be because a rent Standing Order went through twice when it should have been cancelled. If I was the tenant, I'd have been straight into the bank the first instance it happened asking them to reverse the transaction. Like, was it cancelled or not? Then there's other options if Gavin didn't reply - the Residential Tenancies Board, the Small Claims Court (maybe the amount is too high though - or go after one month's payment at least), or there's the media. Like, if you're going to say "The Pres owes me money" as has happened now, why not - 16 years ago - say "The Dublin GAA manager owes me money?" Equally newsworthy.

So based on the facts as outlined so far, my view is if it wasn't worth resolving in the last 16 years, then you don't get to raise it now. And I don't think it's a matter that requires Gavin to stand down.

Whats the back story to this? Has the tenant being sitting in the wings waiting for the day that Gavin ran for public office to bring this out? It is all a bit weird

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

But equally I despise stories which have a clear one-sided bias, and this one does. This case seems to be because a rent Standing Order went through twice when it should have been cancelled. If I was the tenant, I'd have been straight into the bank the first instance it happened asking them to reverse the transaction. Like, was it cancelled or not?

---

Exactly the first question that came to my mind when the story broke...bank should be on the hook if they didnt follow the customers request. Gavin not making him whole is shady as fook but he could have poker faced it. Better PR firm and maybe he would have. Agree with Razor too... it is all a bit weird.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Whats the back story to this? Has the tenant being sitting in the wings waiting for the day that Gavin ran for public office to bring this out? It is all a bit weird

---

He'd been walked on by Gavin & probably wrote it off grudgingly & then the guy who dumped all over him was suddenly very publicly vulnerable, probably didn't expect the opportunity to come with such high profile attached but he didn't Adam Idah the chance, he absolutely Haalanded the bejaysus out of it didn't he. Emphasis on grudgingly there obviously ;)

Its not about the money, well it is, but with interest at this stage, a high rate too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Whats the back story to this? Has the tenant being sitting in the wings waiting for the day that Gavin ran for public office to bring this out? It is all a bit weird

---

Is the Dublin GAA manager not a public enough office though?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Like, if you're going to say "The Pres owes me money" as has happened now, why not - 16 years ago - say "The Dublin GAA manager owes me money?" Equally newsworthy.

---

Newsworthy, yes. Not equally newsworthy IMO & nowhere near the same amount of damage infliction available. He wouldn't have lost the Dubs job over it, I would wager.

There is a pile on today, and interestingly some FFers piling on, on RTÉ Radio too. About the process, its limited scope, duration & consultation. About front benchers who'd never met Gavin being told they were doing promo shoots with him tomorrow. Its all coming out.

It also has just enough of that whiff of that old FF nepotism to put the wind up them properly. And Micheál so close to it does not help at all in that regard. He is a child of that era FF after all. He needed to be much more careful. I wonder how much fallout will various agendas try to see land on him too ?

We can argue all week here, the law, the expiration of certain rights over time, the opportunistic timing of the tennant, it all has merit.

None of it happens if Gavin had his house in order & he didn't & that's that. You owe, you should pay. You should see to it particularly, if you're a public figure that you don't leave people unmarked from corners like he did. That's on him & he knows that now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

He'd been walked on by Gavin & probably wrote it off grudgingly & then the guy who dumped all over him was suddenly very publicly vulnerable, probably didn't expect the opportunity to come with such high profile attached but he didn't Adam Idah the chance, he absolutely Haalanded the bejaysus out of it didn't he. Emphasis on grudgingly there obviously ;)

Its not about the money, well it is, but with interest at this stage, a high rate too.

---

while Gavin was playing the long ball, this lad was playing the long game.

I dunno, reading between the lines this seems like it could be a bit of tip of the iceberg thing, did he step aside before the real sh1t comes out? I said earlier that its kinda nice that Ireland still has this bit of "morality" when it comes to the elections, but thinking about it more I cant see how this could be a big enough scandal in itself to rule him out of the race. Agree with Stu that any PR firm worth its salt could have just brushed this aside and moved on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Newsworthy, yes. Not equally newsworthy IMO & nowhere near the same amount of damage infliction available. He wouldn't have lost the Dubs job over it, I would wager.

---

Losing his job isn't the name of the game here though. Getting paid is the aim. It mightn't be equally newsworthy, but it would still be newsworthy enough I'd say.

And the tenant had plenty of other chances in the past 16 years to pursue a claim.

I completely agree none of this happens if Gavin has his house in order. I disagree that it's worth stepping down from the Presidency race over. And I don't think muck-raking from 16 years ago is really all that beneficial in the greater scheme of things.

I see this situation with Gavin a bit like the secretary of Ballymun FC over the 'grass'. Its a reflection of indifference to just responsibllity and decency. Im pretty sure that there are things Ive said on foot.ie over almost 20 years that could be trawlled through and something made of it, criticising GAA/Government or whatever, but even ignoring 3k that should have been returned to someone is not indicitive of good character just cause he was suffering financial hardship himself. Yup in politics theres much worse messing but its knowing about the potential banana skins, acknowledgeing with the campaign and having in place damage limitation. Id remember owing someone 3k and ignoring it even 16 years ago, Id say he did too but hoped, wrongly, it was forgotten or just done and dusted. Careless and you cant be.

I dont think this alone was the reason for withdrawing, maybe poor polling, additional details to the rent thing maybe. Heart not really in it. Someone in his ear wanting to embarress Martin and FF - Martin arch nemisis Bertie eg. I think it makes Connolly favourite with Humphries losing potential transfers. Connolly is not a diplomat as the president needs to be, she sees the role as a platform for her own poltics and whether one agrees or disagrees with her I dont think thats the role. Higgins only really 'used' the presidency in that last 6 months or so of his term, and that was on the exceptional situation in Gaza. Other than that he was more restrained in relation to what was likely what he wanted to say on many occasions.

i used to say the same about Trump/Clinton but "this is the best that could be mustered up"? Instead of two, we somehow found three absolute goons. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SkStu

Better PR firm and maybe he would have.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Agree with Stu that any PR firm worth its salt could have just brushed this aside and moved on.

---

Equally any PR teams first question would be, is this a one off isolated situation we are handling here Jimmyboy or are there others ?
At which point MichealM goes awful quiet because of Jimmyboys facial expression.

Not that far fetched is it ?

DJ Carey & what have you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Equally any PR teams first question would be, is this a one off isolated situation we are handling here Jimmyboy or are there others ?
At which point MichealM goes awful quiet because if Jimmyboys facial expression.

Not that far fetched is it ?

DJ Carey & what have you.

---

Thats why I said that this has the smell of tip of the iceberg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Thats why I said that this has the smell of tip of the iceberg

---

Does it smell any bit like pussy ?
Or victory ?
Describe it please

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Equally any PR teams first question would be, is this a one off isolated situation we are handling here Jimmyboy or are there others ?
At which point MichealM goes awful quiet because of Jimmyboys facial expression.

Not that far fetched is it ?

DJ Carey & what have you.

---

Agreed - but he also might equally have said "you know what, f*ck this sh*t, i just couldn't be arsed. Yizzer all d*ckheads. Gimme your lunch money, Martin, you pox. Peace out."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Does it smell any bit like pussy ?
Or victory ?
Describe it please

---

you know when you have an itchy bellybutton and theres a whack off your finger when you itch it. Like that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Does it smell any bit like pussy ?
Or victory ?
Describe it please

---

Im an Ireland and Man Utd fan, Ive forgotten what the smell of victory is. Im also married long enough to forget............

Fair play lads.
Obviously, I couldn't ask Pineappler what either smelled like.
God love him.

Smacks to me of a man utterly unprepared for and unsuited to political life. Every minute move held up to scrutiny, and lambasted if it’s wrong: the drone footage was a ****-up, the army pictures an error of judgement… I blame the team around him for that. I’ve canvassed for TDS who became ministers and you never have the candidate in charge of those details: his FF team let him down badly in that respect. These things aren't PR firm territory, just basic - really basic - campaign team cop-on.

There was abuse as well: allegations that seemed a deliberate attempt to smear him must have been hard for his family. Nobody should have to put up with that, and a person’s family should be out of bounds, even as collateral damage. I wouldn't blame him if that was at the back of his mind.

The €3k+, though, that’s a different matter. It speaks to morality and the character of a person. I’m going to be circumspect here – Dahamsta doesn’t want the libel lawyers sniffing around – but if I kept €100 that didn’t belong to me, after the rightful owner made reasonable efforts to get it returned, I could have no complaints if that person and others who knew of my actions regarded me as dishonest at best, and a thief at worst.

When an election isn’t about policy or issues, inevitably it comes down to the personal, and that’s what makes this the most noxious election we have. It’s no coincidence that bar Cearbhaill O’Dalaigh, every president has been an Oireachtas member – they’re used to the game. Amateurs aren’t: ask Mary Davis, Sean Gallagher, Adi Roche, Joan Freeman… Jim Gavin. The smaller the prize, the dirtier the fight.

As an aside, Martin is copping the flak today. When the dust settles poeple might start asking why the Finance minister, with the biggest day in his calendar smack in the middle of the campaign, was director of elections. Chambers can hardly get off scott free.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Losing his job isn't the name of the game here though. Getting paid is the aim.

---

I don't really think its either, TBH. He'll get his money & the story might be a payment source too. But revenge is the game here, by the timing of all this. Whether its his own initiative or he's a willing pawn in a dirty game, its about settling a score. If revenge is best served cold, this one came from the freezer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Whats the back story to this? Has the tenant being sitting in the wings waiting for the day that Gavin ran for public office to bring this out? It is all a bit weird

---

I've been a tenant, and if I had the chance to mess up one of the two landlords that messed me up, I'd take great pleasure in it. One of these days....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

And the tenant had plenty of other chances in the past 16 years to pursue a claim.

---

I'm afraid I've no idea where I read it, but apparently they did make an effort. I lost part or all of my deposit to two landlords and they had all the power then, that's why the RTB exists.

But ultimately yes, he dodged out of it before the real stuff came out, no bout a doubt it. I mean, this is Fianna Fail we're talking about. :)

The tenant's then-partner posted on(and later deleted from) twitter that she had tried to sell the story to a paper when he was Dublin manager, but it was spiked

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025...donald-tenant/


Deputy Editor of the Sunday World Niall Donald has confirmed that he was the former tenant owed money by former presidential candidate for Fianna Fáil Jim Gavin.

His confirmation follows a report in the Irish Independent that a tenant in a property Mr Gavin owned 16 years ago did not receive a refund they had sought after an overpayment of rent amounting to €3,300.

Mr Gavin withdrew from the contest last Sunday.

Speaking on the Crime World podcast with host Nicola Tallant, he said that "loads of people" knew about his history with Mr Gavin.

By the time the Presidential Election came about, he said every person who knew him had heard the story.

While relaying it in the office, which is shared with the Independent and Sunday Independent members of the political staff asked for more detail.

"Every time Dublin won an All-Ireland or whatever, people would say, "Oh, there's your mate Jim Gavin."

While he admitted he could have written a story during the height of Mr Gavin's career as Dublin Manager, he said he had no desire to do so, as it had nothing to do with being a landlord or running the country.

"If you've ever been in those circumstances where you know, you feel that you've been ripped off, like it gives you this feeling of being powerless, and you know, I was really struggling financially. That's the truth of it."

He recently learned that the apartment he rented was given back to the bank.

He said he was frustrated when a statement was issued that Mr Gavin had no recollection of the incident.

"Like all through those years, like I had a recollection of it and I had a bad feeling about it."

However, he said learning about Mr Gavin's financial difficulties added context, adding that Mr Gavin likely did not have the money to pay him back at the time.

He said he was perplexed as to why he was not contacted a few week's ago to have the matter resolved.

Mr Donald said he called Fianna Fáil on Saturday and said he was unhappy that they had said Mr Gavin could not remember the matter.

He said he did not put it in the Sunday World as he felt it was a conflict of interest.

However, after Mr Gavin partially acknowledged the matter, he said he was amazed to see him take part in Sunday's debate on RTÉ's The Week in Politics.

"I can't understand why they didn't make the decision at that point, one way or another.

"I felt sorry for him on Sunday. I mean, I'm not going to overdo it, but I felt sorry for him because he's under pressure. People make mistakes."

Mr Donald said he moved out of home and rented an apartment in Blackhall Square, in Smithfield, with a friend.

He said they met their landlord, who was "very nice, polite, kind of quiet and shy", and agreed to rent the property.

He added that his friend recognised that the landlord was Mr Gavin, an ex-Dublin footballer.

He added it was a long time ago, and he had "sympathy with Jim Gavin" as he himself did not have the exact dates, but estimated it was around 2007.

By the time the lease was being renewed, Mr Gavin wanted to put up the price, which Mr Donald said he did not have an issue with.

Mr Donald's friend eventually moved out, and Mr Donald's partner at the time moved in.

Rental payments were being conducted via a standing order, and whatever way they were changed, Mr Donald said he ended up with two standing orders.

So, he had two sums of money coming out of his account.

He believed rent went up slightly a second time, adding he had very few dealings with Mr Gavin as a landlord.

Mr Donald said he stayed at the residence for about two-and-a-half years and moved out at the beginning of May 2009, at which point he cancelled the standing orders for rent.

"I must have cancelled one of the standing orders, and I failed to cancel the other one. So that money was coming out of an account that I didn't check. Now, a normal person probably would check it.

"People can say my stupidity has played a role in it, and they would be 100% right."

Overall, he said the extra money was for €550, including the rental increase and came out of the account from May until November.

Those six months amounted to €3,300.

"That was the full extent of my savings. Let's put it that way. I mean, I didn't have anything else."

Once he realised what had happened, he said he immediately contacted Mr Gavin.

He contacted Mr Gavin, who said he’d look into the matter.

"I'm really sorry for the mistake, but can I have my money back? Basically."

After hearing nothing back, he attempted to contact Mr Gavin again to no avail.

"You expect him to get back to you or whatever. And it didn't happen. And then I phoned him a couple of times, didn't get back, send him emails, send him texts, all that sort of stuff.

"He just stopped answering."

He added, this went on for weeks, going into months.

Mr Donald said he constructed a detailed email to Mr Gavin, which he still has.

He went to the PRTB, where all landlords were supposed to have registered.

Part of that registration, he explained, involved mediation if you had a dispute with your landlord.

"But ultimately I found out it wasn't uh he wasn't registered there."

After about three months of pursuing Mr Gavin, he said they sought advice from a solicitor.

However, Mr Donald did not have Mr Gavin's home address and therefore could not send a letter or go to the property.

During the podcast, Mr Donald read out a portion of the solicitor's letter he sent to Mr Gavin.

"It says, you know, we're instructed, our client now insists and demands immediate and full payment of this entire sum...

"Please note, if the payment of the above mentioned amount is not made within 14 days of this letter, we are instructed to issue proceedings."

He did have his work address, the address of the apartment he had rented, as well as Mr Gavin's parents' address.

He went to Mr Gavin's parents' house and gave them the letter, saying he was a former tenant who wanted to make contact with them.

"And they were really, really nice. They said asked me to step in. They said, Do you want a cup of tea or anything?" And said, "Is there any problem?" I said, "There's no problem. Uh no issue at all. And I won't stay for a cup of tea. Thank you very much. I just want to make sure he gets this letter."

Later that night, Mr Gavin phoned him, and was "irate" that he had called to his parents' house.

"Which I can actually understand. So I wouldn't actually hold that against him at all."

Eventually, he said Mr Gavin calmed down and accepted he owed him the money.

He said he was transferring the sum and it would be in his account shortly.

"And the money just never arrived."

He added that the letter was sent in late February 2010.

Mr Donald added that he had no money at this point in his life.

He made other attempts to contact Mr Gavin, but nothing happened.

Ultimately, he did not take proceedings.

He confirmed that he has still not been paid back the money.

"I haven't heard anything."

However, he said he would not be pursuing the matter.

"Does the punishment fit the crime? Probably not. I kind of feel sorry for him that he wasn't handled better."

But added, perhaps Fianna Fáil did not have all the information either.

Ive had a landlord trawl through an apartment and make 'damaged' list to the exact amount of a deposit, wearing on a ropey old carpet, a front door that was starting to catch at the bottom - tried to claim that it must have been kicked in etc. I was furious , had no recourse, and it still annoys me. I am now a landlord, registered, have had property inspected by Dundalk Town Council with no issues and deposits are in their own account so I wont feel like Im dipping in to my own money if tenants move on and there isnt any issue. I know exactly what the situation has been for every tenant Ive had off the top of my head, bar maybe exact dates and even then I could look things up. I definitely would know if I had an extra €3300 in rent. I know a good lot of landlords get around the RPZ caps by getting cash in hand and if they dont get that then they create some spurious threat for getting rid of tenants. So I tend to think that if 3k is inappropriately witheld the there is good chance there could be more disgruntled people about. I accidently thransferred €200 to Thomann due to a mislabled payee, letters from bank, emails, phonecalls etc and 3 years later Im still furious that they blanked me, while it was my error they were ars€holes about it. I would tell that story if it were ever relevent. In fact foot.ie members, boycott them - that'll show them!!

Sooo i'm quite enjoying the karma aspect of Gavin's aborted campaign. He will have to justify why he witheld info from the due process of being selected, its highly doubtful he could even stand for local or general elections now either. I seriously dislike scumbaggery in the rebtal sector as I pay my way for tenants to live in an appropriate and safe property, its not as if rent is buttons. FF have egg on the face and showed significnt naivety albeit I doubt if they asked the questions that they got an honest answer though all said if its an isolated incident is it a campaign buster? So why quit. Many questioned why Bertie was overlooked, imagine the what scrutiny could turn up there!! Hanafin might have been the better option for FF.

The abuse that Gavin and his family have recieved is pretty awful, preceeded this revelation, and a sad reflection on significant aspects of society. Dislike a person or party's politics but leave family and threats out of it.

Im quite surprised at opinion polls having Connolly ahead tbh. Yesterdays budget (which I generally thought was prudent if far from perfect) could influence things imo, a protest vote against a govt. candidate type of thing. Loss of Gavin's transfers could make it tough for Humphreys. I have also had a few conversations with people stating that they are going to spoil their vote, write Steen on the ballot or something, so advancing the chances of a left candidate because there isnt a more right wing candidate.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025...donald-tenant/

---

That's a really good piece in fairness. Covers off a lot of questions - and actually acknowledges that in the greater scheme of things, it's fairly minor, and also notes that he's to blame himself for not checking his bank account. (I've had no money before and I can tell you I wouldn't have missed a second bank account with €550 a month coming out of it!)

I'd say it's easy enough to be magnanimous when you've completely and utterly won your case, but still - credit to yer man for the way he's put himself across in that article. Biggest concern in it is that the RTB was completely useless.

Easy said than done but for the RTB to be properly useful renters need to insist on it as a requirement of the lease. Of course currently make such a request and a landlord will just move on to someone else. As ever enforcement of regs leaves a lot to be desired in Ireland.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

and actually acknowledges that in the greater scheme of things, it's fairly minor

---

Well its minor until you run for an office which may require being the moral voice of a nation as we have seen Higgins do so eloquently and on point re Gaza of late.

I no longer accept Gavin forgot this, or it got lost in the passage of time. You don't forget having a scrap down the phone with someone over owed money who had turned up at your parents house because you'd hidden so well from them. You just dont.
Suddenly he rang the guy after God knows how long ignoring him trying to contact.

Neither should you remain in a contest for such an office when, upon being faced with this dilemma ( I accept they could both have been skint, a good chunk of the country was skint around that time after all ) you chose, as Gavin did to effectively say, get it offa me so little man, I'm a big cheese & you aren't.

Ring him, tell him you're skint but make an arrangement, an offer, to pay it back over time weekly or monthly with however much you can afford and stick to your word. Treat him as fellow human, an equal, even though he rented from you. It betrays a mindset to me that is unsuitable for the office.

I notice nothing so far from Gavin to counter the above version.
And we still don't know if there are others
And he still, at the time of the above had not paid.

So its minor until it isn't, as it were, and in the circumstances which arose it was sufficiently minor to derail FFs entire Aras strategy & leave their leader grovelling to the party & rightly so, on both.

We're a bit contrary on things like this, hate the brown envelope climate, disillusioned and betrayed by politics, bemoan the lack of choice and or quality in electoral candidates and then can feel a bit sorry for a candidate messing like the above. Him not remembering the issue etc. Missed it out in due diligence. A party seriously at odds with the leadership over it all. But yet its a minor infraction that shouldnt define a career or campaign? I agree that I think it betrays a mindset as CTP says. But overall we should maintain expectation of high standards and throughout the political spectrum, including calling out vested inerests in policy making and questioning apparent inaction on some significant social issues. This could well just tip the balance of opinion toward some reform in the selection process at political party level and even nationally. Whether ultimately minor in origin, its a major embaressment to the process imo. Maybe not as embaressing as it would if someone with a convicion recorded against them got on the ballot!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nesta99

is could well just tip the balance of opinion toward some reform in the selection process at political party level and even nationally.

---

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1008/15...fail-politics/

He said he was open to any suggestions on how the presidential selection process can be changed ( Micheal Martin )

........

Quite a U turn from a guy who didn't even seek the opinion of some TDs. Pat Gallagher a TD of 38 years wasn't even asked. It may bring change, but it just reeks of a preemptive self preservation strike by MM doesn't it.

.............................

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Easy said than done but for the RTB to be properly useful renters need to insist on it as a requirement of the lease. Of course currently make such a request and a landlord will just move on to someone else. As ever enforcement of regs leaves a lot to be desired in Ireland.

---

So its compulsory or not for people letting out places ?
I haven't lived in Ireland since 1998 so I wouldn't know. Very surprised if its not, less surprised if it is but isn't enforced, so many TDs are also landlords after all, aren't they ?

It is a requirement! They wanted to go as far as deposits being put in ESCRO type accounts and stuff. But many dont register and prospective tenants are not in a position to demand it. There's no reason not to register for 90 quid or something. For me it just covers a number of bases like if a tenant eventually seeks HAP and retrospective registering has to happen. Councils do checks in general but they are hitting low hanging fruit, decent properties they know are registered, they probably dont want to audit a place and end up taking it out of circulation and put residents in to a hotel emegency accomadation, I was happy to produce RECI and gas maintenance certs etc but how many can or would go to he expense until a number of peole die from CO poisoning or the like. T=Claimed tax credits by landlords should be a first flag to check that they are fulfilling obligations.

I don't see why it has to be a retirement tbh. You don't get to opt in to laws of the State. If there's a lease with your name on it, that should be a de facto registration

There must be any number of ways to deal with it, from allowing the tenant to register the lease to crafting tax law around rental income so that a landlord would be daft not to register it. It is, like so many issues here, apparently just not a priority.

I'm glad it nixed his campaign. I don't want to see politics here reach the place they're in across the Atlantic where this would have been met with denial, deflection, and counterattack, and it'd have worked.

Good points! Hadnt thought through such potential methods. It is the cash in hand kind of rentals that the main issues are though. I have one relative who rents 'apartment rooms i what is just a seperated off part of their own home and they are pretty ruthless, any dissent on issues and notice is given, its all cash, and there is such a shortage of options to move on to that the tenants mostly back down. Mention of RTB and its out you go and prove that this is a rental. One day bluff will be called and there'll be a council knock on the door as its a planning breach But councils are truning a blind eye as this 'black' rental market is helping alleviate an even more acute crisis. I am even complicit by not making a quiet tip off to LCC, but we all do a bit of truning a blind eye to a lot of small things which goes back to the Jim Gavin stuff of seeing the money and issue he had as 'minor'. I think we have a certain tolerance for some questionable behaviour. How many people would call police if seeing an associate get in to a car witha few pints on board, or ignore welfare umm exaggerate claims, or underdeclaration of taxes, declare nixers etc.

So, eh, that was a bit of a damp squib in the end, candidate-wise at any rate.

The big story, surely, has to be the spoiled votes after some very effective propaganda by voices on the right. You only need the appearance of a grievance to create mistrust. Given almost 13% of the poll were spoiled votes suggests it wasn’t just Connolly who won big.

Martin’s ‘we’ll have to look at the selection process’ is code for ‘let’s hope this goes away before 2032’ but it legitimises the narrative that the candidate selection process is undemocratic. It wasn’t from 1937-2018, and I’d argue that it worked exactly as it should have this time.

The council route is a free for all: any head-the-ball can book a slot, rock up and give a speech. Unless you’re, let’s say, a known rapist, the exclusion bar is pretty low. That only three out of 31 councils endorsed a candidate from the rogue's gallery that pitched up (and were scathing about some) says this screening works: Kerry and Tipp (Gareth Sheridan, presentable, but a political lightweight and unknown quantum) and Waterford (Kieran McCarthy, ex-Lord Mayor of Cork). Sheridan’s campaigning wasn’t bad. He started early, had a stolid team, and nearly pulled it off. Unlike Maria Steen who dashed in late and, despite her network and Aontu working the backrooms, couldn’t get 20 Oireachtas endorsements out of about 41 available votes, not counting a small number of disaffected party members who might have crossed the line to support her.

Do we need to spend €10-15m on a referendum to change the rules when the process works? No. Instead, here’s free advice to anyone thinking of running in 2032: start in 2029.

Meantime, what to do about those spoiled votes? And what are the expectations for a Connolly presidency?

You already see an element of the Government focusing more on the spoiled votes than on Connolly's victory with the Tánaiste's comments last night on immigration numbers - solely referring to asylum applications, even though the number of student visas was three times that figure last year:

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates...025-05-20/688/

For the left, the focus should be on grassroots public meetings within communities, to address issues relating to services, infrastructure, etc, in order to deal with general frustration before a Reform-style party emerges here. As for Connolly's election, the key takeaway is that greater coordination between the parties involved in the campaign could yield greater seat returns in 2029, but parking egos sufficiently to decide the optimal number of candidates in each constituency would be the biggest challenge.

All this talk of spoiled votes, it barely scrapped 6% of eligible voters. If that is you best result ever and is meant to send a message its a fairly weak message and effort. To me is proves nothing but how easy social media make it to fool gullible people

My expectations for Connolly are she will be the same left wing posturing virtue signaling loo la as Micky D.
Unlike Micky D though her work for the banks chucking people out of their homes puts her in the smoked Salmon socialists rather than the true believers like Micky D...who at least was a GLITW fan.

The President is supposed to represent all of the people by keeping his mouth shut (or her mouth) Micky D has turned it into a political position by pushing his own agendas.
Its disapointing and makes me probably more in favour of lowering the bar for entry to the election. Id rather a populist idiot we could all laugh at then a President that represents one half of the country whichever half that is.
Likely we onwt have an election for 14 years anyway as the new Pres will probably go again for a handy well paying number just like Micky D did.
Once they get their noses in the trough its hard to pull back

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by culloty82

For the left, the focus should be on grassroots public meetings within communities, to address issues relating to services, infrastructure, etc, in order to deal with general frustration before a Reform-style party emerges here. As for Connolly's election, the key takeaway is that greater coordination between the parties involved in the campaign could yield greater seat returns in 2029, but parking egos sufficiently to decide the optimal number of candidates in each constituency would be the biggest challenge.

---

Not just for the left. Now, expecting FF or FG to lose the next election has been a national dream since, well, forever, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or both in the next government. Their impulse to hold power is as strong as the left’s to pick internal fights that only matter to themselves. But they also need boots on the ground for the same reasons you mention. And they need to start delivering benefits people can feel like a housing policy that works, action on high supermarket and utility costs and so on. If people are content and financially OK, there’s less breeding ground for right-wing malcontent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neish

All this talk of spoiled votes, it barely scrapped 6% of eligible voters. If that is you best result ever and is meant to send a message its a fairly weak message and effort. To me is proves nothing but how easy social media make it to fool gullible people

---

Well, yes and no. 6% of the total electorate when a 60% turnout is considered good, but 13% of the 46% who were motivated to go to the ballot box, which is six times higher than the norm, is bad. Those spoiled votes achieved no electoral purpose, and in a campaign as lacklustre as this, might have just stayed at home. But for some reason, they were motivated to go the polling station and demonstrate that they were actively spoiling their ballot, not just leaving it blank. If you consider that a good proportion of Gavin’s 7% was also a form of deliberate spoil, but less crudely effected than writing Maria Steen’s name, then you’re losing one in five of those who turned out, or about one-tenth of the total electorate, which means that about 65% of the electorate didn’t engage in a democratically meaningful way. What I take from that is that this was an exercise in suppressing the vote, and enough gullible people fell for it to work. Next vote (assuming the government stays the distance it will be the always hard to get excited about locals and Europeans in 2029) expect it to be more refined.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sbgawa

My expectations for Connolly are she will be the same left wing posturing virtue signaling loo la as Micky D.
Unlike Micky D though her work for the banks chucking people out of their homes puts her in the smoked Salmon socialists rather than the true believers like Micky D...who at least was a GLITW fan.

The President is supposed to represent all of the people by keeping his mouth shut (or her mouth) Micky D has turned it into a political position by pushing his own agendas.
Its disapointing and makes me probably more in favour of lowering the bar for entry to the election. Id rather a populist idiot we could all laugh at then a President that represents one half of the country whichever half that is.
Likely we onwt have an election for 14 years anyway as the new Pres will probably go again for a handy well paying number just like Micky D did.
Once they get their noses in the trough its hard to pull back

---

So, not a fan then, sbgawa? I think ‘virtue signaling loo la’ was the clue.

Look, you don’t like her: fine. You’re entitled to that opinion, though, sorry to be blunt, it’s fatuous. I question her judgement, and hope she has the sense to accept good advice in the role – you know: like girl guides, good; Éirigí gunslingers, not good. I would have greater issue with her career at the bar if she had ever refused to take on a client because that would bring her honesty and integrity into question. (By the way, does anyone happen to know which banks she represented, or how often?)

But saying you'd rather a populist idiot you could laugh at disturbs me. Because too many people are saying it, or variations of it, and that's devaluing politics. A populist idiot wouldn't represent me, or most of the people I know. Make me king for a day and I'd raise the bar: none of the three on the ballot were presidential material. But I'd rather see Connolly grow into the role and have a good term in office, than wish for a Waldo Moment.

As for presidents pushing the limits of their powers, the constitution isn't written on tablets of stone. It's a living document that shifts with generational changes in social and cultural mores. I suggest we're not as delicate as some make us out to be, and we'd survive with a modest bout of pearl-clutching if a president says something controversial or annoys the government. I'd rather that than Hillery's legacy - lowest golf handicap of any European head of state. (I'm being mean: a reluctant office holder, and he had to be cajoled into both terms - he had legitimate hopes of succeeding Lynch as Taoiseach – is maybe the right starting point for finding the best candidate.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by culloty82

You already see an element of the Government focusing more on the spoiled votes than on Connolly's victory with the Tánaiste's comments last night on immigration numbers - solely referring to asylum applications, even though the number of student visas was three times that figure last year:

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates...025-05-20/688/

For the left, the focus should be on grassroots public meetings within communities, to address issues relating to services, infrastructure, etc, in order to deal with general frustration before a Reform-style party emerges here. As for Connolly's election, the key takeaway is that greater coordination between the parties involved in the campaign could yield greater seat returns in 2029, but parking egos sufficiently to decide the optimal number of candidates in each constituency would be the biggest challenge.

---

I've never heard anyone take issue with the number of student visas before, but the reality is that non-EU fees massively subsidise the 3rd level sector, filling a hole created by the government response to the '08 crash and never patched. It's a strain on housing for sure, but it's mostly just an export business and pretty good for bringing money into the country. I don't know to what extent scam English schools for easy visas still operate, but obviously they're not the same thing.

Too true, John. I'd be out of a job if it wasn't for international students who pay almost double the fees of EU/EEA students. I think the figures in that link may just for HEIs - 60k is a little over one-fifth of the third-level student body. From experience, the visa rejections were particularly high from some African countries last year, and we never got to the bottom of why, whether it was one over-stretched embassy or a very inflexible assessment process. The language schools are more tightly regulated than they used to be, so there are fewer abuses of the system.