If Mary Upton isn't running perhaps her nephew Henry will run? He got elected as a counsellor in the last locals and is the son of Pat Upton who's seat Mary won after his death. Eric Byrne hasn't held a seat since 1997 although he just missed out last time. I'd say going by the last local elections and the demographics of the area Dublin South Central will go two Labour, one FG, one FF and one SF.
Wonder what odds PBP getting a seat in the dail are? They might get at least one
They certainly have a shot in Dun Laoghaire but as me and Macy have both illustrated it's a remarkably tough place to call and carnage is pretty much expected. I would be stunned if Boyd Barrett isn't in the hunt for one. Big difference between that and a win.
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All governments are incomptent. and, yes, €51m went down the pan on voting machines, but that goes on everywhere, and €51m Euro is chicken feed compared to some **** ups goverments make.Originally Posted by dahamsta
In the north we've wasted millions on a Fire Brigade Training School in a smoke free zone and mobile firing ranges for the PSNI that never move because they don't fit through the gates of police stations, but compared to the £20 billion the UK government wasted on "NHS Connecting for Health" , even the combination of the voting machines, firing ranges and training school seem pretty cheap.
And another part of the reason I would consider FF very seriously is my lack of alternative options. The unionist parties obviously aren't an option, leaving me with a choice between Gerry and the Peacemakers or the Society of Derry/Londonderry Pensioners. We really need someone new and FF seem the most likely option.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
What reasons does the Irish Labour party have for not organising and contesting elections in the North of Ireland ?
This site was very useful last year - a bit dated now due to the Lisbon questions, but it still gives you a good idea of where you stand on the political spectrum. Even better, once you've finished your area's questions, you can drop down to see your ideal fit in all EU countries, including all four UK countries.
Jim McDaid is (has) resigning meaning with the Independants who normally vote with the governmment, and the independants who normally vote against them, the budget is going to fail hands down.
The governemnt will fall and the IMF are in before the election in 2011. At last (..sigh..)
To quote Kent Brockman:
The spacecraft has apparently been taken over "conquered" if you will by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain. There is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality, I could be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.
Would the ECB Stabilisation fund (rather than the IMF), not wait and see a new Government election and see how that effects bond market sentiment?
An election would only be 3 weeks, and would be totally about the economic plan. If it was called now, we'd have a new Government within a week or so of the planned budget date (although I'm taking it that they're bringing forward the budget to next week). Assuming we do have the money as we're told, then the Government falling on the budget would spark an election, nothing more imo.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
Is Healy-Rae not getting a new motorway built right up his arse not a more likely outcome (and similar pork barrels rolled out for the other non-independent independents) to ensure the Govt limps on?
Isn't that the way politics works in this country or I am confusing us with a functioning democracy?
Could go that way, or more could jump ship to show their "independence" ahead of an election, as if the Government loses all 4 outstanding byelections does that mean they've lost their majority?
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
166 seats in the Dail, 4 currently vacant and Ceann Comhairle only votes in a tie. So normal majority required is 83, but currently 81.
There are 70 FF in parliamentary party plus 6 Greens, Harney, Lowery and Healy Rae pretty much guaranteed to vote with FF*. After that all bets are off. Mattie McGrath, Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon hold the balance [shudder].
If they lost the by-elections they would be toast. And on that matter, how they have been allowed under the laws of the land to avoid holding them is a national disgrace.
*Figures stolen from RTE.
Has anyone asked Bertie Ahern to give his wages back, since he's done f*ck all actual work since he had to leave as Taoiseach?
Presumably he has all the cash there in the office in Drumcondra so I'm sure it could be arranged to have it returned?
and it might even have appreciated in value! Afterall , he was pretty good at betting on the horses as per his evidence @ Flood.Presumably he has all the cash there in the office in Drumcondra so I'm sure it could be arranged to have it returned?
Apols for OT conversation but the bond spread is at 7.3% or so on ten year bonds today, is it cos of Jimmy McDaid?
....the last time he created this much panic he was driving the wrong way down the Naas dual carriageway.
Bond spreads seem to be crawling up day by day. Dawning realisation that even if the budget makes the savings required, we're still screwed and some kind of managed default is a better option.
Traditionally, former FF Taoiseachs keep their heads down so as not to undermine the current one. Even Reynolds toed that line.
It's Taoisigh.
Loose interpretation of the term "keeping their heads down" to mean "not even bothering to show your face in the Dail and represent your beloved constituents".
Well, to mean nearly no speaking in the Dail (I recall Reynolds holding the lowest of the year totals a few years back), nothing (in public at least) to indicate an opinion on internal politics or the government. Basically, they become a safe seat, a government vote in the Dail and nothing more. I don't know if Bertie's attendance has been extraordinary in that regard.
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