Dail Independents

**Macy** · 04/08/2011, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Reduced us to what?

Voting for the likes of Clare Daly?

Random posts, out of nowhere, after feckin years?

**mypost** · 15/09/2011, 1:32 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

HALLIGAN, John

Has had a sleepy 4 months since his election, bar one appearance on RTE recently.

In the news yesterday, for waking from his slumber during the opening Dail session. The day's business had to be interrupted for him to calm down, the CC to throw him out, and hand him a suspension. He had legitimate grievances over recent job losses in his constituency, but on the positive side, the Dail has been restructured as to allow TD's the chance to debate current issues at length. Until yesterday, the Adjournment Debates didn't quite cut the mustard.

**BonnieShels** · 15/09/2011, 7:21 AM

I'm sure Deputy Halligan was chatting away with the relevant ministers over the summer about jobs in Waterford and didn't just want til the first day of the Dáil to be on camera.

**mypost** · 09/06/2012, 10:03 AM

Mick Wallace the latest Independent in the doghouse.

Many Independents have lined up to condemn him and to tell everyone that taxes must be paid. The same Independents who were telling people not to pay their €100 tax bill in March.

**thebooboys** · 09/06/2012, 2:43 PM

Small difference between protesting against a e100 charge amounting to a few hundred million nationally and Wallace's 2.1 million fraud.

**Macy** · 11/06/2012, 8:06 AM

They're on dodgy ground advocating people avoid one tax, and then condemning one of their own for avoiding a different tax, regardless of the amount imo. Just fed the right wing media who've loved sticking the boot into the supposed hypocrisy. SF have managed to walk the tightrope of being anti the household charge, without telling people not to pay it.

**mypost** · 23/06/2012, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by thebooboys

Small difference between protesting against a e100 charge amounting to a few hundred million nationally and Wallace's 2.1 million fraud.

The difference is not important, the principle is. Imagine him standing up in the Dail to lecture on Burton's latest anti-fraud measures?

Wallace has now resigned from the Technical Group.

**mypost** · 02/12/2014, 10:01 PM

Since the last post, the Independent ranks have swelled from by-election wins and government rebels. Now they're the most popular politicians in the country with their No Way Never guide to politics.

Their populist stance on Water Charges are merely boosting their popularity. Some of the more high profile ones, like the Professional Protester TD from Dun Laoghaire even boast that their public protests on the issue will automatically collapse the biggest majority government in the country's history.

Only 79 seats are needed to form a government majority when the election is held. As usual, no one party is likely to get that many. However with so many disparate independents around, it would be rather difficult for any of them to form a government, and hold it together. If anything, the sheer amount of them could mean no government in power, and more elections held until two of the big three parties have enough numbers to form a working coalition.

**bennocelt** · 02/12/2014, 10:13 PM

wow its MyPost

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/12/2014, 10:21 PM

I can confirm on mypost's behalf that there is a direct bus from Tallaght to Dun Laoghaire.

**Mr A** · 02/12/2014, 10:25 PM

Mypost is spot on there- there may be difficulty forming a stable government in the next Dail. Lots of independents and SF who the other parties don't want to touch. Long way to go yet though. The Reform Alliance may yet hoover up some of the independents if they actually go for it. Interesting times indeed.

**Macy** · 05/12/2014, 1:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Mypost is spot on there- there may be difficulty forming a stable government in the next Dail. Lots of independents and SF who the other parties don't want to touch. Long way to go yet though. The Reform Alliance may yet hoover up some of the independents if they actually go for it. Interesting times indeed.

FG and FF between them significantly below 50% of FPV - only option maybe a grand coalition of the former 2.5 parties.

No idea how the independent votes will translate into seats though - will a right wing reform alliance independent vote transfer to a left wing independent candidate?

It's ironic given all the accusations about broken promises, it's an issue that FG (at least) were very clear on in their manifesto that is causing the biggest issues. Their manifesto said that they wouldn't implement water charges without the formation of a single entity to control it. A bit different to how it's being presented now by the media and protesters. The Government does have a clear mandate on this issue!

**BonnieShels** · 07/12/2014, 7:07 PM

When has that ever mattered to the media or independents.

**mypost** · 22/12/2014, 1:44 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Mypost is spot on there- there may be difficulty forming a stable government in the next Dail. Lots of independents and SF who the other parties don't want to touch. Long way to go yet though. The Reform Alliance may yet hoover up some of the independents if they actually go for it. Interesting times indeed.

They would hoover up independents if they were a political party or even had a credible policy. Instead they don't seem to know what they are. Their only policy appears to be "Get yourself in the media and kick the government". It's about as groundbreaking as kicking an open door.

The Indies poll base has now entered the 60 seat plus category if a snap election was called. Try getting a government out of that!! Their policy appears to be "pay your water charge through your income tax as you do already, "franchise" Facebook, Dell, Microsoft and other FDI's based here, and impose a wealth tax on the rich. One of their disciples, Francis Holland, tried to impose wealth taxes on French millionaires after he got elected. It failed and he is the most unpopular President ever. If he couldn't succeed, what chance have Barrett, Collins, and Higgins got? While attempting to franchise O'Dell, and Mickosoft wouldn't see it past an aspirational manifesto.

Opposing austerity is as populist as you can get. But as it stands, they could very easily be kingmakers in 18 months. They better come up with something more practical than holding a few wild goose chase protests around the country by then, otherwise we could be back to the IMF with the bowl in no time.

**mypost** · 29/06/2015, 8:42 PM

As the economy stutters it's recovery, the independents have seen their popularity slip, and the government's increase.

They have a special documentary programme on RTE this evening dedicated to them, both past and present, and the contribution they have made in government and opposition.