Who will form the next government? - The results

Yep, so working people will continue to pay for their water costs through payroll taxes but they'll also continue to pay their neighbours water charges as well. The cost to the State of delivering water hasn't changed and the cost of upgrading our Victorian water infrastructure also hasn't changed.

Yes, even more reason to be aggrieved at FG and Phil "I'm off to Brussels toodlepip" Hogan for the omnishables of how they attempted to bring the charges in and have - forgive the pun - poisoned the well for generations. It was obvious from the get go they weren't interested in fairness of charging or a better water infrastructure it was primarily about getting IW debts off the governments books.
If it had been brought in by the Greens as a proper public utility to secure our water systems for the future I think it might have won grudging acceptance.
 
Some musings.

Had chats with a former member and (unsuccessful) candidate of the Labour Party yesterday evening. He mentioned that there was talk of a Green/SD&LP/Aontú and a scatter of like-minded Indo's entering a pact to form a fourth block of some 30+ TD's
This would really throw the cat amongst the pigeons. It also offers the prospect, albeit a real long-shot, of Eamonn Ryan being brokered as the next Taoiseach with 2 of the other 3 parties supporting in a coalition with neither leading the government.
Radical stuff indeed, but considering the numbers, and the current positions of each party, is this a runner?

Having said that, he was oblivious to the news that Howlin had resigned until he saw it on the news, so I take his insights with a pinch of salt.
 
For clarity, FF and FG must both step up, and keep SF out.

SF won the same amount of seats as FF, SF also won the popular vote and could have had 10 more TD's had they ran more.
It is clear that a FF & FG coalition has been been rejected by the electorate .

It will most likely be a FF/SF coalition with a smaller party and a rotating SF/FF Taoiseach
 
It is clear that a FF & FG coalition has been been rejected by the electorate .
That may be the prevailing narrative but in reality it's all as clear as mud. FF/FG/Green would command a majority of seats and represent more than 50% of the popular vote. It would be no less valid than some rabble Left government.
 
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I suspect that FF going into coalition with SF would result in a significant number of their voters automatically moving to FG come to the next election.
 
It is clear that a FF & FG coalition has been been rejected by the electorate .

It will most likely be a FF/SF coalition with a smaller party and a rotating SF/FF Taoiseach

1. It is not clear that a FF & FG coalition has been rejected. This is fallacy currently propagated by Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin. In fact, the Grand Alliance of FF & FG + some Independents is a runner and perhaps will become more clear in the next week or two. My opinion is that Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar don't want another general election this year. If you were a card carrying member of FF or FG what would you be thinking?

2. I agree that the most likely outcome will be a FF/SF coalition.

3. Don't be surprised if there is a change in the leadership of both FF & FG. However, it's not a certainty.

I haven't delved into the life of Mary Lou yet. All I know about her is from television appearances and newspaper articles. She tells a good story and looks great and appeals favourably to different human lifeforms in Ireland Ltd.
 
I haven't delved into the life of Mary Lou yet. All I know about her is from television appearances and newspaper articles. She tells a good story and looks great and appeals favourably to different human lifeforms in Ireland Ltd.
That expensive private school education in Notre Dame, Churchtown didn't go to waste. Sure it was only a short trip from her home in Rathgar. She's giving her kids the same start, fair play to her. With her smoked salmon socialist background it's a surprise she didn't join the Labour Party instead of Fianna Fáil. She is, without doubt a very smart and capable person.
 
She's giving her kids the same start, fair play to her.

I assume her husband's income is financing that, what with her only drawing the average industrial wage.

Her predecessor managed a home in Belfast, a holiday property in Donegal, an apartment in Clontarf (rent ?) and possible some residence in his then constituency of Louth. All on the average industrial wage.

We need that talent in the Department of Finance.
 
I assume her husband's income is financing that, what with her only drawing the average industrial wage.

Her predecessor managed a home in Belfast, a holiday property in Donegal, an apartment in Clontarf (rent ?) and possible some residence in his then constituency of Louth. All on the average industrial wage.

We need that talent in the Department of Finance.
They might be paying for it with the €60k he got when Bord Gais was sold off as he worked for them at the time. I'm not sure where he works now. In fairness to Mary Lou she was against the selloff at the time.
 
Wiki said:
In September 2003, McDonald attracted criticism when she spoke at a rally in Dublin to commemorate Seán Russell, an IRA leader with links to Nazi Germany.
In June 2009, McDonald faced criticism after it emerged her campaign office was selling IRA souvenirs and memorabilia.
In December 2015, McDonald initially backed Thomas "Slab" Murphy, who she described as a "good republican" despite him having been convicted on nine charges of tax evasion, following a trial held in the Special Criminal Court after the last person to testify against Murphy in a court was bludgeoned to death after a 1999 court case in Dublin.
In March 2019, McDonald was criticised by some, including Fine Gael politician and incumbent Tánaiste Simon Coveney, for walking behind a banner in the New York City St. Patrick’s day parade which read "England Get Out of Ireland".
She's not all bad.
 
A FF/FG/Green government . . has shortened in the betting from 14/1 to 5/1 second favourite.
Something off about quoting one's own posts but FF/FG/Green is now 7/4 favourite. . although, admittedly, the bookies got the election totally wrong.
 
Something off about quoting one's own posts but FF/FG/Green is now 7/4 favourite. . although, admittedly, the bookies got the election totally wrong.
I wonder, as time passes, is the appetite for a SF led government starting to wane?

It could very well have been a protest vote but when the rubber hits the road, maybe those who voted for SF realise the promises made are not achievable without drastically increasing taxes & wrecking the economy. Never mind all the nefarious aspects.....

If FF & FG do form a coalition I would expect drastic increases in house building and someone to really focus on the HSE.

Sure, with FF proposing another SSIA, are we a few weeks away from the start of Celtic Tiger 2.0 ? :eek:
 
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I just worry with the virus in China, and we're probably about due a global recession... I wouldn't want to be the ones in office when that hits.
If FF & FG are in there together at that time, they'll end up so weak SF would have free reign after next election.
 
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