Irish Politics, Politicians in Ireland, TDs, Irish Government

Pity Labour, Pity Us

Seen on Notes On The Front

[ Inequality_1] This was originally written for Irishelection.com Pity the Labour Party. They have bent over backwards to insist they will not raise taxes. The first issue of their free tabloid, The Rose, stated baldly on the front page, ‘Taxes are low and will stay low.’ They have entered an election pact with a party that details all the taxes... Continue reading »

Pay up or die

Seen on Public Inquiry

I then came home, flicked on the TV and got into bed. The first ad on the TV was from the Government telling people that bowel cancer can kill, but not if caught in time. If Bertie Ahern or Mary Harney or Michael McDowell were within reach I would have killed them. Literally, I’m not joking. This quote is from a woman who is dying from cancer... Continue reading »

Failed Opposition

Seen on A Dissent

Dear Editor Another week, another failure from our so called “opposition”. So Fine Gael are in favour of a reduction of stamp duty, now where have we heard that before? How in all honesty can Enda Kenny claim to be a fit leader of this nation when all his party is capable of producing are weak watered down imitations of the PD’s policies. In... Continue reading »

Incentives and unemployment

Seen on ie-politics

I don’t usually quote Milton Friedman but he was certainly right when he said “there is no such thing as a purely economic issue”. Most economists presume that there is always a trade off between equality and efficiency and there is a large literature on the size and extent of this trade off. Michael McDowell believes that “a dynamic liberal... Continue reading »

Negative campaigning

Seen on The Labour Party and the 2007 General Election

Negative campaigning Filed under: Uncategorized — christineindublin @ 11:51 pm Labour have yet to dip their toe into the murky waters of negative campaigning, leaving their potential coalition partners Fine Gael to do the dirty work for them. This is a picture of the poster campaign that FG are running all over the country, focussing on the... Continue reading »

Is this the simple-but-effective plan that will save Labour?

Seen on The Labour Party and the 2007 General Election

Is this the simple-but-effective plan that will save Labour? Filed under: Uncategorized — christineindublin @ 11:50 pm Pat Rabbitte has announced that every week for the next 5 weeks, he will be announcing one large policy idea, designed to stimulate debate and discussion among the chattering classes. Unfortunately, that hasn’t quite happened... Continue reading »

How democracy doesn’t work

Seen on Marking Time

Minister of State, Tony Killeen is in a spot of bother after he appeared to make representations to the Minister for Justice for the early release of a child rapist. Representations by TDs for the early release of prisoners are commonplace - in my book they shouldn’t be tolerated - the only reason this one made the headlines is because of the... Continue reading »

This is the nearest Bertie Ahern came to making a …

Seen on Harry McGee

This is the nearest Bertie Ahern came to making a direct criticism during trade trip to one of the world’s most repressive countries, Saudi Arabia. “More broadly, I am convinced that the principle of mutual respect must underpin all aspects of relations between our two regions, Europe and the Middle East, which are inextricably linked by... Continue reading »

Taoiseach should condemn US military posturing and human rights abuses during Saudi visit

Seen on John Gormley

Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Gormley TD today called on the Taoiseach to use his visit to the Middle East to condemn human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the build-up of US military assets in the Gulf area which, it is feared, could be a precursor to a new American war against Iran. Deputy Gormley said: “While the Taoiseach... Continue reading »

A POLICEMAN’S LOT

Seen on McGarr Solicitors

A POLICEMAN’S LOT Posted by Edward McGarr under Criminal Law No Comments It is going to get tougher to be a senior police officer. According to the Irish Times of 13th January 2007, the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, and the Garda Commissioner, are pondering the feasibility of making “police chiefs” (the Commissioner?)... Continue reading »

Albert bites Bertie

Seen on 'political quote'

Albert Reynolds has struck out at Bertie Ahern over the payments Ahern received as Minister for Finance. Bertie has already blamed the scandal on a sinister conspiracy which brought the matter of the payments to the attention of the media. Read about Bertie’s nixonesque behaviour here. However the scandal (known at the time as “Bertiegate”) of... Continue reading »

Rabbitte’s wriggle room

Seen on ie-politics

Today’s Irish Independent leads with “Rabbitte leaves door open for Ahern pact”. The Labour leader has given an interview with the paper and the spin is that the party “has left the door open for a possible coalition with Fianna Fail if its pre-election pact with Fine Gael fails to win the support of voters”. Pressed repeatedly on the issue,... Continue reading »

Former Taoiseach attacks Ahern over payments

Seen on Balrog

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds has launched a blistering attack on Bertie Ahern over payments that he recieved from rich businessmen while Minister for Finance. According to the former Taoiseach Bertie’s judgement on the matter has affected Irish public life. Mr Reynolds insisted he would have forbidden his then Finance minister from... Continue reading »

when i was a kid elections were more fun

Seen on Brian Greene

FF used drop brown envelopes in the door asking for donations, and would call back with in the hour for it, like the Easter Dues, i kid you not. FF had more stickers than anyone else (bring back jack ‘77) Fine Gael had more candidates than anyone else (5 candidates in a four seater?) Labour had more posters than anyone, all double sided... Continue reading »

Ireland: One party state?

Seen on Kevin Rafter’s Blog

The latest IMS Millward Brown opinion poll for the Sunday Tribune points to another Fianna Fail general election victory. Such an outcome raises the prospect of FF being in government what what seems like forever. Here’s my analysis piece from the paper - 14 Jan edition: It would be a nightmare for Fianna Fáil handlers but the delegates to the... Continue reading »

Govt has no Road Safety Strategy - Daly

Seen on RichardDaly

No speed cameras, no drug-driving test, only half penalty points Fine Gael Kildare South General Election candidate, Cllr Richard Daly has said it is an incredible the Government now has no Road Safety Strategy as the 2004 to 2006 strategy has now expired following the death of 367 people on our roads last year. “367 people died in road... Continue reading »

Same old, same old …

Seen on The Progressive Gardener

Have just returned to Dublin after four weeks travelling the highways and byways of Gujarat in western India. It’s good to be back (and to tuck into steak and wine after subsisting on a non-alcoholic vegetarian diet), but slightly depressing to see that the Big Political Story is the Deasy-English-Kenny non-spat in Fine Gael and that – according... Continue reading »

Is my life safe in their hands?

Seen on GUBU

Is my life safe in their hands? Posted in Irish Politics, Irish Society at 3:37 pm by Sarah There are some things in every domestic partnership that are non-negotiable. Top of my list is paying the VHI bill. Though I have a weak sense of entitlement, I have a highly developed nose for disaster. So despite my husband’s disgruntlement, I make... Continue reading »

Alcohol and driving don’t mix - full stop

Seen on Clare Herbert

Guilty as charged, I am a “young person”. Much ink and airtime is spent on my demographic and the issue of drink driving, and yet the young voice is rarely heard as loudly and with due consideration as other commentators in this paper. The general trend in commentary falls into three categories: those who blame the Government, those who criticise... Continue reading »

Latest poll shows increase in Labour Party support

Seen on A view from the Left - Cllr Seamus Ryan's Blog

RTE are reporting today on the latest Sunday Tribune poll which shows an increase in support for the Labour Party and Fine Gael at the expense of Fianna Fail. The poll shows that Fianna Fáil is at 39%, Fine Gael at 22% and Labour at 12%. This is an increase of two points on the previous poll for the Labour Party. The poll shows a further drop in... Continue reading »

Enda Kenny, Hat In Hand

Seen on The Art of the Grand Gesture

Why, oh why, should Sinn Fein get all the money? So goes the reasoning of Enda Kenny and the boys of Fine Gael. Mr. Kenny was visiting some Irish-American supporters in the fall when the brainstorm swirled in many a collective head. Someone, either in Ireland or America, thought that he might as well raise funds when he next comes to town. After... Continue reading »

Environment must go to top of political agenda

Seen on A view from the Left - Cllr Seamus Ryan's Blog

An interesting press release today from Labour Spokesperson on Environment and Local Government Eamon Gilmore in which he accuses the Fianna Fail / PD government of a “disgraceful performance on the environment” According to Eamon Ireland is now the third worst country in Europe in terms of complaints against our record on environmental... Continue reading »

Time for the government to admit their mistake.

Seen on Cllr. Michael O' Brien

Spent Saturday back on the canvas, which was my first day back after the holidays. My fellow Labour Councillor Anne Phelan joined me on the canvas in the village of Goresbridge. Goresbridge is within the local election area which both Anne and I represent... Continue reading »

David Ervine: From Guns To Government - An Irishman And An Ulsterman- Farewell.

Seen on Ireland - The Voice Of The Nation

Today Ireland said goodbye to one of its own. David Ervine, was a man of many parts. A former terrorist and member of the outlawed paramilitary group the U.V.F. David Ervine was branded a criminal for transporting a homemade bomb. However David Ervine was much more than just another jailed terrorist. People like David Ervine changed the political... Continue reading »

Speaking in Tongues - Fine Gael’s Solo Runs

Seen on Dublin Opinion

[ Jim Higgins - looking down on poor people]…Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as... Continue reading »