Irish Politics, Politicians in Ireland, TDs, Irish Government

The greening of Irish politics

Seen on 'political quote'

I like the Greens. I like Trevor Sargent. If I wasn’t a socialist I think I probably would be a green. The trouble with the green party, particularly in Ireland and the UK is that the other parties keep stealing their policies. The process is as follows, the Greens come up with radical policies, these are poo-pooed at the time. Time passes,... Continue reading »

Heads to roll at Port Company

Seen on The Limerick Blogger

Heads to roll at Port Company February 25th, 2007 It looks like Martin Cullen has had a bellyfull of the alleged shenanigans at Shannon-Foynes Port Company. According to the Sunday Business Post, every last one of the company’s board members is being given the boot, and are to be replaced in the next couple of weeks. And if evidence were... Continue reading »

The Greens state their policies

Seen on Sirenian Shores

The Green party leader, Trevor Sargant outlined their manifesto at the party’s national conference this weekend. Given how the mainstream parties - Fianne Fail, Fianne Gael, Labour and the PD’s - are now all but indistinguishable from each other, the Green’s policies stand out even more so than they did before. Child-centred policies, community... Continue reading »

Services on ADHD and Autism Collapse in Kilkenny

Seen on Cllr. Michael O' Brien

Following a request from myself , to Liz McManus TD., our Spokesperson for Health & Children, The Department of Health has now requested a Health Services Executive (HSE) investigation into the collapse of ADHD and Autism services in Kilkenny. The question raised that Liz rouse from me was, “To ask the Minister for Health & Children when... Continue reading »

The Privacy Bill (Ireland)

Seen on Fergus O'Rourke - Journal - Of Laws and Men

The Irish government’s proposed law on the protection of privacy is still moving slowly through the Senate, which is the upper house of parliament. Since the lower house has not seen it yet, it is difficult to believe that it will become law before next summer’s general election. This will accord with the Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s real... Continue reading »

Cathaoirleach’s address: Planet Bertie

Seen on The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas

As usual, John Gormley’s Cathaoirleach’s address just before lunch was the highlight of the morning session. John got the Greens fired up with talk of entering government, ending the privatisation of the health service, and bringing an end to gombeenism and the nightmare that is “Planet Bertie”. [ John Gormley delivers his Cathaoirleach’s... Continue reading »

Politics and Passion

Seen on Genevieve Carbery

[ Bobby][ Gormley]John Gormley’s speech at the Green Party conference So rare to hear passion, ideas, excitement in a politician. Too much it all is bitterness, pointscoring and illusion. I went to see Bobby last week, the election speeches for the democratic nomination were so passionate and hopeful they made me cry. It partly made me cry for... Continue reading »

Sargent to resign as leader before agreeing to FF coalition

Seen on BreakingNews.ie

Green party leader Trevor Sargent has said that he will resign as leader of the party if a coalition with Fianna Fáil is the only option for government following the general election.... Continue reading »

INSIDE POLITICS - Green Day

Seen on Harry McGee

WHEN he is droning on and on about biofuels and carbon emissions and global warming and energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, you feel like grabbing him by the lapels and saying: “Bertie, give us a break will you?” A long time ago, Margaret Thatcher responded to the small threat posed by the incipient ecology movement in Britain by... Continue reading »

Friday evening Q&A session

Seen on The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas

The convention proper kicked off with a panel of invited speakers and Green Party representatives addressing questions put to them from the floor. The topics ranged from work-life balance, education, migration, the housing market, and the role of the Irish cow in combating climate change. As well as Cllr Bronwen Maher (in the chair), Dan Boyle... Continue reading »

Michael McDowell, Pat Rabbitte and Situational Homosexuality

Seen on Irish Election

Michael McDowell, Pat Rabbitte and Situational Homosexuality Writes Niall of Plain of Pillars on February 23rd, 2007 Read More: Progressive Democrats, Labour Party, Gay Rights, Irish Election 2007 Let me begin by apologising if the headline of this piece has conjured up any disturbing images in your mind’s eye. This little article makes no... Continue reading »

Kill Bills v 2 - Gay Rights in Ireland

Seen on Potatriotique

Summary [This is another one of my lengthy posts, so I’ve included the bulk of it after the “Read more” link, below. Other gay stuff here] Tuesday and Wednesday of this week saw members of Dáil Éireann discussing the Labour party’s proposed Civil Unions Bill 2006. (Information also available here. [PDF]) Those evenings also saw the response... Continue reading »

It’s the Economy Stupid

Seen on Edelman Dublin

It’s the Economy Stupid February 23rd, 2007 Ask any US political consultant advising an Irish political party what the most surprising thing about Irish politics and they will all say the same thing. What really surprises the US hired guns is the fact that the economy does not feature as an issue. Why is that and what does it mean for the next... Continue reading »

Local Democracy D4 Style

Seen on eastmeath.org

Local Democracy D4 Style February 23rd, 2007 Obviously local democracy works in Ringsend. Michael McDowell announces shelving of plans to build an incinerator in Ringsend, which is part of his constituency. Oddly the announcement, which comes 3 months before the election, was made much to the surprise of the local council, the authority which... Continue reading »

Poolbeg incinerator collapse stinks!

Seen on 'political quote'

Michael McDowell praised the collapse or alleged collapse of the Poolbeg incinerator project as “a victory for local government”. Ruairi Quinn points out that “Ministers Cullen and Roche decided to ignore the wishes of City Councillors from all parties and even removed their powers to block the proposal. Minister Michael McDowell, as a member of... Continue reading »

So my Mom met the Irish Prime Minister..

Seen on Age Appropriate

My uncle celebrated his 60th birthday last November and when we had a surprise birthday party for him, his friend Bertie Ahern turned up! He is the Prime Minister of Ireland and here he is, pictured with my Mom who didn’t need to be asked twice!... Continue reading »

Whatever you want, whatever you like, whatever you say

Seen on The Cedar Lounge Revolution

Whatever you want, whatever you like, whatever you say February 22, 2007 Posted by smiffy in Irish Election 2007, Irish Labour Party, Irish Politics. add a comment  Pat Rabbitte’s recent conference address, in particular the proposed cut in the standard tax rate met with predictable disdain from non-Labour leftists and was hailed as a... Continue reading »

Watching McDowell

Seen on GUBU

We referred earlier to McDowell’s careful phrasing about his “knowledge” but lack of ” involvement” in the McCaffrey arrest. PO’Neill observes over at irishelection that he’s being just as careful over the emergency legislation on the risk equalisation: “…the Order Paper for yesterday did not include the bill, leading Pat Rabbitte to claim today... Continue reading »

And are you pregnant, sir?

Seen on Skangerland

And still the Vhi requires all members to pay for maternity cover as a non-optional part of their health insurance. That’s ALL members, including the men and anyone else who is physically incapable of ever claiming for it. [ Harney Dumpty at Skangerland] Risk equalisation, community rating - all fine and dandy, but if I’m going to have to... Continue reading »

Berties Bebo Makes British News

Seen on ByteSurgery - Digital Media Engineering [ Robin Blandford ]

[ Reuters Plaza At Lunch] Walking into work this morning - I spot a story about “Bertie Ahern Figure Skating” flash up on our giant jumbotron Reuters news screen in the plaza. Naturally I go to look it up at my desk. I’m pretty shocked to find the news story “Internet spoof lampoons figure-skating Irish PM“. Thousands have visited the bogus... Continue reading »

INSIDE POLITICS - Outside the cocoon, inside the cocoon

Seen on Harry McGee

OUTSIDE THE COCOON - I drove down to Connemara from Dublin yesterday to appear as a guest on TG4’s ‘Seacht Lá’. Even when driving through the Irish countryside, you can’t really escape politics. First, there was the road. The N4 extension brings you as far as Tyrrellspass in Co Westmeath now. As you go back onto bockety roads, you can see that... Continue reading »

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny Backs The SDLP

Seen on ElBlogador.com- The Voice of Irish Nationalism

The leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny, came to Newry yesterday to throw his weight behind the SDLP in advance of the elections on 7th March. He was met by party activists at Newry Railway Station and joined SDLP Leader Mark Durkan MP, SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell MP, and Newry and Armagh incumbent candidate for the Assembly Dominic Bradley... Continue reading »

The closure of Boyle Quarries

Seen on Garreth McDaid

Roscommon County Council seems to be totally at sea when it comes to planning law. Picking up the legal bill for the dispute over Michael McDowell’s holiday home was bad enough, but now the Council’s bungling has resulted in the loss of 20 jobs at Boyle Quarries. Quarries are never an easy issue to deal with. On the one hand, they are vital to... Continue reading »

Dick’s indirect tax rise

Seen on 'political quote'

Dick Roche is to increase the tax on plastic bags by seven cent in July. This is supposed to be a part of efforts to ensure against an increase in littering but as we all know plastic bags are no longer a problem. It was introduced in light of the serious litter problem being caused by the bags and saw a decrease of 90 per cent in the use of... Continue reading »

Tracing a Leak

Seen on The Art of the Grand Gesture

Mick McCaffrey was arrested yesterday. He is a journalist with the Sunday Tribune, but his troubles began with his previous employment, at the Evening Herald. A member of An Garda Siochana, a detective sergeant who has not yet been named, was also arrested. The Garda isn’t saying much about their employee, but the National Union of Journalists... Continue reading »