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Irish Politics

Valadius Jan 20 2011 07:44 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 31 2012 08:18 PM

In the ever-fascinating world of Irish politics, Taoiseach Brian Cowen made yet another bonehead move in attempting a midnight reshuffle of his government, which resulted today in forcing him to finally call for an early election on March 11.

metirish Jan 20 2011 08:23 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Not sure it was a reshuffle as more of the fact that five ministers resigned overnight , he was going to promote junior ministers to the positions but some frantic goings on in Dáil Éireann with the Green Party likely to balk at those promotions and pull the plug on the Government right now forced Cowan's hand....the call it a joke would be an insult to jokes...word was Cowan was going to hold off on the General Election until the end of March after he visited the White House on St. Patrick's day. Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party I might add have been an utter disgrace and an insult to the memory of men like de Valera and Lemass. Several things should happen when the new Government come in , a renegotiation of the bailout if not a ripping up of that BS document, that this government saddled generations of Irish people with the debts of bankers and speculators is shocking , any new government needs o tackle that first.....a report this morning has 1000 people immigrating a week now form Ireland...that me a citizen cannot vote in elections is a fucking disgrace.... There are lots of smart people over there and I hope their voices are heard when the politicians come knocking , here is one of those smart people http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/2011/01/0 ... ve-ireland

metirish Jan 22 2011 07:30 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

You couldn't make this up......Breaking News Cowen resigns as FF leader, to remain as Taoiseach. A thousand people a week are immigrating yet this is what has occupied the government for the last several weeks....Fianna Fáil are going slowly into oblivion. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/bre ... king5.html

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 22 2011 07:41 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

"I'm going a little road-blind here. How 'bout one of you guys take the wheel for a bit?"

metirish Jan 22 2011 07:43 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Yes , someone please take the wheel of the country A good look here at a chronology of events , that vote of confidence is now been sen as giving Cowan an inflated feeling of self...... http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 09729.html

Valadius Jan 22 2011 07:45 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Oh for God's sake - honestly I'm surprised we haven't seen him drunk in public in a while.

Edgy MD Jan 22 2011 07:15 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Doesn't it make sense that he let somebody else be the face his party runs behind?

metirish Jan 22 2011 07:54 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Edgy DC wrote: Doesn't it make sense that he let somebody else be the face his party runs behind? I guess that's what he is doing, step down as FF leader so a new one emerges , it will likely be the former minister for foreign affairs Micheál Martin , or as a tart on Sky News called him last week , Miguel Martin. Most people and I've been tuned in the radio from home all day just do not see Cowan lasting this long.....in fact an election might come a lot sooner than March 11.

Edgy MD Jan 22 2011 09:29 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

I knew Martin back in the day. I think he was opposition spokesman for Cuture and the Gaeltach or Education or something. I'm not sure, but he was one of the best Irish speakers they had. Had the office across from my man, Charlie McCreevy.

duan Jan 23 2011 07:53 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

- Charlie McCreevy was the man MOST responsible for all the shit we're now in.

Edgy MD Jan 23 2011 10:48 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Well, then, he's not my man anymore. I just made the tea, I swear!

metirish Jan 23 2011 12:21 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

duan wrote: - Charlie McCreevy was the man MOST responsible for all the shit we're now in. No doubt , as minister of finance from 197 through 2003/4 he implemented most of the tax laws , more public spending less tax(a simplified version of events)....his reward though is a plum job in Europe.....funnily enough several Fianna Fáil TD's have retired instead of going to face the people in the election.....retired on some of the best pensions in the world of politics. The Green Party have tonight pulled out of the coalition and probably brings forward the election.......we are unfortunately a laughing stock and there is no confidence in the finance world that things will get better.

Edgy MD Jan 23 2011 12:34 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Be fair to yourselves. You're not a laughingstock and everybody looks at your case as a cautionary tale and a there-but-for example. The whole world went economically to pot to varying degrees. Anybody laughing at another country hasn't learned the lessson of hubris.

metirish Jan 23 2011 02:06 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

I hear you edgy......this from the BBC Joe Lynam BBC News The political chaos will raise fears of a potentially damaging delay over Ireland's Finance Bill. The cost of borrowing for the Irish government has soared in recent months and currently stands at just under 9%, for the benchmark 10-year bond, suggesting the markets are already unconvinced Ireland will not default in some way. The fact the government now resembles the armless and legless knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail will hardly endear it any further to potential global investors. Markets love certainty and all they've received from Dublin has been delay, posturing, politicking and folly. The first tranche of IMF/EU money has already been drawn down and the second is due this month. That the law which enshrines the necessary spending cuts to get that bail-out has yet to be passed will anger officials in Washington and Brussels. Their ire will be magnified if they have to wait even longer until a new government is formed, which may have an anti-bank or even anti-IMF inclination http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12262486

Edgy MD Jan 23 2011 03:17 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Crazy thought, but how about Mary Robinson coming back (from wherever she is in the world) for this election and running for TD and, ultimately, Taoiseach? If a large part of this is truly about confidence in the stability of the government, a unifying and broadly respected figure can affect that merely by his or her presence. Not that I have any idea if she'd be interested in the headache, but has this been floated? It's maybe time to play the old "transformative figure" card. Or not.

Ashie62 Jan 23 2011 05:20 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Germany may end up picking the leader of Ireland. They are paying the bills. and most of the rest of the EU. Timber.

Valadius Jan 23 2011 05:53 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Fairly or unfairly, I have a feeling that Brian Cowen and Gordon Brown will be lumped together in the history books.

duan Jan 24 2011 03:26 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

edgy I think you're right about the "there but for the grace of god" bit. Great thing about Ireland is that in 3 years with wounds licked etc we'll be back doing it again but hopefully without the whole property bubble bit. Believe it or not, past the crap that's going on there's a real wave of optimism at the moment. We've had our best January (and ok it's January so I wouldn't want to read too much into it) since 2007. The issue with McCreevy was that it was singularly pointed out to him that he was fueling a bubble and he said "Sit back, relax and enjoy the party" (and oh how we did). Ashie, without being too crude about it, Germany are no more paying the bills then you are. The loans we're getting from the EU are being funded by a bond that's being sold at circa 2.5% yet we're paying a composite rate of 5.8% for the money. That's a 3.2% margin - and this is the area that most criticism is being laid at Fianna Fail in relation to the IMF/EU deal - that the terms are appalling. At least part of the argument was that the EU (Merkel & Sarkozy in particular) felt that because they were dealing with the same bunch of eejits that got us into it the terms had to be seen to be punitive. There's a working agenda behind the scenes that says - in the right framework - the 5.8% rate could be substantially lower. I wouldn't hold my breath, but if we can shave 1.5% off it, it'll reduce our interest payments by about €1 billion - or about 11% of what we still have to take out of the current budget deficit. I don't think Mary Robinson is coming back as any kind of anything. The cut & thrust of electoral politics was never particularly her thing - also the two prospective Taoisigh have fought too long and hard to get there to allow some johnny come lately to swan in. Reality is the next government if 90% going to be a FG/Labour combo with a 15-40 seat majority so it'll have a stable 5 years. Only danger to that will be FG actually getting towards 80+ seats which might see them try and do a single party government with support from what's left of the greens or a helpful independent or 3 I don't see it, but the right bounces on election night and anything could happen. As for markets demanding certainty, to be honest that's a nice little red herring, there's no need for the markets to get anything as right now we don't need to go to them. Everyone knows that there's an election on the way, really a couple of weeks one way or other is small beer compared to the other challenges in place. However, it is fair to say that the idea that the current bit of double jobbing and two for everyone in the audience that's going on at the cabinet table is no good to anyone so the quicker that's ended the better. If you wanted me to make a call on it I'd say the Election will be on Feb 25th and that we'll have Enda fucking Kenny winging his way to that Barack Obama chap on March 17th. (Enda Kenny is classic decent skin but intellectually mediocre rural politician who's been at more funerals than I have had hot dinners).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 24 2011 12:48 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koY6kXhQDQo (um strong language)

metirish Jan 24 2011 01:36 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koY6kXhQDQo (um strong language) There's your bog standard Paddy right there. I don't disagree with him but the station struck gold finding him.

Edgy MD Jan 24 2011 01:41 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Michael Flatley. HAR!

Valadius Jan 24 2011 02:33 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Looks like an agreement's been negotiated that will see the tax-raising bill passed, parliament dissolved Feb. 1, and elections Feb. 25.

Ashie62 Jan 25 2011 07:28 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

11 reasons to be optimistic about the Irish economy in 2011 [url]http://seekingalpha.com/article/247180-11-reasons-to-smile-about-the-irish-economy

Valadius Jan 28 2011 02:29 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Micheal Martin takes over Fianna Fail as Brian Cowen announces that the parliament will be dissolved on Tuesday.

Valadius Feb 22 2011 02:43 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Last debate before the Friday elections is currently being broadcast here in the U.S. on C-SPAN.

metirish Feb 22 2011 02:44 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Valadius wrote: Last debate before the Friday elections is currently being broadcast here in the U.S. on C-SPAN. wow....is this normal?, wish I knew I would have set the DVR.

Valadius Feb 22 2011 02:51 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Typically C-SPAN airs political debates from English-speaking countries when Congress isn't in session, either live or later on. I know they did this with the British and Australian elections last year. I'm willing to bet you'll be able to watch the video on c-span.org afterwards.

Valadius Feb 22 2011 03:05 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Eamon Gilmore is largely just sitting there while Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin interrupt each other (and in Kenny's case, insult the other) but when Gilmore is given a chance to speak, he impresses me. He's the only one to speak of creating jobs and keeping young people from emigrating to other countries so far.

Edgy MD Feb 22 2011 03:06 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

What I haven't seen them do is subtitle it when the converstation switches to Irish.

metirish Feb 22 2011 03:32 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

I'm watching on my phone, RTE has a decent app. Martin is impressive especially when tasked with trying to defend policies that FF implemented. Kenny has an incredibly annoying voice, very deliberate but well prepared. Gilmore is impressive alright but unions at home now are coming under fierce attack.

Ashie62 Feb 22 2011 06:58 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

For a seperate Cork... [url]http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/

Edgy MD Feb 22 2011 08:53 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Funnily, when I knew Martin, he was opposition spokesman for culture and the Gaeltach, so he did virtually all his debating in Irish. I actually barely understood the guy when he spoke English.

metirish Feb 23 2011 07:37 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Some of the debates were in Gaelic, from 2pm tomorrow Irish time an Election broadcasting moratorium will come in to effect and that will be that until polls are closed.

Valadius Feb 25 2011 02:04 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

It's election day, and polls are closing soon.

metirish Feb 25 2011 02:21 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Gerry Adams feeling a bit hot under the collar these past few days after getting grilled about his close association with Gaddaffi going back to the 70's and 80's, he evoked the Mark McGwire defense.

Willets Point Feb 25 2011 03:23 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

metirish wrote: Gerry Adams feeling a bit hot under the collar these past few days after getting grilled about his close association with Gaddaffi going back to the 70's and 80's, he evoked the Mark McGwire defense. Apparently Adams is not the only one. Ireland is the number one importer of crude oil from Libya, according to The Economist. I'd have never guessed that.

Valadius Feb 25 2011 05:25 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

That's as a percentage. Italy is by far the most intertwined with Libya energy-wise, though, not only with oil but with a natural gas pipeline between the two countries.

Valadius Feb 26 2011 05:00 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Exit poll: Fine Gael: 36.1% Labour: 20.5% Fianna Fail: 15.1% Sinn Fein: 10.1% Green Party: 2.7% Independent/Other: 15.5%

metirish Feb 26 2011 06:19 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Fianna Fail getting absolutely routed , no surprise but they are so ingrained in the history of the State that I wouldn't believe it until I saw it.The Blueshirts properly won't be able to form a Government without a partner , likely Labour who look to have their best showing ever. An amazing change is happening in that for 80 years you were either pro-treaty/partition/Michael Collins as Fine Gael were or a De Velera man and anti-treaty and anti Free State. Those allegiances would have been passed down from generation to generation and a lot of people never thought this day would come. FF might only get one seat in Dublin and are fighting Sinn Fein for most seats nationwide.

Edgy MD Feb 26 2011 09:29 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Those were just brands really, since DeValera died, weren't they? I mean, it's not like Fianna Fail really laid claim on the northern counties any more than nominally during their years in power since then. Since then, both FF and FG have placed a higher priority on stopping the bloodshed than on whose territory it was. "The Republican Party" has still been Fianna Fail's label, but their selling point was more likely the "party of prosperity and expanded international prominence" and that's now deader than DeValera's bones. (Watch their new anti-tax/anti-defecit wing bounce 'em back.)

metirish Mar 23 2011 01:40 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Quitting the weed Luke 'Ming' Flanagan quits cannabis

metirish Mar 25 2011 01:26 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Village gears up for Obama visit, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ma ... -relatives

metirish Sep 20 2011 11:53 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

The race to succeed Mary McAleese as president of Ireland is heating up.It's an important role but should be stressed a ceremonial one. It's turning out to be quite fascinating and there is more than a month to go yet,fascinating as much for those who tired to get the necessary votes from political parties/local councils and so on, the biggest controversy was the candidacy of David Norris the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in Ireland/Joycean scholar and all around outspoken person. you can read about his campaign right here , he could have won the damn thing too. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/au ... t-campaign The whole thing was blown to bits if you excuse the bad pun when Martin McGuinness was put forward as the Sinn Fein candidate a few days ago. McGuinness was at the height of the conflict right at the top of the IRA leadership , more than Adams perhaps, it's really thrown this thing wide open as Sinn Fein can expect to garner the Fianna Fail republican vote , FF you see don't have a candidate as they are quite messed up at the minute. SF hope they get those votes anyway but surely McGuinness is a step to far at the moment.I mean for fucks sake it wasn't that long ago when he would have sanctioned the killing of people. I heard him on the radio this morning getting interviewed at the ploughing championships in Kildare, got very hot under the collar when questioned about IRA activities, he is painting himself as a peace maker ....oh, and he really put his foot in it when he complained about the "West Brit" media in Dublin, few things are more insulting to a dub than calling them that, and really, it's not what I want to here from a candidate. Here's the field http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_pres ... tion,_2011

metirish Oct 28 2011 07:58 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Voting for president was yesterday and it looks like Michael D Higgins in a romp.This election was as bitter an affair as anyone can remember , one reason Higgins won is he stayed above the fray , there really was nothing negative about him as a man and his career. Sean Gallagher a somewhat shady business man with ties to Fianna Fáil looked a certainty to win going in to last weekend but in a classic meltdown undid himself in a live debate when harangued by Martin McGuinness over a campaign donation in his FF days. It really was classic, he denied it, then vaguely remembered something about it , it was a meltdown on stage against a veteran campaigner. Martin McGuinness looks like he will finish third, respectable when you think where his part were only ten years ago. This has not been a good election for Fine Gael the ruling party , they never got behind Gay Mitchell in any meaningful way and he might not even make back his deposit money, this form a lifelong scrapper in Irish politics. Two constitutional referendums were on the ballot too, really an awful way to do things, one was to deal with judges pay ,essentially to remove the ban on reducing judicial salaries. The other is a proposal to grant full investigative powers to Oireachtas committees investigating matters of public interest, like the senate select committees here I guess , this one looks like it will fail.

Edgy MD Oct 28 2011 08:18 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

I love a lot of the mechanisms of the Irish political system. The proportional representation works great. The presidential elections, apart from this one, are usually quite civil, and undertaken as national intellectual exercises. One thing I never really got, though, is that the constitution could be amended with a simple majority vote --- no matter even the turnout or anything. It may work for you, but if we had that sort of thing here, we would have made Lady Gaga governor of the moon by now.

metirish Feb 10 2012 02:37 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Bill Clinton stumping for the Irish again, seriously, few have done more for the place. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/fro ... 78041.html

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2012 02:53 PM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Is Lady Gaga the governor of the moon yet?

Edgy MD May 31 2012 08:17 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

Euro: yes or no?

metirish May 31 2012 09:40 AM Re: Irish Politics, 2011

YES.........but I would vote NO But, I don't live there so............... The day that Bertie and FF decided to guarantee all the debts of the country’s biggest banks is a day that will be looked back on as a turning point, a point of no return maybe.

metirish Jun 01 2012 06:27 AM Re: Irish Politics

It's going to pass, Angela will be happy http://www.irishtimes.com/topics/fiscal ... eferendum/

Ashie62 Jun 01 2012 10:51 AM Re: Irish Politics

The Irish are the "Poster Boy" for how to adhere to an austerity program.