Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

The Profligate Populism of the PDs The PDs have signalled that they will put tax cuts as the centre piece of their election manifesto. Placing themselves clearly out of step with their senior partner in government, the PDs have in effect signalled that they are putting policy and votes ahead of the pursuit of [...]

Oops, fresh into the job Pat ‘The Cope’* Gallagher has broken the golden rule, actually in Transport thats two golden rules.
First he admitted that this government had an idea which has not really succeeded.

We here have been talking a bit about voting and all the dynamics around voting. (here and here) Looks like we are not the only ones that are thinking about voting Richard Bruton is calling for foreign nationals who have been resident in the country for more then 3 years should have the right to [...]

In the UK it seems as though the forever-marginalised rhetoric of the BNP is facing its highest support since its creation in the 1980’s. Such a turnaround is partly out of public frustration and partly out of a policy shift from within the party; while racism is generally a minority pass-time, years of fear and [...]

Why the Greens will never be a major player in Irish politics
In a manner of speaking, I’m a supporter of the Green Party. I think that the more power they have, the better off we’ll be. The Green Party’s problem though, is that I, and many like me, will never vote for them.
I live in [...]

This is not related to any particular party but perhaps if a party is looking for an innovative way of changing the tax regime here is an idea coming out of Harvard. Should Taxes Depend on Age.

Some interesting polling numbers into today’s Sunday Independent. They have polled business leaders about their opinions and this is the outcome

Having researched a bit about energy here and here in the last few days I thought I would comment about Fine Gael’s new energy plans. Firstly many people think that this is mearly a plan by Fine Gael to entice the Green Party to join them in the next coalition and it may well be. [...]

From today a new resource is added to the IrishElection.com sidebar.
The official results of the 2002 Dáil and Seanad elections and the 2004 European and local elections are now availablle for download in .pdf format.
General Election 2002
Seanad Elections 2002
Local Elections 2004 Volume 1
Local Elections 2004 Volume 2
European Elections 2004

Previously I wrote that Nuclear is not the answer to Ireland’s energy needs. So what are the options Oil, Gas, renewables, hamsters in wheels. Both Oil and Gas are running out while we need to tap the Corrib Gas field as it can supply 60% of our gas supply that is still a temporary measure [...]

He appears to be the only one of the commentators out there not worried about the rate of increases in property prices. We all know this since we all read the papers in disbelief. I say disbelief not because he may be wrong but I suspect Governments job is to be worried about all sorts [...]

As Fianna Fáil tries to head Sinn Féin and their nationalist rhetoric off at the pass before the next General Election in the hope of retaining some votes, it’s almost impossible to avoid hearing and seeing the Government trying to stir up the electorate in order to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Easter [...]

Some times the news can miss the stories from the local newspapers. So here is Irishelection’s top stories from the country.
The Meath Chronicle
Fraud Squad to probe purchase of Navan land
The “investigation will be conducted by Chief Superintendent Austin McNally of the Fraud Squad. The purchase of the land was made by local auctioneers and [...]

Today is probably the biggest off licence purchasing day in Ireland. As tomorrow is good Friday and by law all the bars have to close. This law is one of the last vestiges left in Ireland of the time when the Catholic Church ruled the country and said that all bars must be closed on [...]

Owners of SUVs ‘will pay for fuel waste’ Fine Gael’s energy policy. Have Fine Gael gone green or after Greens
Capital to get its very own SoHo.Is that not what temple Bar was supposed to be
McDowell to draft core points of new Privacy Bill Do we really need this.
Cullen vows to get tough on [...]

It is expected that Bertie Ahern is set to agree to new drinking-driving measures that will be introduced in July. The Independent is reporting that these measures include “On-the-spot drink driving disqualifications. Drivers who opt to admit their offence will be spared the public humiliation of going to court.“
These radical measures will be announced tomorrow [...]