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Read more about: Fianna Fail, Irish Election, Irish Politics, Polls, Vote Saturday 
This is getting beyond ridiculous. Am I the only one who thinks Comrade Bertski is making a complete mockery of the rules by stalling on naming a date?
Yesterday, bold as brass, he was able to announce that he’s going to wait until the Dáil gets through a lengthy programme of bill-passing before he chooses to go to the country. God only knows what is going to sail through under the radar as the media comes to grips with the ensuing pile of new legislation.
I for one just can’t understand why it should be down to him to determine when we vote. That decision should be left to the people just as much as the ballot itself is, and the only way to do that would be to have a fixed election date much like they do in the USA.
As far as I’m concerned, the current government is in power because of how the electorate felt back in 2002. If they had been doing their job and keeping us all happy, they shouldn’t have to keep an eagle eye on opinion polls or wait for grandchildren to be born before dissolving our parliament.
I’d propose that a fixed term of office be enshrined in our Constitution, together with a specific day in a specific month nominated as polling day which can maximize the chances for ALL of us being able to scribble down the 1,2,3 in the little boxes, and who knows, we may get a little closer to the 85% turnout our Gallic cousins achieved last weekend.
And while we’re playing with calendars, how about we do something about a politician’s holiday time? It’s over two weeks since our kids gorged themselves on chocolate yet our TDs only just back from their “Easter” recess!!!
Surely that’s do-able?
I completely agree. I’m sure there are some people stalling on holiday plans until they hear the date. It’s bad form.
Out of curosity what difference will calling the election make other than giving us a date? For the last month muppets I’ve never heard of have been calling to my door telling me all the great things they have done for me that I never knew about or that I’m not really happy and that life is shite. The posters have been up for so long that the plastic ties have worn away and driving to work I have to swerve to avoid the falling face of some smiling photoshopped gombeen. Various ministers are on RTE and Enda Kenny/Pat Rabbitt are on Newstalk every day re-unveiling some old promise like a party political broadcast. My post contains so many election leaflets I’m actually happy to see a pizza menu. All Bertie will do is give me a date for the misery to end.
I doubt even Bertie is bold enough to include the children’s rights legislation to set up the referendum in his program before the election.
And they just made the legislative program even more ambitious — new rushed legislation to cover the reform of VHI.
JohnMac…
I think Niall there has your answer. Not everyone can guarantee they’re going to be able to vote with only 3 weeks’ notice.
Yes, the campaign has already started, but Comrade Bertski should not be the one holding the starting gun the way I see it.