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

Things have gone a bit quiet here at IE in the last few days, which could be despite or because of the fact that political life has reverted to form so quickly.  Nonetheless, it’s been a strange week for the Government even set against the apparently high standards of tolerance shown by the electorate, so [...]

Elections are moments of truth- when we get as close as we can to really hearing what other people are thinking, albeit as a collective. And one of the more interesting things I’ve heard from this election was the general feeling (except from some Green party members) that having the Green Party in government could [...]

According to the Irish Times today, the Government (along with the Poles) have negotiated a right to opt-out of the charter of fundamental rights in the new EU treaty. The Taoiseach forgot to mention this at a press conference, in fact mentioning that the charter would be a selling point in next years referendum. An [...]

Flynn: ‘I never believed I did anything wrong’ Insight into the people of Mayo’s strange dependence on the Flynn can be found in the following film.

In news that removes one minor headache for the Government, Beverly Flynn (artist’s rendition) announced in Castlebar last night that she has settled her debts to RTE arising from her libel action against them. RTE won’t comment, presumably because the matter has not yet been finalised by a court. But having rejected an earlier offer [...]

Now that there’s a deal in Brussels on the drafting of a new EU treaty and confirmation from Bertie that it will require a referendum, it’s worth taking a look at the Green manifesto position on the EU.  There’s enough wiggle room to allow them to play along with the Brussels deal, although there will [...]

We are being constantly told that, with the imminent arrival of Global Warming, life as we know it on this Planet will never be the same.

Bertie announced the Junior Ministries earlier. The Green Party will be delighted to see the back of another nemesis, Frank Fahey. Fahey is joined by Noel Tracey on the sidelines as Pat Carey, Maire Hoctor, Jimmy Devins, John McGuinness, Billy Kelleher, Michael Kitt, Brendan Smith and of course, Trevor Sargent. The second Green junior ministry [...]

On the same day that Bertie fills his 20 junior ministerial slots, a jarring note from the Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly –

Last week the prospects for an alternative Government – already dealt a mortal mathematical blow by the electorate – finally bit the dust with the formation of a Fianna Fail/Green/PD/Bits & Bobs coalition. The role of the PDs is likely to be incidental, unless of course you’re waiting on a hospital trolley for treatment, while [...]

I didn’t get a chance to comment earlier on the news that Mary Harney  is to seek a rule change in order to allow the Progressive Democrats to draw their leader from outside the Dail. This is likely to put Tom Parlon into the driving seat for the leadership (barring a surprise tilt from Fiona [...]

When Bertie Ahern made overtures to the effect that Beverly Flynn could be in line for a junior ministry position, some on this site pointed out how unfair many of the less infamous FF back-benchers might find the whole situation. Now it looks like Fianna Fáil’s own man in Mayo, Dara Callarey, is trying to [...]

The blogging TD. becomes the blogging minister. He’s been busy investigating if he can do anything about the present left for him by Dick Roche.  We can look forward to reports from Cabinet meetings, tales of the files and folders being sent home with him at the weekend and other tid bits!

Following on from Cían’s post about additional minister of state positions, Bertie Ahern has confirmed that Trevor Sargent will be one of the twenty put forward in the coming days. Sargent said he wouldn’t take a full ministry after he announced his resignation as Green Party leader – he said he would, however, take a [...]

The Sunday Indo has been informed that Bertie Ahern will be proposing an increase in the number of junior ministries next week from 17 to 20. This is likely to accommodate the ambitions of the younger pups within the party who remain a bit peeved that senior ministries were unnecessarily given away in coalition. The [...]

Ok so we lost Joe. And we miss him. We really do. At the Dail yesterday they all gave him a nod. Tony Gregory said the place wouldn’t be the same. It won’t. It will. But it won’t. Fianna Fail are still in charge but Fine Gael’s muscles have gotten some electoral steroids. How hard [...]