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

This morning the pensions green paper was announced, with its own fancy dandy website. At the moment I am working through the executive summary. Its interesting that they went with a green paper on this one, this government has not been the best at consultation and has a very low record of consultation on policy. [...]

Harry McGee reports in today’s Examiner (also reported in the Irish Times) that Fine Gael have succesfully negotiated for double the number of Committee seats.
In addition to the two committees it already chairs — the public accounts committee and European affairs — FG TDs will also chair the potentially important committee on energy, security [...]

He didn’t do it on the Late Late so can he really do it now?
(If the Mail bothered putting Oirish Irish stories up on their website, I would have posted this sooner)
Edit: The Irish Times cover it and to be honest as heresay goes its fairly weak stuff and there was little more in the [...]

Fine Gael are out today with a comparison of the INOs trolley figures which Dr James Reilly suggests show an increase in the number of patients on trolleys since last year. This is potentially going to grow as a topic with the HSE freeze to last until January and reported closures of facilities(like Navan’s Orthopedic Unit) and lack [...]

In a surprise move Brian Hayes endorsed the government policy on education.
“Nothing less than a quantum leap in how we teach is necessary for Ireland to become a major player in the global knowledge economy”
Now Quantum Leap is not just a TV show, it is when an electron moves from one energy level in an [...]

Enda Kenny this morning suggested Bertie had lost the moral authority to lead this country, a suggestion Bertie thumbed his nose at this afternoon suggesting in his own inimitable fashion that they can pfo. However in Ahern’s response (short and inarticulate tho it is) there is a nugget of insight, as there is with most [...]

The uneasiness that seemed evident last week (not with government itself rather the contortions positions its forces them into) is set to go on. Eamon Ryan was door stepped this morning and has again committed the Greens to seeing this whole government thing through.
No doubt they are a little disappointed that Gormley’s raising of litter [...]

You can check out the Confidence in Taoiseach: Motion debate here.  One thing I noticed was how lacking the opposition are at making speeches. I remember watching the debate over Thursday voting and cringing. Listening to Enda Kenny last night with his stop start delivery and I have to wonder what he is still doing [...]

Quite a day down at our second chamber, perhaps slightly less so in the first. Alex White and Pearse Doherty were uncontentious and professional. Perhaps a little nervous if anything. Shannon loomed large throughout the afternoon.
And it has to be said that there were quite a number of younger faces there. Which is probably good.
Eoghan [...]

In today’s Leader’s Questions Gilmore asserted that he doesn’t believe Ahern’s version of events on his finances as presented before the Mahon Tribunal. Gilmore put it to Ahern at leader’s questions, “I think your story at the tribunal was a cock and bull story” and that he “can’t take the people of the country for [...]

Tomorrow’s a big day for political junkies; the return of an Dáil after the summer recess and the first chance for the opposition to weigh in - and the Government to defend itself - on Ahern’s tribunal performance, Aer Lingus’ exit from Shannon and all the other ills that afflicted the country over the not-so-sunny [...]

Here is my tip Brian Hayes of Fine Gael will be Taoiseach within 20 years. Watching him on Q&A he is simply very Bertie. Articulate and to the point yet not stuck up his ass. Which is rare among the oldies and trolly dollies like Lucinda and Coveney.

Here we go, two sets of troops ready for ten five years of battle, no Jim O Keefe to be seen, Charlie is back in at Justice after a sabbatical, Shatter back in the front team as spokesperson for Children while Dr James Reilly gets into health. Varadker gets the (increasingly easier) Enterprise, Trade and [...]

Team Enda has been revealed. Does anyone think it is ironic that Simon Coveney got Communications.

Finance & Deputy Leader
Richard Bruton

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Michael Creed

Art, Sport and Tourism
Olivia Mitchell

Children
Alan Shatter

Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Simon Coveney

Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Michael Ring

Defence
Jimmy Deenihan

Education and Science
Brian Hayes

Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Leo Varadkar

Environment, Heritage and Local Govt.
Phil Hogan

Foreign Affairs
Billy Timmins

Health
James Reilly

Immigration [...]

Reading about the current events down the Tribunal in the Sunday Business Post is illuminating. Sure, Bertie Ahern had a rough day on Friday. Those jeers outside can’t be good - to put it mildly. Whether they’re quite up there with Haughey is a different matter. And… protestations notwithstanding, this constant batting too and fro [...]

(Diarmy.net) Here’s my take on the YFG poster campaign(Photos after the Break)