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

The report of the 2007 Consituency Commission is out, some would say a little bit too late but how and ever. Kerry is to remain split, with Kerry South a 3 seater while Kerry North joins to West Limerick in also remaining a 3 seater. Dublin Euro is a 3 seater, Dun Laoghaire is a [...]

Video from yesterday’s Save Our Slots Rally
I am unable to embed them here, but they can be found at the below link
Link.
Update Simon. Video added below

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 [...]

Dear Ciaran
I read your speech before the Ireland Institute with great interest. There is much common ground between the Left and the Greens. While various political parties may be on opposite sides in the Dail, we are not, ultimately, politically opposed. In that constructive spirit I’d like to discuss some of your observations - specifically, [...]

After all votes tallied, the gap stands at:
Joan Burton 52.5%
Jan O’Sullivan 47.5%
In a total of 2,700 votes that is a margin of around 100  votes or so.

Today in the news we are told
Corrib gas vigil mounted Members of the Shell to Sea campaign began an all-night candelit vigil at the Corrib gas refinery gates in north Mayo last night to mark a year since deployment of extra gardaí to the area.
So I looked back a year and saw this headline.Landmark [...]

The government released the Exchequer figures for nine months this afternoon and it is a wonderful mix of spin and fact. The release begins with the bad news; the deficit for nine months of 2007 has grown to €3.1 billion. That is well ahead of the €546 million deficit forecast for the full twelve months.

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 [...]

Well there was more explosive stuff in there today than perhaps the other days put together. Bertie arrived in to tell them that he doesn’t remember driving Celia to the bank to pick up the money, though he does remember getting it from her. Yet Celia seems to think he drove her. The problem for [...]

Labour Deputy Leader youtube video’s out. Under the fold. If you value your time don’t watch them very little beyond the normal PR spin. Extra points for Joan Burton for not using the phrase “lets have a dialogue with the people”. Even thought she repeats the Pat Rabbitee idea of getting those who think [...]

Eamon Gilmore’s big red army is here, launched same day as Fine Gael which is great news for them I am sure. Howlin certainly got moved sideways though its not surprising given the Leas Ceann Comhairle business. Rabbbitte and Quinn remain while Tuffy, Sherlock and Lynch are in the mix. Blogging senator Dominic is Commuter [...]

‘ . . . some people are saying that the economy is ruined. Anyone who says that knows nothing about nothing.’
Thus, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern responding to the growing concerns about the economy. Of course, a straw-person is being employed here – no one is saying that the economy is in ‘ruins’. But it is [...]

Deck chairs and titanic. There that is out of the way, but tomorrow’s reshuffle will probably give some indication of where the next five years lie in terms of policy as well as signals sent in who goes up and down. Fine Gaels reshuffle was mooted earlier but they must be waiting for closer to [...]

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 [...]