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

The Examiner reckon that Bertie will make the announcement in the next 48 hours, fresh from his soujourn in Ballybrit. The Greens get two, with Dan Boyle and Deirdre de Burca as the selections, as do the PDs with a plethora of options (politics.ie report they are Ciaran Cannon and Fiona O Malley). The FF [...]

It seems the Mary Harney will remain as PD leader. Is that wise should new blood have been given a shot. Surely now is the time to give someone else a moment in the spot light. Mary Harney is not planning to remain party leader in the long term and they desperately need someone to [...]

They cannot be blamed for any of this but the move by Tom Parlon out of public life to head up the Construction Industry Federation could bring another headache for them in terms of the constant jibes they have been taking from the opposition benches. In their manifesto and at conference the Green Party committed [...]

The obituary writers will be out in force tomorrow, as Tom Parlon’s decision to leave the PDs sinks in. The former Minister of State will take up a post with the Construction Industry Federation- more on the ethics of this move anon. Mr. Parlon seems intent on sampling all the delightful interest groups that hold [...]

Tom Parlon is leaving politics to head the Construction Industry Federation (was he not head of public works). So who does that leave for the leadership race? Colm O’Gorman, Liz O’Donnell an O’Malley, some one else?
Update: Colm O’Gorman has put his hat in the ring on Newstalk

In what can only be described as a surprising move, Tom Parlon has decided to leave the Progressive Democrats and take up a post in the Construction Industry Federation instead.
Until now, Parlon was expected to take one of the two PD Seanad nominations (along with Fiona O’Malley), but more importantly had already been marked as [...]

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 [...]

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 Tribune [...]

Bertie Ahern re-elected as Taoiseach for a third term by 89-76 in the vote  in the 30th Dail.
He is speaking now;
“I am conscious of the great duty this election imposes upon me…I wish you well Ceann Comhairle, on the 24th May democracy took its course as people went to the polls and elected the 30th Dail. [...]

Vote began at 4:20 
Sinn Fein oppose the time-limiting of the Taoiseach’s appointment. Tom Kitt announced a guillotine of the nominations to 16:30. Caoimhghin O Caoilain calls for an extended debate, “we have been returned from our constituencies and have a right to have our opinion heard”. He makes the request to the Whip and Taoiseach [...]

FF and Greens still in contact

McDowell was a total idiot of a politician really was. Politics is not about vision as so many people try to suggest. It is about not saying stupid things that can be taken out of context and used against you. Honesty is derided in this country we want to hear great happy Irish Times (they [...]

Following their Ard Chomhairle meeting today, below the fold. Bottom line: assuming they can find someone will to take their support in government, health would be the only dealbreaker. In particular, no Mary Harney. Also interesting is that the statement was issued by Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, indicating perhaps an awareness of [...]

The Independent is talking of the Progressive Democrats changing their name to the Liberal Democrats due to the negative image the media has of it. Would it change anyone’s opinion of them?

The drunk and the powerful came together, they came with their wives and their fans, they slapped backs and winked at each other for they knew what so many had denied for so long - that Fianna Fail was going to win the 2007 general election. They gathered in groups of two and three, these [...]