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

Stephen Collins in the Irish Times talks about the case against Thursday voting. (Non-free Subs Required). No mention of us though and the petition. (Which has just passed 800 signatures. ). It is nice to see the media beginning to follow up on this issue. Cian was on Clare FM and Highland Radio yesterday talking [...]

In what is possibly a first all the youth parties have agreed on an issue. That issue being the need for a weekend election. In a post on the Ogra Sinn Fein blog. A statement signed by the heads of the 6 main youth parties has called for an weekend election. If you agree with [...]

Cian was on Morning Ireland yesterday(requires Real player) talking about the petition.

The No to Thursday Petition is still going and just past 700 signatures thanks to everyone who signed.

From Harry McGree. Bertie on Thursday Elections. BA: I probably have. It’s of no importance whatsoever. My point about the Friday was that with the cleaning of he register, now people are meant to be registered where they are living. That includes students as well. If they are living in Dublin, they should be registered [...]

I try to keep my eye on the local papers. But missed them the last few weeks. Anyway. According to the Western People Ogra Fianna Fail also support Saturday voting. Good for them. Our petition currently has at time of writing 632 signatures. Please add your name to it if you agree. (Hat Tip John [...]

Fine Gael have produced an Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2007. Weekend voting to be guaranteed by FG Bill – Kenny 1. The Electoral Act 1992 is amended in section 96 by deleting (1)(a) and inserting the following: “(1) (a) shall be taken on such Friday, Saturday or Sunday as shall be appointed by the [...]

I sent the following Email to Barry Andrews. After he released a press release today. Barry Andrews TD urges young people to Rock The Vote today Dear Mr Andrews I note on the Fianna Fail site that you are urging the youth of Ireland to rock the vote i.e getting more young people to vote. [...]

I’ve had enough. What is with all of these left wing zealots ranting on about how Thursday voting is such a shockingly awful idea. I mean, really, didn’t they listen to the Taoiseach? Here is what the wise Northsider said: I listened to the argument the last time. And it didn’t work. Friday did not [...]

I decided to merge these two since they are related. First a quick update on the weekend vote petition. It is just over a week since we kicked off the petition for a weekend vote this General Election. We have gone over the arguments and there is healthy debate over the rights and wrongs of [...]

Report from the Irish Independent IRELAND is one of the wealthiest nations in the world but 15pc of our children are experiencing “food poverty” due to parents being too busy to provide proper meals.A new report has found that children from middle-class families are suffering food poverty, while 16pc of all Irish children under the [...]

Their web poll is the question “Do you think the general election should be held on a Friday?” can be voted on here. Closes at 10p.m.

The petition is still going and going quiet well. Here are some of the comments left. The government constantly comment on the lack of 18 to 25 year olds voting, and then they go and organise an election that actively discourages them from voting. It’s a disgrace. —————

The most regular criticism of the petition so far (here and elsewhere) and I just want to clarify a few points about why this is not quite justified criticism.

In todays Irish Times (subs req’d), Bertie gives his reasons for a Thursday poll; “I listened to the argument the last time. And it didn’t work. Friday did not work. I was all over the city on the Friday. What people do now is get out of the city on a Friday afternoon. You might [...]

This morning (Friday) the Newstalk Breakfast Show are chatting to me about the petition. Tune in if you get a chance, time is supposed to be just after 7:30.