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Updated at 10.34pm
MINISTER FOR JOBS Richard Bruton did a short canvass around Dublin city centre this afternoon meeting mixed reaction from potential voters.
The Fine Gael director of elections was distributing the party’s latest booklets outlining the reasons for and the benefits of abolishing the upper house.
He was accompanied by a number of councillors and potential local election candidates.
Among them were former Dublin Lord Mayor Gerry Breen – a two-time Seanad candidate himself – and councillor Neale Richmond, also a Seanad hopeful in 2011 who campaigned on getting rid of the upper house.
Things got off to a good start on Hibernian Way just off Dawson Street as Bruton found at least one supporter, though he did want something in return:
Down Grafton Street, the Minister was accosted by a man who appeared to be looking for some money.
“Catch you later,” Bruton told the man, who was less than pleased:
A woman selling flowers just off Grafton Street admitted she did not know much about the forthcoming referendum but promised to read the shiny new booklet:
Then Bruton bumped into his Cabinet colleague Leo Varadkar for a bit of awkward banter:
This article was originally posted at 4.14pm
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Unbelievable from this Gerry Breen lad. Runs for it twice, loses twice, now wants it abolished?
If he can’t play, he’s talking his ball home
Gerry Breen also runs a First Aid Business in Balbriggan, he is a very generous employer, paying the minimum of pay an hour!
It’s a miracle he is paying them at all!
BOOM, NUTSHELL .
Any chance you could reform the dail and the election process first!!
cringe
I think a more relevant referendum would be, should we abolish the dail bar, it grinds my gears that politicians can make important decisions about our future, while bladdered is beyond surreal, stupid the lot of them!!.
The Dail bar is the highlight of a visit to Leinster House, let me assure you.
Sure Fergal, ‘cos everybody knows that all of lifes best decisions are made when you’re half cut!!!
God laughed so hard at the junky, “hooow’m I meant ta catch you later like, don’t be so stubid”
Bruton off home to burn that suit after engaging with the public. No change bud only 50′s in my pocket.
Worst part is in relation the brown envelope when he says “those days are over…”
Is he openly admitting that those days happened?!
We all know those days happened. Look at any of the tribunal evidence over the last 15 years.
Hows ya goona catch me later. Dont be so stupid all your life.
Ahhh looove a nice strool in dublins fair city where there gear heads are garenteed to call YOU stupid :)
Why was there only one?
Reform the Seanad yes, but not abolish it! The abuse of power that can be achieved by removing the second house is enough of a reason to keep it!
It’s never going to be reformed. If its not abolished, it’s business as usual and no one is really credibly suggesting otherwise.
Too late brendan, how have you not noticed all the abuses of power over the last 70 years?
Brendan when has it ever stopped the abuse of power? Not durning Charlie’s time? Or what about Bertie’s? Cowen time it stood up and said no? Maybe it stopped enda dictatorship? The answer is it does nothing if any use whatsoever. That these people get paid and a massive pension for this joke of a so called democratic house makes me sick
It’s never going to be reformed. Abolish it. Even Sinn Fein has done a u-turn and is now calling for it’s abolition.
Could do without the whole lot of them no need for them Germany running this country
John
The 5 reasons advanced in Democracy Matters campaign for the retention of the Seanad are totally and irrefutably dishonest and untrue. I was so incensed by what I read that I have redoubled my efforts to ensure this pox on our Democracy is removed as soon as possible. It is a home for the greatest windbags who couldn’t get elected as dog catchers But they lord it over us as if they know better than everyone else. They represent just three per cent of the electorate and thus expose your lie that they reflect anything associated with the word democracy.
A No vote in the Referendum will reduce the number of wasters that call themselves public representatives while lining their pockets.
Richie has the government brought forward any concrete proposals on how the Dail is to be reformed in the event they might win this referendum?
Reform the Dail first, not propose reforms but actually do it and then lets talk about the Seanad!
@john dineen
Yeah those effin Germans expecting a say in what happens the *their* money – seeing as they had to bail us out after Fianna Fail managed to bankrupt us with their greed and lust for continued corrupted power !
Give me the Germans any day over bumkin clowns like Fianna Fáil.
It’s vote yes to get rid of them, not ‘no’. Ah Christ, if people are confused over the words of which vote is which this thing will be a disaster.
Reduce representitives in both houses by thirty percent. The comment from the begger is spot on and a reality for many people.
Leo and Richard have some balls to walk the streets of Dublin considering the misery they have inflicted on its people
The misery was inflicted by FF. Yes….be angry with the current bunch if you want…but never, ever forget what that shower did to us and our independence.
Literally 4 of the cringy-est videos I have ever seen. The look on Bruton when the junkie approached. What a pussy
Richard couldn’t try to get rid of Enda again That’s one politician we can all do without.
People should visit and get involved in Democracy Matters. It is a campaign that we can all help and believe in.
Who pays for it, who runs it and what’s it’s wider agenda?
Given the FF shite you were spouting last week, I’ll give it a miss. I will be voting to keep it.
Seanie is that FF creation or is it independent of Party Politics
Is this the guy in enda’s ear on this issue ?
Interesting read Dermot, Sean Faughnan former investment banker who worked for JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs in London before returning to work for Fine Gael as adviser tells Enda that the people want the senad gone and that it would be popular with the voters as a move. Jeez, people want honesty from their government, cash in their buckets and justice. Doubt if it was in any ones mind to get rid of the senad way back in 2010, people are struggling to live dimwit..where do they come up with this?And worse Enda thinks that’s a good move before any of the countless other moves that could genuinely help people.Some Chieftain..Bah
Ireland needs a King/Queen right now with the power to sack top Civil servants and bankers is my opinion ; our Dail are blocking the people from the truth and the truth is the one thing that would see alot of people who have only themselves and their selfish interests at heart and to hell with the Country !
The people are equally to blame in a way though we accept far too low a standard of due diligence and a loyalty to duty of care that all public service carries inherently with the pay packet they receive ; be it civil service pay or dole Anna , that’s the way I see it !
Hopefully the people will reject Enda’s idea.
How arkward was all that ehh ? …why do they always walk amoung the mulititudes ….on grafton street….how about down O’CONNELL street or up around Phibsboro and the like where they would be sure to get a great welcome…or just about anywhere in Ireland really….bunch of clowns.
Because Grafton St is near Leinster House and their party offices, is pedestrianised, has a fairly dependable amount of people on it and is a quick commute for RTE and their cameras.
Still waiting for a reply to my email to his challenge for a debate on Seanád Abolition . . Richard !
Dear Richard, A challenge was made that you would have no problem in debating the abolition of the Seanád with anyone. Naturally we consider ourselves anyone and accept. Name time and place.
http://www.thejournal.ie/bruton-seanad-1019671-Aug2013/
Go on Martin, take off those gloves and floor him. He won’t take up an ordinary guy/girls challenge, will only do it with the nod and wink club(Dail TD’s)! Good luck though, wish you well!
Those 2 on a campain trail together, how vile?
“catch ya later”….. a phrase more suited to Shatter!!
Same ol shite….
He could have gave the lad begging he’s lose change
Aaron
Sometimes it pays to read your text before you hit the old send button!
I see our Lucan TD is back in the limelight after his newspaper experience.
These effing walk abouts tick me off to the point where such politicians think because of their very presence We’ll be star struck and over awed into voting for what they want! Get back to your office richie and run the effin country! Catch ya later me arse!!
Feel sick they are as bad at acting like a government as Zumbo in fair city is at being a real thug!!
Is Leo very tall or is burton a person of small stature? Genuine question
Silly.. Sure corruption happens but they all don’t take brown envelopes.. sometimes they are white or blue.. just depends what’s in Easons..
WISH I HAD OF BEEN THERE
Busy day for Leo there just strolling around Dublin 2……
Ive a fetish for ol Bruton ;)
The return of the Higgs !
Let the games recommence ; nice holiday David , hope you are well !
Una o Connor Barrett yes back in the lime light and also tommy morrissey who was caught on CCTV taking the gazettes is running on the local elections as far as I know the cheek of him
Pants up…..
Chronic scenes.
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