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https://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=vd&v=cDHd7o6R1Z0
Source: Órla Ryan/TheJournal.ie
Updated: 16.45
LUKE ‘MING’ FLANAGAN has said that the Irish people have got to “save” themselves as no one else will do it for them.
“We’ve been waiting for 100 years for someone to come along and save us. I think we’ve worked out that no one is going to come along and save us.
“We’ve got to do it ourselves. We’ve got to put our name on the ballot paper and we’ve got to try and change things. Rather than say ‘There’s no one on the ballot paper to vote for. Boo hoo, poor me.’”
Exit polls show the Independent TD could get about 20 per cent of the vote in the four-seat Midlands North West constituency.
He said he “couldn’t say” he was surprised at his level of success, given the positive reaction he has been getting from the public.
“I have been canvassing on and off for about 17 years and I never ever got a reaction even close to it. For example, when I got out of the car in Cavan it took me two and a half hours to get about 60 or 70 yards away from the car. I had a bizarre situation – I didn’t go up and canvass people, for some reason they came over to me.”
Flanagan said it was “very heartening” that so many independent candidates were being elected, adding that he hoped Marian Harkin would also secure a seat in Europe as they could “work very well together”.
He added that if independent candidates stuck together, there could be 10-12 extra non-party TDs elected in the next General Election.
Flanagan believes the success of non-government candidates sends a clear message to Fine Gael and Labour: “People do not believe that their tactics in reviving the economy are working. People don’t see it geting much better in the next few years.”
He said he would miss working in the Dáil if elected but added that moving to Europe was “all part of a process to try and improve the lot of people in this country”.
Flanagan said a lot has changed since he ran for a seat in the European Parliament in 1999.
Back then it was very hard to find issues that actually chimed with people on Europe and this time around there were issues that directly effect people. When it came to rural post offices. When it came to turf cutting. When it came to the use of your land. Or when it came to the bank debt and people not having any money, people did make a direct link to Europe.
He admitted that the Parliament has “limited powers” but said it is “the only forum to discuss these things”.
“If Europe doesn’t listen, what does that say about Europe?”
Flanagan said that Irish politicians were not telling Europe the full extent of the country’s problems, adding that there’s “no chance of a debt writedown if you tell Europe everything’s alright”.
Quoting economist David Williams, he said Ireland had only shown Europe “the good room” and not the fact that some people are “barely able to buy clothes in second hand shops”.
We have brought the European Union into the good room and we’ve said ‘Look it, isn’t it lovely. Look at the bit of China we have here and there. Look at the lovely setee, but we haven’t shown them the rest of the house.
Flanagan is undecided as to whether or not he will join a political group in Europe, if elected.
The Roscommon native who is not known for wearing suits at Leinster House was looking particularly sharp in the count centre in Castlebar today.
“The first time I ever ran for election, I wore a suit. I wear a suit when I want to wear a suit and I don’t wear one when I don’t want to ear one,” he said.
The retuning officer has said the first count from Midalnds North West is not likely to be known until tomorrow afternoon.
So what will Flanagan be doing in the mean time?
“I haven’t seen my kids in six or seven weeks so we’re going to head to the sea, maybe have a bit of a swim. Freshen up and live a bit of real life.”
Originally published: 12.49
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RTE 1 Good evening and here is the news. Only six or seven people were shot in Dublin this evening but sources say it has nothing to do with the main gangs that are shooting each other. As soon as the smoke clears we will bring you further updates!
You forgot the reassuring soundbite full of jargon from francis the sycophantic social worker..
Seems like more of a punishment shooting than anything else 3 in the arm one in the leg.
Or the other way round lol
punishment? you think he was a bold boy?
Either that or the shooter has a very bad aim . Maybe it was his first time …
they are blooding new talent these days
Assel
Do you know know what a punishment shooting means?
Dublin 2016 = lawless to the point where lawlessness has now become normalized.
Take a bow Frances, Acting Minister for Chaos and Lawlessness.
are you threatening me Nick?
LOL……
@Assel, If you are going to troll the Journal, at least learn to read and write at a reasonable standard of English. God Bless you, Father Stack
Brian…give poor francis a break…she knows that behind every assassin..every killer,every thug,gunman,hitman,psychopath,drug dealer…lies a vulnerable individual.
Well if it is a so-called punishment shooting, carried out in Clondalkin, then it would probably the CIRA. And that would mean that so-called dissidents were out on the streets shooting people, and given all the connotations of the Kinihan-Hutch feud, any such shooting should be regarded as related.
Leave my name out of this please
Ironically in Frances’ constituency. Everyone was all over it during the election. A baby almost killed in Finglas. Cowards gunning down an innocent man in town, mistaken identity… And last week no less than 2 shootings in the same night and now this.
The Juan Kerr’s in government should hang their heads in shame. They only gave a a fook about being re-elected
Where’s the armed Garda patrol and checkpoints now? I didn’t see a single checkpoint at all this bank holiday. Couldn’t do (say) enough a few weeks back
I didn’t vote for you Frances. Your a disgrace, letting the criminals shoot the place out of it
Ah poor francis…she totally wants to conduct an intervention with these vulnerable groups of armed men and young people…perhaps a family welfare conference or two…perhaps approach the “issue” from a strenghts based perspective with a view to a wrap around care package for the most vulnerable gang members and targetted support – bespoke of course – for the remainder.Gardai operating in the area will of course wear tracksuits…to do otherwise may offend the the vulnerable gang members sensetivities and possibly upset them.
You forgot about the Nike trainers , dead giveaway if the Gardai are not wearing them !
Ah Sis…easy knowing im not from a social work background…duffer and armani tracksuits i know about…didnt think of the de rigeur Nike’s…thankfully francis is “across this” and will have vouchers to hand…
Bro , you’re right I’m sure she’ll have every angle covered … she’s usually on top of things .
Shocking so two gangs killing each other and now random shootings time for a zero tolerance policy on organised crime and use of guns in crime more eru on streets open back up the stations and get more gaurds on the beat enough is enough
we need a story about Halawa hurry up …. forget this Irish stuff make us feel guilty.
Shooting in Dublin !!
As long as it isn’t in Dartry or Milltown where the Defence barristers and Judges live then there is no need to worry.
no shooting in dublin 6 so do you think people get shot for no apparent reason at all?
Worse it’s getting instead of better!
Thanks Yoda.
Whatever he did it almost cost him an arm and a leg.
Elmo must be back again
Francis is a male and Frances is a female for all the people who seem to get mixed up, only saying.
Hope he wasn’t a Leicester City fan
Chat shit get banged!
Shit shot, bang bang
Victim known by the authorities???
Think he was a spurs fan.
gang bang …..
here
have your say