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We lost Alan Shatter of course, earlier today. We’re hoping we don’t lose James as well.
— A FINE GAEL source speaking to TheJournal.ie at the Dublin Fingal count centre earlier tonight wasn’t overly confident the party’s deputy leader would take a seat. But he wasn’t ruling it out entirely either.
Since early in the morning, it’s looked likely Dr James Reilly could be on his way out of the Dáil.
Opinion as to his fate has swung back and forth in the intervening hours.
And the fact that there was a long, long delay before the first count could even be announced did little for the nerves of the Fine Gael team camped out at the National Show Centre, not far from the airport.
What’s happening?
Reflecting the national trend, it’s been a good day for Fianna Fáil and ‘independents and others’ in the north Dublin constituency.
Darragh O’Brien, the FF senator, topped the poll and claimed the first seat. Socialist TD turned independent Clare Daly joined him in the Dáil at around 10pm, and the next two seats look likely to go to Labour’s Brendan Ryan and FG’s Alan Farrell.
https://vine.co/v/i620p1xwVt0
The emerging wisdom earlier was that it was a two-way battle for the last seat between Reilly and the Sinn Féin candidate, Louise O’Reilly. But Fianna Fáil’s second candidate Lorraine Clifford-Lee started coming back into the mix as the evening wore on.
It was thought the transfers of Gerry Molloy of Renua could help Reilly – but he received only a slight boost from that elimination.
The Green Party candidate’s votes are the latest to have been redistributed. But around an hour after that count started, as the results were about to be read out, chatter began to emerge about a possible recheck of ballots.
That official request was made by Councillor Barry Martin’s team just before 1am, as only a few votes separated him and Clifford-Lee.
It’s still likely Martin – a running mate of Daly – will be next eliminated.
Speaking to this website just before she left the count centre at 1am Clifford-Lee said she was still hopeful of overtaking James Reilly to finish in sixth place in the five-seater.
Earlier, Daly said she expected Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would form an administration in the coming weeks, observing:
“I know that’s not the popular view, but the price of power is a compelling matchmaker.”
On whether or not Reilly would be part of that coalition, she said she wouldn’t rule him out (note – this was at around 10pm, her analysis may well have changed):
I’ve no idea, I was very surprised to hear this morning… I would have given him, before this, I would have given him the third seat so I’m kind of shocked. He’s proved transfer-unfriendly so far but that may change with some of the more right-wing people who are about to be eliminated.
With staff tiring, the returning officer made the decision to begin again at 10am.
But at this stage, it’s really not looking good for Reilly.
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Anyone sad enough to watch deserves liver failure!!
People like drinking and getting really drunk, it’s fun. This is a reality.
i agree, but recently i have become worried that i might have bowel cancer, coz an ad on the telly told me to
Tallafornia is enough to turn people off drinking.
I watched a minute to see what it was about. It was enough for me to think about removing my tv altogether…..scumbags on tv
to be honest, I these shows are more about being scripted than reality TV. I seriously doubt it it true to real life, and I seriously doubt the majority of Irish youth would idolise such behaviour
Em, actually I’d say if you found yourself in a dublin nightclub in the early hours of a saturday morning, you might realise that a lot of Irish youth try to emulate such behaviour. My only point would be, that shows like this might show people how stupid they look when they get that drunk and act like that!
But Antoinette are they not people who are already drunken knobs? It’s not a TV show that is making them behave that way.
Maybe they should be made drink their own fake tan.
I don’t watch any of this tripe. But if watching them influences how you drink at home, then I’m pretty sure there is no hope for you in the real world.
I think Soaps are really bad for it too, time was when something happened they put the kettle on! Now after a murder or a fire they all break open the Ernest and Gallo.
Now to someone may watch Eastenders and go I wish I was like that moderately attractive single Mum with a sister in prison and no real prospects in life. They might just about. But who would watch the cretins on Tallafornia and think to themselves that they want to be like one of them? Does anyone really?
Unfortunately yes. They didn’t just make these people up. we’ve all known a few in our time.
Ive known some alright but they didn’t end up like that from watching a TV show, they were always knobs. Do you really think many people watching Tallafornia really aspires to that?
No they set a bad example for human existence period.
No they promote sterilisation and euthanasia!!
I think it sets a bad example for how to live your life….
Seems like wine companies have big share of eastenders and Corey street scripting. Glass of red is the new fag break.
Biggest load of crap ever put on the telly watched 5 mins to much of it!
I said that BLEEEEP also had a penchant for a few BLEEEEPS himself and it was kinda hypocritical to be calling BLEEEEP drink sodden.
Agh hey did it again!
“Your Say” Unless we don’t like your comment. Then it’s deleted without explanation.
What’d you say?
It would make you turn to drink just thinking about all the people who watch it religiously and talk about it all week. Fucking pathetic morons.
People drink at home cus it’s too expensive to drink out !!! I would much rather sit at home with friends and have a good natter and a laugh then sit in a smelly night club wer ya spend about 100 euro on a few drinks !! Bottle of vodka from Aldi and a bottle of coke 20euro !!! That’s why I drink at home anyway!!
and I do like a drink on Friday evening I work hard and deserve it !
I dont worry about myself of course!
but there’s no doubt that its peddling an infinitely watchable bad behaviour stereotype that appeals to 16-22 year olds! which is bad example and bad ethics – but more importantly its rubbish television!
‘twould drive ya to the drink if you gave it the time of day
ha ha WILLIAM ! BRILL i agree totally !!!!!!!!!!!!!! pass me a kag and a carafe of wine S T A T !! lol
have your say