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RENUA’S DIRECTOR OF communications and political strategy John Drennan has quit the party in the wake of its disastrous general election result where it failed to win any seats.
The former Sunday Independent political editor joined Renua in May of last year, saying the new political party had “the potential to bring real change to Irish politics”.
Drennan worked closely with party leader Lucinda Creighton throughout his time with the party, but it failed to capture the support of the public it had hoped for.
Renua lost all three of its TDs in the general election with Creighton the most high-profile casualty in Dublin Bay South.
It failed to win Dáil seats anywhere else despite fielding 26 candidates. It’s understood that Drennan handed in his notice on election day.
In a brief statement to TheJournal.ie, Drennan said that he wished Renua all the best in the future, adding: “The party does have a future, but it may have to redefine itself.”
Drennan is the author of a number of books, including The Great Betrayal: How the Government with the Largest Majority in the History of the Irish State Lost Its People, which was published while he was working for the party last year.
Despite not winning any seats, Renua did secure over 2% of support nationally in the election which means it qualifies for state funding of around €250,000 annually.
Creighton has said the party will continue despite not winning any Dáil seats.
Under the party’s constitution she will have to resign as leader as she is no longer an elected politician. One of the party’s five sitting councillors is likely to take up the role.
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Trading conditions for the company in Britain is also challenging. The prices they charge in Ireland is 20-30% more than in Britain. Maybe if they reduce the rip off charges in Ireland, people will return.
Yeah bobby dinner for two with a bottle of wine and dessert €14.50. What a rip off !!
We are not known as Treasure Ireland for nothing.
Their meal deal has always been good value but they are considerably more expensive than other stores of equal quality.
@David when you see that it’s only £10 for the same offer in UK/NI, then yes it is.
Sad to say I buy from M&S.co.uk and use parcel motel. I get the exact same stuff for as much as half the price as buying it on M&S.ie
Nothing sad about it! A very clever thing to do, moneymaid.
I don’t buy ready made meals David, if that’s what you like then good for you. But at €14.50 you still pay more than those in Britain, like I said!!
I have to laugh…. Be thankful that it just has to come across the Irish Sea that 20-30% markup is just them passing on higher costs.
By the time they ship it out to the M&S in Hong Kong. eggs are €4.2 a half dozen and still have £1 price tag, bacon goes for €8 for something with a £1.99 price tag and a 60p yogurt sells for €2.20
And affluent Asian and western consumers are happy to snap it up with none of the complaints.
People don’t really have the cash to be paying over the odds in M&S,reflected in the massive trade that penneys & aldi/lidl are seeing
M&S fruit and veg is second to none. I don’t mind paying a little more for actual taste. Plus I don’t have to throw it out the next day cos it’s gone mouldy unlike some other grocery retailers I could mention.
Maybe you should pay more attention to the fruit you pick?
I do as it happens
Linda, I agree…in some of the other stores the fruit is like a brick, then overnight it’s shite and not edible and has to be binned, M&S fruit is worth the extra…if I were rich, if I even had a job, I’d do all my shopping in M&S, the food is top quality.
They buy very little Irish sourced products and majority of Irish products are from NI. Need to follow Aldi and SuperValu in promoting fresh Irish food instead of shipping most of food from Britain.
Kevin
The only GB to-night worth commenting about is
Germany v Brazil.
Losers Germany, Brazil Triumphs?
Well said Bobby.
A sound comment Bobby.
I think a lot of companies are in the sh**s here. I’m looking at a British company that I work for, they’re cutting hours left right and centre and they pay us next to nothing and before you ask, as a manager I’m on about 22k/year before tax. I’m not bitching and moaning a job is a job I know, but here they are cutting hours expecting us to do the same amount of work and in the same time frame week to week. Yet they still tell the robots in suits as we call them to tell us profits are growing year on year yet individual who store sales are in deficit most weeks and months. I think there is a lot of companies that are going to cut their losses and get outta here quite soon and I personally feel that the government has a lot to answer for regarding this.
Gareth Brooks!
Ah please don’t Kevin.
Crying at home with my cowboy hat and bible as we speak
Any wonder with the clowns in DCC
Get settled in Limerick first M&S and see what happens !
If they stocked some more Irish food it would do them some good – for example no Bord Bia approved Irish sourced meat helping support Irish jobs in M&S – they should take a leaf out of aldi’s book and see how they win business here by supporting high quality local producers.
have your say