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EVERY SATURDAY MORNING we take a look at all the best comments left on the site by our readers over the past seven days.
This week there was talk about animal rights, baby names and of course Luas strikes.
1. When a new documentary about teenage killers came out during the week Yeah OK commented on an article about one of the teenagers:
“He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, however the judge used his discretion, to review the sentence after ten years. In 2013, his sentence was reviewed and he is set to be released in July this year.” So let me get this straight, a fella who openly admitted to wanting to kill someone for no reason whatsoever, who then went out and did what he said he would do, is being released after 10 years? Judges in this country make me sick
That comment got 1,543 green thumbs.
2. When former minister James Reilly said he was “honoured” to be appointed to the Seanad after he had previously criticised the upper house of the Oireachtas RMcG added their thoughts on the matter:
Funny how they change their tune if it means a payday for them!
1,153 others seemed to agree.
3. During the week the Labour Court recommended an 18.3% wage increase for Luas drivers. Shane Freeney gave this simple comment on the matter:
Oh ffs
That comment got 1,119 green thumbs.
4. When the government had their first defeat in the Dáil on a counter motion they put forward in response to a Labour Party motion on worker’s rights, Chewy Burton shared their views:
All of a sudden Labour are concerned about minimum wage and workers rights?? They helped destroy what we had over the last few years. Absolutely filth merchants
That got 1,080 green thumbs.
5. When Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary gave his opinions about the ongoing Luas dispute and how he would deal with it, Marg Murphy added:
Pity he’s not calling the shots here.
1,079 others liked that comment.
1. “They hold a man’s arm against the curb and you hear it break when they kick it.” (This article, about Ibrahim Halawa’s prison letter, got 276 comments)
2. Confirmed: European Commission says we are no longer exempt from water charges (258 comments)
3. Alan Kelly says he’s been proven right about Irish Water (239 comments)
4. Is Ireland set to go to war with the European Commission over water charges? (218 comments)
5. No tender issued yet to seek company to set up Citizens’ Assembly on Eighth Amendment (210 comments)
There was plenty of debate this week over a decision by zoo officials in the US to shoot a gorilla after a child entered the enclosure. Beachmaster summed up the web furore with this succinct take:
There are approximately 100,000 Western lowland gorillas left in the world, roughly half the amount of Western lowland gorilla behavioural experts who are currently online.
After an article about sisters with multiple sclerosis was published last week Berni Quinlan got in touch with TheJournal.ie to share her sister’s story and how proud she is of her:
My sister was diagnosed four years ago. She’s the bravest person I know. She says she has to get on with her life. She is doing the camino de Santiago for the fourth time. Last year she raised 4000€ for the charity. I really admire her.
Another animal rights debate was sparked when dozens of dead cubs were found at a controversial “tiger temple” in Thailand. BJBreen weighed in with the following:
It’s the responsibility of tourists to stop
Feeding money to these places. With no revenue the industry shuts down! Plenty of great things to do in Thailand so no excuses!
The question of whether or not to get rid of payphones around Ireland arose during the week. Ryan Carroll has an idea:
Why not do what smart countries have done? Turn them into a mixed WiFi hotspot, videophone (FT & Skype) and public internet terminal in key areas. They’ve done that in London and even in West end they’re left alone
The list of the most popular baby names of 2015 in Ireland was released this week, and there were some interesting monikers in the top 100 – like Pixie, Romeo, Otis and Zayn.
Shakka1244 added what they thought of the list:
Where’s Mary and John? This country is finished I’ll tell ya, finished !
See any good comments? Send them to orla@thejournal.ie
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Just the mention of a debate gives poor Enda nightmares. Go for it.
‘Reform Alliance’ Ironic in that they are the most conservative ‘party’ in the Dail.
It’s only hot air nothing will happen
Is this the start of a New Political Party…I think we will have to watch this space…the time maybe right.
Mmm, yes. The time for a right wing, reactionary, religious fundamentalist party. Just what Ireland needs at the moment.
Fiona, in any political party you have various different views but they are all whipped together for party reasons,,imagine if we had a political party that was open and honest and let each member express their own views while still representing the general will of the people…..open and transparent with no hidden agendas or Spin . No FG, no FF just people representing people.
What you describe there are called independents Shane. We already have quite a few.
Why join a political party in the first place if you refuse to follow their policies? The whip system ensures that business is actually attended to, don’t like it then leave and run as an independent. These people want to have their cake and eat it too.
You want rampant gombeen politics, populism and nothing ever getting done and decided on because the individuals TDs are too terrified to defy their voter base? Than yeah, no whip system is good.
Could you imagine a government of independents? On second thoughs I’d rather not.
Our choices..FG they have done the nation proud so far…FF they did the nation proud in the past…SF I won’t even comment.We need to move away from the gombeen civil war politics that we have ,move people away from voting for political parties because their father and grandfather voted for. Ppl like Shane Ross and Stephen Donnelly are lost in a Dail the works the way it is…because they have no say even if they had the most wonderful idea in the world it’s just not going to happen!
Fianna Fail did the nation proud Shane? Well not in my lifetime. They’ve bankrupted the country three times since I was born and I’m not even fifty yet. I will never vote for Fianna Fail. Populist morons.
Reg…I think you missed the sarcasm in that …I wouldn’t quench one of them if they were on fire…and that’s being polite..
Good to hear Shane!
Economically for a free market but with a strong social conscious.
Not Creighton,any one but Creighton
The national doctors strike not that important to the Reform group so!!!…..
Lucinda must be delighted that her husband has a good chance of keeping his job after the next election. Not sure about her chances though!
The wicked witch isn’t gone
U better find your ruby slippers Kenny
PDs 2, no thanks
Can we have a Debate about Abortion while were at it ?
That and the gay rights! It’s amazing how they keep ignoring the questions we’ve been asking for decades!
Won’t be long before they REFORM back into FG
Not for most of them now. They’ve burnt their bridges I think.
New political grouping, Shiite, anything to protect the Blueshirts.
Reform alliance , how about reject alliance . Nobody cares what ye want or say.
Ffs… Didn’t we just spend enough time on this with a referendum. Move on people. There’s plenty of other crap in this country that needs attention….
Politicians really get my goat!
No to an entirely directly elected Seanád. If you do the same former GAA stars, FF rejects and the ilk will be put in. It should be a series of panels such as education, nominated and elected by Teaching Council, NCCA etc… Business Leaders voted in by IBEC, that small businesses thing, Arts and culture panel etc… this would take time to tease out, but would better lend it self to our upper house.
No to any more representation of the teaching profession. It’s enough our mini-cabinet is 75% defunct teacher.
I’d disagree with the idea of giving anyone a vote on the basis of their associations or what they work as. I also think it’s a cryin’ shame that in this day and age we still have to debate whether or not one man – one vote is the right system.
I would say a directly elected house, with longer terms, but smaller overall size. The yanks do this with their senate on the basis that it lends itself to less of a partisan fight and a more of a thoughtful debate. That’s the way a second house should be.
(Or maybe even make it a house composed solely of independents? They are pretty much useless in the dáil as it stands, and it’d be a good balance to party politics, unless I’m missing the stupid part of the idea!)
Reform ? Membership of a political party should exempt Seanad membership. That’s a good start. If that’s too far reaching – then membership of Dail for 3 previous administrations.
We need Dail reform and accountability at many levels including politicians and CS.
Seanad has no power – either before or after the vote. I voted to get rid as it had little impact.
Time to dissolve Dail & Seanad and start again.
I’d give Lucinda one :) I’m no snob !
Hey Loose-Cinders, back a horse that might win and forget about the current no. 1 hit single “we want reform of the Seanad” as it will be gone by next month and some other populist folly with be ‘idea du jour’
If we got this, power of recall to both houses and the ability to call in referenda with 75,000 signatures whenever we like, we’d have (dare I say it?) a pretty good system on our hands.
have your say