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McDonald speaking outside Sinn Féin's offices in Dublin. Sam Boal

Allowing customs checks on the island of Ireland amounts to 'political vandalism', says McDonald

The Sinn Féin leader claims border checks would breach the Good Friday Agreement.

SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has called on the Taoiseach to refuse any checks on the island of Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit. 

Speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s Ard Comhairle in Dublin today she said the failure to stop checks being rolled out in Ireland amounts to “political vandalism” and would “represent a serious breach of the Good Friday Agreement”. 

Earlier this week during a speech at a British-Irish Chamber of Commerce event, Leo Varadkar said the risk of a no-deal Brexit is growing and that would mean “checks on goods and live animals,” including some near the border with Northern Ireland. 

McDonald, along with other opposition parties have urged the taoiseach to prevent this from happening, and called on the Government to be more open with its Brexit planning. 

“We’re very concerned to hear the taoiseach think out loud and to concede the point that there might be checks anywhere on the island of Ireland,” she said. 

“We all committed to a bottom line which was about protecting our economy, our society, our peace process, of never conceding any damage to the Good Friday Agreement.

“There can’t be any check anywhere on the island of Ireland. That’s entirely unacceptable. It would be an act of absolute political vandalism. And wherever these checks might be located, it would represent a breach, a serious breach of the Good Friday Agreement.”

‘Hard facts’

Speaking at Kennedy Summer School in New Ross yesterday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin made calls for greater transparency on how the Government was planning for a no-deal Brexit. 

“I think we all have the right to be concerned about briefings which emerged from this week’s cabinet meeting about the impact of a no-deal Brexit,” he said. 

“In March we came within days of a crash-out Brexit for which Ireland manifestly was not prepared – something the Taoiseach admitted during Dáil questions.

“Even today less than 10% of Brexit planning funds have been allocated and core customs training is only beginning.”

“I think it is long past time for the government to publish everything it has about no deal preparations. Let’s see the full details. Without the spin and with the full costs and administrative arrangements outlined,” Martin said. 

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    Mute The Risen
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:45 AM

    I’d nearly move to Wicklow just so I could vote for the people running against him

    Hit the road Jack

    893
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    Mute Ger Murphy
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:01 PM

    @The Risen: could not agree more. I have always thought of him as the most inept and backward trade union leader. Every time I listened to him it was like listening to someone from a bygone era.

    If the Labour party want to succeed they need to find a new barrel to scrape for candidates.

    Go away jack and retire on your handsome pensions.

    382
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    Mute Incognito
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:01 PM

    Says all you need to know about Ireland’s Labour Party. Pathetic.

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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:18 PM

    @The Risen: but you’d not vote for Simon in Wicklow.

    7
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:59 AM

    Sweet Jesus, like his so called Labour party, he betrayed his union membership. Jack along with so called Labour party were more blueshirt than the blueshirts. This man represents all that was wrong in the union movement. The union was to protect the workers, not Jack to protect the Status quo.

    444
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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:25 PM

    @Donal Desmond: Millionaire Marxist Jack, who has never been elected to anything by public vote, has said he will use the Bernie Sanders bandwagon to further enrich himself while pretending to bring Wicklow back to the industrial strife of the 1960s. If that doesn’t whet the appetite of public in the south east, I don’t know what will.

    183
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    Mute JJ
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:44 AM

    Hit the road Jack

    410
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    Mute Setrakian
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:47 AM

    Labour keep on scraping the barrel & this what you have ‘left’! He’s right on one point – he’s definitely not Bernie Sanders.

    307
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    Mute Jack O'neill
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:46 AM

    Hit the road Jack and don’t you come back no more no more.

    327
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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:03 PM

    The biggest supporter of the Fine Gael and Labour water charge fiasco with the Siptu Union being awarded exclusive Union membership for the Irish water employees a condition of their employment what other sweet heart deals will Jumping Jack demand if ever he gets elected !

    270
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    Mute @TJPPK
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:13 PM

    Perfect fit for the Labour party. He’s only in it for himself.

    217
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:15 PM

    I can see him as a Labour candidate. He is one of the primary exponents of double standards. Labour and Jack O’Connor are welcome to each other. Pretend social democracy.

    201
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    Mute Christy Nolan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:29 PM

    @The Risen:
    Soon there will be a champagne socialist for everyone in the audience.
    O’Connor was involved in the talks involving the setting up of Irish Water.
    He was given the task of “selling” the quango to his Union Members.
    Alan Kelly mark 2.

    161
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    Mute Andy Jackson
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:49 AM

    We’ve far too many hard left marxists in Irish politics as it is. Hit the road Jack!

    171
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    Mute Sean Conway
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Andy Jackson: We haven’t enough you mean! the changes in irish politics in is all down to left sided politicians in the last two elections. the garda for starters. would be still carrying on as they like under the FF/L/FG cartel.

    102
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    Mute Bart
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:18 PM

    @Andy Jackson: left? You deluded fool, Jack and Labour are cap tipping FG FF bum chums

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jan 13th 2018, 3:11 PM

    @Andy Jackson: if you think for one second Jack is a Marxist, you are sadly mistaken. Jack is Blueshirt to the core. Just on another note , since the foundation of this state (Would not for a second call it a Republic) all elected governments have been right wing conservatives, I would include so called Labour party in that category also.

    26
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:25 PM

    Labour? Baaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!

    115
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:16 PM

    A toxic candidate for a toxic political party. They are ideally matched.

    160
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    Mute Henry Matthews
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:43 AM

    Vote for Jack…that should go well…

    96
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:29 PM

    Stay on the gravy train Jack…..

    107
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    Mute John O'donnell
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:48 AM

    Ah sure why not go all the way and throw in the Presidency while your at it Jacko… you have the neck so off you go..

    171
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    Mute Dermot Mc
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:36 PM

    Has he not sponged enough public money?

    105
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:58 AM

    He has a hard neck,and thats all he has.

    125
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    Mute Denis Doyle
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:08 PM

    Stay away from Labour can’t be trusted

    119
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    Mute zippo
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:13 PM

    The negativity in the comments on Jack and Labor is really disturbing, c’mon guys, Labour is giving youth a chance here, the oldies in Labor have had their day, give youth a chance, vote…Howlin, Burton, Penrose, Ryan, Jan, not one of them a day over 70 and in all fairness Jack is only 60 !

    78
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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:16 PM

    Whatever chance they had, that’s Labour fooked!

    104
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    Mute Father Hody Commody
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:11 PM

    Just the man to continue the tradition of labour presidents signing legislation into law over their Christmas dinner.

    64
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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:21 PM

    Listened to him on RTÉ radio yesterday blowing about what the Labour Party achieved in government. Typical see nothing hear nothing speak nothing wrong with labour. A joke

    103
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    Mute Stephen Grehan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:47 PM

    Pure gold comedy from Liebour. What next Gilmore for president.

    59
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    Mute nelly
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:05 PM

    The man that destroyed the working people of Ireland. A spineless coward .
    To the people of Wicklow rise up and show Jack just how much he is liked .

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    Mute Peter Coen
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:28 PM

    No no no

    49
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    Mute Lobert Rester
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:38 PM

    Are the Labour Party even relevant anymore? Do people even vote for them?

    67
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    Mute Liberal Larry
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:10 PM

    He’ll fit in well with the traitors.

    120
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    Mute Brian harris
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:48 PM

    Feathered his nest when FF were in power. Was blackmailed when FG/LAB were in power. Hence the inaction from siptu when the worker was being fisted by a ruthless establishment. GO AWAY JACK.

    93
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    Mute David Connell
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    Jan 13th 2018, 2:02 PM

    Jack,
    You retired with a huge pension…..STAY RETIRED.

    61
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    Mute Derek Teeling
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:00 PM

    Wouldn’t know socialism if it smacked him in the face done bugger all for workers

    157
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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:51 PM

    A champagne charlie ,who cant get enough of the stuff ,labour can have him ,one more corpse in the ship at the bottom of the sea, wont make a blind bit of difference .

    68
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    Mute Bernie
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:02 PM

    Indeed someone does need to take up the fight for investment in public services Jack. Unfortunately, Labour in government both turned a blind eye and were actively involved in wrecking ball policies. New Labour were so busy rubbing off the red, that they became white (collared). The current Labour leadership like that in SF, need to step aside. New blood, whether it be in old veins or not, is needed urgently for Labour to flourish. Mere existence is not enough, not by a long shot!
    Good luck with it the fight Jack!

    42
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    Mute Mr Grumble
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:53 AM

    Never Jack down Jack

    32
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    Mute patrick gilmartin
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:20 PM

    Never let it be said the so called Labour Party misses a chance to make a total fool of itself .

    59
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    Mute Bill Clear
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:42 PM

    Oh god no

    27
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:28 PM

    Labour is a party of parasites and Jack fits in very well.

    101
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    Mute James Doyle
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    Jan 13th 2018, 2:21 PM

    @Dave Doyle: The make firm promises and then break them party, no different than the establishment status quo F/F F/G parties. The citizens at last are waking up to the cosy consensus politics of L/B F/F F/G, they want radical change politics not more of the same broken promises and policies they never intend to deliver on. you can fool some people all of the time You can fool some people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

    23
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    Mute Sean c
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    Jan 13th 2018, 2:55 PM

    A joke of a man
    I can never understand people like Jack’s infatuation with themselves.
    It basically a pre requisite for the Labour party so he’s a perfect fit.

    32
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    Mute Franklin Roosevelt
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:24 PM

    He’ll take Stephen Donnelly’s seat

    21
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    Mute carodeer
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:48 AM

    Great – another older white man. I want to see more women in power. I want to see lots of excellent female candidates on the ballot properly supported by the parties and not shafted.

    32
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    Mute Andy Jackson
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:51 AM

    @carodeer: anytime Irish women have been trusted in positions of power they’ve made an absolute pigs ear of things. See; Frances Fitzgerald, Joan Burton, Nóirín O’Sullivan, Mary Harney or Mary Coughlan.

    181
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    Mute David Murphy
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:05 PM

    @carodeer: What are you talking about? For 21 out of the last 28 years we have had women presidents.

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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:09 PM

    @carodeer: joan Burton was in power. Nothing went wrong there did it? Oh wait…

    63
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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:11 PM

    @carodeer: like Joan Burton?…..

    44
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:23 PM

    @Andy Jackson: ha! How about Bertie, Haughey, Kenny??? Yeah men have done a great job of f@€king this country up!!!

    19
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:26 PM

    @Andy Jackson: You forgot about Regina!

    50
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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:09 PM

    @carodeer: have you conveniently forgotten what Joan Burton did to women’s pensions in this country?

    42
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    Mute Joe Hill
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:32 PM

    Wish I lived in Wicklow, would be honoured to vote for him!

    18
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    Mute Misanthrope
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    Jan 13th 2018, 4:45 PM

    Different carriage on the gravy train

    15
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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:13 PM

    I see the journal comment section is lit up against him.

    He is certain to be elected so.

    16
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    Mute Pat Frost
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    Jan 13th 2018, 4:33 PM

    Surprise surprise.They can have him.

    13
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    Mute hallelujah
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:29 PM

    I wish Mr O Connor well. Anyone who puts their name forward for public office deserves respect imho.
    That said I don’t know if I would vote for him.

    10
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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jan 13th 2018, 1:08 PM

    @hallelujah:

    Likewise. Respect to Jack for making his own decision to come down from Ivory Tower within SIPTU and actually engage with an electorate for next GE, I’m sure with the intention of improving their lives.

    The man, at 60, could probably have sailed off into the sunset of retirement with the usual lump sum and a pension, but instead choses an attempt to continue the left’s fight for a larger slice of the National Cake from within the corridors of power.

    For that alone, he deserves high praise indeed.

    17
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    Mute Patrick McGarry
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    Jan 13th 2018, 4:10 PM

    And this tells you why Labour are in the gutter

    19
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    Mute Unitedpeople
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    Jan 13th 2018, 6:31 PM

    The man – like Labour – has stood by every policy that has austerity screwed the sick, handicapped, dying, carerers, parents, single mothers, unemployed, employed (more hours forced to work for less pay) and a lot more including standing by Irish Water, bullied water meters in and the recharging racket.

    I hope he sinks with Labour.

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:50 PM

    I thought it was Jorry at first sight

    10
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Jan 13th 2018, 5:43 PM

    @Gerry O’Rourke: I suppose so

    2
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    Mute blackcoffee
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    Jan 13th 2018, 3:46 PM

    Not an FN chance in Hell of ever getting my vote

    18
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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:28 PM

    The working Man can kiss my ASS I got the Labor Party spot at last

    46
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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Jan 13th 2018, 3:48 PM

    o please, Jack F$%K right off, is your substantial pension not enough. FFS

    19
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    Mute denis o mahony
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    Jan 13th 2018, 7:25 PM

    I am sick and tired of retired celebrities putting their name forward for election e.g Shane Ross a failure at everything he ever did but then because of name recognition he got elected to Dáil Éireann. People of Ireland please vote for young people that need the money and the job and not people who are retired with a big fat pension and are full of their own importance.

    9
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    Mute Frank McGlynn
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    Jan 13th 2018, 6:24 PM

    There is no labour party worthy of the name in this country anymore. Just a shower of trendy liberals who call themselves Labour.

    8
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    Mute John Dman
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:34 PM

    Frances fitzgerald, Disgusting!

    44
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    Mute Johnny Mason
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    Jan 13th 2018, 12:55 PM

    @John Dman: Just put off me dinner by the mention of her name

    37
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    Mute Joseph Caulfield
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    Jan 13th 2018, 8:20 PM

    Labour are dead and buried and Jack aint going to bring them back.

    8
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    Mute Bart Teeling
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    Jan 13th 2018, 6:03 PM

    Shower of charlatans.. Never off RTE obviously.. The Montrose FG/lab bubble.. The only time I’d be in favour of privatisation.. Jog on and take your licence with you..

    13
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    Mute Murph
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    Jan 13th 2018, 10:58 PM

    Somebody tell him that the pay doesn’t match the €149k he was on for the last gig!
    Might just turn him off.

    4
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    Mute Francis Hoban
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    Jan 13th 2018, 11:36 PM

    That’s it just give him another fat cat pension

    3
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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Jan 13th 2018, 5:06 PM

    Smart man should go well but sheep have no vote.

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    Mute Randal McNally
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    Jan 14th 2018, 3:36 AM

    From one free loader’s Gravy Train to another ! Good man Jack. True to form as usual!!!

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Jan 13th 2018, 5:37 PM

    Shite bag hope he loses his nuts and fails in the election

    13
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    Mute Liam Treacy
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    Jan 14th 2018, 10:01 AM

    Like all the socialist leaders he uses vast amounts of socialist jargon and cliche to obviscate what he is saying and what he means. He speaks in riddles like the other great socialist Bertie. All to persuade the ill informed that he is on their side and agin “them” the enemies of the workers.
    He couldn’t create a job in a boom.

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    Mute James Mc Loughlin
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    Jan 14th 2018, 12:30 PM

    The Labour party are really scraping the bottom of the pit in selecting this man .He was the most useless head of a trade union ever..If he is not successful there is always the other place where unelected candidates go

    1
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