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Leo Varadkar apologises for 'errors of judgement', says he is 'not close friends' with Dr Ó Tuathail

The Tánaiste is facing questions from TDs on the controversy.

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has apologised in the Dáil for “errors of judgement” after he gave a copy of an agreement negotiated between the Government and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to a rival GP group last year. 

Varadkar told the Dáil that it had been alleged that there was something “improper, perhaps even criminal” in what he did, insisting this is not the case. 

In his statement to the Dáil, Varadkar said he wanted to refute some of the allegations made against him, and also apologise “for his errors of judgement”.

The Fine Gael leader is facing growing pressure following the publication of an article by the Village Magazine over the weekend.

Speaking in the Dáil this evening, he said the suggestion he had anything to gain in his actions “is false and deeply offensive”.

Varadkar said he had “unfinished business” in the Department of Health, which included getting a new GP contract over the line.

He said he took an active interest in the talks, and his sole motivation was to get as many GPs as possible to sign up to the deal.

The Tánaiste said the agreement was largely in the public domain, and went through the timeline of events from when the talks ended to when the deal was published.

A memo was brought to Cabinet by the then-Health Minister Simon Harris on Tuesday 9 April saying “engagement had concluded with the IMO”, said the Tánaiste. 

Varadkar said he sent the document to Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail of the NAGP on “most likely the 15th or 16th”.

He said he sent it on a “confidential basis”, believing that publication of the agreement was imminent. Varadkar said he should have called the NAGP in for a briefing and gone through the document line by line, instead of passing it on in an informal manner.

“That’s the way it should have been done, I didn’t do it that way,” said Varadkar, adding he knew sending it in the post to Ó Tuathail “was a short cut”.

He told the Dáil that he was honouring a political commitment that the NAGP would be kept briefed on the negotiations. 

“Rivalry between the organisations was often bitter, and it made agreement harder to achieve and held back progress. 

“The NAGP wanted to be at the table.  Some GPs were members of both organisations, some of neither.  Ultimately, Government decided to deal with the IMO alone, as our long-standing negotiating partner and ICTU affiliate.  The Opposition was very critical of this at the time.

“We committed, however, to keep the NAGP engaged, involved and informed as to the progress and outcome of negotiations,” said the Tánaiste.

It has been alleged that there was something improper, or even criminal, said Varadkar who denies this is the case. He said Ó Tuathail has been described as “a Varadkar cheerleader”.

“Yes, there are examples of his public support for me during the period, but there are also plenty of the opposite.

“For example, 13th April 2019, in the middle of this timeline, he publicly attacked the Government for providing more GP visit cards calling it a shameful ‘vote-getting exercise’.

“He went on to describe the policy of the Government that I led as ‘the biggest con job in the history of the health service’. 

“Not exactly cheerleading.”  

He said Ó Tuathail is “not as close as a friend as he has made out”, adding that he gave him the agreement because he was head of the NAGP, “not my friend”. 

He said friends and acquaintances often pretend to be closer to those in power than they really are, stating that some members of the House will testify to that.

Sometimes people like to exaggerate the nature of their relationships to inflate their own influence, said Varadkar.

“This is clearly a big part of this story,” he said.

Varadkar also told the Dáil that he had been in contact with Ó Tuathail since the story first broke in The Village Magazine.

He said this was to check the timeline of when the document was sent. He said Ó Tuathail asked if the NAGP should issue a statement. Varadkar said he told him he would not instruct him one way or the other as to whether they should.

“Yes, we are friends,” he said, adding that there are “friends, and there are friends. We are not close friends,” he said. 

He said he meets Ó Tuathail two or three times a year, perhaps at a drinks reception or when social circles overlap.

“We are not best mates,” he said, adding that some are trying to make out that “we are more than that, that is not the case at all”.

Opposition questions

Addressing questions from Paul Murphy, Varadkar said he has not decided whether or not to take legal action against the magazine which published the story on the leaked documents. He had previously described the article which appeared in Village magazine as “grossly defamatory”.

He told the Dáil that he has “very strong legal action that the front page is defamatory”.

Asked by TD Paul Murphy if he had decided to pursue legal action, he said: “I have advice on that, I haven’t decided yet. They appear to be goading me.”

He said that he had been advised that “suing them would be like suing somebody on Twitter”.

Independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath questioned Varadkar on how close he and Ó Tuathail were, given publication of a picture of the two attending a Pride march in the past.

Varadkar: “We all know the innuendo there. We all know what it is. We all know it was a big part of what was there in the article… it’s not true.”

Aontú TD Peadar Toibin asked the if Varadkar has ever leaked cabinet information. The Tánaiste paused before stating ”nothing of this nature, Deputy”. He said politicians do leak from time to time. 

Galway Independent TD Catherine Connolly said the Tánaiste’s statement is “full of spin”.

“When did you realise you had made an error in judgement,” she asked.

Varadkar said what he was trying to do was right, in terms of trying to ensure doctors would not oppose the deal.

Making reference to the Whatsapp messages published in The Village, he said they were “deplorable”, but he can only be held accountable for his own messages, stating that he can’t be held responsible for what other people say in text messages.

Connolly raised the matter of Golfgate, reminding the Tánaiste that he said it was important to lead by example in disciplining Fine Gael members. She asked if this would be the case in this matter.

Earlier in the Q&A, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty read into the Dáil record what appeared to be new screengrabs of Ó Tuathail’s interactions with Varadkar and former Health Minister Simon Harris.

Doherty suggested Ó Tuathail went for lunch with Harris in Wicklow, stating that the messages show Ó Tuathail also lobbied Harris for a copy of the agreement. 

Following tonight’s debate, Harris sought to address some of the allegations raised, stating that while there is nothing wrong with going for coffee or lunch with anyone, he did not do so with Ó Tuathail.

“On the day in question I was at an East Coast FM charity event” he said.

A spokesperson for Harris said this evening that the minster did not share the contract or agreement with any outside party. 

“The minister wanted to see the agreement formally published on the Department of Health website once it was agreed between the three parties – the IMO, HSE and DOH. That happened on May 17th. Any inquiry he made to officials was on publication of the document.

“The Minister received a direct message and responded to the president of the NAGP. However, he did not make any information or seek to make information available to the NAGP. He did not meet the individual in question at any point in Wicklow.”

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:28 AM

    Leo, Simon C and Simon H have proved to be quite a formidable team when the chips are down. There is no one else in politics right now who I consider would have handled this country through the pandemic quite as intelligently as they have.

    614
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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:31 AM

    @2thFairy: They listened to the experts. Hardly makes them formidable.

    681
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    Mute Rochey77
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:32 AM

    @Johnny 5: making them a rarified club in the western world.

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:34 AM

    @Johnny 5: damn right they listened to the experts. That’s what I mean by intelligent. If you look left and right of us you’ll see two bumbling idiots who are ignoring their experts.

    226
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    Mute Pauline Fedigan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:39 AM

    @2thFairy: IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE TO DO WHAT YOUR TOLD.

    180
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:39 AM

    @2thFairy: what is intellectual about quoting from Lord of the Rings and Churchill????
    Point to one action by caretaker Government which wasn’t recommended by medical experts.

    213
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    Mute Charles Alexander
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:44 AM

    @2thFairy: so, because they chose to listen to the experts, you now perceive them as intelligent and therefore, capable of running the country!
    It’s a rhetorical question so please resist responding as I don’t think I would be able to understand your logic at this time of the morning.

    159
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    Mute Tyrone Williams
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:55 AM

    @2thFairy: Absolutely correct, wisdom is about doing what you know, and following the experts in areas you don’t.
    Stupidity is doing your own thing and ignoring the experts

    101
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:02 AM

    @2thFairy: Simon Harris along with Eoin Murphy. Charlie Flanagan disappeared during the election it took a pandemic to give Varadkar an appetite for government again. The legacy of the F.G. government who lost the election, Crumbling health service, Homelessness, Housing crisis scandal after scandal remain with us. Remember when Harris threatened striking nurses with fines if they did not return to work. Hypocrisy at it’s best.

    206
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    Mute Patrick O Connell
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:11 AM

    @Johnny 5: sign of good leadership to listen to advice from experts and take it on board. I wonder would the party with the highest popular vote have listened to the experts or a higher council

    71
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    Mute Aidan O' Neill
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:12 AM

    @2thFairy: are you serious? We have the 8th highest death toll per million in the world. The nursing homes were left to rot. 1 in 5 nursing homes residents contracted COVID. In early March they told nursing homes they were shutting down too early. They also didn’t enforce any regulations on meat processing plants despite the virus running rampant at them. They made some good decisions (lockdown, PUP etc.) but they also left it far too late to advise on face masks. Have a look at our stats compared to other countries that aren’t the UK or US.

    135
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    Mute Criostoir Mac Ranghaill
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:13 AM

    @2thFairy: Your heroes didn’t listen to the experts especially when through neglect by the health department the numbers of elderly who were driven to an early grave.

    107
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    Mute Paul O'Sullivan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:22 AM

    @2thFairy: they have seized the moment,
    And it is quite clear they want another election now, …. because the fools, the fools, the fools are easily fooled …… experts are saying FG would win if there is another General Election.
    Well if that happens I lose all faith in the Irish electrate.

    105
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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:25 AM

    @2thFairy: and reading out speeches from Hollywood movies there actors at best

    86
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:29 AM

    @2thFairy: I think we’re too grateful for basic competency in this country, especially since we observe closely what’s going on in the UK and US a lot and feel relief we don’t have similar leadership.

    40
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    Mute Paul Power
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:46 AM

    @2thFairy: it’s a pity Harris didn’t listen to the experts about the health service in general. He’s left it in a terrible state.

    87
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    Mute Rúraíocht
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:49 AM

    @2thFairy: imagine the mess SF would make per their populist nonsense

    51
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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:57 AM

    @Johnny 5: On health maybe but not on all the other crucial things like pademic payments. Much better payments in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland where sf are in government.

    22
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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:01 AM

    @Pauline Fedigan: Did you mean YOU’RE? Try learning to spell. We all know you can shout!

    12
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    Mute Tim
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:12 AM

    @Donal Desmond: Who won the election so

    4
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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:32 AM

    @2thFairy: Im guessing/hoping this is sarcasm

    21
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    Mute paul kelly
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:35 AM

    @2thFairy: The Brits think Boris is doing a good job, even the Americans thought that Trump was handling it well .

    https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/05/09/covid-19-has-given-most-world-leaders-a-temporary-rise-in-popularity

    15
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    Mute Peader O Harlaigh
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:38 AM

    @2thFairy: easy on there with formidable team, they listened to the experts!

    31
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    Mute Aidan O' Neill
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:10 PM

    @Rúraíocht: care to elaborate? Very easy to SF would have made a mess of it but you haven’t even attempted to explain how.

    39
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:11 PM

    @Rúraíocht: You mean like F.F./Greens who in power brought this country to it’s knees. Perhaps you mean F.G. who imposed draconian austerity measures to repay for the all but criminal actions of banks and developers facilitated by politicians , and the same parties now tell us they want to enter government together..Sweet Jesus.

    57
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    Mute John Egan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:34 PM

    @2thFairy: Jesus, what did they do that no other country has done?. Lockdown – check pandemic payment – check. Restarting the economy will be the real test.

    30
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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:44 PM

    @2thFairy: Comparing us to the worst 2 is not a good comparison..

    20
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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:54 PM

    @MickN: Mick, we’re so used to gross incompetence in this country that when, for once, the government actually get something right (Let’s not forget about the nursing homes though), the public develop goldfish memories and come out with rubbish about them doing a formidable job! Where was that formidable job for the last 5 years on homelessness, health and housing?

    30
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    Mute Seanboy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:26 PM

    @2thFairy: Don’t talk poo they handed the decision making to the man that made the decision to hide the failings in the cervical smear check results if not for Vicky Phelan it would still be hidden on his orders. A formidable politician would have sacked the man not handed the reins to him.

    25
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    Mute Shay Redmond.
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:27 PM

    @2thFairy: AHH will you stop. They were doing what they were told. Top marks for obedience but formidable they are not.

    23
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    Mute paul gurney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:30 PM

    @2thFairy: So basically they’re good as long as someone else is making the decisions for them….Great.

    14
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    Mute paul gurney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:42 PM

    @2thFairy: It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to read a script or speech written by someone else.In fairness any decisions actually made by your “formidable” politicians have been totally useless..think nursing homes,education,masks,re opening protocols to name but a few…the minute they went off script they just proved how useless they really are.

    16
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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:49 PM

    @Pauline Fedigan: Politicians are very rarely told by anybody what to do.

    1
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    Mute Eric Caffrey
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 3:08 PM

    @2thFairy: @awaywiththefairies is a more apt moniker for you I’m afraid

    1
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 3:20 PM

    @Aidan O’ Neill: the PUP element had to be changed from FG €204 to the SF suggested higher rate of median wage.

    6
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    Mute El Poblo Escobar
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 4:57 PM

    @Johnny 5: your right Johnny but only do that when it suits them. pity they didn’t listen to the experts about the broadband scheme or the children’s hospital.

    8
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    Mute El Poblo Escobar
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 5:00 PM

    @Patrick O Connell: what about the experts advice they ignored on the Children’s hospital and the broadband scheme they where told not to sign by the experts.

    9
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    Mute Paul Power
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 5:00 PM

    @Fionn Darland: see how that changes if a second wave comes.

    3
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    Mute John Harkin
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 7:25 PM

    @2thFairy: dont be fooled to think they reacted in the best way and then ignore that they HAD to react the way they did as a consequence of many years of not addressing the fiasco that is the HSE. The amount of money spent on health per capita is astonishing yet it’s such a basket case. FG and FF have never ever bothered while passing the batton of government between to once and for all try improve the governance and operations of he HSE.

    3
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    Mute dec dunne
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:19 AM

    Another general election is the only answer. Which will leave us with a fg government not needing the toxic greens

    434
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    Mute Charles Alexander
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:35 AM

    @dec dunne: does your post imply that ,whilst they won’t require the ‘toxic greens’, they may or may not require FF but FF are not toxic?
    We live in a strange world when we refer to the Greens as being more toxic than FF or even SF for that matter!

    102
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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:36 AM

    @dec dunne: You mean a SF government lol…..if they run 2 candidates in the places they romped home in well……you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

    173
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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:38 AM

    @Peter Hughes: The floating vote will migrate from SF back to FG, if current opinion polls are any indication.

    86
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    Mute Fred the Muss...
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:41 AM

    @NotMyIreland: Running more SF candidates spilts the SF vote and risks neither getting in.
    If another GE happens, FG are back in. Coveney and Varakder know that.

    63
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    Mute Michael Turner
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:42 AM

    @Fred the Muss…: you forgot the fact that SF don’t actually want in, going by the way they gave up on forming a gov so quickly.

    75
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    Mute Paul Power
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:44 AM

    @dec dunne: are FG not toxic. The Moriarty tribunal findings.

    64
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    Mute Fred the Muss...
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:52 AM

    @Michael Turner: 100% correct. SF will need 70 plus seats to form a government ( plus the support of that clown in labour and a few independents). Now, judging by the calibre of candidates they ran before can they get to that number? No chance.
    Before any GE, all party leaders need to clarify if they will partner with SF, and saying yes affects their own base vote.
    A vote for “change” for SF is a vote for them to be in continual opposition and to cristicise and complain which is all they are good for.

    42
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    Mute Big Smokey
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:00 AM

    @Peter Hughes: the problem with SF winning now is that there isn’t money to spend anymore and they will probably have to raise taxes and introduce cuts.

    They won’t be able to tax “the rich” only to get out of it ether, as they won’t raise enough funds. Trying it might lead to those employers cutting their losses and closing, causing more job loss.

    This wouldn’t have been a problem in a flourishing economy with plenty jobs, but in a recession, it is detrimental.

    35
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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:06 AM

    @NotMyIreland: No SF votes will go FG way, too far apart..

    42
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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:14 AM

    @MickN: Any that moved from FG to SF last time, which there certainly were some, will go back the other way now. I’m talking about the floating voter, or the protest vote in the last election, not SF’s base.

    23
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:12 AM

    @NotMyIreland:well if you are unable to know the difference between a poll ( during a pandemic ) and the actual election 4 months ago and how people actually voted you are very very very mistaken in my opinion- and very wide of the mark of how people will actually vote if another election. Falling for all this spin about how FF/FG is the change people voted for ….if they do need to go back to the people the SF voter base for change will much more likely increase – possibly added by Green voters who will be left scratching their head if Green candidate knocks on the door looking for a vote again ? What exactly would they be saying as a reason to give them a vote if they are unable to operate as a party and secure agreement for a programme of govt this time ??? They are behaving a bunch of social justice warriors without a clue of real politik at all. Mark my words if they fail to ratify this deal the electorate will NOT be saying well done – they will have to carry the can for causing another election – not everyone the spin machine narrative in the media ya know. Watching how they have dissed SF since they were the party with most gains ( by a long way) only 4 months ago should be a signal to you. )

    26
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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:36 AM

    @NotMyIreland: Way too far apart SF have eaten the FF vote, they may take back more of the Green/Socdems/Lab/FF votes next time with more candidates..
    I just dont see how anyone can go from SF to FG one is housing homeless and focusing lower end of society the other is the opposite, im just not sure how anyone could jump between those ideologies..

    22
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    Mute DeWitt
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:11 PM

    @Peter Hughes: I hope they do run 2 candidates. They will eat up the loony lefties. But with the pandemic in play people may not have the same desire for change

    6
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    Mute gk ricko
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:32 PM

    @Charles Alexander: greens are toxic then any of them I would vote SF in before them

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    Mute Jack Cass
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:48 PM

    @Paul Power: Do you not know that you cannot bring up embarrassing facts like that on this Forum. Rule of thumb-FG=Good, Everyone Else=Bad. You are not allowed mention the Moriarty Tribunal and it’s finding, the Maurice McCabe Scandal, the Dara Murphy double jobbing payments, the Maria Bailey Swing-Gate fiasco, Siteserv, Cerberus and the deals, Project Eagle and NAMA, the Childrens Hospital, National Broadband contract and Denis Naughten, Cervical Smear Scandal, the Grace Scandal, Regina Doherty and the Airport Police. The list is long so tread carefully Paul.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:52 PM

    @dec dunne: Another 5 years pretending to deal with the homeless situation.

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    Mute Kate Mchugh
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 3:21 PM

    @NotMyIreland: I would not agree with you there. People that did vote for SF, most likely will again. They do not want more of the same. Alot more people and especially the younger generation are becoming more concerned at the over beef farming in this country, this also raises carbon omissions, which we are being fined for.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:20 AM

    They also said if they couldn’t form a government it would amount to a political crises.

    That’s along with a crises in health, housing, homelessness and the countries finances.

    It ain’t a crises in politics, it’s a crises for those parties that couldn’t get it together.

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    Mute Big Smokey
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:04 AM

    @Vladimir Macro: it’s a crisis as legislation regarding the special criminal court needs to be extended and that can’t be done without a Taoiseach. 11 Seanad seats also need to be appointed.

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    Mute gk ricko
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:35 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: Na it’s crises for there pockets they might not get there money

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    Mute John Moloney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:19 AM

    Sounds like someone that wants another election

    125
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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:19 AM

    @John Moloney: after the bubble poll FG are all over another one!

    56
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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:05 PM

    @John Moloney: they see the polls and they’ll never have a better chance of burying Fianna Fail

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    Mute Trevor
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:28 AM

    For once Simon I agree with you. Bring it on

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    Mute Pád
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:18 AM

    Backing out of deals and it’s not even past yet. Politicians couldn’t lie straight in bed!

    142
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    Mute Rochey77
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:31 AM

    @Pád: hang on a sec, the Greens sent in negotiators who handed a joint deal to their leadership but now advocate a No cute from the membership. What do you call that?

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    Mute Doug
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:44 AM

    @Rochey77:
    Green negotiators negotiated in bad faith. Not a good sign for the future.

    54
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    Mute ChuckE
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:23 AM

    What the parties are proposing now will lead to years of stalemate and a weak political scene for years. It is unworkable and shamefully trying to keep three clowns at the top table. It’s farcical

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    Mute Rochey77
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:33 AM

    Ah go on Simon, love to see SF drop about 15 seats again!

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    Mute John Moloney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:43 AM

    @Rochey77: wont happen it will be fianna fail that will be the losers if there is another election

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    Mute For Goodness Sake
    Favourite For Goodness Sake
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:13 PM

    @John Moloney: Of course SF will loose seats. Their inability to take responsibility to attempt to form a government have let them with egg on their face.

    Also the stupidity of David Cullinane (Up the Ra), Violet-Anne Wynne (Antivaxer and Moaning Constituents etc), Mary Lou (would join the PIRA) plus many more will linger in the public mind for a long time to come.

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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:50 PM

    @For Goodness Sake: SF really rattle you dont they, go for a walk , dont spend your life trolling its a waste..

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 6:30 PM

    @MickN: you stole my comment there. I was typing the same verbatim

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    Mute For Goodness Sake
    Favourite For Goodness Sake
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 8:32 PM

    @Eugene Conroy: Quick on the uptake Eugene. Only five hours late!

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Jun 23rd 2020, 12:43 AM

    @Rochey77: Think it’s the pretender and part time Taoiseacht Michael Martin that fears an election. Wonder will Simon Harris, Eoin Murphy, Charlie Flanagan come out of hiding for another election. After all it took a pandemic for Varadkar who lost the election to again get an appetite for government.

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    Mute Niall Sheridan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:20 AM

    Good!

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    Mute Pauline Fedigan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:37 AM

    BRING IT ON

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    Mute Fred the Muss...
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:46 AM

    @Pauline Fedigan: Do you post everything with Caps lock on ffs?

    36
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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:54 AM

    @Fred the Muss…: Yes, always!

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    Mute Pauline Fedigan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 3:20 PM

    @Fred the Muss…: YEP

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 3:20 PM

    @NotMyIreland: Empty vessels make the most noise!

    1
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:36 AM

    “ the certainty the country needs post covid pandemic “
    The only certainty in this PFG is more of the same golden circles/ big business governance while the people are left behind.
    NOT THE CHANGE we need!!!!

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    Mute Ger O'Reilly
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:52 AM

    The longer this government stays in place the more our democracy is undermined. The people made their choice five months ago and many politicians lost their seats. Yet shockingly there are still sacked TD’s in ministerial position’s. This is wrong and needs to end.

    60
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    Mute UpsyDaisy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:04 AM

    A new election is essential. It’s been 4.5 months since the last one. The failure to form a government and Covid means that the February result is now meanigless.

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    Mute Rochey77
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:58 PM

    @UpsyDaisy: neither are constitutional reasons for one.

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    Mute Vincent Tennanty
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:31 AM

    Does anyone really want SF being the only opposition in the Dail if fg/ff/greens get sorted? From a one time SF voter!

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    Mute Hans Stofberg
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:44 AM

    Greenparty members please vote NO
    I am not in favour of government deal that does not have passion for good caretaking off animals the bad publicity that can come out off this deal is not what the greenparty wants part off nor do we stand for that.And nothing was done or said about the small micro solar and wind electricity producers still no money for delivered energy. Lets face it the deal was very poor. I know that
    by voting no we will get political turmoil. I know that Leo has said that he does not want to renegotiate but he has nothing to want he has a lot to lose. To say that we can do a lot if in government is a dream at best we have to work with 2 very big parties and the best time for a deal is not when in government but before that they need a deal too. And even if we do not get in government we can still grow a lot and help the parties that we want as a friend for the future.
    Your sincere Hans Stofberg

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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:28 AM

    Ah why stop after another election.. lets make it best out of 3 wink wink…

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    Mute Gerald OBrien
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:30 AM

    Im concerned by how little concern FF and FG have for the environment at present. Its understandable at the moment that people have short term priorities but there wont be any time for excuses when the global warming gets really bad.

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    Mute EVOLUTION HYGIENE SALES
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:42 AM

    Bring on another election.

    The current set up does not represent the change.

    It’s not a solid program for government, it’s vagary and misinformation.

    FF are finished as a party.
    Greens where carried by SF transfers

    This is not a good situation for the future of our young people.

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    Mute Willie
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:48 AM

    Anyone but MM and his band of clowns that bankrupt the country and now think they have all the answers. I wouldn’t put them in charge of a penny sweet shop.

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 6:37 PM

    @Willie: its not like LV and his band of clowns can run a country. Ireland has been run from the Ballsbridge Donnybrook and Foxrock golden triangle since the foundation of the state.

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    Mute John Doyle
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:49 AM

    Oh the plan is coming together, get us into 50 billion debt and then have another election, hoping SF run more candidates to get into government. And for them to try repair the damage that has been done. Which they will fail, and FFG can say ha told yas so. SF will run the same number of candidates, because they know they are needed in opposition to protect the working class from what’s to come. Of course I’m just guessing here.

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    Mute Terrence Edwards
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:55 AM

    @John Doyle: This is straight out of the Trump playbook – lay the groundwork for your failure ahead of time so you can blame someone else. FF sank us ahead of the crash and left FG to deal with it, they did so in some ways and failed spectaularly in others. If SF get in and end up not accomplishing anything they can’t shirk that blame away.

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    Mute dowthebow
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:07 AM

    @John Doyle: So the plan was to have a hung government, then a global pandemic creating an extra 50b of debt, then a 2nd election where Sinn Fein win, all so they could say in 5 yrs, “ha, told you so”.
    Meanwhile SF, back in the bat cave, will counter-act this dastardly plan by not running enough candidates to win, and in doing so are protecting the working class…
    Sounds plausible.

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    Mute Cupid Stunt
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:55 AM

    @dowthebow: Mary lou as cat woman…. GROOOOWL!

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:13 PM

    @Cupid Stunt:
    I am trying hard …….. but cannot share that particular vision ………. sorry!

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    Mute John Doyle
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:11 PM

    @dowthebow: yep that’s my guess like I said. But thanks for the amplified reflection therapy technique.

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    Mute Jack Cass
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:40 AM

    The dogs in the street knew the possibility of another election after the February result was almost a certainty. FG are so astute, where would we be without their delayed foresight and habit of stating the obvious?

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    Mute Wade Wilson
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:19 PM

    Vote FF get FG. Vote FG get FF. Vote Greens get FFG. I don’t want any of them in office and I don’t think a majority of voters do either. Vote all three out.

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    Mute Jonny
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:50 AM

    Fingers crossed, SF to run more candidates and wipe the floor, real change needed not the same old, same old but the corrupt FFG

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    Mute @itweet_jake
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 11:33 AM

    Let’s go, ready for another election we can get the change we want then

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    Mute MickN
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:04 AM

    FG are gagging for another election…

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    Mute Terrence Edwards
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:53 AM

    FG will walk another election and come out with a stronger majority, I’d much rather see the greens in place to drag a few more initiatives I support through!

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    Mute James Walsh
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:52 AM

    @Terrence Edwards: No one would come out with a majority but FG would certainly emerge stronger.

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    Mute gk ricko
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:30 PM

    @Terrence Edwards: the greens destroy this country as much as FF or FG or more

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:50 AM

    Yes yes yes

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    Mute Liberty Peacock
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:19 PM

    A coalition as unstable as they are proposing is not really what we want. I think there is enough support for another election.

    Maybe Ireland should just become a republic, and leave less power in the hands of Dublin elitists.

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    Mute Sara Davis
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:04 PM

    There should be a new election. No one voted for this cobbled together line up or their policies. The country is in such a dramatically different place to that which we were in when we voted, a new election seems the most democratic option. I don’t consider the few thousand party members who are getting to vote on our countries future as fair or just. We are still in the throws of the pandemic with huge sectors of the economy still locked down so, although I didn’t vote to keep FG in government, I think it would be reasonable for the current government to at least get us to the end of phase 4 then have a new election. I really don’t think a new and completely inexperienced taoiseach is what we need next week.

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    Mute Martin Smith
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:05 PM

    The only ones who don’t want an election is the politicians as it interferes with the summer recess…..

    16
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    Mute Todd
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:44 PM

    We have one of the highest death rates per head of population in the world!

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    Mute For Goodness Sake
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 1:18 PM

    @Todd: Wrong. Try reading!

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:02 PM

    @For Goodness Sake:
    We are 23rd out of 215 countries for highest number of deaths per 1 mil pop. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
    And we are 124th largest country by population out of 235.
    https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 10:10 AM

    Yesssssssss!

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    Mute paul gurney
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 2:35 PM

    I reckon FG are going to try to thwart this Govt but will do so in a way that the Greens take the blame so they can go to the polls and try to benefit from the Covid bounce.All they have to do is plant enough seeds for the Green membership to mistrust the deal and happy days..see the way all Fg interviews over the weekend have the Greens hoping wondering exactly what is in the PfG.

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    Mute Dave Harris
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 4:08 PM

    What is it going to take for the politicians to say this is not working and call an election?
    If the greens don’t want the coalition are we to wait months for them all to have talks again?

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    Mute gk ricko
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 12:26 PM

    Just let the babies in again it’s going keep going this till up with FG and FF in

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    Mute Virgil
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 8:35 PM

    It’ll be funny to see Micheál’s face after less than two thirds of Greens vote for this. Please have a photographer nearby for his reaction

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    Mute Dermot O'Reilly
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    Jun 26th 2020, 7:20 AM

    It’s pointless having another election
    If we do, we have the same parties,
    The same policies,
    No change.

    All parties have rejected Gods Laws
    No party today has good moral standards.

    We have sung very low.

    1
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    Mute Padraig Dolan
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    Jun 22nd 2020, 9:21 AM

    The electorate is crying out for another election as covid 19 has changed everything….it would also give us clarity on the true support for sinn fein…

    1
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