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Eamonn Farrell

'Don't let the populists in': Warnings of left-wing Govt tax hikes at FG conference

There were big questions being asked at the FG conference as ministers said they’re fighting for re-election to government.

FINE GAEL APPEARS to be in election-mode, with party leader Leo Varadkar hitting out at Sinn Féin and the formation of any left-wing government at today’s special party conference in Maynooth today. 

Though the party is trailing more than ten points behind Sinn Féin in most of the more recent opinion polls, many had consigned the party to a life on the opposition benches for the next few years.

However, ministers were out in force today stating that Fine Gael was ready to fight for a fourth term in government. 

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, the grassroots favourite, gave an opening speech at the Glenroyal Hotel today,  stating that the party wants to stick around.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris (and hotly tipped future party leader) received a standing ovation after a call-to-arms speech in which he declared: 

“For those who keep on writing articles about this party being tired, or too long in government: we’ve never been more energised.

“The populists are at the gates of government in this country and we are not going to let them in.”

Cost of a left-wing government, according to Varadkar

This was followed by more election speak from the Taoiseach who warned that a left-wing government would cost an average couple on average incomes at least €6,000 a year.

Varadkar told Fine Gael members this evening that he wants to continue cutting personal income taxes, pointing out how the party had increased the entry point for the 40% entry rate from €33,000 to €42,000 from next year.

The higher entry point is worth €3,000 to someone earning €40,000 or more or €6,000 to a couple both earning €40,000 or more, he said, pledging that he wants to go further.

“That was fought tooth and nail by Sinn Féin, by the Social Democrats, by Labour, by a lot of the Independents,” he said.

“So if you’re an average couple on the average salary, the price of a left-wing government is €6,000 a year and we can ensure that gap gets wider if we can get a fourth term in government – one of the very good reasons why we should; money in your pocket.”

It’s not unusual for Fine Gael and Sinn Féin to take potshots at one another – there were criticisms levelled last week at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. 

272Fine Gael Special Conference_90693351 Delegates applaud at a question and answer session at the FG conference in Maynooth today. Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

There were big questions being asked at today’s conference, such as: How will the party elect its next leader; who might that be; who is interested in running for Europe next year; and who will be the Fine Gael presidential candidate for 2025?

There is strong speculation that a general election could be held towards the end of 2024, ahead of the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail-Green Party coalition expiring in the spring of 2025.

Asked about a possible date for a general election, Varadkar said: “Sometimes elections happen on you, and sometimes you get to call them.”

He said he had not had any “detailed discussions” with Fianna Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin, nor the Green Party leader Transport Minister Eamon Ryan about when an election would be held.

269Fine Gael Special Conference_90693350 Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

Sinn Féin

But one question got a clear answer this evening. Would Fine Gael do business with Sinn Féin if those were the numbers next time around?

One young Fine Gaeler asked the Taoiseach to reiterate his view on such things at this evening’s questions and answers session.

Varadkar said Sinn Fein-led government in the future was something that deeply worried him.

They are “always making the populist calls, always making the wrong calls”, he said.

He said that he had learned from being in government during difficult periods, including the pandemic, adding that the key to politics was “judgment and making the big calls and getting them right”.

“And when I look back over Sinn Féin for the past 30 years, they’ve made all the wrong calls on all the big questions, and I believe they will do so again.”

He criticised Sinn Féin’s stance towards the armed struggle in Northern Ireland, its policy in relation to the EU, and the party’s call to ‘burn the bondholders’ following the financial crash.

Varadkar said that party had been “flirting and calling for zero-Covid” during the pandemic, and would turn Ireland’s allies into enemies.

He said of their foreign policy: “To punch above our weight you have to box clever, and when I see some of the things they’re coming out with now, (they) are just knee-jerk and emotional-response policies.”

“They think in their minds that they would get the United States behind a United Ireland. They wouldn’t, they would actually turn our friends into enemies. They would fall out with the United States,” he said, stating that their foreign policy ideals would be incompatible with the US position.

209Fine Gael Special Conference_90693264 Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

Another question being asked: How will Fine Gael elect its next leader?

That was one question that was debated among the grassroots members of the party at one of the conference sessions.

Under the current system, the Fine Gael parliamentary party has the most weight, accounting for 65% of the vote, while ordinary members contribute 25% and councillors 10%.

The next leader of FG?

While Leo Varadkar shut down criticisms this year that his leadership of Fine Gael is in any kind of  “drift”, labelling the claim “not fair”, the party was looking to the future today. 

There was a lively debate among party members on how to elect the next leader, select a presidential candidate and vote on a future programme for government.

One party member from Dublin Bay South said in his view, the last leadership election was “disappointing”. 

While he said Simon Coveney and Varadkar were both suitable for the job, he felt the ordinary members of the party should have more of a say, calling the current system as “divisive”. 

party-leader-and-taoiseach-leo-varadkar-during-a-fine-gael-special-conference-at-the-glenroyal-hotel-maynooth-co-kildare-picture-date-saturday-november-18-2023 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Back in 2017, when Varadkar battled it out against his party colleague Simon Coveney, the final count, including all three electoral colleges, saw him win with 60% to Coveney’s 40%. The electoral college breakdown was was follows:

  • Parliamentary party: 70:30
  • Local public representatives: 55:45
  • Membership: 65:35

While some grassroots members spoke about how they wanted to have more of a say in the future about who leads the party, calling for one member, one vote, former party leader Alan Dukes said he believed only TDs, Senators and MEPs should be allowed vote for the next leader. 

Seán Finan, former President of Macra, told the crowd attending the debate that the weighted percentage for members should increase or the party runs the risk of losing people who want a say and who are important to the party’s success. 

‘We’re different to FF’

Fine Gael Councillor for Meath County Council Maria Murphy said there needed to be more balance across members in the election of a future leader, in how the party selects it presidential candidate in 2025, and also in how it signs off on whatever a future programme for government might be. 

Whatever the future might hold, and depending on whether Fine Gael makes it into a coalition that will form the next government, Murphy said one thing needs to be made clear – that “Fine Gael is not Fianna Fáil”. 

She said any future programme for government “has to clearly reflect that”, while stating that the “next election is not over by a long shot”. 

Whoever might be the next leader or in the next government, that is still up for debate.  First comes the local and European elections in June. 

“We’ve almost all our candidates now selected for local elections – I think we’ve got 70% – so we’ll have them pretty much all done by Christmas.

“Just under 90% of our councillors running for re-election – and then a huge number of really interesting new candidates, young, old, male, female, some really impressive people who, I think quite frankly, are future TDs and senators if they can get over the first hurdle of getting elected to the council next June,” Varadkar said today.

“And then of course, after that we will focus on plans for the general election, but it’s the Europeans and locals that come first.”

left-to-right-enterprise-minister-simon-coveney-taoiseach-and-fine-gael-leader-leo-varadkar-and-eu-commissioner-mairead-mcguinness-speak-at-a-fine-gael-special-conference-glenroyal-hotel-maynoot Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, and EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness speak at a Fine Gael special conference, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

European hopefuls?

A number of names were doing the rounds today as possible candidates interested in a run for Europe, such as Minister of State Josepha Madigan, Senator Regina Doherty, Senator Barry Ward and Dublin South West TD Colm Brophy along with Senators Tim Lombard and Jerry Buttimer. 

Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who was standing next to Varadkar during the media event today, was asked whether she intended to run for the presidency in 2025.

Her term as Commissioner is due to end next summer, with it in Fianna Fáil’s gift to name her successor. 

“I’ve said very publicly that I am willing to serve again, but that’s a decision of government, and beyond that, who knows.”

Today, Coveney described next year as a “watershed moment” in Irish politics, and with local, European and a possible general election on the cards, that very much appears to be the case. 

 

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134 Comments
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    Mute Keyser Söze
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:43 PM

    Only rich people and sheep vote FF and FG. Record homelessness, record numbers on trolleys, schools with no teachers, houses crumbling in Donegal, Irish people left unprotected from vulture funds and profiteering energy companies.

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    Mute Francis O Riordan
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:46 PM

    @Keyser Söze: don’t for god sake let the truth get in the way of ffg. Horrible horrible people

    198
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:57 PM

    @Corporate Interests: Crumbling Health service, Homelessness, Housing crisis, Rental crisis, Scandal after scandal, A make it up as you go along refugee crisis, Noonan inviting in vulture companies that added to the mess, That is the legacy of FG… Hopefully FG will lose more seats in the next election than they did in the last… Martin got Varadkar off the hook when FF had to go cap in hand to Varadkar to form a government….Not forgetting the Attorney General who also got Varadkar off the hook concerning Zappone gate.

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Nov 18th 2023, 11:31 PM

    @Keyser Söze:
    Records are there to be broken. Roll on the SF populist bandwagon and the existing records you mentioned will fall by the wayside.

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Nov 18th 2023, 11:52 PM

    @Donal Desmond:
    At least they formed a government which SF failed to do. SF are more aligned with authoritarian than democratic politics. It is a nightmare to think of world with Putin still President of Russia, Trump in America and Ms McDonald as prime minister in Ireland.

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    Mute Spanner
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:13 AM

    @Keyser Söze: easy know your not politically aligned as you speak the truth

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:15 AM

    @Vincent Alexander: Martin and Varadkar being part time Taoiseach after Varadkar and the Blueshirts came in third.. FF the largest party in the 26 counties by one uncontested seat. Martin stated he would not enter government with SF ..which meant he had to go cap in hand to Varadkar to form a government..FG/FF who between them have governed this state since it’s foundation are responsible for the crumbling state of this country..Health, Housing, Homelessness, Scandal after scandal, A make it up as you go along refugee crisis…A photo opp in Israel and Ukraine shows the Hypocrisy of Martin/ Varadkar.

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    Mute Tim Quigley
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:18 AM

    @Keyser Söze: Maybe describe who would vote for SF/IRA while you’re at it

    16
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:17 AM

    @Vincent Alexander: SF didn’t have the required numbers elected at last election to form a government, especially when the FF party ran in that election promising that FG would not be deemed fit for a future government by them. Only to break that promise giving us the true face of FFG. That will change hopefully next time around despite all Leo’s lies about middle income families being hit. SFs tax policies will not adversely effect those €40k Pa workers.

    46
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:19 AM

    @Tim Quigley: maybe if such a party existed he might be able to describe them. As that is an old DUP mantra maybe you should ask those beacons of democracy for an answer.

    36
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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:32 AM

    @Vincent Alexander: we don’t have a prime minister in Ireland.

    29
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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:51 AM

    @Donal Desmond:
    Who will Ms McDonald approach after the next election – PBP or FF. What’s the hypocrisy in travelling to Israel or Ukraine. Better than SF’s dalliance with Putin.

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:54 AM

    @Joe Kelly:
    When speaking in the mother tongue of the vast majority of Irish people, the head of government is the prime minister.

    7
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:57 AM

    @Vincent Alexander: what dalliance with Putin is that you refer to?

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    Mute Vincent Alexander
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:28 PM

    @M Bowe:
    The hundreds of statement removed from the SF web site. As always SF take the current populist position and try to rewrite history.

    7
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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Nov 19th 2023, 2:35 PM

    @Keyser Söze: I guess they need a real man of will.

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    Mute Four Aces
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:50 PM

    Only vote for politicians that will control the border.

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:59 AM

    @Four Aces: Exactly.

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    Mute David
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    Nov 19th 2023, 6:15 AM

    @Four Aces: we are part of the EU who are making the border decisions, our politicians won’t be able to do anything.

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    Mute David
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    Nov 19th 2023, 6:16 AM

    @Four Aces: They will all tell you they will fix the problem but they won’t because they can’t.

    9
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:21 AM

    @Four Aces: Talk about nothing to do with anything.

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:40 PM

    Every high tax we have is because of FFG. Countries doing well with Socialist Left govts are France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Norway, and soon it will be England and Ireland.

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    Mute ForrestG45
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:27 PM

    @9QRixo8H: France and Germany have centre right governments… The current trend in Europe is going right and sometimes and worryingly far right. A far left government that would increase income tax and scare off multinational companies and foreign direct investment would be an outlier.

    171
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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:49 PM

    @ForrestG45: SocDems are in power in Germany. Spain have the Socialist party in power. Portugal have the Socialists. Norway have Labour. Denmark have SocDems. Soon we will have Labour in the UK, and SF in Ireland. All left-leaning socialist parties.

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    Mute Silvio Berlusconi
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:15 AM

    @9QRixo8H: Spain and Portugal are economic basket cases and nordics have huge taxes

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    Mute DC
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:02 PM

    It maybe a record year for housing but you’re giving them all away to non nationals, for god sake man look after Irish people first

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Nov 19th 2023, 4:35 AM

    @DC: so much damage done now on that end of housing will take decades to sort,shame to see do many young people having to go abroad for a future,they say presently most popular name in London is Mohammad due to influx of immigration,same will soon be here,it’s not they’re fault I dont blame them there’s no country doing give aways like here at present, unfortunately those who have worked hard and they’re children who have been educated here through hard work are being shown the door to emigrate for a future they have been truly let down and betrayed by a useless shower in power that quite obviously didn’t care less knowing housing and health been worsening year on year due to overloading from increased demand from immigration not population increase as birth rate has dropped significantly

    142
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:22 AM

    @DC: Steeeerike

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Nov 20th 2023, 12:34 PM

    @DC: This is not true by the way.

    1
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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:35 PM

    Leo was not voted into this job get him out ,out out out he is a waster

    413
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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:40 PM

    @Con Rafferty: he was not and should be removed

    223
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    Mute Hugh De Payans
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:40 PM

    @sleepy joe: course he was voted in. Sleepy alright.

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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:41 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: he was not

    75
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    Mute Mike Brady
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:44 PM

    @sleepy joe: on the 5th count…

    58
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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
    Favourite another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:46 PM

    @Con Rafferty: He was not voted to be Taoiseach by the people via an election, he barely retained his seat in his local constituency in the last election. ( I know we don’t have the facility for the public to vote for a Taoiseach). He is Taoiseach because he is the “leader” of his party…….. He is no leader!

    153
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    Mute M Bowe
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:22 AM

    @another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: and Leo didn’t even win the popular vote within his party and was elected leader by a very small cohort within FG.

    28
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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:54 PM

    Leo and the lads that locked people in their homes for 3 years

    209
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    Mute Hugh De Payans
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:38 PM

    Leo speaks some sense. Sinn Fein in power would send the country back decades economically. If you’re a worker …you really need to consider carefully voting for them. If they get in, they’re going to mess it up spectacularly and it’s going to get messy here.

    218
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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:40 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: Leo talks s h 1 t

    271
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    Mute Hugh De Payans
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:43 PM

    @sleepy joe: Great argument Stup1d….I mean Sleepy Joe

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    Mute David
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:50 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: Maybe how others vote is none of yours or anyone else’s business.

    80
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    Mute Jack Cass
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:53 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: And if you are not a worker, you definitely need FG, with a little help from FF, to stay in power. Look at all the freebies they give to non-workers.

    50
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    Mute he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s
    Favourite he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:58 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: how do you know? All weve had is ffg for the past 100 years and they’ve made an absolute balls of everything they touch

    108
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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:59 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: Leo is a scutter leak hole

    84
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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 18th 2023, 10:46 PM

    @Hugh De Payans: USC, austerity, taxpayers money used to bailout the banks and developers…The same taxpayers were then forced into austerity to repay for the gangsterism of the banks and developers facilated by the same political parties that are again in power. In case it has escaped your attention it was the Blueshirts who were in power. Wonder to Jesus you didn’t bring up Kenny and his imaginary friends

    66
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    Mute Daragh McCauley
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:26 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: aye because FFG have done such a great job… 100 years of corruption

    42
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Nov 19th 2023, 4:21 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: well if they do in fairness sinn Fein should thank ffg and greens for helping them get in thanks to they’re mismanagement and hopeless decision making for many years regarding housing and health they couldn’t have made a worse mess and ignoring the people here before helping those coming in has made it 10 times worse

    26
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    Mute damien leen
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:05 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: Servile much?

    17
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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:43 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: how do you know this, because Leo the liar said so?

    23
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    Mute Sill Scoundrel
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    Nov 19th 2023, 7:07 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: Seriously, I’ve never voted Sinn Fein but I am getting seriously tired of the denialism of people on the other side. This country is in serious trouble and serious hardship in the future is now set in stone because of how incompetently this country has been managed and no-on on the left is to blame, it is all neoliberal right leaning economics that got us here. Our fertility rate has dropped through the floor in the last 3 decades and has accelerated in the last decade. Ten years ago people like you were dismissing all the evidence telling us that we had to make childcare affordable, that we had to build social housing, that we had to ensure better wages or people wouldn’t be having children which would eventually lead to a pension timebomb and potentially a depression. Well we are in an inverted population pyramid now, that means that no matter what anyone does, taxes will have to be raised. If taxes aren’t raised ; our healthcare system will not have goddam hope of coping with the amount elderly people we are about to have, there won’t be nearly enough in the pension pot, working class people will have to work into their seventies and there won’t be enough money for basic services like education. The workforce is collapsing and immigration alone won’t solve it. Here is what the figures say, in ten years time we will have less children under 1 years of age than eighty year-olds. That is an economic death sentence, a few years after after that we are looking at year on year de-growth as our work force declines. After 3 years of recessions we will be in a depression. All of the FDI will have fled the country by then. Asides from our massive demographic and tax base issues, we all also have a whole bunch of rivals who have developed an educated workforce and modern infrastructure in countries where the cost of living is cheap. That FDI is leaving here one way or another and it has nothing to do with the left. The CSO says we’d have to take in 4 million immigrants in the next 25 years just to keep the ratio of working people to retired that we have now. As a matter of mathematical fact. we aren’t even producing remotely the amount of houses we need to build to maintain economic growth. I am worker, a hard worker and what I want is government that has shown me they actually understand how dire the situation is and isn’t living in a fairy-tale. Honest to God, I’m not even left-wing but listening to the people who’ve been voting for the policies that have screwed us for a generation fear monger about the people who’ve never even been in government is hilarious. I would also say to workers that Sinn Fein can’t solve this, no-one can, the people who’ve held power have totally screwed us. Having said that, it really does look like Sinn Fein policies are far more cognisant of the urgency of the situation than the current bunch. Stop burying your head in the sand and face reality.

    46
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:24 AM

    @Hugh De Payans: It’s a hypothetical argument, the sky will fall on our heads etc. We know that the previous ‘managers’ are useless, we see the evidence, they have failed to progress any area of societal infrastructure. Where is the evidence for your argument? there is none.

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    Mute Henry Kussler
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    Nov 19th 2023, 9:03 PM

    @Donal Desmond: When I read any post which mentions gangsters, banksters and blueshirts, I immediately stop reading.
    Change the record man.

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    Mute Science
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    Nov 18th 2023, 11:17 PM

    As a sovereign country that was fought hard for. Do we not have the right to control our borders? I’m a particulat time when the people of the country are having a housing crisis would it not be appropriate to control immigration unless it is required for certain occupations? IMO This is the issue on the street which is going to get this government slaughtered. For example, the Rosslaare protest and the Ashling Murphy incidence amongst others have people understandably wondering are they are not protecting the women of Ireland and why are they putting people from elsewhere ahead of the people they are supposed to represent. Am I missing something? I’m not biased to any party btw

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    Mute Finn Barr
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:57 AM

    @Science: Agree 100%.

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Nov 19th 2023, 4:24 AM

    @Science: too much sense man they can’t handle that can’t see the wood through the trees clearly.

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    Mute Max
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:59 PM

    Why shouldn’t Sinn Fein be giving an opportunity to run the country, they can’t much worse then the last 20 years which has ranged between FG, FF and Coalitions.
    A lot of people believe that Sinn Fein are enemy’s of Ireland and its future but so far the people who have been in charge in the past have destroyed this country and impacted generations of families in the process. Sinn Fein deserve there chance to deliver something better for this country. As far as I am concerned I’d rather give them a chance then have to listen to the same lies for years to come from Leo, Miceal, etc.

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    Mute Thomas Hayes
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    Nov 18th 2023, 10:55 PM

    @Max: so true an we’ll put. Leo’s mask is falling what happened to this democratic country. If FFG are the only party to run the country we’re in a totalitarian state then. China come to mind.

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:45 PM

    Billions and billions in potential US investment waiting for a united Ireland. If the Dems are in charge, Sinn Fein and a United Ireland will get all the support they need from the US.

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    Mute David
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:53 PM

    @Louis Jacob: They can keep their $’s, they’re soaked in the blood of the innocent !

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    Mute uUleRhCu
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:54 PM

    @Louis Jacob: absolute nonsense……it will be the other way around,billions and billions will be taken out of the country if sf get in.

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    Mute James Reardon
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:05 PM

    @Con Rafferty: Why haven’t ffg sorted it? Fg especially have made up the past 3 governments now, with FF in 2, 1 of those in a confidence and supply agreement but more or less partners in gov. What headline promise in their mandates have fg kept in that time?

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    Mute James Reardon
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    Nov 18th 2023, 9:29 PM

    @Con Rafferty: we’re back to pre crash levels of employment. Now what about housing, health and cost of living that you were on about?? How have fg sorted that?

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:48 AM

    @Louis Jacob: a United Ireland is decades away, right now its just a pipe dream.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Nov 19th 2023, 11:01 AM

    @Con Rafferty: ‘full employment’ where some young people need to hold down 2 or even 3 jobs just to pay FFG over inflated costs.

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    Mute Peter
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:51 PM

    It’s pretty obvious it’s going to be a SFF coalition, Leo the leak barely got elected and then fell upon the leadership role. While I feel the vast majority of politicians are hopeless liars, they next election will be about who will join SF, and it’s clear from today that leo won’t work with Mary. But 1 thing is certain, greens will be a long dead party in 10years.

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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Nov 18th 2023, 11:51 PM

    Breaking News

    Monsanto has just been ordered to pay $1.5 billion in yet another judgement against the company for harm caused by its Roundup weedkiller by a jury in Missouri.

    This is just the latest in a series of such judgements in the US, and comes just a day after the EU Commission has authorised its use for another decade, after the EU parliament failed us yet again.

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    Mute he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s
    Favourite he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:57 PM

    Pointing out that an “average” couple wage of 80k will cost another 6k to taxpayer is wrong, sinn fein want to help the people earning less, ffg only ever help those on 40k+ and those on benefits the middle get nothing

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    Mute Nigel Hayden
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    Nov 18th 2023, 10:39 PM

    If Simon Harris is seen as a future leader then we are truly screwed. We really are scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to politicians.

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    Mute Declan Doherty
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    Nov 18th 2023, 11:55 PM

    FG have consistently lost votes under Leo’s leadership. It’s astounding that grass roots FG haven’t copped this. I’ve worked with Simon on a couple of projects. He’s all talk and no action. He’s a yes man and definitely not a leader but I’m in favour of anything that damages FG so keep Leo for the next election and then put Simon in there. FG will be on the opposition benches for a long time to come.

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    Mute Tim Quigley
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:21 AM

    @Declan Doherty:

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Nov 18th 2023, 8:59 PM

    Crooks, con artists and charlatans, the lot of them…

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    Mute Daragh McCauley
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:24 AM

    There too long… 100 years of FG FF corruption
    Made things worse
    Made themselves richer
    Too pro british
    Anti United Ireland
    Soft on Crime
    Letting our defence forces fade away
    Couldn’t care less about the north west
    Soft on the DUP

    I could go on and on and on…. Basically only there to look after their own…
    Not a government for all

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    Mute N D K
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    Nov 19th 2023, 6:21 AM

    The trail of destruction that FFG has caused in this country is just mind blowing, an entire generation of youth emigrated because of the hardships they face here at home, while open borders to the rest of the world gets everything free, that’s just for starters, let’s be honest with ourselves and tell it like it is, give any other party’s a chance except FFG greens

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    Mute Damien Leahy
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    Nov 19th 2023, 2:17 AM

    Ah yes good old fg, they give a little with one hand and take double with the other. Clock is winding down on this joke of a party.

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    Mute Spanner
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:09 AM

    This coming from a party who with fianna fail give up populist budgets every time an election approaches the take it back. Kettle calling the pot… Feck all difference between them for us joe bloggs. Slime ball politics running the nation. me fein you fein all the same

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    Mute Paul Bennison
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    Nov 19th 2023, 8:37 AM

    I’m not sure what world theses politicians are living in ? We are one of the highest taxed if not the highest taxed country in Europe ! Tax money that is misused and misspent the new children’s hospital (money Pit) is a prime example. Any money that was ever put in my pocket through tax cuts was taken away through other tax changes and hidden levies. Cut taxes if you want to help people in this country as a middle income earner I’m paying for everything and everyone through taxation and levies but I’m not entitled to a penny of help, the system is wrong if the person contributing Cannot avail of its help yet people who have no intention of contributing to the system and can sit back and keep receiving money but not putting anything in to the system.

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:15 AM

    @Paul Bennison: I think we are somewhere in the middle tax wise in Europe. If you think they are high now, you better buckle in

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    Mute Jack Moss
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:16 AM

    Two yrs ago most families in Ireland got between 20 to 30 grand to sit at home for most of the yr and do absolutely nothing during Covid . Money giving to them to pay their mortgages and bills and put food on the table by this government . It’s forgotten about like it never happen .

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:47 AM

    @Jack Moss: Would that be the money tree FFG stated didn’t exist and also stated borrowing was out of the question….Well the money tree did exist and the borrowed….just to remind you this money must be paid back alone with the Billions already taken from the Irish economy and the Billions yet to be repaid for the gangsterism of the banks facilated by the same political parties that are again in power…Wonder why you failed to mention these little points.

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    Mute Jack Moss
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:06 AM

    @Donal Desmond: We’ll your right most of the money will be paid back by the economy and high earners over a long period of time . Majority of people that receive money during covid will probably have died before the deficit is paid off .

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    Mute damien leen
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    Nov 19th 2023, 5:09 AM

    @Jack Moss: a situation brought about by a completely reactive not proactive government who sat on their asses doin nothing besides hoping for the best as Covid ripped through Asia.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 19th 2023, 9:20 AM

    @Jack Moss: Nice deflection concerning the repayment of money borrowed…Our grandchildren will still be repaying for the gangsterism of the banks and developers facilated by FFG …As for the money borrowed to cover the pandemic..That will also fall to our grandchildren. The people who availed of the pandemic payments …Will escape the costs according to you….But you failed to mention these were the people….The taxpayers whose money was used to bailout the banks and they were the same people who suffered austerity to repay for the gangsterism. No escape from the financial mess created by FG/ FF.

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    Mute Jack Moss
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    Nov 19th 2023, 3:19 PM

    @Donal Desmond: you seem to ignore that the majority of the deficit and public services is paid for by the economy and the top earners in the country that the people benefit from . The top ten corporation tax payers paid 53 percent of total income tax in 2021 .

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    Mute N D K
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:21 AM

    It will be side splitting laughter listening to Mehole trying to explain how FF are different to FG come the next election, I’m looking forward to it

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    Mute Chris O'Brien
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    Nov 19th 2023, 4:26 AM

    Hilarious how the right is in here every day pretending FFFG is left wing.

    Leo openly using fear of the left wing to drum up votes for FFFG probably won’t convince them otherwise.

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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Nov 19th 2023, 9:13 AM

    120 odd years of ffg governments and can anyone say any of our institutions are fit fir practice in

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:03 AM

    Populists are generally right-wing, not left, nowadays.
    FF, FG, and SF are >>ALL<< left-wing parties in practice… so some of the rhetoric here is comical.

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2023, 6:01 AM

    @Todd Hebert:keep taking the tablets

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    Mute Niall Murphy
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    Nov 19th 2023, 10:44 AM

    Well when your main sales pitch is ‘I gave you 6 grand and I might give you another few grand if you you get us back in’, I think its obvious not a lot more has been achieved in office over the 4 years and its not always cash that’s King.

    The state of society and the collective well being within society is first and foremost and there are many issues this government simply hasn’t addressed.

    Throwing another few grand around as a 1 off vote getting sales pitch, while it’s not to be sniffed at and USC should be gone already, it won’t fix the big issues affecting us all collectively.

    Housing, homelessness, cost of living crisis, out of control rental market, serious crime rates up, cocaine epidemic, Garda numbers/retention/Garda pay, teacher numbers, hse recruitment freeze, hospital beds, unconstitutional erosion of Irish NEUTRALITY, unvetted & uncontrolled immigration, rural villages inparticular impacted by high numbers of refugees, RIC/B&Tans commemoration fiasco, new hospital build over spend, invitation to vulture funds into the housing market on a scale never witnessed before, the list goes on…..

    With all of this said if we look at the numbers FF & FG could still pull enough of the vote together to form a government. If this happens we have to hope TDs who want to serve the people – all of the people! and who are not beholden and in bed with the corporate world and who are not under undue influence by foreign political powers rise up and come to the fore and lead for the majority of the people first, before vulture fund militant capitalist interests.

    Sinn Fein may well get in to government but they will be under the spotlight like nobody ever was before, so we can only hope they are prepared and their numbers and promises hold up or it will be a very short lived experience.

    Can they deliver on the numerous important social issues affecting us all collectively? whilst also growing the economy in an equitable way that sees the obscene wealth here in Ireland shared and distributed across society allowing people to live well and more meaningful lives.

    SF will have to perform a mini revolution in office, a worthwhile one too but can they do it? Will they do it???

    Or will Sinn Fein simply be another notch on the Dails political bedpost?

    Only an election and time will tell.

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    Mute paulgurney
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    Nov 19th 2023, 12:27 PM

    Good luck Leo..may the faraway hills you deemed not greener be welcoming of your smug arrogant tone deaf demeanour.

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    Mute John O Reilly
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:03 PM

    How is a 3000 euro increase in a tax band worth 3000. Its 3000 more at the lesser band which saves 600

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    Mute Vincent Wallace
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    Nov 20th 2023, 9:21 AM

    Ireland’s far right party. Supported Hitler and Mussolini.

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    Mute Ham Hat
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    Nov 19th 2023, 1:06 PM

    It is disposing thar Is.Not.Real ambassador wasn’t invited.

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