Irish Times

[DCI Harry Batt]

It says 10%.

[Nocturnal Submission]

Is 16% independents a record ?
They would be a sixth of the dail - all clamouring for their local special interest (turf/ motorway/ state of the art hospital in the middle of nowhere)

The 16% figure is independents plus others (SocDem/S-PBP/Aontu). The former are on 10%.

[DCI Harry Batt]

Ah, it says both, I missed the graphic, don't tend to look at pictures if there are words with numbers to read instead. Fair dos. What NS said.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Is 16% independents a record ?
They would be a sixth of the dail - all clamouring for their local special interest (turf/ motorway/ state of the art hospital in the middle of nowhere)

there were 23 independent tds after the 2016 general election. That's about one in six.

[Discordant Resonance]

Ah, it says both, I missed the graphic, don't tend to look at pictures if there are words with numbers to read instead. Fair dos. What NS said.

Yes, most polling companies and papers tend to give a complete breakdown, but the Irish Times has the tendency of lumping the smaller groupings together, even at times when one has outpolled Labour (not tonight, but it has happened previously).

The FF TD, James O'Connor (the youngest TD in the Dáil at 22) has threatened to go independent if roads in East Cork aren't approved for development.

[Lang Spoon]

The Paper of Record yet again. The Baby of the House seems a real prick, but also a cute enough hoor to play the Big Man Fighting for East Cork even if he never jumps ship. The Parish Pump will fuck everything up yet again and nothing like a rational infrastructure plan, universal healthcare or equitable housing policy will ever be in place. Guaranfuckingteed even this glorified Luas/metro to Swords will be lucky to be running by 2034, if at all.

[Discordant Resonance]

Whatever one's opinion on the commemoration in Armagh, by sending representatives the Government has now undermined the office of President:

https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1446204751138496517

[Duncan Gardner]

Higgins is the one undermining his office- the Government were always likely to accept invitations to the event. Him snubbing it looks petulant .A bit like Arlene Foster not going to watch the South at Euro 2016

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Higgins is the one undermining his office- the Government were always likely to accept invitations to the event. Him snubbing it looks petulant .A bit like Arlene Foster not going to watch the South at Euro 2016

Yeah, he absolutely should have gone. Just go along and show the face, and then head home afterwards. It's part of the increasing nordification of irish politics being foisted on us by the dirty provos.

Not sure sinn fein's strategy of "vote for a United ireland so we can win completely and you can lose utterly" is designed to win cross community support

[elguapo4]

Michael D Higgins is the most honourable politician on the island of Ireland. If he thinks it's against his office of President, then he shouldn't go.

[Duncan Gardner]

If he thinks the occasional event with NI politicians is beneath him or otherwise inappropriate, then he probably shouldn't be the ceremonial president. At the very least he could simply have sent apologies and sent someone to represent him

What does his being honourable generally have to do with it? He's being a dick here

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

Michael D wouldn't have been a stranger to a spot of self righteous, attention seeking posturing back in the day. It's a bit of an occupational hazard on the left and he had more of it than most. He did however know when to rein it in though. He absolutely should just have gone.

[Lang Spoon]

I also find it hard to square honourable with some of his alleged behaviour, but I guess that won't be something that makes it to print till long after he's the Much Mourned Mickey D.

[Discordant Resonance]

https://twitter.com/NextIrishGE/status/1447467913317847044

[Discordant Resonance]

For the first time since the GE, Fianna Fáil overtake Fine Gael in an opinion poll. Moreover, the pointlessness of having two social democratic parties is manifest, when a combined force could attain double digit support:

https://twitter.com/NextIrishGE/status/1449484790843985921

[Lang Spoon]

Imagine being a member of a party with someone as stone evil as Alan Kelly as head though. He's a disgusting FF type bastard, the best thing Labour can hope for in terms of recovery among the under 50s is that cunt losing his seat next election.

[Discordant Resonance]

The latest seat projections (calculated by constituency) based on October polling:

https://twitter.com/HMcEvansoneya/status/1452646170338148361

So, the Coalition has the edge for now, but similar seat numbers for the left (if you count SF as such).

[elguapo4]

That would be a very rickety coalition, even assuming Sinn Fein could persuade the Social Democrats, Labour and the Greens to come on board.

[Discordant Resonance]

Junior Cert Inter-Party Government flashbacks.

[Sporting]

I would like to understand Irish politics better and in particular how different potential coalitions would change policy in various areas. Is there a useful primer out there, perhaps along the lines of the major parties' positions on social policy, foreign policy, taxation etc?

[Duncan Gardner]

All parties in the Irish Republic are committed to future reunification with Northern Ireland. At least while it remains a purely notional possibility...

[Discordant Resonance]

I would like to understand Irish politics better and in particular how different potential coalitions would change policy in various areas. Is there a useful primer out there, perhaps along the lines of the major parties' positions on social policy, foreign policy, taxation etc?

Here's the closest thing to a potted distillation of various policy positions (though oddly including The Workers Party, rather than Sol-PBP:

https://ireland.isidewith.com/parties/

Basically:

Fine Gael: Economically pro-enterprise and small government, have moved from social conservatism to social liberalism since 2011, traditionally voted for by higher social classes (business owners, farmers). Most Eurofederalist party, generally also most pro-UK.

Fianna Fáil: Also pro-enterprise, but traditionally favour a welfare state, now largely rural-based and socially conservative, but slightly recovering in Dublin. Used to be considered a working-class party, but have moved up the social register since the 1960s. Pro-EU, while also seeking to preserve interests of nation states.

Sinn Féin: Economically favour higher taxes on personal wealth and corporations, but have opposed taxes on water and property. Traditionally opposed EU membership, now take European Left position of favouring an alliance of left governments reforming the institutions. Despite attempts to get middle-class support, remain a largely working-class party. Despite Irish unity aspirations, Northern and Southern wings often diametrically opposed on social issues, such as abortion.

Greens: Have moved from the centre-left to the centre over the last decade, similarly to the German Greens. Most notable for seeking investment in public transport and cycleways, have been successful in pursuit of carbon taxes and budgets under the Coalition. Largely derive support from young, urban, middle-class voters. Very pro-EU now, contrasting with Euroscepticism in mid-90s.

Labour: Still attempting to rebuild its base, after the 2011 coalition was forced to introduce austerity measures such as property and water taxes. Similar political spectrum position to the Greens, gradually reducing age profile of TDs in recent elections, working-class votes have been stolen by SF, and squeezed in middle by Soc Dems and Greens. Again, pro-EU, members of PES.

Social Democrats: Seek to introduce Nordic political model to Ireland, but occasionally sidetracked by identity politics issues. Co-leaders now well into their sixties, but like Labour, a number of younger TDs joined them in the 2020 election. Growth has been hindered by failure to develop constituency branch networks, similar economic policies to Sinn Féin. Again, pro-EU, while not uncritical of the organisation's socioeconomic agenda.

Solidarity-People Before Profit: Far-left party, a federation of the Socialist Workers Party, the Socialist Party, (which started as Militant Tendency, a ginger group within Labour), and RISE (a left ecological group founded by Paul Murphy). The only party with Dáil representation to call for an Irish exit from the EU, campaigned for Brexit in NI in 2016. Largely derive support in Dublin, but also have one Cork City TD - PBP also have a Stormont MLA (Gerry Carroll).

Aontú: Founded by Peadar Tóibín, who left Sinn Féin over his opposition to abortion. Economically centre-left, but socially conservative, have expressed reservations on immigration and Covid-19 restrictions, run candidates in both NI and the Republic, but only have one TD and a sprinkling of councillors.

[Sporting]

That's super useful; thanks!

[Discordant Resonance]

https://twitter.com/NextIrishGE/status/1454391631059292161

[Lang Spoon]

Why bother publishing if the sample size makes it worthless?