Ireland General Discussion

[minionofmidas]

Breithlá Sona Duit!

[minionofmidas]

Go raibh maith agat, a chara!

Blessed be the powers of google.

[minionofmidas]

Ireland's never been United under "native" rule, unless you count the Rule of high king Brian Boru (1002-1014); but he was really more of a weak Feudal type monarch in an island with no sense of central authority; that idea came from the British.

It is therefore a deeply unirish idea that should have been soundly rejected after independence.

[minionofmidas]

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Coalitions make things (slightly) more accountable; so I think saying Haughey, Cowen, et al are opposed to them is the stating the obvious just a little bit.

Ah, but then explain Ahern's pro-coalition stance!

(Check!)

[minionofmidas]

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Coalitions make things (slightly) more accountable; so I think saying Haughey, Cowen, et al are opposed to them is the stating the obvious just a little bit.

Ah, but then explain Ahern's pro-coalition stance!

(Check!)

Because we all know at heart Bertie is just a cheeky chappy from Drumcondra; a court jester so to speak. No matter what he does he is just good ol' Bertie, always one of the lads; so even if he killed live puppies with acid in front of crippled orphans he would still always be loved.

What if he killed live orphans with acid in front of crippled puppies?

[minionofmidas]

"The decision I am announcing today — like all other decisions that I have taken in a lifetime in politics - is solely motivated by what is best for the people.

Ah, but which people, one wonders.

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No, he used that trust to good effect.

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Now that's a pretty word.

[minionofmidas]

They should just have waited until only one member was left, then they needn't have bothered with holding a contest.

[minionofmidas]

Mr Behan was elected quite comfortably last year in Wicklow and there's little reason to believe his seat would be in serious trouble.

D'you mean, for FF? Or, for Behan?

[minionofmidas]

The Government lost a vote today in the Seanad on a Fine Gael amendment to the Charities Bill (ensuring amateur sporting organisations are not prohibited from applying for charitable status).

Oh, sexy.

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NOOO! Tell us what we want to hear! Tell us this means the government has fallen and there'll be new elections on Christmas Eve!

[minionofmidas]

Can someone tell me the practical and ideological differences between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail?

Part one is easy: There aren't any. I'll defer to Jas on the second question - he seems to like (shudders) tasks like that one.

[minionofmidas]

The Green Party has lost two Councillors in consecutive days.

Chris O'Leary and Bronwen Maher, councillors in Cork and Dublin respectively (both Dáil candidates in 2007)

Also rans, or nearish misses?

The Oireachtas Library have added a nice feature to the Oireachtas website - constituency profiles.

Doesn't seem to be working, or at least the big constituency in the northeast doesn`t.

[minionofmidas]

Healy Rae is concerned about possible measures that could reduce the allowable alcohol-blood ratio further.

A personal concern, as it were?

[minionofmidas]

What is it Stagg said?

[minionofmidas]

Merge!

Also, see my username.

[minionofmidas]

Good news for Alex White.

I had to look that up. Now I agree.

[minionofmidas]

Damn, and I had my lame "they killed Kenny - the bastards!" joke ready.

[minionofmidas]

This is a resigning matter? Wtf?

[minionofmidas]

You have some crazy rules on by-elections.

[minionofmidas]

John Bruton's brother. Always funny to see how clannish Irish politics is.

[minionofmidas]

While in Germany, having a political parent is something politicians don't like to see mentioned much as it's counting as a vague minus to the voters. Although there are a number of examples anyways (it probably helps in party-internal stuff, simply because you've known the right people from an early age).

Ursula von der Leyen and Roland Koch are both politician children.
Bernhard and Hans-Jochen Vogel were brothers, though in different political camps.
The brother of Walter Wallmann (mayor of Frankfurt 77-86, state pm 87-91) was mayor of Wiesbaden... and his (the brother's) daughter is now an MdL.

[minionofmidas]

In other news, the Dáil passed the Civil Partnership Bill, legally recognising same-sex relationships. All of the parties supported it, although AFAIK a few individuals have criticised it.

This could not possibly be. Ireland is a Catholic Conservative Fascist dictatorship.

[minionofmidas]

In other news, the Dáil passed the Civil Partnership Bill, legally recognising same-sex relationships. All of the parties supported it, although AFAIK a few individuals have criticised it.

This could not possibly be. Ireland is a Catholic Conservative Fascist dictatorship.

All the TDs who expressed support of the bill were summarily executed by the Papal secret police shortly after.

Good.

[minionofmidas]

Besides, it's 2010. Mostwhere else in Western Europe has such legislation already. (googles) Anywhere but Italy. In a sense, the bill's timing confirms stereotypes about Ireland's catholicism more than it contradicts them.

[minionofmidas]

Besides, it's 2010. Mostwhere else in Western Europe has such legislation already. (googles) Anywhere but Italy. In a sense, the bill's timing confirms stereotypes about Ireland's catholicism more than it contradicts them.

I disagree. The bill's delay has more to do with government laziness/apathy towards the issue than Catholicism imo.

That's exactly what Euro Christian Conservatism has come down to.

[minionofmidas]

If the government falls, how long before new elections are held and the new government is sworn in?

I could see a nightmare scenario where the bond markets panic during the transition and there's no effective leadership due to politics. This is really troubling.

Ireland is not relevant to the world economy / "too large to fail". You needn't worry, only the Irish might.