Yes, and again without detracting too far from the thread, it is easy to see the issues, but very very complex to provide a solution. In this instance, trying to replicate the 1930s to 1950s model of state building after 60 + years of the hands off developer profit model. There are international exa...

A long one but a great Sunday read from Sinead O'Sullivan, the economist echo put Leo back in his box 2 weeks ago. https://www.butthistime.com/p/irelands-failure-premium?utm_medium=web Some of us 30 years back were bemoaning the lack of expertise across the civil service. FFG didn't want to know. W...

Is it not also a snapshot poll post the blockade protestors, looking at those parties that have been given a bit of a bump?

That's notwithstanding the continual decline of the FFG voting cohort.

You haven’t provided evidence that was claimed by another poster in regard to Labour going from 6 to 11 TD’s was because they were “ benefitting from the SF surplus votes ”. None. You might want to spend your time trying to resurrect the Labour party you're obviously so enamoured with. But that's n...

It's not actually the whole of the UK voting either. In England, its some local authorities, but only around a third of all councils. All the London councils, but then it gets very patchy. Metropolitan boroughs, a few county councils, and a mix of unitary and district councils. Some areas are not vo...

SuirView wrote: ↑Thu Apr 30, 2026 12:37 am Do you still believe what you posted above on this or do you want to change your opinion?
It’s a yes or no answer.

Yes. No doubt whatsoever. Have I thought about it over the last few days?

Not at all.…login to view the rest of this post

'A number of local authorities have taken “different approaches” in terms of planning for the electric charging points, with some county councils offering exemptions while others require the NTA to go through the full planning process.' Taken from the Independent article. A reminder that we only hav...

Rte radio had Holly Cairns interviewed this morning at 10 am on whats-his-name's programme. She came across ok-ish. I thought perhaps she could have been better prepared I don't accept this "the media are unfair to SF" thing RTE give softball interviews to SF candidates and skirt around a...

It was one of the main takeaways from that election.

Dublin Bay North
Dublin Mid-West
Cork North-Central
Louth
Dublin Fingal

Had to google it but they were the big examples.

I sensed with the SDs that the media did a very good job at presenting them favourably, they fitted nicely into the shoes that were left bare by the electorate turning on the Greens. The nice people's party!! The media will literally do anything to continue to clip the wings of SF, even to promoting...

You have just rephrased what Petaljam has been saying repeatedly from the outset of the thread. Yes, it does harp back to something we easily forget. The amount of people in circles who know each other through connections. We are such a small country and while these days it is more nuanced, that's ...

On the subject of “the stagnation of Labour”, Labour went from 6 to 11 TD’s at the last general election in 2024! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Irish_general_election I thought that was due to benefitting from the SF surplus votes rather than any drive from the electorate in big numbers sudden...

On the other hand, it's also part of the breaking of tradional duopolies right across the western world. Some of us old enough have been seeing signs of that since the 80s. Despite the elites/politicians (including senior civil servants), the media doing their damnedest to retain the status quo. An...

Will be interesting to see if this story has legs, or will wither or the vine. I suspect the IT or The Daily Mail will have put in their FOI requests.

If they have, ideally they'd want a prompt reply. I expect the reply to be at least a fortnight.

We have this odd sort of snobbery in this country and divisions, the one between rural and urban probably the most developed, now a lot of boomers v other age groups commentary is pedalled out. The South Dublin mindset which has always been there but seems a relatively new description, or is to me a...

If it's any help I can see in my own social circle people in their 60s, mortgage paid, couples, both retired. A mix of both public and private sector careers behind them, but with a mix of different levels of pensions, some higher than others. A few adding to their wealth with inheritance and one or...

Actually, the urban left leaning liberals I know, while giving off all the 'correct' noises in public, do vote in numbers to keep the various FFG led governments in power. It comes down to money, and their attempts to keep what they have. My argument is that the type of person I'm referring to is fr...

Catapulta wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2026 8:18 am They are all of the same mindset as Madame Connolly

- that is why they are playing down.

It is indeed so. I've worked with the types over the years. I can only assume once they've devoured the IT, it's on to The Guardian.…login to view the rest of this post

The whole thing is an absurdity anyway and based on the idea that someone as an offender could be looked upon sympathetically because apart from the sexual crime he happens to be a lovely chap. It is a bizarre piece of reasoning because the offender isn't in court because of his overall loveliness ...

No media bothering to even question why she's there? Why is the impartial Head of State attending a blatantly political left leaning event? Before anyone queries me on that, I'd be saying the same if it was a conservative gathering. Of course not. The Irish media, as compliant as always, or are they...

It's another example of only going so far with the Irish media, not to impact too much on the consensus. Yes, no doubt if it was SF we'd be hearing all about it.

Appalling how our media just continues with this mediocrity. Utterly spineless but par for the course.

Ireland. 2026.

Urban left leaning liberals demanding the hated long since corrupt FFG regime get the various elements of the State at its disposal, the police and army, to quell dissent.

Flann O'Brien would be in his element.

"Arrest the usual suspects".

Excellent analysis. SF should be nowhere near power. Ever. If their Ukraine policy is any evidence, it should be a wake up call. Their position on this will come back to haunt them. How bizarre if UI doesn't happen because it's main exponent was seen to be so out of touch. Ideology before pragmatism.

Strictly she should be visiting heads of state only. This is a complete mockery of her position.

Then again, they let Higgins get away with it, enough times.

Will only demean the role of the President.

He's a solid right wing conservative. He'll be more amenable to the EU but if the Guardian, IT, isn't Holly Cairns wonderful loons, for a moment think he'll be relaxed about immigration, think again. I had to laugh at the media reporting on Sunday. Everything is viewed through a Trump lense, and opi...