The Official 2016 Irish General Election thread

[Rossfan]

Why is Wumtony bothered seeing as he wants to develop a 6 Co culture and identity and wants nothing to do with us lot in the 26.

[Declan]

Statistically unchanged: MRBI: FG 28%(30), Others 25(23),  FF 21(19), SF 19(21),Lab 7(7), 1200 polled Mon-Tue this week, +/-3% mgn of error

Should be fun and games negotiating after that -. In other news FG's well publicised plan to change our politics continues unabated http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/farmers-to-receive-9m-in-goodwill-payments-1.2521605

[ashman]

What odds a second GE in 2016

[Billys Boots]

How is it an Irish general election when it is confined to the free state?

All of the Free State is in Ireland.

Free State ceased to exist in 1937 - try to keep up, Tony. 

[deiseach]

What odds a second GE in 2016

I thought about putting 'part I' or something in the title, but decided it would be better to keep it value neutral. Of course, some people take offence at 'Irish' so you can't please everyone.

Getting back to your point, no one can get a majority but there isn't a blocking majority either. The SNP managed to get through five years of government in Scotland with only 47 seats despite a majority being 65. If something, anything, can be cobbled together to get a Taoiseach (i.e. Enda Kenny) elected, then another election would be avoided. You can imagine the threat of another go on the roulette wheel would focus the minds of the incumbent TDs . . .

[seafoid]

How is it an Irish general election when it is confined to the free state?

All of the Free State is in Ireland.

Free State ceased to exist in 1937 - try to keep up, Tony.

His point is that it is partitionist, Billy. And it is.

[ashman]

How is it an Irish general election when it is confined to the free state?

All of the Free State is in Ireland.

Free State ceased to exist in 1937 - try to keep up, Tony.

Jesus will you nordies ever stop calling this place "the free state".

There is very little free here !!!!!

[deiseach]

His point is that it is partitionist, Billy. And it is.

What collective descriptive noun would you use for the upcoming general election in Ireland?

[T Fearon]

But not all of Ireland is in the free state.

[Billys Boots]

But not all of Ireland is in the free state.

None of Ireland is in the Free State. 

[Shamrock Shore]

The man who works 'treminjusly' hard and has a 'strong vice'.

I raise ye James 'Bonkers' Bannon




http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/754333-james-bannon/

[Billys Boots]

I see Vincent Browne was ranting at a bemused and bewildered electorate in Mullingar last night.  Mrs. Boots reckons he's mentally ill. 

[Farrandeelin]

Any potential shocks on the cards? Will Joan Burton hold on to her seat? I don't know why I think this as a shock, but Lucinda Creighton mightn't hold hers. Any other one?

[AZOffaly]

If Alan Kelly losing his would be a shock, then that might be one to keep an eye on. 6 into 5 doesn't go, and Jackie Cahill from Fianna Fail might even make it 7 into 5.

[deiseach]

Alan Kelly losing his seat would certainly be a shock, mainly because it would be a challenge to the eternal verity of Irish politics that looking after the parish pump is all that matters. I know they all do it, but he has been as subtle as a Healy Rae about it.