26 County General Election 2020

[Rossfan]

Wouldnt Black n Tan Flanagan be his Minister ?
Despite the inappropriateness of the comments at this time is the " Army Council" still ruling the roost?
In other words was he simply stating a fact?

[balladmaker]

Wouldnt Black n Tan Flanagan be his Minister ?
Despite the inappropriateness of the comments at this time is the " Army Council" still ruling the roost?
In other words was he simply stating a fact?

There's no army, so no army council. 

[playwiththewind1st]

Wouldnt Black n Tan Flanagan be his Minister ?
Despite the inappropriateness of the comments at this time is the " Army Council" still ruling the roost?
In other words was he simply stating a fact?

There's no army, so no army council.

Most of the 'significant' figures are still there, in the background & they're all on the payroll at Stormont. Presumably they're not sitting scratching their holes & ordering up biros & paper clips every day? They're still providing what might be termed insight,  analysis, advice & guidance for the party.

[balladmaker]

Wouldnt Black n Tan Flanagan be his Minister ?
Despite the inappropriateness of the comments at this time is the " Army Council" still ruling the roost?
In other words was he simply stating a fact?

There's no army, so no army council.

Most of the 'significant' figures are still there, in the background & they're all on the payroll at Stormont. Presumably they're not sitting scratching their holes & ordering up biros & paper clips every day? They're still providing what might be termed insight,  analysis, advice & guidance for the party.

So every party has advisors.  The point I'm making is that the war is over, no IRA, no army, no army council.  It is every political party's prerogative to select their advisors.  Martin McGuinness was joint first minister, and arguably the most successful minister Stormont has had.  He wasn't playing ludo for the duration of the troubles. 

FF/FG know the writing is on the wall for them, they're in terminal decline.  Any slur will do for them at this  stage.  Do they think the Irish electorate are thick!

[weareros]

At this stage beginning to look like FF/FG/greens. For those parties, it would need to be a brilliant government, otherwise at least 2 of them will get wiped out and Sinn Fein will find themselves in that 35% range Amarach poll suggested, or more, and set to lead next gov, in which case we start to move to a left/right model with whats left of the civil war parties merging.  But a lot could happen in 5 years once the outrage dies down and it would behoove new gov to do a deal with Boris and set a realistic date for a border poll in the middle of this decade. Easier said than done as Boris won't give them the steam of his piss. We also spend more on health per person than nearly any nation on earth and who will be brave enough to take on the various special interests, and we start to get value for money. Same with homeless- we spend a lot with poor end result. Important days ahead.

[Lar Naparka]

It was obvious he was prompted by Varadkar/Martin, reeks of desperation.

+1 the timing of his statement is no coincidence.  Political interference by a Gardai Commissioner is surely unacceptable.

True indeed, his timing was designed to influence the current political  negotiations.  However, he cannot leave things at that- he must now either put up or retract and it's in everybody's interests than he is compelled to produce proof or withdraw his allegations.

[bannside]

As if there is any remote chance that he might do either!

[Itchy]

It was obvious he was prompted by Varadkar/Martin, reeks of desperation.

+1 the timing of his statement is no coincidence.  Political interference by a Gardai Commissioner is surely unacceptable.

True indeed, his timing was designed to influence the current political  negotiations.  However, he cannot leave things at that- he must now either put up or retract and it's in everybody's interests than he is compelled to produce proof or withdraw his allegations.

Theres no doubt either that he was commanded to interfere. A truly shocking turn of events and incredibly dangerous to the health of the peace process. It also shows everyone who has their eyes closed exactly what depths the establishment will stoop to.

[armaghniac]

It was obvious he was prompted by Varadkar/Martin, reeks of desperation.

+1 the timing of his statement is no coincidence.  Political interference by a Gardai Commissioner is surely unacceptable.

True indeed, his timing was designed to influence the current political  negotiations.  However, he cannot leave things at that- he must now either put up or retract and it's in everybody's interests than he is compelled to produce proof or withdraw his allegations.

Theres no doubt either that he was commanded to interfere. A truly shocking turn of events and incredibly dangerous to the health of the peace process. It also shows everyone who has their eyes closed exactly what depths the establishment will stoop to.

The question was out there, he answered it. What do you expect?

[yellowcard]

Micheal Martin has played right into SF's hand since the election. By dismissing them completely I can't help but feel that he is only bolstering support for them. FG have now joined the attacks in the last day or two and Drew Harris' comments yesterday about the SF links to the IRA army council being still intact are very curious in their timing. Continuing to bang the old IRA drum will have less resonance with people now that the old brigade are almost phased out even if a few linger in the background but for anybody under the age of 40, it is not a pressing issue. People just want to give the old established order of FF & FG a bloody nose and by them attacking SF it is only helping to feed the narrative of the establishment against the people that SF want to create. If they really are hell bent on not going into government with SF then I'm not sure what else they can actually do to win public support and confidence but I'd guess that the longer they keep SF out in the cold the more that the public anger will build. 

[weareros]

Public rallies next from Sinn Fein. LOL!  A little bit of Trump, a little bit of Maduro.

[Rossfan]

What's with these "rallies"?
Are they meant to frighten FF and FG out of nominating a Taoiseach or Independents into voting for MLou as Taoiseach??
Or to convince FF to agree a Coalition with SF?

[Lar Naparka]

It was obvious he was prompted by Varadkar/Martin, reeks of desperation.

+1 the timing of his statement is no coincidence.  Political interference by a Gardai Commissioner is surely unacceptable.

True indeed, his timing was designed to influence the current political  negotiations.  However, he cannot leave things at that- he must now either put up or retract and it's in everybody's interests than he is compelled to produce proof or withdraw his allegations.

Theres no doubt either that he was commanded to interfere. A truly shocking turn of events and incredibly dangerous to the health of the peace process. It also shows everyone who has their eyes closed exactly what depths the establishment will stoop to.

The question was out there, he answered it. What do you expect?

I'd expect him to substantiate his allegations.
I somehow doubt that he was making things up and I would imagine that he meant what he said but given the unsettled state of political affairs rights now, it's necessary for him to back up his allegations and to do so without delay.

[marty34]

No comments on here about the Garda Commissioners scandalous comments today? We're not a functioning democracy if we accept that. It's absolutely mental and no one is talking about it!

Political policing at the behest of the big two.  They must be seriously rattled.

[Rossfan]

Sinn Féin still going with the myth that they "won" the election it seems.