26 County General Election 2020

[Rossfan]

3 Parties who got 51% of the votes got 51% of the seats and are coming together to form a Government.
Happens all over Europe most of the time.

[Boycey]

Indeed, whether you agree with it or not it's pretty much how democracy does and should work.

[armaghniac]

This government represents the majority, not SF, although they do try and give the impression that somehow most people want them when they do not.

[Farrandeelin]

SF will do well in opposition. May well get a higher proportion of first preference votes at the next election too as the recession from covid19 hits.

[Cunny Funt]

Mad to think the Greens are part of government when they were nearly wiped out in the 2011 general election.

[6th sam]

Smacks as a sense of desperation from
Michael Martin to be Taoiseach , and not to be the only FF leader not to be Taoiseach. Much as FF have a chequered past, almost all their previous leaders had a slight Grá for the North and emphasised with those of us North of the border who are Irish . The last 2 leaders Cowan and Martin have shown little understanding or empathy with the North, and it's cost them votes amongst many of their supporters with a republican leaning. Getting into  bed with FG in last Dáil didn't serve them well, and actually going into coalition with them will lose FF further support.
Martin is becoming Taoiseach at a very challenging time, on the back of Leo whose performance as Taoiseach has been poor in the main, but remains the darling of the media. The media won't be as easy on Martin.
SF will no doubt relish the prospect of getting the boot into MichAel in opposition, as opposed to having to lead from a minority position, with tough decisions to make. I imagine Mary Lou will want to play a canny game , in the knowledge that any remaining self respecting republicans in FF could now gravitate towards SF. If SF are serious about UI they and other Politicians need to put forward realistic proposals on how an All-Island solution would look. UK are at the stage   Where they would happily unload NI. And many from a unionist background will be attracted by the most favourable economic future , so SF need to seriously up
Their game in terms of a realistic and unifying roadmap for the future.

[Rossfan]

Favourable economic future and SF in the one sentence .....
Did I not read that the Programme for Government includes an Office for All Ireland Affairs??
Comhaontas Glas are an AI Party.
Martin and Cowan not having empathy with the North would be representative of their age group and locations.

[armaghniac]

If SF are serious about UI they and other Politicians need to put forward realistic proposals on how an All-Island solution would look. UK are at the stage 

The problem is that they are not serious about a UI. At the stage the main obstacle to a UI is how you pay for it, yet SF keep making it harder to pay for with their free money policies.

[6th sam]

Favourable economic future and SF in the one sentence .....
Did I not read that the Programme for Government includes an Office for All Ireland Affairs??
Comhaontas Glas are an AI Party.
Martin and Cowan not having empathy with the North would be representative of their age group and locations.

In terms of FG , by their very nature ,They are partitionists , Tbf  Leo Varadkar doesn't try to hide this. The problem for FF is they claim
To be UI party but have now joined forces with FG, who don't have that outlook. That will undoubtedly result in a further erosion of their core electoral support. Martin is prepared to jeopardise that to egotistically seize the opportunity to  become Taoiseach at a very challenging time for the island. He has given very little indication that he's capable of meeting a challenge of that size . That said this coalition is a broad church , and the input of the greens will be crucial in delivering real change.
ROI as an economy has benefitted enormously from multinational companies and as a result scored well on most economic parameters, can this coalition translate that economic advantage into areas of need:poverty,homelessness/health ?......the record of FF/FG in that regard has been poor, the new government must put our relative wealth to better use

[Rossfan]

Seems the new Unit is called the "Shared Ireland Unit" and is part of the Department of the Taoiseach.
Since 1970 hasn't been much difference between FF and FG on the North except a bit of grandstanding by Haughey while in opposition and Bruton not overly pursuing the peace process in the mid 90s.
I see they stuck that smarmy know it all p***k Donnelly with Health. Is it a Machivellian plot to put a halt to his gallop?

[Farrandeelin]

Seems the new Unit is called the "Shared Ireland Unit" and is part of the Department of the Taoiseach.
Since 1970 hasn't been much difference between FF and FG on the North except a bit of grandstanding by Haughey while in opposition and Bruton not overly pursuing the peace process in the mid 90s.
I see they stuck that smarmy know it all p***k Donnelly with Health. Is it a Machivellian plot to put a halt to his gallop?

And not one senior minister west of the Shannon. Oh and that asshole Eamon Ryan as transport minister.

[Rossfan]

No more P Flynn type roads for Mayo...
Or grants for Prenty Vanity projects.
East and South is where it's at
Where the numbers are. Cork elects as many TDs as Connacht while Dublin elects over twice as many.

[Itchy]

No more P Flynn type roads for Mayo...
Or grants for Prenty Vanity projects.
East and South is where it's at
Where the numbers are. Cork elects as many TDs as Connacht while Dublin elects over twice as many.

Sure they know the westerners won't mind and will vote for them anyway. They are like bet dogs

[manfromdelmonte]

No more P Flynn type roads for Mayo...
Or grants for Prenty Vanity projects.
East and South is where it's at
Where the numbers are. Cork elects as many TDs as Connacht while Dublin elects over twice as many.

Sure they know the westerners won't mind and will vote for them anyway. They are like bet dogs

Too many independents west of Shannon

[trailer]

No more P Flynn type roads for Mayo...
Or grants for Prenty Vanity projects.
East and South is where it's at
Where the numbers are. Cork elects as many TDs as Connacht while Dublin elects over twice as many.

Sure they know the westerners won't mind and will vote for them anyway. They are like bet dogs

Too many independents west of Shannon

Too many wankers west of the Shannon, chief of which are the Healy-Raes!