Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[johnneycool]

Where are you buying your fence posts, a garden centre?

[LeoMc]

Lost in all of this is the fact that O'Neill's proposals were based on sound economic policy for once...But the DUP farming lobby would prefer to keep taking the European handouts, whilst remaining anti EU. In fact Scotland and England are committing a larger percentage to rural infrastructure.

not so much "rural infrastructure" as sticking their hand in the farmers pocket to pay for environmental projects not necessarily related to farming.
the money you speak of is paid to farmers so they can continue to supply food at below cost prices.. what the governments want to do is take a portion of it to spend on parks and ponds etc its not their money in the eyes of many farmers and they already loss over 50% in administration costs as it is.

it may sound as though farmers get a huge hand out but in fact by the time the governments are finished its not enough. English and welsh farmers are cracking up about the proposal as well since it disadvantages them and they are better paid for their produce than farmers here.
you wont see gimp Kenny trying this it'd be the end of him and he knows it

Why then if this handout from Europe is so needed by the poor farmers are the DUP, UUP,and SF want to kick the EU into touch? Where is this bailout going to come in a post bailout Uk/Ireland?

the single farm payment is supposed to end soon anyway.. but for now why should farmers put up with the government helping themselves to their money as they see it to fund wildlife. farmers already leave portions of land aside for this. land they could otherwise bring into production so it already costs them money they are trying to make money why would they work for nothing no one else does

This amounts to nothing more than a handout for inefficient farming businesses. My understanding that some if not all this money will be spent enabling farmers and rural communities to diversify and potentially become profitable and reduce dependence on hand outs. Farms are inefficient because of this handout, there has to be an incentive to invest in buildings equipment and the environment, rather than continue to subsidise small farms.

land in nordieland changes hands less frequently than land anywhere else in Europe and possibly the least on the planet. small farms get the same subs that big farms get you don't hear large farmers say oh I'm big I don't need my single farm payment they are the ones who scream loudest when subs are cut or delayed.

heres a short calculation..
to kill 20 cattle a week which is the minimum 'contract' on offer you need to handle 1000 cattle a year at roughly 600 each thats 600000 + buildings 800000+ machinery 100000 +land 300 acres @12000/acre 3.6million

20 cattle a week would earn maybe £2000, less wages a farmer + a worker, less all variable costs, less depreciation on buildings +machinery, less tax. heres one.. a fence post is £2.60 you'd need to be buying 100 of these every year just to maintain your fences

Doesn't take Alan Sugar to see the problem there, buying them at £600 each and getting £100 each for them would soon get you the road in any other business.

[glens abu]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

[Maguire01]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

Gerry has a 26% satisfaction rating and only 70% satisfaction with SF supporters. Of the 4 leaders, only Gilmore is worse.

[glens abu]

Even better news is that 29% of young people between 18-36 say they would give SF 1st preference,the highest of all the parties.

[glens abu]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

Gerry has a 26% satisfaction rating and only 70% satisfaction with SF supporters. Of the 4 leaders, only Gilmore is worse.

You may hope he doesn't stand down then 

[Maguire01]

Even better news is that 29% of young people between 18-36 say they would give SF 1st preference,the highest of all the parties.

But will those young people actually go out and vote?

[glens abu]

Even better news is that 29% of young people between 18-36 say they would give SF 1st preference,the highest of all the parties.

But will those young people actually go out and vote?

???Who knows,that will be up to the party machines to try and get people out which gets harder every time.

[Nally Stand]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

Gerry has a 26% satisfaction rating and only 70% satisfaction with SF supporters. Of the 4 leaders, only Gilmore is worse.

Inda on 86% support among his own party. A party which tried to oust him as leader just before FF's (temporary ) implosion gifted him the reins of power. Given the fact that SF were the only party to show an increase in support, I'd say Adams & SF are more than content with this poll, particularly given the media's intense "Adam's out" hobbyhorse/witch-hunt in recent months.

Such polls tend to annoy me though as they're just a sad reminder that at least one in five Irish people want FF back in power. Which should be staggering... but yet, nothing surprises.

[Maguire01]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

Gerry has a 26% satisfaction rating and only 70% satisfaction with SF supporters. Of the 4 leaders, only Gilmore is worse.

Inda on 86% support among his own party. A party which tried to oust him as leader just before FF's (temporary ) implosion gifted him the reins of power. Given the fact that SF were the only party to show an increase in support, I'd say Adams & SF are more than content with this poll, particularly given the media's intense "Adam's out" hobbyhorse/witch-hunt in recent months.

Such polls tend to annoy me though as they're just a sad reminder that at least one in five Irish people want FF back in power. Which should be staggering... but yet, nothing surprises.

86% among those polled who support FG - it wasn't them who tried to oust him.

And let's not forget, whilst yes, FF's implosion handed Enda the reins, it was also a significant factor in SF's bounce.

[Nally Stand]

A new poll published this morning shows a drop in support for Sinn Féin.
According to the Behaviour & Attitudes survey in today's Sunday Times, the party's vote is down three points to 15%.
Satisfaction with their party leader Gerry Adams is also down by 8%.
Satisfaction in the government is up 11%, while Enda Kenny, Micheal Martin and Eamon Gilmore have all seen jumps in their popularity.
It is the first major survey since the release of the Smithwick Tribunal report and it suggests that Sinn Féin's stance on the report has not been popular.
In contrast, it appears the Government has received a positive boost following Ireland's recent exit from the bailout.
Fine Gael remains the most popular party in Ireland, up five points to 30%.
Fianna Fáil are unchanged on 21%, the same level as independents and others, while Labour are also unchanged on 11%.

Disappointing that for the Shinners,but considering the level of attacks on Gerry Adams over past few months(smithwick,Laim Adams case,and the programme on the disappeared) I would say happy enough only down 3%.

Good to see latest poll has the Shinners back up 3% and Gerry up again in Leaders poll.

Gerry has a 26% satisfaction rating and only 70% satisfaction with SF supporters. Of the 4 leaders, only Gilmore is worse.

Inda on 86% support among his own party. A party which tried to oust him as leader just before FF's (temporary ) implosion gifted him the reins of power. Given the fact that SF were the only party to show an increase in support, I'd say Adams & SF are more than content with this poll, particularly given the media's intense "Adam's out" hobbyhorse/witch-hunt in recent months.

Such polls tend to annoy me though as they're just a sad reminder that at least one in five Irish people want FF back in power. Which should be staggering... but yet, nothing surprises.

86% among those polled who support FG - it wasn't them who tried to oust him.

And let's not forget, whilst yes, FF's implosion handed Enda the reins, it was also a significant factor in SF's bounce.

Of course. Difference being that SF's leader hadn't just faced a leadership challenge (at least not from within the party!)

[Rossfan]

Difference being that SF's leader hadn't just faced a leadership challenge (at least not from within the party!)

I wonder what happens to any one in SF who would launch a leadership challenge 

[glens abu]

Difference being that SF's leader hadn't just faced a leadership challenge (at least not from within the party!)

I wonder what happens to any one in SF who would launch a leadership challenge 

They would loose.

[Rossfan]

Difference being that SF's leader hadn't just faced a leadership challenge (at least not from within the party!)

I wonder what happens to any one in SF who would launch a leadership challenge 

They would loose.

Lose their heads? 

[glens abu]

Difference being that SF's leader hadn't just faced a leadership challenge (at least not from within the party!)

I wonder what happens to any one in SF who would launch a leadership challenge 

They would loose.

Lose their heads? 

we have moved on.