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FINE GAEL TD Michael Ring has said his party is “back” after results so far in the local and European Elections.
Fine Gael currently have a slender lead on Fianna Fáil in the local elections, and speaking in Castlebar, Ring told reporters that Fine Gael have had a “great election”.
“You [the media] had us all written off two months ago, you were actually calculating who would be the ‘Minister for what’.
“So the battle is on for the next election now and Fine Gael are back.
“Not on the way back, we never went away, but we’re back.”
Ring also praised the job of Simon Harris since becoming party leader and Taoiseach.
“He has really lifted us and he lifted the campaign,” said Ring.
He added: “Let’s call a spade a spade, we were in a bad place a few months ago and nobody thought we could lift the party again.
“If there had have been a leadership battle, I probably would have voted for Pascal Donohoe, but Simon Harris has really impressed me, he’s done a superb job.
In praising Harris’s energy, Ring referenced an incident on the campaign trail in Westport, Co Mayo last week when Harris was heckled by a crowd that included family members of Enoch Burke.
“I was with him in Westport, and even though we were being followed, he was running all over the place and even the Burkes couldn’t catch him,” said Ring.
Ring was speaking to reporters at the European Election count for the Midlands-North-West constituency in Castlebar, Co Mayo.
He said he is “hopeful” that Fine Gael will win two seats.
“I don’t know how Nina Carberry is doing,” said Ring, “but I have no doubt that Maria Walsh will win a seat.
“I’m told that the Shinners are not performing as well as people thought they would,” add Ring, who said he didn’t expect a final result until later next week.
A total of 27 candidates contested the Midlands-North-West constituency.
Remarking on the length of the ballet, at 73 centimetres long, Ring said: “It was like a toilet roll, it was a disgrace.
“Democracy is democracy, but by God lads. One man said to me, ‘I’d want a bit of help to lift this’, it was crazy stuff.”
However, he said he “started and number one and finished out” the ballot.
“It took me a long time to do it but I gave everybody a vote and I hope everybody would give me a vote if I’m going again.”
Ring voiced support for a general election in October and said some Fine Gael politicians who have said they will not run again might reconsider.
The Mayo TD himself has yet to decide if he will run again, but told reporters: “I have energy, and if I’m not in politics, I’ll be in something else.
“I haven’t made up my mind but if I go, I’m ready for action.”
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This work is co-funded by Journal Media and a grant programme from the European Parliament. Any opinions or conclusions expressed in this work are the author’s own. The European Parliament has no involvement in nor responsibility for the editorial content published by the project. For more information, see here.
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This decision is at odds with public opinion on the matter.
@Oliver Klozov: public in Moscow maybe
@Oliver Klozov: Public opinion in the great game. Neville Chamberlain went with public sentiment in 1938, look what that got him into a year later. Appeasement is folly, the EU is making the correct decision standing up to Putin, the leader of a kleptocracy who lines the pockets of his friends.
@Oliver Klozov:
I wouldn’t take a Journal poll as being a reflection of public opinion.
@Dr Rex Butts: Majority of readers of this publication disagree with the decision so not just public in Moscow.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-expel-russian-diplomats-poll-3925615-Mar2018/
@Dr Rex Butts: no the public here
@Oliver Klozov:
Got there before you…
@Walt Jabsco: ok but this poll also showed a majority disagree and this is a more scientific and representative poll
https://twitter.com/ClaireByrneLive/status/978542513551179778?s=20
@Patrick Sage: We are not or have ever been neutral. How hard is it for people to understand that.
@Oliver Klozov: “of this publication” spoken like a true bot.
@Dr Rex Butts: “this publication” as in The Journal, where we are commenting.
@Oliver Klozov: __ With the bots clicking themselves into a frenzy, online polls are about as effective as eeny meeny miny mo.
@Ted Murray: almost as useless as the British intelligence that blamed Russia without any actual evidence. Hitler did something similar right before he invaded Poland to defend its German citizens.
@Cal Mooney: And Putin did the same in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. You see Cal you do understand the similarities between Putin and Hitler and to a large extent Stalin. There is hope for you yet.
@Mick Jordan: I see the similarities between British action in Libya, Yemen and Iraq and Hitler’s actions. Today 30 million Yemenis living in famine conditions because of the Brits. Open slave markets in Libya. You can’t say Russia is near as bad as britain. Even last week, Britain fought the Irish government in court to say that mock executions from helicopters, beating people unconscious should not be construed as torture. The Brits are animals with a total disproportionate propensity to violence. And FG just rewarded that rabid animal.
@SteoG: Tipperary north comes to mind.
@Mick Jordan:
You’ve been flapping around these threads all day. The fact is the majority of people see it as a poor and half arsed decision by Leo trying to be everybody’s pal.
@Cal Mooney: __ I’m not disputing the fact that there’s no evidence, I’m simply pointing out the ineffectiveness of online polls.
Anyhow, on your other point, the ethnic Germans did need some defending because they were regarded as 3rd class citizens by the nationalists in territories that either previously were under German control, or were formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
@Tweed Cap: In your opinion. And you know what they say about opinions
@Cal Mooney: Wally, If you’re going to blame the UK for Yemen on the grounds that they supply the Saudis with weapons, you might want to dwell for a moment on how many despotic regimes have been armed to the teeth by Mother Russia.
@Harry Whitehead: One could also add Harry that both sides in the Yemen conflict are using Russian manufactured weaponry, in fact one one only has to look at the vast majority of wars and conflicts around the globe and you will find most of the combatants are using Russian made weapons. Cal must have forgotten the old saying about Stones and Glass houses.
@Mick Jordan: Mick, are there shipments of Russian weapons going to Yemen today? Are the Brits over on Yemen soil advising the Saudis how to maximize the devastation on the Yemeni people?
@Oliver Klozov: how do you know that ?
@Oliver Klozov: yeah, rigged by Russian bots
@Cal Mooney: oh the Russians are no Angels in this regard. Who supplied Assad and Syria with chemical weapons to use against their own people ?
@Michael farrelly: sweden
@SteoG: if appeasement is folly how would you describe the Iraq war and the state of the middle east.
@Cal Mooney: More people have died from being shot with an AK 47 since its invention, than All the Western made Weapons Systems combined in the same period.
@Cal Mooney: you’re a gas man Cal
@Tweed Cap: how do you know what the majority of people think ?
@Dr Rex Butts: easy to spot the many bots
@Walt Jabsco: especially as we all now know it is Russian strategy to pollute Western social media with their vile statements about the West. They seek to divide and conquer
@Charles Williams: Good question. Though, not a subject I could describe and do justice to in a couple of words.
@Oliver Klozov: coy so as British will stay in common markets
I have only THREE words to describe Irish Government: British, European Sheep.
@Masha Dabrynets: You are hardly biased in the matter.
@Masha Dabrynets: how would u describe the Russian government comrade
@Masha Dabrynets: and I have 3 words to describe you Russian bot troll
@Michael farrelly: I said nothing about YOU personally.
@Michael farrelly: says the paid FG media room troll.
@Cal Mooney: I’m not a FG media troll. As you well know I supported you in critiquing the actions of the young FG chairman last night. I have often criticized FG on here and will do so again I’m sure. Now let’s here you criticize Russia troll !!
@Masha Dabrynets: but I did you for your insensitive comments about my country
@Michael farrelly: Three words to describe you. Waste of air.
We are a neutral country, we joined the EEC..
We had no beef with the Russians.
Now we have thanks to FG bending over at the behest of Europe. Maybe I missed something with Brexit..
@Willy Malone: We are not nor have ever been Neutral.
We are Neutral. Always were, and wish to remain so, regardless of your beloved FG doing all to end our neutrality…
@Willy Malone: *facepalm* – would you be a gentleman and link where our neutrality is enshrined in law? You must have a source for this opinion, no?
@Willy Malone: Where in the Constitution or in any legislation does it state Irelands Neutrality? Please point it out to us!
We are Non Aligned which is very different to being Neutral. I suggest you look up the difference.
@Honeybadger197: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_neutrality
Just Google….
@Willy Malone: Do you always run when a bully confronts you in public?
No, are you suggesting Ireland has been bullied by Russia, in defense of another outrageous decision by this propped up puppet government…
@Willy Malone: So its a government policy, subject to situational change and not enshrined in law. Thanks Willy!
@Honeybadger197: Your link to say we are not Neutral!
@Willy Malone: What part of not in the Constitution or Enshrined in Legislation do you fail to comprehend?
It only Government Policy, and that can change at the whim of any Government without need to consult either the Public via Referndum or the Dail via Legislation. The Government if they so chose could apply to join NATO in the morning and would not have to consult anyone.
@Mick Jordan: Do have a read Mick. Pay attention to triple lock…
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/protecting-neutrality-in-a-militarised-eu-1.915577?mode=amp
@Mick Jordan: Mick, FG will take a thumping for this action at the next election. They bypassed the Dail and announced to the world press they were going to do this. All of this before they even met the Irish security chiefs. You are right, in this case we showed how unbalanced and pathetic we as a country are, when we couldn’t do the right thing and say we will make our decision in due course. Leo and Simon bent over for the Britain. The same Britain who carried out more murders on Irish soil than any other country in the world.
@Willy Malone: Willy you are either willfully ignorant or playing stupid. It is “Government Policy”. It is not legally binding. Now read what I have said slowly to yourself several times and let it sink in.
@Willy Malone: You didn’t read your own link?
@Willy Malone: stop making stuff up
@Willy Malone: why is it a puppet government ? It was elected in fair elections unlike Putin’s
The right decision. Plain and simple.
@Honeybadger197: Too right. I’ll be home in time for my babushka’s birthday.
@PutinBot 5002: Every cloud!
@Honeybadger197: With no actual evidence other than the UK saying it “most likely” was the Russians.
The British government is 100% trust worthy – WMDs in Iraq, torture in northern Ireland, supporting Ulster loyalist paramilitaries attacks on Irish civilians…….
@Honeybadger197: Well not every cloud….. proceed with caution Ireland, our tsar bomb could wipe out your puny island like my babushka wipes out a bowl of borscht
@PutinBot 5002: lndeed, babushka loves her borscht. Sadly/ happily, the plane delivering said Czar bomb would be confettied minutes after various NATO air defence systems realised babushka was acting the maggot.
@Honeybadger197: Plane? Pah, planes are so 1970′s…. I’ve already said too much. Just remember this old Russian saying, Если вы сожжете могучего медведя с палкой, медведь будет убивать вашу задницу, which means, “If you poke mighty bear with stick, bear will nuke your ass”
@Honeybadger197:
A professor of chemistry in Cornell University has a different take on it.
————————————
I will say it again: Anybody who tells you this nerve agent must have come from Russia is a liar–a complete and utter liar. They are simple compounds:
@B9xiRspG: Name a government that is 100 percent trustworthy. The driver behind expelling diplomats wasn’t the UK, it was actually Tusk ( Mr 100 percent behind Varadkar ) until late Friday, much to Junckers annoyance – he who is noticeably absent of late. The UK simply presented their evidence to the EU leaders, how they reacted was up to them (Tusk).
Do you honestly think the UK Govt has, or wishes to have influence over Varadkar and Coveney, for what significant reason ?
Do you think Tusk has influence over the Irish Govt ?
Do the Irish Govt aspire to holding a seat at the UN ?
Does Varadkar (as reported when in NY ), want to be “that bridge between the US and Europe post Brexit ?
Funny old game (business) is modern politics.
@Féach News:
The guy who invented it thinks otherwise.
Good decision. We must stand with our allies:
@Daniel Carson: you mean behind them obviously
@Daniel Carson: Yes you must stand with your allies who not that long ago had a sign NO IRISH NO DOGS!
@JimmyMc: ___ and at a good distance.
@Masha Dabrynets: Well being Belurus you would know all about being a vassel of a bigger neighbour.
@Daniel Carson: We are supposed to be a neutral country. If our government feels otherwise they should make it clear.
@Mick Jordan: Like Ireland with EU, UK and America.
@Masha Dabrynets: Ireland standing up to Putin isn’t only in Britain’s interests. You seem to forget what Putin did in Ukraine and that he allowed Russian weapons to be used to shoot down a Malaysian airliners full of mostly Dutch passengers. Standing up to Putin is ultimately in the interests of western civilisation and that includes Ireland too. Something has to be done to signal to the man that you don’t just stroll into another country and kill people, otherwise he will do it again. Maybe in London, maybe in Berlin, maybe in Dublin.
@Masha Dabrynets: We are members of the EU and should we wish to leave we could and wouldn’t have to worry about being invaded. What do you think would happen if Belarus said it wanted to join the EU or NATO?
How do you think Russia would react? Especially looking at how it reacted to Georgia and Ukraine.
@Daniel Donovan: we’re not and we’re standing with our allies
Get your facts right about Georgia, Ukraine and Malaysia plane. It’s like this for you “If its been said three times it must be true”.
@Masha Dabrynets: ___ I’m surprised that someone with such a low opinion of Ireland actually wants to be here.
@Masha Dabrynets: you’d swear it was a declaration of war! Chill out it was 1 diplomat expelled and besides Russia have being very busy the last few years constantly pushing to see how much they can get away with!
This will be more damaging to us than to Russia. We are a small country and Russia couldnt care less about us. Not only is it the wrong decision but its a very stupid thing to do.
@F. Wood:
How is it damaging to us?
@F. Wood: Our trade with Russia is miniscule, we have no cultural links to Russia we have nothing in common with Russia. Do tell what damage will it do us. Will Russia invade us like Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine?
@Mick Jordan: Mick, no cultural links? We have many especially within Russian military history, especially my own family on my father’s side. When Peter the great was building his new army and navy he asked King Louis of France for the best soldiers and commanders he had and was given Irish and Scottish wild geese. A generation later and Napoleon was stopped at the gates of Moscow by Irish Russian generals. Later we even had an O’Rourke in Yeltsins government so I am told. There are many links between us so I suggest you read a bit more on the subject.
@Walt Jabsco: Coveney already signed off on sanctions blocking Irish exports to russia worth millions. He is a good eurobot.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: We have more in common with Argentina and Chile than we have with Russia.
@Cal Mooney: not as good as a russianbot like yourself Cal
@Blants: your fear mongering rant doesn’t work
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: we are allied to the West not Russia. Didn’t you know that ?
@Cal Mooney:
Four years ago!
Remember what the wise Sherlock Holmes said: “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”
@Charles Murphy: At last, a voice of reason. I find it very disturbing that so many, including those in power are seemingly able to justify the expulsion of diplomats based on “a high likelyhood that it was Russia”. Quite a lot of blackmarket military supplies became available when the Red Army hadn’t been paid for more than a year upon the breakup of the USSR. My point is that there are many equally plausible players that could be responsible, not the least of which could be the UK if such a valuable turned Russian agent had decided to go back to mother Russia with some of the Queens dirty laundry. Politically, Ireland was expected to take the official line, standing by the allies but it smells, bad! One diplomat is still regretable but a measured response under the circumstances.
A knee jerk reaction.
@Mel Lloyd: Hardly Knee-jerk. The attack happens 3 Weeks ago. A Knee-jerk reaction would have been a couple of days after.
@Mel Lloyd: Don’t be naive.
@James Maloney: the FG media room are all over these articles like fly to .. trying to justify the unjustifiable.
@Cal Mooney: Yeah desperate to justify their existence,
@Cal Mooney: no Cal it’s ordinary people not like the many Russian trolls
Good that it’s cheap, because we are broke.
Typical decision from a no ball government…..no different when Coveney capitulated on the boycott of Israeli imports when BB told him “you bold boys in Ireland” get your act together.
A unilateral boycott of Israel would have implications for US multinationals in Ireland…US congress have laws against countries involved in Israeli boycott….
@pc_comments: Well since US congress is controlled by Zionists that is not surprising.
@pc_comments: ahh that makes it alright so. We must do what we are told or we will be punished. And this is democracy in action.
@noBankAccBertie: great decision troll
First of all, ” C. S. Gas ” was used, in the 1970′s! So that knocks the entire ” first time since “. Second of all, surely this ” Spy ” would have given all those, in ” The G. C. H. Q. ” ALL the information that he had, on ” The Kremlin “! Thirdly, this is a ” Soviet Era Nerve Agent “, which means that ” The West ” will probably have a sample of it, so it can be reproduced, and used! All we have is May’s word that ” The Kremlin “carried this attack out! Let’s not forget all the attacks that they’ve been involved in, and are involved in!
@Pádraig Ó Tomhnair: ní best comment here
Why because leo wants to be seen as the same as the big boys
Can anyone explain to me the difference between this Russian attack where there was poisoning but no deaths as yet and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London a few years ago where the victim died and why is the response so different?
@Brian: Britain needs another conflict to give the conservatives cover for the mess they are making of Brexit. Also, the US has demanded that all European countries spend lots more on weaponry from the US. This will allow every European government the excuse to please their us and UK masters. It’s all about money.
I would have thought Paul Murphy TD would support this peaceful protest…
The Blueshirt bots have piled into this one early and often. They must have been caught out by the common sense and decency displayed by so many ordinary posters on earlier articles, who have refused to convict without any evidence.
Solidarity with a country that is going to cost ireland millions with their brexit
@trebloc01: solidarity with all our Western allies yay
Very convenient considering the setting up of PESCO……well i suppose the military industrial complex needs plenty of taxpayers money.
@Derek Durkin: Need a new one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr6rp0HYgQ8
Because our so called Government cannot think for themselves ffs
@Jamie Thornton: it was elected on our behalf, unlike Putin’s rigged elections
The same crew will be on saying that the Irish Govt are lapdogs etc etc, for standing up to State sponsored terrorism. Interestingly, it’s the very same folks who criticize the Govt for doing nothing to protect Ireland against the free movement of people and the associated terrorism.
And before any of the aforementioned crew refer to the 2010 incident with the Irish passports and embarrass themselves further we expelled an Israeli diplomat, based on an “inescapable conclusion”, after info sharing with the Australian and UK Govts.
@MK76: if we are not lap dogs then why are we not expelling British diplomats for Britain’s refusal to hand over their files on Dublin Monaghan?
@Cal Mooney: Ah you’re a Good Wee Republican Cal. Never let a chance for whataboutery pass you by.
Should have waited until evidence found. Should keep our nose out of this; we don’t want to be implicated in a war with Russia. We are a neutral country and until the people vote differently it should stay that way.
not since german tanks rolled across the ukranian steppe have the russians suffered such a setback, can they survive?
What about the beef trade to Russia will the EU or England pick up the loss to farmers
Great to see Ireland has done this, even if as usual we are very slow to act
Why just one diplomat? What not them all? Is this one diplomat different from the rest based here?
@Gareth Kennan: Would it be that the one being expelled acted outside their Diplomatic Brief?
@Mick Jordan: I think you will find that the British embassy staff in Dublin were the only diplomats to have been involved in murdering Irish citizens. To this day they refuse to hand over evidence. When are we expelling their diplomats to show solidarity with the victims of their atrocities?
Russia is second only to Ireland, in breeding politicians who can so effortlessly speak out of both sides of the mouths at the same time. On the one hand they denounce the West for accusing them of this terrible crime, while at the same time issuing a warning that this is the sort of thing that can happen to anyone thinking of betraying the Motherland. The retaliation is minimum and measured. But it will have a response. And this is what should worry us. Putin is not an idiot. The choice of using a chemical weapon in the UK was deliberate, and was something that was screaming out for a response. Which means that it was just a catalyst for him to do what he was actually intending to do in the first place. Scary times.
@David Knight: so you have seen the proof. Can you share that proof with us or is this another kangaroo media conviction.
@Cal Mooney: go east young man
@Michael farrelly: You should have finished your comment off with “comrade” so you could be the complete clown.
@Cal Mooney: I wasn’t aware I was convicting anyone. This is a discussion forum and not a court of law. If there was absolute conclusive proof, the perpetrators would not have done their job properly. So the most any of us civilians can do is to look at the facts we do know and surmise. So on the balance of probability, this was, almost certainly, the work of Russia giving a clear warning to it’s own not to betray, and to the west, that Russia is not someone to mess with. If it’s not Russia, would you like a stab at who it might have been?
@Oscar Scatters: naw, it’s a pun on the song but I guess you didn’t get that. And as I’m a clown I hope I made you laugh. It makes me so happy to think that you laughed ;)
@Michael farrelly: Oh I was laughing.
@Oscar Scatters: so happy for you man
PAUL Murphy is going to carry the bags of the Russia diplomat
Leaving aside the specific arguments as to whether Ireland should be siding with the UK, I have a question about all of these expulsions.
They are all of diplomats suspected of being spies. Now if any country has those suspicions then wouldn’t they want to expel the people concerned anyway. Presumably a suspected spy in Ireland is suspected of spying on Ireland or the Irish. If that is the case then surely it is in Ireland’s interests to expel them regardless of what happened in Salisbury?
@Tim: it was the time to call them to account. To show Russia that they can’t overcome the west with their efforts to rig elections, distort social media and kill people who don’t agree with them. Solidarity
@Michael farrelly: You seem to be incredibly active on Russian threads – post endless gibberish in reply to almost every post.
Seems like a full-time job to me.
Brits out! Oh sorry , it’s the Russians out , there goes our neutrality!! Well they were voted in. And if you voted Fine Gael I hope you’re deeply ashamed
When you elect a stupid gov, you get stupid actions, and unfortunately, we’ve got s stupid gombeen gov, elected by gombeen people who don’t understand modern politics.
@Adrian: That sounds very like the statement a narcissistic gombeen would make.
@SteoG: or a very justly angry Irish citizen
Where was the Dail debate today before the expulsion?
@Adrian: and you do ? You’re a gas man
@Cal Mooney: There was no debate in the Dail on the previous expulsions of an Israeli and a Russian diplomat over the misuse of Irish passports. Why bother now?
Well he has nine days to change his mind!
have your say