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LAST UPDATE | 29 Nov 2024
AFTER THREE WEEKS of campaigning and debates, the public have had their say on who will make up the next Dáil.
Here’s how the day played out.
Updates were by Lauren Boland, Órla Ryan and Muiris O’Cearbhaill.
Good morning! Lauren Boland here.
Polling stations opened around the country at 7am to kick off voting in the general election.
If you need something to listen to on your way to vote, the latest episode of our podcast The Explainer is all about how exactly our voting system – proportional representation with a single transferable vote – works .
Don’t forget your umbrella! Met Éireann is forecasting a wet and breezy morning, with outbreaks of rain in the west and southwest of the country spreading nationwide by noon. The afternoon looks to be a bit drier with some sunny spells before the weather turns wetter again in the late evening.
If you need to look up which candidates are running in your area or learn a little bit about them, our candidate database is a handy tool.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has been out with his wife Caoimhe and his children Cillian and Saoirse to cast his vote.
In the competitive constituency of Dublin Central, turnout has been slow so far at the St Paul’s CBS polling station. They’re expecting the usual post-work rush this evening.
Speaking to media earlier as he arrived at his polling stations at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow, Simon Harris said he was “feeling really good” and “really hopeful – hopeful in terms of the election but also hopeful for the future of our country”.
“I wanted to vote early because I now want to head across our country today, continuing to encourage everyone to get out and have their say in this election.”
He’s expected to make a whirlwind tour around parts of the country today, stopping in Dublin, Carlow, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary.
Harris also said he expects it to be a “fascinating couple of days” of counting the votes before the final result emerges.
“Isn’t it the beauty and the complexity of our system that when the clock strikes 10 o’clock tonight, there’ll be an exit poll but that won’t even tell us the outcome of the election because of our PR-STV,” he said.
He took a bit of a dig at the UK’s approach: “Compare and contrast that with the British system, Big Ben hits 10 o’clock and Sky News can say ‘the winner is…’ we don’t live in that sort of system.”
Rather, with Ireland’s system, he said, “where the fourth seat goes in a five-seat constituency or where that third seat goes in a crucial third-seat constituency, that – I believe – it’s going to play a major role in deciding the composition of the next government and the relative strength of potentially different parties in that coalition government”.
A nice video here from RTÉ doing a mock election with children at Scoil Cholmcille An Tearmann to demonstrate PR-STV in action. (Who’d you vote for? The ice-cream party?)
A lot of fun putting this together with the brilliant students at my old school, Scoil Cholmcille An Tearmann.
— Barry Gallagher (@b_gallagher2) November 28, 2024
Hopefully this comes in handy for someone out there 🗳️#Election2024 https://t.co/KSr7qNzKng
A reminder from the Electoral Commission to make sure your ballot is officially stamped:
Today, your ballot paper should be stamped by the polling staff 📃
— An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission (@ElecCommIRL) November 29, 2024
If your ballot isn’t stamped, your vote won’t count, so double check your ballot paper when you receive it in the polling station 🗳️https://t.co/CIv8jvfBqQ pic.twitter.com/x4n5h6kMX5
There’s Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who’s on the ballot in Dublin Bay South, cycling to cast her vote this morning.
As we near ten o’clock, that’s it from myself (Lauren) for the moment – handing you over to my colleague Órla Ryan.
It’s Órla here, taking over from Lauren. Thanks for staying with us so far this morning!
If you’re still undecided about who to vote for, or who to transfer to, we’re here to help.
Our candidate database - featuring profiles of all candidates from the 43 constituencies - is a good first port of call.
We’ve also rounded up where parties stand on major issues like housing, Gaza and how’d they’d spend the Apple Tax billions.
My colleague Jane Matthews, our political correspondent, also read through the manifestos of the three biggest parties to see where Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin stand on issues like housing, health, tax cuts and cost-of-living measures.
In some non-election news, Irish rap trio Kneecap have won their legal challenge over a decision by former UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a £14,250 (about €17,000) funding award after the British government conceded at Belfast High Court it was “unlawful”.
They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and… pic.twitter.com/8L9SnU5aTC
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 29, 2024
Around 3.7 million people are eligible to vote today – the largest ever number. Here’s a breakdown of how many people are registered to vote in each constituency:
Another useful tool to help any last-minute undecided voters is the WhichCandidate website, developed by the University of Limerick.
The tool aims to show voters which candidates in their constituencies most align with their views, based on a number of questions about key issues.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have cast their vote in the general election. They voted at St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park in Dublin.
The president wished the election officials well as he cast his ballot, PA News reports.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has urged voters to brave the weather and cast their vote in the general election.
The Fianna Fáil leader said the rainy weather was “a great pity” but that there had been bad weather on polling days before, PA News reports.
“It’s not a good weather day but we’ve had these before in different elections and people still turn out to vote,” he said after voting with his family at his local polling centre in Ballinlough, Cork.
I encourage people to vote – it’s a key part of our democracy. The weather notwithstanding we encourage people to come out to vote but yes it is a pity that it’s such a wet morning.
Asked whether a fractured or unclear outcome could see another poll being held in 2025, Martin said: “I think that’s something we clearly do not want to do, but it’s in the hands of the people.”
Asked about the election campaign, the Tánaiste said he was “fighting to be Taoiseach” after the election but added “nothing is certain until every vote is counted”.
“But certainly I did have a good feeling in the last two to three days in terms of the response that I was getting after the debates, and very warm response in Louth and in Wexford and Wicklow yesterday.
“We’re hopeful of a good result but we take nothing for granted. We’ve a long day ahead of us. The focus now on the party is to get our supporters our friends our families to get the vote out notwithstanding the weather.”
Speaking to reporters in Cork, Martin said he is “cautiously hopeful” of the outcome of what he called a “close fought” election battle.
He said Fianna Fáil had a “stronger team” than they had in the 2020 election, when they came back with 38 seats.
Asked if he will sleep tonight, he said, “oh I will, yeah”. Asked if he has any rituals on count day, Martin said: “I take it easy..
“I’ll have a very good breakfast tomorrow morning, and I tell everyone not to come near me until about midday.
“I don’t want to hear a tally from the 44th box, no point. I can go over all that later.
Actually, I’m very relaxed on count day and the only challenge is to make sure that I can keep the noise out.
“I will probably go into town and do a few things, go to Douglas market maybe. Then in around midday, 1pm maybe, depending when the tally will be finished, head to the count centre, and it’s very familiar ground for me, Nemo Rangers, and I’ll enjoy that.
“Maybe that’ll be a good omen,” he said, referring to the fact that his son Micheál Aodh plays football for Nemo Rangers GAA club.
Polling stations: The Irish just do it better
Only in Ireland 💚
— Today FM 💛 (@TodayFM) November 29, 2024
Some of our favourite polling stations from around the country 🇮🇪#GE24 #GeneralElection pic.twitter.com/80vzzOrpFD
An interesting development in Dublin city, where Labour’s political director Cathal McCann says the recording of party leaders casting their vote has apparently been banned.
Absolutely ridiculous decision by Dublin City returning officer to ban the recording of Party leaders in Dublin casting their vote. It’s already been done outside Dublin. #ge24 Will be interesting to see if the ban is now lifted for others…
— Cathal McCann (@Cathal_McCann) November 29, 2024
It’s busier than usual in St Andrew’s polling station in Dublin Bay South, according to staff working there.
Sinn Féin’s Chris Andrews was spotted dropping off an elderly lady who said she wasn’t going to vote until he offered her a lift.
Another woman shouted at her: “You better give him your number one so.”
We’re re-sharing this guide, ICYMI: Here’s everything you need to know about voting in the general election
A record 3.7 million people are eligible to vote, but what will turnout be like?
Ireland Votes is estimating a national turnout of 4.9% as of 9:30 this morning.
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) November 29, 2024
Follow our LIVE blog for turnout updates throughout the day 🔗 https://t.co/S1ZAlbF3QM#GE24 pic.twitter.com/Kqgmbzlics
Have you been listening to our election podcast, The Candidate?
We’re biased, but it really is very good.
Catch up on the latest epsiode here:
St Vincent’s polling centre on Griffith Avenue in Dublin was also busier than usual, according to workers there.
A group of nuns were spotted entering the building earlier – so that’s one square ticked on today’s election bingo sheet. Sadly, no footage was captured.
One of the main talking points of the last few days has been whether or not Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will lose his seat in Wicklow.
Thanks to @MichealMartinTD for canvassing with me in #Wicklow today and great to have engagement with voters ahead of tomorrow #GE2024 #DonnellyNumber1 pic.twitter.com/Fs1PdGYDxL
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 28, 2024
Micheál Martin was out canvasing with Donnelly in Greystones yesterday in a bid to shore up more votes.
The constituency (which also includes Taoiseach Simon Harris) has gone from a five to a four-seater, so someone is assured to lose a seat.
Speaking of Simon Harris, Carl Kinsella takes a look at the Taoiseach’s percevied lack of empathy following his interaction with a care worker in Kanturk last weekend – in what may prove to be the most pivotal moment of the campaign, or at least the most-talked-about moment.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was approached during a canvass this evening by a woman who says she is a carer, and who said she believes the Government has "done nothing for us" | follow live: https://t.co/eUoCK3Qb5Y pic.twitter.com/MXiN9b60Ke
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 22, 2024
Our columnist writes:
It is a time-honoured tradition that each Taoiseach eventually makes a rod for their own back — there was Brian Cowen’s ‘tired and emotional’ interview on Morning Ireland, there was Bertie Ahern’s bank accounts or lack thereof, and now, Simon Harris has Kanturk. Quite impressive really, given that – as he keeps reminding us – he’s only been in the job seven months.
The Taoiseach has since apologised to Charlotte Fallon and agreed to go to her place of work, St Joseph’s Foundation.
Outside the polling station at the Deaf Village in Cabra, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told young voters “this can be your election”, PA News reports.
She said: “This is a really important election for everybody.
“I think it has a particular significance for younger people because there is a generation of people for whom housing is out of reach, opportunity out of reach, and in frightening numbers now are deciding that perhaps they will leave – others that are away and believe that they have no opportunity to come up.
“That’s not acceptable to us, simply not acceptable. So a significant day for everyone, a particular significance for younger people, and we’re asking young people especially, make the effort to vote today. Please don’t miss this. This can be your election.”
McDonald, who is running in the Dublin Central constituency, told reporters: “We’ve lost count of the number of conversations that we’ve had with people with disabilities, children waiting and waiting for services, and that is really hard and really unacceptable, but we need to mark today with a note of optimism and hope and confidence and ambition, because today is election day.
“And the great beauty of this, and it’s a moment of almost, of actual unique equality for every citizen, because your vote holds exactly the same weight, whether you’re down on your luck and you’re struggling, or if you’re a multi millionaire, your vote carries equal weight.
“So this is the moment where people can really shape the next government, and we need a new government, but really have your say on an equal basis.
“So I always think that that’s a really positive thing.”
Party leaders and deputy leaders are continuing to cast their votes in various constituencies:
Richard Boyd Barrett, leader of People Before Profit-Solidarity, has voted in Glasthule, Dublin | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/lgTuyycaP7
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has voted in Johnstown in Navan, Co Meath | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/Rpaft6CVkX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Cian O'Callaghan, cast his ballot in Howth | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/iTeo5UFD5x
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Sylvia Power, a 29-year-old who lives in Dublin, has a strong message for all candidates about the housing crisis.
In this Voices column, she writes:
“…As we approach the end of 2024 and the upcoming election, the government’s promises to turn the ship around haven’t materialised, and my generation faces a housing crisis that becomes more dystopian by the day.
A mouldy, cramped one-bed apartment in Ireland’s cities now costs roughly €2,000 per month to rent, and it is quite common to see prices of €2,500 or more.
“Increasingly ludicrous property advertisements on websites taunt young adults looking to get an honest shot, and these often go viral on social media.”
29 November 2024 will be memorable for Holly Cairns for more than one reason, the Social Democrats’ leader has given birth to a baby girl.
Congratulations!
This is the most gorgeous news! Congrats Holly and Barry 💜 https://t.co/RPK4Xg5pYt
— Jennifer Whitmore TD (@WhitmoreJen) November 29, 2024
It’s understood that it’s now very unlikely, and understandable, that Cairns won’t get to vote today.
As of midday, turnout in Galway West and Galway East has ranged from 8 to 16%
Another constituency to keep an eye on is Donegal.
If local election results are anything to go by, the lineup of TDs in the sprawling constituency may be in line for a shake-up. A recent poll also showed that Fine Gael may lose its seat.
As homes continue to crumble and young people continue to emigrate, the need for sustained attention on Donegal is evident, Mairead Maguire writes.
Turnout across county Cork ranged from 12 to 15%, as of midday
You can read more about Holly Cairns’ happy baby news here.
As the votes continue to roll in, we’re going to take a look how the outgoing coalition did on some of its key promises in the Programme for Government.
Muiris O’Cearbhaill examined the status of pledges made in areas like transport, housing and climate.
More turnout figures, this time for Kildare:
Thanks for staying with us so far today. I’m now going to hand you over to my colleague Muiris O’Cearbhaill.
Good afternoon, folks.
Thanks for staying with us and sorry about the delay.
In the last hour we have learned that a record 14,966 people were in emergency accommodation last month. That figure includes 4,645 children.
Homelessness charities have come out to voice their disappointment with how little airtime and attention political parties gave homelessness during the election campaign and in their manifestos.
Parties vying for a change have said today’s figures are all the more reason to vote for them today. Read the full piece here.
I’ve just been onto the phone with the Dublin City electoral office to get you the latest details of turnout around the capital.
The lovely people at the office, who are working very hard today, gave me the following:
Dublin Central has quite a lot of attention on it this election over the high-profile candidates. However, it also is – usually – the constituency with the lowest turnout in the county.
An Coimisúin Toghcháin – who have been keen to get out the vote this election – have visited neighbourhoods around the inner-city to encourage new and younger voters to cast a ballot today.
More rurally, in Longford-Westmeath, their electoral office tells me that polling stations in rural Longford are currently recording turnout rates between 8-10% while urban areas are recording figures of 9%.
As of 12.30pm this afternoon, pollings stations in rural parts of northern Westmeath (quite the mouthful) are recording turnout levels between 9-12% while Mullingar Town stands at 9%.
Lastly, 13.5% of voters in the Kilbeggan area have cast a ballot so far today while 9% of the electorate have shown up in-and-around Athlone.
As of an hour ago, the returning officer for both constituencies in Tipperary (North and South, that is) has told me that somewhere between 15- 20% of voters have cast a ballot.
Another party leader has cast their vote, this time in the form of Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit.
A little ways-away from Dublin Bay South, we head to the Wicklow constituency.
Nothing too interesting is happening there right now. I just wanted an excuse to share this class piece of artwork on the wall of Delgany National School:
Stop what you’re doing (unless you’re voting – keep doing that).
Sausage dog at the polling station:
Oscar, the daschund, joined his humans at the polling station in The Harold School in Glasthule, Co Dublin.
As we’ve previously posted about, there are plenty of things available to voters to help them make their decision today – including our wonderful candidate database.
But, how exactly does your vote work? What is a transfer? And how does one vote?
In June we spoke to Virgin Media’s Political Correspondent, and a former member of this parish, Gavan Reilly to get the rundown on the inner-workings of the Proportional Representation with a Single Transferable Vote system or, more simply, PR-STV.
At 25 minutes long, this episode of The Explainer might work well for you as you walk or drive to the polling station today or as you prepare to stay up for our coverage of ‘the count’ this weekend.
Director of Ireland Thinks, a polling and research company, Kevin Cunningham has been entertaining political nerds (like me) over the last few weeks with interesting nuggets of information and data about voting patterns.
Kevin has carried out what is known as a Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification poll.
Now, look, I’ve never seen those words before either.
But as far as I’m aware, it’s when people like Kevin combine large data sets, like census information or more-recent polling data published in newspapers, in order to estimate the local levels of support in each constituency.
Writing on his website, Kevin gives a detailed account of his rationale, and has put together his final, polling day projection for the level of support in each constituency.
Local paper The Leinster Leader is calculating turnout in Laois in an extremely interesting way… by booth.
How, you might ask? By counting how many ballot papers have been issued at each dock.
Local reporter Hannah Cahill has detailed some equally interesting facts about voting patterns in the county too.
The returning officer in Kildare has reached out to us once again to update our readers on the latest turnout figures.
As of 3.30pm, turnout in Kildare North has jumped up to 10 points to 28%.
Meanwhile, voters in Kildare South have made a similar jump – reaching 26.5%.
I turned to my colleague Mairead Maguire here in the newsroom, who is currently covering the assisted dying debate in the UK.
I asked how her polling day is going and she told me: “There was a dog at the polling station. I didn’t get a good video of it.”
Have you got any pictures or videos of dogs at polling stations? Send them to tips@thejournal.ie with ‘Dog at Polling Station’ in the subject line.
Órla Ryan will be taking over for a short while, bringing you the latest on polling day.
A tranche of turnout figures will begin pouring in at 5pm too, so keep an eye out to see how your constituency is doing.
That’s all from me this afternoon, I’m heading off to cast my vote.
Hi there, Órla Ryan back again.
How is your election day going? Have you voted yet? Or are you waiting until after work or college? Let us know in the comments.
No filming at Dublin city polling stations? It depends who you ask…
Earlier today, Cathal McCann, Labour’s political director, criticised the fact the Dublin City Returning Officer had banned footage being recorded of party leaders casting their votes today. He labelled the move ”absolutely ridiculous”.
Absolutely ridiculous decision by Dublin City returning officer to ban the recording of Party leaders in Dublin casting their vote. It’s already been done outside Dublin. #ge24 Will be interesting to see if the ban is now lifted for others…
— Cathal McCann (@Cathal_McCann) November 29, 2024
Speaking to The Journal, McCann said Labour, like all parties, typically film their leader casting their vote (and did so in the local and European elections in June). Media outlets such as RTÉ are also often present to film.
Labour contacted the Returning Officer earlier this week to clarify if filming could take place and, in an email seen by The Journal, the party was told: “The Dublin City Returning Officer has made the decision that there will be no filming at polling places.”
This rule was applied in the case of Bacik, but not for other leaders – seemingly some polling centre staff enforced it and others did not.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Joan Collins, leader of Right to Change, were both filmed casting their ballots.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on the Navan Road in Dublin | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/WQ1HSmKdZX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Joan Collins, leader of Right to Change and a candidate in the Dublin South-Central constituency, cast her ballot | Read more: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/gh39Dbx67E
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
McCann said Labour was told no filming could take place ”because of GDPR rules and secrecy of the ballot”.
“If you set a new rule, apply it equally to everybody,” he added.
The Journal has contacted the Dublin City Returning Officer for comment.
Here is the voter turnout in Laois, as of 5pm:
Parochial Hall Rathdowney Booth 1
Parochial Hall Rathdowney Booth 2
Rosenallis Community Centre Booth 1
Rosenallis Community Centre Booth 2
Holy Family Senior School Booth 11
HFSS Booth 12
Knockmay NS Booth 1
Knockmay NS Booth 2
As of 3.30pm, the estimated national turnout was just shy of 30%, according to Ireland Votes.
Ireland Votes is estimating a national turnout of 29.7% as of 15:30 this afternoon.
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) November 29, 2024
Follow our LIVE blog for turnout updates throughout the day 🔗 https://t.co/S1ZAlbF3QM#GE24 pic.twitter.com/WDMe7fzySj
In some non-election but politically-adjacent news, both presenters from Virgin Media’s Tonight Show have confirmed they will depart the station after the election.
In separate statements, Ciara Doherty and Claire Brock confirmed today that Saturday night’s election special will be their last time fronting the late-night politics programme.
In keeping with the time-honoured tradition of people enjoying dogs at polling stations, please enjoy this pug at a polling station. #Vote4Chico
On that bombshell, I’m going to hand you back to my colleague Lauren Boland who will keep you up to date this evening.
Evening all, Lauren here. If you’re eagle-eyed – yes, the same Lauren as at the start of the liveblog this morning. Plenty has happened since then – voters have been voting, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has given birth to her first child, and the shops have been packed with sales-hunters. A casual Friday.
Oh, and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has shared an update about his shoes, in case you were wondering.
The canvassing shoes held up well… pic.twitter.com/bdlYh6IUpO
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 29, 2024
Here’s how turnout was looking in Galway West as of 4pm:
And this was the lie of the land in Galway East:
And if we look further south to Cork – as of 5pm, turnout was 38% in the Cork south-west, 32.9% in Cork east, and 37.9% in Cork north-west.
At the risk of stating the obvious: in case you still need to vote, the closing time at all polling stations is 10pm. Just over three and a half hours left to go.
It can be interesting to look at how international news outlets are covering the Irish election as they look in from the outside.
Sky News has published an explainer for its audience about how STV work, suggesting that counting the ballots is a “lengthy process” but that it “means votes aren’t wasted”
CNN hooked its coverage yesterday on Simon Harris, the ‘Tik Tok taoiseach’, being in the spotlight (does anyone actually call him that?)
The New York Times did some on-the-ground reporting in Dublin Central ahead of voting with interviews and photos.
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Hopefully, we’ll see the greens as good as wiped out today.
@brendan hackett: FFG too right? Right?!
@brendan hackett: FG got a pretty high rating on the green agenda, as did FF. So the green policies won’t be gone with the greens
@Hayagriva: The Greens ran the show. FF and FG were terrified of Eamon Ryan and the Greens effectively ran the government and made all decisions. FF and FG had no say in it whatsoever. We should have sympathy for FF and FG being bullied the way they were.
@brendan hackett: So, you’re not in favour of Universal Basic Income, free childcare, free public transport, 20 minute urban centres, etc? Fair enough.
@Sal Paradise: yes drowning mehole gave Ryan everything he wanted after the 2020 election so sleepy would throw him a life-buoy,
@Me Me: explain your 20 minute urban centres ??????
@Hayagriva: Right.
@K O: It’s the concept, I think from Brazil originally, that cities and towns need to be designed in such a way that all basic requirements (schools, shops, park, health centre, library, etc) should be within 20 minutes walk of a persons home. This reduces the need for car journeys and frees public transport for those travelling from one urban centre to the next.
@Sal Paradise: nonsense.
@Sal Paradise: You are either delusional, or a bot….
@Paul Linehan: whoosh…..sarcasm maybe?
@Dermot Blaine: I’ll write #sarcasm next time. Was expecting too much from my fellow journal commentators.
@Sal Paradise: Well done, you managed to confuse quite a lot of the commentators on here with your attempt at being sarcastic.
@Me Me: Do you believe all that bilge from the Greens?…..I have this great Nigerian investment…..
@Paul Linehan: just confused a few highly strung people.
@Sal Paradise: Really!!!…. I’ll return to my first comment and form the opinion that you are indeed delusional.
@Sal Paradise: how do you know?
@Philip Kennedy: when you know, you know!
@Paul Linehan: Easily triggered….take a break from the journal for the afternoon.
@brendan hackett: They were wiped out after popping up Brian Cowen and FF back in 2011 – but people in this country have short memories.
@brendan hackett: “We should have sympathy for FF and FG being bullied the way they were”.
Are you having a laugh?
@Brendan Hackett – my apologies, that response was meant for Sal Paradise’s comment about the Greens running the show.
I really don’t like this new comments section side bar
@Dave G Doe: ‘Anyone but SF/IRA’
Ian – you’re back! Did you get to sit with the almighty and laugh at all the sinners down below?! Did you ever make sense of why the devil would torture the sinners who are supposedly on his side, in this oh so binary dynamic? It’s like doing a free nixer for god, for all eternity. It never much sense that!
@brendan hackett: do you not notice the pattern?. It’s the small party in the coalition that every time we punish on election day rather than the party actually running the show. The Greens deserve to lose seats but so do their partners in crime. Don’t fall for the easy scapegoating
Stay Free, No Vote For McEntee.
@087 bed: FGs grand failure that is somehow now deputy leader of the party. A shameless politician who has done nothing but fall upwards. A complete failure as justice minister, inner city areas have never been worse crime wise. Vote anybody but FFG.
@087 bed: Stop your town being taken over by foreign men,
Send Roderic O’Gorman to the bin!
@087 bed: early indications look like a SF 80 percent of vote so far
@Basildon Joe: what early indications?
Vote SF
For a government on the side of ordinary workers, for carers and disability services, for homeownership over fund-ownership, for public childcare, and to ban the practice of vulture funds buying up swats of our housing. Vótáil Sinn Féin. #ChangeTheGovt
@DT Walsh: Not a hope.
https://x.com/cahillbooks/status/1861138452160348492?t=xsHXMb9wy_7eYTNcdYSBAg&s=19
@DT Walsh: no I’d chop my hand off first.
@F1rYnpWc: Ah look SF propaganda team all fired tomorrow make sure they pay up what they owe you.
@Dermot Blaine: Hope you don’t need to access A&E afterwards
@F1rYnpWc: Yes the Army Council will turn into the County Council and magic up homes for everyone,honestly.
@honey badger: Not defending this, and not voting SF, but if you can’t see that FFFG don’t have an equally if not worse record for abuse, neglect, cover ups etc. then you are simply blinded by hate.
@DT Walsh: If Sinn Féin cannot run Six Counties how can you expect them to run 32 counties. The only answer is into the ground.
@F1rYnpWc: How the SF delusional bots keep going and 5 years of roaring and shouting and balling from the sidelines will continue.
@Ross: If you could provide a link to any other party leader attacking a rape victim in a televised interview, I’d appreciate it. If me finding this repugnant qualifies as “hate” in your books, you might want to adjust your moral settings.
@honey badger: Your moral compass points whatever way your political views are blowing you utter hypocrite.
@DT Walsh: the situation won’t arise, don’t worry.
@Vincent Alexander: If you don’t know how devolution and power sharing works, then you shouldn’t be referencing the Assembly and the MLAs of Northern Ireland as an example for voters in the Republic.
@Brian: Vintage Brian. Ignores rape victim being attacked by Sinn Fein leader. Ignores Jonathan Dowdalls cameo in clip. Takes grave offence that I find this repugnant. Classic shinnerbot.
@honey badger: Post one, just one instance where I have advocated voting for SF. You won’t find one Honey, because I never have. You’re the classic but but SF troll .. anything to deflect from the the abject failure of your beloved FFG.. I just point out your hypocrisy and the makey up stories you post without a shred of evidence to back them up. Like using the victims of stardust to spread a malicious rumours about ML. Poor Honey doesn’t like being called out on his B/S and hypocrisy.. Tough. Now jog on lad.
@honey badger: You support and applaud the slaughter of thousands of women and children in Palestine and Lebanon.. your just a lame ni jafa b bot who hasn’t a vote in the Republic …. But ya will in the future ;).
@honey badger: alleged rape victim. The actual court of law to establish that allegation was ended by the alleged victim walking away from that court. So neither myself nor yourself know the truth or not behind the allegations.
@honey badger: it is your hypocrisy (which I have highlighted several times, which is found repugnant
@North Phone Bowe: Another nordie shinner wades in to impune a rape victim. https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/mairia-cahill-i-welcome-apology-from-ni-dpp-for-mishandling-of-allegations-of-sexual-abuse/31245255.html
@honey badger: I told you previously I don’t read or reply to any of your comments. I only respond when you jump in with your typically clumsy ad homimens. It goes like this: I criticise a politician/ party – you attack me. (The only comment you’ve left me that I recall was your infuriation at me outlining that Clare daly and Mick Wallace had voted against an EU parliament motion critical of Iran executing children. I provided the EU vote reference number, etc, so others could confirm the details and judge for themselves. You accused me of misinformation, etc. You’re a that sort of clown. If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone here. There’s a great many big babies that throw their toys out of the pram when Sinn Fein are asked to account for their behaviour.
@honey badger: your moral settings work for Ukraine but not for Palestinian children
@Michael o Dwyer: Persumably, with your vaulting morals, you’ll be only too ready to strongly criticise McDonald imputing a rape victim? I mean, you’re not doing a ‘brian’ and shooting the messenger while throwing in a bit of deflection? Surely not, michael?
@honey badger: I impugned no one. Merely stated the fact that neither of us know the truth. But I’m never arrogant enough as you as to state my opinions as facts, without evidence. So again you make false allegations. BTW I’m in Donegal which is indeed the most northernly county. Ty for the geography lesson.
@DT Walsh: Nope! No child fiddlers thank you. After that last scandal are you serious? I also don’t want a United Ireland and all the trouble they intend to stir. But I think I will vote for someone pro hard border and pro Irish so definitely not them and their flip flopping ways.
@F1rYnpWc: SF are not pro Irish people at all no thanks! I would like someone who wants less immigration and putting Irish needs first so not SF
@Michael o Dwyer: What about Irish children? People voting for other country’s kids not their own country’s kids is crazy
@DT Walsh: Yeah especially if you vote SF because how will you get an A&E spot will all the migrants they want in?
@Michale Kane: this the slurs people get to face in a ‘New Ireland’ Mickeybo?
@Paul Linehan: I’m well aware how it works.
@Michale Kane: You care more about other countries than your own and that’s the problem
@Vincent Alexander: Obviously you’re not Vinny :-#
@honey badger: I’m stating what I have picked up from your previous statements on this site
@Beachvibe: my comment has nothing to do with voting for anything. I was asking honey badger about his hypocritical statements.
@DT Walsh: yes DT- only a vote for SF will guarantee real change.
@DT Walsh: That was donkeys years ago. Sure you might as well mention the Labour Party”s Emmet Stagg who was caught with a male prostitute in the Phoenix Park. And of course there was a senior FF politician who was charged with sexually assaulting a young woman.
And of course you (deliberately) haven’t mentioned the babies that were murdered and trafficked under the watch of FF – FG and Labour, or, the women who were enslaved and the children who were sexually assaulted, raped and murdered. over for decades.
People, glass houses and all of that
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/irish-minister-set-to-survive-scandal-1427878.html
@DT Walsh: And what about all of the victims that were created under FFGL’s watch? Are you choosing to ignore that? Emmet Stag – Labour caught with a male prostitute in his car in the Phoenix Park, or the senior FF politician who was prosecuted for sexually assaulting a young woman? NO? Didn’t think so and that makes you a hypocrite with a selective memory.
@Honey Badger my response above was for you, not DT Walsh. There’s something up with the comments section because when I responded to you, it tagged DT Walsh.
@DT Walsh – sorry about that, the comment section seems to have a bug.
@honey badger: good old hor
After 100 years of FFG cronyism and looking after the 1% vested interests, Sinn Fein more than deserve a chance at a fairer and more balanced Ireland for everyone
@Kevin O Brien: Tired of prosperity. Then vote for change to 100 years of left wing poverty.
@thomas molloy: The only ones to prosper over the last ten years has been vulture funds, BAM and the contractors of the OPW. The rest of us just picked up the tab.
@Kevin O Brien: with what looks like circa 50% not bothering to vote, it appears half the electorate are happy with status quo
Vótáil Sinn Féin. We have a chance to end FG’s chaos in government. Cost of living is far worse than what it was 5 years ago, homeownership has become fund-ownership, rents are a runaway, FG’s immigration has been a disaster that cannot continue, they done noting for Carers and disability services, they emigrated our youth, and FG promised to give half a billion to landlords if elected. We can now put ordinary workers first, and return to homeownership. Let’s change this chaotic government. Vótáil Sinn Fein.
@Dave G Doe: living in the past …not good for you, “yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift..that’s why they call it the present!”…
@Dave G Doe: So you’ll be voting SF and transferring to socdems in that case? FFG is pure evil, and has left our youth out to dry without homes or hope for the future.
@Michele Milne: He is completely correct SF are evil pedos
@Dave G Doe: SF are finished Mary Lou getting her P45 from the Army Council bosses next week.
@F1rYnpWc: what do you think of your party’s no cap to illegal immigrants? Can you answer or must you get clearance first.
@K O: since when did FFFG have a cap?
@Eoin .h: I want change but if a party is following the government stance on this issue as well as other issues like the 2 referenda back in March, what’s the point in voting for the same, so independents all the way.
@F1rYnpWc: See SF’s record in Northern Ireland and it is worse. Their only achievement is a few bilingual street signs to stir the pot of sectarianism.
@K O: if you read SF’s immigration policy on their website you will see that’s not true, they have a firm approach to immigration. While FG and FF have NO policy on immigration. We seen how they had no response to that. Inds stand for a variety of issues, not immigration.
@Vincent Alexander: SF in NI have Cost of Living far cheaper. House prices are more than half the price. Rents far cheaper. Unemployment only 1.9%. As I highlighted to you before. If you know who you’re voting for, that’s fine. Vote away.
@Sean Stevenson: SF are in government in NI. There the lowest number of house were built in 2023 since 1958. Don’t give the DUP as the excuse. SF will need a coalition partner to go into government here.
@Vincent Alexander: ‘don’t give the DUP as an excuse’. Meanwhile, there was no minister in charge of housing during 2023 because DUP refused to go into government because they lost to Sinn Fein.
@F1rYnpWc: Watching high profile SF TDs holding up “Refugees welcome” placards as well as their proposal to give immigrants a special status shows that they endorse the ethnocide policies of FFG/g. Until SF lose Mary Lou then look after their supporters nobody should give them a vote. They have been woeful in opposition, supported this FFG/g cabal in referendums, supported illegal immigrants overrunning the working class areas.
@Gerry Lamont: not that there is anything wrong in the slightest with people holding placards that say “refugees welcome”, in fact it would make me more likely to vote for them, those images have been repeatedly debunked as false
@Gerry Lamont: was it not FG Simon Harris who said that there is not such thing as an “illegal” immigrant as all immigrants are legally allowed to seek asylum with or without documents. It was at his sit down interview.
@Michele Milne: In the present SF just had a child fiddler scandal. That’s your preference is it?
@Beachvibe: dun do bheal le do thoil!
@F1rYnpWc: The only reason housing, cost of living etc are cheaper in the North is because it is part of the British economy. SF squander part of the subvention from Westminster to Irish instead of the likes of health care, pollution and infrastructure.
@F1rYnpWc: No
@Trump24: says the living coward who hides behind a fake profile spewing bile full time on the internet…haha Up Sinn Fein
@Kevin Kerr: everything he says is false…a hide and seek waster troll he is
@Jb Walshe: like all the Does , badly need to insert a P on the multiple accounts , better off getting a job , bet it’s a dole buster
@F1rYnpWc: ” I will always chose good over evil”. So you don’t consider the tens of thousands of babies and children who were kidnapped, trafficked, raped and murder, or the enslavement of women, all under the watch of FF and FG, as evil, but what happened to MC is, do I have that right? Hypocritical much??
@Dave G Doe: Sinn Féin’s last has Republican violence in it yes. But FF and FG have the state sanctioned locking up of unwed mothers, institutional sexual abuse, burying of dead babies in septic tanks and selling off live babies to America.
If you want to claim historical moral superiority read about all the history of this island
@F1rYnpWc: your a clown if u believe SF are your saviour
Today folks you can vote for change, or vote for more of the same. Housing disaster, homeless levels at all time highs, a government that treats an essential fabric of society, housing, as an investment product rather than what it is, a home. A government that has hoodwinked homeowners into believing your house value is the only way to build wealth, when in the rest of the world, investing in equities/stocks is the way to build wealth, but taxes are too prohibitively high here for that. Vote ANYBODY but FFG, vote all the way down the ballot and give them no preference. Get rid of the FFG rent trap, which will cause the collapse of the public pension because housing being this expensive is causing a demographic timebomb – young people cannot afford a house, nevermind starying a family.
@Sean Stevenson: A vote for SF is a vote for the party that is run from Northern Ireland and celebrates the killing of our poor Garda not to mention rampant child protection issues. Only people voting for SF are traitors to Ireland.
@Trump24: If you’re looking at it from a historical lens mate, FFG is far, far worse. Who let the church have unfettered access to our children? Who let the Magdalene laundries run unhindered in our state? All FFG. You FFGers love to call out the past while remaining ignorant to your own. Look at it from a
modern lens, FFGs performance is abysmal. The waste of our prosperity, the continued emigration of our youth. Vote ANYBODY but FFG. Don’t like SF? Vote socdems.
@Sean Stevenson: wokey Holly who would displace Irish people in favour of immigrants
@Sean Stevenson: Sorry mate I want my country run by an Irish party not the UK based SF/IRA Army council Sona strong no to SF from me. As for the Social Democrates absolutely not they are absolutely pointless and a waste of a vote.
@Trump24: Have you ever heard of Charlie Haughey, Gun runner for the IRA. They were all involved, including the poor gardai.
@Sean Stevenson: You are wasting your time responding to that turnip.
@Sean Stevenson: Nope Independent Ireland. No hard leaning anti Irish lefties
@Trump24: yeah stay in the past!…I come from a family of gardai grew up with the uniform I’ve been voting SF 20 odd years AND IM NO TRAITOR!!!! I’m sick of cruption lies and taking what’s not there’s stealing from us not giving a ounce of thought for the homeless its regrading!, i grew up with the troubles but i dont hold grudges thats no way to move forward its the the likes of you who keep this hateful spiteful past going i work hard and why should I let this lot back in everyone deserves a chance absolutely hate this country and the way it’s gone and that’s because of the government who runs it now!! Now run along and hid under your little Rock!!….
@Sean Stevenson: ‘… housing, as an investment …’
Irish ‘people’ did that and are still doing it, and governements facilitated and encouraged it, aided by a wild west banking system.
If Irish society doesn’t look at itself honestly, nothing will ever change.
@Sean Stevenson: The Magdalene laundries and the RC in charge of education is a legacy from a former of bunch of the IRA. They bombed and shot their way to freedom with no idea how the country was to be financed. Like a dog running after a car. When it stops he doesn’t know what to do with it. Lifts his leg and walks away. The peace route was the way to go.
@Vincent Alexander: the boats leave Dublin docks every couple of hours,off you go and enjoy bowing down to your big eared king over there.goodbye mr alexander
Perks of city living. Woke up at 07h35. Walked to the polling station, voted Left, transferred Left, walked home. Home by 07h45.
Vote early, vote often
@Dave G Doe: it’s friday most people work from home in our modern hybrid work society, but being an FFG voter I wouldn’t expect you to be able to think critically lol
@Sean Stevenson: It’s FFG who bruin working from home!
@Dave G Doe: normal workday starts at 9:00 for me, but thanks for the concern!
@Rua Rogan: Interesting ratio of 8:1 on pro SF comments. If representative of voters SF should be home with an overall majority. More like the Cumann whip is looking to manipulate social media.
@Vincent Alexander: yeah and they running snatch squads all day to stop people liking your comments lol …
@Vincent Alexander: And using clever ploy of allowing all those nasty vile comments, from the Trump/FFG trolls and the lies from the Orange Order trolls like yourself and the Badger, as a double agent spy type thing lol.
Vote anyone but FFG..
I just did .. happy election day everybody.. :)
2015 Simon says “NCH had an estimated cost of €650m and a completion date of 2020”.
2017 Simon says “It will open in 2021”.
2018 Simon denies “that spending on the planned new hospital was out of control” after Irish Times revealed cost was now about €1.4 billion.
Feb 2019 Simon says to Oireachtas committee that NCH at 1.4 billion “does represent good value for money”.
Feb 2019 Simon apologies to the Dail for missleading about the huge inncrease in cost of NCH.
Apr 2019 Simon says he will implement the 11 Major PWC review recomendations on the NCH.
Jun 2024 Simon says the Gov commits to Covid inquiry before next general election.
2024 Simon says NCH will cost at least 2.2 Billion and might be complete in 2026 meaning as before, give or take billions and years.
Oct/Nov 2024 Simon plays silly games about date of election and disrespects the Irish voters, then continues to show his true colours, while continuing to take no accountability or responsibility for his own actions and failures.
Never forget fianna fail who gave away our multi billion corrib Gas field for free to Shell Oil
Never forget fianna Fail who gave us the forever house tax and forever USC charge
@Kevin O Brien: free my ar*e. What agreement was made in the meeting, where FF minister dismissed all others, recorded no notes, yet on his own bat signed that contract????
Bye bye Cabbage Heads, you’ve had your day and effed up ours.
No thought for the pensioner whatsoever and more air miles than Ryanair and Aer Lingus put together!!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Using such a childish nickname is reflective of your lack of intelligence.
@Sun Rise: I’ll guarantee my level of intelligence is streets ahead of yours. Getting bitter now because your days are over. At least I don’t hide behind a nom de plume!!
FG is the party of austerity. FF brought the country to its knees. Sinn Féin are getting my vote today. Enough of this FFG charade while they sell the country to the highest bidder. Votáil Sinn Féin.
@Anthony Curran: SF are the Garda Killers celebration party that likes to fiddle with poor kids. Its a strong no from me.
@Anthony Curran: The child fiddler party who also want more immigrants and to start war with UK over united Ireland? No thanks!
@Anthony Curran: Good luck with that
@Beachvibe: are you on drugs??
I’ve voted early, SF number 1
@Robert Daly: who cares how you vote.
@Beachvibe: singular. And its up to the minister for justice to issue a 10€ fine for that. What party is the justice minister with?
@Philip Kennedy: amazing comment. You should be so proud of your little self
@Philip Kennedy: to answer your little question, the 304 people who liked the comment
@Philip Kennedy: U must when u bothered to comment
Don’t give FFG the chance to join up and fool us again
@Kevin O Brien: This is more serious than college politics games. We have taken 100 to climb out of post colonial poverty why out of boredom with prosperity vote for enslavement poverty change. “A new study has shown that Ireland has the highest quality of life compared to other countries in Europe.
The study, carried out by lifestyle magazine Dailybase, analysed 12 factors to determine which European countries have the best quality of life, including unemployment rate, access to healthcare, cost of living, and salary.
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Learn more
Ireland scored the highest, with a score of 73.72 out of 100.
Ireland’s GDP was 11.97 in 2022, 354 per cent higher than the European average, while the divorce rate was just 0.6 per 1,000 people.
In second place was Norway.”
@thomas molloy: FFG is like the arrogant controlling partner in a relationship. Making great money but partner and children are living on a pittance, barely existing. While the dominant one likes to wine and dine his select circle of sycophants. Bragging on how well he is doing and flashing his wealth. We are those children and partner and today is divorce day. Do you want to stay with empty promises of change or are you going to take that step you know you need for your own and children’s sake. Vote SF followed by those who will help deliver that change.
@Kevin O Brien: so u don’t been fooled by the left gang
The last crowd really killed bulk buying houses by funds with that 10% stamp duty.
Vote SF the island of Ireland needs change, that’s it now Ireland awaits its future.
@Phillip Smyth: Nope vote Independent Ireland. We dont need SF a party who defend child fiddlers, care more about immigrants than their own and want to start war with UK over united Ireland. Nope
@Phillip Smyth: God love u
A Chairde. Get out and Vote. Men and women of Ireland fought and died for your freedom and right to vote. Freedom isn’t Free. Honour those that sacrificed all, while having nothing. Today you have it all, think of those left behind and with nothing. Be kind, be generous, be proudly Irish and never forget….
Enda ran away, Leo ran away, Simon always says it wasn’t him, Dee on the Sick, Eamo on the lamb, posse of others off into taxpayer funded sunsets…
NCH 2.2 Billion and increasing…
RTE 750 Million…
Security Hut 550,000…
Bike Shed 336,000….
No money to fix a leaky school roof !.
@Michael Collins: not hard to know who u follow & nobody need u to tell them how to vote people are very well informed I would not want anyone to tell me how to vote I would do otherwise
@Sheila McNulty: I didn’t tell anyone nor you who to vote for ya pillock .. but I seriously urge ya to heed your doctor’s advice and lay off the daytime vino ;)
@Michael Collins: Should we think of the families who have had their loved ones callously murdered by SF/IRA? Should we never forget them?
@Michael Collins: The figures you quoted above don’t compare to the prices paid by families who have had their loved ones murdered by SF/IRA.
@Michael Collins: pal, I think if the men and women who fought for this country and your right to vote could see it today……
Trump/FG/FF Troll Alert….
Available options for muting.
The Doe Family aka Paul/Mick/Dave.
Trump24 (obviously)
Frank/Kevy
The Jim Family aka Faded/Jaded/Tired..
@Michale Kane: pathetic individuals
@Michale Kane: I have to assume you have no issue with SF trolls? Maybe you are one?
ANYONE THAT VOTES FOR HARRIS, MARTIN,O GORMAN, HELEN, FOLEY .PASCAL NEEDS A SEROUS BOOT IN THE BACKSIDE
@M G: Think you could do with that yourself
@Kevin Kerr
Reported.
@Dan Murphy: For telling the truth?
@Dan Murphy: I’m glad to see that The Journal don’t share your view
@Kevin Kerr: should be Kevin K unt
@DC: the far right, charming as ever
14,760 homeless in the month of October. New numbers released at 2pm today. Vote for change, these numbers are disgusting
@Philip Gallagher: Many of them are because people are voting to take more migrants in Sir. Deportations are needed for this small island to survive.
@Beachvibe: Wise up. The government is at the wheel. They made the decisions to end eviction bans. They have failed us all
@Philip Gallagher: Yeah but whoever chooses to vote left does this to us
@Beachvibe: I wish I had the crystal ball you have, but the fact is, the future is unknown. What we do know, is what has happened in the lifetime of this government, and this government has failed on every front. People want change. We wanted change in the last election too. The two undemocratic parties FG and FF would not respect the electorate and would not talk to Sinn Fein. Disrespecting 34% of voters. This time round, change will happen. Change is needed
@Philip Gallagher: so no homeless if we change Government Your delusional
The Government has not failed on every front The country is doing great & we are the envy of many countries look no further than accross the water, Yes there are problems Housing, Health services Immigration so no matter who was in it would be the same Houses are being built all around the country it will take more time we had way over 100,000 people come into Our Country so schools, Hospitals, Dr Practices & of course Covid everything was effected so don’t tell me the last 4 years would be any different if someone else was in power & i am not staunch any party
@Sheila McNulty: I have a 7 year old Autistic child who is still waiting on a Speech and language appointment. I’m not staunch any party either, but I’m done listening to the excuses this government makes. Whatever government we have next has a massive job to do and won’t be fixed overnight, but this shower is way out of its depth. It’s indefensible
@Sheila McNulty: Did I say that?
Just counts as one vote , same as rest of us. They may do f all and get paid a shyte ton of money but it just counts as one vote…
The same neck and neck hype codology as the US election?
If people want change they have the power to do it but they won’t there too afraid of change they will vote the same partys back in power.the Irish people have no balls
@Glen Kelly: I feel many Irish enjoy self sabotage and self destruction. Many will vote to bring MORE migrants in due to their own thickness
I had my constituency labour candidate call to me last week all excited saying they would be kingmakers in the next daily, he said most likely government will be FF fg labour, I said I won’t be helping that happen.
Glad I brought a pen when voting, I wouldn’t put anything past them.
@Maire Hicks: Nuts
@Maire Hicks: don’t be so daft
Let’s hope Independents and smaller Parties do well and the larger Parties get a kicking.
I’ll vote some independents, smaller parties and SF. A lot of independents were in FFG
@F1rYnpWc: Mary Lou was in FF. ;)
@F1rYnpWc: As an employee of SF you will vote who you are told to vote for
@honey badger: When they had their own identity. They are one of two cheeks of the same arse now.
@honey badger: what better way of learning you never want to be anywhere again than visiting it.
@Paul Linehan: like Mehole and Mearris
Don’t ever forget Vicki Phelan the smear test scandal, the constant tax increases l, the constant rise in interest rates, the overspend on the hospital, these people are taking us for fools, the mass immigration of unvetted men, the list is endless it’s time for a change
@paul dutton: maybe look across the water, the constant rise in interest rates The Government does not set interest rates surely u would know that,
Christ it is dispiriting looking up at that character but happily think i made better use of the ballot paper than I did with even the last GE where undemocratic tactics by the establishment returned fg ff instead of FF SF – Boyd barrett and also ruth coppinger ignored the chaps I once knew that asked why they didn’t condemn an assault that happened at a PBP meeting the person attacked was Stephen Kerr. This means that violence is acceptable to them depending on the ideology or politics involved. Coppinger arrogantly said after ‘why WOULD I speak to you?’ she should marry into fine Gael and keep plugging her bpb / independents 4 change ideas that just don’t gain momentum in a centre right country. I suppose she could always marry John mcgahan, that would make more sense?! I voted in support of the many different kinds of disenfranchised people I’ve met especially after COVID, people who took their lives & others who suffer. Many elderly went out today to vote for people who keep them in their suffering so I’m glad I gave them a thought.
Independents all the way, no transfers for the liebour party or woke Holly!
@K O: Surely you’ll be voting for some small far-right parties?
@Brendan O’Brien: if you read it slowly it will say independents, quite simple
@Brendan O’Brien: Better than the latter which is the far left
@K O: liebour? New party is it?
@Philip Kennedy: that’s their new name they lie to the electorate each election hence liebour,,,where have you been??
Cnn calls Harris the tik tok Taoiseach! Should only be in counting down the days to him vanishing like the previous coward Leo!! Knowing what he’s said behind their backs is worse, voted today to make a difference and that means nothing to Fg FF
Finally, get out and vote. None of us will agree with the outcome for many reasons, but it’s important. No voting cards arrived to us, but I checked the register yesterday, and it confirmed we are all on it and told us what room to vote in ……polling station is bigger now.
Game of golf first though.
Well, that’s me done 3 independents and Aontu.
@Dan Murphy: Well done. I will be doing the same at lunchtime.
No vote for SF today
@Tired Jim: Hope you’ll be voting social democrats in that case, voting FFG is like insanity, doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
@Sean Stevenson: I will be voting for FG and FF for continued prosperity and stability
@Tired Jim: You look tired of FFG Jim
@Sean Stevenson: no to wokey Holly
@Tired Jim: You mean the 2 mortal enemies who have been fighting each other for a 100 years until SF came on the scene? This action alone besides all the other scandals is enough to tell me FFG are a disgrace and a pack of liars.
@Tired Jim: Yeah prosperity and stability for you. Poverty, emigration and no chance of a home for the majority of us.
Typical wealthy “I’m alright Jack” FFG voter. You’re the height of pure selfishness. I hope you get a well deserved shock after this election.
@Tired Jim: and increased homelessness also.
Vote sensibly…and vote Aontu. Get much needed honest voices in the Dail.
@JP: Peader was caught out spreading lies just the other day
@Dermot Blaine: is that u again
Are there that many genuine politicians that can make a difference or is it just the usual broken promises from a bunch of power hungry narcissists ?
Voted. Took pleasure in not voting for far right candidate and also the local loon elected to council in summer elections. Remember the Irish made this country the way it is. Don’t buy the scapegoating of immigrants on offer (re-heated rhetoric that Irish emigrants were greeted with previously).
@Numinous20111: Well said.
@Numinous20111: Your advanced virtue signalling badge is in the post
@Numinous20111: It reads like common sense to me.
@Brendan O’Brien: €1.25 has been deposited to your account. Thank you.
@Daniel Killeen: apparently it’s virtue signalling to hold the government who have made a hames of the system and not ordinary people, go figure!
Only the polls suggest that it wil be neck and neck..
Better wait for the exit polls the make a suggestion like that.
@hans vos: exit poll 5,000 not very good example
Just voted a few minutes ago… very sad to see how little in the way of choice I had!! Ain’t going to knock any party or politician but surely we can do better than this crop!!
Gangsters only in it 4 themselves michael healy Ray a prime example the ritches landlord in the dail
Gerry Hutch our next leader….
A very exciting day! Then 2 weeks to count all the votes…a ridiculous system.
@Basildon Joe: absolutely not. The most fair in the world.
@Concerned Driver: people do not understand the implications of their 2nd,3rd,4th vote etc..look how varadkar crept in on this and the damage he caused.
@Basildon Joe: that was a result of deliberate tactics by FG to split the vote and try to get 2 candidates in. It happens, all the time. I’m amazed by the ignorance displayed on social media and on here of how our electoral system actually works.
@Dermot Blaine: a very flawed system.
@Basildon Joe: In the UK, the polls close and they start counting straight away, some areas even have an official result within an hour or two! In Ireland, the polls close, and everyone goes home to bed, with some results taking weeks to come in. I know which system I prefer!!
@Colin Howard: it’s a different system. God the level of ignorance on here is scary
@Colin Howard: who minds the votes overnight?
@Basildon Joe: flawed how? It gives huge power to the voters compared to FPTP or list systems
@Sean Hayes: Yes I’m aware it’s a different system. Doesn’t mean we can’t start counting straight away though!
@K O: The Lizard People, then they change all the votes to Marxist candidates, I heard about it on Infowars.
@Jacintha: K O has clearly been studying the Trump/Bannon playbook.
@Basildon Joe: it’s not perfect but it’s one of the fairest systems out there. Proportional representation means all opinions are represented in the Dail. In the UK Labour had a landsilde and have a huge Commons majority with 35% of the vote. That system here would mean permanent FFG. Which is why FF twice tried to get rid of our PR system in referendums
@Concerned Driver:
Massive congratulations to the Government returning and keeping the pedo SF party out.
@Trump24: FFG/Magdalene laundries have a far more sinister, disgusting history. Who let the catholic church rule Ireland?
@Sean Stevenson: SF they are the pedo party
@Sean Stevenson: well, if you read up a bit on church/state relations, on censorship and moral issues through the early decades of the state, you’ll find SF very much cowed to the Church as well, just as much as the other parties.
@Dermot Blaine: Who was in power and allowed them unfettered access to our children? FFG.
@Dave G Doe: nice one liking your own comment there dave lol, typical FFGer high fiving himself.
@Trump24: FFG were in power for 100 years of systematic institutional sexual abuse and have shoved the victims compensation bill on to the working man/ woman similar to the banks /developer bail out bill
@Demot Blaine: Yes, it is fanciful to imagine that things would have been any better if SF were in power. It was the Irish people who elected the politicians, and they were ultimately responsible. The Republican Movement has a history dotted with Nazi collaboration, anti-Semitism, Catholic fundamentalism, cover-ups of child abuse and, of course, the heinous murder of any civilians who got in its way or were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
@Kevin O Brien: SF are the Garda killer celebrating pedo party run from Belfast its a strong no from me.
@Sean Stevenson: and SF would have been no different, is my point. Anyway SF were more focused on underming the state in that period, even working with the nazis to that end.
Turnout is low so far. Get out and vote. If you don’t, you can’t moan about the result that you had no input on
When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.
I just voted there in my constituency. I gave my number one vote to Alan Shatter and I ranked no one else because they were all as bad as each other. We are screwed up the creek without a paddle no matter who gets into power. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Fein all hold an ideological hegemony over politics here in this country. They are all part of the Socialist establishment which work hand in hand with the NGOs to push their left-wing economic and social policies across the country. There isn’t a single party on the right in the Dáil and as a result, there is only arguments about how much taxpayer money to be spent, no whether it should be spent in the first place.
@Frank O’Hara: You lost the room at ‘Alan Shatter’ lol..
@Frank O’Hara: from what I have read you should vote all the way down. If you only vote for one person you potentially are reducing the quota so more of a chance of someone you don’t want getting elected.
@Sal Paradise: Firstly, I love On the Road too so I tip my hat to your username. Secondly, I hate all of the parties running in my constituency equally. They all offer the same stale left-wing ideas that have caused the major problems in our country. Alan Shatter is literally the only candidate who I reached out to via email who had the respect to respond personally to me and gave me a clear outline of his policies. He wants to abolish inheritance and property taxes, privatise some of the HSE services in order to dismantle the bureaucracy, enforce the immigration laws on the books so that illegal immigrants can be deported, strongly supports Ukraine and Israel, end the nonsensical “Net Zero” targets and double the number of Garda officers on the beat. All of those are things I support.
@Michale Kane: Why? He’s the only candidate in my constituency who is speaking common sense and has some very good policy proposals and not just the same of left-wing nonsense of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Fein.
@Frank O’Hara: She is a paid SF propaganda Belfast based shill ignore her.
@Sal Paradise: the quota is not affected by how far down the ballot paper you vote. The quota is calculated as the total number of first preferences votes cast divided by( number of seats plus 1), and adding 1 to the result
@Trump24: youre a sleazy defamer gombeen
@Sal Paradise: incorrect, by giving the number 1,2 3 or how many you want to mark, your are increasing the transfer potential , by only marking a 1 or 2 depending on your voting stance. You limited how your the transfers go
@Michale Kane: People can vote for who they want to and your ‘room’ means nothing. How intolerant you are of democracy.
FF 48ish
SF 40ish
FG 35ish
Rest 50ish
1. Mick O’Leary
2. Roy Keane
3. Graham Norton
If only …
Just back from voting FG 1 and FF 2. Government returned 100%
@Trump24: Who did you vote as ? Trump24 or one of the Mr DOEnuts …. lol
@Michale Kane: Well just myself thanks no idea who the other person. How is your last day in the SF propaganda dept in Belfast going? Will the army council issue formal stand down orders tonight or tomorrow for you??
@Trump24: How can you say that you support the policies of Donald Trump when you openly profess that you just gave your number 1 and number 2 vote to a left-wing party? Is it because you promised you more welfare handouts from taxpayer money?
@Frank O’Hara: Wow Frank interesting that even with all the information you call FG left wing they are centre right and FF are centre left so try and keep up.
@Trump24: No they are no you left-wing stooge. You are voting for the very same policies that Donald Trump opposes and yet you are literally called Trump24! Open borders which allow illegal immigration, heavy inheritance and property tax hikes, wacky environmental policies like “Net Zero” and the carbon tax, abortion up until birth, LGBT indoctrination in schools, allowing men with dresses in the same changing rooms and bathrooms as my daughter, minimum wage hikes which hurt businesses, rent control, price controls, restricting the right to own firearms and increased welfare handouts + the removal of means testing. You are a very dumb person if you think that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are anything but left-wing. You’ve just given your no 1 and no 2 vote to a shower of Socialist clowns.
@Frank O’Hara: Go on Frank who did you vote for. We could all do with a laugh kid.
@Trump24: Sounds like someone is triggered! I voted Alan Shatter number 1 and no one else. Shatter was the only candidate who had the decency to personally respond to me when I emailed him about his policies proposals. He supports abolishing inheritance and property taxes, privatising some of the HSE services and reducing their administrative bureaucracy by firing at least 15% of the healthcare civil servants, ending the “Net Zero” targets and the carbon tax, abolishing rent control across the country, ending price controls on childcare, doubling the number of Garda officers on the beat and strongly supporting Israel and Ukraine. He’s a proper authentic right-wing candidate with common sense that I’m proud to vote for.
@Trump24: no one even liking your comments , says it all , Troll24
@Frank O’Hara: Ha ha thanks for the laugh absolutely hilarious. You made my evening. He is an absolute clown with zero chance if getting elected. I went to school with him and was a fruit cake even then.
@Trump24: Typical woke tool. Common sense right-wing policies offend you so you resort to insulting the individual because you can’t attack their policies. Alan Shatter is a brilliant man who has a great vision. The only fruitcake around here is you for voting for the eejits of Fine Gael.
We should make it compulsory to vote, like the Australians do. If your able bodied and in good heath, there is no reason not to be able to cast as vote, exemptions for people who may have to overnite stay for work. But we should be in the 70-80 percent for voting turnout
@James Brennan: Doesn’t make sense to me to make it mandatory to vote in a democratic election. Voting is a privilege. If someone chooses not to vote then so be it, It’s their choice so respect it.
Why waste a vote on Sinn Fein, their bad eggs & nobody will touch ‘em anyway?
Kudos again to the Journal fact checkers for calling out the blatant far right misinformation published on theliberal.ie. Vote left
@Kevin Kerr: So those 200 lads are seasonal workers, what about the hundreds a week coming in on buses and planes? Kudos for not showing us those eh kev? Zilch reports on those until the locals see the buses pull up in the dead of night. Such a loyal little bottom feeder you are Kevin, kudos to you indeed.
@Freda Peeple: you make no sense – asylum seekers numbers are freely available, just look them up on line. This fact check is about misinformation pushed by people who have an anti migrant agenda, but it seems you have no problem with this. And ffs, cut out the personal insults, will ya
@Kevin Kerr: Apologies for the insults but you get on my nerves at times. We have polar opposite views on what’s happening to our country and Europe in General.
@Freda Peeple: you came out swinging today haha. Apology accepted, thanks
@Kevin Kerr: I mean well underneath all the abuse haha
@Freda Peeple: music unites us!
Think it ends up something like FF 46 seats, SF 44 seats , FG 36 seats.
FG , FF and SD go in to gov and they have a deal with a number of ex FF/FG independents.
SF would want to be polling at 27-30% to lead the gov.
@John Purcell: Fg FF together again following what they’ve said and done, a d the undemocratic behaviour in 2020 is totally unacceptable.
“Tik Tok Taoiseach (does anybody actually call him that ?)” You’d have to serious question the journalist and their detachment from what’s going on to ask that question.. Yes they do ffs !
So if the exit poll is right it’s FF, FG, and maybe one other
I thought it was illegal to take photos in polling stations?
@Dermot Blaine: It’s not
@Sean Hayes: the guy on news last night from the electoral commission said it was, maybe he meant just in the actual booth?
gas. thought they were supposed to ask for ID? was able to vote 3 times for myself and two family members.
@Niall English: no, they’re entitled to ask, I’ve never been asked
have your say