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GE2024RIRAFORMER FIANNA FÁIL minister and candidate for Limerick Willie O’Dea has claimed Helen McEntee was the “worst Minister for Justice in the history of the State”.
His claims came after Fine Gael leader Simon Harris told reporters that while he understands elections are competitive, he does not intend to take part in any so-called “ruaille buaille” between his party and Fianna Fáil.
A war of words has broken out between the two coalition partners over policy disagreements and political stances during the opening weeks of the campaign as the parties seek to distance themselves from one another ahead of polling day.
Asked if Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would end their public disagreements, in the context of a poll by the Irish Times today that found the majority of voters wanted to see both parties re-enter government together, Harris said what counted more was earning votes.
The Taoiseach said that while there was “only one poll that counts”, he was not interested in re-writing history during the campaign. He said that both parties worked well together in government and that he was proud of the coalition that they built.
“What I’ll certainly be doing for the next number of days is not engaging in ruaille buaille, but actually putting forward our policies and our visions,” he told reporters in Kerry, adding that he wanted to outline Fine Gael’s plans as a new leader in this election.
He added: “‘I’ m certainly trying to maximize the Fine Gael vote in this election, maximize the number of seats my party can win. I’m really excited about having a prospect of regenerating my party – that doesn’t come up that often.
“We have many new candidates, with lots of different backgrounds, running and then let’s see where the results of the people take us.”
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin shared the view that the only poll that counted was the results of the election but added that the public want a “strong government” that can last a full term.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the disagreements between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael was a “sham battle” and was not “fooling anyone”.
“It’s a bit laughable,” she said in Galway today. “I don’t think anybody buys it. I don’t think anybody buys the sham battle between Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.
“They’ve been bed buddies for a very, very long time – in fact, I think they were caught today kissing and making up,” she added, referring to RTÉ News cameras catching the moment that the two leaders met on the street in Co Kerry this afternoon.
Both parties have put forward very similar policies to increase pensions to €350 per week and to scrap the means test on the carers’ allowance. But candidates have clashed over financial policies and the justice ministry.
This week the justice minister Helen McEntee defended claims by Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan that the backbencher did the heavy lifting for her on particular pieces of legislation during the term in government.
McEntee dismissed the allegations and claimed she knew what it felt like for men to claim the work of women. She accused O’Callaghan of turning down a junior ministerial role in the department while McEntee turned up “day in, day out”.
Fianna Fáil are seeking to take over the justice ministry, if in government after the election. O’Callaghan said the country needs a “sense of urgency” to fix issues such as crime and justice, that he claims Fine Gael could not resolve.
In a social media post today, former junior justice minister Willie O’Dea said that he believed Fianna Fáil needed to take over the justice ministry and it was his opinion that McEntee was the “worst Minister for Justice in the history of the State”.
“Neighbourhoods have literally gone to hell with anti-social behaviour,” the veteran TD claimed, adding that the minister spent too much time on “woke issues” rather than protecting citizens.
Speaking yesterday, McEntee said it was her desire to return to her position as justice minister with Harris as Taoiseach. She added that anything beyond that was a matter for after the election.
“And I think anything beyond that is simply arrogant,” she added.
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Stay Free, No Vote For McEntee.
@087 bed: I agree entirely mate, we McEntees are a strange bunch. Vote no to the far left!
@087 bed: FG are the only option :)
Not one word about International Men’s Day.
@Eric Gaffney: I suppose some sexes are more equal than others.
@Eric Gaffney: oh, here ya go….HAPPY INTERNATIONAL MENS DAY!!!
@Eric Gaffney: What are you doing to celebrate?
@Frank Mc Carthy: Thanks Frank. That’s very nice.
@david mcentee: Lots of detail there David. David?
@Louis Jacob: You got me, I’m the man!
@david mcentee: “One in 10, apparently. That seems a bit high. You might be. If you are, good luck to you. Just make sure it’s legal and be safe”… DB
@Brendan O’Brien: Well I’m getting the Ouija board out Brennie.
@Brendan O’Brien: Having a wank.
@Brendan O’Brien: What do women do?.
It’s funny to watch you Irish liberals, you fought for centuries and now………
@Eric Gaffney: You are a strange man. Get some help.
@Ger Whelan: the dishes lol
@Eric Gaffney: As a man, I couldn’t care less about International Men’s Day or any other day dedicated to some namby pamby bs cause
If voting made a difference they wouldn’t let you do it.
Mark Twain.
@Brendan O’Brien:
The last resort of the desperate, quoting the ‘factcheckers’, those guardians of the status quo!
@Jonn: I thought you guys love facts. It seems in reality you only like facts that don’t trigger you.
@Jonn: Facts are the last resort of the desperate? Trump and Putin have really got to you.
@Brendan O’Brien:
Here’s a fact even your beloved ‘factcheckers’ couldn’t dispute..Trump won by a comfortable margin despite years of open hostility by the corporate media and the bureaucratic establishment, and Putin has survived in power for so long because a clear majority of Russians admire and support him! Say I’m wrong!
@Jonn: ‘Trump and Putin are truly the masters of the universe’ (Mark Twain).
@Jonn: Now you’re fact checking. Trump? True, except that the corporate media love Trump. Fox are the biggest corporate media channel by a distance.
Putin? Half true. He also murders his opponents.
@Brendan O’Brien: That feels good. John will love it.
@Brendan O’Brien: “All we are saying, is give Trump a chance” John Lennon.
@Louis Jacob: Let’s not forget Irving Berlin’s ‘Putin on the Ritz’.
@Brendan O’Brien: well, you can pit one side against the other all you like , but ‘Hegel don’t bother me’
@Jonn: who’s checking the fact checkers?
@Jonn: very true indeed, up there with the indisputable journal debunked articles, because they won’t let you.
@Brendan O’Brien: you should beware of the fake fact checkers.
Here’s a good tip..ask yourself is this candidate going to fight for the best interests of you and your family,or are they just going to be another soulless middle-manager carrying out the agenda of the EU, UN or WEF! A helpful hint..if they’re a member of the current regime then it’s the latter!
@Jonn: happily making a career out of failure.
I noticed the energy credit was applied to my November electricity bill today. The government clearly want me to feel warm and fuzzy about them this month. That’s cynical.
@Numinous20111: Where did that money come from?
@Numinous20111: of course, and the same reason boi issued an interest rate cut.
Hutch No 1 lol
@Quinny: Jesus! I would nearly give him my vote. I know he is a convicted criminal but aren’t there white collar individuals in the Dáil who should be convicted.
@Dave Barrett: Strange logic there
@Mick Duvanny: not really. Actually a very good point.
Look, to be honest it doesn’t really matter who you vote for. The three main parties of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn will be in power no matter what and all of those parties will pursue a solidly left-wing economic, social and foreign policy. There is clear staleness in Irish politics now. Many people, including myself, are hungry for a new party that is authentically free-market and is against politically correct moral posturing. One which has an ambitious policy of cutting taxes, shrinking the size of the government, abolishing the HSE, enforcing immigration laws that are on the books and ending foolhardy wacky environmental policies like “Net Zero” and the carbon tax. I didn’t even vote in the last election because the sheer lack of candidates that represented my views.
Vote monk
@Tired Jim: Tired jim is just one account from this multi account troll . Read any of the Paul m doe (william slevin / fintan pox / john doe / john m doe / john p doe /ulysses / exhausted jim / tired jim / john jon / lefty tears / lefty cries and dozens more troll accounts ) and you will see the quality of his comments, he has never added anything constructive or of any merit to any conversation on this platform. He has been banned on many occasions for good reason.
On one hand , it is pitiful to think how someone’s life choices have led them to be this desperate for attention , while on the other hand it is easy to see that he is so pathetic that nobody will interact with him in the real world.
@tom o reilly: you really need to get a life lol
Bottom line: it doesn’t matter who you vote for, they’re all out to screw you over. It’s like picking which end of a carrot you want to eat out from a pail of vomit.
Why did you fight the British but you bend for the Somalians????
@david mcentee:
Anyone but the Dail Uni-party of SF,FG,FF,PB4P, SD,Labour,Irish Independent Party,AND THE GREENS. IF You want change, vote for Aontu, Irish Freedom Party (Irexit), or the National Alliance. Otherwise, it’s pointless to have an election.
It’s disgusting that you are giving your country away
Make me ashamed of my irish ancestry
Vote for those who will deliver the Fair Dems Manifesto:
Principle-based, Fair and Democratic
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