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As it happened: Ten-way TV debate turns into Harris & Martin versus McDonald

Here’s how it played out.

LAST UPDATE | 18 Nov 2024

RTÉ HOSTED ITS largest ever leaders’ debate tonight, with ten TDs taking part in an extended edition of Upfront with Katie Hannon. 

Here’s how it played out: 

Updates from Daragh Brophy and Jane Matthews (at RTÉ), factchecking by Stephen McDermott. 

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s televised leaders’ debate. 

This evening’s extended edition of Upfront with Katie Hannon is the first to two debates being hosted by RTÉ. 

Leaders of ten parties currently represented in the Dáil will take part.

There’ll be a three-way debate between the leaders of the largest parties – Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael – on Tuesday of next week. 

It all kicks off in Montrose tonight at 9.35pm. 

If you’re wondering what we’re all doing here at barely gone half seven when I just said the debate is on after half nine… 

Well, the various leaders are due to arrive at the RTÉ main entrance over the next hour or so – our Political Correspondent Jane Matthews is there to cover the arrivals (you can follow Jane on X here). 

As we wait for the politicians to brave the cameras (and the cold), here’s a reminder of the lineup for tonight’s debate: 

  • Labour leader Ivana Bacik
  • People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett
  • Right to Change leader Joan Collins
  • Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins
  • Fine Gael leader Simon Harris
  • Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin
  • Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald
  • Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan
  • Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman
  • Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín

The leaders are starting to arrive. 

Jane Matthews reports from RTÉ: 

We’ve had five leaders in the door now. 

Arriving after Michael Collins and Peader ToibínJoan Collins (no relation to Michael) of Right to Change said she was hoping her “small intervention” could change the fundamental discussion around things like health and public housing.

Richard Boyd Barrett of Solidarity-People Before Profit said the idea that we will “just have FF and FG forever is demoralising”.

He added: 

“I believe things can change, I believe people want them to change … but we need a government that represents the majority of working people and the young and the vulnerable.”

Leaders 18 Nov Richart Boyd Barrett of Solidarity-PBP. Jane Matthews / The Journal Jane Matthews / The Journal / The Journal

 

Next to arrive was Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who said that up until now the election has been dominated by a “contrived conflict” between FF and FG. She added that she believes this has been disrespectful to voters and focus should be returned to core issues.

A relaxed-looking Mary Lou McDonald just arrived.

“This evening I will make the case strongly for a new departure in Irish life – a government led by a party other than Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.”

She even spoke a little French on the way in to greet a crew from TV station France 24, who are covering events tonight alongside Irish outlets. 

The fallout from yesterday’s Sunday Times story in which farmer Breen White, who was involved in an altercation outside a pub with Fine Gael’s John McGahon, shared pictures of his injuries continued to dominate political headlines earlier on today. 

McGahon – a sitting senator – is running for a seat in Louth. 

Simon Harris has been defending McGahon’s position on the ticket amid mounting criticism.

Though he was acquitted in a 2022 criminal trial of assault causing harm, McGahon was ordered this summer by the High Court to pay White €39,000 after the Castleblayney man sued the senator for assault and battery.

The jury found White had been assaulted and awarded €60,000, including €10,000 for aggravated damages. It apportioned blame at 65% against McGahon and the other 35% against the farmer.

A video of the incident has been circulated widely on social media.

Taoiseach Simon Harris previously described what happened as “a scuffle” and said McGahon was remorseful.

Answering a question from The Journal’s Christina Finn at an event today, Martin said “it was anything but a scuffle”.

“I presume the Taoiseach hasn’t seen that video, but it was anything but a scuffle, it was vicious,” said Martin.

Speaking on the way into the debate this evening, McDonald called on Harris to properly address the issue. 

“I don’t think thus far he has answered the question as regards Senator John McGahon. And look – all I can tell you is this, if that occurred within my party I would take a decisive action and there would be consequences, and Senator McGahon would not be on the general election ticket.” 

Bacik also called on Harris to issue a statement and clarify his position on McGahon. 

The Taoiseach will be arriving shortly so we’ll see if he has anything to add to his remarks from earlier today on the campaign trail in Kilkenny.

SocDems deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan is filling in for Holly Cairns tonight, as his party leader is expecting a baby … well, literally any day now.

Cairns is continuing to lead her party’s campaign from West Cork.

O’Callaghan – who’s hoping to retain his seat in a competitive Dublin Bay North constituency this month – said he’s looking forward to the debate and that subsitutions like this should become much more normal in politics when senior party leaders are pregnant.

Harris is continuing to back McGahon to the hilt.

Hitting back at earlier comments from Mary Lou McDonald, he told reporters:

“Her press officer is in prison tonight for being a pedophile, John McGahon was found not guilty by a criminal court.”

The Taoiseach was referring to the jailing earlier this month of former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle, who was sentenced to nine months in prison for child sex offences.

Jane Matthews reports from RTÉ: 

All the leaders have now arrived. 

Greens leader Roderic O’Gorman was also asked about the John McGahon controversy on is way in. 

“Probably not, no,” The Dublin West TD said, when asked if McGahon would still be on the ticket if he was in the Green Party. 

Last in the door was Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin – he didn’t linger for long but did take the opportunity to have a pop at Sinn Féin for not yet publishing their manifesto (they’re due to do so tomorrow – as are the SocDems).

mm1 Jane Matthews / The Journal Jane Matthews / The Journal / The Journal

We mentioned earlier on that McDonald tried out a little French on her way in, by way of greeting a camera crew from France 24. 

In case you were wondering what it was she said, according to my newsroom colleague David MacRedmond, it was “autre fois” – so she was essentially saying “here we go again”. 

Perhaps grateful not to be in the spotlight himself, RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst was waiting in the wings to greet the debate participants this evening.

Leaders Debate-61_90717138 Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

Leaders Debate-57_90717142 Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie / © RollingNews.ie

Just a few minutes now till we go live. 

With ten politicians – none whom are exactly shrinking violents – in the studio, it could well be a messy affair. 

So what’s likely to happen? 

Expect Simon Harris to come under continued pressure for his stance on John McGahon; expect Harris, Martin and O’Gorman to back each other up as they defend the government’s record on housing; expect the government party leaders in particular to hammer McDonald for the various controveries her party has been battling in the run up to the campaign; and expect Katie Hannon to do her level best not to blow a fuse keeping them all in check. 

See you after the ads. 

The debate is under way

“We’ll put them through their paces while they try and convince you to trust them with your vote.” 

Hannon introduces tonight’s debate. 

Hannon explains that the TDs drew lots earlier to decide studio positions in advance of tonight’s debate. 

Harris and O’Gorman are closest to the centre – with McDonald and Collins (Joan) at the edges of the lineup. 

RTÉ Upfront with Katie Hannon Party Leaders’ debate-13

The John McGahon controversy is our first topic. 

Harris is asked whether he had seen the video of the altercation McGahon was involved in when he described what happened as a “scuffle”. 

The Fine Gael leader said he had not, then again backed McGahon position on the ticket. 

It’s at least the third time today Harris has had to face media questions on the issue - on the way into the debate he took the opportunity to take a swipe at Sinn Féin as he said McGahon had been democratically selected to contest the election for his party

Prospective coalition partnerships have dominated the first fifteen minutes of the debate – no big surprises from any of the TDs on the stage. 

The further-left leaders like Joan Collins and Richard Boyd Barrett said there’s no way they’d prop up a FF-FG government.

Harris and Martin, in turn, ruled out working with Sinn Féin. 

Our FactCheck Editor Stephen McDermott is on duty tonight to assess the TDs’ claims and help separate the fact from the fiction. 

He writes: 

“The first big claim of the night comes from Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin, who said that Sinn Féin opposed Ireland’s entry into European Union and has opposed every European treaty since.

“While he’s correct to say Sinn Féin opposed entry into the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1973 and five subsequent treaties voted on in the Republic of Ireland, it does not account for Sinn Féin’s campaigning on the Brexit referendum in the UK in 2016, when the party called for Britain to remain in the EU.”

While there were no major surprises in any of the contributions on prospective coalition partners, this answer from Labour’s Ivana Bacik has provoked some chatter on X. 

The Dublin TD appeared to indicate she might not be able to get along with any of the three big parties… 

Independent Ireland’s Michael Collins however said he wouldn’t rule out – or in – anybody. 

Not that they put it in quite the same terms, O’Callaghan of the SocDems and O’Gorman of the Greens pretty much said the same thing. 

The Leinster House bike shed and the National Children’s Hospital being debated now. 

Simon Harris decides to take issue with the host’s statement that he had “signed the contract” for the hospital in a slightly bizarre detour as the segment started – saying it was a government decision.

Peader Toibín of Aontú makes several interruptions to take the Taoiseach to task over the delays in the hospital’s construction in particular. 

Harris says, essentially, that the hospital will be worth it once it eventually opens … and the debate moves on. 

A very brief segment on the various controversies faced by McDonald and Sinn Féin … McDonald reiterates her position and then the apology she gave in the Dáil earlier this month. 

Harris interjects – but a further effort to join in from O’Gorman is ruled out as Hannon needs to move on with the programme. 

The limitations of this ten-way format are really beginning to show … TDs are given only short answers on whether the country needs a statutory Covid inquiry, with Toibín hurried to a conclusion when he raises issues in nursing homes. 

The debate is getting more than a little frustrating. 

“I’m so close to flicking back over to I’m a Celeb,” is the take of one of our reporters (who shall remain nameless).

(Don’t worry, they’re not on the clock at the moment)

sh2

Our FactCheck Editor Stephen McDermott has been examining some of Harris’s claims about the children’s hospital:  

“There were a couple of claims from Simon Harris about the National Children’s Hospital – including that he wasn’t born when it was first discussed, that the Government were told that changing or stopping the project would have been more expensive, and that the total cost of the hospital will be the equivalent of six months of the Pandemic Unemployment payment.

“The consolidation of Ireland’s three children’s hospitals into one facility was first proposed by the Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in 1993 – seven years after Simon Harris was born.

“In terms of the possible savings of stopping the project, a report by PwC in 2019 did find that there would be no cost savings in terms of stopping the project (though it should be noted then that costs were expected to be €1.7 billion, when they are now more than €2.2 billion).

“And the cost of six months’ worth of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment? The overall cost of the PUP between March 2020 and March 2024 was €9.2 billion, so six months of that would cost 2.3 billion (so in and around the current projected cost of the hospital).

Here’s a clip from a few minutes ago of McDonald taking on the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders over the price of fuel.

The exchange is indicative of how this debate has been going whenever the leaders of the three main parties are featured – Martin and Harris appear to be largely singing from the same hymn sheet, as they team up to tackle McDonald.

If Martin and Harris were hoping to put some distance between each others’ positions tonight, they’ve done little on that front so far – the fact that they’re set up right next to each other on the stage isn’t helping too much either. 

We’re about to come back from the ad break 

If you’re just tuning in, this tweet pretty much sums up the night so far. 

A few more claims from the last 20 minutes or so being examined here by Stephen:

“Micheál Martin said that inflation went as high as 10%. However, the CSO’s Consumer Price Index peaked at 9.1% in August 2022 (which was a 38-year high), before gradually falling again.

“In fairness to Martin, the EU’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices had inflation at 9.6% in July 2022, which I suppose you could round up to 10%…”.

tanaiste-and-leader-of-fianna-fail-micheal-martin-during-the-general-election-leaders-debate-at-rte-studios-in-montrose-dublin-rtes-upfront-with-katie-hannon-is-hosting-irelands-largest-ever-lea Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“At one point, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd-Barrett claimed that the ESB posted a billion Euro in profits in the first half of this year. However, the Business Post reported in September that operating profits at ESB group were actually €446 million for the first six months to June 2024.”

tanaiste-and-leader-of-fianna-fail-micheal-martin-left-and-taoiseach-and-leader-of-fine-gael-simon-harris-during-the-general-election-leaders-debate-at-rte-studios-in-montrose-dublin-rtes-upfr Hello again ... Micheál Martin and Simon Harris in tonight's debate. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

If you’ve been wondering what the chances were of Harris and Martin being allocated podiums next to each other … Virgin Media’s Gavan Reilly has done the maths. 

The parties have been digging into their established positions on green issues over the last few minutes. 

Stephen has been factchecking a claim by O’Callaghan, of the SocDems, on the Climate Action Plan: 

“O’Callaghan said a few minutes ago that if every step in the plan was implemented, Ireland still wouldn’t meet its emission target reductions – saying they would only add up to a 29% reduction in emissions when we need to meet a 51% reduction.

“Those figures are correct, and come from projections calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency.”

A segment on the Occupied Territories Bills ends with McDonald and Boyd Barrett locking horns with Martin and Harris over the government’s lack of progress on the bill.

Introducing the issue, Hannon had asked for answers from each leader on whether they would back progressing the bill in its current form. 

Joan Collins, Cian O’Callaghan and Michael Collins all answered in the affirmative – as did the rest of the panel. Martin and Harris offered a number of qualifications but said they would back it (Martin reiterated that the bill needed to be as robust as possible so it can withstand challenge). 

Boyd Barrett accused the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil leaders of “speaking out of both sides of your mouths” on the issue. 

“You had five years to pass it and you didn’t,” he said. 

You had a year of genocide and you didn’t pass it … The doublespeak of this coalition … is shocking.

Harris, responding, insisted that “this country is united on the issue of Palestine” before McDonald accused him of “bottling it” by not being stronger on the issue of Palestine with US President Joe Biden during his recent visit to Washington

Our FactCheck department (well, still just Stevie this evening) has been taking a look at McDonald’s claim on carbon tax earlier on: 

“The Sinn Féin leader said that despite an annual €7.50 hike in the tax since 2021, petrol and diesel consumption have gone up.

“The EPA’s annual report on emissions for 2023 (the last year for which data is available) show that although total use of petrol increased by 6.6% last year – but that diesel consumption fell by 1.2%.

“Petrol and diesel usage both increased year-on-year in 2022, though this can partly be attributed to greater movement coming out of the Covid pandemic.

“Curiously, McDonald;s claim in this instance was more nuanced than her claim to the Irish Farmers’ Association last week that the carbon tax had not led to a reduction in emissions at all (a claim The Journal fact-checked and rated false).”

Amid criticism from the opposition party leaders on solutions to the housing crisis, Simon Harris defended plans to boost supports for first-time buyers. 

Fine Gael’s pledged last week to hike Help to Buy grants by a third to €40,000 and to expand the First Homes shared equity scheme to second-hand property. Fianna Fáil has also said it wants to “protect and extend” Help to Buy. 

The proposals have come in for criticism from some housing market analysts, with Lorcan Sir of TU Dublin calling them “classic auction politics”.

More bad tempered scenes as Harris and McDonald argued over Sinn Féin’s housing plans – the pair were talking over each other as Hannon attempted to move the programme on and cut to a break.  

It was, arguably, an odd move to leave housing until this late into the debate when most of the country is, frankly, asleep (it is, after all, Monday 18 November – peak ‘school night’ surely?). 

Immigration being dealt with now (surely we must be in the final stretch of the show – we’re at least ten minutes over the listed time at this stage?)

Roderic O’Gorman defends the government’s handling of the issue, and in particular the decision to extend benefits to Ukrainians after the outbreak of the war in 2022. 

Mary Lou McDonald says the international protection system in particular is too slow and that there’s been “chaos” in government on the issue. 

Oh, they’re wrapping up. At last.

Hannon gives each of the TDs a chance to sum up their arguments. 

Joan Collins of Right to Change calls for voters to back a left-led government.

O’Callaghan says the SocDems’s coalition red line issues include housing and childcare.

Michael Collins of Independent Ireland asks voters to back his candidates and says they represent “a real break from the past”.

Micheál Martin says voters can rely on Fianna Fáil amid turbulent times and promises action on housing.

Simon Harris says that he’s shown the energy and focus he’d bring to a new government over his, so far, seven months as Taoiseach.  

Roderic O’Gorman says the Green Party has delivered in government and that Ireland is now a “climate leader”. 

Peadar Toibín notes that Aontú was the only party to stand against the government’s “failed referendums” and calls on voters to concentrate their votes on his candidates. 

Labour’s Ivana Bacik calls for voters to back a “fairer, more equal Ireland” and says Labour would raise wages and deliver a public childcare system. 

Richard Boyd Barrett says ordinary working people are under pressure and calls on voters to back an alternative to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. 

Mary Lou McDonald says the election is “the opportunity of a lifetime” and that housing is their number one priority. The party, she said, is ready to implement its plans on day one. 

And that’s it. 

Upfront will be debating immigration next week, Hannon tells viewers as she signs off. 

Martin, Harris and McDonald will debate each other on Prime Time tomorrow week. 

Some last quickfire points from Stevie on factchecking duty, before I also sign off: 

“Two claims on the Government’s housing record from Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín, both of which can be found from data collated in Census 2022.

“He said that 500,000 adults are living with their parents, which is correct – and an understatement: according to the CSO, 522,486 adults aged 18 years and over were living with their parents on Census night, up by 63,612 from the last Census in 2016.

“Tóibín also said that there are 100,000 empty homes in the State. According to the 2022 census, there were 163,433 vacant homes in Ireland, excluding holiday homes – so another understatement by Tóibín.”

leader-of-people-before-profit-solidarity-richard-boyd-barrett-during-the-general-election-leaders-debate-at-rte-studios-in-montrose-dublin-rtes-upfront-with-katie-hannon-is-hosting-irelands-la Leader of Solidarity-People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“Earlier, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd-Barrett claimed that public transport was now free in 100 countries in the world. This isn’t the case – while public transport is free in places like Luxembourg, Malta and Talinn (the capital of Estonia), it’s likely that he mis-spoke and that he meant 100 cities in the world.

“And a final one on housing – Micheál Martin claimed that the Government has exceeded its targets under Housing For All. Although the Government exceeded its targets in 2022 and 2023, the first two years of the housing plan, it fell short of its targets for social and afforadble housing in both years, and only reached its targets because the private market (which the Government does not control) made up the balance.”

And that’s it from this liveblog – we’ll have more coverage of the debate on the main site shortly! 

Good night. 

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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:06 PM

    Truly a dark day for the world.

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:19 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: why because wars are ending? Because economy’s and markets are booming again.

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    Mute Pat O Dwyer
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:23 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: If he hasn’t ended the war in Ukraine by midnight tomorrow night then by his own criteria he’ll be a failure seeing as he said he’d end it on Day 1

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:25 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: Only a dark day for the left wing cucks who put migrants above themselves.

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    Mute Patricia Mc namara
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:34 PM

    @Darran Macken: dream on. There are non so blind as those who will not see.

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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:41 PM

    @Darran Macken: no because they have elected a x preditor a felion and a person with sticky fingers. How’s that for starters. Stupid question

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:43 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: explain please..

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:45 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: The people have spoken.

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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:46 PM

    @Ulick: If you have to ask, then you aren’t ready to know yet.

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    Mute Adam H2022
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:52 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: Wars and WOKE are gone for good. Anyone who says this is dark is sick in the head.

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:53 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: Please tell me Daniel.
    I’m sure you know a lot from watching RTE.

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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:06 PM

    @Ulick: I don’t watch RTE or even pay my TV licence to watch it, or any other media. I keep my head down and ignore all the bs in the world. But I know enough to know how Donald Dump the Rap ist is nothing but pure subhuman filth, along with his other disgusting buddy Musk. People who support Dump, are easily fooled and manipulated by him, just because he has a bit of charm. But realistically, he doesn’t have anyone’s interests at heart.

    If you cannot understand that, then there’s no hope for you. But again, I just keep my head down and ignore the bs until it directly impacts me somehow.

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    Mute Andrew Martin
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:08 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: The brighter days with common sense are back! No woke lefty bull!

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:17 PM

    @Adam H2022: woke was only ever in your head

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    Mute Daniel Skelton
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:29 PM

    @Andrew Martin: Cheers for proving my point!

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:50 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: Thats what people say when they have nothing else.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:26 PM

    @Pat O Dwyer: that’s already been pushed out to 100 days

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:32 PM

    @Pat O Dwyer: the wars wrapping up soon, you have being following the latest news out Kiev since trump was elected??? They want to make a deal so yes wars are ending people in gaza can sleep alot easier tonight, bidan wanted to keep sending arms trump said all hostages realised before I’m in, hostages being realised, what more do yous lot want

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    Mute brendan C5
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    Jan 20th 2025, 8:19 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: so how do you know what’s going on, with an opinion like that you do watch rte,BBC etc. pants on fire.

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    Mute Fiona
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    Jan 20th 2025, 9:19 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: I think, deep down, people know we’re truly fecked with climate change, even if they claim otherwise. Americans want to go out with a bang, and to them, that means going on a few holidays a year, driving the biggest car you can get, and buying tat from Amazon. They’ve no other goals, god love them. And trump has tapped into that simplistic way of thinking.

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    Jan 21st 2025, 3:11 AM

    @Fiona: no, it’s just pure ignorance- I don’t mean in a general way or even as an insult . but many Americans simply have no engagement with politics and don’t understand what they have voted for

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    Jan 21st 2025, 7:06 AM

    @Daniel Skelton: I disagree with you.

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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:21 PM

    As Trump said, the common sense revolution starts today.

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    Mute Liam deoráiste
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:09 PM

    Can’t wait for the woke brigade whinging

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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:10 PM

    @Liam deoráiste: generic meaningless comment from someone whom is most likely poorly educated.

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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:14 PM

    @Robert: “whats that c##t McGregor doing there??” – Poorly educated, vulgar Robbie.

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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:22 PM

    @Chop Chop: if you dispute my statement about McGregor, says a lot about your moral compass

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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:26 PM

    @Robert: ‘Poorly educated’. Having a degree in Gender studies doesn’t make you educated Robbie.

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:37 PM

    @Liam deoráiste: seen a comment by some luny saying its a shame there isn’t a sniper around today, typical from that aggressive side, I’ve never come across a comment by anyone on here calling for a sniper to be around for bidan, again that other lot are aggressive thankfully there reign is over the world can have peace again

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    Mute Seamus
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:57 PM

    @Darran Macken: I think it’s hormonal imbalance; it explains the irrational aggression and the messed up worldview of the left.

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    Mute Liam deoráiste
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    Jan 20th 2025, 8:05 PM

    @Robert: Robert wokie de first

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    Mute Maurice
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:30 PM

    Greatest words ever spoken. “Only two genders: Male & Female….about time.

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    Mute Patricia Mc namara
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:37 PM

    @Maurice: why do men have nipples!!. Save us from the ignorant magas

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:47 PM

    @Patricia Mc namara: LOL..I don’t know, please tell me.

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @Maurice: only 2 classes, rich and poor, but at least you stuck it to the trannies

    14
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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:04 PM

    @Mr Sparkle: Only two classes? What are you attempting to say?

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    Mute Johnny Lee
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    Jan 21st 2025, 7:09 AM

    @Patricia Mc namara: because men are super female. We all start off as female. But still two genders male and female, period.

    1
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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 21st 2025, 8:28 AM

    @Patricia Mc namara: both genders are born with nipples though, but what you are born with In the reproduction area allocates you to either of the TWO genders it’s actually not that difficult to understand.

    1
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    Mute KTH
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:07 PM

    This is like being at the top of the roller coaster just before it starts going down, hang on everybody, this trip is 4 years long.

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    Mute John Doe
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @KTH: won’t last 4 years.

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    Mute edwardjp
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:19 PM

    Fricken delighted, go on Donald. The world needs people like you..

    45
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    Mute Tommy
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:35 PM

    So he’s going drilling for more oil..

    Extra Carbon Tax for Ireland so because the politicians in Ireland think that Ireland is going to save the world when WE CAN’T

    36
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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:40 PM

    @Tommy: I believe 100% in human created climate change, but you have a point there. What are we doing ffs?

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    Mute Robert
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:09 PM

    You’d think trying to overthrow democracy might be a hindrance. Apparently not

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:28 PM

    @Robert: I agree. Trying to throw the man with the most votes in the entire country into prison for a financial crime, a few months before he was elected. The authoritarian left wing were no hindrance on the inevitable win of the Republican Party.

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:20 PM

    @Joe Willis: who tried to throw him into prison?

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:33 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: The libtard judge in the most liberal state in the USA, New York. Obviously it didn’t work once it got to the actual court. The Supreme Court.

    5
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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:28 PM

    @Joe Willis: prison was never mentioned. He is guilty though, that’s the important thing.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:11 PM

    Can never find a sniper when you need one

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    Mute Christopher Ryan
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @Paul Murphy: Mods need to turn comments off with hateful calls for assassinations like this!

    29
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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:08 PM

    @Paul Murphy: There’s over 400 million guns in America. 90% of them are owned by the right wing/Conservatives. You can see why the left wing are so desperate to get rid of the 2nd amendment. Because if any sort of civil war broke out, they would get Rittenhoused.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Jan 21st 2025, 4:51 PM

    @Christopher Ryan: It going to end in tears either way

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:11 PM

    Believe it or not folks, Billionaires do not care about your wellbeing, and you’re thick ad Sh!te if you think they do

    63
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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:19 PM

    @Mr Sparkle: I’m sure I’ll get a response or 2 to this by lads who earn average salaries who think kissing the @rse of the super wealthy is a rebellious act, somehow

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:30 PM

    @Mr Sparkle: Yet you wanted everyone to get the vaccine to enrich pharmaceutical billionaires. Hypocrite.

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:45 PM

    @Joe Willis: no, I didn’t, why did you assume so?

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:46 PM

    @Joe Willis: Just keep thinking Trump is a working class hero champ

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:09 PM

    @Mr Sparkle: No, I don’t, why do you assume so?

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:21 PM

    @Joe Willis: You’re fond of exactly 1 more billionaire than me anyway

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:35 PM

    @Mr Sparkle: Yes. Michael O’Leary, the man who revolutionised commercial flying.

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    Mute Fergus O'Donnell
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:04 PM

    Yaaay. I

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:38 PM

    @Fergus O’Donnell: We Irish have our freedom from colonial abuse thanks to US. Anti US is a phobia that is being outed.

    13
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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:44 PM

    Only two genders again. Back to common sense. Enough of the lunacy.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:53 PM

    @Ulick: A bit too difficult for you to understand the subject, right? Easier for the poorly-educated that this felon loves so much.

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:15 PM

    @Jack Hayes: How many genders is there

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:52 PM

    @Jack Hayes: That’s what people say when they have nothing else to say. Please explain for me. It’s not complicated is it?

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:55 PM

    @Jack Hayes: I understand XY chromosomes. Do you?

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    Mute Johnny Lee
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    Jan 21st 2025, 7:14 AM

    @Jack Hayes: by poorly educated do you mean the majority of American voters? Because that’s a lot of people.

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:18 PM

    Thankfully, now we are all much safer and some will never realise why.

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:06 PM

    Those Founding Fathers the Americans are so proud of talking about are turning in their graves….

    23
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    Mute John Flanagan
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:38 PM

    Ohhhhh god help America. Ye get what ye deserve. Good luck with it

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    Mute Ulick
    Favourite Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:46 PM

    @John Flanagan: Can you elaborate please?

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:55 PM

    @Ulick: You have to be joking, surely ….

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:02 PM

    @Jack Hayes: I’m serious. Tell us why you know.

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    Mute Billy Carroll
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:18 PM

    He’s starting off by lying through his teeth. What a chancer you guys elected

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:51 PM

    @Billy Carroll: elaborate please.

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    Mute Mr Sparkle
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:53 PM

    @Ulick: DER EETING DE DOGS

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    Mute brendan C5
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:18 PM

    Yahoo…

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:42 PM

    Glory Glory Hallelujah…

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:58 PM

    @Ulick: Julia Ward Howe turning in her grave.

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    Mute Derek O Gorman
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:14 PM

    God bless us all..one can only pray for a sniper now

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    Mute JT Quinn
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:19 PM

    @Derek O Gorman: You think Vance would be any better?

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    Mute Stanley Marsh
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:21 PM

    @Derek O Gorman: Too late. This hasn’t been about Trump for a long time now.

    This is about racist, toxic-nationalist, couldn’t find Greenland on a map middle-of-America finding a figure head who tells them what they want to hear.

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    Mute Patricia Mc namara
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:38 PM

    @JT Quinn: 2 snipers .

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    Mute Ulick
    Favourite Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:48 PM

    @Derek O Gorman: Do you live in America?

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    Mute Ulick
    Favourite Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:50 PM

    @Patricia Mc namara: Do you live in Ireland or America?

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:11 PM

    @Derek O Gorman: typical

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:00 PM

    @Patricia Mc namara: What type of human being are you? So sanctimonious and yet, now we see what’s inside.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:52 PM

    Felon with liability for ra pe

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:16 PM

    @Jack Hayes: like hunter biden

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    Mute Dermot Blaine
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:17 PM

    @Joe Willis: no, not like hunter Biden. Hunter is not president.

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    Mute Joe Willis
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:36 PM

    @Dermot Blaine: That’s a far right racist conspiracy theory.

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    Mute Darran Macken
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:38 PM

    Typical

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    Mute Anthony Ross
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:58 PM

    Trump is unfit

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:56 PM

    @Anthony Ross: Tell me why?

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Jan 20th 2025, 5:28 PM

    No sign of Bannon. Probably in a hut somewhere planning how he will rip their faces off. Maga eating major humble pie here. Big civil war in the GOP incoming.

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    Mute James Fives
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:15 PM

    Drill baby drill – liquid gold . Comment .

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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:52 PM

    We should also be concerned that his various offspring think that they should follow him into office in future years

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    Mute Ulick
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:56 PM

    @Ian McDonald: We can only hope they do.

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    Mute Seamus
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    Jan 20th 2025, 7:57 PM

    @Ian McDonald: why?
    What have you got against his kids?

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    Mute Jack
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    Jan 20th 2025, 9:37 PM

    Irish media love trump bashing. Media stateside have backed off the toxic reporting, time ours did too and report on the true issues faced the people of Ireland.

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    Mute N D K
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    Jan 20th 2025, 6:32 PM

    Amen

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    Mute Tim Brennan
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    Jan 21st 2025, 10:29 PM

    The world is bigger than Trump

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    Mute Derek Moran
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    Jan 21st 2025, 8:05 AM

    Be an interesting 4 years.

    1
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