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RENUA MAY NOT return any Dáil deputies with leader Lucinda Creighton at serious risk of losing her seat in Dublin, according to party sources.
Renua sources are privately admitting this afternoon that it’s going to be a bad day with the possibility that the party, which was founded less than a year ago, will not have a single TD in the 32nd Dáil.
They believe that while Creighton will remain in contention for the fourth seat in Dublin Bay South until the last count, she may not gain enough transfers. That could see Fine Gael on course to take back the seat it lost when she quit the party three years ago.
Creighton was booed by a small number of people upon her arrival at the RDS this afternoon. The former minister said she had “no idea” if she would hold her seat.
I have said from the very beginning that this was going to be a huge struggle in this constituency, a real battle and it has proven to be so and it’s extraordinary to see so many candidates in contention for seats in Dublin Bay South.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterLucinda Creighton booed as she entered count centre #GE16 pic.twitter.com/UgEPtWsq53
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 27, 2016
“Fingers crossed I will hold my seat, but if I don’t I am very philosophical about these things and at the end of the day the voters decide,” she added.
She said the party’s work would continue irrespective of what happens, describing this election as “the first step”.
It’s a benchmark, it’s the first of many electoral contests I hope.
Creighton’s husband, senator Paul Bradford, conceded that he will not take a seat in Cork East and told RTÉ this afternoon:
Well, obviously on the figures it’s not going well for Renua but I really enjoyed the campaign.
Of the other two outgoing Renua TDs, deputy leader Billy Timmins will have a chance of holding on in five-seat Wicklow. In Dublin Bay North, Terence Flanagan is unlikely to be returned in the competitive five seater.
The party had hoped to win 10 seats and ran 26 candidates in the 40 Dáil constituencies. One of its big hopefuls is councillor John Leahy in Offaly but he is unlikely to win a seat.
Rónán Duffy / Twitter'It hasn't been Renua's day.' Paul Bradford sounding very defeated. #ge16 pic.twitter.com/GWyCkXPk46
— Rónán Duffy (@ronanduffy_) February 27, 2016
Bradford told RTÉ: “Across the country, our candidates – who have all worked very hard – they are not getting the percentage you need to be in contention for the last or second last seat.
My colleague Billy Timmins is in contention for a seat and Lucinda – the party leader and my wife – is in contention but with a battle on her hands.
He said the party had taken “the road less travelled, we put a very detailed manifesto before the electorate but it hasn’t been purchased”.
Bradford insisted that the party would not disappear if it does not return any TDs:
We’ll end up where the Greens were five years ago and they look set today to take a few seats. Politics is for the long haul, it’s not a short-term project. If you believe in something… you must plough ahead. You have to climb mountains.
“If we get two or three per cent of the national vote, that will mean that thousands of people voted for us.”
On his wife, he added: “I’m proud of Lucinda, she could have had an easier political career if she kept her head down. But you have to do what you feel is right.”
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Remember his promise to abolish USC?!?!
You’ve been in power ages. You could have done this at any stage. Jog on
25% off plus 25% off the following year is NOT a 50% reduction. It’s 44% from the initial amount. Does anybody bother with maths anymore?
@john murray: To keep his promise it would require a further 34% decrease in Budget 2024 to follow up on the 25% from Budget 2023 in order for a 2-yr decrease of 50% . I am surprised that these people can manage an economy. Juniour cert kids can manage that calculation.
@john murray: True, but it seems that they did not promise a 25% decrease in the second year: rather that they would try to achieve a 50% decrease over the two years – ‘a further 25% reduction’ appears to be the journalist’s (wrong) interpretation.
@Brendan O’Brien: it does in fairness. Back to school for the writer in that case.
@John Murray: Yes.
@john murray: For bonus points, what annual percentage would lead to a 50% reduction over 2 years?
Anybody that thinks Varadkar even remotely cares about them or their children is quite deluded!
Thats great news for families, now do something about the inability to get kids into creche due to a lack of staff and services.
My boss has been told by all the places they looked at are booked out till at least next year so has to resort to paying through the nose for a private babysitter.
Watch the scramble by the usual suspects to get into the childcare business. Next year’s declarations of interest by TDs will make for informative reading..
What if me Granny looks after the kiddos.
Is the “cut” applicable” here ?
“We did it before, and we’ll do it again”
Aboy Leo.
My old nan used to say (not babysitter gran, my other nan) that self praise is no praise. So take heed Leo.
@UCD Trinity: Is that you Stephen Ireland, I thought you had 4 grannies?
I can’t understand why they won’t just give everybody a little by reducing it getting rid of USC & if you if have children they you can use the saving towards childcare if you wish! It’s really unfair to constantly reward those with children more than those who don’t have or want to have children.
Yawn more untruths
How fitting.
Governments should focus on putting money where it is needed most like Childcare, housing and Health. Please do not reduce income tax as the money is needed elsewhere. Also their should be a wealth tax.
Why do people think any government will abolish USC. For one thing it brings in 4 Billion per year, for another it is hard to avoid paying USC as it collected on all income including rental income
Everyone pays USC so it ensures everyone is making some contribution, no matter how small. And finally it is a combination of the PRSI and Health Levy
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