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A NEW REPORT into how much alcohol we drink in Ireland lays bare the stark facts about how it is harming our health.
The Health Research Board study, called Alcohol in Ireland: Consumption, harm, cost and policy response, shows that in 2013, alcohol consumption was responsible for three deaths every day.
It found that Irish people drink the equivalent of 29 litres of vodka a year, which adds up to 11 litres of pure alcohol.
This is the amount drunk per capita. The report points out:
As 20.6% of the adult population abstain from alcohol completely, those who drink alcohol consume even greater quantities (46 bottles of vodka or 130 bottles of wine or 498 pints of beer). Consumption in 2014 was 20.9% higher than the target of 9.1 litres, as recommended by the steering group report.
It also found:
In 2014, one-in-three self-harm presentations were alcohol-related.
An estimated 5,315 people on the Live Register in November 2013 had lost their job due to alcohol use.
The study looked at data compiled from the hospital in-patient reporting system, and says that what it found confirms the impact of alcohol consumption on Ireland’s health system.
Dr Graham Love, chief executive at the Health Research Board said: “This report clearly illustrates how Irish people’s drinking patterns are harming their health, increasing public health care costs and negatively impacting productivity.”
The report also highlights that the rate of alcoholic liver disease trebled between 1995 and 2013, according to Dr Deirdre Mongan, lead author and Research Officer at the HRB.
“The fact the highest rate of increase was found in 15-34 year olds is a real public health concern as alcoholic liver disease usually develops after a number of years of harmful drinking, and as a result it is normally seen in older people,” she said.
However, these increases would reflect the high occurrence of harmful drinking patterns that have been observed in numerous Irish surveys over the past decade.
What we drink – and how much of it
The study breaks down exactly how much alcohol Irish people drink every year. It found that in 2014 Irish drinkers consumed on average 11 litres of pure alcohol each.
This is equal to 29 litres of vodka, 116 bottles of wine or 445 pints of beer.
In 2012, Ireland had the fourth highest alcohol consumption level among 36 OECD countries – after Estonia, France and Lithuania.
In 2013, the HRB Alcohol Diary survey showed that more than 50% of Irish drinkers consume alcohol in a harmful manner – such as drinking too much in one sitting and imbibing more than the recommended number of standard drinks in a week.
What about our health?
The study also examined the impact of alcohol on our health and Ireland’s health system.
It found that:
The study looked at treatment for alcohol addiction, and found that a total of 7,549 cases entered treatment in 2013 with alcohol as their main problem drug.
These cases were predominantly male and the average age of those who sought treatment was 39-40 years. This is a decrease of just over 12% since 2011.
This decrease could reflect a true decrease in the number of cases, reduced levels of participation or under-reporting or a combination of these factors.
Dr Mongan said that between 2008 and 2013, 69% of alcohol-related deaths were due to medical causes (such as liver disease), 16% were due to poisonings and 15% due to traumatic causes (such as a road traffic collision).
This indicates that one death per day is due to poisoning or trauma and two deaths are due to chronic conditions.
Alcohol and money
The cost to the tax-payer for alcohol-related discharges from hospital is €1.5 billion, which is equal to €1 for every €10 spent on public health in 2012. This excludes the cost of emergency cases, GP visits, psychiatric admissions and alcohol treatment services.
In 2013, alcohol-related discharges accounted for 160,211 bed days in public hospitals, which added up to 3.6% of all bed days that year. That’s compared to 56,264 bed days or 1.7% of the total number of bed days in 1995.
Risky drinking patterns
The Health Research Board said that this new report “presents national and international evidence that the health of Irish people would improve if we reduce overall alcohol consumption and address risky drinking patterns”.
There is substantive and clear international evidence about the most effective policies to reduce alcohol-related harm. These include making alcohol more expensive, restricting its availability and reducing its promotion.
According to Dr Mongan, the data in this report shows that alcohol is price sensitive: “when its price increases, then its consumption decreases and vice versa”.
Dr Love concluded by saying that if we want to address the individual and societal costs of our alcohol consumption, we need to put evidence-based public health responses in place, like those proposed in the new Public Health Alcohol Bill.
The report is available to read on the HRB website.
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Why is there no Gerry Adams option? he’s bound to win it.
@Old Gabby Johnson:
I’d go for Martin Ferris.
I like the way he collects psychotic Garda murderers from prison.
I especially like it when he refuses to condemn the Garda murderers.
Garda murderers who subsequently stab their spouse 13 times.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/garda-killer-pearse-mcauley-stabbed-6915135
@Old Gabby Johnson:
Because you cannot read?
“Gerry Adams said that he has set an end date in his mind for stepping down as leader.”
@Brinster:
Which one can be the most populist.
Remember SF were for water charges, then they were hammered in a Dublin west by-election by Paul Murphy, then SF tried to take over the anti water campaign.
Padraics not great on the sarcasm
@ktsiwot: “Remember SF were for water charges”
Please post a singel press release, policy doc, or speech from SF where they ‘were for water charges’
@For Connolly:
Here you go FC.
They voted for Water charges in Europe.
http://www.donegalnow.com/news/policy-change-shock-as-sinn-fein-meps-say-yes-to-water-charges/40949
You’re welcome
@Brinster: Still posting thde spoof? tut tut.
The firt line of the article should put it in perspective
“Sinn Féin has voted in favour of water charges across the EU in a European Parliament report penned by Sinn Féin MEP, Lynn Boylan, today, according to NW MEP Mariead McGuinness (FINE GAEL)”
Here’s an independent commenting on it.
https://www.facebook.com/Lukemingflanagan/posts/871407716269879?fref=nf
In response, and led by an Irish MEP, Sinn Fein’s Lynn Boylan, the Parliament compiled its own Report, a far stronger response with most of the aims of the Right2Water campaign addressed.
Included in that Report is the following clause: ‘Calls on the Member States to introduce, in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, a pricing policy by the application of a progressive charge that safeguards people’s right to access a minimum quantity of water for living and cracks down on waste.’ That ‘progressive charge’ in Ireland is and must remain a charge taken from general taxation, with those who earn the most paying the most. It does NOT mean the introduction of a separately applied water-charge, something I would never support.”
No brinster, stop spoofing, you’re embarrassing yourself.
@For Connolly: You are misquoting the text as passed by the EP where all SF MEPs voted in favour:
It actually says:
“Calls on the Member States to introduce, in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, a pricing policy that respects people’s right to a minimum quantity of water for living and cracks down on waste, providing for the application of a progressive charge that is proportional to the amount of water used”
How can that mean anything other than water charges based on metered readings?
Here’s the link:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2015-0294+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
I love Mary Lou, she sounds like Joan Burton
@Denito:
Now hang on a second Denito, to accuse FC of misquoting text, that is serious, you better be able to back that up.
Oh.
Oh, I see you can.
He deliberately omitted the part – “providing for the application of a progressive charge that is proportional to the amount of water used”
And I’m the one embarrassing myself For Connolly?
Caught in a lie.
@Brinster: I’ll believe an independent MEP commening on the matter before I’ll believe a rival MEP of sinn feins. I’ve posted Luke Ming flanagans comment on the matter and I’m happy to let people reading the comments section to decide for themselves.
Yes brainster he seems most suitable
Won’t Jarry appoint a successor? Like any good dictator!
Brinster, do you like the way the garda and politicians are protecting the murderer of Mary Boyle and Philip cairns! !!
@For Connolly:
Except it is not a matter of opinion. The text adopted is a matter of FACT.
Here is the ACTUAL text adopted –
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2015-0294+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
It clearly states “providing for the application of a progressive charge that is proportional to the amount of water used”.
You’re confusing “opinion” with “fact” again.
You do that a lot.
@Brinster: I’ve just given you a thumbs up Brinster- now there’s a first! But we actually agree on the hypocrisy of SF here. Of course, I also see them as hypocrites because they pose as left wing while behaving as Fianna Fail Nua- imposed austerity in the North, supported the bank guarantee, buy into the EU’s ‘fiscal space’ and only came out against water charges when the socialists (myself included) forced them to!
@Michael Bride:
I’ve a lot more respect for AAA/PBP than for the populist hypocrites and liars in SF.
They are at least consistent and have an ideology. One I disagree with but one that is genuine.
SF change their opinion with their underwear.
@Brinster: And AGAIN, here is an INDEPENDENT MEP, Luke Ming Flanagan, commenting on that clause and its application in Ireland:
“Included in that Report is the following clause: ‘Calls on the Member States to introduce, in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, a pricing policy by the application of a progressive charge that safeguards people’s right to access a minimum quantity of water for living and cracks down on waste.’ That ‘progressive charge’ in Ireland is and must remain a charge taken from general taxation, with those who earn the most paying the most. It does NOT mean the introduction of a separately applied water-charge, something I would never support. ”
Now, the spin you’re chancing your arm with didn’t stick when tory boy Hayes tried it on RTE, so I really don’t know who you’re trying to fool.
@For Connolly:
How can a charge be “proportional to the amount of water used” without metering?
How can it be “proportional” if taken from general taxation?
Use your common sense here.
Dig up.
Sinn Féin leaflet from September 11th 2010 well ahead of every other party
https://irishelectionliterature.com/2010/09/11/brilliant-sinn-fein-anti-water-charges-leaflet/
@Brinster: Seeing as though you’re a fan of posting regional news outlets links:
http://www.sligonewsfile.com/claims-sinn-fein-support-water-charges-hammered-by-party-mep/
‘Sinn Féin’s position is clear – we are absolutely opposed to domestic water charges’
..Boylan has slammed the comments as an attempt by Fine Gael “to distract from the fact that in the parliament today they failed to vote in favour of a report which enshrines the human right to water. In fact, they were the only Irish MEPs to vote against the report. Irish MEPs who have also consistently opposed Fine Gael/Labour’s water charges voted in favour of this report highlighting Fine Gael’s dishonesty.
Sinn Féin’s position is clear – we are absolutely opposed to domestic water charges.
The wording they mention came from another political group. I did not write it and did not vote in favour of the wording in question during the committee stage and unfortunately Fine Gael have blocked all attempts to remove the wording in the plenary.”
There ya go cupcake.
Now, pray tell, if SF support water charges, why have they blocked them in the 6 counties since 2007? Why have they signed up to right2change, which includes a pledge to abolish them?
See, you can cherrypick all of the sentences you want, actions speak louder then words.
@For Connolly: Sinn Féin had the opportunity to vote against the report, including the wording about charging proportional to usage, at the plenary stage, but they chose to vote in favour of it, Lynn Boylan’s attempts at spin notwithstanding.
It is cut and dried: SF MEPS voted in favour of a report that includes a recommendation to charge for water proportional to usage i.e. water metering.
@For Connolly:
This is absolutely laughable!
Lynn Boylan – “I did not write it and did not vote in favour of the wording in question during the committee stage”
But she and SF still voted for it at the Final Stage.
You couldn’t make this up.
Laughable.
@For Connolly: Here’s the voting record for the final vote: SF MEPs all voted in favour.
http://www.votewatch.eu/en/term8-follow-up-to-the-european-citizens-initiative-right2water-motion-for-resolution-vote-envi-committee-.html
@Denito: Then they would have been voting against the ENTIRE report including the right to water. Fine gael repeatedly blocked the section brinster mentioned being removed, and then used it as a stick to beat SF with
Filth politics 101.
You’re fooling nobody lads. SF are the only party on the island with a track record of blcoking water charges, are signed up to right2water, have pledged to end water charges and have voted to do so in the Dail.
@For Connolly
Care to comment?
On the voting record? There for all to see…….
But please, tell us again how voting FOR a bill which includes the phrase ““providing for the application of a progressive charge that is proportional to the amount of water used” is somehow anti water charges.
I need a good laugh.
@Brinster: “But please, tell us again how voting FOR a bill ”
It wasn’t a bill, it was a report compiled by the parliament, which ncluded the clause you mentioned that FG repeatedly refused to allow be removed.
Cheers for once again showing that you’re too busy with your SF bashing to know the basics.
@For Connolly:
So you admit SF voted FOR the report?
@Brinster and gabby ye are like to broken records at this stage the anti sf drivel is unbelievable from ye when it was the two civil war partys that killed their own people.Also we all know there have being massive cover up by fianna geal in the mary boyle missing person case and other cases as well.Your partys sold our country off to the cheapest bidder and evicted people from their homes in the 21 st century how many suicide victims have came out of your austerity policies in order to facilitate the banking cartel how many homes have ff fg wrecked how many familys have your partys smashed in order to keep the corrupt wealthy elite in power the answer is uncountable.
Neither FG nor anyone else forced SF to vote for the final report (which included the clause on metering). If they are so implacably opposed to water meters and charges, surely they should have abstained or voted against the final report.
@Bobby Phelan: Its actually comical Bobby. Its going to be even funnier when the dail is back and SF bring their bill forward to end water charges, to see the same YFG party hacks jumping up and down howling ‘Sinn Fein support water charges…Sinn Fein support water charges’.
@Michael Bride: You are a Socialist, you wear the name of a mass murdering failed ideology with Pride ?
I find it mad that no one would dare refer to themselves as a Nazi but don’t bat an eye lid at being compared to Socialism a far greater evil that has murdered hundreds of millions of people.
The double standards is bizarre.
@Denito: “If they are so implacably opposed to water meters and charges, surely they should have abstained or voted against the final report.”
If they are so implacably FO water charges, why are they moving a bill to end them when the Dail returns? Why have they blocked them in the 6 counties since 2007?
See denito? You have your sentence which FG wouldn’t allow be removed from the report, whereas we have everything SF have done and are doing in relation to water charges.
We as a country have allowed ff fg liebour to squander 20 billon that was allocated for water since 1997.Where did the money go we should have a top of the range water system in this county.Jesus Christ its only 26 counties we have,but the money wastage here from ff fg liebour is biblical thats what happens when corrupt partys get into government .Scandalous stuff
@Bobby Phelan: Its comical to hear a shinner talk about guilt of the past of ‘civil war parties’ while conveniently forgetting the bloodied hand that the provos had in the troubles… but there you have it the sphere of delusion that surrounds the mind of an indoctrinated foot soldier. And out of curiosity to which party are you attaching me to?
@Brinster: well said !!
@For Connolly: what these fianna gealers are forgetting is they allready had 20billion to fix the water network but this isn’t about water is it,It’s about facilitating the banking cartel the 64 billon private debt that was converted to public debt an “odious debt”we should be stripping ff fg labour of all their assets and let them pay for their own cockups.Even to this day ff fg are still receiving 1.2 billion for our water infrastructure the days of gombeen paddys are disappearing fast.
@ktsiswot Sap
If Sinn Féin reps are in the habit of voting for measures which they actually oppose, then it’s hard to know what they stand for or against. Their vote in favour of water charging and metering in the EP suggests that their position on the issue is more equivocal than they make out.
@Old Gabby Johnson: ff fg are same so whats the point attaching you to any party i would say your a neo-liberal.
@Bobby Phelan: Big word for you bobby.. you’re watching too much american politics.
Where’s the “I don’t care” option?
@Deborah Behan:
As mentioned to somebody else earlier who asked the same question, I think it’s in the ‘why did you open the story then?’ section.
If luke ming said it must be true
Well done Brinster. Poor old FC does not like having his hole served to him. You can see his smugness turning to boor with every comment.
We have to pay for water
@Denito: SF supported the report while also highlighting the efforts FG blocked continuously to have the clause removed. It created a catch 22 where had SF not supported this report, which acknowledges the right to water, FG and all its little minions would have been the first to jump all over it as SF are a member of right2water
Like I said, filth politics 101 from FG.
I’m happy with Boylans explanation as supported by an independent MEP, backed by their record on actually blocking water charges.
Oh, and I look forward, when SF bring the bill to the Dail next month to abolish water charges, to the same FGHQ accounts trying to convince us all that SF support water charges.
And what a wonderful reminder that will serve to demonstrate the duplicity with which SF operate. Well done.
What you’re saying here is that we should judge Sinn Féin based on their political spin (i.e. the Lynn Boylan excuses blaming FG meanies) rather than on their voting record. I know which I find a more reliable basis on which to make an objective judgement.
@Tir I commentated because it asked for my opinion and I gave it. I don’t think Sinn Fein is a party grounded in reality.
@Deborah Behan:
Oh OK. He was me thinking your comment: “Where’s the “I don’t care” option?”, was a sign that you didn’t have an opinion. Silly me!
@Brinster: Just gave you another thumbs up- amazing how SF can bring us all together, in shared repulsion!
@TheWalkingBread: Genuine socialism hasn’t murdered anybody, that’s why people like me opposed the perversion that existed behind the Iron Curtain for decades. Do a bit more study ‘Walking’, begin with ‘USSR-Left Opposition.’ I do indeed wear the name of socialist with pride, not just because I understand the history of Stalinism and its obnoxious outgrowths, but the history of capitalism too- do you?!
i only vote to have them all thrown in prison, deplorable terrorist supporters the lot of them. subhumans
Which one is the Army Council backing again?
Might as well back the winner.
There is no Slab Murphy option.
@Obi Wan: Even if he was so inclined, he would not meet the criteria to run as he is not a member of Sinn Fein.
Do keep up, good lad.
Let’s keep political leaders south of the boarder ..
@For Connolly: Why not FC?
It’s he and his ilk who set the “criteria”.
You keep your head in the sand. “good lad”
@Obi Wan: Evidence please to back up your claim. SF set their policies and vote n their leadership live on nation TV every year at their ars feis.
You got something to back up your claim?
Brendan yes of course in front of TV. Because everything that happens in front of us on television is to be believed.. and if you can’t believe the people who run SF then who can you believe? It’s like when the current leader gets elected repeatedly because no one else puts themselves forward.. i mean if its good enough for soviet russia to have a leader for thirty years then its good enough for anybody.
@For Connolly:
I don’t need to produce evidence.
It’s common knowledge.
Can you produce evidence to the contrary ???
@Obi Wan: “I don’t need to produce evidence. It’s common knowledge.”
So, no evidence.
“Can you produce evidence to the contrary ???”
You made the claim, the onus is on you to back it up, which, surprise surprise, you can’t.
@FC: my GAA club’s senior hurling manager is not actually a member of the club either, since he’s from a different parish and retains membership of his club there. But that doesn’t mean he’s not involved in what we do.
@For Connolly:
I am not in a court of law and you are not of any importance.
So no need to produce any evidence to you.
Where is the option, DON’T CARE?
Obi, of course its not a court of law, but in the interests of sensible discussion, if you make a claim, you should be able to produce the evidence to back it up if you want to be taken seriously. Otherwise whats the point in making the claim.
@will Why? They are an All-Ireland party.
For those of you sneering you might want to read some history. No major party in this state has clean hands
FFs predecessors went against the publics support for the treaty’s “stepping stone” approach to freedom, and waged a war against the lawfully constituted govt, doing so mostly over the oath, which despite being worth a civil war in 1921 was suddenly “just words” in 1932 when they’d a shot at power. The war they waged included murdering TDs and Senators inc burning their homes with kids dying inside. In 32 they took handguns with them to the Dail chamber afraid CNG wouldn’t give up power.
One of their cabinets authorised arming nationalists being attached then the Taoiseach lost his bottle and decided to blame it on two ministers after a failed attempt to cover it up.
Fahd predecessors running the govt in that same war engaged in extrajudicial summary executions, sanctioned war crimes like tying prisoners to mines and machine gunning survivors. It’s not black and white
*FGs predecessor
Well the top 3 names in that journal poll puts them in 1,2,3.SF in the north are working in a totally different jurisdiction .
@will:
Same country though. And same party.
Tír let’s have a leader of SF not connected to the IRA or the murder of a mother of ten..how’s that for true leadership. Ps that’s the mood of the country and it’s what held back SF from cleaning up at the last election gerry Adams
Schrodinger’s Provo. Any given Provo is neither a member of Sinn Fein nor a member of the IRA until one of those outcomes is observed to be embarrassing, and the waveform collapses.
@will:
Any evidence that the current SF leader is connected to Jean McConville?
He knows the “MEN” who murdered a mother of ten
@will:
I’ll ask again. Any evidence that the current SF leader is connected to Jean McConville?
What about a kangaroo court of a raped teenager !!!
@will:
Still waiting….
Still waiting….ull never wait as long as the families of the disappeared 30 years in the TÍR …
@will:
I’ll take your dancing around the question as an admission of having no evidence to support your claim and as such have just wasted your time and mine in bringing up the claim in the first place.
P.s. Could you tell me if you hold the Old IRA in the same disdain as you did the provos?
I’ve an great uncle buried in mullingar who was a member of the IRA ..
Ps.. dancing around the the truth with facts tir
@will:
“I’ve an great uncle buried in mullingar who was a member of the IRA”
Doesn’t really answer my question, does it? Do you hold the old IRA in the same disdain as the provos?
@will:
I said “dancing around the question”. The question where I asked you to provide the evidence for your suggestion that the current SF leader was connected with the death of Jean McConville. And you have repeatedly danced around my request, making it abundantly clear you have no evidence to back up your claim. Wasting time for us both.
I’ll leave it down too ur in dept surveillance
@will:
Or you could just answer the simple question:
Do you hold the old IRA in the same disdain as the provos?
@Tír Eoghain Gael:
Poor Will is scurrying off to try to figure out how he’s supposed to explain away his disdain for the Provos for their disappearing 13 people in a 30 year campaign while at the same time eulogising and saluting the Old IRA of his great-uncle’s time, which disappeared over 200 (mostly innocent) people in a 2-3 year campaign.
All cut from the one cloth so really doesn’t make any difference. I might apply for the hob myself. Twud really boost my ego to be leader of something
Hey Alan ever see the film dodgeball?you remind me of steve the pirate
I really liked that guy. Aargggggh
It will be interesting to see who takes over from Adams as the older generation retire. There are some excellent potential leaders there and the new additions to the Dail, such as O’Broin, Cullinane and O’Reilly have been stand-out performers.
Have to say people I talk too. Like Mary Lou. They think if she became leader . Then they would vote sinn fein.
@LITTLEONE: Not after we remind people of SF’s clear criminal and terrorist connections, as well as economic policies that would bankrupt and ruin the country :-)
As opposed to the current government who have a long history of white collar crime and economy policies that have ruined the country?
Depends on who the Army Council want, I’d imagine, so the poll, and opinions are really pointless .
OK. Fred. Is that after they read all the news on nama, watch BBC spotlight, listen to secret tapes, see that government prefer helping apple get away with tax while they get taxed again in the budget. Or after the see they are not getting the promised usc cut or that their families members are once again lying on trollies. Good luck. You do realise there is whole new generation of people who are living in the future not the past.
Yes Fred, We should all ignore the past. Except for other parties, their past is open for discussion at all times. Discussing sinn feins past is partionist, political point scoring, and a direct attack on the peace process. Oh and scurrilous too. Almost forgot.
Ah Fred. Had to re read this. Have you been under a rock . Isn’t this exactly what has happened to the country. Under the previous last governments of ff, fg , labour, greens. Aren’t people still paying for that.
well as economic policies that would bankrupt and ruin the country :-)
Best laugh I had this morning.
Must say Fred . That be a great one to use in election campaign.
Do you according to Fred and his affiliated party which is either fg or ff . My bet is fg.
Want a party that MAY bankrupt and ruin the country. If yes vote sf.
Or do you want a party that Has bankrupt and ruined the country.
Then vote fg and ff.
The decision is yours.
Makes great slogan Fred.
Do you want MAY or do you want HAS.
Is the country not bankrupt and ruins already?
Fred…I say this as someone who wouldn’t vote SF, what specifics are you talking about?
Most of their policies are not much further left than FF or where Labour is in theory (tho never practice) so..centre left? You could hardly throw them in with the ULA. Because of FF stealing their clothes on some issues we’ve never had an obvious left right split but you could fit half of FF all of SF and Lab into one party easy without much policy disagreement
The only thing that makes me ball is scrapping USC but that’s also FG policy…free at point of use health care…also FF and FG policy just using diff models..just like the others they pay lip service to Senate reform knowing full well they’ll keep it as ‘backup plan’ for people who don’t make it to the Dail..higher taxes on high earners isn’t exactly a new idea, keeping banks nationalised until they pay us back seems ok to me..where’s the bankrupting?
@Fred Johnson: your partys have all ready ruined the country wakey wakey fred
no one. disband.
@ericm: I wish every party would disband so we could start again with new rules. Rule 1 being if you want to be a politician then you can’t have the job.
@Rob Cahill: good man rob …………..
Caoimhin held the fort for SF prior to the present line up. I for one believe he is a great debater and can stand out in any issue that may arise. I do miss his input to the dail arguments
Caoimghin would be the man but he isnt running again after this term. Pearse therefore should become next leader.
No more dodgy socialist passive aggressive northerners please. Never forget Pearse Doherty and his entourage flying out to Athens to congratulate his comrades in Syrizia. 4 months later, the banks were shut..lol
In fairness, Caoimhghin is adorable.
@Fred Johnson: to be fair to O’Caolain he was the only southern SF TD before Adams came on the scene and he has done a lot for Co. Monaghan. I think that he is getting towards retirement at this stage of his career.
@Fred Johnson: let’s keep voting for people who bankrupt and pillage our country sounds smart to me Fred.
Kelly would be the best man but Sinn Fein needs to move away from its past, so Mary Lou is the one to do that.
That date however will not be until sometime after the 150th anniversary of the Easter Rising.
Mary lou is another party nodding donkey. she was (rightly) fire and brimstone over child abuse in the Catholic Church but became strangely muted and deflectionary when similar stories appeared regarding provos children and moving abusers south of the border.
@Charlie Wrex:
Very true charlie
Great to see the tories back on the journal, hope you enjoyed your holidays any word on Nama
Hillary Clinton…
I’m kidding, I wouldn’t touch that party with a 50th preference vote, regardless of which lunatic is in charge of the asylum…
Either Pearse or Mary Lou would be a breath of fresh air but, for me, she just edges it.
No Angus O’ Snodig O’ Suil Abhain Og option?
I reckon P O Neill is the man
I hope Jurry stays on, he must be doing something right when the Sunday Indo devotes so much time and effort trying to undermine him whilst spoon feeding its readership crap handed to them by the spin doctors in the FF/FG cartel.
Juan. Who is jurry.
Nigel Farage is looking for a job when Britain pulls out of Europe. He would lead Irelands campaign to exit the EU, while SF have in the past talked about it but have no balls to do anything about it.
Do keep up Chris, SF were on the remain side in the referendum ffs!
@PaulJ:
But voted against every EU Referendum down here.
Flip, flop, flip, flop.
It’s almost like they make it up as they go along.
@Brinster: “It’s almost like they make it up as they go along”
Oh the irony of you making that statement.
@PaulJ: SF are like the weather vane always changing direction. Take Martin Kenny for instance TD for the new constituency Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan. Before the last election he was knocking on West Cavan doors looking for votes and promising the sun, moon and stars. Now he has put his name to a campaign to ‘reunite’ Cavan to it’s previous position, therefore abandonning the people of West Cavan who voted for him. If it comes to another election in the next year he can feck off from looking for Cavan votes, traitor.
Brinster are you seriously that idiotic yesterday you cannot understand the difference between wanting to stay in the EU as is but being against further losses of sovereignty as each of these referendums was? There are some amount of uneducated clowns on this site!
Chris Its sf policy to redraw that constituency and put west cavan back with the rest of cavan/monaghan.
@Seamus Og: That makes no sense at all, the only advantage it serves is for the opportunist Cavan/Monaghan TD’s who lost votes in the last general election because of the boundary change.
West Cavan has significant tourism potential from being designated part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, clearly the east Cavan TD’s don’t see it that way. because they never represented the need of the people anyway.
Martin Kenny has the opportunity to speak up for West Cavan, but he has turned his back on us.
Where’s the “I don’t give a bollox” option?
@Karol Doran: I think you just used it…..
I think it’s in the ‘why did you open the story then?’ section.
I obviously opened it to tick the “I don’t give a bollox option”. Keep up.
Who cares they are all pretty rubbish
Michael Martin,or enda Kenny toss of a coin really
Qualities required.
Walk the moral high ground.
Be able to give everything to everybody by just taxing the rich.
Mary Lou is a very good media performer but never gets any questions about SF dark past and armed struggle
Is there a gentlemen agreement with the mainstream media not to ask about the days of the armed struggle
@John003:
LOL!! You seriously suggesting the media don’t seem to want to drag the IRA into items relating to SF? REALLY???!!!
I’ve seen it all now.
Well I have listened many times to interviews with Mary Lou and not once have I heard her asked about say the Enniskillen bomb or killing of policeman Asked to condemn it or justify it or even give a fudge answer
She is only ever asked about present day political question
There is a media bias there
John why isn’t Minister John Halligan asked about money laundering operations on a mass scale his Workers Party colleagues. Also why aren’t the Labour party asked about OIRA decommissioning or criminality?
@John003:
lol good man John. I was going to post up an exhaustive list of links to stories of McDonald being quizzed about the IRA etc but I haven’t the time nor the energy. Suffice to say a quick google of the term “Mary Lou McDonald IRA” should provide ample evidence of your utterly delusional and bizarre claim!
Eoin Ó Broin, no?
@Henri Poincaré: Future leader or deputy leader material all right. Seriously intelligent and a calm, level headed debater. Plus a genuinely nice bloke who does a lot for our constituency.
Maybe a bit more outrage at this and that now and then would move him forward.
People have no time for a skilled debater ;) Cheap thrills now please!
The bulk of the party is still in NI, so it may have to be a nordie.
It actually isn’t, there are more elected representatives for SF in the south.
Slab Murphy should retain the position.
Doesn’t really matter who they vote to replace Geraldo, over 86% of the voting public ignored them at the last GE.
Take your pick lads, spoiled for choice!
Will it be the Fianna Fail reject and only party member with a 3rd level education? Will it be the two time college drop out who’s never had a job outside of politics? Or maybe you’ll go for the convicted murderer and terrorist?
Jez not Mary Loo…I couldn’t take that pained moany whinge bag rattling on in the media on a regular basis.
I think Slab Murphy is doing a good job , why change that?.
Donald Trump.
Failing that
Roy Keane
Brinster banging on about the past again and gabby like two broken records at this stage. how about all the murdering of the civil war partys did in their fantastic past.time for ye oldies to move on and the the peace process move on.
Matt Carthy is believed to be gunning for the job. Local talk anyway.
Gunning. Ha, like it.
@The spokesman: He was a Monaghan county councillor shortly before he got the MEP job and is still wet behind the ears. Leadership is something that needs maturity rather than be parachuted into a role. Adams is a joke and so would be any northern politician who don’t have experience of how this country works..
@Chris Kirk, I agree with you but I have followed Matt’s progress as I’m from this part of the world and he has come on leaps and bounds over the past two years and ia hugely respected within the party and to my mind is definetly in with a shout compare to some of the other clowns mentioned.
@The spokesman: We have no way of measuring Matts progress in Europe and compared to other Irish MEP’s like Mairead McGuinness and Marion Harkin who have a track record and are respected within the EU parliament. I would rather see Matt stay in Europe for a few more years to improve his knowledge of international politics. Perhaps you can tell us what did he achieve with Monaghan CoCo.
@Chrid Kirk, hes spent 18 years or so in Monaghan co co and Carrickmacross town council and was always a man who got things done on a local level his achievements are various and across the spectrum but all local councillors agree on decisions so it’s hard to pin any achievement to any one of them. Any problem I needed resolved he was the first person id contact and I’m not a sinn fein national voter. Hes a good speaker and debater and has no military past unlike Conor Murphy, Kelly and any other of the nordie ones. O coalaon will probably retire soon and Mary Lou is not connected enough up north. Carthy is a half way candidate who will get a fair share of support on the all island among sinn fein voters.
@Chris Kirk, by the way, harkin is the best Irish politician on Europe by a mile and there will never be another like her. She’s exceptional.
@The spokesman: Thats fair enough I know that Matt Carthy is a family man and I won’t press you further on his achievements with Monaghan CoCo while Carrickmacross is a fine town that has come on leaps and bounds over the past decade or so.. I will say this though that while Matt was a Co.Councillor there was a lot of corruption in Monaghan over zoning of building land in areas which were considered flood plains.
@Chris, building on the flood plains was a FG man now an independent who sorted that out and Carthy was only on the Carrickmacross town council when that was approved so he can’t get blame there for not stopping it. Carrickmacross is probably the nicest town in the north East and had great amenities. SF are too left wing and liberal for my liking but on a local level very good.
*had
Someone who was in the ira would be suitable but that narrowes it down a bit
I’d never vote SF, and I don’t like the idea that the leader should be a woman, but Mary Lou is the best candidate for the job, regardless of her gender
Mary Lou’s sunbed salon will be going full blast if she gets the top job
Am I the only one thinking who the feck is Conor Murphy?
I must say that I think Mary Lou is a complete spoofer. I really don’t understand how she got this far. She’s far from intelligent and full of complaints. I don’t remotely like SF but I think O’Doherty is a very able politician and would make SF a viable alternative to the main parties…in other words, I’d like Mary Lou to get the nod
There shouldn’t be a Sinn Fein.
I’m thinking, who the fcuk cares who leads them, they are not going anywhere soon.
Gerry is a legend. No one can replace him. SF will have a big loss without him.
All the times he was asked was he in the IRA and he denied it… Why wasn’t he?
I wouldn’t put any of them in, they’re all low lifes.
Why is there no slab Murphy option? Or will he just continue to run the commercial side?
No Ferris option? Forgetting where it came from?
John Major
@simon: Paddy Power?
I’ll never be a supporter but the only one of this bunch that sounds and is credible is Caoimhghin O’ Caolain.
Bart Simpson
I want mary lou, pearse or john brady to be the next leader. All very good candidates
Has to be Mary Lou, she is a natural leader
I think SF would get No 1 vote from many people like myself who are reluctant to support the gunmen. Adams has blood on his hands, that’s why I wouldn’t vote SF. When he goes, SF could become the main player in this island.
Eoin ni Broin
C’mon sf
Me
Does it really matter who will lead the eternal opposition ? I presume it will be another synical head with no ears. As they say it’s the Sinn Fein’s leaders way or no way and Jerry will always be hiding in the tall grass.
It will be a democratic process, so who knows?
Nobody wants to put their head above the parapet and declare an interest in a heave against Dear Leader. They’d probably end up being disappeared and their families searching for the body for 20 years.
I hate to break it to everyone, but the Party’s not going to decide it’s next ” Leader “, based on this Poll. That will be decided by the Party’s Membership, just like it is every year. If you want to have your say on who takes over from Gerry, then join the Party and pass the ” Probationary Period “. Then again, this Poll will be closer to the election for our next Leader, compared to the election of who’ll replace Enda.
MI5 will decide that. As they’ve always done. Only a fool would think otherwise given that the SFers do more to promote the British Royals than even the Unionists these days.
have your say