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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has approved draft bye-laws which will increase on-street parking rates in the city centre from July.
Last night, councillors approved the draft bye-laws which include proposals to broaden the areas where parking charges apply amid council plans to expand ‘high demand’ red and yellow zone areas across the city.
Changes to the city’s parking bye-laws will result in increased charges for the first time since 2008 with proposals to raise the charge paid by motorists in the yellow zone from €2.90 to €3.20 per hour, and in the red zone from €2.40 to €2.70 an hour. Parking charges in green zone will remain at €1.60.
The changes mean that parking charges would increase in the area of Phibsborough around the Mater Hospital, in Kilmainham, near the South Circular Road and Dolphin’s Barn, south of the city centre in Ranelagh and Rathmines, and to east of the city near the 3Arena.
“The rationale is to reflect the increased demand for parking in those areas,” DCC parking enforcement officer Dermot Stevenson told the council’s Transport committee last week.
“We want to discourage all day commuter parking and long-term parking in those areas and allow residents in those areas the right to park.”
For Parking Tag users, yellow zone charges will increase to €3.10 while red zone charges will increase to €2.60. It’s also proposed to introduce a €9 per hour coach parking charge in the city.
Under the proposed bye-laws, there is no increase in the charge paid by residents for annual or biennial parking permits, or in the cost of 24-hour parking permits for their visitors.
The increased rates are set to come into effect on 1 July with the draft bye-laws due to be put out for public consultation in the next few weeks.
With reporting by Stephen McDermott
MMcG is wholly inappropriate as presidential material … a man… who refuses to accept the legitimacy of our courts, state & constitution….brandishes those who don’t support his cause as “West Brits”…but nonetheless wants to be President of a state he doesn’t recognise…is reason enough alone.
Not to mention….under his leadership & as a member in a position of authority, the IRA murdered over 600 civilians…innocent men, women & children…& they kidnapped and mutilated countless more…many of their own… compared with 28 loyalist paramilitaries.
Sinn Fein demand and say they “deserve nothing less than the truth” …this is only fair i agree…though i also think …the families of the victims of the IRA… who also live with the knowledge those responsible will never be held to account…be treated in the same manner… SF rightly demand for themselves.
M.Mc.G supporters ” we should move on ” the past must be forgotten…though only the part of the past… where the IRA ran a brutal murderous campaign.
He refuses to accept any responsibility…imagining these actions as legitimate…because they were in response to provocation from the british. Nobody would deny the catholics were treated unfairly…and the cause was a legitimate one……however, this doesn’t mean……. the methods the IRA adopted… were legit or the correct solution to bring change.
By refusing to acknowlege their actions weren’t legitimate… or accept responsiblity for their actions…. they continue to maintain they were justified in their actions. They weren’t ….they chose the wrong course of actions & ignored other alternatives. Two wrongs don’t make either right.
For hundreds of years… also in this country… women were oppressed by men…treated like second-class citizens…we didn’t resort to mindless brutaliy visited upon innocent men, women or children to enforce the changes we enjoy today.
Indeed the very thought, of Mna Na hEireann taking up arms…running amok through the highways & byways of the land, on a murderous, kidnapping & kneecapping rampage… to gain recognition for their legit cause… seems utterely ridiculous.
My God, it’s refreshing to read a comment that’s so well argued. We need a lot more of that!
I don’t know! Hunger strikes, arson, assault, bombings, seems he learned a lot from mna na heireann.
the oldest candidate, less pension to pay afterwards
nice one
“Norris’s election would be a snub to sex abuse victims” – I disagree totally.
Norris has made serious errors of judgement in the past but too many people are tarring him as a paedo, which is simply wrong.
To use your logic, The election of Gay Mitchell, a devout Catholic, could also be a snub to sex abuse victims!
“Has he even bothered to comment on the recent Amnesty International human rights report?”
How many of the other 6 candidates have read it?
Citing Gay Mitchell’s catholicism is the ‘you too’ fallacy and doesn’t exonerate Norris. It’s you who aren’t being logical.
Norris styles himself a human rights campaigner so it’s reasonable to expect him to comment on the Amnesty report.
Point of information. You can not under our electoral system vote for “None of the above”. It will not appear on the ballot paper. You must vote for one of the seven named candidates. Suggest that it’s removed.
I would argue Brian that accomodates people who might spoil their vote in protest at the field…
You can spoil your ballot if you like, though. “None of the above” is fairly common apparently.
It’s kind of obvious that it means “I won’t be voting” or “I’ll spoil my vote”…
you can abstain from voting which is the same thing so the poll should reflect those who don’t vote because they don’t like any candidate and/or don’t think we need a president
@Ciaran… no …. abstaining is NOT the same as ‘spoiling’ (or in this case ‘none of the above’}….
Abstaining just consigns a valid opinion into the ‘don’t care’ … which can also include the ‘any of the above’ votes.
Surely better to have that explicit in the poll. Call that button “Spoiled vote” instead of “None of the Above”, Seeing as no others can enter now.
Also, recurring encouragement to work out an online polling method here that includes transfers.
In both the 1990 an 1997 Presidential elections thousands of people spoiled their votes by writing ” Dustin” or “Dustin the Turkey” That represents “none of the above” voting.
There’s no entitlement or right to spoil your vote. You can only do it because we have a pen and paper system and the ballot is in secret. E-voting, for example, would eliminate spoiled votes if were introduced.
A deliberate spoiling of a vote is undemocratic and utterly disrepectful of our system. What makes it all pointless is that the president will be elected from the valid poll. The spoiled vote statistic is really a count of the voters who either a) make a genuine error or b) are too thick to fill in the ballot paper. There is no democratic expression at all in a spoilt vote, least of all an expression of protest or dissent. Unless it is a referendum you can only vote for something, not against it. It’s affirmative action.
This poll should only have the 7 candidates and a “Don’t Know”. This makes it far more insightful. If the “Don’t Knows” are high then there’s a lot to be played for. The None of the above/Not voting/Can’t Vote/Spoil my vote are irrelevant.
As for the chap who said 1000′s voted for Dustin in 1997. I say urban legend. 0.7% of votes were spoiled – 9,832 votes. Of course they all said Dustin. Or perhaps they had the Mona Lisa on them. What we do know for a fact is that the counted for nothing.
Spoiling your vote is a valid expression of democracy. And that is a major advantage of the pen and paer system. Much better than staying at home mumbling to one’s self about “that shower”!
I demand an “anybody but McGuinness” option.
very democratic of you cillian.
I think you guys should build a virtual PR ballot paper, with a third party person to oversee, and run a count with eliminations etc and see what happens….now THAT would be worth seeing.
they did that on boards.ie for ge11 last year it was quite accurate i believe
Can we please have an option for ‘Inanimate carbon rod’
can anyone explain to me why 40% of the electorate feel drawn towards a middle class homosexual joycean dandy who speaks with a west british accent. surely they cant feel a connection? i just dont get it. he cant possibly speak for the working classes in this country which is dwindling by the day. is it just because he would possibly be the biggest media whore of the seven candidates. i am genuinely curious because i really dont see the appeal and thats ignoring any suggestions of paedophilia.
Good point Charlie
It’s not necessary to be like somebody in order to support them/ connect with them. Plenty of white people in America voted for Obama, which wouldn’t make sense by your logic. I don’t hear many men claiming Mrs McAleese doesn’t represent them because she’s a woman, for example. A middle class person can represent a working class person, and vice versa. Otherwise half the population would automatically feel alienated no matter who wins. Most of my friends support Norris, and they like him because he’s a gentleman, a scholar, a champion of human rights and for these reasons will make a great ambassador. His accent, class and sexuality are completely irrelevant.
Charlie – it’s not 40% of the electorate, it’s 40% of Journal readers ( or 40% of those who decided to comment on this particular thread). BIG difference !
Well, shur, maybe we just want to be a bit more diverse. After all there’s no harm in broadening our horizons a little. He’s not my first choice but I feel it’s nice to see Ireland opening its mind a bit more.
@Tom Norris is not a supporter of paedophilia and of sex crimes he wrote a letter to try and help somebody close to him 2. I’m more worried about the fact that our primary schools are run and under the rule Of an institution and people PROVEN to have covered up and still cover up paedophilia and sex crimes
Absolute hogwash JP, the fact is the man wrote a letter defending a man who committed rape of a 15 year old boy, furthermore since then he has on more than one occasion tried to justify this by appealing to pederasty.
The man is a deviant in my opinion and should never be let near another official office for fear of abusing such an office again, this he made a mistake lark just doesn’t wash, he knew what he was doing and he is responsible for it himself alone.
Deflect much?
Tom, there’s a difference between rape and statutory rape. Look it up in a dictionary.
I think Norris would make a fantastic President, he’s certainly the most intelligent of the bunch! After everything the catholic church have put this country through are we really that small minded that we can’t look beyond someone’s sexuality? So what if he’s gay!! How exactly does that affect his ability to do his job? If anything it makes him more open-minded.
The small minded people of this country could cause us all to loose the opportunity to have a great representative for stupid reasons….sexuality and an accent? Get over yourselves and grow-up!!!
As for McGuinness, don’t get me started on a man that pledges allegiance to the IRA for life and then thinks he can run the very same ‘republic’ that he doesn’t even agree with.
Most intelligent of the bunch? Even if it were true, how would that make him a fantastic President?
Why do his supporters keep bringing his sexuality into this? It really baffles me. Just because someone doesn’t believe he would make a good President does not automatically make them homophobic!
Looks like FG shot itself in both feet with Mitchell. In this poll he is a walking electoral disaster. From huge success in the General Election, to being trashed by the rest of the field. Poor choice and strategy by FG. Should have selected Mairead McGuinness.
I think that’s why Enda Kenny’s shoulders slumped when Mitchell’s name was announced at at the selection meeting.
Mitchell has no credibility.
No but he has a lovely bank account fat with money from the EU .
David Norris has an exceptional record on human rights , is was he andary Robinson who fought for human rights in Europe . Ok he wrote a letter of clemency for someone he loved , there are plenty of people out there who support their loved ones when they do something wrong this is what he was doing , nobody knows the full facts 100% and neither did he at the time , error of judgment yes but we need to move on . And these people saying that it’s a snub to sexual assault victims please get off your crosses . He apologized the pope and the catholic church won’t acknowledge the disgusting wrong doings they continue to cover up but people continue to worship them and their representatives and I consider Dana to be one of them
I don’t agree re. Norris – He was in a position of Senator which is a position for responsible people. Responsible people should know what they are doing, or else they shouldn’t be there. It is easy to say … Ohh, I didn’t do it on purpose, I didn’t know, it’s someone else’s fault … This is exactly this type of negligence and apathy that got us where we are now …
JP he wrote a letter for a convicted rapist, would you?
So you’ve never made a major mistake then?
@Oil: Rape and statutory rape are two different things.
@Conor: Ezra Nawi had the consent of the child he raped. Woot. That’s alright then! If children were informed enough to consent they would have the vote. They don’t.
Never the less, it was NOT David Norris who committed the crime and he did not seek to condone the crime in his letter as far as I can see, rather he asked for clemency on the basis that OTHER than being a rapist Nawi was a very nice man (in his opinion). Serious error of judgement, but not a hanging offence, I believe. Hopefully those adults who have the priviledge to be able to vote will do so having given due consideration to all candidates, and make an informed choice!
Mother of God Felicity…. do you even know what the definition of Rape is? I’m pretty sure it does NOT include having the consent of the other party.
There is a WORLD of difference between that and Statuatory Rape.
Felicity, I’m not sure if you’re trolling or not. But if not, you’re proving the point that too many people do not know the difference between rape and statutory rape. Both involve sexual intercourse, and both contain the word ‘rape’, but that’s largely where the similarity ends. Calling someone a rapist when they haven’t been convicted of rape is verging on slander.
all MMCG supporters bang on about is reunification and the Brits….yawn.
Let’s face it, the last two presidents were called Mary so why not another one… David Norris will be the next President of Ireland!!
Haha brilliant point!!
I spoke to him at the time of the last election when his name was being mentioned (I was a neighbour so used bump into him a lot). He reckoned his campaign slogan would be “Put a Queen back in the Vice-Regal Lodge”…he’s a funny funny guy :-)
Norris’s election would be a snub to sex abuse victims. Has he even bothered to comment on the recent Amnesty International human rights report?
well if it is a snub then they are all guilty of same
Mannix Flynn had no problem putting him forward in Dublin City Council yesterday evening. Righteous much?
the idea that all victims are a homogeneous group is a stereotype
Pen, I’d be of the opinion that attending mass is a snub to sex abuse victims by continuing to prop up the institution that allowed it to flourish. What’s worse? A letter requesting clemency for a loved one engaged in illegal sexual acts or implicitly enabling mass scale sex abuse by being “a compliant and silent” catholic.
So based on that, if Gay wins its a snub to all the families of anyone who’s been murdered?
Can Mary McAleese be asked to do the job for another 7 years? Please!
You mean the even greater swizz of the UNELECTED president?
I notice that one man in this race is being subjected to spurious correlations re what he says, then some join the dots and make the wildest inferences imaginable. This is the context of a recent Amnesty report that suggests our society was engaged in a massive cover up of the appalling historical and present suffering of children in this country. Do we really think we have the ideal scapegoat in Sen. David Norris? If he is, then to me, there are definite homophobic tendencies in this argument construction. If not, perhaps the debate can focus on the systemic cover up that is child abuse. I live in an area where I see children suffering dire neglect on a daily basis. My public representatives in Dublin City Council who were so vociferous in their character assassination of Senator Norris last night also witness what I term neglect and despite their daily ingestion of such suffering most of them continue to turn a blind eye to the ongoing painful realities of so many children in our country today. Instead, any opportunity for grandstanding is grasped which to me is mad hypocrisy.
THERE IT IS!!!! … wondered how long it would take for some idiot to use the ‘homophobe’ label to describe anyone with reservations about a candidate who has clearly questions to answer.
THERE IT IS!!!! … I wondered how long it would take for someone to use the ‘homophobe’ label to describe anyone who dares to question the suitability of a candidate who CLEARLY has questions to answer.
mind the truth Liam it just might take your eye out
what kind of remark is that Shane? … are you saying that I am lying? … its plain to see in black and white … JimmyD suggests that if we continue to question Norris’ suitability with ‘spurious correlations’ and ‘wildest inferences imagineable’ .. we are ‘homophobic’ in his opinion…
I repeat…. David Norris CLEARLY has questions to answer.
Liam – go for it – what are those questions?
Jimmy D. This is a poll on who you would vote for as our new PRESIDENT. If you have a problem with your local representatives then, surely, you should take it up with them personally. Or are one of those who express their concern about issues but never actually DO anything about them. Except to declare that “THEY” should do something about it.
By the way my opinion on tonight’s PRIME TIME Higgins : A waffler. Probably will win but what about his age – 70. Okay, agist comment but I’m 61 and I wouldn’t be able to do my own job in 15years let alone President. 7.5/10 Mitchell :- Another waffle merchant but not in MDH’s class. Even his own leader didn’t want to run him. 4.5/10. Davis :- Got a very biased interview from R.C. Why the obsession with tying her to Fianna Fail? Articulate but despite being a member of the Council of State doesn’t appear to know what the President’s role is. 5/10 McGuinness :- Knew he’d get a tough ride and was well prepared for it. BUT, I don’t think the country is ready for a Sinn Fein President YET. Maybe next time. 5.5/10 Norris :- Narky, aggressive, evasive. Didn’t answer the questions and tried to set his own agenda for the interview. This has lost him my vote (was actually considering to give him no 1 but now not even a preference). 2.5/10 Dana :- Awful. Alienated a lot of people with her answer re a bill bringing a form of abortion to Ireland. The President cannot “guarantee” such a bill will not come before her for signature. 2/10. Gallagher :- Did well. Knew nothing about him apart from his Dragon’s Den part. Now know he has seen all of facet’s of life from different sides. I would prefer to have him going on a Trade Mission than any of the others. And I think the next President can expect a lot of TM travel in their first years. So far my fav. 7.5/10.
It would be a national disgrace of scum like McGuinness got elected. Apart from the fact that he knows shag all about life in the south (like most NI politicians) his gang of cowards are responsible for hundreds of murders of innocent people. If there’s a single candidate utterly unsuitable for the role it’s McGuinness.
Burned out of her home. Family members attacked and brutalized by loyalists and brits. Freinds and family killed. Entire family narrowly escaped massacred.
And yet not once ever did Mary McAleese believe she had to murder people.
It’s interesting how your “FACT” (with capital letters no less) happens to be complete rubbish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_London#Irish_republican_attacks_during_.22the_Troubles.22
Look at all the people killed or maimed in that list. 99.9% were civilians.
Dev & Collins never targetted civilians & had the majority of the people on their side.
The IRA, which McGuinness was leading, did target civilians & had only a lunatic fringe supporting them.
I love when the facts totally take the legs out from under someone’s little rant… Especially when they’re Shinners…
Very valid point. My main objection remains how little about his past we seem to know about. And what we know seems so incredible! Is it possible he could have been so highly ranked in the IRA yet never had a role in ordering someones execution??
I might be able to forgive it and move on if I could be convinced he is honest and has a similar vision of Ireland to me! Or is this some kind of strategic play by SF to achieve their goal of a united Ireand!?
Hoax warnings do not count.
you would,nt be fit to tie the mans shoelaces EM.it takes courage and strength for a man to go to war.I say that to the men who fought in wars all across the world,in the afgan hills,east timor,africa,vietnam,bougaville island,quatamala,colombia,cuba,i could go on and on.all these men and women fought and fight against the same thing martin mc guinness is fighting against.,that thing these people fight against is tearing this world apart.its time people got their heads out of their asses and deciede which side their on, because when it knocks on your door,you,ll find out who your real friends,people who do care whats happening.wakey wakey.get in there mcguinness and stop the rot before its to late.TIOCFAIDH AR LA.do it for bobby and his comrades.
What an absolute lie Tom! What was Omagh? A deliberate targetting of civilians by people MMcG used to call comrades. What about Jean McConville? Was she an accident? No she was deliberately targetted by the IRA and there were many more just like her.
I suggest you go educate yourself first before calling others fool.
I gave money to Norris’s campaign. Heard him on the radio today and thought ‘what a clown’
As far as I’m aware, you can ask for a political donation back within a certain time frame…
How in God’s name is McGuinness a good pick!? He’s good on Take Me Out but I’d rather have an older man/woman in this role with more experience. What is a Dana?
I see what you did there
I actually prefer Mcguinness in max & paddy ;)
lads seeing as it offical now and all the candidates are named can we remove party names as they will not be on the ballot papers
Are you certain Jason…party names are on all other elections…?
I am David, but just pointing out that on the presidential ballot paper there is no party names
Interesting to see if the ra supporters start a smear campaign against Norris now that their ex officer in command is doing well in the polls.
yawn
couldnt care less about the next president of ireland,more important things in the country to be sorted out than worrying about an over paid statue in the aras
The problem with the Irish Presidential race is for the last 14 years we set the bar SO HIGH, none of these, also rans, can come close, i’d like her to stay for another 7 years but that’s not going to happen. Do any of these even come close to the Class she exuded ????
In the ’97 election the same view was held about Mary Robinson’s tenure and that no candidate could come close. Mary McAleese was seen by many as a poor substitute but she grew into the role to become as respected now as Robinson was then. Who’s to say the next President would be any different.
Nope, she should be awarded president for life but unfortunately we’re gonna be stuck with either an entrepreneur, 3 religious right wingers, a joycian fop, a leprechaun and a terrorist/freedom fighter (depending on viewpoint)
Are you actually serious? What did Mary McAleese ever do for this country? Where was the voice of reassurance and authority last year when we went through our greatest crisis since the civil war? She was nowhere to be seen. She was an invisible president. Mary Robinson changed this country and changed the presidency.
Yes I am serious and not because i have any deep affinity with Mary Macaleese but this election is pointless, the role of president is pointless so lets just leave her there as a token head of state, why waste more money on a different token head of state?
None of the above. It’s currently a pointless ceremonial position.
ahhhh read the constution of Ireland, it does say a few things about the office.
With any luck the coming revelations about Norris will not only sink his presidential hopes, but his senatorial career. Those ‘dont knows’ will all be anti-Norris
David Norris’s record on human rights is So exceptional he doesn’t discriminate against rapists and paedophilia, do we really want a defender of sexual crimes as our President ?
I wish this was accurate but lets be honest, people who read the journal aren’t a true representation of Irish people
What is…?
people who read the daily star maybe…….?
this is a bit of a waste of time. poll indicates Norris support at 40%!? does anyone seriously thing thats an accurate reflection of the probable outcome??
Of course not. Everyone on this site knows most people here are pro Norris.
Yeah, because the likes of the MBL polls are in complete contrast aren’t they?
Red c poll three days ago put Norris at 21%. So an 18% percent jump in three days makes me think that the journal poll isn’t representative of the country as a whole.
Well… suppose your original comment could have been interpreted in two ways. The way I interpreted it was that Norris was only in first place because he had a lot of supporters here. See what you mean now and you’re probably right.
Pity we can’t just keep Mary McAleese as our President. She has been outstanding in her role. A great candidate would be Dr Martin McAleese, he wouldn’t be unfamiliar with the job and wouldn’t have to move house!!
Martin McAleese the man who is a self proclaimed Unionist, the same man who has cosy friendships with convicted loyalist murderers, this Martin ? Are you mentally deficient ?
@Tom Rooney: and Martin Guinness with a past in the IRA and friendships with IRA murderers?
Still a lot of Brit bashing on here and harping back to 1916.
Get over it lads, WWII was 30 years after and we all forgave the Germans
All that this poll and similar self selecting polls on other websites do is to show the bias of vistors to the website.
the amount of support for terrorism on here is terrifying..some people need to shake off the indoctrination, stop blaming events from hundred of years ago and look to the future.
Given that our “Pres” will represent us the people at the highest level Globally and have to be completely above any type of scandal because we all know the Worlds media will latch on to any little bit of scandal wherever the Pres goes and will put out on all forms of media, Why? Why? Why? are people even considering Norris for pres? He comes across as someone with serious questions left unanswered!
We had enough people running this country who turned a blind eye and even condoned what went on in the Religous and state run places of “education” , David Norris obviously condoned the act of his former Boyfriend other wise he would not have looked for clemency, and his controversial views on consenting sex between older men and young men can not be the views of a President of this fine country of ours. vote for a candidate who we dont have to worry about making a show of us! who knows what ideas he will come out with if he gets in..
Tom Tom Tom…not a SINGLE one of them is clean. Frankly the supposed views of David Norris pale compared to the 1771 murders committed while MMcG was at the helm, Gay Mitchell is a right wing catholic with extreme views, and has also written clemency appeals on Oireachtas paper, Mary Davis has been on that many Quango’s I don’t know how she remembers them all, not to mind loading Cork Airport with MASSIVE debt, Dana is a Christian Fundamentalist conservative who by definition would be out of place…and I’m sure it wouldn’t be too difficult to fine something unsavoury about the remaining two. You can’t be that naieve. Norris has been a ranking member on the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, and travelled the world meeting ministers and heads of states for donkeys years. What makes you think he’s unsuitable now?
David Wilkins you do realise there is a difference between Murder and Killing, right ?
Murder is a legal definition, are you proposing that McGuinness is personally responsible for the deaths of 1771 people ? Or are you coming here with an agenda filled to the gills with a bias.
The British murdered far more than 1771 people during there time in Ireland and are likely to continue doing so into the future at some stage until they leave.
How far back would you like to go with your history of war in Ireland ?
Tom, if, as you assert, Norris condoned the act of his former boyfriend by asking for clemency doesn’t that mean that Mitchell condoned the acts of the double murderer Paul Hill and the other murder/rapist that Mitchell also sought clemency for?
Wow Tom R, seriously, you are a scary scary man! Wow wow wow! Tom McH you’re just funny :-)
@David Wilkins … I find you opinionated and obnoxious … ‘not a SINGLE one of them is clean’…. you say….
Your justification for this statement in the case of Gay Mitchell is that he is a right-wing Cathoilic …. Mary Davis worked on quango’s…. Dana a ‘Christian fundamentalist’… What is unclean about any of these descriptions?
Oh…. but in the case of David Norris?…… ‘he was my neighbour and is a funny, funny guy’…… NO MATTER to you that he flouted the office he now runs for to add weight to his appeals (on Senate paper) for clemency…. and who, further ridiculed the office of Pesident by telling personally you his slogan would be “Put a Queen back in the Vice-Regal Lodge” ?
@Liam Fe, thank for your reply. At least you took an interest.
Martin will be a fresh working class face David n Michael D not a bad choice either. Mitchell a hot head, not a good choice
If your looking for a symbol or figure head, your better off getting destitute person begging on the streets and putting them in the Aras, it’ll signify our broken Country.
Society: A Country where public workers are set against private workers in a race to the bottom. Where Fraudulent Businessmen, Bankers, Developers can walk around Scot free, while the Man on the street is sent to jail for not being able to pay fines. A country where its OK for a Global company that posts pre-tax profits of £3.4bn can advertise for shelf stacker’s on ‘internships’ that are paid for by the tax payers.
Politics: A Country where a party can make all sorts of claims before an election then do a complete turnaround, with no recourse. Where a current Government Minister can introduce a water tax. septic tank tax and a property tax. but when asked previously if he’d take a pay cut like his party leader, said he couldn’t ‘because my personal circumstances don’t allow for it’
Banks: Who are taking money to stay afloat, from a government that’s borrowing said money from Europe
Rant over!
… and a most agreeable rant at that!
I want Mary McAleese to be the next president…
Does norris’s indecisiveness not bother anyone one minute he quits then back in again to me that does not show the leadership that Ireland needs for president
He re-entered because of the support he was receiving. Hardly indecisiveness.
Dana has no baggage, is able as she proved herself in Brussels and is sincere about being a president for all the people so I think she will make a fine president.
with respect no one has no baggage
Well said Sheelagh. Jimmy, at a minimum both McGuinness and Norris have a hell of a lot of baggage.
Eh no she wouldn’t be a President for all the people – that statement is in fact a lie. She has made that abundantly clear with her opinions on the LGBT community.
no baggage? isnt the eurovision the worst kind of baggage?
@Brian; this election is not about homosexuality. some people are just obsessed with sex.
Dana is not presidential material, just a hymn singing religious old lady, that other hymn singing religious old ladies would like to see in the Aras.
@John homosexuality doesn’t equal sex. Dana and gay Mitchell are proven homophobes with their religious spewing all the time. Why would I vote for someone who wants to treat me like a 2nd class citizen and constantly reminds me that I’ll burn in hell according to their imaginary friend.
Well of course it’s about homosexuality John. Being a member of the LGBT community in Ireland means living in a state which does not treat all its citizens equally. As far as I’m concerned, the election of anyone who is an egalitarian to the highest position in the country is very much part and parcel of what the election is about. Are there other concerns involved – yes. But I certainly would not elect someone who holds discriminatory views. That type of person does not hold my support and never will. It is why I do not vote Fianna Fáil. It’s why I don’t vote Fine Gael. And it’s why I won’t vote for Gay Mitchell or Dana Rosemary Scallon.
@Sheelagh,
Dana certainly didn’t Prove herself in Brussels, in fact quite the opposite.
This was the very reason that the people voted her straight back out of Brussels when they realised what they had done.
Surely, such a proven candidate would still have her seat?
how can a man who almost didn’t make a nomination…..thanks to his own peers…be top of the poll? Ms. Roche ,I think topped the poll in a previous presedential election and finished very near the bottom…hopefully it will be the same this time around. Really don’t think we need a man with an english accent who can’t speak the working peoples language as president….nor do we need “all kinds of everything” nor the man from Derry….theres not a lot to choose from….in the Republic of Ireland do we not have good enough men/women that we need to recruit TWO from Derry?? would a Kerry man go into Derry & get elected…I very much doubt it!!!
@Mary, a Kerry man would be made most welcome in Derry. God help Ireland, if it’s relying on people with your mindset. Take off your blinkers Mary. It’s a beautiful island we live on, with room for everyone of us
YIPES!!! but people are getting very hot under the collar about this election! Good lord some of the exchanges between commentators on journal.ie is vicious!
It’s kinda worrying that so many people have their minds made up already actually…
I love the choice of photo for the article!!! I’ll take one guess at who the journal is supporting!
Who?
Seems to me that Norris is transfer repellent. He’s on 20-21% of first preferences at the moment and that ain’t gonna get him over the line.
regarding the earlier point about spoiling ones vote
it is pointless to spoil a vote because
(a) the president is elected from the valid votes and
(b) the spoiled vote statistics dont matter – they are read out for all of 3 seconds at results time and any time one of the vote counters gets a spoiled vote they don’t say “OOh look at this one – its spoiled so they must have a valid argument!” – they just discard it.
do you think the politicians, at the end of the day, have a meeting and say “Lads we’d better pull our socks up, because we had x amount of spoiled votes last time !” ??
We now have 7 people on the ballot, wouldn’t it be an idea to just have a level playing field, no hoovering up votes, no trying to block others from getting on the ballot, no trying to smear candidates. From here on in lets just hear what each candidate has to say, not what each has to say about each other or through the media. Lets accept that everyone in this election has a past and leave it at that, look to the future and decide where we’re going now.
Dana all the way. The last two Mary’s did a good job. Let’s keep the Mary thing going.
Well that’s one reason to vote DRS. Let’s see if anyone can think of another!
That’s pretty conclusive so far but where’s the Padraig Nally option
the amount of support for terrorism on here is terrifying
I know entry of places in the north where a Kerry accent would nit be welcome not even a Southern accent
Imagine some of the ‘trolls’ on thejournal.ie pres poll forum find my views obnoxious and opinionated. Moi!! Opinionated??? Je ne comprends pas qu’ils peuvent signifier!
I am that troll David….. the final straw for me was when you suggested that none of the candidates were ‘clean’.. and went on to explain your reasons as follows:- …. ‘Gay Mitchell is a right-wing Catholic’ …… ‘Dana is a Christian fundamentalist’ …. ‘Mary Davis worked on quangos’ ….
I asked you before and will ask again…. WHAT is UNCLEAN about any of these descriptions? (even if they were either true or pertinent)
By the way…. my favoured candidate for the present is Martin McGuinness WHO…. along with David Norris…. has some questions to answer over the next days and weeks…
‘Sur la pont d’Avignon’ (Del boy Trotter)
Been following this since 5 minutes after it was posted…just goes to show Norris supporters vote early, and McGuinness supports wait to see how the wind’s blowing :-)
Norris supporters make up the bulk of the 18 to 24 age group, a group notorious for not making it to voting booths.
David I never said Norris was ever suitable, and as for the rest of them as you say I am naive? what facts do you have to support this statement that it would not be too difficult to find something unsavoury about the other 2?
its a very wild accusation to imply this, in Norris`s case the facts are there and he still will not answer all the questions about the other letters, qouting legal reasons ! BS if ya ask me..whether Higgins or Gallagher get in I dont really mind, but Norris ! 7 years of him in the Aras is just too much to bear!
Indeed Daniel, transfers and the turnout of the 18-24 yo group will be a deciding factor for sure…my comment was meant to be light hearted…btw.
I want to vote for Jedwards …. when are they going to declare themselves as candidates ?!!!
More seriously, … Voting McGuinness would be irresponsible – Norris should be punished for abusing his position and imploring foreign authorities for clemency – Higgins is a joke …
I’ll stop here … it’s only making me irate … this election is just like a “Ireland’s Got Talent” competition !
“Norris should be punished for abusing his position and imploring foreign authorities for clemency ”
Don’t forget “anti-death penalty as long as the crime was done in a religious fervour” gay mitchell in that
yeah … *sigh*
<3 the caption picture.
Me too Rob, very apt….
Any poll conducted on this issue on the journal is not reflective of the national
Position. This was also the case before he withdrew. True, he is a serious contender but he will not win by anything approaching the margin indicated here, if he wins at all. PS the arguments about his letter writing (referred to by commentators) are extremely tedious – Im not going into rights or wrongs of it !!! Is this going to be all there is for the next month.
Wow people quoting a murdering facist now , we really take notice of what hitler had to say NOT
I can’t believe that there’s 9 people her who agree with Hitler ???
could some one please……..put a copy of the Irish constitution . on here as i cant remember it all ……thank you ….
Recent copy here including most recent amendments http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/attached_files/Pdf%20files/Constitution%20of%20Ireland.pdf
I think we should get ourselves a Queen…. !!!
the presidential nomination system is anti democratic ! The office it’s self has all ways been, purely a nice (Little) earner for the moneyed elite and their political lap dogs, spurred on by the incestuousness of main stream irish media. Come the day when an irish spring will blow away …. completely.FF. FG. LAB. SF. IND. and all those you would subvert the rights of individuals for the so call greater good!! A POX ON ALL YOUR HOUSE’S !
Yes the fact that there are 3 independents proves that it is anti-democratic…great point.
None of the above.
Poor Gay Mitchell…
I don’t either of us would enjoy that very much…
@Paul. Gay Mitchell at 2% of the vote is running significantly higher than the candidates from the fringe parties, whether they be Christian Solidarity, Natural Law Party or FF.
I’m no fan of the man btw.
i am officially saturated with all this info about the presidential election.
Sooner will a camel pass through a needle’s eye than a great man be "discovered" by an election- Adolf Hitler. Its true again judging by these polls
Isn’t that camel-needle phrase about a wealthy man getting into heaven. Seems Hitler and the church use similar phrases. Nice.
Father Ted: I’m not a fascist, I’m a priest. Fascists dress in black and go around telling people what to do, whereas…priests… More drink! (All cheer)
Call it what you like but from listening to him last night he ain’t good speaker moves about questions and anger in his eyes when asked questions. Ireland lead a leader not another muppet:)))))
Dana : from the Tuatha De Dana one of the origional settlers of Èire, pre Celtic, a mystical magical people, Setanta was of Dana descent.
This poll can count, it will have to start again because of party names.No point in removing the names and leaving the poll as it is.
Voted to skew the poll.
the race to the park is now a political farce!!!
have your say