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WITH THE DÁIL now dissolved the starting gun has been fired for wannabe TDs to get into full electioneering mode.
Around the country posters have been tied to lampposts and front doors knocked in the bid for votes.
With less than eight hours since things got underway, there has been no shortage of activity.
Here is what life out on the campaign trail has looked like so far…
Members of the public are going to meeting lots of candidates over the next three weeks, so it’s probably a good idea to have a USP. Catherine Murphy has gone for a purple coat to make her stand out, and was out chapping doors in Kildare earlier today.
Catherine Murphy / TwitterGreat reception today! Look out for this purple coat - appearing at a door near you in Kildare North v soon! #GE16 pic.twitter.com/LZZlSvWsVH
— Catherine Murphy (@CathMurphyTD) February 3, 2016
Ciara Conway was out Dungarvan, part of her constituency. The nicest view in the country, apparently.
CIARA CONWAY TD / TwitterOn the doors in #dungarvan with the nicest view in the country #GE16 pic.twitter.com/GGUQPalwGH
— CIARA CONWAY she /her (@ciaramconway) February 3, 2016
Just in case you’re worried you won’t get the opportunity to meet Eamon Ryan in person over the next few weeks here is a video of the Green leader giving his party a plug.
Eamon Ryan / TwitterLook forward to seeing you & our great team on the campaign trail #Election2016 #MakeSmartVote #VoteGreen2016 #GE16 pic.twitter.com/1ZipnJNBYh
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) February 3, 2016
Can’t see the video? Click here
Michael McCarthy seems to have found the dirtiest road sign in Cork to attach one of his first posters to.
Michael Mc Carthy / TwitterPutting up the first posters of #GE16 @labour pic.twitter.com/52F1KdQRcb
— Michael Mc Carthy (@mmccarthy_mc) February 3, 2016
Michelle Mulherin was out in Ballina earlier today.
Michelle Mulherin / TwitterPutting up posters in Ballina today - all systems go for Election on 26th of February @FineGaelMayo @FineGael pic.twitter.com/6yOW9gUeXr
— Michelle Mulherin (@MulherinFG) February 3, 2016
People Before Profit and the AAA outside the Dáil today presenting a united front.
People Before Profit / Twitter.@AAA_IRE - @pb4p A Voice for People Power. Share the Wealth. #GE16 pic.twitter.com/xo5qkByysZ
— People Before Profit (@pb4p) February 3, 2016
You’ll be seeing plenty more of this over the next three weeks. Independent TD Denis Naughten has roped a neighbour of his mothers into giving him a bit of publicity out on the campaign trail.
Denis Naughten / TwitterGreat response from my mums neighbours here in Ahascragh today #GE16 #KeepsHisPromises pic.twitter.com/aC9xqOEBqR
— Denis Naughten (@DenisNaughten) February 3, 2016
Have you ever cooked your dinner while wearing a suit? Fine Gael Cork South West hopeful Jim Daly has…
Darren Hourihane / Twitter@jimdalytd making one final contribution to home cooking before hitting the road for #GE16 - pic Paula Jennings pic.twitter.com/R4P1ypPXJi
— Darren Hourihane (@DarrenHourihane) February 3, 2016
The Labour Party have been backed by their namesakes from across the water. Here is what former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott had to say…
John Prescott / TwitterGood luck to our @labour comrades in Ireland from all of us in @UKLabour #GE16 https://t.co/nQkCU0I6gX
— John Prescott (@johnprescott) February 3, 2016
Fine Gael’s launch of their election campaign earlier today had a sort of last supper look to it. Although, to be fair, most press conferences probably do if you look at them from a wide-angle shot.
Eoghan Murphy / TwitterLet's Keep the Recovery Going @EndaKennyTD launching the Fine Gael campaign #GE16 @FineGael pic.twitter.com/q1ldU9GdRh
— Eoghan Murphy (@MurphyEoghan) February 3, 2016
Labour party TD Derek Nolan here refashioning Teresa Mannion’s catch phrase.
And Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has been been quick to give out some practical advice on where would-be voters can register.
Mattie McGrath TD / TwitterFor anyone hoping to avail of a postal vote in this election must register by Friday 5th Feb (this Friday).... https://t.co/AK05n260S5
— Mattie McGrath TD (@mattiemcgrathtd) February 3, 2016
Want to know who to vote for? Take a look at our election database here.
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Strikes me as a little odd reporting sentences as a combination. It’s as if article is attempting to make their punishment out to be more severe than it actually is.
When you consider the fact that prisoners very often only serve about half of their sentences the headline might be more accurately written as
“Three brothers will spend roughly 3-4 years each in prison after string of robberies”
@Derek Murphy: and after effectively ensuring that severall sma towns and villages will no longer have ATMs.
Irish Judges: robbing banks?? 20 years!!
Also Irish Judges: se.x.ually assualted your own kids for a decade? Meh.. 5 years. Out in 3.
@Rob Gale: It’s actually 20 years combined.
@Hannah: They gave someone 30 years for kidnapping a wealthy business man. But do it to a child for their whole life and you get a suspended sentence. It’s shocking really. If we can give large sentences like that for these crimes how can they justify not giving them for child abuse?
@Rob Gale: neither sentence is anywhere near enough, joke
We seriously need more prison spaces in this country.
@Chris Mc: why not export our prisoners to countries willing to take them. Who says they have to be imprisoned here ? The cost of a prisoner per year in ireland is easily in excess of 100k. Put that out to tender. The Chinese might house them for 10k per year. Going to prison might not be seen as so cushy then…..
Bit of a joke headline – 20 year combined. That means nothing – the two longest sentences were 8 yrs 9 months, with one year suspended. That means about 5 years and 10 months with remission! Very dishonest journalism!
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