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NASA’S JUNO SPACECRAFT has made the closest approach to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa in more than 20 years.
Juno today zipped within 222 miles of Europa, thought to have an ocean flowing beneath its thick frozen crust, raising the possibility of underwater life.
Scientists hope to get lucky and observe possible water plumes shooting from the surface of Europa, close in size to Earth’s moon.
“We have to be at the right place at just the right time, but if we are so fortunate, it’s a home run for sure,” Juno’s chief scientist, Scott Bolton of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said in a statement.
John Bordi, deputy mission manager at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, expected the spacecraft to go “screaming by pretty fast”, with a relative velocity of almost 15 miles per second (23.6 kilometres per second).
Pictures should be available by Friday, Nasa said.
The latest observations will help Nasa plan for its Europa Clipper mission, due to launch in 2024.
The European Space Agency also plans close encounters with its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, lifting off next year.
Nasa’s former Galileo spacecraft still holds the Europa flyby record, passing within 218 miles (351 kilometres) in 2000.
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Depends who your independent is, I guess. Luckily I’ve Donnelly, not Wallace, so it’s an easy decision for me.
Even Wallace isn’t that bad compared to Mattie McGrath, Michael Lowry and Tom Fleming.
It really does depend on the Independent. Ross, Donnelly, Halligan – possibly, maybe even probably. That list above…
Most independents a single issue waste of timers, yes there are some goods ones , Donnelly for ex.. but what can they achieve, the dynamic have changed since Healy Rae and Lowry could hold the country to ransom . There are too many now and they are politically a destabalising force IMHO. I reality there is reasonable choice if not quality in the parties, you have your two main centrists in FF &FG , you have Labour the party of the public sector even though they will cry foul at such a suggestion , then of course you have a myriad of lefties led by the shinners and now we have Renua , more right of center conservative party . Power knows exactly what she is doing !!
We need a dail of Catherine Murphys and Stephen Donnellys.
Mr Dave , a dail full of independents , its not Narnia you are living in man? . Maybe you can point to an example anywhere in the world where a government is run successfully run by a bunch individuals all acting independently . how could you pass legislation or do any business? . it makes me laugh that it is the same people who crib about the party system want to replace it with single issue politicians that are slaves to their own constituency. G’wan Ireland , you are a gas country
He clearly meant a Dáil full of like minded people with their drive, qualifications and work ethic.
Conor, what an awful proposition, a dail full of like minded people .Is the county full of like minded people ?or maybe your not too fussed about being representative .Anywho , How or how would they be kept in check , oh i forgot they are all like minded so the situation wouldn’t arise , they would act as one ,together , striving forward with a common purpose with only the good of the many forefront in their mind. Ive changed my mind that is the perfect system , sign me up
why would anyone want to vote for an anonymous head nodding right button pusher instead of someone who can voice themselves without fear of retribution from their “party” colleagues
the dail and every decision in it is controlled by 4 people, democracy fg/lab style
More than a touch of House Of Cards about that hair style
100%
Not the only thing that’s a touch of ‘House of Cards’ about the whole charade on Monday.. and the tears while all the journalists present fawned.
You really see what a limited world view political correspondents have that they think this is still sending shockwaves anywhere other than through their little Leinster house bubble
Total , this is Ireland . Avs is married to the online editor of the Independent Fionann Sheehan. completely conceitedly of course she is making top billing on the online edition since the story of the powerless senator defection broke . Of course this IS the online paper that a has permanent online “real estate” set aside for Amy Huberman in case she decides to break wind or a deep breath
Irish Political Parties are just Private Clubs, financial predators who max your tax for their own benefit and lobby (private) interests while 300,000 are thrown overboard. The party of choice is “No Party” with Independents at 26%. Time for Swiss politics.
What’s the point in voting for parties based on policies, remember the policies of our current treacherous bunch pre 2011?
We have to work on getting politicians into government who are accountable to the electorate and who work to hold others accountable, not just go along for the ride. To my mind, that rules out any political party that has held office up to now, plus any offshoots or malcontents of such parties.
So you will need to know each independent’s policy on every issue to enable you to decide your preference!!!! How about starting your own non-policy political party. The N-PPP!!!
Please tell me Michael, from which part of my post you inferred that.
Well you do want to rule out any of the other political parties in existence up to now. Basically a political grouping sharing the same ideals usually names itself in some way and becomes a “party” in order that people can identify with their ideals. Your best way is to follow your ideal and see who supports you. Best of luck!!! However,remember the other Political Parties have a right to exist which you seem to seek to take away from them.
Really Michael, your post makes no sense at all. My point is that there is no sense in electing parties on their stated policies if, as soon as they take office, they throw those policies out the window, which has been the case with the current government and with FF before them. We have to be able to hold our politicians to account more often than every five years. We can’t have political parties exposing the democratic process to ridicule, which this government has done.
It boggles the mind that 45% of people in that poll will still vote for a political partyin this country. People have learned nothing! The political system in this country is flawed and doesnt serve the people. This is evident when you’ve the likes of Howlin announcing that he’ll give 1.4 billion back to the working man in an attempt to buy votes. Why not put that 1.4 billion back into providing essential services for one?! Political parties in this country does not work. You have the likes of Carlow/Kilkenny sufferimg from social amnesia by voting back in Fine Fail. And this will continue around the country in the next general election because according to the journals poll above 45% of you have short memories and need to be told what to think and cant think for yourselves.
Politics needs a major overhaul in this country. A 26 county co-op, each county electing a TD. Pay the average industrial wage and pay the lodge(country money) for when they have to go up to Dublin. Its then and only then will we rid ourselves of the paricites and free loaders who are only in it for the money and a pension for life.
Sure why not? The best TD in the Dail is an independent. As are the most effective ones. Anyways, we have more than one preference on our voting cards, so voting at the same time for independnets plus parties who would be close to an individuals ideology is possible. The main thing is NOT to put a number in the box beside people you don’t want elected, and to ensure an independent shares your views.
It would be impossible to form any lasting government if 157 independent TD’s were elected. However it might work if we had a Presidential style democracy.
After Wallace??? Daly??? Ming??? Imagine the self important Power joining this lot??? Never!
Are you in Ming’s constituency? We were promised political reform and that was just another promise broken. If independents can force reform and allow voting on conscience then bring it on.
Averil won’t be getting many votes, but she’s used to that so it won’t come as shock.
Headless chickens
Ridiculous poll really, I vote for who ever I see can / is doing the best job and not because of a party or if the are independent
Do you realise how ridiculous that post is?
You should vote for parties or people based on their polices. You should vote for the party or independent candidate that most closely agrees with the policies you want pursued.
David, with an abundance of choices from everyone doing such good jobs, how do you narrow it down?
Seriously though… with almost nobody to choose from, how do you pick anybody?
So let them do a great job locally but maybe run out of control nationally.
I had a FF TD that was incredible locally but nationally he helped run the country in to the ground and then helped loot the corpse.
Why would I put the viability of the country at risk again by helping his party because he is a great and nice man locally.
Puck that.
Anyone but FG /FF or and especially Labour
The sheeple of Ireland talk a good game, but when it comes to the big day most will go back to default
Lol, sheeple. It’s like people, but you mixed in the word sheep. Are you some sort of word scientist?
Yes, Google portmanteau, it’s amazing. They also list many other examples of this word wizardry
Who was the fine gael poltican running as independent fine gael? These so called independents jump ship like drowning rats if their party are unpopular at election time but are no way independent.
Look at Iceland convicted the corrupt politicians and bankers and have a parliament of average people running things now. Anyone think 166 fair minded and reasonable average Irish people could do a better job than the current Dail?
The man with no name, I vote Maureen O’ Sullivan (Dublin N.C.) and I find her and her staff to be highly motivated, diligent and very responsive & committed to issues raised. Not a bit messed up at all.
The current system of government does not work for the population at large and that has be very clearly seen since the down turn. Implementing extra taxes caused huge problems on more of the population that less and that is wrong. No current party that has being in power in this country will ever change that. People need to wake up and change the entire system for the good of all not just a chosen few. The system should be accountable and what is currently in place does not.
The poll asked if we were “more likely” to vote independent. I wouldn’t vote for the likes of Power. These sorts always get back in bed with the party after the election. There’ll be more departures between now and the election, hoping to distance themselves from hated party, and they’ll go back to the money afterwards.
After the constituency border changes there are counties that will no longer have party TD,s so it may well in future come to voting for Independent reps.
Fg and labour will promise the sun, the moon and stars and use unfounded scare tactics for the next election, then plough on with more austerity, ff are bringing back former tds that bankrupt the country, renua is just a grouping of fg, lab and ff under a new name but with all the bad apple corrupt values of the current bunch. Sf policy is questionable and unsound. What other option do we have?
here’s a thought, do not give ff/lab/fg/sf your vote, instead vote for an independent that has a reason other than a new suit and free stuff on their mind. the world will still keep turning and hopefully all the riff raff we have at the moment get their jobs on the board of some dob company
To be honest I don’t't vote for an independent in a general election, but always do for local council. An independent looks out for their local area which is why they are good for local government. However an independent from Donegal doesn’t give a toss about Cork and the reverse is also true.
its better than not giving a toss about the people who elected you in the first place, which seems to be norm in the established parties
I think this is funny as the more power we give the E.U. then the less democracy we have and soon the Dail will be only a showroom for E.U. policies. Since 1993 there is a policy of monetary union to give way to a Political Union of the Eurozone countries.
Do people know what this means but Brussels ruling us and not anyone here, if people do not think this is frightening then waken up…
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/enlargement_new/europeancouncil/pdf/cop_en.pdf
Averil, you have no place to go! Nobody of any party canvassed me or my home. I’m in Waterford constituency.
The question should have been “Would you give a preference to an Independent?” Or alternatively “Would you give your first preference to an Independent?”
Voting for those who didn’t want to sell Aer Lingus !!
We have to do what the IMF tells us to do?
If the election was tomorrow I would unless he/she was a social conservative.
“Welcome to the cub pack, now say after me; We will do our best”!!
Neuville-Kepler62F, you are 100% correct
Independents are great for constituency work, party members are great for doing things like y’know, running the country?
So I always vote independent for local elections, and vote for a party in general elections.
I understand (sort of) the mentality people have when they choose independents.
But the cold hard facts of the matter is that independents will never form a government. When they enter into the government, they contribute little more to government policy than the odd park here, or roadworks there.
If those are important to you, by all means vote independent. If you want to have ANY sort of a real influence on government policy, stick with a party (whatever party that may be)
she supported FF for 17 years!
No independent has ever been of any significant use. Donnelly is the only one I’d even give the time of day but he’d start a fight in an empty room. He couldn’t run jack and enjoys being the crank. He’ll never get his hands dirty by negotiating with unions or having to make hard decisions.
As for Ross, Wallace, Murphy, McGrath, Day, Boyd Barrett etc…they are so thick it doesn’t merit ridicule anymore.
complete waste of time voting independent
Too many small groups and independents,they are splitting the vote,and its the people that suffer.get together in one big alternative for the people to vote for,or get out of politics.
have your say