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EVERY NIGHT DURING the general election, TheJournal.ie brings you the latest from the Election 2016 campaign trail.
Everybody’s talking about
The polls might not reflect it in the same way they do for Sinn Féin, but it’s hard to deny that Fianna Fáil is having a quietly effective election. This was typified by the strong performance of its party leader Micheál Martin in last week’s debate and the fact the government parties have stepped up their attacks on the former minister (more of that below).
Martin’s strong performance last week was down to his ability to incisively pick away at government policy over the last five years and expose inaccuracies in criticisms of him and his party. Expect more of it tonight.
But why is a party that was hated and nearly obliterated five years ago following the economic collapse of the country now finding its message increasingly popular on the doors? Part of the reason is the prudence Fianna Fáil is preaching. Yes, it’s promising tax cuts and spending increases if the economy continues to grow, but finance spokesperson Michael McGrath says all this would be scaled back if there’s no growth.
The electorate aren’t as convinced by auction politics as they used to be, they’re more sceptical this time around, otherwise the government would be running away with this election. Voters might well like the idea of a sensible-looking figure like Martin having some role to play in the next government. In McGrath and environment spokesperson Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil also has some smart Dáil and media performers.
It’s been a good start but the government attacks will be stepped up considerably from now until election day and voters will be reminded repeatedly of the bad old days under Fianna Fáil more than ever before. The question is whether that’s enough to put them off Martin and co, or has Fianna Fáil really been forgiven?
Slap Down of the Day
Speaking of which, Fine Gael rolled out Michael Noonan to deliver a blistering takedown of Fianna Fáil. He accused the party of “trying to fool people into thinking they are born again”. The Finance Minister added:
But the road they’re on is not the road to Damascus. It’s the road right back to ruin and wreckage.
Although his comments were made in a written statement you can just imagine Noonan saying it in that famous Limerick drawl.
Bull**** Claim of the Day
Alan Kelly today claimed he has “never taken the limelight” off party leader Joan Burton.
The evidence would suggest otherwise.
FactCheck of the Day
As part of our general election coverage, we’re testing the truth of claims made by candidates and parties on the campaign trail. Dan MacGuill has been examining what effect JobBridge and other schemes have had on the unemployment rate. Tonight, he’ll be factchecking the claims made in the party leaders’ debate.
Row of the Day
Gerry Adams had a tense interview with Red FM’s Neil Prendeville earlier today. We have the best bits.
WTF Moment of the Day
In a strange and somewhat unintended intervention, Barry Cowen declared an ambition to lead Fianna Fáil. It’s not exactly what you’d expect when the party is trying to present Micheál Martin as an alternative taoiseach.
It was a good day for
It was a bad day for
Tomorrow’s news today: What’s happening on the campaign trail
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They fixed the rooooaaaad mentality is alive and well no doubt
….or just shows FG/Lab blew their chance and screwed the country so badly with a ‘new kind of politics’ by putting bondholders and banks before the citizens that elected them. Perhaps a case for many of….better the devil you know, although I wish people would look beyond FF.
Good election???
Pure balloks.
18/20%
Spin and spin and putting me off Journal. Honest.
We can never let these destructive Caimiléirí back into government again
With FG and labour breaking promises and lying to the people over the last 5 years people are just turning there anger and voting ff again. Only people to blame is enda and Joan. All 3 parties can take a run and jump as far as I’m concerned.
The odd thing is that in this election it is FG and Labour who are doing the Fianna Fail and promising everything from tax cuts(USC) to welfare increases. That’s why the public aren’t buying it. No one runs their household budget on the basis of cutting income and increasing expenditure so who is surprised by the increasingly panicked responses of Enda (Where’s my script) Kenny and the even more panicked pitchy whining of Joan the Moan.
the I see it is this , FF put the country in a coffin , and FG nailed the coffin shut.
We go fossil free when we get rid of all the fossils!
Its going to be interesting to see how much of the newly registered youth vote that FF can pick up this election. Pretty uninspiring stuff in the main to be honest. REALLY looking forward to tonight’s debate.
They’ll pick up very little of the newly registered voters but they are a very small cohort. Unfortunately the pensioners love FF/FG and will vote for these two parties overwhelmingly. The OAPs weren’t the ones losing their jobs and houses during the recession, though it does make you wonder why they vote blindly for the party that destroyed many of their sons and daughters lives.
Looking forward to see how Donnelly does. Should come across as the voice of reason if he isn’t drowned out by the backbiting. Fingers crossed if Burton gets that drone trucking a few sighs and tuts from the audience will reign her back. I have my doubts about the management of Daly.
Martin will know how well he did last time so can pick his moments (Bazzer Cowen wants to be leader…Can’t imagine that was planned). Kenny will hopefully have more time to sweat under the big lights. Boyd….Just keep it down lad. We can hear ye. Gerry could be shaken after today…..Who will bring up the TG4 debate….I’d say Joan.
Charlie, I can’t wait to see Donnelly myself, he’s always on the money with his comments. The TV3 deputy leaders debate should be good craic as well. I wouldn’t say kellys little hardman act will hold much truck with McDonald.
She will own him. Apart from giving so much ammo he doesn’t deal with pressure well anyway (sob).
At the end of the day you always have to choose between the turd sandwich or a giant douche.
People really need to get out and protest on Saturday we must not let our water be privatize & handed over to big corporations so they can screw us yet again, we must stand up for ourselves & against thease financial terrorist!
See ya there Colette…..
Why are they having such a good election? Because so many people have been brainwashed into thinking that centre right, unfettered free market policies should be sacrosanct. The reality is that we are where we are because of our faith in the blessed markets. And we all know tee’s no real difference between FF and FG. The crash would have been just as bad or maybe even worse under Enda and Michael and his free marketeers.
I bet you love the “free market” when you are buying cheap electronics. No complaints then, amirite?
@ Moderate Michael. Keep your platitudes to yourself. I don’t have any problem with the free market. its the unregulated global free market and capital vultures that I and most sensible people have a problem with.
Name brand. “Sure I haven’t gotten food poisoning of them for nearly 5 years”
People freak out a couple of new charges from this Govt. when FF tore this Country to financial pieces and caused catastrophic debt for generations.
I’d sooner vote for the national communist party of Kampuchea than Fianna Fáil.
And shame on anyone that gives them so much as a preference.
You hear so many stories of women being beaten in violent relationships and staying with the perpetrator, FF getting votes is like the political equivalent of the beaten electorate giving them one more chance.
One word: Amnesia
Are we really that stupid to vote for the people that bankrupt this country and forced hundreds of thousands of people out of the country to find work ,Obviously we are !!!!!!
This governments policy is not to increase income tax, but what we will do is introduce a property tax and then we will introduce a water charge without inquiring of the ability to pay. OK so far, we will then increase prescription charges by 400% after that we will increase car tax and then abolish the phone and electric allowence and we will then increase the enviromental tax on coal and briquettes what we can try then is take the medical cards we might get away with it, and then we will scrap the death grant you see that looks better than increasing income tax or the tax 12.5% we charge inward investment companies. Basically we can screw the elderly and those less fortunate in society.
Martin looks like the Emperor Palpatine in that cover photo. He’s only shy the lightning bolts from his finger tips…
UNLIMITED POWER
FG and Labour are having a bad campaign. They look unprepared and gaffe-prone. There’s a really depressing lack of substance to the major parties’ campaigns. It’s just the same kind of predictable tactics and spin. We have a broken political system. Anyone like Stephen Donnelly stands out automatically, instead of being the healthy average we aspire to. I’m not saying that debating or campaigning is easy, but it isn’t that hard to make valid points, set valid targets and acknowledged failings in reaching those targets, while still moving towards them. Any honest politician/party should be getting a bounce in the polls. It’s not that hard. It really isn’t. Spin is never credible!
Its because FG and Labour are so utterly useless and incompetent. The financial crisis was in 2008, FG and Labour came into gov in 2011, yet a lot of people are now worse off in 2016 than they were in 2011.
Mehole looks like he’s saying.. “And now young Skywalker… you will die!!!”
Looks a lot like Brian !
FF will gain some seats. But nothing spectacular. 8 or 9 at best. With Labour set to lose at least 25, and FG plummeting in the polls at likely to lose 15 to 20 seats, FF have nit seen many going their direction. It’s going to be an election like the Locals in 2014- a Shindependants Day. SF, Left Party’s and Independents will be doubling their overall numbers.
It has to be said FF are doing well and whether it translates into votes remains to be seen. Martin is coming out on top in the TV debates..
Fianna fail more like
“Why You always lying”
BECAUSE PEOPLE HERE WILL RUN TO F.G. OR F.F. AS THAT IS HOW THEY SEE POLITICS HERE, a 2 party country.
Micheál Martin is showing everyone how he greeted Dolly Parton in that photo lol.
I see Micheál Martin and Enda hasn’t ruled out a coalition yet with a simple NO.
remember fg/labour manifesto 2007 from Mullingar would have left country worse off
Martin can communicate, I will give him that much.
Enda is rigid and Joan is, well Joan.
have your say