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Drugs, howlers and 'people from headquarters': The standout quotes from the election campaign

The election has brought us some memorable lines.

THE 2020 GENERAL election campaign is coming to a close. 

It’s been a short, 25-day campaign, but one filled with plenty of drama, intrigue and memorable clashes.

The broadcast moratorium – which means radio and television stations are not allowed to air any election-related content – came into effect from 2pm today.

While voters living on islands off the coasts of Galway, Mayo and Donegal have already had a chance to vote, polling stations in the rest of the country open at 7am on Saturday and will close at 10pm. 

Come Monday evening, we should have a better idea of how each party has done – but for now we’re going to look over the most memorable quotes of the campaign.

Quotes of the campaign

When it comes to quotes, it might be best to start off with something Taoiseach Leo Varadkar struggled to say.

Questioned in the first election debate about previous drug use by Pat Kenny, Varadkar said that he’d answered the question previously, before pausing for an uncomfortably long time before replying:

Yes, but that was an awful long time ago.

Varadkar’s attack on his rival during RTE’s Prime Time debate was a little more successful:

Putting Micheal Martin back in office would be like putting John Delaney back in charge of the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) in nine years’ time.

Another quote that attracted attention was Catherine Noone’s now infamous comments on her party leader’s social skills, for which she apologised.

“He’s autistic like, he’s on the spectrum, there’s no doubt about it,” she said while canvassing in her constituency.
He’s uncomfortable socially and he doesn’t always get the in-between bits.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also had his fair share of memorable quotes, with this one in particular targeting Sinn Féin. 

The old provos hate the special criminal (court)

Martin also faced questions over his decision to rescind support for a rent freeze, which he said his would be unconstitutional. 

That didn’t stop him accidentally signing up to a manifesto from the National Women’s Council of Ireland, which committed candidates to ’10 key demands’ such as public childcare, ending violence against women and a rent freeze.

Martin blamed “people from headquarters” for the mistake. 

People from headquarters sent that over and that is something that  I have dealt with… No, we are not promising a rent freeze because it is unconstitutional.

general-election-ireland-2020 Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has had a few memorable quotes. Brian Lawless / PA Wire/PA Images Brian Lawless / PA Wire/PA Images / PA Wire/PA Images

Eamon Ryan critiqued his own proposals to introduce wolves into Ireland:

It was a howler.

Mary Lou McDonald used the three-way debate with Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar to target both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. 

Spare us the pretence of a critical tension between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Sinn Féin also faced pressure over Conor Murphy’s remarks about the murder of Paul Quinn in 2007, which he was eventually forced to apologise for.

The only criminals involved in this scenario are the people who so cruelly and viciously took his life. I have spoken to Conor and he is aware that the comments he made after the murder of Paul Quinn have caused hurt and that that hurt has endured, so he apologised for those remarks, he withdraws those remarks and he will speak to Breege Quinn and the family directly.

During the first seven-way leaders’ debate, Richard Boyd Barrett garnered the first applause of the evening when he took on vulture funds:

First of all if you want to solve the housing crisis, what you don’t do is do what Fianna Fail and the Greens and then Fine Gael and Labour did, sell off 40 billion euro or more of public land through Nama to property speculators and vulture funds.

Fianna Fail’s Jack Chambers was criticised by some viewers for his reaction during Claire Byrne Live’s Climate Change debate:

You know full well that it is a broad department and I’d prefer if you asked questions on the issue we’re discussing today, because we take it very seriously, and to start with that point is disingenuous to the seriousness of the issue of online pornography for children across this country.

Leo Varadkar also responded in an interesting way to questions about candidate John Paul Phelan’s criticism of the Green Party.

There are a fair few nutters in every party, including my own.
And finally, who could forget Ivan Yates’ opening remarks at the Virgin Media One debate?
Has there ever been such a collection of chancers and charlatans put before the Irish public?

With reporting from Press Association 

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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:27 PM

    Remember before the last election FG pledged to get rid of the USC if elected? It was their main promise for the 2016 election. SF were pilloried at the time for saying that the measure wasn’t affordable.

    After they were elected, FG threw their promise in the bin, stating that it was not affordable.

    Remember before the last election FF pledged to get rid of Irish Water and Water charges? The dogs on the street knew that FG would have agreed to it if it was a red line for FF supporting Enda Kennys re-election as taoiseach, so why didn’t they fight for it? We know why.

    Labour? “Sure isn’t that the sort of thing you say during an election.” Don’t think so.

    Time to see if there is a political party who will stand by the promises they make. Time for change. Time to look left.

    SF, PBP, SocDems and left leaning independents could get the 80+ seats required. IT’S UP TO YOU NOW.

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    Mute Spartacus Ireland
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:35 PM

    @The Risen: But isn’t there a tradition (or unwritten rule) that the largest seat party forms the government (FG last time were only a few seats more than FF)…maybe I’m wrong!, but if so really SF need to have more seats than either FF or FG…so if that is to come about voters need to not vote for the bigger parties at all?

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    Mute Spartacus Ireland
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:40 PM

    @Spartacus Ireland: Oh and I mean ‘bigger’ party as in ‘more candidates’ running

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    Mute Andrew Dillon
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    Feb 7th 2020, 5:14 PM

    @The Risen: I do recall your lot telling the country at the time, they were all living on the average industrial wage. Whatever happened to that…

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    Mute Tom o brien
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:14 PM

    The ffg black n tan sympathisers in real state of panic

    54
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    Mute Ordinary lad
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:42 PM

    Any time SF-IRA were quoted on the economy we standout howlers for me.

    The only thing they could deliver on is to turn Irealnd into the Venezuela of Europe, without the nice weather of course.

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    Mute The Risen
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:53 PM

    @Ordinary lad: Sinn Feins proposals deliver world class healthcare, affordable childcare and housing, and free third level education in other European countries.

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:22 PM

    @Ordinary lad: stay up all night thinking up that amazing original comment did ya.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:26 PM

    @Ordinary lad: Seen as your time as a FF or FG lackey is coming to an end I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish you the very very best in the future. If you need a reference please do not hesitate to give me a shout. You were one of the best at your job on this platform and I think its only fair that we get that down on record here. All the best.

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    Mute Brian Madden
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:31 PM

    @Ordinary lad: we have our natural resources like Venezuela but weren’t they sold off?

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    Mute Ben Dunne
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:54 PM

    @Ordinary lad: Seeing Haughey was caught smuggling guns, is it OK to say FF/IRA?

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 7th 2020, 4:12 PM

    @Ordinary lad: you sad sad troll, must be awful to be a FG groupie nowadays

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    Mute Ciaran bolger
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    Feb 7th 2020, 4:28 PM

    @The Risen: name one?

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    Mute Red wine and chocolate cake
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    Feb 7th 2020, 4:38 PM

    @Ben Dunne: absolutely it is. Thats not all he was caught doing. Siphoning off funds for Brian lenihans operation so he could have charvet shirts while telling the country to “tighten their belts”. To name just one. So crooked he could sleep on a spiral staircase

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    Mute Andrew Dillon
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    Feb 7th 2020, 5:10 PM

    @David Corrigan: how is he supposed to contact you?? Your nonexistent facebook account?? What time is it in Moscow anywa?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Feb 7th 2020, 5:40 PM

    @Andrew Dillon: Good man Andrew. I don’t have to hide behind a fake account and you know that. Try and behave yourself please.

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    Mute LIAMO B
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    Feb 7th 2020, 5:41 PM

    @Ordinary lad: Bot

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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:46 PM

    Tweedledee and Tweedledum was quite good.

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    Mute Tom o brien
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:12 PM

    The tax payer funded wrote down denis o brien /larry goodman owned independent news and media really panicing these two men need ffg mafia cartel in power TO KEEP STEALING FROM THE STATE

    Al week IRA THIS IRA THAT YA YA YA political corruption bull

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    Mute Peter
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:41 PM

    Don’t forget Mary Lou’s Mansplaining comment

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    Mute CJ Stewart
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:54 PM

    LADS LADS LADS….ENOUGH ! Where’s Big Anna Gone ?

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    Mute Nioe
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:25 PM

    Is there not a moratorium?

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    Mute Spartacus Ireland
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:32 PM

    @Nioe: Doesn’t apply online apparently

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    Mute Chris Judge
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    Feb 7th 2020, 2:33 PM

    @Nioe: That only applies to broadcast media – TV and radio.

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    Mute Tom o brien
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:08 PM

    Varadker a drug user some example for younger people no wonder country a wash with drugs

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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:35 PM

    @Tom o brien: dont like Leo, an I’m voting SF. But I wouldnt exactly call him a drug user. Hes out of touch with real life, not cos hes stoned , but cos hes from a privileged back ground. Thinks hes done a good job cos big business are in profit, hes forgotten about the people of this Island. Hopefully, the people will give him their answer on Saturday.

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    Mute Tom o brien
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    Feb 7th 2020, 3:50 PM

    @Sam Greene: same here good on you

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    Mute Ro-your-nan
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    Feb 7th 2020, 7:04 PM

    @Tom o brien: oh please

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    Mute Sven Gilmore
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    Feb 7th 2020, 11:27 PM

    Who is Ivan Yates to call anyone a chancer??

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