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Green TDs on the plinth in Leinster House in February. Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Green Party will enter coalition talks with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil

The leaders of FG and FF have both welcomed this development.

LAST UPDATE | 3 May 2020

THE GREEN PARTY has confirmed it will enter talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with a view to forming a coalition government.

The party – which won 12 seats in February – had held talks among its TDs earlier today on the prospect of forming the next government. 

It said in a statement that it is conscious of the huge challenges facing any government during the Covid-19 crisis.

It said: “Green Party approval of any programme for government will require support of 2/3 of the Green Party voting membership. 

“Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society.

If this is not the case Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations and pursue their mandate in opposition and work to hold the government to account.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said his party looks forward to “constructive discussions” between the parties in the coming days. 

“Working together we can help to deal with the challenges facing Ireland, including getting people back to work, re-opening businesses, investing in and transforming our health service, housing system, childcare, climate action, balanced regional development and enlivening communities in rural Ireland,” Varadkar said in a statement. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he is “confident” the three parties will be able to agree a programme for government. 

“I am confident that working with Fine Gael and the Green Party we will be able to negotiate and agree a programme for government that protects people and ensures that the country’s economic recovery after Covid-19 is commenced as soon as possible and built on fairness,” he said in a statement. 

“There is important legislation that needs to be passed to allow Irish businesses to access finance and there needs to be a government in place to do this.”

The party leader said Fianna Fáil will approach these negotiations “constructively and confidently”. 

Fine Gael, in particular, has been attempting to court the Greens in recent days with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show he was keen on meeting one of the party’s redline targets – a 7% reduction in carbon emissions.

The party currently in power during the Covid-19 crisis has also sought to emphasise that it is urgent a new government is formed, given that emergency legislation aimed at supporting businesses affected by the pandemic needs a new government in place for that to be enacted. 

Health Minister Simon Harris told TheJournal.ie: “I do hope we can form a new government in this country. The current government is working as hard as it possibly can, but it’s not a sustainable position for an awful lot longer.

I really hope the Greens do accept the offer to engage with the leader of my party and the leader for Fianna Fáil. I think that would be a place where an awful lot of detail could be worked through.

In a statement this evening, the youth wing of the Green Party said it noted the development with “disappointment”. 

It said: “In 2007, the Green Party campaigned to remove Fianna Fáil from office, before making the historic mistake to enter government with them – their ‘deal with the devil’. We now see history repeating itself.”

With Fianna Fáil (37 seats), Fine Gael (35) and the Greens (12) together, they would exceed the 80 seats required for a majority in the Dáil. The Green Party last entered government a decade ago, when in 2007 it formed a coalition with Fianna Fáil. 

Sinn Féin – which won 37 seats at the last election – have been ruled out as coalition partners by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on numerous occasions. 

Varadkar told The Late Late Show that a new government could be in place by June.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of “working to a plan to exclude Sinn Féin from government and to ignore our mandate for some time”. 

“Both of them in government together – no matter who they are propped up by – is not what people voted for and will not deliver the change that people voted for in February’s general election,” Carthy said today, responding to the Green Party’s decision.  

With reporting from Christina Finn 

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277 Comments
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    Mute The Risen
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:39 PM

    Bye bye greens, Greta won’t help you next election

    1314
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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:42 PM

    @The Risen: Let the sell out begin.

    836
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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:42 PM

    @The Risen: https://www.thejournal.ie/green-party-no-deal-fg-ff-5042542-Mar2020/

    “THE GREEN PARTY has effectively ruled out joining Fine Gael and Fianna Fáíl in a coalition for now and instead has called for a national unity Government involving all elected TDs.”

    They stand for nothing, absolutely no integrity. Fine Gael on bicycles

    885
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    Mute The Risen
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:45 PM

    @Diarmuid: Shameful. We actually need an environmentally conscious party in this country, but the Greens ain’t it. Not as mudflaps for FFG anyway.

    284
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    Mute We Love Katamari
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:46 PM

    @Diarmuid: they wont get a sniff of a vote off me again if theyre deceitful enough to do this

    318
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    Mute kMc
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:46 PM

    @The Risen: ha

    48
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    Mute Dermo Adams
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:52 PM

    @Diarmuid: The greens aren’t even in government yet and they’ve flip flopped. Letting us know in advance how much use they’ll be in office. Same as last time, there to make up the numbers.

    270
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    Mute Tony Gordon
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:54 PM

    @The Risen: All political party’s and politicians do nothing but line their own pockets, and anyone who thinks ‘their illustrious’ party are any different is deluded.

    149
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    Mute Dermo Adams
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:00 PM

    @Tony Gordon: So, tell us about all of this pocket stuffing Catherine Murphy TD does.

    108
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    Mute Billy McNamara
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

    @Conan Campbell: Eamon fancies the feel of his bum in a Ministerial seat again.He’ll sort out the planet later,when he has his pension sorted.

    208
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:19 PM

    @Diarmuid: did you miss the words “for now”!!!!

    10
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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:27 PM

    So the man who publicly dissed Fine Gael prior to the General Election was actually in cahoots with them all along??? M. Martin is shameless. Christ on a bike.

    197
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    Mute M Bowe
    Favourite M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:44 PM

    @The Risen: 9 of those 12 green TDs were elected in constituencies were SF topped the poll. If they now ignore the majority of those constituents then the MUST BECOME TRANSFER TOXIC in future.

    184
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    Mute Nioe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:40 PM

    @The Risen: greens have to go into government. Climate crisis can’t wait for another 5 years. They can’t sit on the sidelines moaning like the usual opposition parties. They have to get in and make a difference.

    They are not looking to be popular like SF and your left parties who are more concerned about social media likes.

    They believe they need to get in and help save the planet.

    76
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    Mute Jmc
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:53 PM

    @The Risen: was this any shock to anyone anything to get into power. A pack of traitors

    82
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    Mute John Fairclough
    Favourite John Fairclough
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:26 PM

    @Nioe: they won’t have to sit on the sidelines for another 5 yrs if they force a second election? People voted for change!

    57
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    Mute Chris Mc
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:26 PM

    @The Risen: at least they’ll be in government unlike the army councils puppets.

    47
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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:42 PM

    @The Risen: unfortunately they don’t care. They would saddle more bank debt on us for the virtue of believing they saved the planet.

    67
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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
    Favourite Bernard Sweeney
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:37 PM

    @John Fairclough: here we go with that old balls again ffs.

    19
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    Mute Stephen
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:47 PM

    @The Risen: Can’t see a GrFFG coalition happening. Simon “da bullock” Coveney is just too good at pissing dem Greens off. Sincere thanks Simo!

    16
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    Mute Geraldine Glynn
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:09 PM

    @The Risen: Doesn’t matter how many likes you get the next election is 5 long years away. Your last roll of the dice pleading for a unity government fell on deaf ears. When the Greens suggested it weeks back your leader blew it out of the water.
    Arrogance doesn’t pay.
    Have you noticed that FG are up in the polls. Just like the Good Friday Agreement between Unionists and SF, great to see the old enemies put aside civil war politics and put the national interest first.
    Put your shoulder behind the new government as all Republican patriots should do now. We can stand side by side in getting the country back on it’s feet.

    19
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    Mute Michael McGrath
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:58 PM

    @Nioe: And you think the taxes on nescessities with no viable alternatives the greens are going to set in our small insignificant country is going to fix climate crisis on a global scale you are seriously deluded . Eamonn Ryan was a patsy the last time he was in govt and he will be a patsy again. No viable policies no substance just all hot air and idealistic waffle

    34
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    Mute Sean Barry
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    May 4th 2020, 12:11 AM

    @We Love Katamari: rhwy won’t need your vote

    2
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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    May 4th 2020, 12:16 AM

    @Nioe: the greens won’t tackle climate change by enriching the government through the taxation of the general public

    26
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    Mute Criostoir Mac Ranghaill
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    May 4th 2020, 1:05 AM

    @Dermo Adams: Simon Coveney got very quiet lately probably busy looking after the/his strawberry interests/business

    18
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    Mute JarryWasNotInTheRA
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    May 4th 2020, 1:05 AM

    @The Risen: bye bye SF….see you in 5 yrs (maybe)….how was it they win this election but aren’t in govt….ohh thats right, only using the same calculations as sinnenomics could you say they won. Up the…..

    12
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    Mute Daniel Howard
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    May 4th 2020, 8:43 AM

    @JarryWasNotInTheRA: SF massively increased the number of seats at the detriment of FF and FG as well as Labour who’ve become irrelevant. The fact that both FF and FG can’t even form a majority together is very telling and need to plead with smaller opposition parties to even get the numbers. People are failing to see much difference with FF and FG anyway. SF’s biggest mistake was not fielding enough candidates. Had they done so, they’ve had easily formed a left-wing government. Making the overused reference to the IRA which was bandied out for the whole election obviously did little to dissuade people from voting for SF. They’ll command a strong left-wing opposition for the next five years so no they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon…

    16
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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    May 4th 2020, 12:27 PM

    @Nioe: so they need to be unpopular?

    1
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    Mute Adam J
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    May 4th 2020, 9:28 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn: Stop with the absolute lies you are posting, SF suggested a national unity government

    1
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    Mute Alan Hayes
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    May 5th 2020, 6:30 AM

    @We Love Katamari: are you thick….they sold out before and suffered in subsequent elections. then fools like you voted for them again…….and the cycle repeats.

    1
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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:39 PM

    Here comes the tax disguised as emissions.

    898
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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:43 PM

    @Ger Buckley: this shower will raise the price of petrol and diesel like its 110 dollars a barrel by the Budget

    We had them before and they crippled the country with carbon taxes under Gormley
    Should have been blown out of the water again in the last election .

    497
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    Mute Dave Nomates
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:07 PM

    @Ger Buckley: It’s the biggest con since the mini ice age met the millenium bug.

    182
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    Mute Cecil Orr
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:20 PM

    @Quentin Moriarty: Where does the Carbon Tax money actually go?
    TD salary increases perhaps.

    67
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    Mute Mary
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:19 PM

    @Quentin Moriarty: can we not say no to this???

    21
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    Mute jr
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:42 PM

    That’s all I needed to here, the will probably put tax on lawnmowers and any think that moves.

    534
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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:55 PM

    @jr: Maybe they might even tax bad spelling!

    260
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    Mute Charles Alexander
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:14 PM

    @KilkennyProud: let’s hope they don’t tax grammar: ‘might’ is the past tense of ‘may’.

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    Mute michael
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:14 PM

    @KilkennyProud: I think he’s cockney.

    14
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    Mute Nick Murphy
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:23 PM

    @Charles Alexander: first in the google search …well done

    1
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    Mute Euro McPúnty
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:28 PM

    @michael: any think

    6
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    Mute Shay Redmond.
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    May 4th 2020, 12:28 AM

    @KilkennyProud: grammar police.

    6
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:43 PM

    Never vote for them again, never.

    488
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    Mute Crispy Brown
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:45 PM

    @@mdmak33: so you voted for them not to get into power is that right?

    265
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    Mute kMc
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:48 PM

    @Crispy Brown: haha.

    70
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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:49 PM

    @@mdmak33: Why did you vote for them in the first place? To go into opposition and allow the Healy Rea types run the country?

    95
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:57 PM

    @@mdmak33:
    A perfect example of democracy in Ireland. If you vote for a candidate who gets elected, and they don’t do what you want them to do, then you don’t vote for them at the next election
    I gave an SD candidate a preference in my constituency, I would never vote or one again.

    38
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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:08 PM

    @Crispy Brown: No green voter wanted them to bring FG back into government. They campaigned on a platform for the sort of environmental change that FG were refusing to bring in, it’s very difficult to see them as compatible particularly since Coveney described their policies as destructive just days ago and during the campaign John Paul Phelan called them “nutters”.

    84
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:16 PM

    @Rochelle:
    Rubbish!
    I know plenty of people who voted for the Greens and they all knew the only way to have their policies implemented was to go into coalition with Fine Gael and/or Fianna Fáil.

    Even Sinn Féin voters knew that if they wanted Sinn Féin to get into government, they would have to go into coalition Fine Gael and/or Fianna Fáil.

    50
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    Mute Crispy Brown
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:27 PM

    @Rochelle: Who is this John Paul Phelan? He seems to know his stuff.

    18
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    Mute Adam J
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:27 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Who are these faceless nobody’s that you supposedly know… Green Voters on ballots were mostly transfers from Sinn Fein, so what you say is completely false

    30
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:59 PM

    @Adam J:

    I can assure you that they all have faces.

    Your second point is completely and verifiably false:

    The greens got very few transfers from Sinn Féin. The vast majority of Sinn Féin’s transferable preferences went to PBP, Left Independents and the Social Democrats. Fianna Fáil got more transfers from Sinn Féin than the Greens did.

    The Green’s demographic and that of Sinn Féin would be at opposite ends of the spectrum

    13
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    Mute Peter donnelly
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:22 PM

    @@mdmak33: just vote for the 1or 2 that you support leave the rest blank it’s not necessary to fill in the whole sheet….

    9
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    Mute Sean Barry
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    May 4th 2020, 12:11 AM

    @@mdmak33: clown

    2
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:46 PM

    More taxes for the average person. I wonder how many of the Green Party members practice what they preach

    395
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    Mute Brinster
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:57 PM

    @Niall Donnelly:

    What’s absolutely hilarious about the total meltdown that SF voters are having here today, is that it’s SF who have promised more and higher taxes, not the Greens.

    So SF supporters are criticizing the Greens for potentially doing something that SF is actually in favor of.

    57
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    Mute Mary
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:24 PM

    @Brinster: not happy with FFG & Greens kind of scary hope it doesn’t happen

    38
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    Mute Larkin About
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:49 PM

    Releasing the news on a Bank Holiday Sunday, sneaking it out before the weekly news cycle begins. They’re a good match for FGs spin unit.

    318
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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:53 PM

    @Larkin About: or they are working while everyone else is enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon, I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective.

    112
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:04 PM

    @Larkin About: Oooh! Conspiracy.

    40
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    Mute Sean Barry
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    May 4th 2020, 12:12 AM

    @Larkin About: foff

    1
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    Mute Gerard Casserly
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:38 PM

    That’s all we need now…
    Looney left tax’s…

    355
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    Mute Peter Hughes
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:57 PM

    @Gerard Casserly: Guess who heaped all the other taxes on us the last 100 years….yep FFG but let’s jump up and down about the greens, the hypocrisy is stomach churning.

    171
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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:21 PM

    @Gerard Casserly: it wasn’t the left that has us taxed to the hilt, but dont let the facts get in your way. #SelfRighteousRight

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:44 PM

    Just think of all the tax,s that were imposed by right wing F.G. to repay for the F.F./Green government that facilitated the gangsterism of the banks and developers..And you want to blame the left?

    59
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    Mute Finbarr Ryan
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:28 PM

    @Gerard Casserly: the left parties have never brought in a tax in Ireland. Every tax you pay and will pay in the next 2 year’s ate directly because of FG and FF. You seem to not know this which is unfortunate. Don’t listen to your mate. Do your own research.

    40
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    Mute Gerard Casserly
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:13 PM

    @Finbarr Ryan: Carbon tax = Fictional tax.

    25
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    Mute Gerard Casserly
    Favourite Gerard Casserly
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:14 PM

    @Ian Breathnach: Carbon tax.

    9
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    Mute Gerard Casserly
    Favourite Gerard Casserly
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:15 PM

    @Donal Desmond: Carbon tax = Fictional tax. As opposed paying our depts.

    6
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    Mute Kate Mooney
    Favourite Kate Mooney
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:34 PM

    @Gerard Casserly: most left parties oppose the introduction of a carbon tax. The greens are not a party of the left, as can be seen by their last stint in office.

    26
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    Mute Sean Barry
    Favourite Sean Barry
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    May 4th 2020, 12:15 AM

    @Finbarr Ryan: ya right. Lets have the shinners handing out houses, free healthcare etc. Theu would ride the middle income sector.

    10
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    Mute Sarah
    Favourite Sarah
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:47 PM

    Sell outs

    198
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    Mute KilkennyProud
    Favourite KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:51 PM

    @Sarah: By going into the very talks that SF have whining about being excluded from?

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:57 PM

    @KilkennyProud: SF would have been a senior if not equal partner. The Greens are going to be door mats. This isn’t hard to comprehend.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:42 PM

    @Conan Campbell: the greens will literally have the balance of power, and the ability to shape policy towards left policies, which is what most people on here have been looking for. They will have FF and FG over a barrell for the next 5 years. They can bring the government down at any time. It can only be good news to have a more left leaning and environmentally conscious party in a position of power to balance out FF and FG, who aren’t even that far to the right. This isn’t hard to comprehend.

    19
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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:01 PM

    @Daniel Lehane: perfidious FFG cannot permit Green Party manifesto red lines come into play. So Ryan will be promised lots of non binding airy fairy commissions and working groups etc to tease out how their aims MIGHT be achieved
    But Coveney’s da in law etc nor Martin’s Galway tent crew will allow any change to their current practices. FFG know this so they will play their idols ‘Perfidious Albion’ slight of hand.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:11 PM

    @M Bowe: that is a real possibility of course. And for that reason the greens must be willing to pull the trigger and withdraw support from the government (if they do go into government) if FF and FG are not playing ball. However nothing ventured nothing gained. The greens have an opportunity to make a difference here, so they are right to take it. If it’s not happening, I would hope they stick to their values, and don’t get caught up with just being in government for the sake of it.

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:15 PM

    @Daniel Lehane: You must be very young. In the history of this state every small party that propped up a larger one was walked all over and decimated in the following election. Look at the last time Labour were in government. If you think the Greens will walk if their policies aren’t implemented, then you don’t understand Irish politics.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:31 PM

    @Daniel Lehane: the greens know perfectly well that FFG have no intentions of implementing anywhere near a 7% cut in emissions. They will scour GP party manifesto, just as they have the SF manifesto, and promise to ‘ find ways’ of delivering these to gain support.
    Then it will be ‘ NO CHANGE’ as soon as Lieo and Mehole are rotating supping from the big ladel at the public trough!!!

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:47 PM

    @Conan Campbell: There is a huge difference in this scenario if it happens. In all previous cases, Either Fine Gael of Fianna Fáil were the dominant party in the coalition. In this case they would both be relatively equal parties in a coalition government. We have never had coalition like this in the history of the state.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:08 PM

    @Conan Campbell: are you as old as this state? I can read history as well as anyone, please don’t be condescending. The last time Labour were in government, the IMF were laying down the law. The last time the Greens were in government, they did indeed withdraw support from the FF led government. Some would argue it was too late, but walk they did. They are in a far more powerful position this time around.

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    Mute Daniel Lehane
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:14 PM

    @M Bowe: nobody knows that FF and FG have no intention of achieving these targets. There’s only one way of finding out, and the Greens will possibly take that way. If it turns out you are right, and they don’t have any interest in it, then the Greens should walk. At least they’ll have made an effort to change things for the better.

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    Mute Declan Crowley
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:39 PM

    The lunatics are now running the asylum.

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    Mute Bruce Petty
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:42 PM

    @Declan Crowley: No Sinn Fein haven’t gotten power yet

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    Mute The Guy is Here
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:49 PM

    @Bruce Petty: not this time. You can be sure they’ll be in power next time. This coalition is certain death for some.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:51 PM

    @Declan Crowley:
    While I would disagree with some of the policies of the Greens, at least they are a properly constituted political party. Their TDs will be able to make their own decisions and not be told what to do by un-elected officials, based outside of the country.

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    Mute Keith Mac Suibhne
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:54 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: yawn it’s getting a bit old.

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:57 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: old yes, doesn’t make it untrue though.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:59 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: The truth never gets old. The “cash for ash” scandal in Northern Ireland, showed it up in all its glory.

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    Mute Keith Mac Suibhne
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:00 PM

    @NotMyIreland: evidence? But you have Nó problem with chronic FFG corruption.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:03 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: Máirtín Ó Muilleoir seeking permission from Ted Howell?

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:07 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: The unelected FG officials that interrogated Catherine Noone during the election were from Ireland.

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    Mute chihuahua
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:14 PM

    @NotMyIreland: prove it

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    Mute paul kelly
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh:
    Like the last time they were in Government?

    Jesus wept , have you no memory?

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    Mute TIME FOR CHANGE
    Favourite TIME FOR CHANGE
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:19 PM

    @Bruce Petty: SF will win the next election. FFG are opening the door for them…….Micheal & Leo will walk away as if it’s not their fault.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:19 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: “ unelected officials” are you speaking about FF Ard Comhairle which only has 17 elected reps out of 71 members??? Ye know the 71 who MM wants to vote on this FFG coalition, by passing a FF Ard Fheis??????

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:23 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: or was He just notifying an advisor as to the Time scale of a public announcement out of curtesy to that advisor???
    You know the same types of advisors that Lieo and Mehole pay astronomical amounts of public money to.

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    Mute Christybhoy67
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:28 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: do u mean the EU Commission

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    Mute John fitzpatrick
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:56 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: but true. In Mary Lous one words.

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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:46 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: it is true though.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:40 PM

    @M Bowe: No he was clearly asking permission.

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    Mute Jacob
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    May 4th 2020, 12:01 AM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: I don’t think FG are corrupt. They make mistakes because they are eager to please and get things done by all means – aggressive, especially with the broadband, but now I am hearing a lot of complain about people not being able to work from home or get their children to join online classes in this Covid-19 world. They are wrong to hand the jewell to a private company, but the policy of getting broadband to every home is turning out to be right. I think.

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    Mute John
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    May 4th 2020, 1:00 AM

    @Bruce Petty: *Eye roll*

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    Mute rhino burns
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:04 PM

    They fecked up the motor trade in 2008 with their new tax system.given the circumstances this year the trade or public cannot be burdened by further taxes

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    Mute John Costello
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    May 4th 2020, 1:32 AM

    @rhino burns: if anything I think they helped the motor trade in 2008 as new cars were far cheaper to tax than old ones. They didn’t do much for the environment though as it encouraged the sale of diesels which we now know weren’t as clean as they thought…

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 4th 2020, 11:42 AM

    @John Costello: its all a con

    Population explosion is the reason for climate change and global warming

    ALL solar and wind power generation is supported by the burning of fossil fuels .

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    May 4th 2020, 2:41 PM

    @John Costello: There is a finite amount of oil and gas in the world. Modern diesel engines use a fraction of the fuel used by older petrol cars and emit very low co2 emissions cutting greenhouse gas emissions. All good. There should have been an incentive to convert older petrol cars to LPG like i did slashing emissions – a hugely missed opportunity.

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    Mute tuco
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:03 PM

    Oh great,can’t wait to go car sharing with other people and get taxed to the hilt.maybe I’ll stay at home and grow some window box salads for myself,Eamon Ryan the son of a banker getting into bed with the so called elite.

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    May 4th 2020, 2:57 PM

    @tuco: they’re a city party really. haven’t seen any nuclear powered tractors down here in Cork yet and ploughing with a Nissan Leaf didn’t go too well. Plenty of good older petrol cars that were all scrapped could have had LPG conversions slashing emissions but it wasn’t incentivized….should have been lower car tax for cars on LPG….a missed opportunity imho.

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:38 PM

    Good news at last. Get some Independents on board too for balance.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:44 PM

    @Fionn Darland: 3 or 4 independents will give them a solid majority. If they do form a government, it will almost certainly last the full term

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    Mute TonyC - *keep washing those hands*
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:48 PM

    @Fionn Darland: #Concannonbots

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

    @Fionn Darland: How can any sane person describe the prospect of Michael Martin as taoiseach be “good news”? FF are the most corrupt political party in the history of our state, its there for all to read in the various tribunal reports. Furthermore, didn’t Martin state that it was time for FG to go, people wanted change, people were sick of FG’s Jekyll & Hyde behaviour, that FG had failed miserably to deliver on the key issues of Health & Homelessness? If that was his firm stance pre-election what does his flip-flop tell you about him now? Sad day for Ireland.

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    Mute .Tk mc carthy
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I hope your wrong for the good of country
    I didn’t vote FF FG or greens or Sinn Fein

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:27 PM

    @.Tk mc carthy: Your are one of a very small minority

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    Mute TIME FOR CHANGE
    Favourite TIME FOR CHANGE
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:16 PM

    Blue shirts on bikes…… Get ready for extra taxes!!!!!

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    Mute Jurga Moylan
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:22 PM

    They’d go into power with Kim Jong-un if it meant staying on the gravy train. Goes for all of them.

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    Mute jr
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:05 PM

    We will have a general election within 12 to 18 months.

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    Mute john doe
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:19 PM

    @jr: hopefully

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    Mute Fionn Darland
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:30 PM

    @jr: Yes within12 to 18 months after 4 years!

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    Mute Andre
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:09 PM

    God helps us now!!! The voting system in this country needs to change. How can a party with so few seats end up in goverment and holding both a government and country to ransome. Not what I voted for. I was told from the first time I was eligible to vote that my vote would always count.. but that’s so not true. I did not give any vote to the Greens nor ever will again. Lets hope another election is called.. but very unlikely.

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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:12 PM

    @Andre: perhaps you should educate yourself on PR STV then. Maths are simple, 80+ is a majority of TDs

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    Mute The Risen
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:24 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: Your party ran on a pledge to not go in with FG. You won your seats on foot of a lie. Shameful.

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    Mute Andre
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:47 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: if you read my post properly it’s called holding the government and country to ransome!!! Cause that exactly what this does!!

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:11 PM

    @Andre: Its called a coalition government, its always more beneficial to the country to have a coalition government. Less chance a single party can ram through legislation without proper scrutiny and amendments been added. More chance of amendments passing too. Look at the massive Tory majority in the UK. They can literally pass whatever legislation they like. Never a good thing.

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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:27 PM

    @Andre: might help your credibility if you could spell correctly, ransom has no e at the end. No single party can form a government, its simple maths that a coalition is required

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:45 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: or if you were a member of a party which had an iota of integrity you would form a emergency national government based possibility on De Hondt through current pandemic. Then go back to the electorate without the lies that your party won’t form a coalition with FG.
    But integrity has never been a trait within FF!!

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    Mute Andre
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:46 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: Desperado

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:53 PM

    @NotMyIreland: except in Ireland the only difference between the 2 coalition parties is not based on social/ economic policy, they share that full heartedly, but which side their grandparents took in a war 100 yrs ago and which both parties have sullied the aims of since!!!

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    Mute Jacob
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    May 4th 2020, 12:08 AM

    @Stephen Kearon: why all this insult about spelling today? I am sure you know what he/she is saying.

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    May 4th 2020, 8:10 AM

    @The Risen: I should have stoped voting when I hit the soc Dems on the voting card .said I’d give them 1 more chance. Fn knew it ..fxxk it.

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    Mute Billy O'Brien
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:39 PM

    I’d say MaryLou is frothing at the mouth!

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    Mute @fplinsider1
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:41 PM

    @Billy O’Brien: good

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    Mute Derek Poutch
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:43 PM

    @Billy O’Brien: Heil Eamonn or Heil Mehole or maybe even Heil Leo again.

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    Mute paul kelly
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:26 PM

    @Billy O’Brien: Actually the Shinners will be delighted, Martin is looking at this as short term personal gain, the next government will be fighting a recession, the shinners will win an overall majority , or close to it next election.

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    Mute TIME FOR CHANGE
    Favourite TIME FOR CHANGE
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:27 PM

    @Billy O’Brien: It’s great news for SF – It makes SF heavy favs to walk the next election. Micheal & Leo plan to walk away so they don’t care.

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    Mute Christybhoy67
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:24 PM

    @Billy O’Brien: why u think that ? Mary Lou will be the Leader of the main party in opposition,

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 4th 2020, 10:35 AM

    @Billy O’Brien: I would say the electorate who voted for change are frothing at the mouth Concidering a three ring circus government is now lightly. The last time F.F. / Greens were in power they brought this country to it’s knees. Now add F.G. to the mix a toxic mixture.

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    Mute Shane
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    May 4th 2020, 12:13 PM

    @Donal Desmond: I wish people would stop it with blaming FF/Greens for 2008 recession…in 2007 election, anyone suggesting we needed to put the breaks on our overheating economy were totally ignored by the electorate… the causes of that disaster lay in decisions to ignore the doomsayers in 2004 and onwards… FF/Greens were elected to do as they did, esp FF- to keep the doomsayers silent and lead the credit dance…
    12 years later, we ha e persistently ignored, as a country, the climate action doomsayers… the Greens entering Government may be our last chance to actually do as we say we would (in 2015)…

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    Mute Maria Hickey-Fagan
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:03 PM

    I hope they make the most out of the next five years because they’ll be decimated at the next election.

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    Mute @fplinsider1
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:33 PM

    @Maria Hickey-Fagan: it’s all swings and roundabouts anyway

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    Mute Geraldine Glynn
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:49 PM

    Great news. Glad to see common sense prevail. We need a new stable government.
    They would never have been forgiven if they stayed on the sidelines and ignored the national interest. Voters would have annialated them.
    Most voters would be sympathetic to the climate change agenda in any event.
    Wish all well in he talks.
    Ignore the tsunami of bots posting shortly. They are irrevelant.

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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:51 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn: Too true.

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    Mute john doe
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:03 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn: they will never be forgiven for the policies they will have to implement in government while of course they will also get shafted on their green targets.

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    Mute Christybhoy67
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:26 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn: Glad u think people views are irrelevant ,

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    Mute .Tk mc carthy
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:16 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn:
    Are you for real
    We have an unwanted pandemic
    And unwanted government

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    Mute Crispy Brown
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:44 PM

    And I used to like driving too.

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    Mute Gerard Cummins
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:07 PM

    That’s the end of the greens. Thought Eamonn, had more sense. I guess the trough is too inviting to feed from. Just when they were on the rise again, they shoot themselves in the foot.

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    May 4th 2020, 2:50 PM

    @Gerard Cummins: It’s easy to talk theoretically when you’re not in power. That’s why many TD’s like being in opposition. Good salary, zero responsibility. Being in power is about making hard choices, reality bites, budget responsibility, incentivizing work to generate sufficient taxes to keep the show on the road. Talk comes cheap.

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:41 PM

    Good news. Keep the Trotskyites and Marxists out.

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    Mute chihuahua
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:17 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: another m@r@n, a cheerleader for incompetence.

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    Mute michael
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:17 PM

    @Chin Feeyin: Yeah, the champagne socialists are much better.

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    Mute Chris Marsh
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:20 PM

    Tax the earth back to good health. Tree hugging gimps

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:28 PM

    @Chris Marsh: what other measures do you suggest to change our habits? Any you’ve found works other than hit people in the pocket?

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    Mute Keith Mac Suibhne
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:59 PM

    You could’nt make this nonsense up. The biggest party in the 26 counties also the biggest party on the island are excluded. This shows the absolute contempt the well healed in FFG hold for the electorate. Plus the total hipocracy of the greens, jesus wept!

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:09 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: You obviously have no idea how our democracy works. The number of votes a party gets in the UK has no bearing on their votes in Ireland.

    Any party in Dáil Éireann with only 37 TDs and has practically zero support from the other 123 TDs has no place in government

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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:11 PM

    @Keith Mac Suibhne: SF had weeks to form their own coalition and did nothing, they even refused to enter into talks with other parties if senior civil servants were present. The people elected 159 TDs (cc automatically returned), a combination of 80+ will have a majority and a legitimate mandate to Govern

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    Mute The Risen
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:23 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: Extremely dishonest. Any workable coalition requires 2 of the main 3 partys. FF stated you would not go in with either FG or SF. However, now you will go in with FG and refuse to talk to SF, effectively excluding the most voted for party from government.

    Democracy FF style. Michael Martin throwing your party under the bus for a shot at power.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:07 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: “ no support from other parties”. So how come Mary Lou has the majority support for Taoiseach???
    Kinda shows your post to be a load of lies as per FFG MO

    22
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    Mute M Bowe
    Favourite M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:13 PM

    @The Risen: Kearon is the worst possible liar, self delusional political failure who believes his own delusions!
    At least Lieo and Mehole are just straight forward liars with personal agenda of greed and power which can be seen through.

    22
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    Mute Conan Campbell
    Favourite Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:25 PM

    @Stephen Kearon: When are you going to apologize for your part in the destruction of our economy when you were a special advisor to FF in 2007?

    23
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:01 PM

    @The Risen:

    Getting the most first preferences does not make you the “most voted for party”. Our electoral system works on “preferences” not “votes”. A second, third. fourth etc preference is just as valid to elect a candidate as a first preference.

    Sinn Féin are the second largest party in the Dáil, not the largest.

    For someone who makes so many political posts, you know very little about Irish politics.

    32
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:51 PM

    @M Bowe: Mary Lou did not have majority support for Taoiseach. If she did she would be Taoiseach.
    She got 45 votes, you need at least 80 to have a majority.

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    Mute Fergus Lynch
    Favourite Fergus Lynch
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    May 4th 2020, 3:31 AM

    @Stephen Kearon: this knuckledragger worked for the corrupt Bertie Ahern.

    7
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    Mute Geoff Bateman
    Favourite Geoff Bateman
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:01 PM

    Politicians would sell their own Mothers if it kept them in Power. Greens want a 7% annual reduction in carbon emmisions for the next 5 years. Get your bikes out and bring back horses to plough the fields again… A retrograde step dont you think

    87
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    Mute john paul crowley
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:59 PM

    Ffs will the greens ever p**s off. More taxes on coal petrol oil diesel now pack of pr***s

    109
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    Mute An Muid Éire
    Favourite An Muid Éire
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

    Funny to look at the people who voted at them freak out. The green party has always been a party that goes into a coalition, and they’ve done it with FF before ….no surprise. Just expect more taxes…its what you asked for

    56
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
    Favourite Martello Mulligan
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:48 PM

    Careful now Shinner shudda cudda wudda warriers. Keep on belittling the smaller parties and you’ll be whining about the numbers next election too.

    57
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:53 PM

    By taking out Lab and Greens in any potential left leaning coalitlthough many on the left deny Lab is a left party and it’s not at all clear that the Greens are either. Subtract these two and you get 54 left leaning TDs.

    On the right FFG 72, Regional Group 9, Rural Ind 6, giving a total of 87

    On the left SF 37, Lab 6, SocDem 6, Sol\PBP 5, Indep Group 6, Greens 12, giving a total of 72.

    11
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:54 PM

    @Martello Mulligan: sorry that got garbled

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:55 PM

    @Martello Mulligan: All the smaller parties rode the coattails of SF in the last election. They need SF more than SF needs them. Your comment makes no sense.

    31
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
    Favourite Martello Mulligan
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:04 PM

    @Conan Campbell: you don’t understand the PR system and last election has little bearing on next

    14
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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:21 PM

    @Martello Mulligan: Jesus tonight, SF candidates rode home with first preference votes across the board. They didn’t need any transfers from small parties. The small parties got TD’s elected on SF transfers and excesses. Think before you comment.

    20
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    Mute Martello Mulligan
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:55 PM

    @Conan Campbell: That’s the essence of the PR system: most TD’s need transfers to get elected. Up the ratio.

    6
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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:07 PM

    @Conan Campbell: Sinn Féin may not have needed their other preferences to get most of their TDs elected. But they needed their TDs to get Mary Lou elected as Taoiseach.

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    Mute Christybhoy67
    Favourite Christybhoy67
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:16 PM

    Water charges will be back on the agenda now ,
    The Green Party will be the fall guys for all the new taxes which will be introduced to pay for all the Green policy,

    41
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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
    Favourite Bernard Sweeney
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:50 PM

    @Christybhoy67: good.

    5
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    Mute Willem Mevius
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:58 PM

    Did that not go horribly wrong the last time? How will they avoid the backlash of having to share responsibility for the hateful policies FFFG will no doubt come up with?

    44
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    Mute M Bowe
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:49 PM

    https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0501/1135962-carbon-tax-kicks-in/
    This will hit the least well off low paid and elderly hardest. Once again the ordinary families are made to carry the burden.

    46
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    Mute Frances Casey
    Favourite Frances Casey
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:24 PM

    @M Bowe: And that’s only the start of it!!

    27
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    Mute John Brett
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:10 PM

    Whoever voted back in ryan deserves this. Let’s get the emission taxes running.

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    Mute Gary O CONNOR
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:55 PM

    Tax tax tax.. We are goosed…

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    Mute Alex Nevin
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:20 PM

    Thank god for small miracles, that means 5 years until we face the disastrous chance of being led into the abyss by the Shinners. Mary-Lou can go back into hiding again now, here’s hoping she opts to stay there

    34
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    Mute TIME FOR CHANGE
    Favourite TIME FOR CHANGE
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:24 PM

    @Alex Nevin: Go back to bed kid

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:30 PM

    @Alex Nevin: past your bedtime is it?
    Funny how part of the Sinn Féin manifesto has made its way onto the FFG one though eh.
    Gob…..

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    Mute Conan Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:29 PM

    @Alex Nevin: Bless your cotton socks.

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    Mute Eoin Devlin
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:49 PM

    Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results. Will they ever learn!!!!!

    41
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    Mute Finbarr Ryan
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:11 PM

    And now… the end is near and so they face the final curtain. FG are blantant liars who control the media. FF are a joke as Micheal as all he wants is to be Taoiseach and his party will be canniblised by SF and FG. The Greens are betraying the people. Their votes came from SF candidate’s leftovers. The greens will crash and burn for this.

    74
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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:38 PM

    @Finbarr Ryan: The Green Party lost all it’s seats in the Daíl in 2011 and are now entering government talks with 12 TDs so that threat obviously doesn’t seem to worry them.
    Why stand for election and then refuse office?

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    Mute Adam J
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:21 PM

    @KilkennyProud: Varadkar was doing just that when the election results first came out, he was committed to being in opposition, so its a bit hypocritical…

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    Mute Finbarr Ryan
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:26 PM

    @KilkennyProud: they should refuse as they’ll be eaten alive by FG and FF. They’ll lose what they gained. The transfers that received didn’t come in majority from FG or FF. This current crisis shouldn’t be used to force a governmemt. FG and FF are desperate to stop SF or ant change at all really! Time is ticking. Once they merged, it’s only a matter of time before one eats the other. At least we have a decent opposition but there’s no mandate for anyone. Another election when times are good. The anti democratic actions of FG and FF to not even discus with SF or forming an all party committee is madness. Leo wanted the glory for himself when Dr Hoolahan is the man wearing the big boy pants. Leo’s Trinity professor wrtting his speeches must be well paid.

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    Mute Tony Kennedy
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:32 PM

    It’s great news that the greens will soon be no more.

    33
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    Mute Jack Creegan
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:20 PM

    Not the greens! We are going into a huge recession and we need the greens like a hole in the head.They will finish us off for sure.

    35
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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:12 PM

    What a horrible load of pretentious prats that is going to run the country

    65
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    Mute Lochlainn Marcus
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:18 PM

    FFS

    26
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    Mute john doe
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:58 PM

    Poor fools about to be shafted and they can’t even see it coming.
    The lettuce in the middle of a power struggle sandwich

    62
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    Mute Tony Kennedy
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:32 PM

    It’s great news that the greens will soon be no more.

    26
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    Mute Adam J
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:16 PM

    Haven’t learned their lesson from being FF juniors during the crash, if they go into coalition, they will be wiped out at the next opportunity

    29
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    Mute Seeking Truth
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:00 PM

    Anyone but Sinn Fein. Our taxes will have to go up anyways for 2021 but in this crisis Sinn Fein would start making people pay to work and give it all (and more…) over to taxes rather than work to get paid.

    26
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    Mute Brian Flavin
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:20 PM

    Feck green party regime & cant stand FFG, SF should be government since win vote

    27
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    Mute Pj Browne
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:33 PM

    That’s the country well and truly

    22
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    Mute cian
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:23 PM

    To put the greens 7% carbon reduction idea into context they aim to reduce it by 90million tonnes a year by 2030 so that’s 9 million a year reduction. chevron a oil company in America produces 15 million tonnes a year we wouldn’t even cancel out a single country so why on earth should we bother to do it

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    Mute Shane
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    May 4th 2020, 10:43 AM

    @cian: the 7% reduction is nothing other than Ireland signed to do in an internationally binding commitment.

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    Mute Damian Moylan
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    May 4th 2020, 3:15 PM

    @cian: Nothing wrong with good measures like solar panels for houses, insulating older homes, wind power generation. Hydrocarbons still needed though in what is a very rural country with low population density.

    1
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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:04 PM

    I really hope they stick to their principles and are prepared to walk away if/when the government moves in another direction.

    20
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    Mute Mick.
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:05 PM

    The country needs a stable Government to recover from the economic shock of this pandemic. And it looks as if a FF+FG+Green+Ind coalition will be it.
    I find the SF supporters on here foaming at the mouth rather amusing. They have done nothing but deride, slag off, smear, slander and complain about both of the other two big parties FF and FG. But yet are highly offended when FF or FG won’t play with them. They seem to think that being in Government is theirs by right. But the simple fact is that SF did not run enough candidates to achieve a majority on their own or a coalition with other like minded parties. That is nobody’s fault but SF’s alone. And that is what SF supporters to swallow now matter how bitter a pill they did it to be.
    I am not a Green supporter and I would prefer a Government without them, but needs must for the good of the country, I am content to accept a Government with them in it.

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    Mute Adam J
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:17 PM

    @Mick.: FFG just as guilty as SF for all of what you accuse them of above, dont try to deny it

    23
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    Mute Mick.
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:05 PM

    @Adam J: Both FF and FG stated before the last election that would not go into Government with SF. As such can stand on the high moral ground and say they have done as they said. They are not on the one hand slagging off SF and on the other complaining SF won’t climb into bed with them. Something that is common amongst SF supporters.

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    Mute John Byrne
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:52 PM

    @Mick.: I agree with you on all you say. SF couldn’t wait to get out of the starting stalls to form a government. Talks lasted a few days then fizzled out. Why? All over social media they insult, ridicule, are so nasty towards everybody, they would even fight with their own toe nails. Now they are amazed that no one will go into government with them and continue to belittle those trying to form a government. They have a lot to learn

    16
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    Mute Adam J
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    May 4th 2020, 9:25 PM

    @Mick.: They also stated they wouldn’t go in with each other, so take that with a pinch of salt or do you believe everything they say?

    1
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    Mute Seamus Healy
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:29 PM

    Dont need these just yet . 65€ on fill of oil they pushed for last time. It’s in now . Let big countries lead instead of minnows

    21
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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:31 PM

    @Seamus Healy: it’s called social responsibility. We are all responsible.

    9
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    Mute Bernard Sweeney
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:51 PM

    @Dermot Foley: no we’re not, not if you judge the place by some of the comments on here.

    3
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    Mute Richard Day
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:04 PM

    Yay……more Neo Liberalism…..like I mean what possible harm could it bring?
    Asking for the Old, Sick, disabled, homeless, disadvantaged, etc etc

    45
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    Mute Marty H
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:54 PM

    Bad enough with ffg, now these muppet too…… God help us

    31
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    Mute Thomas Sheridan
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:24 PM

    That’s all we need now is more taxes on top of already applied carbon taxes – and they have offered little else

    17
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    Mute Ned
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:58 PM

    God help Ireland if them greens get into government

    18
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    Mute .Tk mc carthy
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:13 PM

    God help us a nation

    A pandemic
    And unwanted government
    Doomsday

    21
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    Mute Modern Irish Dad
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

    Come to together… right now……poor Mary Lou

    15
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    Mute paul mccoy
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:02 PM

    So we get 3 lots of clowns as the same circus comes to town.

    20
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    Mute For Goodness Sake
    Favourite For Goodness Sake
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:59 PM

    @paul mccoy: NO NO!! SF are not involved!

    10
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    Mute John Carmody
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:02 PM

    Thankfully I didn’t vote any Greens! I knew what was coming and let me tell you this, they are just green on the outside and apart from the odd cycling they do and gardening, they are as blue as anything. Watch FFG gobble them up, they know it, but they just want the power grab.

    14
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    Mute SJF
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:38 PM

    Looks like the Greens have signed themselves up to go the way of labour…that is non-existence in the next election and the one after that and the one after that…

    16
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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:26 PM

    Nooooooooooo!

    12
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    Mute Porter Mechanic
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:45 PM

    This Coaltion wont last a full term no way and no how, Sinn Feins position on the Island of Ireland is strengthening with every stride.

    13
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    Mute Dean
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:26 PM

    The experienced but incompetent duopoly party continues.

    FF gave the bankers’ debt to the next 4 generations.
    FG imposes austerity solely on the workers, with their unfairly spread economics.
    Greens may tax, but every other tax we have is either from FF or FG.

    17
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    Mute Sean Butler
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:41 PM

    Now for the Provo troll fest.

    19
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    Mute One Direction
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:43 PM

    Great news. We need a government. The three will make a solid government

    12
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    Mute Tom Kiely
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:27 PM

    I’ll sell my home and leave there country if the greens get into power.

    15
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    Mute Brian Carr
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:53 PM

    @Tom Kiely: bye bye

    9
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    Mute KEN L
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:35 PM

    @Tom Kiely:

    remember all the celebrities who threatened to leave the USA if trump was ever elected ?

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    Mute Fran O'Keeffe
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:57 PM

    No no no no ffs

    11
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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:51 PM

    Upper class neo liberals, nothing more! No conviction in their beliefs what so ever. A copy of the guardian, an expensive coffee and a load of jargon and that’s it. Pedestrian thorough fares in south Dublin is as bout as much as they will shout for.

    15
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    Mute Colin Mcgahon
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:41 PM

    Green is what they are if they think they will have any say. Only there to make up the numbers. Two party’s that all through the campaign said they wouldn’t talk to each other. Irish politics just doesn’t work. One party should run the country. There are far to many TDs we live in a tiny island just over 4 million people.

    13
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    Mute Paul Power
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:57 PM

    Trevor Sargent might say a few prayers for them.

    11
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    Mute Barrsball Rebel
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    May 4th 2020, 12:36 AM

    Eamon Ryan cannot contain himself.. His ego is about to burst..Good riddance Eamon.. Enjoy your massive pension…You set yourself up nicely while the newbies will be left with the scars of this mess.

    13
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    Mute Joe Farrelly
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:52 PM

    About time, we need a new Government RAPID.

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    Mute Pól O'Giollagain
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:21 PM

    Dirt

    10
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    Mute Michael Maher
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:16 PM

    Looks like Eamons wolves are being released on rural Ireland , Leo acts as the good shepherd minding the sheep while Mick Martin takes the wool off their back.

    10
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    Mute Spot the d0g
    Favourite Spot the d0g
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:38 PM

    We’re rightly fecked now!!

    12
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    Mute Tom Dineen
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:18 PM

    lol GP a joke

    8
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    Mute Eddie O'Neill
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    May 4th 2020, 12:17 AM

    After a monumental general election, an unprecedented pandemic, an also unprecedented response from the Irish people to this emergency, this is what we get for our troubles.

    Green Party, will you be abstaining from Dail votes when told to?

    Will the government remain working through the summer holiday period and forgo their 12 weeks holidays, considering many have been doing very little since the GE on Feb 8th and because we are now looking down the barrel of a severe economic recession?

    If the deal you have made is reneged on do you plan to bring down the government, force a GE, all in the national interest OR just leave them to the job of destroying all that is good while you keep your face in the trough?

    9
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    Mute Colm Mcmahon
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    May 4th 2020, 1:53 AM

    Will never vote green again..

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    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    May 3rd 2020, 5:00 PM

    Horse race for unwanted government is here ->

    https://t.co/eSBOa4lU7J

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    Mute Imagine !
    Favourite Imagine !
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    May 3rd 2020, 6:47 PM

    Cometh the time cometh the man – Eamon Ryan and party.

    7
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    Mute Derek Hughes
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    May 4th 2020, 1:46 AM

    They obviously haven’t learned any lessons from their last time in government. Let’s hope they obliterate themselves the way Labour too with Alan Kelly ai about to do.

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    Mute Tim Quigley
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:28 PM

    Shinner’s won’t be happy

    7
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    Mute Colonel Grant
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:02 PM

    We’re back baby, let the good times roll.

    6
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    Mute Gerard Lord
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:46 PM

    Think 66% of their members need to vote for the deal too. ?

    5
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    Mute Gráinne Fallon
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    May 3rd 2020, 10:16 PM

    The Green party can please no one any of the time no matter what they do, judging by the comments.

    5
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    Mute John Carmody
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:02 PM

    The Greens are politically ‘promiscuous’ — for the last few weeks they’ve essentially been flirting with FFG and playing hard to get, after some courting and sweet talk by FFG, the Greens have now undressed, jumped into bed, once protection is put on FFG will severely penetrate!

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:54 PM

    @John Carmody: The reality is Sinn Féin are just way to ugly for anyone to get into bed with them.

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    Mute Dan
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    May 4th 2020, 12:23 AM

    @John Carmody: So are there policy’s you disagree with or just the idea of the Greens?

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    Mute Jimmy Mac
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:40 PM

    They were all ways going to, this party would join with any party , it’s all about power, how could anyone believe any of the shit they come out with.

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    Mute KilkennyProud
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    May 3rd 2020, 7:55 PM

    @Jimmy Mac: Of course it’s all about power that’s why SF are so upset that they don’t have enough seats to get into power themselves.

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    Mute Ross O'Donnell
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:41 PM

    Well tickle my tits till Friday. Isn’t that just wonderful news.

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    Mute trebloc01
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    May 3rd 2020, 11:58 PM

    FFG = Fine Fáil Green
    FFG = Fianna Gael Green

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    Mute adrian j aungier
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    May 4th 2020, 9:30 AM

    The last thing this Country needs now is a green party full of loonies wanting to penalise us for everything that is not climate change compliant. We will end up paying huge energy prices due to taxing of fuel, huge grocery bills due to carbon footprint of our foodstuffs, and will end up with a bunch of Environmental tree huggers.

    We will all get window boxes from Eamon Ryan to grow our own food and the greens will tax everything.

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    Mute Anthony Ryan Dunne
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    May 3rd 2020, 5:02 PM

    it’s a vote for?

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    Mute kMc
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    May 3rd 2020, 4:57 PM

    The shinners took F$%k all…….

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    Mute Davis Payne
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    May 3rd 2020, 8:19 PM

    Ah no their only entering talks now? What’s all the chat about 7% been about? Was that pre talks?
    It’s time to do something now. This limbo has gone on too long.

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    Mute Pauline Cahill
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    May 4th 2020, 2:01 AM

    Don’t want greens FF FG

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    May 4th 2020, 10:34 AM

    With the pay back from covid19 and the greens in government the working person won’t have a pot to pi ss in!

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    Mute Agenda21
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    May 4th 2020, 3:24 AM

    On the south facing windowsill we’ll have our planters and if this thing gets really bad….well we’ll be ready with our salads???

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    Mute Sean Dermody
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    May 4th 2020, 8:39 AM

    I wonder how his lettuce is getting on so he can have his salads when this is over. If proof be needed he demonstrates clearly that all politicians are the same. Self serving narcassists.

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    Mute OpenLitterMap
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    May 4th 2020, 8:31 AM

    GP might not have any policy on the development of citizen science or industrial hemp, but the last time in gov they did sign off 1,860 acers of native kelp forest in Bantry bay so we can have sausages

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    Mute Trevor
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    May 4th 2020, 4:36 AM

    Lads forget the greens look at that party that used to be FF. Down 14 points in an opinion poll and the media haven’t even asked for a comment from the idiot who will be our….. New Taoiseach

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    Mute pat seery
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    May 4th 2020, 9:10 PM

    Out out with the GREENS

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    Mute Tom Mc Donnell
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    May 4th 2020, 10:59 AM

    They must have very short memories

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    Mute Martin O'Reilly
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    May 4th 2020, 10:18 AM

    These morons have no idea of the needs of the ordinary working people on ground level eg carer’s, ambulance drivers and of course nurses. All of these played a blinder at a very critical time and will be put on the back boiler again and these grandiose idiots will end up toasting themselves for their non achievement’s which has already been proven. I am very keen on environmental matters, but dammed if I would, could vote for these hooray Henry’s!

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    Mute Shane
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    May 4th 2020, 10:41 AM

    The quality of comment here makes me despair!!! Political comment is now so partisan and reactive, it leaves no room for consensus politics… a true breeding ground for dictators…

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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    May 4th 2020, 6:18 PM

    Bye bye Greens. This was another chance for real change but you p122ed on it.

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    Mute Laz Mahon
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    May 4th 2020, 7:34 PM

    I trust all the farmers are happy to hear that the Green,s want to get into power with FG/FF. This is the same party who wants to eliminate cattle in this country. Their ultimate goal is to get r- d of animal farming in Ireland, but it’s will be ok to purchase produce from other countries. They very much want to achieve Goals that are not even measurable. New money spinner selling Carbon offset credits, more money for the UN pot.

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    Mute Padraig Dolan
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    May 3rd 2020, 9:59 PM

    They are offering nothing but carbon taxes on us…..no vision whatsoever…the future is hydrogen and ev but they are too blinkered to grasp the opportunities offered… why not offer tax incentives to landowners to generate green hydrogen and cheap electricity and follow S Korea on hydrogen…

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    Mute John Mc Mullen
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    May 4th 2020, 2:07 AM

    God help us

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    Mute John Kelly
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    May 4th 2020, 12:53 PM

    Green policies are great if you live in Dublin connected to all the services with Dublin bus and luas. If you live in the country with no natural gas at the flick of a switch miles from the bus having to provide your own water and believe it or not no central heating you’ll be hammered.

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    Mute trebloc01
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    May 4th 2020, 4:40 PM

    Vote FF and you get the Greens

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