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DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL has adjourned a vote tonight on whether to approve the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street to a Japanese hotel chain.
Councillors ran out of time to vote on a motion proposed by Social Democrat councillor Gary Gannon – the vote has been pushed back until Thursday 13 September.
The possible multi-million sale of the site has sparked a debate on what should be done with the former sites of Magdalene Laundries – in this particular case it’s caused fierce opposition to a private bidder taking ownership.
An online petition calling for the sale to be blocked by councillors has been set-up by Social Democrat councillor Gary Gannon, and has amassed over 9,500 signatures.
Gannon said that the council has a responsibility to prevent the sale, which would be “an act of cultural vandalism”.
Dublin City Council has a responsibility and a duty to halt this sale and not discard this building and all the cultural and personal history it symbolises… We spent long enough brushing issues we didn’t like under the carpet.
Gannon’s stance has also been supported by Amnesty Ireland’s Colm O’Gorman, the Women’s Council of Ireland, and fellow councillor Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party.
Magdalene Laundries were institutions run by the Catholic Church which took in so-called ‘fallen women’ and gave them manual labour to do – many survivors reported that they were cruelly and brutally treated during their time there.
In October 1996 the Sean McDermott Street site became the last of these institutions to close.
The preferred bidder for the sale, Toyoko Inn, has proposed to build a 351-bed hotel with a meeting room, restaurant and bar, 140 studio apartments, 10 residential units and a car park on the former site.
It also plans to convert the chapel into a gallery or an event centre, a community centre to the rear of the portico; and a supermarket.
It’s estimated that the value of the sale would be €14.5 million, and that the majority of the proceeds would go towards the refurbishment of a former school building on Rutland Street.
The plans for the site also include a memorial on the site of the former laundry, as requested by Dublin City Council.
“There will definitely be a memorial for the residents of the Magdalene home… That will be stitched into the development agreement with the developer,” deputy chief executive of Dublin City Council Brendan Kenny told Morning Ireland previously.
The vote on the sale of the former Magdalene Laundry building has been delayed repeatedly – from spring of this year, then May, and now tonight.
What to do with former Magdalene buildings
In June this year, a two-day event was held in Dublin to facilitate a discussion with Magdalene Laundry survivors about how they would prefer their stories to be remembered.
Suggestions on what the buildings they were kept in should be used for have ranged from selling the buildings, to creating a commemorative garden, to “burning the building to the ground”.
In June of this year, it was announced that reparation would finally be paid to survivors by the Department of Justice (the State provided funding to the Catholic Church to house women in Magdalene Laundries).
On the Sunday of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland, the Stand for Truth protest marched in silence to the Sean McDermott Street Magdalene Laundry.
And so, we continue into the great unknown with no opposition. That always ends well…
@Dr Richard DeWitt: Viable alternatives are certainly in short supply.
Labour? Never again. PBP/AAA aren’t viable because they are just too small. The greens might as well be non existent. And voting independent turned into a complete joke the last time. That leaves Sinn Fein who if elected I’m absolutely certain I’d be on here bemoaning them aswell. Not exactly spoiled for choice.
@Dr Richard DeWitt:
This is absolutely the right decision.
Having an election now with amid this Brexit chaos would be insanity.
The current Gov have played a blinder on Europe over the last two years, guaranteeing the backstop. We need continuity now more than ever – especially if May goes.
But they need to BUILD MORE HOUSES.
@Brinster: Actually, I agree. The dearth of political leadership in this country means that the ONLY solution is to keep the current group of infantiles in office, supported by the failed FF party. It’s just that it’s such a frikkin tragic situation.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: Dr Richard DimWitt. So you think an election now would be wise
@Brinster: But on the backstop, I think that Coveney and the boys were being a little bit too clever for their own good thinking they had hoodwinked the British into avoiding a hard border. By locking the Brits into something which is pretty much impossible to ever sell to their own parliament (since it amounts to Brexit in name only), it virtually guarantees a hard Brexit and a hard border.
We may well rue the day Coveney the Lesser was given such an important job.
@Disabled Junkie: I would say it is a damming indictment of the alternative opposition parties that they have abjectly failed since the foundation of the state to present the electorate with an alternative government that doesn’t include FF or FG. It will almost certainly stay the same after the next election as there is no evidence that the alternative parties are gaining any traction.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: If we were to have an election which majority have no appetite for it would practically be the same Dail make up of Fine Gael highest party followed by Fianna Fail. Only difference is a few of the Independents losing out as they have proved to be useless despite all their talk eg Shane Ross.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: i think you’re right. Coveney is not capable of representing us well on brexit. Nothing he has done in the past shows he’s up for this.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: The only thing is there is a total consensus in the Dáil that holding the present line is the only show in town. If the government waiver on the backstop now they will be pilloried by SF, FF et al. Maybe there is too much group think around Brexit amongst Irish politicians.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: The FG party are bigger failures to the people. the housing market can’t be fixed by businessmen in blueshirts. most of the governments in the EU when the crash came in 2008 were socialist leaning. now it is over run with rightwingers who allowed immigrants in for cheap labour.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: gives Peter Casey time to get a decent opposition party going.
@Adrian: brexit is the one area this government have done very well. There are lots of things to criticise them on but Brexit is not one of them. Coventry has been very strong on it.
@fergusob:
Peter who?
@Dr Richard DeWitt:
Alternative Richard is a Hard Border and return to violence.
Backstop was the only option.
And re hoodwinking – I’d disagree with that as a characterisation. Was clear to everyone here that Brexit and simultaneous friction less border was a fantasy
I think some of the Brit “outrage” at this hoodwinking is disingenuous.
You are absolutely correct though that it does make a Hard Border more likely.
However, I’d argue that this was always the most likely scenario.
@Adrian: are you deluded or what. There is unanimity even among the Brits that the Irish team have been nothing short of excellent in all respects. Be specific about what he ahsn’t done well and stop spewing.
@Jane: they are only doing what the EU are telling them to do. Without the EU backing, they would be lost. It doesn’t make them any more capable, they are more like EU puppets.
@Disabled Junkie: how can you be certain? Have you got a crystal ball?
@David Daly: I’m sorry, you’re right. I should have said 99% certain. Death and taxed and all. I’d love it if I was wrong though.
@Brinster: absolute joke total sell out by FF holding up this government until 2020 brexit will be sorted in new year so why wait until 2020
@Éamann Ó Duinn: and what majority is that I speak to a lot of people in my job both business owners and every day folk and I have yet to come across anyone who is happy with this government I hazard a guess that is why this is happening they want to stay were they are as they know they would lose a lot of seats and their nice cushy jobs and terrified of the alternative an absolute joke
@Martin O Donnell: The latest Red C polls conducted in November both had FG & FF as the clear main parties ahead of everyone else so another election would just reflect what we already have in the Dail.
@Martin O Donnell: People say they are unhappy with the government but, when push comes to shove, they will still vote for the same parties in roughly the same numbers they do currently. Maybe FF with go into coalition with SF, otherwise another confidence and supply deal is on the cards.
@Dr Richard DeWitt: Mick Martin is the only politician since the last GE to state that the time is right for an election, but in the next sentence says he’s not going to have one anyway. There is no democracy in this country as long as FFG is both government and opposition. It’s a total sham.
So, basically, another year with a non functioning system of democratic accountability, worsening homelessness and worsening health crises.
@The Risen:
Another year of economic stability and continuity with EU partners during an extraordinarily difficult time.
Health is beyond the salvage capacity of any Gov at present.
Housing they can and must do better.
@The Risen: Even you must give them credit on how they handled the Brexit saga. But I agree they have a pretty crap record for housing. The HSE is a mire, I can’t remember it ever functioning well to be honest.
@Brinster: Personally, and i believe most people would rather see a functioning Dail with a viable opposition that can hold the government to account. Rather than a quasi opposition who will do nothing to upset the gravy train for either of the two main parties.
This makes a mockery of the democratic system that’s supposed to operate to ensure a stable and functioning democracy in the country.
@A2 Poster: the Health System was coping until Mary Harney and her right wing ideology plundered it so the private sector could turn a profit
@Seán Domhnall O’Sullivan:** of the hse
@Dave Doyle:
I think that’s what we’ll get after the next election.
I disagree it makes a mockery of the system though. We elect TDs and they put a Government in place.
We don’t elect a President/Taoiseach to build a Government.
US is clear example of how that can backfire.
@Brinster: I suppose we could argue this ’till the cows come home. I believe people vote for TDs of whatever party they favour to form a government. They don’t vote for TDs without considering what party they belong to.
What’s happening between FF &FG is, without doubt, making a mockery of democracy.
@The Risen: Anything is better than SF
@Dave Doyle: no, Dave, it’s not making a mockery of democracy. It is democracy.
@Irish Spider-Man: the health system never coped.
@Brinster: well they could have used the 17 million they wasted on the papal visit for one
@Chin Feeyin: Democracy, by definition, is supposed to empower opposition. FFG has consistently proven it is an autocracy by undermining opposition.
@Joseph Bent: ya but how do you know?
Can please you provide evidence/links/articles, anything that would show the appalling record SF run government?…..
At least there are local elections next year. Hopefully the people will somehow let this party/coalition know that they won’t accept it anymore! I know FFG aren’t getting a single vote from me ever again.
@Keith O’Reilly: Good on you, pity there aren’t more like you, too many sheep in this country that are afraid of change.. Change might mean bankrupting the country, or ignoring homeless people or pretending its not as bad as it is or maybe the new gov might dance to the bankers tune when they are stealing from people , where have they been the last decade…
@MickN: not enough people are badly enough affected by FGs policies yet to bring them down. However there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead with interest rates set to rise which will affect mortgage holders, carbon taxes on transport and heating, Europe wanting Irelands tax haven status erased which is the main reason multinationals are here and the next global recession all threatening our fragile economy. Change only happens here when people’s own pockets are under threat!
@Shane Carroll: You and no one else has any idea what’s planned for water yet. The new bill comes into effect in 2019 and will see water privatised and the EU blamed. But FFG have put the bits into place to allow this to happen. That’s the main reason they are staying in coalition. Brexit is the excuse.
@Dave Doyle: I dunno Dave. I believe the privatisation agenda could be on the cards like it happened in the UK but I can’t see what company would step in with the state of the water network at the moment. It needs too much money to be invested before it can be profitable. I don’t understand how it can be privatised either when all the infrastructure and reservoirs are state owned. Would companies pay the state for access or build their own? Irish water is a hot issue for politicians at this stage but no doubt there is stuff going on in the background…
@Shane Carroll:
Ecb uses interest to tackle overheating economies..0.25% is fine if you’re paying the European average rate..but a killer in our over priced mortgage market
@Shane Carroll: Who knows if they are telling the truth about the pipe network.
A couple of things point to what is coming. The River Basin Plan that had to be submitted to the EU, does anyone know what it contained. Then there is the fact that the derogation was never renewed. The biggest factor are the water meters. Metering is still going on all over the country. Once metering is in place, and water is charged for according to metered consumption, it must be opened to competition. That’s the EU’s rule. It’s why the ESB was opened to competition. The same thing will happen to water. It’s a FFG plan. Not FF nor FG on their own, but both of them in agreement together. They need to be in government to push it through, regardless of opposition.
That auld Brexit is a right excuse, wonder what the reason will be in 20/20.
FF/FG Two parties running scared of the people, Moving us ever closer to our own yellow vests movement day out.
@Patabake Kennedy: how about no credible alternative? unless you wish to suggest one?
@Seamus G: Not that old chestnut again, give it a rest, SF soon to be in government.
@Dot Com: Keep taking the tablets for your obvious delusion. “Yellow vests” and SF Govt.
@Dot Com:
As FFs mudflap
O no, another year of that flute ross in government. Newsflash, if his proposed measures on speed limits go through, an election can’t come soon enough to vote all of them out
You’re primary issue with a national government revolves around speed limits? Of all the things that are important to make a country function; of all the vital jobs the government fulfills, you want change because you’re not happy about changes to speed limits?
If ever you wonder why the government won’t take your opinions seriously here’s your answer. Your opinions don’t deserve to be taken seriously.
@JayK: I would think it is one of many issues. Just because you think more “important” things are relevant does not make your opinion more valid than anybody else. But lets be realistic in all this bluff, the current government, top to bottom, are nothing more than a bunch of lying, career politicians, with a huge number of them out of their depth, using spin, excuses, blaming and quite frankly un – excusable bluff. The sooner they all go the better. I am no lover of any opposition but by god you got to give it Parse D for sticking to his guns and exposing the PSTB Trio for what they were. This is what this country needs somebody with a pair, who is not afraid to expose the complete and utter cluster f**k FFG/FF have created.
So even though the housing and health catastrophes engulfing Ireland are going to get even worse next year, FF promises to stay in coalition with FG.
Time for the Yellow Vests.
This FFG coalition truly hates Ireland.
@mursim: Its not time for vandals to hold Ireland to randsom. They are correct to wait until after Brexit is sorted. And call an election later in 2019 for early 2020.
What good would come of doing it now?
@Darren Norris: wrong.
The housing and health catastrophes have nothing to do with Brexit.
Direct action is growing ever more essential.
FFG hates Ireland.
“FFG hates Ireland.”
What are you on about. Absolute spanner.
Wait! No election in 2019?
Bit soon to say, no, Michael? Who gave you that information?
If there is no opposition to the “government” in power then Ireland is a de facto dictatorship.
Carry on.
FFG are one , so absolutely nothing new here.
Election will come and their combined vote will dwindle further as has been the case last 2 elections..
The country is more important than the party. Or maybe I’ll sit back and watch it burn while Fine Gael in charge during Brexit
@Mickey Finn: who would you put in charge during Brexit
@Mickey Finn: The one thing they’re doing right. It is possible to have pluralistic ideas you know. I can’t stand varadker for many reasons but he’s playing a blinder on Brexit.
@Louis Jacob: what specifically has Leo done that you consider him playing a blinder?
@Shane Carroll: Leo along with teh EU have defended Ireland and the border and the wider interests of a united EU since hte beginnig of this mess.
How do you think he has done any differently?
@Darren Norris: All Varadkar has to do is nod his head and support the EU in the discussions with the UK. Nth. Ireland is the whip they are using to cause as many problems as they can for the UK. When the time comes that Nth. Ireland has fulfilled it’s function they will leave Ireland to paddle it’s own canoe.
@Dave Doyle: oh the poor UK. Everyone so lousy on them. Have a small bit of self respect Dave
@Patrick O Connell:
Dustin .
He can do no worse than the gold digging , pocket lining blue shirt thieves who are leaving us to eat cake instead of bread ….
Their day will come ….
@Patrick O Connell: SF have been dealing with the English for a long time especially though the troubles while we completely washed our hands of NI. We need to be hard nosed and protect our citizens.
@Louis Jacob: Where did i say i give a flying one about the UK? I don’t, they made their bed.
Brexit is the excuse for the continued coalition between FF and FG and leaves the country with no viable opposition. Varadkar is doing what he’s instructed to do by the EU, no more. The only original policy FG have had since 2011 was to bring in vulture funds. Everything else was a copy of FF and the dictates of the IMF.
@Darren Norris: I think brexit has mostly been between the UK and EU with all of Irish politicians having little to no input outside of Ireland. We are not important to either entity in the grand scheme of things if we are being realistic.
So you don’t think FG deserve any credit because the EU are supporting Ireland so much, Dave? Funny how everything they campaign for with the EU becomes the EU’s position. What an incredible stroke of luck.
@JayK: No, I don’t think FG deserve any credit for anything!!
They’re not protecting our borders, while they’re throwing EU and Brexit in your face they’re signing the UN Migration Pact behind your back.
While they’re appeasing the liberals with free abortion there are people dying on trolleys everyday because they can’t get the care they need.
While Leo’s trying to get doctors and nurses to forego their Christmas holidays the dáil will be on a month long break while people are sleeping on the streets in the coldest of weather.
Leo is a spin king.
Stop looking at Britain, that’s a smoke screen for FG who are ignoring the real problems going on here.
He’s handing our sovereignty, cultures and morals away while you all worry about Brexit.
Michael Collins is turning in his grave!
@Louis Jacob: He has no input on Brexit whatsoever and anybody who thinks otherwise is being completely naive.
@Mickey Finn: @Red Hen: definitely. Soon carbon tax fines to the tune of €150million will be thrown at us. People are so naive to think EU cares about Ireland – they’re goin to bury us in debt then make us sell our assets. Just like they did with Greece. Our country is dying a slow death and nobody cares in our govt cos the perks are so good for them.
@Red Hen: @Red Hen: definitely. Soon carbon tax fines to the tune of €150million will be thrown at us. Don’t for a second think EU cares about Ireland, they’re goin to bury us in debt then make us sell our assets. Just like they did with Greece. Our country is dying a slow death and nobody cares in our govt cos the perks are so good for them.
The stability of incompetence in irish politics continues. Another year of teacher martin and journalist harris telling us they know better than everybody else. Its infuriating stuff.
With their wealth of experience and qualifications in teaching and journalism, and decades of effing up in politics.
@Adrian:
Sorry – must have missed all the PhDs and CEOs that SF have in their ranks.
@Brinster: Oh look – a squirrel !!!!
@Brinster: It took Pearse Doherty to call out the bankers on the scam facilitated by FFG legislation that sees a built in loophole that allows profits on 1.3 billion to remain untaxed.
@Dave Doyle:
Credit where it was due – he did very well on that and hopefully it will shame the gov into action there.
@Brinster: Pearse Doherty was also the only one to spot the 2 BILLION hole in Noonans fantasy economics, even you Mr Brian Flynn who works in financial services has to recognise that
@Brinster: Who mentioned anything about Sinn Fein?
@Pixie McMullen: After watching that questioning i have to say he did very well in pushing them for an answer… We need more politicians like that
Political chaos in London ….sounds more like democracy at work over there..chances of that happening over here zero .. you want to see real chaos meehole try a day in the health service system or housing system…it’s all about filling the pockets so don’t kid a kidder
@Michael Nolan: You’re mixing the inter necine party politics of the British Tory party with democracy.
Sur anybody else would break the country, but FF and FG have already broken the country, and really don’t look like fixing it any time soon, it’ll be same old same old.
@Adrian: They fixed it in favour of banks and vulture funds.
Mr Martin has just certainly destroyed FF. He said a few weeks ago Brexit would have no bearing on a GE,then he flip flops, how can anyone take the word of this party after watching their flip flops the past 2yrs.
I seriously doubt the electorate has confidence in the FF and FG mish mash.
Christ, another 2yrs of Ross we be all walking around by then banned off the road. Suppose he’ll bring in walking licence then
@Anthony Whelan: and also a flatulance tax
Martin should step aside as leader of FF and let someone with vision take over.. All he sees is a confortable seat with no responsibility at all to the people, and a big fat cheque.. Stand aside..
@Thomas O Connor: craptology
@Thomas O Connor: Eventually that person with Vision should have went to specsavers, FFG/FF need to go for the good of the Country and the Irish people.
@Martin Brennan: how many people have agreed with you… Not one… Because your like Martin, head stuck in the sand.. He will be removed from the leadership within 6 months.. And someone who cares about the people of Ireland, North and South will stand up and be counted.. It seems he’s following in the footsteps on another FF leader from Cork, who stood idly by..
@Mark: I agree with you 100 %..
I think it’s up to the people when to call an election …….
@Mary Mc Carthy: Europe will decide when an election is called,
Stability is needed now with the uncertainty across the Irish Sea with Brexit
@Patrick O Connell:
Yep we need a stable health service with people on trollies, housing crisis is very stable with people on streets and nothing happening except figures being made up, very stable going nowhere at all.
We need a change in government fast.
@Ciarán FitzGerald: the health service has been a disaster for 20 years, house prices are on the rise and homeowners are leaving negative equity behind. And finally who would you put on charge of the country????
@Patrick O Connell: And its this kind of stupid statement “who else is there” that has meant them 2 hold a monopoly and have done for many decades… Sure its grand … One bankrupt the country the other ignores people dying on the streets, but sure its grand lets ask for more..
@MickN: and who would you put in charge of the country???? Answers purred please and not on a post card
@Patrick O Connell: Anyone who is not FFG, id go for my local TD who does get things done, if nothing else a coalition of the outside parties would give them the kick up the a@#e they so desperately need for a term, no one outside party will get enough it would be a mix. FFG need to know that ignoring homelessness massaging figures bankrupting the country and assisting bankers in stealing from people, again , wont be tolerated, and that doesn’t even touch the side of all that’s gone on under them, the list is endless.
I ask what must they do for people not to give them their votes, how much worse could they be, they couldn’t…
@Patrick O Connell: That will be up to the people to decide when the politicians call to the door and have questions to answer, not for you or anybody else on a forum to decide based on party politics… But to refer back to yoru question who would you decide and why?
@Patrick O Connell: counter question,…Why is it then better to keep these non opposing parties in power?
As you said, answers on a post card please, I will be eagerly waiting by the post box for you reply.
Cheers pal.
Scared of Mary lu
I am horrified, FF need to get rid of Michael Martin ASAP he has no bottle, nobody voted for Leo as Taoiseach, Leo has done nothing in any of his posts – transport, medical – what did he achieve.
Great, another 18 months of a government rolling over and giving the unaccountable civil service pay increases for nothing in return. While the rest of us pay for it. Before anybody starts whinging about Civil servants paying income as well, they don’t. What on their pay slip is accounting fiction.
He knows perfectly well that if the economy keeps doing well it would be hard to unseat FG but if something caused a downturn, most likely brexit it would be his best and last chance for the top job
@Patrick Nolan: The economy might look good on paper, but the majority are worse off.
‘Most people are poorer after Donohoe’s budget, says ESRI’
@The Risen:
You are now advocating for bigger tax cuts?
@The Risen:
“The think tank found that the tax and benefit changes would reduce the disposable income of an average household by about 0.7 per cent compared with a situation where tax credits, tax thresholds and benefit payments had increased in line with the level of wage growth expected.”
The ERSI said a different approach would have been better, not that most would be poorer.
Micky Martin and FF would be annihilated if a general election were called next year
FF is now FG, they are joined head and shoulders all but in name.
A new political party with some bit of brains is required to have some kind of opposition.
Jokers
Micky Martin and FF would be annihilated if a general election were called next year
@Michael Maher: Not so, who would vote for Leo he has achieved nothing in politics apart from getting elected by FG members.
@Annmoore:
Think you’ll find it was TDs that put him in his position..the ordinary members backed coveney by about 2to 1
Mr Martin knows right well if there was to be an Election, he and FF would get a right hammering at the Polls, so of course, he aint going down that route…AGAIN.
Scared of Mary Lou
The party that facilitated in the economic destruction of this country to it’s knees F.F. again keep in power the party F.G. that presides over a crumbling health service, Homelessness, Housing crisis, a corrupt banking system, scandal after scandal. Blueshirts/F.F. well matched.
Disgusting abuse of power while the countries most vunerable are on their knees.
FF once again doing what’s right for FF regardless of everyone else
Why am I still banned?
F,F, COWARDS
Micheal Martin was just waiting for this opportunity to extend the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael. It is such a weak and cowardly move. Martin is so afraid of a general election and is so lacking in political confidence.
Martin has used today’s events in Westminster as just the excuse he needs in order to avoid a general election, an election which would have resulted in him leading his party to another very poor (by pre-Martin Fianna Fail standards) general election result. Leo Varadkar probably cannot believe how lucky he is to have such a gutless, weak and easy-to-manipulate leader of the Opposition.
@J. Reid: boo who bet you wouldn’t recognize sound political judgement amid any critical crisis and unlike you I prefer less selfless politicians and fixed term parliaments. We elect them to govern and work out their differences
Hardly going to vote for his own p45
Never forget this failed party bankrupted our country, they are not creating a brexit concern for the country, they know if there was an election they would loose more seats,
So the homeless can count FF as their persecutors. It is not Stability but a stab in the back when an opposition party facilitated the suffering of citizens with by doing nothing , so why would anyone vote for them?
Arlene Martin
If FF has confidence in THEIR own abilities to adequately take charge and govern the country,baring in mind that Ireland has National emergencies NOW in Homelessness,Housing and Health,then why don’t they call a General Election?
@Nuala Mc Namara: wipe your tears and look at the carry on in Westminster
@Martin Brennan: So you’ve no answer to my question!
Never forget this failed party bankrupted our country, they are not creating a brexit concern for the country, they know if there was an election they would loose more seats,
Makes sense with the uncertainty around Brexit. Hard not to feel that Martin is taking FF absolutely nowhere though.
Absolutely disgraceful.
What was the big deal about for the last few months top secret talks and non the wiser now. FF are only buying time for the next election so they can try and improve their chances of getting back in government. all the for the good of the country bull does not wash if it did they give us a proper opposition. They can all go back to the Dail and have a good laugh at the taxpayers.
I was going to vote fianna fail next time…but they will never get a vote from our house again …proping up a dysfunctional goverment
@Mari: That’s exactly how I feel FG can’t believe their luck
@Mari: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!
Two cheeks of the same arse
And so the charade continues with FF pretending to be in opposition. FF, FG just two cheeks of the same ass.
Pull the plug Martin FF need a new leader, not the old brigade
Great news! Another 18 months of Harris, Murphy and Ross.
@Denis McCarthy: That says it all
MICHEAL MARTIN HAS TO BE THE BIGGEST LET DOWN EVER AS A LEADER OF FIANNA FAIL!
WEAK OPPOSITION!
OUT WITH HIM!!
Mehole Martin, is a lacky, a liar, a flip flopper and worse of all a traitor.
@Derek Poutch: Obviously you were a former fan – being so good at
Locating the mentioned attributes give me your honest political heroes!!
@Martin Brennan: I am proud to say that I have never voted FF and FG because deep down I always knew they were basically the same party. Between them all they did was replace the Brit elite for the Irish elite. Unfortunately most of the Irish people fell for it. Now though people are waking up to this and I believe they will officially have to join together to survive. It will though take a few more GE. As to my political heros, I honestly don’t have any. I have voted for left wing politicians mostly but when you see what labour did to the country it’s hard to have any political heros in this country.
nobody has ever given a convincing argument why politicians get paid at all , should be a matter of pride to represent your constituency not a career ! Expenses only party would walk in to government , only nobody is bothered getting off their hole and doing it , myself included ! I will though when I retire !!
FF are leaving a vacuum as they desert their supporters
Martin the coward get rid of him, FF a disgrace of a party give them their answer at the local election FF out just a junior Fine Gael Party
Mehole has dug a deep hole for himself
R I P Fianna Fáil (very soon hopefully )
And so Martin still hasnt seen the picture that HE who was part of the cabinet to bankrupt the country will never be trusted politically again and is a complete doorstop when it comes to FF moving forward.
Looking across the water at the comical exhibition of elected representatives acting like circus clowns and they want to elect Bozo as leader. Our requirement for security of Government despite all the ills and poor responses to Health and Housing is essential as out former colonial power disintegrates.
Maturity in politics is decried by those headed to the hills when called to step up after the last election.
FF are not going to be thanked or rewarded by many who comment on the Journal or government aligned political journalists and Ex FG members but give me M Martins leadership than that exhibited by Corbyn and Bozo and Mary Lou headed to the hills and from government in Stormont
Clearly they know, going to the people would hurt their numbers along with FG.
I love the way they can speak for me in that they keeps saying the “people don’t want an election”
They are clearly asking the wrong people or are they “the people in the FFG parties”. who don’t want an election.
Brexit is just an excuse. Make no mistake about the EU would and will throw us under a bus in order to say themselves.
You would have to be deluded to think otherwise.
From past experience the EU had is our back during the financial crisis 10 years ago my would that was like a lamb to the slaughter.
have your say