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Well that was a very quick couple of hours.
The marquee debate between all seven leaders has left a lot of talking points, but not many clear winners.
The Social Democrats’ Stephen Donnelly will probably be the happiest, although in truth all the smaller parties did well.
There weren’t too many issues for the large parties, although having said that not much happened that will have improved their standing either, something Labour definitely needed to happen.
Here’s the full debate, as and how it happened at the University Concert Hall, Limerick.
Good evening and welcome to TheJournal.ie‘s liveblog of the second leaders’ debate of the 2016 general election.
This time round it’s the turn of RTÉ, who will have seven party leaders present for tonight’s debate in Limerick, moderated by Claire Byrne, which kicks off at 9.35pm.
Cianan Brennan here writing to you from HQ in Dublin. Our Political Editor Hugh O’Connell will be tweeting his analysis from @oconnellhugh and @tj_politics and he’ll have a full round-up after the debate concludes. Aoife Barry will be providing an alternate slant to proceedings from TheJournal.ie‘s main Twitter account @TheJournal_ie, and our scourge of the ill-conceived political statement Dan MacGuill will be on hand with FactChecks throughout the evening.
And if all that’s not enough you can tweet me @ciananbrennan with your thoughts on the night’s action.
Will tonight’s many-leadered debate be a relatively tame affair? Or will we see something akin to the below? Only time will tell.
Leaders have been drifting into the University Concert Hall in Limerick over the last hour or so, with Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin the first to arrive.
Renua’s Lucinda Creighton is also present and correct, and says that her strategy for the evening is to “be myself”. Interesting.
Before we get stuck into the debate proper, we’ll take a brief moment to remember Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Crowley who passed away earlier this evening while canvassing.
RIP.
One party that won’t be taking part this evening is of course the Green Party, who earlier went to the High Court to try and turn tonight’s debate into an eight-way affair.
The party currently have no TDs with RTÉ denying them their application to take part as a result. Their High Court action was earlier rejected.
There’s a lot at stake tonight. Very little movement was seen in the polls following last Thursday’s debate with few if any punches landing on that occasion.
That is a bit of a problem for the government. Fine Gael and Labour would be back in power following the election with each other if they had their preference. Unfortunately if the polls are to be believed the coalition won’t be returned as Labour won’t have enough TDs entering the 32nd Dáil.
One of the biggest problems for the coalition is that in many tight constituencies they are in all likelihood in direct competition with each other which isn’t ideal.
It seemed during Thursday’s debate however that the only coherent united force was still Fine Gael and Labour.
Meanwhile, tonight is the smaller parties’ chance to get stuck into the debate and to create leverage and opportunities for themselves once the election is done.
Or will they take aim at each other? Renua would dearly love to score some points over the Social Democrats you would imagine.
One thing’s for certain, Lucinda Creighton vs Enda Kenny could be one of the highlights of tonight’s debate.
One thing we do know is what order the various leaders will take: from left-to-right it’ll be: Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit), Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin), Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil), Enda Kenny (Fine Gael), Joan Burton (Labour), Stephen Donnelly (Social Democrats), Lucinda Creighton (Renua).
Are you excited yet?
So, let’s play some debate bingo. Which of these issues/phrases are we going to hear about tonight?
For what it’s worth, our money is on the word recovery being used at least a couple of hundred times this evening. Although probably not by the opposition. Anyone want to keep count?
You have to admit it would make things interesting.
Caption competition time.
What we really want to know is whether the gentleman in the mirror is sporting one of those man-bun things?
Four minutes to go folks!
Will Claire be able to keep a tighter rein on the leaders than Pat Kenny and Colette Fitzpatrick managed last Thursday? There really was a lot of finger-pointing going on that night.
Well, she’s got three more leaders to deal with so she may have her work cut out.
Here we go, the stage is set, let battle commence.
If that’s anything to go by Claire Byrne is going to be jumping on speakers all-evening long, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She’s just banned the phrase ‘fiscal space’! But Richard Boyd Barrett had already said it so you’re still good if you had it on your bingo card.
Leave the jargon out says Claire.
First question is from on Pierse Duggan who wants to know why we should believe anything our political parties are saying.
Enda is first up. He looks a little… nervous maybe?
“We’re in a much safer position than we were,” says the Taoiseach.
Claire interrupts him mid-sentence. She wants to know about the abolition of USC.
Sound the recovery klaxon! The Taoiseach has just said “we must keep the recovery going” for the first time tonight.
Social Democrats leader Stephen Donnelly is having his introductory spiel now.
He doesn’t want to touch the USC Claire suggests?
“It’s a necessary tax for a stable tax base,” says Stephen.
The economic storm clouds are gathering, we all can see that.
Now Renua’s Lucinda Creighton:
“We’re proposing a flat rate of income tax,” she says.
This has really been a little dull so far.
Fianna Fáil’s leader is up next.
“The fact of the matter is Fine Gael now represent the biggest threat to the economic recovery,” he says.
We want to reduce USC, particularly for those on low incomes.
And now the Tánaiste:
“If there’s anything to be wary of it’s what the people of Fianna Fáil did to the country to wreck it.”
For every €1 of USC reduction we will provide €3 of spending and investment into the public services that people need, and into getting people back to work.
And here’s Gerry Adams to land the first zinger of the evening – he’s just described Enda, Joan and Micheál as the “Three Amigos”.
He reckons that Fine Gael have been “magicking up figures”.
Gerry has also gone for the jugular with a discussion of Fine Gael’s miscalculations of the infamous fiscal space.
But he didn’t use the phrase “fiscal space”. Devious.
Enda is not to bothered about this, and in rejoinder goes after Micheál Martin again, this time on the subject of mass emigration following the crash.
There really are a lot of people on this stage, but everyone is being quite courteous at present and letting everyone else talk.
They may have to split into smaller groups and have conversations among themselves at this rate – we’ve only got an hour and a half after all.
Just as we say it, the Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin leaders have turned on each other.
It’s one round of applause each as they discuss the Sinn Féin leader’s alleged IRA connections, and Gerry counters that Micheál’s party ruined the economy.
A second question from the audience. The gentleman asking it (whose name we missed, sorry), wants to know what the various parties will do should they come to power to stimulate business and employment in rural areas.
In response, Joan Burton says that her party has reopened the Garda college in Templemore.
Stephen Donnelly up now.
“Irish businesses can’t access the kind of funding they need,” he says.
What you do is reduce the cost of living. We have some of the highest insurance costs, childcare costs in the world.
Donnelly seems quite keen on pushing his economic ideas in a calm, considered way tonight. He needs a crash course in finger-pointing so he does.
Lucinda Creighton has the floor.
She’s talking about the situation with social insurance for SMEs and the self-employed.
“They don’t have the same advantages as PRSI workers,” she says.
And a second one for you:
“Labour pledged to reduce student fees, then increased them” – Micheál Martin.
Verdict: TRUE.
In 2011, Ruairi Quinn signed a pledge to reverse a Fianna Fáil-imposed increase in the student contribution charge, then €1,500.
After becoming Education Minister, Quinn and his successor Jan O Sullivan oversaw annual €250 increases in the charge, to its current level of €3,000.
For more detail, check out this article.
Time for our first FactCheck of the evening, which concerns the Tánaiste’s claims re Garda numbers.
FACT CHECK:
There are already 1,150 extra Gardaí on the streets since Templemore was re-opened -Joan Burton
Verdict: FALSE
The Tánaiste made a similar claim in last week’s debate, but the numbers simply do not add up.
In answer to a parliamentary question earlier this month, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald stated that, since the re-opening of Templemore Garda training college in 2014, 550 new Garda trainees had been recruited.
She added that 296 of those 550 recruits were now stationed throughout the country.
Last year’s budget provided for the additional recruitment of 600 trainees by the end of 2016, but that recruitment has not actually taken place.
So the Labour leader’s claim that there are “already 1,100 new Gardaí on the streets” really ought to be “We now have 296 new Gardaí, 254 recruits in training, and an additional 600 expected to enter training by the beginning of 2017.”
Richard Boyd Barrett is up and he gets the first round of applause offered in anger.
Joan counters to not great effect.
Stephen Donnelly is now hitting out at the “faux outrage” being expressed on stage and around the country for nurses, doctors and guards.
“Compare that with the red carpet rolled out for Donald Trump buying a golf course by our Minister for Finance,” he says.
“I didn’t meet Donald Trump myself,” sniffs Enda.
Gerry Adams and the Taoiseach are now having words. Unfortunately for the Sinn Féin leader he doesn’t quite get his point across after tripping over his words and Claire steps in to take another question from the audience.
This one comes from Sharon who wants to know what’s going on at Ennis hospital.
In response, Micheál and Enda clash over broken promises when it comes to health services. There’s a bit of back and forth between the two. Enda thinks Micheál is “talking rubbish”.
Lucinda Creighton takes up the reins.
“There are so many layers of bureaucracy and middle management in our health service,” she says.
“But health stumps everybody?” says Claire.
“I disagree, we have to change strategy,” Lucinda replies.
Change the approach, bring the parties together, create consensus, and let’s have a 20-year vision, not a five-year one.
Cue applause.
Time for another FactCheck from Dan. This one concerns whether or not Micheál Martin denied that Ireland needed a bailout in 2010.
FACT CHECK:
In 2010, Micheál Martin said Ireland wouldn’t need an EU bailout – Kenny.
Verdict: TRUE
In a September 28 interview with Bloomberg News, Martin stated:
“By and large we are very confident we’ll come out of this. Clearly it’s challenging and so on, but there’s no necessity for the triggering of such a mechanism.”
It could just be us, but it feels that the the three leaders of the smaller parties are making their points far more effectively than the four mains, who seem more concerned with scoring points against each other.
Richard Boyd Barrett is up now – he’s enthusing about the National Health Service in the UK, though he acknowledges that the NHS isn’t a perfect system.
“You close down or downgrade the local A&E services and within a year you have chaos,”he says.
We warned Minister Varadkar about this.
It’s another round of applause for RBB.
“I’d be the first to admit that we haven’t achieved all that we wished to do,” says the Taoiseach in response.
“Are we citizens with rights, or do we not have rights,” says Gerry Adams.
What Richard just described happened in my constituency too.
FactCheck number four – did Micheál Martin cut 3,000 Garda positions?
FACT CHECK:
Micheál Martin cut 3,000 Garda positions – Gerry Adams.
Verdict: FALSE, but a butchered version of last week’s claim, that 3,500 Garda positions were lost between FF and FG/Labour. We rated that claim Half-TRUE, because it ignored parallel recruitment of new Gardaí.
The governments didn’t “get rid” of the positions, but from 2007-2015, there were a total of 3,577 departures from An Garda Síochána, most of which came from voluntary retirement.
So Adams is correct in stating the combined number of Gardaí who left the force during the tenures of the last Fianna Fáil-led government, and the outgoing Fine Gael/Labour one.
However, this obviously doesn’t take into account recruitment.
During Fianna Fáil’s time in government from 1997 to 2011, there was a net gain of 2,926 in Garda strength. During the tenure of Fine Gael and Labour since 2011, there has been a net loss of 1,078.
Joan thinks Stephen Donnelly is speaking in “management consultant talk”.
I can actually hear a stack of reports forming now,” she says. Zing
I would defy anyone to tell me that our A&E services are entirely bad.
“Remember Róisín Shortall Joan?” says Micheál.
She chose to leave the Labour Party because James Reilly wanted to look after people in his own constituency.
“All we’re hearing now…” begins Joan in response.
“All we’re hearing now is nothing,” says an impatient Claire. The audience love that.
Moving on…
Joan and Claire are now on a proper collision course.
“Would you mind answering the question Joan?” Claire says after something of a laborious Burton monologue.
Scenes reminiscent of Mary Lou McDonald to the Tánaiste at Dáil question time.
We’re now over an hour into the debate. Who on earth is winning?
Answer: no-one seems to know. Claire is doing a good job though.
We’re onto rent allowance now.
Time for another FactCheck – has the government really put “tens of millions” into rent supplement? This one isn’t good reading for Joan, who isn’t having a great debate tonight at all.
FACT CHECK:
The government has “put tens of millions extra into rent supplement” – Joan Burton.
Verdict: Very FALSE.
Total spending on rent supplement dropped by 40% from 2011 to 2015.
The number of individuals on rent supplement also dropped 36.7% during the same period.
“There are mums and dads who are tonight putting their kids to bed in the back of cars,” says Stephen Donnelly.
Donnelly wants a new housing agency.
Claire wants to know what the Taoiseach makes of the housing and homelessness problem.
“We have two kinds of homelessness in this country. We’ve the rough sleepers, who are on the streets and if they want a bed they can have one, that’s no problem,” says the Taoiseach.
He doesn’t say who the other kind of homeless person in Ireland is though.
FACT CHECK:
There were 3,000 ghost estates when government came into power, there are now 600 – Enda Kenny.
Verdict: Almost entirely TRUE.
The number of unfinished housing developments going into 2010 was 2,846.
The number going into this year was 668.
Well holy God – we’re an hour and a half in and we’ve just hit our first commercial break.
Tiiiiiimmeee for another FactCheck: this concerns a statement Gerry Adams just made about Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s respective records on health workers and beds.
FACT CHECK:
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael lost 7,500 health workers and 1,600 beds – Gerry Adams
Verdict: Almost entirely TRUE
From 2008-2014, acute beds dropped by 1,643, from 12,123 to 10,480.
From 2008-2015, the number of staff in the health service dropped by 7,377, from 110,903 to 103,526.
This may be the highlight of the night so far, Claire Byrne dealing a spectacular smackdown to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste who had started talking as one:
We’re back from the commercial break, and now we’re onto rural crime. What do the seven leaders plan to do about it, an audience member asks.
“I represent a rural constituency, and people are afraid they’re going to be burgled in their homes,” says Gerry Adams. He wants to reinstate rural Garda stations.
Lucinda speaks of her “Three Strikes and Out” rule – ie a life sentence for someone convicted three times.
“This is about serious criminals being taken off our streets,” she says, her strongest speech of the evening.
We make no apologies for saying so.
“Stephen Donnelly – you’re not really interested in crime are you,” asks Claire.
“We most certainly are Claire,” replies Donnelly, keen as they come.
But first things first we have to acknowledge that we have a first-rate police force.
“We need more gardaí, that’s what the force is saying,” says Donnelly, much of whose rhetoric this evening has concerned talking to “the people” and seeing what they need.
“We’re going to have endless amounts of guards if we continue as we are this evening,” snaps back Claire.
FACT CHECK: Government has closed 139 Garda stations – Gerry Adams.
Verdict: TRUE.
Last week, Adams claimed 140 had been closed, and we corrected it. Someone at Sinn Féin HQ obviously reads the FactCheck.
39 Garda stations were closed in 2012, and 100 closed in 2013. For a list of 37 of the 39 closed in 2012, click here. For a list of the 100 stations closed in 2013, click here.
Crime was always going to be a central part of this debate given the recent spate of brutal gangland killings.
What does Richard Boyd Barrett think?
“I’m interested in trying to deal with crime, by taking young people away from crime, by giving young people options,” he says.
“What about crimes that are happening tonight?” says Claire. She isn’t letting this go and she has Boyd Barrett backed into a corner, the least comfortable he’s looked all night.
“This is taxpayer’s money you’re talking about here,” she persists.
This is something we missed, and boy is it worth seeing:
If you can’t view the video click here
We’re onto our final question, and this one concerns 1916. 1916 klaxon!
Not really, it’s a sneaky way for this fellow to ask will Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil get into bed together in the next government. Now that’s a question.
Enda isn’t biting though. “We want the stability of returning the government that is in office, that is Fine Gael and Labour,” he says.
Fianna Fáil, they ruined our economy says Enda, they are not credible in government, and they don’t deserve to be in government.
“So you will absolutely not be going into government with Fianna Fáil?” asks Claire.
“Absolutely not, absolutely not,” shouts Enda.
Now then, that sounds pretty definitive. So if not Fianna Fáil, who is it going to be?
“The civil war was a long, long time ago,” Micheál offers helpfully.
“THANK YOU GENTLEMEN,” Claire roars when the two party leaders won’t stop bickering.
It’s all chat now about who’ll be in government and who won’t be. The key difference really between this one and the last debate in that no one present then wants to go into power with anyone else, apart from Fine Gael and Labour naturally. This time round there are people from parties who have their options open.
“We will only enter government if we see big changes when it comes to politics and accountability in this country,” says Lucinda Creighton.
“So you’re open to offers then,” clarifies Claire.
Gerry raises his hand. He wants to talk.
“And sure why wouldn’t you,” says Claire.
“I want the three amigos here to ride off into the sunset,” says Gerry with a big grin.
Three Amigos klaxon! It might catch on you know.
“Let’s get this crowd out,” Gerry finishes.
Richard Boyd Barrett denies that a vote for him is a vote for opposition.
“We deserve another term to continue our work,” claims Joan.
“Stephen Donnelly, who will you go into government with,” asks Claire world-wearily.
“I think Claire, that a vote for Labour – they are the only European left-wing party advocating a vote for a conservative, right-wing government,” the Social Democrat replies.
“We won’t be anyone’s mudguard in government I can promise you that,” he adds.
Here’s the second to last of our FactChecks for the evening for you to digest in the post-debate afterglow.
FACT CHECK: 300,000 jobs were lost under Fianna Fáil – Enda Kenny
Mostly TRUE but depends on what measure you use.
Net job losses from 2007-2011 were 437,202.
The number of persons employed dropped by 268,800 from 2007-2011.
For more details, check out this article.
It’s final message time – where did those two hours go?
The Taoiseach recovers his composure and says “it’s time to keep this recovery going”.
Lucinda Creighton says that Renua plan “to keep our promises and tell the truth”.
“We want to build a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Ireland. If you want more than what the establishment has to offer, please vote for the Social Democrats. Every vote matters,” says Stephen Donnelly, who has been one of the stars of the show tonight.
The Eighth Amendment makes its first entry via Richard Boyd Barrett who says he wants it repealed.
“Compre Labour’s vision of hope and optimism, and then contrast with the opposition’s ideas based on despair,” says Joan.
“Tá sé in am vótáil d’Shinn Féin,” says Gerry Adams (I think, apologies if I have got this wrong).
And suddenly it’s over. Claire wishes us all a fond farewell, and cut to credits. That was a very swift couple of hours indeed.
David McCullagh is up next on RTÉ One to discuss the fallout from tonight’s debate.
So what do we make of all that then?
On reflection it seemed quite a messy affair, which was perhaps predictable given the sheer number of voices on stage.
If you think of what was truly memorable from tonight, the kind of thing that might swing an election, there wasn’t all that much to choose from.
There was no over-riding gaffe, and most of the squabbling ended with just one winner – Claire Byrne.
Perhaps Lucinda Creighton’s ultra-strong push of her party’s policy on crime. Stephen Donnelly and Richard Boyd Barrett seemed to have the audience very much on side.
If we’re being honest, there didn’t seem to be that much to choose from between the leaders of the larger parties, apart from perhaps the Labour leader. Joan Burton had a tough night at the office is our feeling.
If one of the fundamentals for the government was to give a boost to the ailing Labour party its hard to see how that boost was provided tonight.
That is perhaps reflected in a Twitter straw poll just carried out by @thejournal_ie:
Our other poll at presents shows the Social Democrats as the best-performing of the smaller parties:
Our final FactCheck for this evening from Dan MacGuill – did 250,000 people leave the country under Fianna Fáil?
FACT CHECK: 250,000 people left the country under Fianna Fáil – Enda Kenny
Verdict: Partly TRUE – ignores the fact that Fianna Fáil oversaw significant net inward migration.
Kenny also made this claim last week, although then he framed it solely in terms of youth emigration. We rated that claim only “Partly TRUE”, by the same rationale as this week’s claim.
Here are the facts:
From 2007 to 2010, Fianna Fáil’s last term in office, 236,700 people did leave Ireland. But 380,100 also entered the country.
From 2011-2015, under this government, 419,500 people have emigrated, while 291,800 came in.
So Fianna Fáil oversaw net inward migration of 143,400, while Fine Gael and Labour have overseen net outward migration of 127,700.
We’re going to wrap things up here after a long night of political intrigue.
Hugh has just come up with the nine things you need to know about tonight’s debate if you fancy some more political chat before bed, while a thorough fact check by Dan on tonight’s claims and counter-claims will be up on the site before long.
And that is pretty much that. Thanks everyone for your company this evening, hope you enjoyed the debate. Aaaaannd… sleep.
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Stephen Donnelly putting in a strong performance.
Joan meeting expectations….
Lucinda looking to run the country singlehandedly
Wouldn’t even contemplate voting that Lucinda
If I have to pick someone to run the country, it would have to be stephen. Pity he isn’t running a candidate in my constituency. He is the only one on that stage that has a clue. When Enda or Joan speak, I take off the headphones, Jesus their voices would go through ya.
Jesus..who sponsors iphone Joan..do they make foghorns’ as well…
To be fair to Stephen he has some balls he isn’t selling the election us!!
Can someone put a sock in Joans mouth OMG her voice would break glass
Finipops, same here. It’s a pity alright. I have to applaud his performance and attitude. Listened to him talking about the economy the other day and he said he wouldnt promise anything, he said he couldn’t make promises unless he had all the facts.
Lol. Even the most ardent of Sinn Fein supporters have realised Gerry is speaking a load of nonsense (Politely put). Stephen most certainly speaks the Syriza language, but don’t be fooled people. Think Robbie Keane, Paul O’ Connell, fresh Guinness, nice pubs, good food, safety for your children. People, seemingly, are happy to put an Irish punt on losing everything.
Gerry Adams having a nightmare. This man has no plan. His jittery response about rural development was an embarrassment. Joan’s arms must be controlled from the strings above, she’s gonna take Enda or Stephen out with all those movements.
I’d definitely put them on my ballot if they were in my constituency.
Can see a lot of “Labour” members/voters disgusted with their leaders’ betrayal of the workers giving them preference or even changing their allegiance.
Gerry ” these folks” Adams! A vote for Gerry is a vote for ….. things?!
Stephen will save this country by deflecting the SF vote his way. Thank our lucky stars. Should have sent Mary Lou.
vote for your local social Democrat and he will be running the country
Agree totally. Burton is a car crash that has happened.
Jesus Adams is brutal. Sinn Fein will be haemorrhaging votes after this performance.
Adams is doing very well and I’d say he’s second to Stephen Donnelly
It’s subjective. But it’s really not actually, if you were able to follow the conversations…
Gerry is merely letting Richard Boyd-Barrett and Stephen Donnelly stick it to them.
He has another chance to steal the show next week. The others don’t.
Vote R2C + Social Democrats to see and end to the lies.
The only problem is the Social Democrats are only running in 14 constituencies. Major pity. They would have had my no.1.
….Is R2C + SD plausible?..Honest question. I mean longevity rather than maths.
Burton and Kenny are incredulous. Burton claiming lies told about her views about McVerry. .. Amazing.
agreed
Stephen Donnelly just virtually bitch slapped Claire Byrne on her question on him wanting to just talk to everyone rather than providing tangible solutions. He is flying tonight. Cool, calm, collected and most important logical.
Not in my constituency either Damien, mores the pity.
Which Lucinda would you contemplate voting for?
Sinn feint not interested in Irish people. All these fools want is 32 county . Well majority irish people don’t as we can’t look after 26 counties
Joe Travers you can go to his constituency and vote for him you are not bound to vote in your own local area you can vote for who you like once you go to their constituency bring your voting card and ID. If there is not anybody that you like in your area you like you go where there is someone you like and vote there not many people know this,, that is the law
joan burton sounds like a cat being skinned
The Banshee wails and whines anon!
judging simply by the fact check thing from the journal, Burton isn’t too honest
Donnelly won that by a landslide, Kenny looked like a rabbit in headlights, Martin just spewed the old FF policy, Adams – sooner he goes the better he’s a liability. As for the man in drag in the red dress, no idea what he/she was on (maybe a bottle of coke). Sorry I’m not into a 50′s style matron who still lives in the past and the boy? Interesting
Affinity has definitely missed the irony in his statement lol.
Definitely Gerry Adams is past his sell by date, a tired poor performance and couldn’t get his words out. By far Richard Boyd Barrett was most popular with the audience and is a very good speaker.
I have seen enough of these debates, we know where they stand so lets get on and vote…..
Populist you mean. Easy to be when you never have to make an actual decision.
@ Chris yes Richard was popular, and great on generslities but waffled when asked specifics! Lucinda did ok, Kenny was pretty good as was Martin, Joan has all the facts but waves that hand too much, Jerry was good on generalities but didn’t want to talk about the SCC, funny all singing the praise of the UK NHS, yet there was major criticism of the same 15 min later on BBC . I think we all know what part of the problem with the health service is but no one wants to mention it!! Similarly with certain crime, travelling/traveller criminal gangs , …..don’t mention the war!!!!!!
That Stephen Donnelly is great
yes. He is. Up to recently he was a very poor debater in that he was far too tame and polite. He allowed others walk over him and shout him down. He was too placid. I hope he has more fight in him now as nominated leader for this debate.
And Byrne cut him off each and every time.
Stephen Donnelly is the only one telling the truth. The rest are full of hot steaming you know what.
How do you know? Actually you are right. Please vote him in as No. 1!
Richard Boyd Barrett is playing a stormer too, Thank god he is in Dunlaoghaire, nice chap, i have been on the water marches with him, knows his stuff and is passionate about it to boot
@motherofdivine…. Boyd Barrett is a champagne socialist. Good speaker but that’s about it.
One thinks for sure, if Clare Byrne doesn’t break up the squabbling, it’s going to be a mess of gargantuan proportions.
Looking forward to Stephen Donnelly’s contribution. His knack for common sense and simplifying concepts is second to none, probably the best communicator in the Dail.
SF reaching out to Social Democrats do you have a voting transfer pact with them yet?
But he hasn’t signed up for r2c: so surely that lessens anything he may say in your mind.
Watch out for the FG labour plants in the audience
There’ll be no SF or r2c ‘plants’ in the audience then?
“But he hasn’t signed up for r2c: so surely that lessens anything he may say in your mind.”
Nope. What a silly comment.
Good follow up jamming. He recognises r2c for the ridiculous grouping that it is and ran a mile from people like ogle and Gerry.
Watch out for the Labour plants in Fine Gael’s pants that will be no more come the end of Feb.
Byrne already looks very nervous and she’s only 1 minute in.
Yes. Please all vote for Stephen guys. He deserves your vote so bad.
Adams totally fluffed the rural question and SF policy. He came off looking clueless there.
Right to change has absolutely no ability to hold the candidates that sign up to their word as it says on their website’s FAQs, so all he would have been doing would be signing up to an empty promise, something that he and any other good politician would studiously avoid.
Donnelly is running rings around this lot, Kenny is looking at him in amazement
Correct. He comes across as fiercely anti-establishment. Good enough for me.
Agree , Donnelly is brilliant, speaks well, speaks logically and clearly.,this really could be a brilliant country for all of we would vote out the gombeen politicians. The majority of Irish people are light years ahead of them.
Boyd Barret has out shone him hands down, Donnellt badly dropped the ball on primaty care and let Martin run with it…..Shorthall will be shorting a fuse!
” The majority of Irish people are light years ahead of them.”
Disagreed. We generally get the government we deserve. I know that’s an unpopular point of view.
r=t!
D’unredactable: Yeah Barrett did about as good a job dressing himself as he did in the debate. carry on
I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again. There may, in all seriousness, need to be a military coup were Sinn Fein ever to get power in the Republic. The thought of these provos being in charge of justice, education and representing Ireland abroad would be too much for the Irish people to bear. The Irish Army would need to rise up to take back the country.
I see you’re following the government spindoctors lead, as reported in the SBP, to “frighten the shite” out of people till polling day” about the prospects of a SF government.
Won’t work.
Is this 1994 and are you in the DUP?
Isn’t it sad that they even consider doing that to the electorate For Connolly! Disgusting carry on.
Remember there are cases where democracy does not produce an acceptable outcome. For example Hitler was elected by democratic vote. SF getting into power would certainly be such a case and the Irish Army would need to make clear the result is unacceptable.
That’s your opinion Cal, you’re entitled to it, but it doesn’t make it true.
Brendan, same tactic as with the fiscal compact. Politics of fear, and yes, disgusting carry on.
That’s a little dramatic!!
Soon as I read hitler and Sinn Fein in your comment I stopped reading.You sound like one of those soldiers hiding in the jungle only realising the war is over 20 years later.
FG have a history of overthrowing democratically elected governments and I’m not sure given Blueshirt history I’d be mentioning Nazis.
Silly comment a lot of soldiers vote SF All that would happen is European commission would reject SF budget if it involved big increase in public spending Same as they rejected Portuguese budget last week. Part of the Lisbon treaty
Military Coup is i think the only way you can be charged as a traitor in Ireland.
How do you what soldiers vote? Can you back your comment up with any facts?
How do you know what soldiers vote? Do you have any facts to back that comment up?
A military coup would not happen. Our Defence Forces proudly serve democracy and are not a fascist body.
Cal Cryton disrespects democracy and the democratic will. Onky an FG supporter would be capable of such anti-democratic views.
Hope Gerry oils Joan before he winds her up
Is shooting Gardai not anti democratic? And then having parties for them? Will SF even recognise the true oghlaigh na hEireann of this state?
The Irish Army would defence the State against those who would seek to engage in treason. Cal Cryton is trying to preach sedition on a contingency basis. It’s an eye opener in relation to the lengths to which some in FG would go to retain power.
Jason, ohh I see your point. Past anti-democratic actions justify future anti-democratic actions.
Personally, I respect the Peace Process. It was democratically voted upon. I respect democracy. I don’t support traitors and fascists.
Ah Cal you would disrespect the possibility of a democratic vote that might see SF sharing power so much you want the army to take power? Seriously? Have you talked to your advisor’s in FG about this?
Cal Cryton you are clearly taking the pish or maybe you are just mad.
Well said Social Democrat Lady
First question in by audience member on broken promises. Kenny easily deflects, and Claire Byrne lets him. In fact, she throws in a second question that was even more off topic.
This woman is bloody clueless and unfit for a job of such a nature.
There was no point in that man going to the trouble of asking a question as she can’t keep it relevant.
godwins theory proved in record time
Cal, is that fg policy? So youre not democrats now?
“This may be the highlight of the night so far, Claire Byrne dealing a spectacular smackdown to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste who had started talking as one:”
And do you think she would have walked away? Of course she wouldn’t. So it wasn’t a smackdown, it was a stupid thing to say.
Jasus Cal. Displays a chilling lack of respect for democracy. A coup would destroy this country for decades… Get a grip. Bet an ‘irish Spring’ sounds good to you (rolls eyes)
Disgraceful, Cryton – you really are overstepping the mark.
A question was put to enda, and his reply was entirely unrelated, he’s a gas man
And moan Joan can only come up with old lies etc like her Garda claim earlier… Disgrace
He was confronted by Gerry, ignored the accusation and used his chance to reply attacking Micheál.
That speaks volumes. On the ropes.
is it just me or is this and other debates unwatchable
Enda came across as a boring school teacher.
If I wasn’t already voting Social Democrats, Stephen Donnelly would have won me over. He’s the only one actually speaking hard, cold sense and not trying to buy votes.
His answer on the health was a bit weak.
There seems to have been no acknowledgement from any of the other parties that the economy was fecked and there was barely any money. It’s so easy to argue from the position of an economy that’s recovering that we should’ve done this and done that.
The problem in this country is that we waste so much money providing an inferior public service for such a high cost. More spending is just going to exacerbate the problems.
Stephen Donnelly only one talking sense
but Claire must have someone screaming in her ear
“Shut him up, shut him up”
Donnelly is playing a blinder. Get this man into government.
Remember a vote for Fine Gael is a vote for Irish Water.
Not even a transfer for pro Irish Water parties.
Not even a transfer.
Roll on #GE2016 #Feb26
Stephen Donnelly the only sensible points yet. Lucinda presented herself well.
Yeah lucinda isn’t doing too bad, my fear is she will prop up the incumbent government and revert back to same old same old.
social Democrats getting my vote
Can someone loan Richard a suit.
His rich parents maybe?
Bankers and Developers wore suits, and they raped the nation – whats your point??
Socialism requires rich parents which says it all really.
Point being certain jobs have dress codes, he may as well go away and sit with Mick Wallace if he thinks dressing like a tramp will help.
@Dan do you want nicely dessed ppl to run the country or honest ppl?
Clothes don`t maketh the man
What’s a feckin’ suit got to do with politics? Do you vote by fashion standards?
LOL Very first question and Enda Kenny is ignoring the question of 2Broken promises” and is straight in with his usual diatribe!!! what a plonker!
I think Kenny is looking at Donnelly and thinking good bye Joan
lol! Joan comes in again with the pain, Michael drops his sheet, Enda points at it at Michael tries to sweep it aside casually with his foot.
That Martin is a shiver looking for a spine to run down.
First words from kennys mouth,same old drivel.Inheriting past goverments problems.
Enda Kenny is an ignorant swine, horrible, horrible man.
best example of a yellow sellout traitor there is
Lessie – what is Adams? The leader of a terrorist led party.
The only skum on that platform tonight was the shinner, he has an unbearable stench emanating from him
I see Micheál Martin OR Enda hasn’t ruled out a coalition with each other yet with a simple NO.
Docs on the sauce again.
I wish, having to listen to adams and martin
I think enda and joan are getting their arze kicked by the rest.
Already sick of Joan burton
Some of the camera shots suggest the audience are too… even CB looked bored when Joanie spoke…
michael martin point scoring with same old waffle about IRA allegations.
Lets rid ourselves off this pox that is irish water.. what ever party you support lets join together and put an end to this super quango.
Lol, “all we’re hearing is nothing” and turns her back on them, class.
If only we had a Ceann Comhairle with that girl’s balls…
Richard Boyd Barrett just says whatever will make the audience clap, he’s barely offered a solution, just giving us statements we already know
rabble rousing rheteoric
Stephen Donnelly leading the pack
There is no pack. He’s running in a completely different class of race
Seriously can Gerry Adams actually talk about his own terrorist group,sorry ‘ahem’ “Party” not about everyone else
*yawn*….
Why whats boring about my comment?
same old tune….zzzzzz
Look at the facts Gerry Adams was on the CIA’s terrorist watchlist till goddam 2007! But i forgot Shinnerbots dont like facts
so was santa clause
Are you joking or serious
Aaron, so was nelson Mandela so what’s your point ??
and nelson mandela
aarons a blueshirt
He’s been the worst, hands down.
Not one solution proposed, just finger pointing.
Nelson Mandela.Seriously NELSON MANDELA.Your comparing a man who killed huge amounts in the North to a anti -arpatheid activist.Soon it’ll be Gandhi and Hitler.
who killed huge amounts?
I actually am not aligned.If im anything its Soc. Dems. Fine Gael,Fianna Fail and Labour are all corrupt.I’ve made my point about Sinn Fein so really no I’m not a blueshirt
The IRA who was led by….. Gerry Adams.
ah stop. in this day and age waffling that ff/fg/lb point scoring rhetoric. thats like saying bertie ahern won his money on the horses. simply not true.
The anc who Mandela founded and lead killed 1000′s. You really are an uneducated clown Aaron.
Its your opinion but the ideology was much different.In fact Mandela divorced his wife as she was supporting violence that was not needed
Aaron, quit making a fool of yourself. The ideology was exactly the same, Catholics in Northern Ireland threated as 3rd class citizens , same with blacks in SA. Catholics denied a vote, same with blacks in SA. Catholics routinely lifted and tortured by an oppressive police force, same with blacks in SA. Nelson Mandela felt he had no other option only to go down the route of violence.
away fool
Lucinda making a good point about the health system.
The sheep will go and dismiss her without even listening. Those that no longer listen are destroying this country.
Not answering the questions that they asked
Instead blaming everyone else
Joan’s voice would go through your head.
She is like Trump now.
Except that Trump is riding a wave of popularity whereas Joan is about to be tipped out of the canoe into 14 inches of riches.
Wow. Government getting hammered. Stephen Donnell and Richard Barrett playing a blinder. Delicious popcorn :-)
I don’t think Barrett is doing that well, to be honest.
Gerry’s come out swinging tonight, MM should be wearing safety glasses because Gerry will have his eye out with that finger
Kenny and Burton making no impact whatsoever, which is nice :-)
are you suprised?
Kenny doing well not to say too much. Stale, staid numbers and facts. Can’t see it damaging or enhancing him.
Burton on the other hand eviscerating herself.
Lot of government trolls on the comment section tonight. Getting paid at least I hope? Otherwise, it’s just sad.
Are people who don’t support the government anti government trolls getting paid too?
Joan plans for five years in the future. Took her 5 months for a 180 last time. We have to invest in our colleges? How about our students with graduate loans? Ah ye did that already….. Wagon.
Boyd makes a good point but it is easily knocked down by fear of a drain on investment to the country.
Martin v Adams. Enjoyed that….Adams won…Topical Martin. Topical.
Donnelly. Hopefully the grown up conversation we will see in our political future. Actual sense. Breath of fresh air.
Sorry Lucinda. Your neo-liberal libertarian nonsense has no place here now. Your power play may work for you sadly…You are for full “tax equality”. Stop will ye…
Kenny…Jaysus. Can anyone look at that man and be happy he is Taoiseach.
Dang. That Boyd punch was made all the harder by Burton trying to slip it….
Kenny calls Trump “Donald” after that from Donnelly…FFS Enda…
Good summary so after!
Just shouting at the internet but much appreciated :)
Boyd has done great on health I must say. Martin makes a great point on Shorthall. One of the few whose conscious got the better of her.
Her is where Burton goes ever more South…
So Joan went with the nail gun for the coffin with Kelly soon to pick up the shovel. Sad day. Biggest giggle was Burton at her most serious. Dead in the water.
Really surprised at how impressive Boyd was. His usual boisterous nature I am used to in the Dail was replaced with and very level headed and articulate approach. Have to say I am not as mocking as I was towards right2change as before..Bleedin exhausted now.
Please, can anyone defend the performance of Kenny?
Joan and Enda have been sidelined. They’re absolutely irrelevant. Joan isn’t being allowed to interrupt and Enda has no answers. Time for serious change
Can’t bare Lucinda!!! She’ll have us all eating scraps!! No way I’d vote for her and bloody Eddie
Worth tuning in to see Enda being told he crawled in front of Europe,with not a defaulter stamped on his forehead..loved the line”you didn’t represent Ireland in Europe,you represented Europe in Ireland”…every true word of it..
Lucinda has some very good ideas on crime Should be a limit on legal aid for repeat criminals
Gerry Adams knocking stripes of the other three main parties.
Lucinda making a good point in tackling rural crime. 3 strike rule and life imprisonment. No place in society for those with 30 previous convictions etc. But we have an issue with prison capacity so investment needs to be made. And it will be well worth it
Lucinda actually providing some right wing viewpoints in this GE. May not like her but at least she’s changing the dialogue from civil war politics to right/left wing ideology.
Hurrah our democracy is finally growing up!
Oh the anticipation
I know. Can’t believe I’ve had to wait since the last debate in the hopes of once again seeing enda kenny read a minute long opening statement off a sheet of paper, and then spend the rest of his time read numbers and soundbites off another sheet of paper.
So comrade Gerry has no notes and doesn’t read of prepare anything?
Actually Jason, that’s what it looked like in the last debate
They all had their moments. Steven Donnelly was very strong at the start but often had no solutions as Claire Byrne kept saying. Gerry looked rattled especially when he waffled about the rural economy. Joan’s voice was annoying. Enda was average. Micheal lacked the spark of last week’s debate. Lucinda did well and stayed out of any altercations and Boyd-Barret was just populist saying he would give everybody everything they wanted for free!
Stephen Donnelly is all mouth and little substance
You couldn’t be more wrong, you may have noticed he was by far the most interrupted by CB trying to break up his train of though, most others were afforded a reasonable chance to answer but because he spoke clearly she decided I ain’t having this and bulldozed in
“Leaders” debate is stretching it a bit in fairness.
Yep, should be 6 leaders and a despot dictator of a cult
The leader of the largest political movement on the island.
So 6 plus Enda
Enda has neither the charisma nor the oratory skills necessary to be a successful dictator.
For logical, honest, socially conscious, business/market intelligence… Stephen Donnelly for Taoiseach. Richard Boys Barrett for a passionate, pro the people, Tanaiste. and keep Gerry to the end of the table for negotiation experience (the ‘grrr’ factor ;-) … he wouldn’t have rolled over like the current lot ).
I like that line up..
gerrys on fire tonight
He looks a bit nervous though
hard not to i guess when you are amongst traitors
Did you see his hands shaking when questioned on his IRA membership by Micheal? Body language can tell you a lot sometimes.
Joan spent ten mins denying that fg wouldn’t let her increase the rent supplement and then the idiot tells us why he didn’t let her
Adams doing horribly. Enda stale. Donnelly excellent.
Martin very confident, but has no credibility.
gerrys doing fine amongst the squeeling swine
Love him or hate him (the latter for me) Martin has always been a reasonably good debater.
a silver tongued charlatan
A Master Debater gan dabht!
Shows how much Clare dislikes sf as Gerry has gotten next to no time to speak…. And typical of other parties digging up history on sf its in the past leave it there and move on
Enda keeps trying to interject & he’s being rightly ignored so far. He just hasn’t got any charisma or clue. He sounds so unconvincing – bluffer extraordinaire. Joan has been predictably vacant. It’s saddening that these plebs reached such dizzy heights in Irish political life & no wonder we are saddled with 42% of Europes Bank debt.
FG & Labour really being shown up tonight, this is the game changer we’ve waiting for!?
“we are saddled with 42% of Europes Bank debt.”
Michael Taft’s lies live on.
Poor Gerry does not seems to know what the word policy means!
Gerry is a spoofer
Enda is a spoofer
Joan is a spoofer
Meehole is a spoofer
Party political parties have been the ruination of this country. Vote independants
Lol. Joan looks like she is shitting bricks already.
If this was in 3D Joan would have us all jumping behind our sofas with that massive right hand..
She looks under extreme pressure
The 3 amigos should ride into the sunset on their donkeys classic
Stuttering Enda
And moan is off butting in
Joan has started interrupting
I feel a cough coming on…….
Stephen Donnelly and Richard Boyd Barrett have won by a distance
Boyd Barrett is just spouting populist drivel.
Yes, no solutions just nonsense such as the government should create jobs out of nothing to solve unemployment. As if we already don’t have a problem with jobs for the boys.
i always regarded him as a spoofer and silver spoon merchant
Stephen Donnelly passed off his lack of policies by saying he needs to ask gardai, nurses etc etc what they think to form their polices but yet why hasn’t he not done that yet.
Why wait until they are in government to do that, now that is crazy and they want to keep the property tax as well…
Clare Byrne is a bad moderator, she continuously is letting Joan and Enda dodge questions and let them ramble on with their scripted answers.
The best thing about this debate is Claire Burn!!!
Byrne
I’m aware of the spelling of her name
you are now.
It was clearly a pun
ahhh….I see…..
Actually Claire is doing better than I expected, especially given there are seven debaters.
Clearly? I don’t get this pun ….sorry ???
In fact they are mass debaters, Dermot
@ Jumping. Because she’s red hot (“,)
The moment I posted it she had burned Burton gloriously, she was great. She was all over them
FACT CHECK:
The government has “put tens of millions extra into rent supplement” – Joan Burton.
Verdict: Very FALSE.
Total spending on rent supplement dropped by 40% from 2011 to 2015.
The number of individuals on rent supplement also dropped 36.7% during the same period.
BYE BYE BURTON BYE BYE :D
Go on Richie,yah boy ya!
Gerry Adams has been rattled
how so?
Pity the issue of mental health and why is it now taking 2 year to get a autism assessment carried out and why a it’s impossible to get a sna wasn’t brought up as it is lacking in most manifestos oh wait a child doesn’t matter
All the parties agreed that we need to puff up public sector wages more. Utterly depressing.
Kenny and burton were the weakest.
I thought Kenny took his pen to be a rocket the way he was playing with it?
Joan became more and more like Trump AND VERY FEW CLAPPED HER IN THE AUDIANCE.
Hmm…should be interesting. Fg no usc but lpi+water taxes. Sf usc but no lpt or water tax. And ff reduced usc, lpt but not water tax, malcolm-in-the-middle. I dont like iw. I dont like the possibility of it being sold to private enterprise w/ escalating charges. Already approved 3.70/m3 increased rate kicks-in 01 jan2019 if fg remain in. Vat went up and stays. 2nd highest in eu. Vrt highest in eu. Carbon tax hitting the elderly/poor on a bale of briquettes/bag of coal must be repealed imho. I’ll wait f us/china/india ++ to lead the way on co2. Up to you guys, have a happy election.
Vat also went down to 9% for hospitality and tourism industry. Welfare payments also some of highest in Europe.
Jason, 23% too high. The gas bill has vat, pso levy. ..New cars too expensive-ban VRT-SELL MORE CARS!
Cost of living in Ireland is also one of the highest Jason. Just one of the reasons why welfare payments are so high here….
Right on Kerry and the energy bills are too high. Sittin’ here in the cold what with carbon tax, pso tax, vat tax. Beyond a joke. If u use nought u’ve still a hefty bill.
So gregory you don’t think the cost of living is high here?
My carbon tax, VAT and PSO levy cost more than my actual heating on my last bill!
Dear God
Abandon hope…
all ye that enter here!
These have been in charge for the last 30 yes
any wonder we’re in this mess?
Enda can only talk in rehearsed comments. Worse than useless
hes like the mayo team when they get to croke park. disastrous.
Can Claire please stop interrupting Stephen and Richard when they are trying to make their points.
Steven and lucinda clearly the winners tonight. Both focusing on policy and ideas. whether you like those ideas or not, they highlight the waffle and jargon of the 4 main parties
Claire Byrne reminds me of an angry parent on a road trip; “if you don’t stop arguing I will turn this car around”
Well, she was dealing with a van full of three-year-olds…
Does this analogy leave Stephen the quiet, harmless husband getting the brunt of the frustration? ;)
If Renua are represented the Greens should be as well. 7 could easily be 8.
Greens have no TD.
Fair point.
no denying stephen donnellys one of the good guys. talks sense.
Joan: “Richard is talking like a management consultant… I can actually hear the… stacks of reports… being created… about the problem”
Absolute clunker of a comeback.
The left candidates were all very good.
Haven’t seen a single audience member nod in agreement with burton.
Kango hammer Joan .omg. she has just fin8shed Labour as a party.
Enda Kenny has been anonymous and when he does talk he gives cringe-inducing clichés. Gerry has been poor again tonight,no substance at all. Joan’s red jacket is all she has left. Donnelly & Boyd Barrett seem to have passion and a genuine desire to improve the situation in this country and while Lucinda has performed well enough,it’s a wasted vote for a highly conservative entity. Claire Byrne has been excellent at directing the debate compared to what we’re used to and the shambolic shouting match that was the TV3 debate. A vote for FG & Lab will be destructive to the Irish citizen,that’s the only thing I’m certain of.
Boyd-Barrett did very little aside from spout populist nonsense. He just shouted the problems the state has! He didn’t offer any tangible solutions. Donnelly did fairly well but he was too often diverting to his USC chant. Hard to pick anything to get behind across the board
Gracus, that would be an accurate analysis there.
Enda made a comment that the motorways contributed to rural crime at one stage. Nobody picked him up on it. I could not believe he was looking for an alternative reason to blame the fact that rural garda stations being closed were not at fault. The man is just a moron!
One thing I think 90% of us would agree on is Stephen Donnelly is the most sensible and honest of all the leaders. Is his party big enough to lead a government?
The experienced leaders just using fail-safe get out of jail one-liners and mumble through a big incoherent rant. Donnelly on the other hand almost bullet point style of debate, logical, crisp, and strong grasp of the accounting behind it all. Well done sir.
Richard Boyd Barrett is a passionate speaker and an intelligent and principled individual. Need lads like him and Donnelly running this country/administering on the behalf of the people.
He offers no solution to the housing crisis beyond the govt providing social housing.
The government should create jobs for young people is probably the most idiotic thing I’ve heard this election but hey, it got him a big cheer.
Social housing is a major part of the actual solution to supply.
He talked about supporting the needy and not giving preferential treatment to the fat rats. I’d shout for him based on that alone. This Republic that we aspire to belongs to everyone. The Gentry need a land.
It’s funny that Joan’s speech was SO written before the debate lol.
Good man Enda…he meets all the people from the man with two pints in one hand to the man who was crying in the street at his family to be able to come for a christening. ..
Stephen Donnelly, I want less government interference not more agencies, authorities or red herrings.
Housing Ireland, Irish Water please
Oh would Adams ever stop talking jeez
Maybe you should lead by example.
An hour in and it’s all pretty tame
Richard Boyd is winning I think even without the suit
Richard talks a good game but his policies would destroy us.
Barrats answers on crime were a disaster
So what exactly did we learn: Claire Byrne won hands down, Social Democrats are surprisingly well lead by Donnelly. Lucinda and her Creightons in Renua scared off most the people with her 3 strikes your out justice system.
Gerry Adams survived, not to be sniffed at considering his poor debating skills. Sorry but its just a plain fact that compared to the other leaders he comes up short. Mary Lou is much much better.
Boyd Barrett to be fair was not bad, but still needs to buy a proper shirt and tie.
And then we have poor auld Joan Burton, who got blasted from all sides, the labour boat is sinking fast
That’s what I took from it too. When will SF realise that Adams needs to step back and let Mary Lou or P.Dohoerty step in.
Lucinda Creighton wouldn’t convince you to get out of bed in the morning.
@Mr D….so you would then?
Health care for people born here, that rules out the so called Syrians coming here,thanks Gerry
Lucinda Creighton is a horrible mix of Donald Trump and Dolores Umbridge
@Éanna…I am not sure you could get a good mix of that. Perhaps she should remind everyone in leinster house that they must not tell lies.
It’s off to a poor start already. I bet they have all received the questions before hand
The forgot about waterford over the 5 years they were there !!
Joan burton needs a smack of a shovel i the face. Please get rid of her!!!
Finally an allied health professional mentioned….more to HSE than doctors and nurses! !! And as someone working in primary care, it is a farce currently.
The small parties are the winners in that debate. Social democrats, Renua and Boyd talking the most sense. Burton was a disaster, Adams not far behind. Martin….well, would you put an alcoholic in charge of the brewery?
I’ve switched over to TV3 better debate so far
LOUD NOISES!!!!
That SocDem lad is the spit of the maniac it if the original Hills Have Eyes movie. Spooky!
Gerry “Billy goats gruff” Adams
Sorry, meant as a general comment
SocDem guy people on more than €35000 already pay Nordic tax levels It is just people on less than €35000 that pay much less than Nordic levels We don’t pay US tax levels
His name is Stephen Donnelly
Bit of respect, yeah?
Lets see, the Social Democrates have no polices because they want to talk to the Gardaí, ambulance drivers, doctors, nurses etc etc before making their polices but yet they wait until they get into government before they do this?
My question is what have they been doing since they formed or is this the new the dog ate my homework?
Then Renua wants to bring in legislation like the U.S. for criminals knowing that the European Court of Justice will fine Ireland if they do what they say they are going to do and their idol is to copy Germany or is that Merkel. A few in the audience were that shocked at them that a few had they mouths open as she spoke about punishing parents for their children..
Then Enda acting like a school boy in body language with a pen flying about the place as he ways it in the air and everytime he spoke, you could see the eyes of those in the audience glazing over as he spoke, no leader material at all.
Then the more Joan spoke the more I thought she was trying to act TRUMP, was it a debate or just slagging with her. She got the least claps from the audience…
But I only saw the second half…
And someone told Stephen Donnelly Tony Blairs body language skills, namely using your fist with the thumb to make your points seem more genuine… Like putting bluetac onto a table…
Richaed Boy hadn’t a clue about Gardaí and tried to excuse criminality and drugs on the poor gits needing help from the HSE, A BOOT UP THE REAR BE MORE THERAPUTICAL in my view…
Your cluelessness is astounding, get outta my country
What is your country then???
As everyone lives in their own world, I am just glad for now it isn’t the Renua or Social Democratic wee worlds…
The three strikes law works according to research. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-strikes_law” “Violent crime, but especially homicide, has fallen in the Los Angeles area, as well as other areas of Southern California: Los Angeles’s 2010 homicide count was 297, less than a third of the 1992 high of 1,000 homicides. This statistic reflects overall national trends of decreasing violent crime and may be unrelated to the three-strikes law.[27] A 1999 study, in which, pre-three strikes crime rate (1991-1993) were compared to post-three strikes crime rate (1995-1997).[28] The dropping crime rate in California was compared directly to how severely counties enforced the three strikes law. The dropping crime rate was the same in counties with both light and harsh enforcement, sometimes being even greater in counties with lighter enforcement of the three strikes law. Does Three Strikes Deter? A Non-Parametric Estimation, was a study published by researchers at George Mason University in Virginia and said that arrest rates were 17 to 20 per cent lower for the group of offenders convicted of two-strike eligible offences, compared to those convicted of one-strike eligible offences. The authors concluded this indicated that the three-strikes policy was deterring recidivists from committing crimes.[29]“
Fixed link here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-strikes_law
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