We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
WHEN IT’S OVER, it’s over.
So the old saying goes.
It’s certainly true in Irish politics – as the picture below from today’s Dáil session demonstrates (we apologise in advance for the clumsy Paint job).
Stephen Donnelly, of course, announced on Monday that he had left the Social Democrats, in a shock move.
The SocDems were only formed in July of last year. Though candidates performed better than expected in some constituencies in this year’s general election, the party failed to increase its Dáil representation – returning in spring with the same three TDs.
“It is a fact that some partnerships, in every walk of life, simply don’t work no matter how hard all of the parties to that partnership try to make it succeed,” Donnelly said in his break-up statement.
Speaking later, he refused to rule out joining another party or grouping. Odds released by Paddy Power today put him at 13/8 to join Fianna Fáil by the end of the year, and at 6/1 to join up with any other party.
The journey to a distant bench is one many Irish politicians have had to make before – either when changing parties (former Labour turned FF politician Colm Keaveney, for instance) or parting company with the government (like Donnelly’s colleague in the Social Democrats, Roisin Shortall, who left Labour in 2012).
To further demonstrate how quickly politics can move on, when it’s ‘over’ – the Vine below was taken around 20 seconds after former Fine Gael minister James Reilly was eliminated from the count in Dublin North, during February’s election…
https://vine.co/v/i6lnMD0P3I3
‘..face severe disciplinary action…’, should be facing severe criminal charges more like
My money is on PETA being behind this.
You do know what PETA stands for?
Can peta make you sick.
Yes I do know what they stand for. They are an organisation of people that care about fluffing their own egos than animal rights.
Check out an of the widely available documentation of PETA funding the extermination of healthy dogs that could have been rehomed.
Also they are categorically against dog breeders and as such would rather see the breeding animals die so that no further puppies may be bred from them.
PETA are filth.
Could not agree more peta are disgraceful bunch of aholes
Nonsense! It is obvious you have read very biased articles on Peta. They do not hide what they do, they admit they destroy animals only when there is no other option. I am not going to get into a discussion on the matter there is plenty of answers on Petas website. Its strange that all the anti Peta material is financed by a large drinks company that own a number of sealife parks that Peta has exposed as cruel.
It is evil to kill anything like this, full stop.
have your say