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THOMAS PRINGLE IS one of the few independent TDs who hasn’t engaged in the seemingly endless talks with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in recent weeks.
While the independent groupings, the Healy-Rae brothers, Katherine Zappone and Maureen O’Sullivan have held some 70 hours of talks with the two main parties, Pringle has taken a backseat.
There’s plenty of criticism of Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and others, including Pringle, who havent engaged in talks to form a government. Some believe they have abdicated responsibility and are doing nothing to prevent a second election in the coming weeks.
But Pringle believes that it’s not worth it if he can’t get his priorities dealt with, telling TheJournal.ie today:
If there is a second election, I have to live with that and fight it again and hopefully retain my seat again. But I’m not going to sell my soul to prevent a second election.
The Donegal TD said he’s happy to talk to anybody, but his brief engagements with both parties did not give him any hope that he would get what he wanted for his constituents, including the abolition of Irish Water and water charges.
“If you enter into a negotiations you have to agree that things are up for a negotiation. I felt, after the conversation I had with Simon Coveney, that water wasn’t up for negotiation,” Pringle said of his chat with the Fine Gael minister who has led efforts to form a minority government.
Simon Coveney was adamant that water charges would have to stay and he saw that water charges was the mechanism to fund Irish Water into the future. I am very strongly opposed to water taxes and Irish Water. So on the basis of that I didn’t feel that that was something I could continue with.
He also met with Micheál Martin prior to the first sitting of the 32nd Dáil last month, but has had no further engagement with Fianna Fáil leader since then.
“I haven’t heard anything from him since so that avenue is, I presume, closed off,” he said.
But in any case, Pringle doesn’t believe Fianna Fáil is serious about getting rid of charges, as it’s only proposed suspending them for a number of years.
For the former Sinn Féin councillor, like so many others, the ‘elephant in the room’ remains: the need for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to hammer out a deal to govern.
“A lot has been said about the responsibility of independents to ensure that a minority government goes into place,” he said.
But very little has been talked about about the responsibility of the two right-wing parties – there’s absolutely very little difference between in terms of policy – and their responsibility in terms of coming together and forming a government, which is actually the only workable majority and workable government that’s in place in terms of this Dáil.
There’ll be more from Thomas Pringle on why he left Sinn Féin and the “myth” that Donegal is anti-establishment on TheJournal.ie this weekend.
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What a depressing article. I’m over 30 and I’m still having a good time.
Journal, do you not have any pictures of building sites or does every employee in Ireland work in an office?
Go wild and start a pension!………….said no one under 30 ever!
Completely lazy writing , looks like it’s cut and paste from a US website. Getting fired is not a good career move for anyone!
I’m 31,I’m back in college doing a masters in a field completely unrelated to my undergrad. I had a permanent and pensionable job in a stable establishment, health insurance, life insurance, a decent wage, my partner and I had saved enough to buy a house and had our mortgage approval. Then we packed it all in, took the money and went travelling. Have barely a penny to my name and in debt to pay for my course, I’ll almost be 33 by the time I’m finished and back in the work force starting again. After reading this tripe do you think I regret anything? What a load of bull. Live whatever life you want to f-ing live, do whatever you want to do with your life whenever you want to do it! The only thing I’d agree with is leave a crap job. I loved my job but I wanted something new. Life is too short to stay in a job you hate or is unfulfilling or with people who are monsters and you are unhappy. Age is a number, it’s meaningless. If someone isn’t willing to give you a chance because of it then take the chance your self. Enjoy life, whatever that means to you, it can end very suddenly.
Look at George Hook as an example,his career only began at 58.Whats with the panic at 30 about.
Fine….but do we really have to look at him?
Nonsense; do people get paid for this rubbish?
When you say get fired, you mean be made redundant?
To get fired is is a very serious matter that this Mr.Kerr chap surely can’t be advocating.
Misconduct or harassment are not accomplishments.
There’s a mad rush off it though…
How about living a real life. Is your tedious career in business, economics, marketing etc going to leave you with a sense of accomplishment when you’re on your deathbed. For an accountant; Are you going to look back on your life and think those 50 years of trading, profit and loss accounts were a life well spent? People’s views of a successful life are so skewed.
All seems very girly to me. Buy a guitar and migrate to west cork. \m/
Number 5: the elevator pitch. Has anyone ever listened to someone explain how what they do is the most amazing thing ever, and not come away thinking they’re only a self agrandising pr*ck?
Anyway what’s an elevator… it’s a lift
Wear sunscreen
I’ll be 30 in November, I have an Arts degree, got fired from a minimum wage job a year ago now I’m back in college!! So no.
This type of garbage telling me what rules and limitations to put on my life.
Piss off!!
“15 things you should accomplish in your work life before turning 30″
Before turning 30 you would be 29
# 17
I try my best not to get fired, no way am I changing my attitude on that, type of thing that will always come back to haunt you.
Ah what a load of shite. Dont be a lick arse, speak your mind, be sound to your colleagues and go for pints with the ones you like. Have a buffer of cash so you never feel trapped in an undesirable situation. Try make money from what you enjoy either in or outside your work and Dont burn your bridges.
The response to this BS article gives me confidence :)
What a load of absolute bollox. If someone ever makes an ‘elevator pitch’ to me I’ll throw them down the stairs.
Does the guy who wrote this realise its all pointless? Having a big successful career means nothing when your dead. Your not on the is planet for long, try to enjoy it as much as you can and try not to be a total nob about it. Life is too short to spend every hour working or thinking about work.
What a sh1r article
Anither Stupid Article from The Journal.
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