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AS IT HAPPENED: No Taoiseach elected as new lineup of TDs meets for first day of Dáil

Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan have all been rejected by the house.

LAST UPDATE | 20 Feb 2020

ALMOST TWO WEEKS after the country went to the polls, the 33rd Dáil sat for the first time today.

TD’s voted to elect a Taoiseach and, as expected, Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan were all rejected by the house.

The Fine Gael leader will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation but will remain in place, along with the current cabinet, until a new Taoiseach is elected.

McDonald racked up the most votes as several independent and Solidarity-People Before Profit TDs backed the Sinn Féin leader.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl was re-elected as Ceann Comhairle.

Here’s some other pieces to get you up to speed:

So here we are. 

The only thing that’ll definitely happen today is the election of a new Ceann Comhairle.

It’s Fianna Fáil’s Seán Ó Feargháil – who has done the job since 2016 – against independent Denis Naughten. 

If Ó Feargháil wins, it’ll mean Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil would now be level in terms of the number of seats it has in the Dáil. 

Our political correspondent Christina Finn has more details on all of that for you here

What else should we keep an eye out for today?

Well the Healy-Raes made quite the entrance on the first day the Dáil sat in 2016.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Gah. Commentators’ curse.

Michael Healy Rae, at least, has gone for the low key approach this time around, Newstalk Shane Beatty has reported.

Our reporter Rónán Duffy is also down outside Leinster House.

He’s been speaking to Sinn Féin’s new TD for Roscommon-Galway Claire Kerrane.

She said: “I’ve been in here for the past three years working but today is a different capacity. I’m looking forward to it… It’s a great day for everyone.”

And Michael Healy Rae has been speaking to Rónán Duffy outside Leinster House. 

“The real negotiations will start to take place after the election of the Ceann Comhairle,” he says. 

“I hope over the coming days and weeks we start to see the emergence of a new government.”

Independent for Cork South West TD Michael Collins has also turned up and made an impromptu speech outside Leinster House.

Says that any politician who dares to turn their back on the people will have people turn on them also.

TDs do love to make their mark on their first day in the Dáil.

Spare a thought for Mary Mitchell O’Connor today, who inadvertently drove over the Dáil plinth on her first day in Leinster House in 2011.

An astute observation on O’Donoghue’s choice of vehicle from Green Party councillor Una Power here. 

There’s another new arrival across the city today.

And it’s a new baby rhino in Dublin Zoo.

Ain’t he lovely?

REPRO_FREE_DZ_RHINO_04 (1) Patrick Bolger Patrick Bolger

In more wholesome content, here’s new Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West Christopher O’Sullivan on the way in with his mam.

Many of those who’ve arrived have brought lots of family and friends.

Here’s Richard O’Donoghue getting a lift after exiting the fancy car.

He says he wants to bring “common sense to government”.

Green Party TDs – and husband and wife – Catherine Martin and Francis Noel Duffy have arrived at Leinster House with their three children. 

They say they’re going to have to strike a work-life balance.

The Killorglin Pipe Band’s Seán Whelan is getting ready for the arrival of Danny Healy Rae, it seems.

And Sinn Féin has arrived to a massive media scrum.

ERNxFemXkAY7l-i Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie Christina Finn / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

And here they all are now.

ERNx2bBXkAAA4z1

Mary Lou McDonald is speaking to reporters.

Unlikely to be elected Taoiseach today, she’s said that she’s expected at least 37 votes from her party colleagues for the top job.

Without abstentions, 80 votes would be needed to become Taoiseach.

More from Mary Lou. She criticises Fianna Fáil “in particular” for not speaking to Sinn Féin about forming a new government. 

Danny Healy Rae has an accordion and is banging out a tune.

Updates to follow.

We’re just a few minutes away now until it all gets under way.

Firstly, the Clerk of the Dáil will read the Proclamation summoning Dáil Éireann,

Then the announcements of the members elected.

We won’t have the Ceann Comhairle election until around 12.25.

And then there’s a long-day ahead. Potential Taoisigh are nominated from 3.15pm and that vote held this evening. 

Our political correspondent Christina Finn has just informed me that a bird pooed on new Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon on his way in the door.

Good luck for him for the next Dáil term so!

The Dáil chamber is starting to fill up.

filling up dail

The Healy Raes are sitting in the same spot as they did in the last Dáil.

Micheál Martin is deep in conversation. Leo Varadkar hasn’t arrived yet.

helay

clerk

The clerk of the Dáil has arrived, we’ve a full house and we’re under way.

He says a prayer as Gaeilge and then in English.

A lot of initial formalities to get through now in the next few minutes.

Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney just had a little joke about something, but I didn’t screenshot them laughing fast enough.

leo simon

So he’s about to issue writs for election of members and the announcement of members returned.

It’s basically listing the people elected. 

Here’s a live video of proceedings here.

They’re going alphabetically by constituency. 

We’re on the Cs.

It could take a while.

Here’s some more of the photos from outside Leinster House prior to the start of proceedings today.

2949 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

5635 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

5459 Dail Returns Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

We’ve just passed Sligo-Leitrim.

Almost finished listing out the 160 names.

restive

The next item of business is the selection of the Ceann Comhairle, via secret ballot.

It’s Seán Ó Feargháil vs Denis Naughten. As the incumbent Ceann Comhairle, Ó Feargháil may be best placed to retain the role. 

They’re both allowed to have a say first.

Naughten first.

denis naughten

Naughten welcomes the new TDs in the Dáil and says older heads can “share their experience”.

“I understand every perspective in this house because I have lived it,” he says. 

“I’ve been more than happy over the years to provide advice and assistance to new members, regardless of views.”

He says he’s putting his name forward because of the frustration over accountability he found on the doorsteps during the campaign.

“Getting straight answers to straight questions is getting more difficult in Dáil Éireann.”

naughten 2

Naughten says civil servants must be accountable to Dáil Éireann.

He says that in the case of the HSE, the only method of accountability is the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health or parliamentary questions that can take weeks.

“Sometimes the very last person to know is the TD whose constituents are directly affected,” he says.

Naughten says that GDPR is being used to avoid answering legitimate questions of TDs.

“It would be an honour to be Ceann Comhairle,” he says, saying it’d be a greater honour to allow TDs to seek answers and provide greater accountability. 

sean o f

Here’s Seán Ó Feargháil now. He congratulates the new members of the Dáil, as well as Dáil clerk Peter Finnegan and his team.

Of Naughten, he says competition is an “essential part of the democratic process”. 

Today he says he seeks a renewal of that mandate “hoping [his] work” over the last four years has shown his commitment to delivering essential reform.

Says the last Dáil was conducted in a more “collegiate” manner than ever before. 

sean o f 2

Ó Feargháil says he has helped build structures to help members in the drafting of legislation.

Other “absolutely critical” all-party committees on health, on housing and on the Travelling community has seen “us work well for common cause”, he says.

“We have engaged with the youth of this nation on the crucial issue of climate change,” he says. 

“I seek your support this afternoon to continue that collegiate approach,” he says. 

“We have challenges… I seek to build on the relationships made, the friendships formed,” Ó Feargháil.

“We’ve much important work left to undertake,” he closes, asking for members to vote for him as Ceann Comhairle.

Everyone claps. 

The bells are going to ring for six minutes now. After another four minutes, the secret ballot will commence.

clerk 1

Thanks Sean! Cónal Thomas here folks taking over from my colleague for the next while. 

Before the secret ballots commences, TDs take a minute to chat amongst themselves. There’s Tánaiste Simon Coveney speaking with outgoing Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin. 

Capture conalt conalt

So what happens now?

Well, voting takes place using the PR-STV system, so TDs will mark candidates in order of preference. They will vote in the privacy of specially erected polling booths in the voting lobbies just off the Dáil chamber.

Once all members have cast their votes the ballot will conclude and the Dáil will be suspended so the votes can be counted.

The quota is 50% plus one. Theoretically, if all members vote correctly (no spoiled ballots) then the quota is 80. As soon as a candidate has reached this threshold, they are deemed elected.

Once elected, the successful candidate’s name will be announced at the count centre, near the Seanad chamber.

The Dáil resumes and the election of the new Ceann Comhairle is formally put to the house. If 30 members call for a division then a vote must take place, but if there are fewer than this then the candidate is formally elected.

No other Dáil business may be conducted until a Ceann Comhairle is elected. 

Still plenty of milling about going on in the Dáil chamber. The voting is about to get underway. 

Capture

The doors are about to be closed. 

Before the voting begins, the Dáil clerk asks for confirmation that the ballot boxes are empty. There’s the Captain of the Guard checking now. 

And…they’re empty. 

Capture

TDs will now be issued with a ballot paper each and they’ll then proceed to the voting booths, eight of which are dotted around the chamber. 

Once they’re finished casting their votes, TDs must return to their seats. 

And off they go. 

Capture

Who will be the next Ceann Comhairle?

pjimage (15)

TDs form an orderly queue.

Capture

As voting continues, here’s a look back to Danny Healy-Rae and Co. entertaining the troops outside Leinster House earlier today. 

5572 Healy Rae Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

As TDs continue to cast their ballots, can you name the first ever Ceann Comhairle? 

That’s right, it was revolutionary leader Cathal Brugha, who served for only one day, presiding over the house’s symbolic first meeting, before leaving the post to become President of Dáil Eireann. 

cathal

“How many votes did they put in this thing?!”

Capture

So, the Dáil won’t be back until 3.10pm when we’ll know the result of the ballot to elect a Ceann Comhairle. 

The first business for the Ceann Comhairle is to seek nominations for the position of Taoiseach later today. 

The Ceann Comhairle will usually ask a member of the largest party in the House to nominate their party leader for the position of Taoiseach.

There’s Dáil Clerk Peter Finnegan with his staff now, readying for the counting of votes. 

Capture

Dáil Clerk Peter Finnegan says it’s time to count the votes for Ceann Comhairle. 

Capture

Down at Leinster House our Political Correspondent Christina Finn is hearing what Micheál has to say. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin sums up the people’s wishes – “They want action on housing, they want action on health and to alleviate the pressures people are under and they want to deal with the crisis of our generation, climate change.”

Back to the Oireachtas and Seán Ó Feargháil looks set to take up the mantle of Ceann Comhairle for another four years. 

Ó Feargháil received 130 votes with Naughten receiving 28 votes.  

The Ceann Comhairle is the chair of the Dáil and is expected to observe strict impartiality and keep order in the house.

Whoever is elected to the role is automatically re-elected to the next Dáil.

Ó Feargháil was Ceann Comhairle of the 32nd Dáil and was the first to be elected by secret ballot in 2016. Previously, the government of the day would simply choose who would take up the role. 

He was the first Fianna Fáil Ceann Comhairle to be elected since Seámus Kirk who held the post in the 30th Dáil between 2009 and 2011.

My colleague Christina Finn, meanwhile, has been chatting to TDs ahead of today’s vote on choosing a Taoiseach. 

Down at Leinster House, TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that Solidarity-People Before Profit will vote for Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach.

“Our view is that there was a political earthquake that happened in this election and that earthquake demanded that there was a break in the cycle of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael rule,” he said.

“We think the only way to give effect to that clear demand of people is to establish a left minority government and the only realistic way of doing that would involve supporting Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach and ruling out any deals with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to form a government.

“On that basis we are going to vote for Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach, but we want to make it clear we are not giving her a blank cheque, we are doing this in order to give effect to the demand to break the cycle of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“We hope she will take our support in order to rule out any possible deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”

It’s all go down there today. 

And we’re back. 

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Feargháil has been re-elected Ceann Comhairle and dons the robes for another term. 

Capture

After taking the chair Ó Feargháil gave a brief history of the Ceann Comhairle robes. He told the house that they were once the subject of a Freedom of Information request which found that they were so old that nobody knew who much they cost and they had never been dry cleaned.

Party leaders are now congratulating Ó Feargháil on his reelection. The Green Party’s Eamon Ryan thanked him for being an excellent Ceann Comhairle, noting that he never kicked anyone out during his first term. 

Ryan did offer a small bit of criticism, joking that Ó Feargháil has reduced the length of the minute of silence to about 11 seconds.

Leo Varadkar is the final person to congratulate Ó Feargháil. Introducing him, the Ceann Comhairle said: “A bit like the wedding feast of Cana, we now go to the Taoiseach”.

“I didn’t realise the Taoiseach was at the wedding feast of Cana,” Varadkar quipped in response.

Ó Feargháil thanked all the contributors for their kind words, saying he had to pinch himself at one point because he thought he was dead.

We’re now on to nominating people for Taoiseach and Fine Gael’s Bernard Durkan, the oldest member of the house, has nominated Leo Varadkar to continue in the role.

“He has discharged that office in the past with distinction, with honour, with courage,” Durkan said.

durkan

Making her maiden address to the Dáil, Fianna Fáil’s Norma Foley said she is “proud beyond measure” to nominate Micheál Martin for Taoiseach.

“If you look fairly at his record you will see that he has already achieved far more positive change than his loudest critics could ever hope to match,” she said.

foley

Martin’s nomination was seconded by the youngest member of the 33rd Dáil. 22-year-old James O’Connor, TD for Cork East.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has nominated Mary Lou McDonald for the position of Taoiseach, giving an impassioned speech as gaeilge. 

“Nobody in this Dáil can lead this government for change other than Mary Lou McDonald,” he said.

Above all else she is an Irish republican and at this time that is what we need.

Claire Kerrane seconded McDonald’s nomination.

“As a republican woman there is no one I admire more than Mary Lou McDonald,” Kerrane said.

“We need change, we need something new, we need Mary Lou.”

mcdonald

The nominations continue with Dublin Fingal TD Joe O’Brien putting Green Party leader Eamon Ryan forward. “Eamon incapsulates a spirit that is essential for the 33rd Dáil if it is to succede,” O’Brien said.

Joan Collins of Independents 4 Change, Mick Barry of Solidarity–People Before Profit, Paul Murphy of RISE and independents Thomas Pringle and Catherine Connolly have told the chamber they will be backing Mary Lou McDonald for Taoiseach.

So the Sinn Féin leader looks set to secure the most votes later today.

The sitting is continuing with a range of politicians having their say on the election and the government formation talks.

Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae congratulated Sinn Féin on taking the initiative and trying to form a government. 

Richard Boyd Barrett confirmed that People Before Profit will also back McDonald.

Róisín Shortall said the Social Democrats would not be backing any of the candidates because it would be “meaningless” to do so without a programme for government agreed upon.

Several more TDs are in line to speak before the Dáil votes on the four nominations for Taoiseach. 

Danny Healy-Rae is currently paying tribute to his “army” of volunteers that helped him get reelected.

The story in the local papers was that Fianna Fáil smelled my blood. Well I still have all my blood… they were on the wrong scent.

Fianna Fáil’s John McGuinness said the Dáil should not adjourn for two weeks after today’s sitting. He also said that no party should be left out of the discussion about the future of the country.

Here’s more from our political correspondent Christina Finn in Leinster House:

Limerick independent Richard O’Donoghue has made a memorable maiden speech in Leinster House.

“How many of ye here have education of life? How many of ye have common sense? I do believe that an ounce of cop-on is better than a stone of brains,” he said.

O’Donoghue also demanded that the next government respects rural Ireland.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl has revealed that there are nine further speakers before voting can take place. He urged the remaining speakers to be mindful that the voting will take some time as well.

We’ll be here for a while yet.

Fianna Fáil’s Jennifer Murnane O’Connor has quoted CS Lewis saying: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”

Hopefully she was talking about this Dáil sitting.

Kerry TD Brendan Griffin has welcomed all the new deputies to the Dáil by noting that many eminent writers have been quoted in the chamber today.

“I’m going to quote Axel Rose,” he said. “Welcome to the jungle.”

The Fine Gael junior minister also hinted that the 33rd Dáil might be a short lived one. “We don’t know whether to put the posters in front of, or behind, the turf shed yet,” he said.

Griffin also referred to an earlier contribution from his fellow Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae, who said that he had 162 volunteers out canvassing for him on one night during the election campaign. Griffin said he had 163 people out on the same evening.

A busy night in Kerry.

Independent TD for Galway West Noel Grealish says he “will not sit on the fence” this evening and will vote in favour of Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin for Taoiseach.

“People want us to get on with it and form a government,” the former Progressive Democrat said.

Independent Waterford TD Matt Shanahan said he will not be supporting any of the four candidates for Taoiseach as a mark of protest over restrictions on cardiac services in the south east.

Contributions from deputies are expected to wrap up soon after which we’ll have a four votes on Taoiseach candidates.

To catch up on all the antics as 48 new TDs entered the Dáil for the first time check out this piece from Rónán Duffy:

Fianna Fáil’s Mary Butler was the final speaker ahead of the votes. Varadkar is first up. If, as expected, he is not elected he will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation. 

The bells have been rung and the voting is underway.

vote

The chamber is filling up and the result of the vote on Leo Varadkar for Taoiseach is expected shortly.

Fine Gael only has 35 TDs so he’s expected to fall far short of the required 80 votes.

chamber

Deputies are now filing through the lobbies. There’s quite a bit of a backlog in the Níl lobby so the vote on Varadkar for Taoiseach looks set to be comfortably defeated.

nil

The result is: 

Tá – 36

Níl – 107

The proposal on Varadkar for Taoiseach has been defeated.

TheJournal.ie‘s political correspondent Christina Finn reports that the Social Democrats abstained from the vote, as did independent TDs Cathal Berry and Pat Shanahan.

Galway East independent Sean Canney backed Varadkar, bringing his number up to 36. 

Varadkar will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation but will remain in place until a new Taoiseach is elected.

TD’s are now voting on Micheál Martin for Taoiseach. Again this vote looks set to be comfortably defeated.

Independent Noel Grealish earlier indicated that he would join the 37 Fianna Fáil TDs in backing Martin.

martin

Sean Canney has backed another horse. 

Result:

Tá – 41

Níl – 97

Abstentions – 19

Not near enough to see Martin elected. The house will now vote on McDonald.

Meanwhile, away from Taoiseach votes, a new technical parliamentary grouping has been established.

Nine TDs from across the country have agreed to come together to establish ‘The Regional Group’.

the group’s members are: Cathal Berry, Sean Canney, Peter Fitzpatrick, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, Denis Naughten, Matt Shanahan and Peadar Toibin.

Convener Denis Naughten said:

This group will operate as a technical group in Dáil Eireann for speaking time and the scheduling of parliamentary business.

“The group was established following the decision by Dáil Eireann today to establish a business committee to progress the day-to-day operation of parliamentary business.”

The result of the vote on McDonald for Taoiseach is in:

Tá – 45

Níl – 84

Abstentions – 29

McDonald racked up more votes than her Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael counterparts, who got 41 and 36 respectively.

It still isn’t anywhere near enough to see her elected.

Scenes in Leinster House as we nearly had an accidental Taoiseach. Virgin Media’s Gavan Reilly has the news:

The result of the vote on Ryan for Taoiseach is in:

Tá – 12

Níl – 115

Abstentions – 28

No Taoiseach has been elected in the first sitting of the 33rd Dáil.

The four defeated nominees will now make contributions. Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked them to be mindful that we are running way over time.

Varadkar is speaking first. When this sitting finishes he will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to tender his resignation.

leo

Varadkar says he will travel to the White House for the annual St Patrick’s Day visit if no government has been formed by then.

However, he says it will be a shortened trip as the Taoiseach will have to travel back to Europe to attend an important EU Council meeting.

He paid tribute to the ministers who lost their seats in the election but said he knows they will continue to lead their departments with “good grace and competence”.

Micheál Martin dedicated a significant chunk of his remarks to criticising Sinn Féin, accusing the party of glorifying the IRA.

“I see we still live rent free in Micheál Martin’s very narrow and bitter mind,” McDonald said in an equally lengthty and excoriating response.

“I have significant concerns with a leader who sat around a cabinet table with people who were subsequently jailed for corruption,” she added.

mary-lou-2222

So that’s it from the first day of the 33rd Dáil. It was a day that saw 48 new TDs attend Leinster House for the first time, but a new government still looks quite a distance away.

The house will reconvene in early March and the political horse trading will continue in public and behind the scenes.

Check out TheJournal.ie for all the important developments and thanks for following this evening.

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72 Comments
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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 8:37 AM

    Thank you England and the NHS for your care and compassion towards Irish women. We’ll take it from here.

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    May 26th 2018, 8:39 AM

    @Sean Murnin: ah not quite to be fair, do you not think people are making the journey today? Very disappointing.

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    May 26th 2018, 8:47 AM

    @Free comment ratings: Unfortunately women will still have to make the journey today. My heart breaks for them and the women who suffered unnecessarily because of the 8th. At least my daughter will have a choice when she grows up.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:20 AM

    @Sean Murnin: yes the NHS which terminates 190,000 lives a year and through 15,500 into hospital furnaces until they were caught. It’s a model system.

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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @El Diego: Better than throwing them in septic tanks!

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    Mute Darren Norris
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    May 26th 2018, 9:53 AM

    @El Diego: can you reference that please? Or is it our religion fuelled anger not being able to still control women that has you saying this

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    May 26th 2018, 10:01 AM
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    Mute helen walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 10:13 AM

    @Sean Murnin: eventually..until new legislation comes in women will still be travelling to the UK

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    May 26th 2018, 10:18 AM

    @helen walsh: I know. See my second comment.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:21 AM

    @El Diego: ah give it up the people have spoken. Your scare tactics don’t work and didn’t work get over it

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 10:44 AM

    @El Diego: Stick your head in the sand and pretend it’s not happening. That tactic seems to have worked well for the no side over the last 35 years.

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    May 26th 2018, 12:19 PM

    @Sean Murnin: is it?

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    May 26th 2018, 12:21 PM

    @Darren Norris: Darren, Darren, are you still there? Look, stick your head in the sand and pretend that baby parts were not used to heat 27 NHS hospitals in the UK. Did you say religious? What’s that got to do with it? RTE exit poll, 74% declared themselves as RCC. Nice try though.

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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Free comment ratings: It’s a 20 minute flight for 20 quid.They’re not exactly hiking the pyrenees.

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    Mute Sharon Canning
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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Sean Murnin: brilliant… just brilliant

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    May 26th 2018, 12:39 PM

    @Sean Murnin: brilliant… just brilliant

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    May 26th 2018, 12:48 PM

    @Shy Tall Knight: I know. But he said we’ll take it from here..hardly when people are making that journey today. We will take it over at some point but at the moment.

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    May 26th 2018, 1:02 PM

    @Free comment ratings: pedantic
    pɪˈdantɪk/Submit
    adjective
    excessively concerned with minor details or rules; overscrupulous.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    Little by little the Church is loosing control over the state. Next up getting rid of their influence on education. Again Iona and their ilk will protest, again the people will have their say.

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    Mute Leitrim303
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    May 26th 2018, 8:13 AM

    @Toon Army: totally agree no need for religion in schools

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    Mute Cassie Lyons
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    May 26th 2018, 8:14 AM

    @Toon Army: *Losing-don’t be in such a hurry to get rid of any influence on education just yet.

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 26th 2018, 8:36 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: Religion and education are like water and oil, they just don’t mix.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 26th 2018, 8:52 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: religion is the denial of fact so that faith can be preserved, it has no place in the classroom.

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    Mute Molehead
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Toon Army: whoever is counting that tally in Carlow is marking in blocks of 6 instead of 5. That will have to be redone

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Toon Army: Iona need a new cause now u r spot on it will be keep religion in schools

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @Cassie Lyons: a lot of us are superstitious scary fairy tales have no place in education

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:37 AM

    @Toon Army: this was an abortion debate. It!’s said that the angry atheists have seen this as a church issue. Go down and throw rocks at the pensioners hobbling into mass to satisfy your bigotry and let the adults debate the rights and wrongs of our new abortion regime.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:39 AM

    @Toon Army: Didn’t you even understand the question you were asked to vote on?……Little by little the public is losing control over the state.

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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    May 26th 2018, 9:42 AM

    @Markonline: I wasn’t aware a royal decree was issued yesterday? Oh wait, McQuaid died years ago!

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Toon Army: By adults you mean let the politicians, right? although clearly, they should end up with similar to what was proposed at this stage/ but not necessarily the exact same.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Shane McGettrick: You and many others by the looks of it.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @El Diego: You’re on the wrong side of history Diego but there’s still plenty of room, come join us!

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    Mute Pádraig Gaffney
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    May 26th 2018, 10:03 AM

    @Toon Army: Teacher here. Wholeheartedly agree. The sooner the better.

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    Mute David Dickson
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    May 26th 2018, 10:28 AM

    @Toon Army: euthanasia is the next one.

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    Mute Nick Drake
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    May 26th 2018, 11:15 AM

    @Toon Army: The turn out was very strong overall showing real engagement in the process. However, I have seen so many comments and heard so many people refer to the church regarding this vote. If people really have used this as a vote against the church then it really is a sad day, not for women, but for everyone.

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    Mute Toon Army
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @Nick Drake: According to the exit polls the main reason people voted yes was based on the shocking personal stories of the lives of women who were affected by this draconian amendment. An amendment that yes, had the full backing of the Church. It’s a sad day when, even after the people have clearly spoken, the no side will continue to deflect, speculate and ignore the facts.

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    Mute John McQuaid
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    May 26th 2018, 11:57 AM

    @Johnny Leddin: I’ll be seeing you in the confessional tomorrow Johnny boy!

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:23 PM

    @Toon Army: 74% who voted declared themselves as RCC. How does that stand with your religious bigotry?

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    Mute Stephen Adam
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    May 26th 2018, 12:26 PM

    @El Diego: I think we’ve seen the reality behind hose figured today.

    Hopefully we’ll see the end of the RCCs influence in schools next and then, truly, finally they’re finished as a political force here.

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    Mute Darren moore
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    May 26th 2018, 8:18 AM

    This was a woman’s health and rights issue. Polling stations were full of mothers and daughters going together to vote and it was great to see the men in this country out to support thier wives , daughters , sisters and mother’s whom have been denied the right to medical care .

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 10:06 AM

    @Darren moore: Indeed, that’s what it was advertised as, but not what you voted for.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:44 AM

    @Markonline I’m sure Darren knows wfat he voted for. You on the other hand are probably a little clueless about what you voted against.

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    Mute Darren moore
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    May 26th 2018, 11:09 AM

    @Markonline: incorrect . One side tried to advertise this as an abortion ref . Anyway I respect everyone’s beliefs and it appears the majority have the belief woman in this country are more than capable of choosing their own healthcare decisions . I also respect those that put there opinion out in public but not so sure about anonymous people online spouting all sorts ……

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:02 PM

    @Markonline: indeed. But they are as blind as the blind can be.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 1:12 PM

    @Dell: It was a very simple question that was put to the public, yet you still can’t quite grasp it. Why couldn’t we enshrine the right to have an abortion into the constitution?….no no that would have been too complex for you to vote for so now you don’t have to bother your little head about it and let others decide for you instead….maybe it is for the best after all if this is the level of foresight in this country.

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    Mute Markonline
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    May 26th 2018, 1:26 PM

    @Darren moore: But that is not what was achieved….I agree that each situation is unique and can only be decided fairly by the individuals involved, but that is not what happened is it? Instead, the country has voted to let the government of the day decide the “law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy”….Hitler couldn’t have worded it better.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:14 PM

    @mark online talking to people the way you are now doing in a condescending, self righteous manner and not truly listening is exactly why you and others made this a landslide victory.

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    This is a big blow for “the gammon heads” stuck in the 1950s Ireland. The more the Healy Rae , Mattie , Ronan Mullen etc appeared on TV the more they convinced the population to vote yes.

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 8:19 AM

    @Jimmy jones: can you not just win with style and grace and not polarize the other side?

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    May 26th 2018, 8:21 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan:
    He’s right.
    I don’t think such a marginal Yes vote would have been possible without the condescending behavior, question dodging and offensive replies from the likes of Maria Steen, Peadar Toibin, Mattie Mc Grath and Ronan Mullen. Intellectual suicide on national television.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @Jimmy jones: the no side has been lying through their teeth again and again so where was their style and grace then? Don’t get me wrong, no need to open champagne bottles if the yes wins but some of the stuff the no side has said… they don’t have my respect – will respect them in the result of the referendum but note they don’t deserve much of this respect imo

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 8:42 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: just cause you believe they behaved badly doesn’t give licence for you to do so, we all live in the same country and have to get along…rise above it, there are bad winners as well as bad losers

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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Fergus Sheehan : I didn’t win anything .

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Jimmy jones: and you never will!

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:15 AM

    @Tweed Cap: you clearly didn’t watch the CB debate. Steen and Dr Monaghan were clearly the most well informed and capable debaters of the campaign, across the TV debates anyway.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:17 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: horrendous. Seeking to marginalise a huge swathe of the population. God help the next generation if the mini socialists get into power.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:33 AM

    @Jimmy jones: they just couldn’t see the damage they done to there own cause

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:33 AM

    @Jimmy jones: they lied, lied and lied…you think misguiding electorate is OK? Fair enough then…. and note also I don’t plan to celebrate anything, I have more respect than the one displayed by some of the no voters

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    Mute thatsnotme
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    May 26th 2018, 9:39 AM

    @El Diego: and you clearly still have your head up your ass

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    Mute John Judd
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    May 26th 2018, 9:40 AM

    @Jimmy jones: you don’t have to insult people on the no side, their views are just as valid .

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    May 26th 2018, 9:42 AM

    @El Diego:
    Two out of every three people in Ireland disagree with you. So do I.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:44 AM

    @Jimmy jones: hahaha! The socialists are coming, beware! Relax Armando, all will be just fine

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    Mute SilentFugitive
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan: well said Fergus, humble in victory is a noble thing and people should look now to move forward together and not further wedge a divide with some caustic jibes like gammon.

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    Mute Celtic_Horizon
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    May 26th 2018, 10:02 AM

    @El Diego: I remember watching that debate the no campaigners did “win” it, but lets be clear they didn’t win because they had the better argument. They won it with brute force. The no campaigners in the audience on the night acted disgracefully and all steen did was shout.
    Monaghan showed about as much empathy towards crisis pregnancies as snake does for a mouse.
    But saying that the referendum is over (nearly). It might be good idea for some people that are bitter with the result (I’m hoping a minority of no campaigners) should probably stay away from social media for few days and try not saying inflammatory comments if unable to do so, does no one any favors except make yourself look like a fool

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:22 AM

    @Fergus Sheahan: nope they need to be held accountable for there lies intolerance and poisonous hatred

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:45 AM

    @Celtic_Horizon: it’s great that yes won but nobody can deny that some people on both sides acted horribly. Hopefully people accept winning gracefully , not that there are any winners really, without having to go and tear down the other side. We won, time for the fighting to end.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:59 AM

    @El Diego: steen ha ha came across like Katie Hopkins she was a disaster

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    Mute Fergus Sheahan
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    May 26th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Mickey Fennessy: it was passed democratically now lets look forward, in what way would a witch hunt be in anyway beneficial other that to serve your selfrigheousness?, that poisonous hatred when both ways

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:24 PM

    @thatsnotme: that makes two of us so.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:28 PM

    @Celtic_Horizon: you used the word “win” not me. I certainly am not bitter. I’m not a religious bigot and I am in favour of abortion for hard cases just not on demand. My conscience is clear. It’s the sad Yes triumphalists and angry atheists (equivalent of bible bashers) who need to stay off social media.

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    Mute Shy Tall Knight
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    May 26th 2018, 5:32 PM

    @Jimmy jones: I’d respect them more than the cowardly politicians who changed their mind once the tide changed.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 8:12 AM

    Ireland has shown it’s not being dictated to by the Catholic Church any longer after the marriage equality vote and now what looks like a resounding yes (judging by the exit polls).
    I’m savouring my coffee this morning with no bitter aftertaste.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:19 AM

    @Keith Synnott: good man. Put a bit if sugar in it for the lost lives over the next few years. You do realise that this was a vote on abortion and not the Pope’s popularity. The angry atheists seem confused this morning.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @el Diego You are the only one who seems angry and I came across a few of you over the past few weeks and none were atheists.

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    Mute Daniel O'Hara
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    May 26th 2018, 9:35 AM

    @El Diego: incorrect. Where does it state abortion on the 8th amendment? I’m quite aware it will mean a new law will be put on front of the dail to be passed on abortion but at the moment, the 8th is about the rights of the unborn.

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    Mute Suzanne Bell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:52 AM

    @El Diego: cop yourself on, no-one is demanding anybody have an abortion but it’s about bloody time that the choice for women is there, if they need one they can have one in their own country, if they don’t want one, don’t have one, no-one is being forced, it’s called CHOICE !!!!!!!!

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 10:24 AM

    @El Diego: this might come as a shock to you but Irish women were having abortions before the vote…

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 10:53 AM

    @El Diego: I’m neither an atheist or angry but you keep labelling and pigeon holing people sure, it’ll do wonders for you . I’m actually very happy today and anyone that respects a woman’s right to determine her own future will be too.

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:00 PM

    @Keith Synnott: wow! Enjoying your coffee celebrating the mass murder of thousands of babies. Awesome.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:30 PM

    @Daniel O’Hara: did you not read the proposed legislation? You should have read it before you voted to remove the protection of right to life to our unborn.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:32 PM

    @monika it was this kind of hyperbolic claptrap that made so many yes voters not engage with the love boats. You may have had some chance of changing people’s minds if you were a little less inclined to be so judgmental and plain old nasty to deal with.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:33 PM

    @Keith Synnott: unfortunately for you Keith you sought to make a religious point out of what was a moral debate. Just so you know, 74% of those who voted yesterday declared themselves as RC yesterday. You should thank the members of the RC Church because they delivered the Yes result.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 1:13 PM

    @El Diego: The church have been preaching how good Catholics must vote no from the pulpit leading up to this so my point is very valid and not unfortunate.

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    Mute Keith Synnott
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    May 26th 2018, 1:33 PM

    @El Diego: 74% being RC just proves my
    point that they ignored the churches opinion. Thanks for that.

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    Mute DJ François
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    May 26th 2018, 8:30 AM

    May I also add that I’m delighted Ireland resisted the onslaught of foreign interference in our democratic process.

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    May 26th 2018, 8:04 AM

    Ohhh yes!

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    Mute FPL Thommo
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    May 26th 2018, 8:11 AM

    @shellakybooky: zzzzzz

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    Mute iohanx
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    May 26th 2018, 8:11 AM

    @shellakybooky: what legislation replaces it?

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    Mute shellakybooky
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    May 26th 2018, 8:16 AM

    @FPL Thommo: says the fantasy football lover.zzzzzzzzzzzz

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    Mute DJ François
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    May 26th 2018, 8:25 AM

    Mullen, Iona, Steen and the rest have been consigned to the wrong side of history.
    The vote is a massive mandate for change, the fence sitters in the Dail need to realise that a sea change has occurred.

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    May 26th 2018, 10:01 AM

    @DJ François: It makes me wonder how Ronán Mullen keeps getting elected to the Seanad. How transparent is that process? Is the counting done in public?

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    Mute Jack McGready
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    May 26th 2018, 11:32 AM

    @DJ François:
    The same way Ivana Batchick gets into Seanad Eireann.

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    May 26th 2018, 11:42 AM

    @Jack McGready: But it would seem her views are in tune with the majority, so graduates electing her makes absolute sense. Graduates electing Mullen seems to make no sense.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    May 26th 2018, 8:35 AM

    The women of Ireland wake to a new dawn. There’s more that needs to be done. I hope this victory gives them the strength, courage and determination to continue the fight for the issues women feel are necessary to improve their lives.

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    May 26th 2018, 12:47 PM

    @Dave Doyle: contraceptives of all kinds should be readily available for all.

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    Mute Julian Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 1:37 PM

    @Dave Doyle: Couples you mean. Hopefully consent will need to be given by the Father to murder the unborn.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 8:23 AM

    Without a doubt a yes vote… I feel it appropriate to divulge I voted no as I comment to be open and honest.

    Lets truly hope the resultant legislation does indeed address the true crisis situations as passionately presented correctly by the yes side and stops short of abortion on demand as feared by the no side and which is also not what was advocated by the yes side as presented.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Ken Maycock: look at all the other European countries…life goes on, kids are born and loved…you live in a better country today, I really hope you see it like this during the coming months.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @Ken Maycock: it is abortion on demand Ken. That’s what was voted for yesterday. Other countries are trying to restrict their abortion laws we’re introducing liberal abortion on demand allegedly for the “hard cases”. Not the solution.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: if it abortion is only used for those true crisis situations, as I rightly believe it should be then I agree 100%

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:34 AM

    @El Diego: We can but hope the legislation that is ultimately ratified and passed through the dail in coming months stops short of abortion on demand as feared by NO side, myself included, and denied by the YES side. Either way, the sooner the terms YES side and NO side vanish the better…. compassion was unfortunately lost in some aspects of this debate. Compassion needs to be brought back amd put inwaveringly at the forefront of every discussion about this topic.

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    May 26th 2018, 9:36 AM

    @Ken Maycock: Once on-demand abortion is in, it will take another generation to restrict it to hard cases only. Damn this stupid government for making the choice a simple yes or no.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Ken Maycock: stop lying mate…enough is enough…

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Martin Flood: i hope you’re wrong but I share your fear. If the draft legislation presented as the alternative was narrower and focused on the true crisis situations then the referendum would have passed with a near as makes no difference 100% agreement.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 9:58 AM

    @Toki Wartooth: Trolls up early today. What I have is said is 100% the truth of what I feel and believe. Lets keep this discussion respectful and compassionate, lets remember whats going to happen as a result. Happy to engage in discussion….. consider anything else ignored

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    Mute Paddy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:46 AM

    @El Diego: grrr

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 11:11 AM

    @Ken Maycock: it’s as if the no side thinks without a restriction in place the country will descend to into chaos and every women will thoughtlessly have a abortions for fun.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 12:28 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: They’re you’re words not mine. You can be sure, with abortion on demand, there will be abortions for reasons that would go against our own moral beliefs regardless of where you ait in this discussion. I absolutely appreciate that decision is likely the most difficult that’ll be taken in that ladies life and I 100% empathise and wouldnt wish anyone to be in that situation.

    I agree with choice in crisis situations as very well presented by the YES position, incest/rape/fatal abnormaility etc. I dont agree with choice carte blanche… and Im sure thats where we disagree.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Ken Maycock: well said and I agree. Unfortunately the government have likely missed their chance to legislate for those hard cases. I hope that the majority in the Dail push on that Head 7 but given that FG worded that through Noone I don’t see that happening.

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    Mute Seth Cheffetz
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    May 26th 2018, 1:16 PM

    @Ken Maycock: still clinging on to hope you can repress the rights of women for a situation that will never impact your life ever?

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    Mute SlinkyDog
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    May 26th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: actually he makes some valid points unlike yourself.

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    Mute Ken Maycock
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    May 26th 2018, 2:12 PM

    @Seth Cheffetz: If you want to make an informed point rather than an attempted slight on my character knowing nothing about me Im happy to engage

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    Mute Mark H
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    May 26th 2018, 8:26 AM

    Thank f#kc it’s all over. Look like the right decision is made. Now onto living our lives in a progressive country.

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    Mute Steve1234
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    May 26th 2018, 10:32 AM

    @Mark H: Yea killing unborn babies is so progressive.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:42 PM

    @Steve1234: boil yer head.

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    Mute Deborah O'Lorcain
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    May 26th 2018, 8:35 AM

    Fantastic result but it’s not something to celebrate, laugh or cheer about. It will not be a happy experience for any women to have an abortion here or elsewhere

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    Mute Christina Melia
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    May 26th 2018, 8:41 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: It’s absolutely something to celebrate – Ireland has given women autonomy over their own bodies. And while ‘happy’ may not be the right word regarding abortion, for many it will be a blessed relief. I respect that.

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 8:42 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I will celebrate.

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    Mute Negan Lucille
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    May 26th 2018, 8:45 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Exactly, it’s not something you celebrate or start cheering about, you can be happy about it, but jumping up, clapping and cheering about it in public is not appropriate for this one, some serious morons out there in fairness

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    Mute Free comment ratings
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    May 26th 2018, 8:54 AM

    @Negan Lucille: I bet when the result is officially announced their will be people jumping up and down celebrating. I for one will not be calling the morons.

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    Mute Caroline Reid
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    May 26th 2018, 9:01 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I agree with you! It’s a bittersweet victory. Yes finally many women will be able to get help that they truly need but let’s not forgot that it’s also the loss of a life. I cannot celebrate that.

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    Mute Negan Lucille
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    May 26th 2018, 9:01 AM

    @Free comment ratings: That’s coz you are also one

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    Mute Ciara Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 9:17 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: I am celebrating for pregnant women who will now have the right to informed consent to medical procedures undergone whilst pregnant – a right denied by the 8th.

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    Mute Ciarān
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    May 26th 2018, 9:23 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Exactly. Too many people treating this as some kind of competition. Not appropriate to celebrate in the streets for this one. Sure its great that women have a choice now but lets not forget that children will also die because of this. But I’m sure the repeal jumper hipster brigade will be out in force anyways for the party

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Ciarān: well said Ciaran 100%. Ignorance is bliss. I sincerely hope that we don’t turn around in 3/4 years time like UK/US and think, how do we control this? A life is lost with every procedure. That’s some cross to bear. The hipsters will realise this when they reach the age of parenthood.

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    Mute KT
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    May 26th 2018, 9:46 AM

    @Ciarān: “repeal jumper hipster brigade” how wrong can you be? 1000s of doctors and midwives and others that work with women day in day out and actually know what the 8th means came out for yes. It’s not some fashion, it’s real peoples lives.

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    Mute seanmccann
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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Deborah O’Lorcain: Its a pragmatic decision but we still haven’t adressed why so many woman have crisis pregnancys. This isnt winning its just dealing with the realities. Well done for showing a little bit of class which has sadly been missing from the debate.

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    Mute Lucy Meagher
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    May 26th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @Ciarān: agree..It’s really saddening how far removed these people are from the reality of the trauma of abortion, to be celebrating like they are is really upsetting for those who have had abortions, it’s truly a tragic, awful experience to go through that I wouldn’t wish on any woman. It seems to be about ‘winning’ for a lot of them and a reaction to the past and the reign of the church rather than a realistic look at what abortion is. If euthanasia was brought in (which I fully support because it’s that person’s choosing and their own body NOBODY else’s involved) I doubt there’d be people drinking and partying. Very weird.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:28 AM

    @Ciarān: I just saw someone post a photo on Instagram saying ‘we are the champions’ which proved to me that some people really did just see it as a competition and it’s really disappointing to see.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 11:39 AM

    @sam harms alternatively they have been taking massive amounts of abuse for months while working towards achieving a goal for women to have control and a say in their own reproductive health and they are celebrating same. I see nothing wrong with people celebrating this at all. No one is celebrating abortion and if you think they are, you really got this whole thing completely wrong.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:55 AM

    @Dell: people can celebrate respectfully without saying stuff like we are the champions. There’s no need to gloat or rub it in the face of people who voted no.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @sam harms they must be awfully fragile if that Is too much for them. Why the hell should they not express happiness anyway they want? For crying out loud do people want to control that now too?

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:17 PM

    @Christina Melia: you are sickening, women body over the life of a human being. Some values you have.

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    Mute Adrian
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    May 26th 2018, 9:02 AM

    Hard to believe it, really. A few months ago I would never have thought that Ireland was ready to vote in such an emphatic manner to legalise abortion. This is pending legislation of course, but with such a likely clear majority yes vote, it surely can’t be stopped now. Well done to our politicians, this was always going to be a gamble once it was not just about the hard cases, but the gamble paid off. Not a time to gloat, as a strong yes supporter I always fully understood the position and arguments of the no side, despite disagreeing. I think we all have friends and family members on the opposite side, and I genuinely feel for them now. But we had to do this in my mind, it was no longer an option for things to continue in the way they were.

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    Mute Caroline Reid
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    May 26th 2018, 9:08 AM

    @Adrian: very well said.

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    Mute Mick12
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    May 26th 2018, 8:31 AM

    Ireland has come out of the dark age where the Church ruled every fact of life. No more will it hold such a sway in Irish life, the Pope is coming to a different nation and for those who will go see him it’s their choice s free choice like the women in Ireland who will no longer have to travel to Britain for an abortion.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @Mick12: you do realise that this was an abortion referendum and not a vote on who goes to mass, yes. Atheist Ireland are out in force.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @Mick12: I think you are a logical person so follow the logic. Ireland was a tremendously influenced country by the Catholic Church, hence the 8th amendment. The church is losing support everywhere because we live in the 21st century now – and because they have been involved in too many scandals also, with children included!!! – hence the 8th amendment has been voted and it is gone. I am all about religion but not when it dictates critical functions within a society. Now you can say I am an atheist socialist murderer of babies if that makes you feel OK diegito

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    Mute Briain OSúilleabháin
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    May 26th 2018, 10:14 AM

    @Mick12: Just because something is modern does not make it progressive !

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    Mute Bill ORourke
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    May 26th 2018, 11:49 AM

    @Mick12: True but nothing is ever that straightforward. Dark clouds from the east gather above us.

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    Mute monika
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    May 26th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Toki Wartooth: mr so smart in your own view, murdering children has NOTHING TO DO WITH religion or any church; but it has everything to do with ethics, morals and compassion, which are (clearly not in this nation) the very essence of humanity. You are so obsessed with the Catholic Church agenda that you all yes voters didn’t mind to condemn innocent ones to death. You condemn the Catholic Church for raping children, yet you voted to kill children yourself, so how are you any different, how are any better??? Shame on you all!

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:29 PM

    @monika shame on you for equating the life and health of a woman to that of a foetus. See how this works.. We could be going over and back with the dishing out of shame but that is and was always pointless. It may make you feel better but it will change nothing for anyone else.

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    Mute Rambon
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    May 26th 2018, 8:06 AM

    Abortion preys on the poor, it’s sad to say but the most vulnerable in our society will use this new arrangement the most. What an awful day for this nation.

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    May 26th 2018, 8:07 AM

    @Rambon: lolz

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    Mute Billy Connelly
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    May 26th 2018, 8:09 AM

    @Rambon: ehh stop talking rubbish now

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    Mute Rambon
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    May 26th 2018, 8:14 AM

    @DrRexButts: They sure have spoken and I will respect the result. But if you think I am sad and delusional you are sorely mistaken.

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    Mute Toki Wartooth
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    May 26th 2018, 8:29 AM

    @Rambon: sadness will pass. You live in a better country today, hopefully you will realise about this in the future when you see that people keep on having babies and loving them. To think that women will abort just for the craic is a bit of s stretch and even if a minority do it think about the greater good this will bring for other cases.

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    Mute Bat Daly
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    May 26th 2018, 8:37 AM

    @Rambon: 69% disagrees with you.

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    Mute Ciara Dowling
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    May 26th 2018, 9:14 AM

    @Rambon: young socially disadvantaged mothers are at high risk of suicide. Access to early abortion services could have saved these women’s lives: https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/suicide-on-the-rise-among-mothers-in-poorer-dublin-areas-1.3502336%3fmode=amp

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Bat Daly: so 1 in 3 agree with him. That’s a very significant number.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:37 AM

    @ el Diego it’s significant only in that it means that it is a significant minority. If the exit polls are right, we are now living in an ireland that doesn’t allow the likes of you to dictate over women in crisis situations anymore. Long live this Republic.

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    Mute The Debater
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    May 26th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @Rambon: go back to sleep will ya

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:32 AM

    @Ciara Dowling: What has that got to do with abortion? Research has shown that women with suicidal tendencies are actually less likely to go through with suicide if the pregnancy is carried to full term than if the baby is aborted.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:55 AM

    @Rambon: really is that why you see women on social welfare with 4 or 5 kids yet working women who desperately want a family but cant afford to are waiting until they financially settled and can support a child.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:36 PM

    @Rambon: Just delete your new Twitter account and crawl back under the rock from wence you came.

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    Mute El Diego
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    May 26th 2018, 12:42 PM

    @Dell: I don’t dictate to anyone Dell. We’ll leave to to Leo (imprison women or Vote Yes) and Mary Lou (Vote Yes or be disciplined). I’ve always been a repeal person, for hard cases, as you would know if you ever read my posts. I’m not in favour of abortion on demand. I just hope you and the other Yes voters are happy with Head 7 in 3 years time as this is what you have voted for.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:25 PM

    @el Diego You don’t get to decide which are “hard cases” and which aren’t.. You don’t get to decide who can and can’t have an abortion based on what you believe are good enough reasons… That is what I voted for and I’ll always I’ll be glad that the likes of you will never have a say over my body autonomy or my sisters, daughters, nieces or friends. I voted so that someone who uses the phrase abortion on demand when talking about someones personal situations and choices doesn’t have any kind of influence or say in whatever they do. I’ll never regret that.

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    Mute C_O'S
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    May 26th 2018, 8:50 AM

    It would be great if the new legislation be called ‘Savita’s Law’ as a tribute to her and her family.

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    Mute seanmccann
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    May 26th 2018, 9:54 AM

    @C_O’S: No. Im sure she was much more than a victim of bad law and medical negligence . Let her family and friends remember her for who she was. I hope this might bring a little comfort to her husband.

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    Mute John Murphy
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @seanmccann: Her family are actually OK with calling it after her

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:00 AM

    I genuinely had started to believe it wasn’t going to happen despite the positive feedback we were getting when we were leafleting and canvassing. We were in the city and we were told that it was far more promising than down the country. Well done rural Ireland. I Haven’t been on here, been out canvassing but have been checking in. Well done Francis, the risen, evie and all those who dealt with the lies and hyperbole on here. Oh and Tom Burke, wherever you are, I took your advise and got off my fat behind, thanks Tom, people like you made this happen.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    May 26th 2018, 10:35 AM

    Good morning,Dell :) We had two Yes votes from my household.They were for my daughters,sisters,cousins and every other woman that wanted to have that 8th amendment removed from our Constitution…No need to thank me for annoying those people on here :)

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:50 AM

    @Dell: morning. 3 votes in my house and 5 from the legion of women from next door also. It’s great to see that those who stuck their necks out at the beginning and took loads of abuse in the Dail and on the streets had their hard work and perceverance pay off.

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    Mute Charlotte Bolger
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    May 26th 2018, 9:29 AM

    So happy and relieved this morning that compassion, courage and respect for the decision making of women in distress, has won the day decisively at long last.Respect to the leadership of Simon Harris, Micheal Martin and Mary Lou McDonald during the campaign.My first campaign in this country was lobbying to get rid of corporal punishment of children in our schools, this result is similar in many ways, for a kinder ,more inclusive Ireland.

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    Mute Porter Mechanic
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    May 26th 2018, 10:06 AM

    I voted yes, but I am ashamed of some of the behaviour of the yes voters using this as a new opportunity to mock and jeer ordinary decent religious people, I believe that extreme Liberalism is very dangerous and can be used as a vehicle to destroy our very unique irish values,

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:40 AM

    @Porter Mechanic: yes, much better behaviour by the ordinary decent religious people shouting murderers at us a few weeks ago.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 10:49 AM

    @Porter Mechanic: I voted yes reluctantly because I don’t agree with unrestricted abortion but i know people who voted no and none of them were for religious reasons. More often than not it was the yes side bringing up religion rather than the no.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 10:54 AM

    @sam harms every pro life group I met were entrenched in religion. I’m not sure why people who voted no are even attempting to deny that.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    May 26th 2018, 11:00 AM

    @Dell: not everyone in the country is represented by groups who were canvassing. I voted yes but never once engaged with anyone about it because I wanted to make up my own mind. The people I know who voted no didn’t engage with those groups either and are the least religious people I know.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 11:16 AM

    @samharms they were the minority within the minority then

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    Mute Paul Delahunty
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    May 26th 2018, 9:18 AM

    ‘and yes I said yes I will Yes’

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    Mute man.over.board
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    May 26th 2018, 9:26 AM

    I voted yes but still remain opposed to abortion in general. If as the no campaign suggested that there is a better way now more than ever they will have the opportunity to show people what that is. They now can offer women a choice while we as a nation need no longer pretend that abortion doesn’t happen. Time to heal the rifts and for all concerned to work to make women’s health the best in the world.

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    Mute Mickey Fennessy
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    May 26th 2018, 9:36 AM

    Lies lies lies from the no side caught up with them they fought a desperate campaign

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    Mute Micheál
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    May 26th 2018, 8:39 AM

    Is iontach an lá é do chearta sibhialta!

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    Mute becca laste
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    May 26th 2018, 11:04 AM

    it’s a heart warming day to be an Irish woman. I worked as a student midwife when Savita Halapanaver tragically lost her life and it never left me. I don’t think it ever will. thank you Ireland for doing the right thing I’m helping future generations of women make their choice. #forsavita

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    Mute becca laste
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    May 26th 2018, 11:04 AM

    @becca laste: *in helping

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    Mute Albert Brennerman
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    May 26th 2018, 11:35 AM

    Voted No. Am No holy man here last time I was in church was a wedding. The only rights up to 12 weeks a perfectly healthy child has now is dependent on its mother.

    Maybe its the spectrum of society I see, but I don’t trust people. There will be the FFA and the victims of rapes, the woman who makes this choice once in her life through a mistake, the ones I can agree with.

    Then there’ll be those that revisit this repeatedly, those couples that choose not to have a child with a slight disability and those who’ll choose to terminate due to the lifestyle choices a pregnancy brings.

    This will be borne out in the statistics which I think will be delayed by design.

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    Mute niamh ryan
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    May 26th 2018, 1:48 PM

    @Albert Brennerman: if someone’s decides to have an abortion due to life style choices how is that any of your business? Morals are personal and you have no right to impose yours on anyone else. If someone feels like they can’t have a baby for reason such as they cannot face life as a single parent, financial reasons or it will trap them in a bad relationship then that’s their decision to make. Not yours

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    Mute Steve1234
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    May 26th 2018, 10:35 AM

    Shameful day for Ireland. Future generations will condemn this referendum the same way we condemn Magdalene Laundries and so on.

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    Mute Alex Kane
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    May 26th 2018, 10:57 AM

    But why didn’t God save the babies?

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    Mute John McQuaid
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    May 26th 2018, 10:30 AM

    History in the making, we are finally becoming a true secular Republic.

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    Mute ed w
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    May 26th 2018, 11:36 AM

    I now worry about the mess that’s going to be created when the gov try and legislate for this, lets be honest good legislation seems to be rare in this country recently more a case of seen to be doing something rather than addressing difficult core problems.
    I wait to be surprised.

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    Mute Robert Deane
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    May 26th 2018, 12:01 PM

    If the yes campaign could get rid of the church next they wont even be made feel bad about murder. Thou shalt not kill.

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 9:28 PM

    @Robert Deane: have a good look at your bible Robert. Full of killing, smite and all sorts of violence. You are a bunch of hypocrites the lot of you.

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    Mute A Curious Mind
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    May 26th 2018, 12:12 PM

    Why do the left have such a hard on for abortion? Even as an atheist I think it’s a pretty disgusting and immoral act that devalues human life. It’s disturbing we’re at the point that society considers women being able to scrape a fetus out of their womb a fundamental right so they can go out and indulge in consequence free casual sex as much as they want. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

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    Mute Dell
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    May 26th 2018, 12:24 PM

    @A Curious Mind: ah yeah..those brazen hussies.

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    Mute Chipstix
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    May 26th 2018, 2:50 PM

    @A Curious Mind: You should change your name to a sick mind.

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    Mute Jack McGready
    Favourite Jack McGready
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    May 26th 2018, 11:33 AM

    When will the final results be announced?
    The tension is unbearable, this could go either way.

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    Mute helen walsh
    Favourite helen walsh
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    May 26th 2018, 10:18 AM

    What happens between now and legislation? Women still having to travel to the UK?
    We need information about this.

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    Mute EvieXVI
    Favourite EvieXVI
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    May 26th 2018, 11:53 AM

    @helen walsh: nothing changes until legislation is passed. Hopefully it will happen by the end of this year, but it will be slow.

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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
    Favourite Anthony Gallagher
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    May 26th 2018, 11:29 AM

    we are fortunate to live in a democracy ,the decision has been an emphatic yes ,the will of the people must be respected .i will always have my reservations but i am glad the result is beyond any doubt .

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    Mute John Strahan
    Favourite John Strahan
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    May 26th 2018, 11:13 AM

    It would be interesting to see the male/female split on both sides of the vote

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    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
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    May 26th 2018, 11:37 AM

    @John Strahan: its on the rte exitpoll a few percent lower for men voting yes.

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    Mute Keith O'Reilly
    Favourite Keith O'Reilly
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    May 26th 2018, 1:11 PM

    So proud of the country today! The scaremongering and hysterical ranting about hypotheticals didn’t work on us!

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    Mute Stipe Miocic
    Favourite Stipe Miocic
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    May 26th 2018, 12:34 PM

    I’m at the count center in Roscommon. It’s going 58%Yes. RTE had their main media here with Catriona Perry reporting. They were expecting Roscommon to go No as the only constituency to vote against Equality. But now It is more likely to be Donegal or Longford that could possibly go No, where the vote is much closer.

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    Mute Joanne Folan Healy
    Favourite Joanne Folan Healy
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    May 26th 2018, 1:13 PM

    Unfortunately I think many on the No side will not let legislation progress easily. The majority have spoken but they don’t care about that.

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    Mute Keith McDonagh
    Favourite Keith McDonagh
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    May 26th 2018, 12:57 PM

    Now maybe we can focus on whatever the next big issue might be & get it sorted, hopefully quicker than this took.

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    Mute Shala
    Favourite Shala
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    May 26th 2018, 2:32 PM

    What sort of a plank do you have to be to go to the polling booth and spoil your vote? Why bother!

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    Mute Eugene Conroy
    Favourite Eugene Conroy
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    May 26th 2018, 6:27 PM

    Now can we address the housing and rental debacle

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    Mute Bill ORourke
    Favourite Bill ORourke
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    May 26th 2018, 11:43 AM

    Okay, so now it’s one-all. When do we get the decider???

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    Mute James Davis
    Favourite James Davis
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    May 26th 2018, 1:09 PM

    I voted yes and as such am pleased at the outcome. But to be honest I felt this referendum brought out a petty and at times nasty side in a lot of people. The reductive, childish attitude of people discussing it really reminded me of arguing in the primary school yard. If you were voting yes that meant you were a godless lefty who delights in the killing of babies, if you were voting no you’re were a compasionless religious zealot (who probably thinks that recent scandals in the church were no problem at all). Never any acknowledgement that for many people it wasn’t a black and white issue. It’s so easy to assume you’re right and righteous and those with an opinion different to yours are wrong and evil. But it’s never that simple and if we lose the ability to truly debate and empathize then more and more division is sadly inevitable

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    Mute Fred Dunne
    Favourite Fred Dunne
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    May 26th 2018, 11:49 AM

    Let’s have accurate reporting by The Journal. Constituency names don’t equate to Counties e.g. parts of South Donegal are in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency and tallies are saying they have voted in favour of repeal!

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