Where to house them? Well, they could buy houses like the rest of us or we could do a Rudy Juliani. Give em a Ryanair ticket and tell em to get out!

I appreciate your comments and it’s great to see another party member who isn’t just a hack but someone who questions and criticises their party.

You haven’t convinced me on Labour’s school “master” plan. I agree that permanent school buildings should be provided in the long term however with the largest budget deficit in Europe, now is not the time to increase any department’s budget, even one as important as education. I spent half of my primary school years in a prefab and unless there are leaks in the ceiling it makes no real difference to the pupils.

I agree that a free and universal education system is key to the knowledge economy, but only at primary and secondary level. At third level there must be some form of payment towards a student’s education. I agree that educating people on the benefits of third level is key also.

The queue runs along the right hand side of the stage and it gets pretty long even up to 4 hours before Eminem (of KOL in my case)!
Queueing from then will probably have you in but even then, once you’re in the pit, moving up near the front like I was able to do is even harder.

I don’t look on with emerald glasses at Fine Gael. There’s so much I disagree on: Gay Marriage, Drugs policy and political reform to name but a few. These are areas where I’m progressive and not conservative and I openly criticise FG about this.

Thanks for your post.

Fine Gael’s polices regarding finance and the economy go predominantly to the tune of keeping government interference to a minimal, as is Fianna Fail’s policy. The people that caused this economic mess was international banks that we had no control over. Anglo Irish’s failure was not predominantly to do with the recession, but it was due to reckless lending to certain individuals who gave guarantees way above what their own value was. In Fine Gaels policies this could still have happened.

I’m fine with blaming political parties for things that they cause, but only if you’re unbiased and truthful! Ireland does not have a political party that is truly reformative or will change things in a substantial way because realistically we have no option but to follow the US and Britain if we want to sustain our economy and relations.

Obviously you can’t privatise justice services or the government. I don’t want a huge amount of privatisation in the public sector, and certainly not in education. The Passport Service is one area where privatisation is possible and I believe it should be looked at.

Privatisation is not the solution to all our public sector woes in fact it would only play a small role. I’m fully in favour of a legitimate root-and-branch reform of services and structures. It’s actually something Fine Gael is pushing for in the HSE, CIE and other bloated government services.

Neither do you by the sound of it. Union trouble?
Ban the union!

Public sector trouble? Privatise!

I love hearing people tout privatisation as the solution to all our public-sector woes. Always privatisation, never a legitimate root-and-branch reform of services and structures. No one has the wit or the balls to foment something like that. Imagine a long-term plan of change aimed at not achieving results withing the next 4 years, but building a solid, cost-effective infrastructure further into the future! Preposterous idea, i know

Always the short-term solution. Ah no though i do agree privatisation would certainly ensure us an efficient service, no doubt free of any conflicts of interest. Sell the passport service to the Chinese, that’ll ingratiate us. And ensure further investment!

Why not privatise the entire public sector, the army, the police force, the government? And have a referendum on instituting a blanket ban on any union activiy, that’ll ensure direct value for your (i’m sure well-earned) money.

That’ll mean public property is a thing of the past… adios muchacho!

I suppose TDs and ministers have always been for hire, that never hurt anyone. Its not like vested interests are ever at stake with public-sector contracts. Why put a stop to a bad thing, eh?

Very Thatcherite, I must say…no real insight, knee-jerk reactivity, ham-fisted bluster… You might do well as a CPSU representative actually

So still paid for by the taxpayer.

My figures are assuming that there is a further drop in FF support after next month’s budget. They’re currently on 25% or less, do you think it’ll go up? 15% is probably a bit too low but recent polls did show them at 17%.

I find 30% to be quite optimistic but not impossible, however it’ll only happen if there is a significant recovery by 2012. Even if the government can start to turn things around next year there’ll still be a tough budget for the year 2012 where we’ll still be trying to fill the €22.9bn deficit. Also while unemployment is down today that’s no sign that we’re creating more jobs than we’re losing. 2 years is not enough time to get over 400,000 people back to work and even try and gain their votes.

I think your analysis is flawed. FF will poll roughly over 30% in the next General Election and FF will never go into coalition with FG. Therefore your whole argument of FG showing the Irish people that the economy can be run with out FF is a misnomer. Also, FF is a slightly left of centre party, not right wing. It has a liberal econonic ideology with a gradually evolving liberal social policy.

By the way, Maria Corrigan will win a seat in Dub South next time…FG will not hold 3 out of 5

Oh well, they got all the power anyways…
– Alex

Joe Higgins will get his seat because Dublin West is now a four seater.
RichyBB for PBP should get in in Dún Laoghaire even though it’s now a 4 seater. He topped the poll in the locals.

As for Sinn Féin:
Pearse Doherty in Donegal SW for SF and there is another guy in Donegal NE who should make it this time.
Mary Lou McDonald has a shot in Dublin Central and I’ve heard she might run elsewhere in Dublin.
Sean Crowe in Dublin South West, Tallaght area.
Dessie Ellis in Dublin North West.

Martin Ferris will probably lose his seat in Kerry. Existing 3 + these 5 = 8.

If some time next march, Enda steps down and Richard becomes a new leader(or me) we could get an overall majority.
http://irishlibertarian.com/enda-kenny-at-the-lisbon-teaty-campaign-launch/

Maith thú!
John

Very usefull info. Thanks!…

Cheers,
Party Star

We need immediate massive investment in the unemployed for retraining up skilling and back to education and the investment must equal that of the investment in the Banks

“You do not have the support of the General public for this strike action lads!”
Machholz