Election 2024 . Not that one, though the Trump victory is sure to influence some of what we are threatened and promised. presumably we'll have a date soon.

[DeanElderberry]

Any wise thoughts?

@Abhannmor This is so true. I think gender identity is based on the most regressive stereotypes of women and is homophobic to boot. But so many people just like to accuse those who point out the obvious as being haters or transphobic.

@Marblesbackagain Mumsnet have been having issues with the @ function for a while. For some people if you accidentally press @ twice it doesn't allow you to delete. It might be down to the type of phone being used.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sitestuff/5196174-cant-delete-an-accidental-at?utmcampaign=thread&utmmedium=share

Back to the topic of the thread, did anyone watch the debate last night.
I didn't watch it to the end but I thought FF and FG should just merge at this point.
I saw someone post online that all 3 leaders were once members of FF. I know that was the case with ML but I didn't know I it about SH.

I watched a little bit last night but turned over to the debate on TV3 as Peadar Toibín was on debating again.

From what I saw on RTEs debate FG & FF nearly stood together in unison. MM was strong last night, he showed his years of experience for sure. It will be very interesting to see how it pans out as SF has gathered lots of momentum since the locals.

@ByOliveSheep thank you

If you are still undecided about your vote on Friday & want to protect women's rights the Countess have a very handy checklist.

Edited to say apologies to @Brownwitch in advance I didn't mean to quote you here but I cannot remove the quote in the edit function. I'll repost again.

The debate was pretty boring. Though I thought MM was probably the strongest of the 3.
I thought Upfront the night before was pretty good. SF, FF and Aontu all spoke well.
I don't think the representative from Independent Ireland made much of an impact.
The Greens were pretty bad. But Roderic O'Gorman isn't great at debating anyway.
But Helen McEntee for FG was desperately poor. She has been poor as a Minister for Justice and I cannot see how she was appointed deputy leader of FG.

For anyone who is voting to protect women's rights on Friday & are still unsure or undecided this is a great checklist from the Countess.

Didn't see the debate but yes I agree that Helen McEntee has not been great in justice.
I believe she is quite strong on local issues.

I quite liked the lad from Independent Ireland, I found it very interesting that his daughter was going to university in Poland & it was so affordable. I really hope university fees are abolished or very strongly subsidised by the time my dc are uni going aged.

Peadar & Matt Carty were very strong but they are very good speakers in general.

The FF lad James Brown was quite canny, didn't make much attempt to get involved in the debate but made no errors. He had a safe night & said nothing controversial especially on such an important topic.

I have no words for O Gorman or McEntee. They were out of their depth completely when faced with opposition like Peader Tobín, Michael Fitzmaurice & Matt Carty..

Just wondering about FG leadership if they don't come out of this election well. It seems like the 'caught on camera' incident with SH and now the uproar about his team going to RTE to stop that incident being broadcast has had quite a damaging affect. This might cause SH to step down as leader (if they do badly in the GE overall) so would that put Helen McEntee in charge by default? Or would they have to vote for a new leader? (and if so I wonder would they vote for her?) Would her performance in the GE come into play at all? I find her to be grossly inept and under qualified for the role of Minister for Justice, I would love to see the back of her. And as for O'Gorman, I have no words.

It looks fairly like judging by the little bit I saw last night that FF & FG are very much aligned & will continue together. That may help SH but if FG lose loads of seats will a vote of no confidence be called?
In relation to McEntee leading she many not even retain her own seat.
I always thought Simon Coveney was the potential leader waiting in the wings but he didn't put himself forward when LV stepped down.

I think the three leaders performed as expected and do not think the debate will cause a huge shift.
I think SH was under a lot of pressure coming into the debate but he performed pretty well overall.
MM was good, kind of took on the wise man Taoiseach role and made no mistakes.
ML was very impressive in her criticism of the current govt but I think she suffered a little bit when her own plans were discussed and was a bit hesitant and lacking in detail.

@Marblesbackagain the irony of you talking about ‘policing’ language. If I call a trans woman a man, which is factually correct you no doubt would bray ‘transphobia’. The policing of speech comes from those in favour of erasing women. ‘Cervix havers, birthing people, bleeders etc. all of which in studies have shown to disadvantage women from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds with lower education. But who cares about those types of women - or women impacted once again by the urinary leash. As long as we are kind to men pretending to be women - I saw a good quote somewhere. Only men could oppress women for years then step above them wearing a dress and decide they are more oppressed and women the oppressors.

No, it's not a big enough issue for a resignation. It was been blown out of proportion because its election time. Just to note FG did not contact RTE to stop the video being broadcast, it was to clarify details in the video which Charlotte Fallon had said. RTE have said that it is very common for parties to contact them like this and all parties do it regularly.

Agree with you about Helen McEntee. I do not think she has performed well at all in the justice role and I think it was a bad appointment by FG. I expect FF will take the portfolio in the next govt if we have a FF/FG coalition again.

@Marblesbackagain
also used the term "trans hate" which is absolutely unacceptable.
There is no hate attached to protecting female spaces & sports ensuring they are for females only!

If FG do disastrously in the election he could possibly step down. In that instance I would be thinking of someone like Paschal Donohoe to come in as leader.

Only men could oppress women for years then step above them wearing a dress and decide they are more oppressed and women the oppressors.

@Soupfactory what a quote. Sums it all up💯

One of the main issues in this election is housing. This is a good summary of the different parties approaches to housing

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/1127/1483135-how-do-parties-differ-on-solving-the-housing-crisis/

Thank you @Brownwitch

https://x.com/gavreilly/status/1861863169175511097?t=ZPh44hztkO0bSYcptPc-MQ&s=19
Final poll before the election. No major surprises in it.

No it looks about right, no surprises. How it all transfers into seats will be very interesting. Not too many polled there in comparison to other polls, just over 1k. Looking forward to getting out doing my civic duty 😀

Gerry Hutch has uploaded a Tictok video talking about how to utilise the land around the port for housing, shops etc, port will help to provide jobs.

He is critical of the so called "change" being promised.

Whether what he says can be achieved, which it does have merit. He will speak to the disenfranchised.

Since it was rumoured The Monk was running, there has been a push for people to register to vote.

DC is gonna be an interesting vote mosh mash

Malachy Steenson is very popular there too. That's Mary Lou's constituency. I think it's a 5 seater.
Gerry Hutch & Malachy Steenson will take plenty of ex sinn fein voters No 1s I'd imagine but Mary Lou will be very safe.

Yeah not much in the difference, although I still think it will be the same order as 2020.

FF
SF
FG.

I think they may just be a few more Independents.

DC could put Malachy Steenson in yet, Gavin Pepper is another in Finglas district, both sitting councillors got in this year.

Gavin Pepper is very high in the bookies odds for a seat. It will be very interesting to watch the Independents. That is a real Sinn Fein constituency.

No @Trumped 4 seater.

MS is popular on the ground, GH is another, ML will be competing with them.

PD is safe I reckon he usually gets in 2 round with transfers, his stomping ground is D7

ML is usually in on first count her main support comes from D1, hence the challenge of MS and GH. I think they have the power to split her vote.

As for other 2, no clue all to play for.