Irish general election: 25 February 2011
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  Irish general election: 25 February 2011
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Author Topic: Irish general election: 25 February 2011  (Read 82004 times)
Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #75 on: January 14, 2011, 02:29:28 AM »

oops
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Јas
Jas
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« Reply #76 on: January 14, 2011, 10:18:48 AM »
« Edited: January 14, 2011, 10:20:47 AM by Јas »

Labour have now also decided to put down a motion of no confidence in the Government.

Due to the workings and technicalities of the Dáil calendar, it will come up before the SF motion put down yesterday.
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #77 on: January 16, 2011, 07:38:24 PM »

Martin withdraws support as Cowen calls vote of confidence - Irish Times
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Kevinstat
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« Reply #78 on: January 17, 2011, 07:32:30 PM »
« Edited: January 17, 2011, 07:55:19 PM by Kevinstat »

What are the chances of Martin, Lenihan or Kelleher voting for Labour's motion of no confidence in the Government if Cowen wins the FF vote?  Negligible, I imagine, but you would know better than I.
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Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #79 on: January 18, 2011, 09:46:16 AM »
« Edited: January 19, 2011, 02:31:12 AM by Јas »

The Irish Times counts 37 publicly declared supporters of Cowen for tonight's vote - only 13 declared against. (36 votes required to win.) It's possible of course that in a secret ballot things may not go as publicly declared (not that I'm for a moment suggesting that FF TDs might say one thing and do another, perish the thought!).

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin is the only cabinet minister to declare he will be voting against. (Minister for the Arts, Mary Hanafin is the only remained cabinet minister yet to declare.) Both are likely leadership contenders post-Cowen.

Minister for Finance (and possible leadership contender), Brian Lenihan today declared his backing for Cowen - contrary to what everyone believes his natural inclination is, including two backbenchers who have said this afternoon that Lenihan has encouraged such dissent. It's likely Lenihan's position is at least in part determined by the wish to isolate Martin.

Presuming Cowen wins this evening, it remains to be seen whether he will then accept Martin's ministerial resignation.
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Јas
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Junior Chimp
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« Reply #80 on: January 19, 2011, 02:27:17 AM »
« Edited: January 19, 2011, 02:31:49 AM by Јas »

And the result...


Can't say for sure what the exact figures were, these weren't (and won't be) announced and are apparantly only known to the two (Cowen supporters) who counted the ballots, but it's understood to have been a fairly sizable (20-25 vote) win for Cowen.

Martin has resigned as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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minionofmidas
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« Reply #81 on: January 19, 2011, 02:44:27 AM »

Can't say for sure what the exact figures were, these weren't (and won't be) announced and are apparantly only known to the two (Cowen supporters) who counted the ballots, but it's understood to have been a fairly sizable (20-25 vote) win for Cowen.
...or so they claim...
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Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #82 on: January 19, 2011, 08:30:34 AM »

Minister for the Arts, Mary Hanafin has clarified that she voted against Cowen in last night's confidence vote - but has neither offered, nor been asked, to resign.

Also: the Taoiseach has decided to take over the Foreign Affairs portfolio, at least for the time being.
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Јas
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Junior Chimp
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« Reply #83 on: January 20, 2011, 01:04:49 AM »

4 Government Ministers resigned last night:
Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern (FF-Louth)
Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey (FF-Meath W)
Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen (FF-Clare)
Minister for Health, Mary Harney (i-Dublin MW)

None of the 4 will be contesting the next election (all but Harney had made this known before last night). Harney offered her resignation last week, but the Taoiseach held off until now to accept. The others were likely asked to resign to facilitate a broader reshuffle.

The reshuffle, expected in the next 24-48 hours, will likely result in some of the shortest serving cabinet ministers in Irish history.
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #84 on: January 20, 2011, 01:33:48 AM »

This means that Noel Grealish will be the only ex-PD standing.
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Јas
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« Reply #85 on: January 20, 2011, 08:47:31 AM »

The Taoiseach has announced 11 March as the date for the General Election.

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Јas
Jas
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« Reply #86 on: January 20, 2011, 08:51:20 AM »

Minister for Enterprise, Batt O'Keeffe (FF-Cork NW) has become the 6th Government Minister to resign.

The farce of the resignations, causing considerable disgruntlement with the Greens, seems to have forced Cowen to name a date for the election - quite possible earlier than might otherwise have been the case. (25 March was the conventional wisdom until now).
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Filuwaúrdjan
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« Reply #87 on: January 20, 2011, 08:51:35 AM »

Are constituency boundaries the same as last time?

Both parts of Ireland having their elections within a couple of months of each other is slightly fun.
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Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #88 on: January 20, 2011, 08:59:03 AM »
« Edited: January 20, 2011, 09:02:39 AM by Јas »

Are constituency boundaries the same as last time?

No - new boundaries in line with a 2007 re-drawing.
Details and maps here.
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Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #89 on: January 20, 2011, 09:15:13 AM »

The Ministerial portfolios have been reassigned, but it's clear that the Greens have refused to allow the Taoiseach to appoint new people to the posts (presumably threatening otherwise to leave Government immediately).

They posts have therefore been redesignated amongst existing ministers - leaving us with what I presume is the smallest Irish cabinet probably since the earliest days of the State.

Tánaiste and Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan (FF-Donegal SW) will also act as Minister for Health.
Minster for Agriculture, Brendan Smyth (FF-Cavan-Monaghan) will also act as Minister for Justice.
Minister for Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey (FF-Dublin NW) will also act as Minister for Transport.
Minister for Tourism, Mary Hanafin (FF-Dún Laoghaire) will also act as Minister for Enterprise.
Minister for Social Protection, Eamon Ó Cuív (FF-Galway W) will also act as Minister for Defence.

The Taoiseach will continue to act as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
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Јas
Jas
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« Reply #90 on: January 20, 2011, 09:21:14 AM »

This means that Noel Grealish will be the only ex-PD standing.

Well, yes and no.

The last leader of the PDs, Senator Ciarán Cannon will be running for FG in Galway E.

Cllr. Mae Sexton, who was a PD TD (2002-07), will be running to regain her seat in Longford-Westmeath for Labour.
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Chancellor of the Duchy of Little Lever and Darcy Lever
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« Reply #91 on: January 20, 2011, 11:03:21 AM »

Are constituency boundaries the same as last time?

No - new boundaries in line with a 2007 re-drawing.

Just found this quote on that thread:

It should be noted though that these constituency changes might never see an election. Though they will almost certainly pass into law without amendment, as is the norm, the next Census is due out before the next election and due to judgments handed down earlier this year, it's entirely possible that there will have to be a constituency re-draw before another election. Something the politicans will probably deem undesirable. It's been a while since a Dáil hasn't lasted a full term (the last 3 effectively have) and given the size and nature of the current government, there should be the stability there to last a full term, however the prospect of unknown boundary changes close to a general election might be enough to provoke a slightly earlier election than normal.

How things change.
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #92 on: January 20, 2011, 11:09:03 AM »

Hanafin got an additional portfolio? I can't imagine why.
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Јas
Jas
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« Reply #93 on: January 21, 2011, 02:12:31 AM »

Today's Irish Times has a good summary of yesterday's shenanigans and the events leading up to it. Amazingly the leadership of FF is once again now an open question, with renewed calls for Cowen to go.

- Cowen's spectacular coup ends as one of the greatest self-inflicted wounds
- Party discipline goes out the window in Fianna Fáil's very public implosion
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #94 on: January 21, 2011, 03:04:48 AM »

Incredible stuff. I haven't seen anything this interesting in years.
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Јas
Jas
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #95 on: January 21, 2011, 10:17:31 AM »

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The response of Martin to the question of whether it was now too late to change leader. Bit of a change from just after losing the confidence battle...

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Anyway, he's not alone in thinking there's still time to change things.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan (FF-Dublin SW), Former Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea (FF-Limerick E), and Michael McGrath (FF-Cork SC) have all renewed calls for Cowen to resign as FF leader.

TDs are returning to their constituencies this weekend, canvassing will be stepping up. Who knows what their opinions will be when they reconvene next week.
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Kevinstat
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« Reply #96 on: January 21, 2011, 09:56:32 PM »

The Ministerial portfolios have been reassigned, but it's clear that the Greens have refused to allow the Taoiseach to appoint new people to the posts (presumably threatening otherwise to leave Government immediately).

What's the rationale for the Greens (or the public, which may be why they took that position) opposing new ministers being appointed who were only going to serve for a month or two?  Does it have to do with salaries, pensions or both?  Or (also) something else?  Like expense accounts.

Do ministers get paid (covering all forms of pay here, present and future) per profile, whichever individual profile's compensation is greatest (they may all be the same), or something in between (meaning you get more if you take on additional responsibilities but not as much more as what someone who hadn't held that level of position before, or may have before but otherwise wouldn't have that level of position now... not as much more as what that person would get in payment that he/she wouldn't otherwise get)?  The answer may be different for the different types of pay.  Some of these questions you probably won't be able to answer, but I'm sure you can tell me if my hunch of "What's the bid deal with a few TDs having a prestigeous-sounding gig for a month or two?" is correct.
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ilikeverin
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« Reply #97 on: January 22, 2011, 01:06:30 AM »

This is brilliant.  I demand constant coverage.
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Хahar 🤔
Xahar
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« Reply #98 on: January 22, 2011, 03:11:52 AM »

The Ministerial portfolios have been reassigned, but it's clear that the Greens have refused to allow the Taoiseach to appoint new people to the posts (presumably threatening otherwise to leave Government immediately).

What's the rationale for the Greens (or the public, which may be why they took that position) opposing new ministers being appointed who were only going to serve for a month or two?  Does it have to do with salaries, pensions or both?  Or (also) something else?  Like expense accounts.

Do ministers get paid (covering all forms of pay here, present and future) per profile, whichever individual profile's compensation is greatest (they may all be the same), or something in between (meaning you get more if you take on additional responsibilities but not as much more as what someone who hadn't held that level of position before, or may have before but otherwise wouldn't have that level of position now... not as much more as what that person would get in payment that he/she wouldn't otherwise get)?  The answer may be different for the different types of pay.  Some of these questions you probably won't be able to answer, but I'm sure you can tell me if my hunch of "What's the bid deal with a few TDs having a prestigeous-sounding gig for a month or two?" is correct.

I believe that former ministers get better pensions.
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YL
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« Reply #99 on: January 22, 2011, 04:34:03 AM »

How much would it actually help Fianna Fáil if they changed leader now?
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