Still reeling from the Brexit decision here - our nearest neighbour will have a General Election, in just over a week.

Brexit could well affect RoI's economy worse than ours - because of the border, and that 80% of their dairy and beef products are sold to the UK.

Due to tariffs etc. - that market will be largely lost to the RoI, as they will remain in the EU.


Virtual bankruptcy of the RoI was largely brought about by a toxic government which caused the country's banks to collapse - 11 years ago.

So that their National Debt is now one of the highest in developed countries, per capita - exceeding €210 billion - requiring interest of over €5 billion annually.


That toxic government - led by the Fianna Fail party is about to return!!

As 11 years after the country had to be bailed out by the EU, FF are about to be returned to lead - probably another coalition government.


Not long after they were demonised - from every side as traitors, crooks, charlatans, liars, robbers, thieves, incompetents....

They have low tax rates though...

Incorrect

Headline taxes in both jurisdictions are the same.

40% and 20%


Please research before posting

Polling Day, in Ireland, is this coming Saturday.

And although exit polls will be announced, when the voting closes, they will not be nearly as accurate as those in the UK.

Because of the different voting system - Proportional Representation (PR); results could take days.

Candidates are selected, and voted for, in order of choice - 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. PR is believed to be fairer - but often brings about coalition governments.


Amazingly though, Sinn Fein - which was (and maybe still is) the political arm of the IRA - leads the polls.

Never before has this party wielded any meaningful power in the Republic of Ireland.

But extremists seem to be getting popular, in European countries especially - promising the earth.

Barney wrote:
Amazingly though, Sinn Fein - which was (and maybe still is) the political arm of the IRA - leads the polls.
Many years ago, I came across the satirical news site The Portadown News (the actual site existed for years after it stopped posting news items, but now seems to have disappeared) and remember seeing an interesting Venn diagram in one of their news items. It consisted of three circles intersecting in the middle. One circle was the Provisional IRA, the second was the Continuity IRA and the third was the Real IRA. No prizes for guessing which political organisation was in the central space.

I love a good Venn diagram.

Thumbs up!

Martin McGuinness was forced to admit his senior role in the Irish Republican Army - although his mate (Gerry Adams) denies his involvement.

Even though 'the dogs on the street know he was' - said one Irish prime minister. The IRA indiscriminately murdered people for decades.

In bombing Omagh, during the peak Saturday shopping time, they knew that many of their own members and supporters would die - but they didn't care.

Should the IRA become the senior partner in a coalition government - there's a strong likelihood that the troubles would quickly return to the island.

As many wouldn't accept being ruled by a party with such close connections to a terrorist organisation. Thus - although they're high in the polls - government roles seem unlikely.

In a live TV debate in Dublin last night - between the leaders of the three main parties - Sinn Fein fell firmly under the spotlight.

Their affiliation with the IRA came up regularly - and will, yet again, probably preclude any role in the governance of the country.

Put simply - not a person on the island of Ireland doesn't believe that Sinn Fein is the talking head of the IRA. In addition, SF has zero experience in government.

Polls have been good to SF though, reflecting widespread discontent about living standards - and the fears about how Brexit will affect the Irish economy.

Voting booths have just opened across the Republic of Ireland for their first Saturday polling, in living memory.

Polls show that 70% of the electorate favour the Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein parties. Almost equally.

FF and FG are very similar - centre of the road parties - whilst SF is the political arm of the IRA, though they deny that.

Under the Proportional Representation system - another coalition government is inevitable - but neither FF or FG will form a coalition with SF.

Due to their paramilitary links (Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams etc.) - and the fact that SF refuse to help find the bodies of the 'disappeared'.

These were opponents of the IRA (many dozens) who vanished - perhaps into bogs or bonfires - during the years of the troubles.

Another FF/FG coalition is likely.

Or FF - who are predicted to get about 50 seats (80 is required for an outright majority) - may form an alliance with the much smaller Labour, Green parties and/or Independents.

Exit poll last night predicted a 3 way tie.

Between FF, FG and SF.

All with 22%, or thereabouts.

The vote count is on, and will be for a couple of days.

But analysis shows that most young voters favoured Sinn Fein.

Ignoring its close connection to the IRA - and taking into account recent austerity measures.

Healthcare and housing were the big issues.

Many wait for days - on hospital trolleys - for treatment by their NHS equivalent.

Sinn Fein promised they'd stop all that - immediately!!


Terrorists may just have won the 'struggle' in Ireland.

Sinn Fein are also strongly represented in the Northern Ireland administration.

Never was a united Ireland closer...

With most of the votes in (a complicated system!), it's both likely and possible that the Sein Fein party will form the Republc of Ireland's new government.

Sinn Fein are the political arm of the Irish Republican Army who, over decades, have maimed and murdered hundreds of innocent people - from Deal to Omagh. With Guildford and Birmingham.

Perhaps the most successful outcome for a terrorist organisation in recent European history. Put simply - austerity measures influenced the young voter - with SF's enormous promises of rapid change.


And they forgot what Sinn Fein/IRA had done...

I wish Ireland the best of luck Barney.

My ex was Irish (the only one I really loved) and my son is partly - Dublin of course. I have heard great stories about the it and believe it deserves it's place on the map.
Unification is on the cards and if it works out, it is all good.
I think we need to work more on the UK union as a whole and make the necessary changes rather than allow it to be broken up. There are some amazing opportunities on the horizon.

Unification?

Analysis these facts.


RoI is barely able to pay the €14 million a day, in interest on its €220 billion National Debt.

Our Exchequer gives Northern Ireland £1 billion a month, to pay its bills.

Please Book (or someone else).

Tell us how a united Ireland would work.

Barney wrote:
Unification?

Analysis these facts.


RoI is barely able to pay the €14 million a day, in interest on its €220 billion National Debt.

Our Exchequer gives Northern Ireland £1 billion a month, to pay its bills.

Please Book (or someone else).

Tell us how a united Ireland would work.





Not to mention that they don't even want unifying.

I guess Sinn Fein in power is a good thing then Barney...

Honey wrote:
Not to mention that they don't even want unifying.


Right, Honey

Apart from the woeful economics on the island - a united Ireland would bring the violence back

Very quickly

Bookworm wrote:
I guess Sinn Fein in power is a good thing then Barney...


If you knew anything about the Irish political situation - you'd know there's little chance of SF being in power!

To go back to my earlier question - to you - how would a united Ireland work, economically?

Bearing in mind the two major obstacles I aluded to - the RoI National Debt.

And the monthly (thousand million) subvention to NI.

Barney merging is the new solution to consolidating debts!

Don't you watch the adverts?

It's called killing two birds with one stone.

Book - your reply makes no sense.

A second election is very possible in Ireland.

If SF get the same share of the vote - they'll form a majority government!