Sunday 7 February 2016

IRELANDS GENERAL ELECTION

I was talking to a relation in England the other day when I mentioned the forth coming election, to which they replied "What election ? "and when told said "That's the first I have heard of it"
So I thought that it was about time I brought it to my readers attention.

The election was announced in Dáil Éireann [the lower house] of the Oireachtas [Parliament]  on Thursday 4th February by Enda Kenny the present Taoiseach [the literal translation of which is chieftain or leader]
Polling day will be on 26th February.



17 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard of it either, Mel, but then maybe the Netherlands is just that bit too far removed for it to be local news. Are you an Irish citizen yourself? Are you able to vote?

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    1. Hello Val. Just as well then that I published the news. You see we always get news of the UK elections, not so much of other EU counties but always the results. Yes, we do get a vote - I think it would be the same if I was resident in the Netherlands too.

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    2. Err, no, I don't think you would be able to vote in the Netherlands, Mel (even if you lived there). Ireland has an agreement with the UK that UK nationals can vote in the Irish general election. I, as a Belgian, cannot vote in said elections. If I were to reside in the Netherlands, I wouldn't be able to vote for their general elections either, nor could I when living in France.
      Except for the Britons, my 'foreigner' friends all have to sit this one out. Unfortunately.

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    3. Ok thank you for clarifying the voting situation Patricia.

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  2. I do like the way that election talk is given by a young person. So many of our young people are disaffected and our election broadcasts are usually given by ageing, public school types who really have nothing to say to the young.

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    1. Thank you for your comment and observation Pat !

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    2. I think that there may be changes afoot in the future Patricia see
      http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/voting-rights/index_en.htm

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    3. We can vote in a European and local election, Mel. Just not the national one.

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  3. So peculiar. I read the international news in a bunch of newspapers online every day and I didn't know anything about this either.

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    1. Thank you for the information Mitchell. Now doesn't that make one wonder about how our news is being controlled and also begs the question of "Why ?"

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  4. Hi Mel - interesting you put up only one of the parties ... I checked out the Guardian's view on Ireland ... to see a bit more. Ireland has fortunately come through its major crisis - but still needs stability and more - then we all need to get rid of our 'hate' ...

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you for your comments Hilary :)
      Call me biased if you want. I put up the Sinn Féin video because they are the only political group who are an all-Ireland Party, the only party that stand up for people who are socially oppressed, whether for reasons of poor health, age, being part of a minority, or those who have had their homes repossessed by the banks. All of these issues continue and despite the so-called economic recovery which the majority have not seen, we are still seeing our young people and families emigrating. A lot of businesses are still under pressure, many with their staff on part time hours and shops are still closing, the only up turn in the high streets is the increase in the number of charity shops. Actually only one per cent of the population has benefitted from the so called financial recovery.
      This election has produced dozens of Independents and they may well hold the sway as to what party gets into power when the election is over.
      My reasons for not showing the other three parties is because
      1) Fine Fáil were the party who caused the financial crisis.
      2) Fine Gael are extremely right wing and have and are still causing, extreme grief to the oppressed.
      3) Labour did a complete about face on their original policies and whole heartedly supported Fine Gael by going against their supporters.
      I am not sure that it is 'hate' that people are feeling but 'anger'
      Thank you for asking the questions Hilary it has been a pleasure answering
      them :) x

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    2. It'll be interesting to see how Sinn Fein get on in the election. I agree with you they're the only party that actively supports the disadvantaged in society. It'll also be interesting to see how they do in the NI Assembly elections in May.

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    3. Hello Nick. Yes, you are right about Sinn Féin. There certainly will be lot of commentary on the NI Assembly elections from various quarters.
      Thank you for your observation and interest.

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    4. Hi Mel - I'm glad you've elaborated .. though I wasn't concerned ... and know nothing about Irish politics - which makes it interesting and challenging. You're right hate is the wrong word .. 'anger' is better - sometimes getting across one's thoughts without face to face contact is not easy ...

      In fact just keeping up in this country is rather more than I can handle ... the EU scenario is 'interesting' to put it mildly ...

      Times are so important and I just hope we don't all get swamped in the morass that's politics ...

      Cheers Hilary

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  5. Oh how I wish our election cycle was that short.

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    1. Hello Janet !
      Yes I imagine that I would think that too :)

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