Dublin Bay South By Election - Anyone but Mannix

[Biff_Egan]

Every Mullally column is some derivation of “My mates with degrees in Native American Feminist Art can’t buy a house in Dublin and were also mildly inconvenienced by The Bernard Shaw moving to the Northside so FFG are evil and want to eat the poor”. That said, Si Harris has lost his unlikely sex symbol status out of his work clothes so won’t sway any housewives on the fence.

[Cheasty]

@Biff_Egan

FFG are evil and want to eat the poor

SFFG

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

Interesting that Labour are now a fully centre right party picking up FFG scraps. They seem to have lost all their appeal in working class constituencies who haven’t forgot them propping up FFG austerity.

[artfoley]

@Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy

They seem to have lost all their appeal in working class constituencies who haven’t forgot them propping up FFG austerity.

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

I don’t see a future for them really. They rely on a few candidates with a strong brand locally now. They have lost all their roots with what was a traditional working class base. Even though they are tipped to do well in DBS, they are polling a lot better in affluent middle class areas of the constituency than what would have been their normal base in the more working class areas.

A party which tries to market itself as left but is toxic to the working class voting base due to the past records of enforcing FFG policy and reneging on election promises.

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

Poor Old Ireland

[artfoley]

@Fagan_ODowd

Voters face choice between stability and uncertainty

Dáil numbers are tight and the last thing we need is an unstable Government

Simon Harris

It is no exaggeration to say Covid-19 has been seismic for the country, our economy, our society, our health and education systems and our political system too.

The pandemic curtailed the way we interact and engage. It made us all realise how interdependent we are.

After a long and difficult 18 months, we are emerging from the darkest of times and it has allowed us – politicians – to be outside once again talking, listening and learning. And what I’ve learned is, there is no going back “to how things were”. The hackneyed phrase “new normal” must be consigned to the past.

We are now as a country creating our future – a better future – together as we emerge from this pandemic. The priorities I can hear on the doors and streets of Dublin Bay South mirror the priorities set out by Government.

How can we help those who have lost their jobs get back to old jobs or secure new, sustainable employment? How will small- and medium-sized businesses prosper once more as we rebuild? What does quality of life mean now? How do we care for our elderly? What role does remote working have in our future? Can we have a childcare system that works for all families?

Can we get on top of the housing crisis, can we have a cleaner country with a better transport system? What opportunities are there for young people to follow their dreams in education, work and family life?

These are the challenges this Government is facing as we look to a country post- pandemic.The difficulties we are facing are unprecedented. We need a Government that can meet and overcome the greatest challenges of our time: rebuilding a better economy and society, and addressing existential crises such as digitalisation and climate change.

Ambitious programme

Like all effective partnerships, it has taken time to settle but the Government is pursuing a really ambitious programme. United in one aim. To deliver for the country. Instead of partisan politics, we are working together to make big decisions and deliver for the people. Our first and foremost priority is housing and ensuring those who wish to own their own home have the chance to and offering renters more security. In the last few weeks, we have passed legislation to establish a new Land Development Agency, to build affordable homes on public lands, we have changed the law to restrict rent increases and remove obstacles to renters.

Hugely important too is the national economic plan. Last month, the Tánaiste launched the blueprint for our economic recovery. It is about restoring jobs and creating new ones, particularly in construction and the green economy. But it is not just economic growth, it is about building a lasting dividend from the pandemic with the move to a living wage, sick pay, occupational pensions for all workers and remote and flexible working.

Climate remains one of the greatest challenges the world is facing and we are introducing new laws to set binding targets on us all.

This means better public transport, more cycle lanes, less waste, less plastic, more sustainability. And our biggest job is to create a society and an economy that reflects the loneliness, vulnerability, worry and anxiety people have endured over the past 18 months. A society that ensures you, your family and your community are cared for and respected. An economy that is sustainable and works for you.

This is how mature, well-run, modern democracies work with compromise, consensus and determination to deliver. I respect many across the Opposition benches. Right now though, at this moment in our country’s history, stable government has never been more important.

This Government does not have a large majority. We need the people of Dublin Bay South to elect a Government TD to help us advance our work and be a strong voice for their communities.Contrary to the one-sided criticism levelled against him in a column in this newspaper on Monday, James Geoghegan is that voice.

Emerged successful

Two years ago, he put his name forward for the local elections. The electorate evaluated what he stood for and he emerged successful. Since then he has worked to instil change including: helping establish a cross-departmental taskforce for a city centre recovery plan, voted for more than 3,000 homes and successfully sought higher State subsidy for affordable homes to buy and rent on public land.

We should be able to debate policy and ideas without stereotyping people and political parties. When the people of Dublin Bay South come to vote tomorrow they have a choice to make. Between another Opposition TD in the Dáil or a Fine Gael Government TD who can help us get things done.

Dáil numbers are tight. We don’t need to in any way bring about instability or provide another vote for the Opposition to try to bring down the Government. There is too much to do.

Simon Harris is Minister for Further and Higher Education and Fine Gael director of elections for the Dublin Bay South byelection

so harris is essentially arguing that if we want to get rid of this shite govt, then all we have to do is not vote for james?

[tallback]

It’s a direct appeal to FG voters in the constituency who are considering voting for Bacik this time. Based on the poll, up to near half of Baciks support may be coming from such voters

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

@tallback

It’s a direct appeal to FG voters in the constituency who are considering voting for Bacik this time. Based on the poll, up to near half of Baciks support may be coming from such voters

Is it not the Greens Bacik is getting her votes from according to the polls in terms of a swing from General election?

@Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy

The last general election had it:

FG 28% (2 candidates)
Greens 22%
SF 16%
FF 14%
Lab 8%
SD 5%
PBP 3%

Is everyone seriously underestimating the Greens candidate here?

So in essence and giving the poll credibility:

FG -1%
Labour +14%
SF -3%
Greens -11%
FF -4%

[Biff_Egan]

@tallback

It’s a direct appeal to FG voters in the constituency who are considering voting for Bacik this time. Based on the poll, up to near half of Baciks support may be coming from such voters

Harris is trying to interfere with a TFK namechange bet. It’s an affront to democracy.

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

I think the election turnout will be around 35% as opposed to 52% for the general election.

[Biff_Egan]

I voted for K Humphreys in the GE and going for C Byrne in this one. I’m the local @Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy contrarian.

[artfoley]

@Biff_Egan

Harris is trying to interfere with a TFK namechange bet. It’s an affront to democracy.

@tallback will stoop to any level to try and avoid his new username of either fragrantkate or ivanaseat

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

Who will get your second preference?

Geoghegan needs a lot of first preference ahead of Bacik and hope Boylan can pip Bacik.

Where will the Greens transfers go?

[Biff_Egan]

I’d probably go Bacik ahead of JG. And I’m an establishment shill , albeit one radicalised by TFK. In typical bye-election fashion it’s time to give the government a bloody nose. The polls show the second preferences will favour Bacik over JG though not as emphatically as one might think. If Boylan is second last to be eliminated her transfers should seal it for Bacik.

Next Irish General Election

[Copper_pipe]

WhichCandidate

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

Aontu for me.

[ChairmanDan]

Yes, there’s some very curious stances here on this bye-election. @Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy is an Aontu supporter. Odd that he seems to be backing the IRA/SF candidate. I would have thought of the front runner that Councillor Geoghegan’s socially conservative views would mirror most closely those of Aontu.

[Tim_Riggins]

John Bruton being awkward

[Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy]

@ChairmanDan

Yes, there’s some very curious stances here on this bye-election. @Fulvio_From_Aughnacloy is an Aontu supporter. Odd that he seems to be backing the IRA/SF candidate. I would have thought of the front runner that Councillor Geoghegan’s socially conservative views would mirror most closely those of Aontu.

Aontu are econimically socialist republican party.

FG are a right wing capitalist political party.