The Irish Times TNS mrbi Poll (May 2008)

seinfeld wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

Cabinet appointments should be based on who is best qualified to do the job.

Harney doesn't have a politicial inheritance to protect, and is immune to pester power from unions and other vested interests, so she is by far the best person to be Minister for Health.

As I said earlier seinfeld, I am not arguing over Harney's ability. I'm asking if a politician who has the support (party total) of less than 1 person in 50 nationally has a mandate to be in Govt. in the first place.

Mary Harney has a mandate because FF went into the electioon saying they were going to follow her health policy and they preferred an FF PD coalition. Mary Harney herself ran for re-electionon the basis that she finished the job in health. Whatever about the PDs, Mary Harney has a mandate.

As regards the PDs, it is clear they are now effectively defunct. Their leader has not been officially been consulted by their partners in Government on any decision. If Ciaran cannon decided to pull the plug on support for the Government it is quite possible that the two TDs would walk away from the party. Ciaran Cannon is on a hiding to nothing.

Auditor #9 wrote:

clareman51 wrote:

As much as FG will spin this, the total of 42% FF and 15% Labour must cause some trepidation in their ranks. If they stay static after the locals, then Enda will need to get out the bullet-proof vest, with extra armour for the back.

I wonder if our own boys Dooley and Killeen have gotten over the Shannon trouble last year and whether the Independent James Breen will run for the Dáil the next time? He is running for the locals next year alright.

It seems FG can do nothing - either FF are up or FF are down - the other parties suffer accordingly.

The swing to Labour is interesting - I wonder is it from the Greens?

Word is James is running in the locals. Timmy Dooley and Tony Killeen will still have until 2012 for next election, so some progress on Shannon will have probably taken place in the meantime. Expect some decent news on the Ennis Hospital shortly.

What's the story with the Hospital? A €40 million upgrade?

There's also a fair bit of bad news in the Clare People this week about the water in Ennis and the EPA report which Brian Meaney used the Freedom of Information Act to acquire...

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

seinfeld wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

Cabinet appointments should be based on who is best qualified to do the job.

Harney doesn't have a politicial inheritance to protect, and is immune to pester power from unions and other vested interests, so she is by far the best person to be Minister for Health.

As I said earlier seinfeld, I am not arguing over Harney's ability. I'm asking if a politician who has the support (party total) of less than 1 person in 50 nationally has a mandate to be in Govt. in the first place.

There's no reference to parties or mandates in the Constitution.

TDs get elected to the Dail. TDs elect Taoiseach. Taoiseach picks Cabinet.

seinfeld wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

seinfeld wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

Cabinet appointments should be based on who is best qualified to do the job.

Harney doesn't have a politicial inheritance to protect, and is immune to pester power from unions and other vested interests, so she is by far the best person to be Minister for Health.

As I said earlier seinfeld, I am not arguing over Harney's ability. I'm asking if a politician who has the support (party total) of less than 1 person in 50 nationally has a mandate to be in Govt. in the first place.

There's no reference to parties or mandates in the Constitution.

TDs get elected to the Dail. TDs elect Taoiseach. Taoiseach picks Cabinet.

An interesting point Seinfeld. If being a member of a party was important that would have put a stopper on the drifting in and out of Fianna Fail that goes by individual TDs for the purpose of political expediency (corruption, tricky local issues etc.) The reality is we have PR and it has its pluses, but also its messy aspects. Mary Harney and the PDs have never had any independence from FF. The problem of the PDs withering away is not a problem for the PDs (the who?) but is a problem for FF, who without them won't have anyone to hide behind when they want to implement right wing economic policies.