Intervention by the unions, prevented the FG single party government

BeeDI

Seems to me, that the intervention by Jack O Connor and David Begg, might just have been the reason FG didn't get enough seats to for a single party administration.
Are we about to see, the ICTU dominate labour in government and by extension FG. The social partners haven't gone away you know:eek:

RichardAnd

No one pays any attention to O'Connor. The fool is nothing but a mouth piece and a prime example of Irish socialism at work. That is to say, one very billigerant individual claims to speak for lowly workers whilst at the same time pocketing a six figure salary. Pay him no heed.

fred252

all they had to do was read labour's policies. no voting "advice" was required surely.

Dannyboy83

On the contrary, I think Jack O Connor and David Begg helped to secure the near majority for FG, and detracted heavily from Labour's chances.
FG now have a very solid mandate to repair our state sector.

O'Connor and Begg never ducked an opportunity to threaten us on the radio or TV. Many apolitical people became concerned or involved when they were turning on the radio or tv to this everyday.
People I know who detest Eddie Hobbs were actually praising him for not allowing them to get away with their incessant lies and threats.

I think most apolitical Irish people and young people in general would naturally swing left to some degree and would be more inclined to support socialist policies..............unless they are made acutely aware of the opportunity cost.

So, these guys not only turned potential supporters against them (and Labour) by threatening everyone, but they really helped to propel the pork bellied Irish state sector to the forefront of the election issues. At their own, and Labour's, expense.

RichardAnd

Dannyboy83 wrote: »

On the contrary, I think Jack O Connor and David Begg helped to secure the near majority for FG, and detracted heavily from Labour's chances.
FG now have a very solid mandate to repair our state sector.

O'Connor and Begg never ducked an opportunity to threaten us on the radio or TV. Many apolitical people became concerned or involved when they were turning on the radio or tv to this everyday.
People I know who detest Eddie Hobbs were actually praising him for not allowing them to get away with their incessant lies and threats.

I think most apolitical Irish people and young people in general would naturally swing left to some degree and would be more inclined to support socialist policies..............unless they are made acutely aware of the opportunity cost.

So, these guys not only turned potential supporters against them (and Labour) by threatening everyone, but they really helped to propel the pork bellied Irish state sector to the forefront of the election issues. At their own, and Labour's, expense.

That would be my belief too. What those idiots demonstrated with their actions is that they really are living in a dream world. I was in the civil service and I know O'Connors type a mile off, he's the atypical, lazy, loudmouthed union bully of which I had no time for during my service.

Sand

Id agree - Labour did well in the election, but FG is not only the biggest party in the Dail, theyre bigger than all the other parties combined. I think Begg and O'Connors intervention played a big part in helping anyone undecided that their vote needed to go to Fine Gael to help put manners on the insiders who think they can threaten the citizens of the country.

FG have a huge mandate to go and do what needs to be done. I think FG needs to maintain decent relations with FF and a variety of independants to support required reforms in the national interest in a Tallaght strategy sort of deal. Micheal Martin has claimed he will act as a responsible opposition - he shouldnt be allowed to simply employ that as a soundbite.

FG ought to always have the option to tell Labour that while they would like their support, they dont *need* their support to do whats necessary. Labour are clearly the party of vested interests, Begg, O Connor and so on - the very same people the government will need to take on. Itd be far cheaper to buy a few votes with a casino in Kerry than to keep Labours core vote swimming in riches.

Tim Robbins

The Unions are the new Catholic Church. They are extremely powerful politically. If Labour did not get in and FG proceeded to cut, if the Unions didn't like it, we'd be back to where we were last year. No new passports.

It's worth looking at how they were broken up in the UK. People were sick to death of them and Thatcher seized the opportunity and tore them to pieces.

Let's say this recession last another 5 years. And we get strike after strike; inertia after inertia from the Unions. The Zeitgest will shift against them and some political party will seize the opportunity of the back lash.

Read this it's very interesting...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3067563.stm

irishh_bob

im begining to believe myself that fine gael never really stood a chance of securing an overall majority and all things being equal , they had a very good election , at the end of the day , fine gael are not fianna fail , fianna fail ( in past elections ) drew votes from every section of society , the public sector , big business , the wellfare class , middle ireland and while fine gael hoovered up the bulk of middle ireland , labour got the public sector vote while sinn fein brought in the wellfare class along with the republican vote which fianna fail used to get its fair share of aswell , i dont think their has ever been a party which had such a broad church as fianna fail and perhaps its a good thing that fine gael are not simply fianna fails other half

sollar

Our unions are a much more reasonable bunch than the arthur scargills of this world.

There are hardly any strikes or industrial action in this country.

Nolanger

BeeDI wrote: »

Seems to me, that the intervention by Jack O Connor and David Begg, might just have been the reason FG didn't get enough seats to for a single party administration.
Are we about to see, the ICTU dominate labour in government and by extension FG. The social partners haven't gone away you know:eek:

Who cares? Fine Gael are useless. We'll have another election in 2 years.

Uncle Ben

Sand wrote: »

Id agree - Labour did well in the election, but FG is not only the biggest party in the Dail, theyre bigger than all the other parties combined. I think Begg and O'Connors intervention played a big part in helping anyone undecided that their vote needed to go to Fine Gael to help put manners on the insiders who think they can threaten the citizens of the country.

FG have a huge mandate to go and do what needs to be done. I think FG needs to maintain decent relations with FF and a variety of independants to support required reforms in the national interest in a Tallaght strategy sort of deal. Micheal Martin has claimed he will act as a responsible opposition - he shouldnt be allowed to simply employ that as a soundbite.

FG ought to always have the option to tell Labour that while they would like their support, they dont *need* their support to do whats necessary. Labour are clearly the party of vested interests, Begg, O Connor and so on - the very same people the government will need to take on. Itd be far cheaper to buy a few votes with a casino in Kerry than to keep Labours core vote swimming in riches.

Fg do need their support, hence the reason they are talking to same.

The_Thing

I don't think there'll be a need for public-sector unions to strike, I reckon a work-to-rule might be all we'd need.

Jaysoose

The_Thing wrote: »

I don't think there'll be a need for public-sector unions to strike, I reckon a work-to-rule might be all we'd need.

There is no difference.

Sand

@Uncle Ben

Fg do need their support, hence the reason they are talking to same.

Nope - theyd like their support, they dont need it. They could rule as a minority government with Independant/FF support. Theyre looking likely to get another 5 seats, so they only need to dig out another 9 votes to get deals passed. Like I said - itd be cheaper to fill a few potholes in a few places than it would be to satisfy David Begg and Jack O Connors shopping list. FG ought to remind Labour of that at every opportunity.

irishh_bob

sollar wrote: »

Our unions are a much more reasonable bunch than the arthur scargills of this world.

There are hardly any strikes or industrial action in this country.

only because thier every demand has been met this past twenty years

Tim Robbins

irishh_bob wrote: »

im begining to believe myself that fine gael never really stood a chance of securing an overall majority and all things being equal , they had a very good election , at the end of the day , fine gael are not fianna fail , fianna fail ( in past elections ) drew votes from every section of society , the public sector , big business , the wellfare class , middle ireland and while fine gael hoovered up the bulk of middle ireland , labour got the public sector vote while sinn fein brought in the wellfare class along with the republican vote which fianna fail used to get its fair share of aswell , i dont think their has ever been a party which had such a broad church as fianna fail and perhaps its a good thing that fine gael are not simply fianna fails other half

That's true.

They are the party of the educated, big farmer and middle class. Mainly.

swampgas

The_Thing wrote: »

I don't think there'll be a need for public-sector unions to strike, I reckon a work-to-rule might be all we'd need.

Do you really think the general public have any stomach for work-to-rules, never mind strikes, in the current climate?

These are volatile times, I reckon you'd get your ass handed to you on a plate.

astrofool

The labour canvasser that dropped around was very quick to distance labour from the unions, I think what saved Labour in the final week was a softening stance to FG, and more attacks on FF. They don't need a union leader telling people what to do, Labour should already have the PS vote by default, O'Conner and Begg mouthing off just makes them look like the cossetted from the real world party.

I think even Labour are seeing this, and we may see a UK style new Labour for the next election (in all but name), while the current Dáil sets about breaking the unions back (which the public will support them in), Labour will be there to add a bit of lube.

Tora Bora

I think above all else in this election, the majority of the people voted for FG economic policies. They did so, expecting Michael Noonan to be minister for finance, as he has been quite clear about his economic philosophy and stragegy. Cutting the cost of government as opposed to taxing work.

Now if we believe some commentators, we may get Pat Rabbitte:mad::(:eek:

Wish now I had voted FF

It's unbelievable

Taidgh19

I would like to have seen the unions come out against the bailout like what is happening in Wisconsin in the states..stopping a FG majority is good but not even close enough as jobs and people are still going to be hurt