Dáil Éireann Numbers, minority government

Worztron

Hi.

Could there have been a government formed with less than 84 seats? For example if Labour formed a government with everyone bar FF and FG there would be 70 seats taken. Then there would only be 95 seats left for FF and FG. Let's say that FF and FG wouldn't form a government together – would it be possible to form a minority government of 70 seats?

Sleepy

Technically, yes.

Practically, holding such a coallition together would have been next to impossible and whenever a bill was put forward to the house it could be crushed by the larger numbers of the opposition. First finance bill would bring down the government.

Permabear

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seamus

From what I can tell, for a minority government to work you need a lot of independents or small parties in opposition. If your primary opposition are big parties, then you're less likely to get any support from the opposition.

Worztron

seamus wrote: »

From what I can tell, for a minority government to work you need a lot of independents or small parties in opposition. If your primary opposition are big parties, then you're less likely to get any support from the opposition.

Excellent point.

Permabear

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Worztron

Permabear wrote: »

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I don't understand why people reelect self serving crooks like Michael Lowry.

seamus

Permabear wrote: »

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Indeed, I imagine a minority Government is a stressful position because any bill requires days of negotiations to try and get support for it (think of the Simpsons episode where Krusty goes to Washington).

It's probably also a position which is only tenable in a growing or stable economy. One harsh budget and no amount of negotiation will get you the support you need.

Sleepy

Worztron wrote: »

I don't understand why people reelect self serving crooks like Michael Lowry.

See the post above you - that casino, if built, would provide hundreds of jobs.

Bottle_of_Smoke

There's always talk of the super casino with Lowry, but what is the big deal? Is there special plannign permission required or something?

Just a super-casino is something which could attract people and income from abroad, which benefits the country as a whole, so don't really see it as a typical fixing the roads in exchange for an independent's vote.

mikemac

Permabear wrote: »

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It's going to Tipperary due to the location and the backers behind it are from the area. If I could set up a big business I'd like to do it in my own area.

Like most county councils Tipperary North is dominated by FG and Labour and they have already examined the plans
And suicide for them to turn down potential jobs.
It's funded by private money anyway

mikemac

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

There's always talk of the super casino with Lowry, but what is the big deal? Is there special plannign permission required or something?
.

Needed gambling legislation change

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Just a super-casino is something which could attract people and income from abroad, which benefits the country as a whole, so don't really see it as a typical fixing the roads in exchange for an independent's vote.

Haven't you heard? It's in the wrong location, it's tacky, it's unrealistic and doomed to failure. Well that was the thread last year

Funded by private money and maybe it will succeed or maybe it'll fail but it's someone creating a business and creating jobs.

Cookie_Monster

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

There's always talk of the super casino with Lowry, but what is the big deal? Is there special plannign permission required or something?

It's in the middle of nowhere
has no good transport links to the major ports and airports
is massively oversize
is environmentally questionable
I think the EPA have said it breaches several EU enviro and nature directives
etc etc etc

OhNoYouDidn't

Sleepy wrote: »

See the post above you - that casino, if built, would provide hundreds of jobs.

And if built in Dublin or Galway would provide thousands.

No offence to Tipp, but it ain't a tourist hotspot. So why build it where it will not maximise its revenue and minimise its local negative impact? Casino's are an urban, not rural phenomenon

OhNoYouDidn't

feelingstressed wrote: »

Funded by private money and maybe it will succeed or maybe it'll fail but it's someone creating a business and creating jobs.

If you were building it, would you pick rural Tipp as the location?

Permabear

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Bottle_of_Smoke

feelingstressed wrote: »

Needed gambling legislation change



Haven't you heard? It's in the wrong location, it's tacky, it's unrealistic and doomed to failure. Well that was the thread last year

Funded by private money and maybe it will succeed or maybe it'll fail but it's someone creating a business and creating jobs.

Okay but if legislation is changed thats a national issue, so not really a Jackie-Healy Rae type demand.

Obviously I don't know much about this, but does he expect the state to build it or something?

If so then yes it is clearly in the JHR school of thinking, but if he wants the legislation changed so a prvate firm can build it I'd give him full support.

mikemac

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

if he wants the legislation changed so a prvate firm can build it

That's exactly what was done

Bottle_of_Smoke

feelingstressed wrote: »

That's exactly what was done

Right, I really then don't see why he's getting parish pump abuse for something which is not specific to his constituency.

Worztron

Sleepy wrote: »

See the post above you - that casino, if built, would provide hundreds of jobs.

Casinos bring nothing but trouble.