Off Topic Thread 4.0

errlloyd · 26-06-2018 12:44PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't have an issue with the TMO making a recommendation, but I think the game should only have one referee and that's the referee on the pitch.

The referee takes action on recommendations that AR's make in real time all the time. I don't really believe that one man can ref a rugby match in real time tbh.

swiwi_ · 26-06-2018 12:49PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I agree. There are times that it is beneficial and others that seem to remove common sense from the equation because we can't see it on the screen. Also there's no consistency. At the weekend Frizzel scored a try but the TMO said he can't see a grounding even though common sense says part of the ball is on the ground. Then they don't even check what appeared to be a clear knock on by Luke Whitelock before Ioane scored.

Exactly, refs says "I see a clear grounding"...but try over-turned. Whitelock clear as day knock-on - try given. Lacey clear obstruction - try given.

Despite the technology.

:rolleyes:

Yeah_Right · 26-06-2018 12:50PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Has to be said though, the Summer internationals delivered some of the most inconsistent and poor referee performances I've seen in a test window like this.

I'm not so sure about this. I think it might be a case of Ireland being on the receiving end of some harsh, strange or possibly inconsistent decisions in a tight series has skewed your perception. Also the fact there is a higher level of expectation of success amongst Irish fans and media, these decisions get more scrutiny. I know that I have watched mid year and autumn series in the past and I couldn't believe some of the things refs and citing commissioners let go or missed.

stephen_n · 26-06-2018 01:01PM

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I'm not so sure about this. I think it might be a case of Ireland being on the receiving end of some harsh, strange or possibly inconsistent decisions in a tight series has skewed your perception. Also the fact there is a higher level of expectation of success amongst Irish fans and media, these decisions get more scrutiny. I know that I have watched mid year and autumn series in the past and I couldn't believe some of the things refs and citing commissioners let go or missed.

I think Australia were on the receiving end of a fair few too, let’s not even get started about France.

pickarooney · 26-06-2018 01:30PM

As my French colleague said with a resigned air. "This is where France are at now, being reffed like a Tier 2 team"

thomond2006 · 26-06-2018 01:35PM

The Brown Envelope man from Tipperary is finally found guilty. About time.

Yeah_Right · 26-06-2018 01:36PM

Just noticed that this is the Off Topic thread and we're discussing rugby. Oops. Sorry Mods. Then again they're discussing guitars over on the Leinster thread. Which makes a change from pear & bacon sandwiches and where to get a good latte.

I'll take my reply over to the General Rugby thread.

Buer · 26-06-2018 01:58PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

The Brown Envelope man from Tipperary is finally found guilty. About time.

His first preference votes just went up by 20% for the next election.

thomond2006 · 26-06-2018 02:02PM

Buer wrote: »

His first preference votes just went up by 20% for the next election.

Can a prison sentence make him ineligible?

Edit:

You are disqualified from membership of Dáil Eireann if:

You are not a citizen of Ireland
You have not yet reached 21 years of age
You are a member of a local authority
You are a senior official of an institution of the European Union, for example, a member of the European Commission or a judge, advocate general or registrar of the European Court of Justice or a member of the Court of Auditors of the European Community
You are a member of the Garda Siochana
You are a full-time member of the Defence Forces
You are a civil servant and it does not specifically state in your contract of employment that you may be a member of the Dáil
You are a person of unsound mind
You are presently in prison serving a term greater than 6 months
You are the President, a member of the Seanad, the Comptroller and Auditor General or a Judge.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/national_government/houses_of_the_oireachtas/eligibility_for_membership_of_dail_eireann.html

errlloyd · 26-06-2018 02:03PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Can a prison sentence make him ineligible?

I don't think so. Sure 2 thirds of our first Dail were in prison when they got elected! Bobby Sands became an MP during his hunger strike. There'd be holy bloody war if we made a law against that!

The Lost Sheep · 26-06-2018 02:04PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Can a prison sentence make him ineligible?

As said on twitter. Must be sentence longer than 6 months. If he gets under 6 months he can remain a TD otherwise he must resign.

Rigor Mortis · 26-06-2018 02:05PM

Unless its changed recently, there have been plenty of people with prison sentences elected, including a number of serving prisoners. The H Block prisoners were the most obvious. Liam Lawlor would be another one.

Buer · 26-06-2018 02:15PM

Sure there are a couple of sitting TDs with Sinn Fein who have spent terms in prison for IRA activities. Obviously that rule isn't backdated.

irishbucsfan · 26-06-2018 02:26PM

Yeah but lads let’s not forget the key issue of the day, up the ****in Lillies.

errlloyd · 26-06-2018 02:43PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Yeah but lads let’s not forget the key issue of the day, up the ****in Lillies.

I'm not following this controversy. So I just wanted to confirm some understandings.

The Stadium in Kildare can only hold 8,000 people?
Season ticket holders from both teams are entitled to tickets?
Mayo have the vast majority of the total 4,500 ST holders?
Less than 4,000 Kildare fans would be therefore able to get tickets?
Kildare is it's own county and not just a Dublin Suburb? :S
The allocation of whether or not the game was "home" or "away" was Random anyway?
Kildare is significantly closer to Croke park than Mayo?
Mayo fans would actually have to drive THROUGH Kildare to get to Croke Park?
What would happen if Kildare drew a team that caused their to be more than 8000 combined ST holders?

stephen_n · 26-06-2018 02:43PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Yeah but lads let’s not forget the key issue of the day, up the ****in Lillies.

Does it matter that much where they lose?

umop episdn · 26-06-2018 03:01PM

Kildare have officially told Croke Park that they will not travel to Dublin to fulfil the fixture according to Leinster Leader now.....that's them out so, no way Croke Park will back down

Buer · 26-06-2018 03:06PM

Kildare don't give a sh*te if the game is in Croke Park. It's of little or no benefit to them. It will swell the central coffers. Mayo are vulnerable. They can be brilliant if they play a big team but they're as likely to play sh*te if they face a weaker county.

The winner of this game has a huge chance of getting into the Super 8 round. The strongest counties in the qualifiers are playing in this round. The provincial final losers were Laois, Cork, Roscommon and Fermanagh. There's nothing to fear from any of those counties, none of which are Division 1 sides. Fermanagh and Laois are Division 3 and 4 respectively. Cork missed out on being relegated to Divsion 3 by the skin of their teeth. Roscommon are decent, in fairness but winning this game would be huge and a massive shot at the Super 8 round.

Kildare are absolutely right to dig their heels in. The H&S gambit is a complete red herring from the GAA. Do they think 10k Mayo fans are doing to descend on Newbridge without tickets and riot? It's a Round 3 qualifier, not the All Ireland Final. Mayo has 4,500 season ticket holders but a chunk of them have those just for home games and to secure a ticket to the All Ireland final. No other reason. They'll have no interest in going to Newbridge and the GAA know that full well.

As far as I know, it's documented in the competiton rules that the first team out are to be the home side. If the GAA try and pull rank on this, they'll open a huge can of worms that will be massively damaging to themselves. They've written it in their own competition rules. Unless there's a clause in there that gives them an out, they're going to unleash hell on themselves. Regardless, they've already created a PR disaster made by their own hand.

thomond2006 · 26-06-2018 03:23PM

stephen_n wrote: »

Does it matter that much where they lose?

I was at both of Mayo's qualifiers. They have been very hot and cold. Against Limerick they played down to their level in most of the first half and looked hopeless. They were on the ropes and three points down against Tipperary until a fortuitous goal knocked the stuffing out of Tipp. They are now down both midfielders with Parsons and Seamie O'Shea injured.

In short, this isn't a foregone conclusion.

As Buer said, few are going to turn up without a ticket if it's a sellout. This isn't an All Ireland. As a supporter I'd rather go to Newbridge than an empty HQ.

Podge_irl · 26-06-2018 03:30PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

In short, this isn't a foregone conclusion.

Indeed.

Almost any team could be in contention to lose in the final to Dublin.

Squidgy Black · 26-06-2018 03:54PM

Mayo have absolutely shocking turnouts for games that aren't semi-finals or finals. Especially if they've to travel. They're the dubs of the west in that regards.

The GAA tried to do this to Roscommon also. It's an appalling stance to take to be honest, home advantage for a small(er) team is absolutely huge.

As said, it's a round 3 game not a semi or a final, so even if Mayo did miraculously have a massive travelling support, the fact that they won't all be able to get tickets is tough sh*t and won't be the end of the world.

26-06-2018 04:04PM

Interesting to read that a senior officer from the PSNI has been appointed Garda Commissioner.

Think it was critical that it was someone from outside of the rank and file but it's an interesting and somewhat provocative choice. His father (also an officer) was killed by the IRA and he has clashed with Sinn Fein previously.

Funnily enough, if you thought in the next few years that the two police forces might amalgamate within a united Ireland, he's exactly the sort of choice you would go for. Whisper it lads.

umop episdn · 26-06-2018 04:11PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Interesting to read that a senior officer from the PSNI has been appointed Garda Commissioner.

Think it was critical that it was someone from outside of the rank and file but it's an interesting and somewhat provocative choice. His father (also an officer) was killed by the IRA and he has clashed with Sinn Fein previously.

Funnily enough, if you thought in the next few years that the two police forces might amalgamate within a united Ireland, he's exactly the sort of choice you would go for. Whisper it lads.

I wonder if it will ever happen? Regardless of the drum banging from Sinn Fein..I can't see too many prodestants (and a fair few catholics) liking the economic shortcomings of being "Irish" ...polls seem to say it's close... but have a feeling in reality it would be 60% voting to remain in the UK

Squidgy Black · 26-06-2018 04:18PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Interesting to read that a senior officer from the PSNI has been appointed Garda Commissioner.

Think it was critical that it was someone from outside of the rank and file but it's an interesting and somewhat provocative choice. His father (also an officer) was killed by the IRA and he has clashed with Sinn Fein previously.

Funnily enough, if you thought in the next few years that the two police forces might amalgamate within a united Ireland, he's exactly the sort of choice you would go for. Whisper it lads.

It's an eh... Interesting choice given the history of the PSNI/RUC and republicans.

26-06-2018 04:20PM

umop episdn wrote: »

I wonder if it will ever happen? Regardless of the drum banging from Sinn Fein..I can't see too many prodestants (and a fair few catholics) liking the economic shortcomings of being "Irish" ...polls seem to say it's close... but have a feeling in reality it would be 60% voting to remain in the UK

Without providing any evidence or research but I think prior to the Scottish independence referendum debate it was very much something on the long finger with no realistic proposition for several decades. I'd have almost said a federal Europe would be much more likely as opposed to a united Ireland.

The Scottish referendum not just being reasonably close but actually happening in the first place was a big step towards a United Ireland as it legitimised the possibility of it in a way that wasn't there before. Brexit coming hot on the heels and the self destructive path the UK is currently on has made it a more realistic proposition within the next decade.

It may happen much quicker if Westminster decides it wants to be free of NI and NI politics. I can't help but feel that as much as the DUP is providing support to the Tories, they've gotten a tighter sense of what and who they are dealing with and would prefer they were our problem. I think the nationalist element within the UK would happily reject NI at this point so they can fully realise their Brexit folly. This rejection would be catastrophic for Unionism and I think it's very close by.

In a bigger picture sense you've got Leo visiting and supporting the Orange lodge and Arlene attending a GAA game. There are a lot of overtures happening at the moment against the backdrop of Brexit and British Isolationism.

Again, nothing but pure speculation on my part and nothing of any factual or significant merit to support the idea. I just get a sense that the ingredients are there now and whether by accident or design there seems to be a movement towards a United Ireland.

Buer · 26-06-2018 04:43PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Whisper it lads.

Rory Best for Taoiseach.

Squidgy Black · 26-06-2018 04:49PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Again, nothing but pure speculation on my part and nothing of any factual or significant merit to support the idea. I just get a sense that the ingredients are there now and whether by accident or design there seems to be a movement towards a United Ireland.

I'd love a United Ireland personally. Family members who fought for a United Ireland.

But I think now is a terrible time to do it. Honestly. Ireland isn't economically stable, N.I is in the pits economically, who knows what way Ireland is going to fare if/when Brexit occurs in regards to trade and less funding from the EU.

I can see the wheels turning, steps being made, but for both sides, an abrupt unification leads to trouble, financially and obviously with upset from the unionists.

prawnsambo · 26-06-2018 04:50PM

Squidgy Black wrote: »

It's an eh... Interesting choice given the history of the PSNI/RUC and republicans.

The present day PSNI are a far more professional outfit than their previous incarnation, and even more so than our own bunch. It had to be an outsider to clean up the mess. A very good choice imo.

Buer · 26-06-2018 04:50PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

The Brown Envelope man from Tipperary is finally found guilty. About time.

€15k fine. Write a cheque and be home for supper.

Rigor Mortis · 26-06-2018 04:51PM

The longer that the principal voice of Unionism appears to be out of touch with the modern world, the more likely it is that the soft unionist support among catholics and neutrals will disappear. The republic has slowly evolved into a modern secular state. The North is being prevented from doing so.

In Scotland the dynamic was different, you had both Labour and Tory fighting to retain the union.

I'm in my 40s and never believed i would see a United Ireland in my lifetime. Brexit has changed that. I now think i will see it before i retire.

Off Topic Thread 4.0

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