Social Democrats

The database was on a server on a German IP address (within the EU). Don't know if the SocDems had any such approach as it seemed to be a rather naive party for a while. The larger parties tend to be more professional in terms of election data. FF bought a copy of the marked register in 1999 but that was back when they could afford the likes of Blue State Digital (the same company that worked with Obama) to advise them. There was a lot of very muddled reporting on the Abu issue and many of those commenting in the media did not understand domain names, webhosting or databases.

Regards...jmcc

The hard part is separating the new leader boost from increased SocDem support and it definitely is just a single poll. I think that there is a B&A poll this weekend or next. That might give a more reasonable estimate of FF support and show if they've managed to find any increase in support for the SocDems. B&A uses face to face polling whereas Ireland Thinks and RedC use online polling.

It isn't just the IT. RTE and the Sindo have suddenly turned very pro-SocDem and Cairns is very well able to speak in soundbites. That "Fianna Fail values" thing yesterday would be devastating for FF it was used as a slogan on an election poster with an image of a poor homeless child having to eat their dinner on the street. To the media, it seems that the SocDems have just become the new Labour party but without the baggage.

There are reports of a vote being forced on the eviction ban when the Dail resumes after the St Paddy's day break. Some government TDs may be worried about their seats if they vote with the government and others will be hoping that the government survives.

Ironically, it is partially in the best interests of the government for an early GE before the SocDems or other parties have their candidate selection done. The problem with the opinion poll %s is that the real shifts only become apparent in the last few weeks before a GE when the intentions of voters crystalise. An angry electorate is a very dangerous thing as Labour and FF/FG found to their cost and they will want to avoid a GE if at all possible. This is what makes such a motion interesting.

Regards...jmcc

It is B&A and it uses face to face polling. Ireland Thinks uses online polling and the age demographics for SocDem support are concentrated in the younger demographics who have mostly grown up with online voting. The older demographics often don't like online voting so it puts parties like FF and Labour with older supporter at a disadvantage. RedC is different to other pollsters in that it uses online polling from a panel of 40K voters that it things represents the electorate. It alsowasy underestimates FF support. Two things might happen with the RedC poll. The SocDems could show an increase in support and FF could, based on that 4% loss in B&A, show a decrease. the problem with the B&A poll is that it was run between 04 March and 14th March with the decision on the eviction ban beiing taken on the 7th. It is almost a combination of two polls as a result. The RedC one will be a post-eviction ban decision poll so there could be a backlash against FG and the Greens as well as FF. Then again, there could even be a shock GE on the way this week.

The Ireland Thinks poll showed the SocDems more than doubling their support. The B&A poll also showed the SocDems doubling their support. They use different methodologies so it is best to think of party support in terms of a range of values rather than a specific value.

Regards...jmcc

For those of us without a subscription, care to give a synopsis?

Come on, do really want us to trawl through the internet to find candidates and maybe even elected representatives from other parties who have a less than illustrious CV ?

Cairns must be getting a sniff of an election around the place, she's very busy most days now reading her carefully prepared statements.

I reckon she would be eaten alive in an election debate when she won't be able to just stand there and read something that was typed up for her earlier on in the day.

Like I said we will see how she gets on when it's time for the election debates.

It's easy to stand up in the Dail and read a prepared script.

She isn't able to look over at the person she is questioning for more than 10 seconds without putting the head down again and going through the notes in her hand.

You will see just how good she is when its GE time.

I've always found the idea thst the best way to judge the quality of a head of government was in the quality of their debating skills as being absolutely bizarre.

Lol look at this fella jumping in to defend a politician.

What she raised was a point often missed. It was FG and it free market tendencies that would more than any other party stopped building social housing.

Cairns got a bit of a dressing down over on Twitter by her own side for not being woke enough when talking about whats happeneing in Clare so rather than stick to her original speech she had to come out and paint the locals as the bad guys.

The libs are like a pack of wolves when they feel one of their own has stepped out of line a bit and will turn on them in an instant.

Lacks the courage of her convictions and gave in too easily when she seen what way the wind was blowing. Not a good sign as a leader.

Apology & original