Will the greens be in government after the next general election?

This is what I mean by connections. Personal relationships matter.

https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/07/18/how-ireland-gets-its-way

Seriously? The Paddy's Day junkets are your "connections"?!

"Who are these people I'm meeting?" "The Irish Minister for... er... well, lots. Children, Equality, Diversity, there's a couple of more things. He's with the Green Party. And Stephen Donnelly. He's their Health Minister. He's with Fianna Fáil, one of their centre-right parties, but fairly broad church populist. They'll present you with a bowl of shamrock, you thank them, and there'll be a meeting between officials about trade. We've the press release done up if you want to read over it - usual stuff, 'warm relations, trade opportunities, long history between us', and so on."

Two years later: ""Who are these people I'm meeting?" "The Irish Minister for Housing, Eoin O Broin. He's with Sinn Féin. You know the ones, used to be terrorists, embraced the peace process, also in power in Northern Ireland. Left wing populists. And Micheál Martin. He's their Health Minister. Used to be tea-shock - their prime minister. Tried to get a job in Europe but didn't get the nod. He's with Fianna Fáil, one of their centre-right parties, but fairly broad church populist. They'll present you with a bowl of shamrock, you thank them, and there'll be a meeting between officials about trade. We've the press release done up if you want to read over it - usual stuff, 'warm relations, trade opportunities, long history between us', and so on."

No, not every single member did. That's unrealistic.

But the leaders and majority did.

I wouldn't expect every member of a political party to fall in line for divisive issues, approximately 1/3 of the country didn't so I'd expect political parties to represent the electorate.

The paintings are protected by glass. They threw soup at glass. It can be cleaned in 5 minutes.

They should be lined up and shot for trying to protect our planet.

Our only home in the entire universe.

“What is worth more, art or life?” cried Plummer. “Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis, fuel is unaffordable to millions of cold, hungry families. They can’t even afford to heat a tin of soup.”

Which aspect of this statement do you disagree with?

@orangerhyme I have to correct you on two points in post #136

That is completely wrong. Marriage equality was never “a core FG policy” in fact there was a lot of opposition within FG, both principled and pragmatic, to same sex marriage and the suggestion of a referendum on the subject. This persisted right up to 2014.

100% wrong on this one also. Eamon Gilmore had campaigned for marriage equality for many years, as far back as his student days in fact. It was Eamon Gilmore who insisted on the inclusion of marriage equality in the 2011 Programme for Government. But for him, it would never have been on the agenda. It most definitely was a compromise by FG who were very divided on the subject at that time.

In recognising Gilmore’s role in getting to the holding and winning the 2015 referendum, I’m not in any way taking away from the work done by many individuals, NGOs and other bodies. It was a very broad collaboration by some very unlikely parties. But on the political track Gilmore's role was instrumental, whereas FG were very late converts. And I say this having never given Labour a first preference.

And if I may divert back to the thread topic for a moment, I think the real question is "Will the greens be in government the Dail after the next general election?" As somebody who gave the Greens a preference in every past election where they were on my ballot paper, based on their performance in the current Government (Ryan's in particular) I very much expect that they will be decimated at the next election and loose most of their seats. Which will hopefully allow them to get their act together under a new leader. The many mistakes they made in 2007-2010 could be put down to naivety, lack of preparedness, being outmanoeuvred by the wily ff boys etc. This time around there is absolutely no excuse. They need a leader who can communicate effectively and bring people with her or him, not one who pisses off even their most ardent supporters.

If you want to brush up on the facts of the Marriage Equality referendum there are some very good sources online, here’s a couple that will help you:

Dublin Docklands was supposed to be a temporary solution and was to be closed in 2016. As of course we had a masterplan for metro and Dublin Docklands would be replaced by a new station at Spencer Dock. Which never happened 😏

Oh I have read all the stories of pickpockets on Paris metro and the overcrowding on the London Tube. And these things exist but the worst overcrowding I had was when a 4 carriage train from Ashtown to Dublin Docklands is a 3 carriage. People locking themselves in toilets to get standing room. Over a grand and a half a year on a taxsaver ticker to CIE to be packed like a sardine if you can even get onto the train. Some days I was timid and did not get on and then later after the 3rd train I pushed on like a rugby player. Shambles of a service.

I read the Greens want to prioritise public transport over roads. To me this is a vote winner but I have not seen it

Agree OP. I supported the SD’s in the last GE. I would think I’ll do the same next time except for one rumour which refuses to go away - they haven’t ( afaik ) stated yet that they wouldn’t go into a partnership in some form with Labour. Labour ceased being representative of the worker with gilmour etc.

FF - SF more lilkley than other options mentioned, but still less likley that FFG + whomever to make up the numbers.

Greens have shown twice now they'll do anything to get into cabinet, with no return on their policies. (Are they even a party of the left? I don't think so). Labour have done the same. Soc Dems would go into power, I think, if, and only if, their red line issues were going to be resourced and implemented. So I don't see them going into power with FF or FG where those parties were the biggest partner. SF-FF would possibly be an option but SF-FF wouldn't need the SDs.

What are the red lines for the SDs?

Please I was a hippie in my younger days, lol

You're right! Instead, we should vote in massive number for FF and FG, who have been in power for literally 100 consecutive, uninterrupted 100 years, and have done such a wonderful job of running the country! /s

Or - and I know this sounds crazy, but hear me out! - we could try voting in large numbers for parties that haven't a) bankrupted the country (twice, in living memory); b) been responsible for causing the housing crisis (but want more time to fix it now); c) agreed and signed up to Sláintecare, but haven't implemented it, despite record exchequer figures; d) had a finance minister who had no bank account; e) had ministers who had findings against them at various tribunals; f) had ministers who so blatantly ignored their own and independent experts in order to locate things in their own constituency that they caused other ministers to resign in protest.

Just a thought, like.