Leo Varadkar resigns as Taoiseach

Nope, that would be comparing apples and pears.

Most people didnt give a fook about the Referendum & many didnt understand it, so I wouldnt compare the results of that episode to anything.

Election polls are generally pretty accurate, but even accounting for large margin for error, there is no single party capable of a majority, so FF remain the kingmaker in all circumstances.

Therefore, FFG govt is by far the most likley scenario.

Nothing has changed on that front for years.

He certainly isnt thick.

I would say only him, Pascal and Coveney have the capability to be leader and the other two have pulled out.

So its a no brainer that Harris will lead.

Fine Gael member here.

Never understood why Coveney didn't get leader and Taoiseach to be honest.

There are limits to media friendly gesture politics as people live in the real world of no homes and I suspect sooner than most people think, no jobs. Do press officers run the country or elected TD's?

Hubris also played a part brought on I suspect, with the increased powers enjoyed during lockdown.

On immigration, about a million Irish residents were not born here, yet the country is turned into a cesspit of racism by the chronic mishandling of the issue over last few years. Make promises you can't keep and estrange your electorate or worse blame them.

As for the runners for the vacated position,

• Harris, not the person that imprisioned me in my own home for 2 years, no way
• Donoghue, very competent with the numbers but as leader?
• The current minister for justice, not after the riots.

Who does a conservative (both economically and socially), christian democratic, tax paying small business owner vote for?

• The monster raving populists?
• SF, with the historical baggage?
• The traditional left, Lab/SD?
• FF, they still get votes after everything???

There is nothing more annoying than getting an electricity bill that is negative and realising my own taxes paid for that and is paying the same for many, many others. Again and again the current government tell us how they are spending our money, one for everyone in the audience, maybe I'd like to keep more of it and decide where to spend it.

The future for the party, I hope for a return to more traditional FG policies and politics, the politics of the country needs a center-right party otherwise who-knows-what fills that gap. The lessons from the UK and the US are very stark, I don't want to go there.

I imagine the party is in for a kicking at the next election, made even worst by the large numbers of TD not standing again, possibly they are unhappy with the direction of the party and I suspect were not listened to by the leadership of the party OR they understand the scale of the failure to deliver for the country and realise there is no hope of re-election.

As for Ireland itself, we are in for some choppy weather economically I suspect but in the long run things are getting better, for all its flaws its still the place I call home.

You are not the only one. I keep thinking am I missing something?

He's the quintessential example of 'failing upwards', a bit like Leo himself. To say that there seems to be a competency crisis at leadership levels, not just in Irish politics, but pretty much all over the world right now, is a bit of an understatement. And that lack of any leadership with an ounce of backbone or a brain is pretty worrying....

And that is why FF, if they have any sense from a strategy pov, should put the boot in politely now. Argue they never agreed this new arrangement, that the referendum results and town/village protests are significant. Pull the plug and go to the people. But will they?

General feedback from Newstalk listeners over lunchtime seems to be to go to the public. Not much support for Harris coming through.

Surely FF just collapse the coalition if they had any ambition but they also have a leadership problem. Install McGrath as leader, make nice with SF and head to the polls.

If Simon Harris is the best FG can offer, FF should be pouncing.

It looks like Harris in a no contest. I think that is very damaging to FG. Nobody else wants the top job?? Admitting defeat.

Can you imagine Harris in a stand off with Mary Lou in the Dail 😂

He'll be ate alive

You are being ridiculous. First, what you say applies mainly to apartments, not houses. Why would any sane builder build a house whichc no-one could afford?

As for apartments, builders may find bank finance difficult to get unless that have adequate security. This often comes in the form of an investment fund guaranteeing to purchase the property, which effectively provides security to the builder's financier. For houses, builders traditionally build (say) 20 houses out of 100 in a development, and when they sell them, use the proceeds to secure finance on another 20, etc. You can't do that with apartments: you have to finance the whole block in one go.

I know, we're getting away from the Leo Varadkar resignation, but it seems that it has brought lots of malcontents out of the woodwork