Simon Harris, the TikTok Taoiseach

Exactly. The hand-wringing from Sinn Fein is laughable. They couldn't care less about most issues. Their sole agenda is to criticise whatever the govt have done/said/not done/not said. Sadly a lot of people are taken in by it.

Re the junkets - would be interesting to see the hypocrisy if Sinn Fein were to get in next election - does anyone think they won't be milking Paddy's day around the world drumming up support for a united Ireland?

I wouldn't read anything in that.

Yeah that's exactly what I said. Twitter is making you a little unhinged. Maybe you should give it a break rather than keep reporting how upsetting it is.

I don't give a fiddlers what TDs do with Twitter. I have never seen the point of Twitter.

That's what you said. Maybe stop making personal comments.

I know you want a reaction to run to the mods but a bit of cop on. It's embarrassing now

It's not just Leo, you see TD's trying to go out with family or to the shops and people up attacking them

Then the answer is to tell the victim they should change and not the actual scumb*gs doing it

Then the say people will cry about the issues with crime. Hilarious

You make it sound as if he's only just become a TD/Minister - not since 2011 and not having held 2 ministerial posts in that time as well.

My view of him is based on his abysmal track record, the completely uninspiring and superficial way in which he comes across, and that as a result of both of these factors he's even MORE unsuitable for the job than his predecessor (whiich, I'll grant is ONE achievement I suppose!)

He has not been given an EU job.

What EU cushy jobs are you talking about exactly?

A good exhibit here of why politicians are getting out of the game. Full of populist mumbo jumbo.

I have spoken to councillors from all hews (Green, Labour, SF and FG) over the past few months, due to a local issue we are trying to sort with a unfinished development that is causing pollution issues.

The one thing they all have in common? Trying to get people to run for local elections, especially women. No one wants to do the job, or the flak. Why?

The online world is one of the most repeated reasons. Many of these people are just ordinary people with families and live in the community. Why on earth would they do a thankless job when you have fools online taking petty potshots at them day in and day out behind anonymous accounts? The same people who won't lift a finger to actually help their own lot or their own community if you came calling.

People say abuse is part of the game. Id like to know who these people are so I can go down to their workplace and abuse them in return and see if they like it.

Yea, Eamon Gilmore took up a role with a Human Rights organisation because of the 'expenses'.

Jaysys, would you ever listen to yourself?

The uber and nihilistic cynicism and pessemism that is emitted from that line of posting is boring, and banal because it paints anyone and everyone who is involved in politics as out for the money.

Again, this goes to my post above. Why would anyone get into politics when the public has such low esteem for them?

The point being of course, there are few cushy jobs in the EU. In fact the hours most of them work would make some baulk. But then again, those who are most vocal probably rarely worked a full day themselves.

As I said, cry me a river.

Now riddle me this - have you ever criticised an Irish politician on Boards as anonymous Mark O'Daly?

So don't vote for him.

Nothing I will say is going to change your mind.

But soapboxing gets a tad tiresome after the 241,294 of you saying the same thing about FG and 'da government'.

I would have respected them if they did so publicly and people knew who they were, but the majority of them would do so behind anonymous accounts.

This has been a feature for years on internet platforms that sadly this forum has not escaped.

Leo got it by the bucket loads.

Remember the Maria Bailey thread? Outright sexist and misogynistic abuse.

And you will note there is next to zero debate about policies. It's all personal, binary, banal stuff.

It's all about someone's character or how useless they are or something to that effect.

I asked earlier about what policies some would like implemented. I am still waiting….

Proof of the above.

The prediction online here for the last few years has been Sinn Fein will decide the next election, now it's the Independents.

A lot of voters are aware the Independents are in reality a waste of space in Dail, they are a glorified county councillor who will do nothing for Ireland as a country, all they are good for is showing up at wedding and funerals. Telling everyone how it's "da guberments" fault they are so useless at their job

Tell any of the outspoken Independents they will be given a Minister job and they will run a mile, they would have to do some actual work.

Oh they are the big lads and ladies sitting behind anonymous accounts. Some of the more outspoken accounts here have admitted to running multiple twitter accounts so that their personal account is not affected.

Maria Bailey, the thread about Zappone, any Leo thread, MM threads, Eamonn Ryan and now Simon Harris…..notice a common theme here?

Policies? they wouldn't know a policy if it came up and slapped them in the face

Best example was the "Green Policies" thread which has just turned into a Green Party bashing thread, one of the most vocal has posted some awful things about Eamonn Ryan> but anyway going on about wind and how it was all the Green Party fault and once they get kicked out it would be great. They admitted to vote for Sinn Fein to stop the nonsense. Yet when I pointed out that according to Sinn Fein own documents they would increase the rollout of wind, not stop it, what did they do? yeah personal comments and still at it now if I post on the thread. That is what you are dealing with

Then we have a thread about boards dying. I wonder why