Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

Nobody here is defending GB, although you seem strangely unaware of Sunningdale.

In fact that you mention GB is part of the hilarity of all this. On the one hand the Provisional IRA claim their 30 year campaign was due to the NI State and Britain, but on the other the Irish government were supposed to move these two obstacles.

It is all the more funny when you look at 26 years of SF and the SFA they have done to advance the cause without even the basis of a “plan”. All they seem to be good at is “fundraising” and divisive politics North and South.

I love when Francis’s coded talking slips out a few times a week. They do a reasonable enough job of hiding it generally.

The ickle child getting upset when facts are used. 😂

Hasn't mattered to anyone for years.

Over 3000 people died.
Largely because both governments stood by and watched Unionism change the voting system and run a bigoted sectarian statelet for 60 years.
Then acted shocked when it went up in flames as it always was going to do.

So no they weren't living in the Republic. Thanks for clearing that up. We still haven't cleared up why the PSNI have covered it up though. A mystery that one.

Last I checked the Irish government have complete say in the holding of a UI referendun in the Republic, which needs to happen to achieve a UI. Maybe that's changed and now Irish Government's are not allowed hold referendums anymore.

No it wasn't 'common sense'.

Over 3000 Irish people died because they allowed what was supposed to be temporary, not only to consolidate, but to be usurped and abused by an artificially created Unionist majority.

No the people died because people shot and bombed them. Others were crippled because people kneecapped them.

Which is what has happened in every conflict/war since time began.

A UI is not an election issue in the Republic for the vast majority of voters.

I would theoretically be in favour of a united Ireland but wouldn't be willing to shell out in extra tax for it. For most people who have to work and get on with normal life I doubt it's ever a thought.

In the full time business of being SF it's a driver of activity but it's not something that drives votes here.

MLMcD missed harnessing the protest vote it got last election. Wishy washy housing proposals, having permanently angry Pearce on TV and infighting isn't a good look. Nor do the photos of a pensive MLMcD beside graves of bygone republicans do anything for voters in the Republic.

'Its the economy stupid'... and that is just fine at present.

it was largely because of SF/IRA. Period.

Assuming SF defy the polls again, and the Soc Dems push on, and the Independents and Labour step up, how will the Jan 2025 cabinet look? We either believe its on or it isn't.

Taoiseach MLMD

Tainaste and rural dev Holly Cairns

Finance Pearse Doherty

Public Expenditure Matt Carthy

Education Gary Gannon

Enterprise Jed Nash

Justice Pa Daly

Health David Cullinane

Unification Padraig McLochlann

Equality & children Ivana Bacik

Agriculture Michael Fitzmaurice

Housing Eoin OBroin

Transport Verona Murphy

Environment Jenny Whitmore

Social Protection Alan Kelly

Et Al.

Quite the troupe

Your last line is absolute rubbish. In the unlikely scenario that a border poll is passed in the north, there will 100% be a similar vote in the republic to see what will happen.

So it’s SF, Soc Dems and Indos yeah? Can only really base it on existing TDs less the ones we know are gone. I can’t see Stanley involved and won’t include the gene poolers from other parties.

Tanaiste and Education: Cairns

Finance: Doherty

Public expenditure: Mairead Farrell

Foreign Affairs: Brady

Justice: Pa Daly

Housing: O’Broin

Social protection: Gannon

Health: Culinane

Disabilities (take out third level portfolio): Gannon

Environment: Whitmore

Agriculture: Carthy

Enterprise: O’Reilly

Transport: O’Callaghan

Gaeltacht: O Laoghaire

Rural Affairs: Kerrane

Arts, Sport, Tourism: Darren O’Rourke

Both parties are really weak with a lack of depth. The Soc Dems have nobody with experience on finance so can’t even take public expenditure. Clearly you’d need PbP and Labour in there but even still the opposition benches are not great…

I wonder would McDonald pull a James Dooge and bring a Northern MLA into the Senate.