Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

If they are hiring staff here and selling services, surely thats a good thing for Ireland, as they are creating employment for irish citizens, as well as skilled staff from abroad; all of whom pay a lot of income tax, in addition to any corporate tax receipts banked here via the business.

The more MNCs we have, the better.

Somehow, I doubt it. :)

2002 was historical for FG, but they were not riding 10% above FF in the polls 2 years prior were they?

It goes to show that SF made a worse bags of this election than the last one. People will never want them to run the country. This was their chance and they won't be the most popular party. FF and FG are going to have more seats than them. Mary Lou should now retire, she isn't the answer for SF to get into government.

2002 for FG was like 2011 for FF. But both parties are back again.

In fairness there is a BBC journalist of the same name I thought the poster was referring to.

Not interested in the Boston Tapes TBH nor do I care a jot whether Gerry was in the IRA or not. Never did see what difference it made.

Ain't nobody standing on their head trying to pretend a decline is not a decline.

SF lost the election, fact. Somebody has to and FG FF and all the rest have been there before.

Like any party that loses an election they need to take stock, figure out where they went wrong and what they did right. And in consideration of what they did right they did very well from where they started from when the election was called. Much better than other parties did who are now considered winners because of the nudge and wink antics of two parties who never had any intention of not going into power even if they only treaded water which is what they have done basically.

I counted -there are 44 words in that last sentence. A mish mash of deflection and party spin

I think anyone reviewing this election and not starting with the size of the Independent's running column is just spinning the result.
That's where SF's main electoral battle was IMO

SF are the bulwark against the rise of the far-right, not FF or FG or the Greens. A lot of their energy/attention was sapped up fighting off the challenge from there. The Independents fancied the space (or some of it) occupied by SF and other parties of the left. and indeed targeted it. You can see that battle in their fall in support and their rise towards the end of the campaign, in the polling.
Personally delighted that they saw them off in the main and that they didn't chase that vote. That is key to them maintaining their challenge to FF FG imo. They can build on that real support now and were getting some real momentum going in the campaign. (Hence my opinion they had a great campaign)

Where they went wrong?
Not holding the government's feet to the flame hard enough I suppose.
Eoin O'Broin is a competent strategist/policy maker, but is not the public communicator thy require in Housing. He failed to get the message across quite simply. He needs some of MLMD's communicator skills IMO.
Whatever or whoever is responsible for presenting the various policy docs has to be commended, and they need to do more of that. They failed in not getting the messaging on that across too, they have the policies. I think though the improvement in their transfer rates is down to that.
They will be satisfied finishing ahead of FG on seats and disappointed they didn't undermine MM more.
All in all a curates egg of an election.

I suspect this thread has limited shelf life left

It's a bit more relevant than a 'wuz Gerry in the 'RA' one. Let @markodaly etc go off and open a thread and see if anyone is still interested never mind bothered if he was or not.

I will quote him though, 'SF have not gone away'. They haven't been decimated, they are past masters of dusting themselves down and roaring back.

Looking forward to the next term confident in the various abilities of FF FG to mess things up.

There is an argument to be won, if Labour and the Soc Dems stay out you could see the beginnings of an alliance. When the dust settles will this election go down as the tipping point to Ireland finally getting a discernible left-right divide?

Typically you chop off a bit of the point made to alter what was said and to hear just what you want to hear. Tiresome tbh,

 'SF have not gone away'. They haven't been decimated, they are past masters of dusting themselves down and roaring back.

Any opinion or opinion piece that ignores the significant challenge a lot of Independents threatened is not worth consideration or the paper/screen it is written on.

I'd also add an opinion piece not factoring in the almost unique blocking alliance of the FF FG merger is slanted in the extreme.
A well written dance on a presumed grave really isn't what you think it is.

The vote is down due to working-class people deserting SF

Due to the factor opinion writers of a certain ilk will not address. SF were necessarily distracted by a battle with independents of the far right they had to win and did. Those independents were not challenging for FF FG space.

Haven't seen the data on where the young vote went, so cannot comment.