Election to be called Fri - predict outcome

You're leaving out Noel Grealish, with his record propping up the 2007-10 government as the PDs I'd say he'd be one of the first names on the list.

I'd say him and

Michael Healy-Rae (FF gene-pool. Father propped up FF), Danny Healy-Rae (FF gene-pool. Father propped up FF), Michael Lowry (former FG. Often votes with government) and Mattie McGrath (former FF) are absolutely nailed on.

Next on the list I would put

1. Kevin Boxer Moran (member of 2016 government with FG)
2. Sean Canney (member of 2016 government with FG)

Given their record in the IA they might have notions of influencing national policy but with FF backgrounds would be fundamentally pragmatic and would have no interest in bringing down the government under any crcumstances, which is the main thing.

Get all them signed up and FFG will sail through five years…

Of course he's wrong. They're perhaps the butt of some people's jokes but I dare say that reflects on those types more than anything else.

Ha ha, not a card carrier for them but you can expect on the public transport side a significant, continued roll out in the next few years - Bus Connect, rail, Metro. The Foynes rail freight line is currently under construction. The harvesting of turf is gradually on the way out. The climate action bill has in domestic law the legal requirement we get to net zero by 2050. One of the Future Ireland funds is dedicated to climate change on its prompting.

Throw in from the EU both the Nature Restoration and Energy Performance Building Directive - these will have profound impacts upon our land use and built environment respectively.

The impact - positive or negative of the Greens recent spell in Government will live on for some time. Whether it has had too much sway given its size is another question

I said it more often than I care to remember that I didn't think SF would go into a coalition with FF if they were 10 seats shy of them.

No such worries for FG it seems. FF wins the election, they do too. Simple as that really.

I wonder are Collins and co regretting their II venture now. I'd say they, especially Collins himself would be strong candidates as 'true indos' to prop up the government but under their current flag I'd be very surprised if FFG were interested…

Only time I said FF should talk to SF was when SF had the largest mandate.

FF have it now, they can do what they like. But we know they'll do the same as before most likely.

So you want Martin to enthrone a party with 9 seats less than FF compared to a party that are 10 seats less and got a higher FPV than the one with 9 less.

Martin ruled out SF because he and the vast majority of his parliamentary party knew that not doing so would cost them votes.

I doubt there are many FF`s felling in any way embarrassed over the number of seats they now have.

Yoy need to spit out those sour grapes Francie. They`ll give you ulcers if you keep chewing them.

One positive thing that seems to be coming from this election is that the above appears to be happening. At last, the left are coming together. FFG nearly have an overall majority, having a scapegoat like the Greens won't work next time as they'll only have a few independents. Their vote has been falling all the time, the next election is an amazing opportunity to end their reign once and for all. An actual viable alternative is available and they can work together. In fact, this is the strongest opposition FFG have ever faced. There are differences in all the other parties but as noted, there can be common ground found. The Greens can even come back into the picture along with the SD, Labour, PBP, SF etc and get young people excited to vote for them and end the century reign of FFG backed by their landlord and developer buddies.

FF 48 + FG 38 = 86

+ Noel Grealish, Sean Canney, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy, Boxer Moran, Marian Harkin = 92

Actually ye I would say so come to think about it 🤔

Yep. But seemingly this is going to take weeks and weeks to arrange.

Is it any wonder we accept the slowness of projects in this country.

To be fair to all parties, the ongoing volatility in the electorate that now appears to have both regional and county dimensions, makes candidate strategy very difficult. While FG have got the most wrong this time out, the caveat is that they were replacing a very large number of retiring TDs, making a two-candidate strategy more attractive. They got this wrong, but they should have learned how they can pick up seats next time out.

When I was in college 16 years ago Friday was always a half day to allow people to travel home so I dont understand these complaints of a Friday election day impeding the younger vote turnout. Also, was there not an option on the voting register to update your address? Some of the reaction online like banning over 65s to vote is hilarious!