Election to be called Fri - predict outcome

If it came to the crunch (which it won't) i.e. if the Dáil failed to elect a Taoiseach at its first session, MM would simply tell the Dáil that as the candidate with the most votes he is trying to form a government which reflects the will of Dáil Éireann and is willing to negotiate on any reasonable demands from suitable coalition partners. That leaves SM trying to explain why he is insisting on something that no junior coalition party has ever demanded anywhere else in the democratic world. Something which is personal to him. Something for which he has no mandate from the people. Something which will not benefit the Irish people in any way. Something which creates administrative confusion.

Cue the next opinion poll and SH will change his mind pronto.

Yes but when PBP decided to run 42 candidates they didn't know the electorate would opt to put FFG back in

On SC, if the will was really there, it could be implemented long before that. But there are bigger priorities right now anyway

They are being urged to 'admit' they have merged because to all intents and purposes they have. Nobody is buying the pretence anymore. When their supporters here are saying 'sure the electorate knew what they are voting for' the game is up.

There is a mandate though. FF and FG got almost the exact same amount of first preference votes.

It was also FG transfers that got a lot of FF candidates over the line.

The people have voted for a continuation of FFG.

There is zero chance of FF risking 48 seats over this. People would just flood to SF / SD / Lab who would lap it up.

You are deluded.

Not only that but you are wrong about FF having a majority in cabinet. That won't be happening either.

Housing

I cannot see any way that FG would accept MM being Taoiseach for the lifetime of the government. That really would solidify their status as junior partner…..something that could very well have dire long term consequences for them as a party.

Either they rotate the Taoiseach evenly and give FF more ministries or they split the ministries and give Martin 3 years as Taoiseach.

See that's the problem Timmy, you'd think regardless of it being seperate departments that they could do both, but you can be sure, whether that be financial constraints, or just the lack of will on their part, that both wouldn't be prioritised. They have made a mess of a solitary hospital, so i'd rather they focused on getting one priority done at a time, if indeed that means they get housing fixed

No idea.

Especially when their co-founder Roisin Shortall, the chair of the committee that published the reoprt on Slaintecare, ran a mile from doing anything about it 4 years ago when she was offered the opportunity during talks to form a government then.

FF and FG have shown the benefits of not merging.

The leaders debate for example 2 against 1.

Very unfair when 2 of the parties are so aligned.

Loads of candidates everywhere pretending to be not the same.