Forming the next Irish Government - policies and personalities

They are really taking the Irish people for fools.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2025/0221/1498036-sinn-fein-us/

"Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she could not live with a decision to travel to Washington DC while the US administration was "threatening to annex and steal" the land of the Palestinian people."

Yet she has no problem with blowing up children in a boat, or bombing civilians at a Rememberance Day parade or Canary Whaft bombing, or bombing pubs in Birmingham, deeming all of these necessary.

A stench of hypocrisy doesn't do that justice.

"I could say that I stood on the side of humanity", she says.

She has had plenty of opportunity to do that in the past, and failed.

Well SF have decided against a visit to the Whitehouse on this trip to Washington. But Mary Lou thinks the Taoiseach should certainly go, and if she was Taoiseach, she'd go.

Michelle O Neill, first minister of Northern Ireland won't go, they say the taoiseach should represent "Ireland", meaning I assume the whole of Ireland.

So basically they won't go, but are delighted Michael is going to represent them and us all. You couldn't make it up could you, I had a good laugh eating my dinner and watching Mary Lous interview on six one news. Her trying to look all stoic and sort of peerish as she spoke.

It struck me as odd that MLMD said she wouldn’t go to White House but would have if she was Taoiseach. As she would be representing the Irish people.

Then David McCullough of RTE (who takes no messing and is direct with questions) asked why did M’ONeill “first minister for all” decide not to go if asked?

Mary Lou had an answer for this after buying time saying the line was not clear to studio She said the first minister does not have the same standing as Taoiseach and it up to MM to speak for all the Irish people (implying NI as well?)

I started laughing as I could see it was clever trying to put the pressure on MM meanwhile taking away any onus SF have as public representatives. You would think SF and its former TD’s would be able to offer some advice re peace process Gerry et al. Or does he only turn up for the elections/ard fheis/govermental formation discussions?

Edit- I see similar was said by @bishop of hope above. Glad I was not the only one who found it odd/funny

Ah now, they said on the news the other politicians have side meetings with government officials etc from America. I thought being first minister was supposed to be a great SF symbolic triumph? In practice according to SF ROI branch - the first minister NI has now has no “standing”?

Well I always heard it said, two wrongs don't make a right, and I think they're wrong not to go and wrong to then back a Taoiseach going, and then wrong to say of she was Taoiseach she would go because she'd be representing the Irish people. I think if your convictions are that you couldn't go you should stand up and say no one should go.

That's 3 wrongs isn't it, it's funny how they keep stacking up when your so confused you haven't a clue

I think she should have called on the Taoiseach not to go.
I figure she thinks that’s pointless as neither FF or FG Taoisigh have shown any balls when it comes to the POTUS and they’ll go anyway. Better to put some onus on him and remind him he is speaking for the Irish people.

She is a politician just like MM etc.

She knows MM will go based on past behaviours of FF FG Taoisigh.
So she puts some pressure on MM.
Seems fairly obvious.
You have already invented her ‘delight’ don’t mention laugh inducing content! 😁

The people here are hilarious. If MLMD went to America she'd be called out by people. If she doesn't go she'd be called out by people. If she told MM not to go she'd be called out by people. If she told MM to go she'd be called out by people. If she said she'd go if she was Taoiseach she'd be called out by people. If she said she wouldn't go she'd be called out by people.

There is a cohort here who cannot view things objectively when it comes to sinn fein. It must stem from the way FG in particular behaves in the media (they always tie everything back to sinn fein is bad). It's boring.

Just for the sake of equality, the sinn fein supporters are as bad with their pro sinn fein, FG are bad lines too.

Way too few people here who act objectively. It's sad.

The whole event is a stunt Bish.

The Taoiseach has to visit Trump, its an economic necessity; 

Those who believed that Apple etc are here because we bow and scrape and roll over with a bowl of shamrock should now know better.
US Corps are here out of 'economic necessity' not because we do the above. Including resisting Trump, they'll do what their bottom lines dictate.

They are here for the same reason any business choses anywhere, because it is somewhere that allows them to profit. Yes we formulated policy to allow that happen, but it should always have been a two way, mutually respectful deal.

FF FG and 'their ilk' told us for years we had to bow and scrape and refused to make them pay their fair share like any other business is asked to do, but we now know, demonstratively, that that is not true, which is what 'SF and pbp and their ilk' have been saying.

Once again we see the scaremongering indulged and ramping up, no 'lessons learned' on that sadly.

The Taoiseach gets the sit down bi-lateral meeting. Everyone else gets a handshake and cursory chat.

I was just being more specific about the roles.

Trump's 'tariff threat' is new and if you think a bowl of shamrock is going to dissuade him from that path, I have another bowl to sell you.

This is not a time to be fawning or playing the fool.

Neither Ministers at Stormont get a 'bi-lateral meeting' with the US President.

Can't be explained any clearer. If you want to continue ignoring that, work away. But as a contribution to the conversation it is a dead end.