Presidential Election 2025

Hmm they specifically didnt register to run Dail candidates. https://www.electoralcommission.ie/publications/register-of-political-parties/

Nope I never said that, not sure if you are being thick or if you're being disingenuous with your comments here but unless you can tell me how this has anything to do with the presidential election you really are just embarrassing yourself with this nonsense carryon

Anybody who has gone through garda vetting knows it takes a lot longer than 2-3 weeks, I'd imagine it's a more specific garda vetting as well for leinster house

On RTE Radio 1 this morning, Pat Leahy (I think ) of the Irish Times said the FF insiders say Gavin doing well in Dublin. But some FFers who backed him are regretting it.

FG insiders saying Humphreys doing well in rural areas, not so much in Dublin.

The election seems to have reached the spin city stage. Gavin and Humphreys are hardly in the news cycle. Even the Shane Ross story on RTE had to do with a column from last week's Sindo. And despite the best efforts of FF/FG, Connolly is still dominating the news cycle.

It should have been an easy win for FF with McGuinness out of the running. Instead, FF got a mini-me version of Micheal Martin. Humphreys is becoming FG's Kamala Harris candidate with a pair of wellies. She should have had far more support in that Farmer's Journal poll. The red flag issue in that poll is that Connolly is now well over the combined SocDems/PBP/Labour party support levels in what is traditionally a very strong FG demographic. The farming demographic is also a lot smaller than the rural and urban demographics. FF and FG voter apathy could result in Connolly winning. FFG needs to get their voters out.

I think it is among that demographic where a lot of the annoyance that Steen was 'blocked' (whether it's true or not) lies too.
It will be a factor as the FF FG candidates don't look like they are going to suddenly change spots and do something different to what they are doing.

Again, how would CC or EOC have ensured that she was no longer an Eirigí member?

I would sooner trust a FG politician who says the NCH will be built on time and under budget before I believe anything that Eirigí say. This, I assume, is a feeling felt by many, including yourself, hence the need for independent verification. I've never been an Eirigí member but if they did keep detailed accounts I'm not sure I'd trust them. That should cover your first point

In the case of working in our national parliament the rules state that an employee can be signed in by an elected representative. The reason for such high security at your place of work likely has more to do with flammable materials potentially being weaponised and company secrets getting out. Leinster house doesn't have quite the same security risks. To be very clear, the person in question was jailed for possession of a handgun previously used in a murder while parked outside the home of a firearms dealer. Nothing that I have read so far has mentioned the attempt of a violent crime until now!

There was no attempted armed robbery charges to my knowledge but on your last point does the justice systems determination that she was rehabilitated mean less to you than say for example Michael Lowry's rehabilitation by the people of tipperary?

I think the opposite. Connolly needs more middle ground if she is to have any chance.

Sex offenders are very different to rehabilitated sex offenders. The clues is in the word "rehabilitated"

If you don't understand the word you need to buy a dictionary or maybe you can't read properly or something but you won't get the help you seek to stop embarrassing yourself here in any case

Now are you ready to answer my question or are you going to continue to cower away from it?

What does it have to do with the upcoming presidential election?

Just for balance, FF didn't impose a whip on their councillors to block the council nominations. I believe FG were the only one to do so

Next Local election is 2029 and the next Presidential election is 2032 so if this is a major issue for people then they should bear that in mind when voting in 2029

My youngest is a student in Galway and is actually in the video footage. He says everyone knew from experience where this was going from the off. He would not have taken an answer and left it at that.

Its a fair point, but thankfully, Ireland isnt quite as polarizaed or radical as the US - yet.

You just have to look at the outrage surrounding the employment of the lady with the gun charge. America has long since passed the point of being outraged by anything Trump says, or does.

I 100% agree.

From a political point of view, i cannot see any strategy in Connolly's campaign. Who ever is running it, IMHO, doesnt know a damn thing about elections. Let me clarify what i mean

Connollys Bloc.

Connolly, like all politicians, has a bloc of voters which represent her base. Being very generalized we could say a few things about them, and who they are likely to be

• Students - no question most students who are engaged in politics will fall into this catagory. This group could also be seen as being at the heart of the protest movements on many issues. Pro Palestine, Environmental concern, Left wing activism, radical anti capitalism.
• The Traditional radical Left / Socialists - I sometimes think of these as the 'old left', but i have been left out in the cold by this group, at least on many issues. Anti American, Anti NATO, anti 'Western Imperialsm', and the bulk of the previous generations 'stop the war' movement. If you imagine the 'Joe Higgins' bloc of socialist radicals, you are probably on the right track. Im with this group on issues of domestic social concern BTW - 100%
• The 'Anyone but FFG community' - again, probably a group close to my heart, but on issues of foreign policy, we disagree, vocally. But they wont vote for Humphreys or Gavin - period

The above, broadly speaking, would constitute Catherine Connollys reliable base - they are in the bag, its done, she has their votes.

If we accept this, then it begs the question - Why is she still concentrating on the topics that matter to this group?

They are in the bag, so the obvious political strategy should be to begin appealling to more moderate voters. She should be trying to hoover up the floating voters in the center. Those disaffected by the housing crisis, and those home owners who are about to be stung by the budget. The individuals who are falling to the cracks in society, and who have suffered for years at the hands of FFG, but who frequently still vote for both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

These are the people she SHOULD be targetting with her message. But she isnt doing that, she has her set talking points, and outside these she is absent. She remains comfortable in the murky waters, that appeal ONLY to her base, and on that, she will lose. Honestly, i just dont see any tactics at play at all. And i have said it before a few times; In theory she COULD pivot and appeal to a broader group of voters. But every day, i expect more of the same, and new contentious issues to be raised, which only further alienate the average moderate voter.