Presidential Election 2025

So €3300 in 2009 is equivalent to how much in 2025?

I dont have to believe its sinister - i am entitled to believe, as i do, that her judgement and thinking during this incident is flawed.

We could debate the party whip system, and there are plenty of arguments for, and against it. Broadly speaking, a party manifesto going into an election would be useless were it not for the party being unified via a whip.

In all honesty, if you want an example of a weaker party whip system, you could look at the US. There are majority and minority whips, but they lack the power that we have in our system. And it often leads to severe stagnation and paralysis; when some among the majority, have a local issue (pork barrel in nature), that leads them to vote with the opposition. The majority suddenly find themselves unable to legislate on issues which were seemingly in their manifesto. And the result tends to be chaotic.

Even in our system, we have seen politicians decide that, on a serious matter, they will break the whip. And that is their business. In the case of the nomination, it just wasnt seen as crucial. Elected officials can decide to break whip, or not, based on their own feelings on a topic. In the case of the nomination, they just didnt see it as crucial enough to break the whip, and that is their prerogative.

people are asking why Jim didn’t pay the tenant back in early September when this came to light … I’m not sure if people realise the type of operator Jim is …

Remember, The facts are that After the tenant made numerous attempts to contact Jim, he reluctantly dropped a confidential letter addressed to Jim to JG parents house. 

He asked the parents to provide the letter to Jim but didn’t want to involve them any further than that. 

Jim rang the tenant off a private number late that same night, and was extremely irate that the tenant had the temerity to show up at his parents house. 

Jim was extremely angry then once he eventually calmed down he told the tenant he was transferring the money right there and then online. He assured him he would have his money within a few days. 

Remember, this is months after the tenant first requested Jim to pay him back. 

The tenant never received the money. 

People need to take the blinkers off when it comes to Jim Gavin. 

Then Jim says he remembers none of this when asked specifics by FF. Never happened sez Jim. 

Then, he keeps digging a hole when he appears on last Sundays debate. he gives a very wishy washy response and doesn’t admit fault. He goes on about how it was tough time for him back then and plays the sympathy card at every opportunity. 

I can think of a few words that describe Jim and his type but will leave that to others.

More grist to the Vetting mill. Questions in the rest of the article for Alan Shatter too.

There is however no requirement for “clearance” from An Garda Síochána. The vetting process for Leinster House access cards doesn’t even begin until staff start working for Oireachtas members. 

Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys falsely claimed in an interview played on last Thursday’s Drivetime that “garda clearance” is required before starting a role at the Oireachtas. 

“How come she (Connolly’s staff member) had access to the Oireachtas without garda clearance. Everybody knows when you apply for a job, you must be vetted by the Garda Síochána and you can’t take up that job until the vetting has been completed,” Humphreys wrongly claimed – without challenge – on RTÉ.

The Ditch has obtained a genuine policy document – distinct from the fake shared by Alan Shatter on X – titled “Vetting for new staff/returning staff” published by the Houses of the Oireachtas Service.

The policy makes it clear that vetting doesn’t start until an employee has been hired by a TD.

“Member/party administrator selects new/returning staff member. In order to receive Oireachtas access card, the staff member must be on the Oireachtas payroll and based in Leinster House,” the document says.

The policy sets out the paperwork required to complete the garda vetting process for an access card and what happens after it has been completed.

“A nil return on disclosure results in access cards being printed and the liaison team will make contact to arrange issue to the new staff member,” it says. 

“Should there be a disclosure of convictions, the applicant will be contacted by the liaison

and asked to provide confirmation from them that details are accurate (and) supply any supporting information for consideration.”

The superintendent of the Oireachtas, not to be confused with a garda superintendent, makes the final decision. 

“The superintendent (of the Oireachtas) will then assess the application and make a decision on if an access card can be issued,” according to the policy.

The Houses of the Oireachtas Service declined to comment on what it said were “security matters”.

The garda press office said it doesn’t comment on “security and vetting matters relating to individuals or locations”.

It is time the Government clarified all this, once and for all.

McGuinness was a good politician and took the opportunity. The people who used the fake tweet without verifying it were not SF. The Sindo did some good reporting on this. They did not have their RTE contracts renewed and one, I think, left RTE before his contract was up for renewal. There were enquiries into what happened and the BAI found that Gallagher's rights had been infringed. Gallagher took legal action against RTE and RTE settled rather than allow the case to proceed. Without that fake tweet, Higgins would have lost to Gallagher who was polling at 40% days before the Frontline show.

The panels for controversial topics like Immigration have always been stacked with pro-immigration panelists. If you don't realise this then you really haven't a clue about how the Irish media works to manufacture "consensus". It had been said that the relationship between journalists and politicians should be like that between a dog and a lamppost. The problem is that in Ireland, some journalists identify too closely with the politicians. They even get hired by them. You have a very naive view on the Irish media. Good journalism, such as the Gavin debt story are the exception rather than the rule. As for US journalism, it is a big market and it has some of the best and worst journalism. Reagan's administration bears a lot of the blame for its shift away from balanced reporting to infotainment. Newspapers there often publically endorse candidates whereas in Ireland it is not obvious to the typical reader.

No, Connolly has taken down the video. Probably to avoid rants from mis-informed people.

There is no confirmation anywhere that this was 'unauthorised use'.

You claimed there were rules - where are they?

Fair Use and Stock footage DO NOT require permission from individual people in it for every use of that footage. Look it up.

P.S.
Here is what I said about your favoured candidates video:

I see Gavin had to take down another video this morning.

I think Jim has a bit more troubling him today.