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Who has the power to call a general election

  • 01-10-2010 08:39AM
    #1
    MingulayJohnny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 149 ✭✭


    I'm just wondering who has the ability to call a general election or a referendum for a general election. Is it a case of the current government snapping under increased pressure and calling a referendum?. Just curious.


Comments

  • #2
    Revolution9
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,743 ✭✭✭Revolution9


    MingulayJohnny wrote: »
    I'm just wondering who has the ability to call a general election or a referendum for a general election. Is it a case of the current government snapping under increased pressure and calling a referendum?. Just curious.

    As far as I know, only the Taoiseach has the power to call a general election.


  • #3
    x in the city
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,132 ✭✭✭x in the city


    when he is sober i assume?


  • #4
    MingulayJohnny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 149 ✭✭MingulayJohnny


    So the probability of a general election anytime soon is solely based on Brian Cowen caving in to pressure from the opposition and calling one?. Is there a time limit for the by-elections and will they likely result in the government having to call a GE?.


  • #5
    WeeBushy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭WeeBushy


    If the government lose in a vote of no confidence are they not forced to call a general election?

    Also somewhere in the back of my head I seem to think that the president in very specific circumstances can call a general election. Though I might have been very drunk when I planted that thought in my head...


  • #6
    MingulayJohnny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 149 ✭✭MingulayJohnny


    So the opposition can call a vote of no confidence pretty soon if they want and this can trigger a general election?. It's just that I heard Ruari Quinn of Labour say that he had already ordered the election posters in an interview with Brian Dobson. I don't think he was joking. Maybe it's just the norm to place the order well in advance?.


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  • #7
    View
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,871 ✭✭✭View


    Have a read of Bunreacht na hEireann. It should answer peoples' questions.


  • #8
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,485 ✭✭✭Denerick


    The President has the power to dissolve the Dáil, though I understand she needs to be asked by the Taoiseach to do so.

    If the government loses a vote of confidence or (I think) a budget vote, the government will automatically be dissolved and a general election will take place.

    If FG/Lab were smart they'd lobby the Greens very hard. If the Greens play it right they might keep a few of their seats if they decide to bring down the government. I was once of the opinion that a General election would be a disaster in this present climate, but then again, what harm could it do? We're ****ed either way, might as well give Gilmore the chance to put his populist soundbytes into government. Then we'll see why his remarks and political positions are so vacuous.


  • #9
    MingulayJohnny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 149 ✭✭MingulayJohnny


    I'm on the fence when it comes to Eamon Gilmore and Labour in general. I've no doubt that there are people in this party with good intentions and my hope as crazy as it may be would be that there will be such a spotlight on the new government that it will put a fire under their a**es. I can imagine a scenario where the next minister for finance is finally given access to all of the figures and promptly faints when faced with the whole truth.

    Surely a new government can at least put damage limitation measures into action?. Start listening to people like Peter Matthews and Brian Lucey instead of Colm f**kin McCarthy. I'm sick of hearing the justifications and rhetoric of Fianna Fail and their supporters for the measures they are taking. Throwing money into the Anglo stove while not investing in jobs or lending to businesses has to stop asap.


  • #10
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,485 ✭✭✭Denerick


    I have two big problems with Labour. 1) Gilmore is only interesting in playing the populist tune. He is prepared to cut 3 billion this year so I am mildly offended when he insults the intelligence of the Irish people with his populist remarks. 2) Any party that has Joan Burton - the ultimate 'I have just told you what our policy is' bítch - deserves to rot in the backbenches. I'd be worried if she was anywhere near the department of finance, she just screams incompetance.


  • #11
    KC61
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,316 ✭✭✭KC61


    Denerick wrote: »
    The President has the power to dissolve the Dáil, though I understand she needs to be asked by the Taoiseach to do so.

    If the government loses a vote of confidence or (I think) a budget vote, the government will automatically be dissolved and a general election will take place.

    If FG/Lab were smart they'd lobby the Greens very hard. If the Greens play it right they might keep a few of their seats if they decide to bring down the government. I was once of the opinion that a General election would be a disaster in this present climate, but then again, what harm could it do? We're ****ed either way, might as well give Gilmore the chance to put his populist soundbytes into government. Then we'll see why his remarks and political positions are so vacuous.

    Not quite.

    From the Constitution:

    Article 13:
    2. 1° Dáil Éireann shall be summoned and dissolved by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach.
    2° The President may in his absolute discretion refuse to dissolve Dáil Éireann on the advice of a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann.


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  • #12
    Denerick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,485 ✭✭✭Denerick


    Thanks for that. Though if FF failed to command a majority they wouldn't be able to win any votes. They would be a lame duck party and they would have to step down. Besides, is that provision not only relevant in cases of extreme national emergency?


  • #13
    ronkmonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭ronkmonster


    Has any Irish government failed to pass a budget and not call a general election?


  • #14
    Dirk Gently
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,779 ✭✭✭Dirk Gently


    Denerick wrote: »

    If FG/Lab were smart they'd .....
    They are being smart though from their point of view. They're waiting for FF to implement the Budget this december and the hasher the better as far as they are concerned. Neither of them want to be lumbered with having to pass this budget as their first act of government.

    Both Lab and FG are playing lip service to bringing down the government in 2010. Realistically 2011 will do just fine for them and preferably even later after more cuts from FF. I even think FF are ready to hand over the torch after the first quarter by elections, Cowen in particular looks like he's had enough.


  • #15
    Eliot Rosewater
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,742 ✭✭✭Eliot Rosewater


    clown bag wrote: »
    They are being smart though from their point of view.

    Did you see the Irish Times poll showing FG support decline over the past year? Whatever they're doing, it ain't smart! :D


  • #16
    Wolfe Tone
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,670 ✭✭✭✭Wolfe Tone


    Denerick wrote: »
    I have two big problems with Labour. 1) Gilmore is only interesting in playing the populist tune. He is prepared to cut 3 billion this year so I am mildly offended when he insults the intelligence of the Irish people with his populist remarks. 2) Any party that has Joan Burton - the ultimate 'I have just told you what our policy is' bítch - deserves to rot in the backbenches. I'd be worried if she was anywhere near the department of finance, she just screams incompetance.
    Oh I hate that woman.


  • #17
    Benito
    Closed Accounts Posts: 73 ✭✭Benito


    MUSSOLINI wrote: »
    Oh I hate that woman.


    Oh come on now! Labour might be high in the polls but FG will most likely be the largest party. Finance will be FG's choice. I have reservations about a lot of the FG/Lab front benches but, there is absolutly nothing of merit in Fianna Fail. It's not like a multiple choice question when it comes to a Government front bench. Which are the lesser idiots is the choice we face!


  • #18
    electrogrimey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,791 ✭✭✭electrogrimey


    I was under the impression that it's more or less the FF backbenchers who hold the power here. The opposition can call for a vote of no confidence at any time, but they won't unless they think it'll go through, and the only way it'll go through is if some of the FF backbenchers vote against their own party, which they won't do because it means them losing their seat.


  • #19
    Wide Road
    Closed Accounts Posts: 412 ✭✭Wide Road


    x in the city wrote: »
    when he is sober i assume?

    Don't forget PJ Sheehan. Enda did!


  • #20
    DeVore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    There was the famous case of Leninhan Senior controversially asking the president to not dissolve the Dail.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Lenihan,_Snr#The_Lenihan_tape

    It lost him the race for the Presidency.


    His son is now in line for the job of Taoiseach and his daughter is Mary O'Rourke.

    DeV.


  • #21
    Coillte_Bhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,967 ✭✭✭Coillte_Bhoy


    DeVore wrote: »
    There was the famous case of Leninhan Senior controversially asking the president to not dissolve the Dail.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Lenihan,_Snr#The_Lenihan_tape

    It lost him the race for the Presidency.


    His son is now in line for the job of Taoiseach and his daughter is Mary O'Rourke.

    DeV.

    What's your point in bringing this up? It's common knowledege to anyone with even a passing interset in politics. Judge the man on his abilities, or not, and not his family. Oh and i think you should have alook at what you posted re: the family connections. Daughetr/sister??? Surprised at such sloppy psoting.


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  • #22
    Wide Road
    Closed Accounts Posts: 412 ✭✭Wide Road


    DeVore wrote: »
    There was the famous case of Leninhan Senior controversially asking the president to not dissolve the Dail.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Lenihan,_Snr#The_Lenihan_tape

    It lost him the race for the Presidency.


    His son is now in line for the job of Taoiseach and his daughter is Mary O'Rourke.

    DeV.

    His daughter is Mary O'Rourke? This PJ Sheehan fiasco is catching on. BTW, do you think PJ should be allow continue as a TD? Maybe you should wait until morning before replying! PS, don't try to edit. Thanks.


  • #23
    DeVore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    Apologies, my post should read: "Sister is Mary O'Rourke" rather then "Daughter is Mary O'Rourke".

    Wide, I answered you in the other thread, please dont drag threads off topic again.

    DeV.


  • #24
    DeVore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »
    What's your point in bringing this up? It's common knowledege to anyone with even a passing interset in politics. Judge the man on his abilities, or not, and not his family. Oh and i think you should have alook at what you posted re: the family connections. Daughetr/sister??? Surprised at such sloppy psoting.
    It clearly wasnt common knowledge to the poster only 10 posts back in this very thread (here)
    when they said: "Has any Irish government failed to pass a budget and not call a general election?"

    I felt this was a relevant part of our history to bring up.

    DeV.


  • #25
    Coillte_Bhoy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,967 ✭✭✭Coillte_Bhoy


    DeVore wrote: »
    It clearly wasnt common knowledge to the poster only 10 posts back in this very thread (here)
    when they said: "Has any Irish government failed to pass a budget and not call a general election?"

    I felt this was a relevant part of our history to bring up.

    DeV.

    I'm showing my age maybe.:( But whats the point about the budget?


  • #26
    DeVore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,387 ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    Sorry, I thought the government fell over a failed budget (which was as common as muck in those days!) but it was actually by request from Garret Fitzgerald. Still the point I wanted to make was that this "power" of the president was involved in a major scandal of the time and is relevant to the discussion of this thread.

    I didnt realise that Lenihan was the father of those people (and brother) until tonight, so... you learn something new every day and I thought I'd pass it on.

    DeV.


  • #27
    flynnlives
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 739 ✭✭✭flynnlives


    DeV,

    You do of course mean "on mature recollection....." ;)


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