@IBIKEDublin I just realised. This is #Fiannafail's effort to increase the construction workforce. Forcing schoolkids and office commuters on bikes to cosplay builders will let them pretend they're solving the #housingcrisis

#cycling #mastodaoine

The #Tullymamder backfired so spectacularly that at the 1977 general election it handed a record majority to the opposition #FiannaFail party. To their credit, Fianna Fáil cleaned up the system by setting up an independent constituency commission. That ended blatant gerrymandering in Ireland.

There was better luck to come for minister Jim Tully. In October 1981, Jim was standing beside Egypt's to President #AnwarSadat, when #Sadat was assassinated. Jim escaped with a facial shrapnel wound.

@ChrisMayLA6 And the reason UKLabour are out of time is #FPTP.

In 2007–11, #FiannaFail drove Ireland's economy over a cliff edge. #FF lost 58% of its vote share at Ireland's 2011 general election, but #STV ensured that #FF was not wiped out. It partially rebuilt, and by 2024 FF was again the largest party.

But #FPTP is far more brutal to losers. Labour's likely fall to under 20% of the vote will leave it as a tiny rump, too weak to rebuild.

@ScottishGreens Scotland often reminds me of what Ireland could be without Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in power.

Incredibly similar culturally, but with:

•Much better public transport
•Universal free public healthcare
•More nature access
•More decentralisation & local democracy
•Abundant renewable energy

Glad to see this!🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

#ScottishGreens #PeopleAndPlanet #Ireland #Scotland #Independence #IrishPolitics #ScottishPolitics #AnimalRights #Environment #GreenPolitics #FiannaFail #FineGael #Democracy

@bthalpin The history of Irish creative use of #PRSTV is a bit of a chicken-and-egg issue. To what extent did decline of #FiannaFail and #FineGael drive more creative use of #STV, and how much did clever use of STV hurt #FFFG?

I think it's actually the same phenomenon. For decades, Irish voters were mostly happy with the choice of FF or FG. Later, new political goals drove voters to new parties and new tactics.

@ColmDonoghue @ChrisMayLA6 @Tattered

>>

Fascinating collection of letters responding to an article about antisemitism in Ireland.

Excerpt from the first one, here:

"Rachel Moiselle’s painful lament (‘Listen to #Irish #Jews when we tell you we are being betrayed’, December 28) evoked the deep sense of belonging that Irish Jews have always felt towards #Ireland.

She cites an emotive reflection by #RobertBriscoe’s granddaughter, Vivienne, on his deep patriotism and contribution to Irish freedom and ponders how he would consider the position his contemporary co-religionists find themselves in today as their very #Irishness is openly challenged.

Sadly, however, as the biographer of Briscoe (Robert Briscoe: #SinnFéin Revolutionary, #FiannaFáil Nationalist and Revis­ionist Zionist, 2016), I would argue that from his first days in the revolutionary movement to the end of his long political career, he was aware that to be #Jewish was to have one’s loyalty constantly questioned."

https://m.independent.ie/opinion/letters/letters-revolutionary-robert-briscoe-knew-that-to-be-jewish-is-to-have-ones-loyalty-constantly-questioned/a947479830.html

Letters: Revolutionary Robert Briscoe knew that to be Jewish is to have one’s loyalty constantly questioned

Madam — Rachel Moiselle’s painful lament (‘Listen to Irish Jews when we tell you we are being betrayed’, December 28) evoked the deep sense of belonging that Irish Jews have always felt towards Ireland.

Irish Independent
As another COP passed without a whimper, and our climate further careered into the abyss, Ecuador bucked the trend. A general strike, led by ...#2025 #CatherineConnolly #Epstein #farright #FiannaFáil #FineGael #Gaeilge #hungerstrike #imperialism #JamesConnolly #MAGA #NATO #Palestine #Russia #Starmer #Trump #Ukraine #Venezuela #ZohranMamdani
Reviewing 2025 - REBEL

Will Fianna Fáil sue Jim Gavin?

#Taoiseach Micheál Martin tells #RTE: #JimGavin told #FiannaFail on 8th September that "he never had a journalist as a tenant". That was false.

If Jim had told the truth, the matter would have been investigated. Jim Gavin would not have been selected the next day.

The precise words used are critical. But if Jim's false assertion was given without caveat, that was #fraud which cost #FF ~€400K.

Screenshot from https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/1217/1549417-fianna-fail-review-reaction/ / https://archive.is/cIvoz

Ireland & UK are stuck with dud leaders: Micheál Martin & Keir Starmer.

Martin has ~35% approval. Starmer ~15%. Their TDs / MPs are fed up. But neither man is going soon. See this morning's reports from RTÉ https://archive.is/px71l and The Guardian https://archive.is/znDxq.

The countries have parliamentary systems, so change of leadership should be easy. But in practice, #FiannaFail can't dislodge #Martin, and the #LabourParty can't remove #Starmer.

So populists fill the gap. #ukpol #iepol

Wow! :O

Micheál Martin deserves big prizes both for arrogance and for idiocy. Everyone knows presidential elections are gruelling, that every potential candidate needs intensive scrutiny before endorsement.

Whatever else comes out in the #FiannaFail #Aras25 review, Micheál's colleagues know they are looking at a leader whose political judgement is as useless as #JimGavin's. Micheál may hang on another year, but the #FF leadership election starts here.

screenshot from https://www.rte.ie/news/post/104822659