Taoiseach Time(An Irish Election Thread)

[Shrillland]

After months of speculation, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has dismissed the Dail and called for elections on Saturday, February 8: https://www.yahoo.com/news/ireland-hold-early-election-february-8-155904448.html

Varadkar called the vote to avoid a No-Confidence Vote being held on Health Minister Simon Harris, which could've lead to the government being toppled. With that threat out of the way, Varadkar insisted on a quick election so they could immediately return to negotiations with the UK over Brexit's Irish Border Question. Currently, the polls are showing no serious change in government to be expected with Varadkar's Fine Gael and their eternal rivals Fianna Fail pretty close with FG just squeaking out a lead. Varadkar has been the leading face behind Ireland's biggest social changes in decades, the legalisation of LGBT marriage(he came out as gay during this time), the legalisation of abortion and the liberalisation of divorce laws that now match closer to most of Europe.

Now then, here's how the election will go. There are 160 TDs, 159 of which(excluding the Ceann Comhairle AKA The Speaker) are elected by STV. There are 39 multi-member constituencies with 3-5 TDs each. Ballots will be counted, a quota will be formed, and anyone above the quota gets in. If there are still seats available, then the last-place candidate is removed and their second preferences are counted until all seats are filled.

You now know how this will work, let's meet the likely parties, some of whom you may be familiar with.

Fine Gael led by Current Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: Centre to Centre-right, Liberal Conservative, Pro-Europe, Christian Democratic

Fianna Fáil led by Micheal Martin: Centre to Centre-right, Liberal Conservative, Big Tent, Pro-Europe

Sinn Fein led by Mary Lou McDonald: Centre-left to Left, Democratic Socialist, Left Nationalist, Irish Republican

Labour led by Brendan Howlin: Centre-left, Social Democratic, Democratic Socialist, Pro-Europe

Green Party led by Eamon Ryan: Centre-left, Green Policy, Pro-Europe

Solidarity-People Before Profit(S-PBP) with collective leadership: Left to Far Left, Socialist, Trotskyite, Anti-Capitalist, Eco-Socialist

Independent Alliance, no leadership: Big Tent, Nonpartisan

Social Democrats led by Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall: Centre-left, Nordic Policy, Pro-Europe, Social Democratic

So who do you stand with, NSG?

I don't normally go for centre-right parties, but Ireland needs FG and Varadkar at this critical time to make sure that progress can continue and that any negotiations with Britain aren't upended.

EDIT 1/28: Here's a handy guide to help you make your choice: http://www.whichcandidate.ie/

[The Huskar Social Union]

I cant vote in the republics elections (Sinn Fein would be my closest match more than likely but i cant stand them up here in the North so probably wouldnt vote for them down south either, i guess maybe PBP since ive voted for them a few times here in NI, but ive went off of them too over brexit) but ill be watching it with great interest, i wonder if the recent debacle about commemorating the RIC will have any impact on Fine Gael in this election as a lot of people seemed rightfully pretty pissed.

Would be a shame to see Simon Coveney go if FG loses, i think he isn't that bad and has performed well regarding brexit.

[Rojava Free State]

Huskar should be here any minute

Edit: he already is

[Rojava Free State]

I cant vote in the republics elections (Sinn Fein would be my closest match more than likely but i cant stand them up here in the North so probably wouldnt vote for them down south either, i guess maybe PBP since ive voted for them a few times here in NI, but ive went off of them too over brexit) but ill be watching it with great interest, i wonder if the recent debacle about commemorating the RIC will have any impact on Fine Gael in this election as a lot of people seemed rightfully pretty pissed.

Would be a shame to see Simon Coveney go if FG loses, i think he isn't that bad and has performed well regarding brexit.

Wait, didn't the good Friday agreement allow people in the north to gain Irish citizenship?

[The Huskar Social Union]

I cant vote in the republics elections (Sinn Fein would be my closest match more than likely but i cant stand them up here in the North so probably wouldnt vote for them down south either, i guess maybe PBP since ive voted for them a few times here in NI, but ive went off of them too over brexit) but ill be watching it with great interest, i wonder if the recent debacle about commemorating the RIC will have any impact on Fine Gael in this election as a lot of people seemed rightfully pretty pissed.

Would be a shame to see Simon Coveney go if FG loses, i think he isn't that bad and has performed well regarding brexit.

Wait, didn't the good Friday agreement allow people in the north to gain Irish citizenship?

It did allow us to hold irish citizenship and to identify as irish alongside british if we wish to, and i do have Irish citizenship, but i dont live in the republic and there are not voting stations where i live (belfast) for elections in the republic.

[Rojava Free State]

Wait, didn't the good Friday agreement allow people in the north to gain Irish citizenship?

It did allow us to hold irish citizenship and to identify as irish alongside british if we wish to, and i do have Irish citizenship, but i dont live in the republic and there are not voting stations where i live (belfast) for elections in the republic.

They don't let you vote in absentee?

[The Huskar Social Union]

It did allow us to hold irish citizenship and to identify as irish alongside british if we wish to, and i do have Irish citizenship, but i dont live in the republic and there are not voting stations where i live (belfast) for elections in the republic.

They don't let you vote in absentee?

Dont think i legally can vote in the republics elections unless i live in the republic itself anyway, there was a planned referendum to extend voting in the presidential elections to people in NI but it has been held yet.

[Rojava Free State]

They don't let you vote in absentee?

Dont think i legally can vote in the republics elections unless i live in the republic itself anyway, there was a planned referendum to extend voting in the presidential elections to people in NI but it has been held yet.

They let you be a citizen but you can't vote unless you live in the republic?

Sheesh, what a rip off

[Jetan]

Tough choice (based on my very limited knowledge of irish politics). As I am I'd likely go for Fine Gael, but if I was Irish myself, possibly Fianna Fáil. They seem broadly similiar, with Fine Gael overall more similiar to my views, but Fianna Fáil better on stuff like the status of irish language. Very close though.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Dont think i legally can vote in the republics elections unless i live in the republic itself anyway, there was a planned referendum to extend voting in the presidential elections to people in NI but it has been held yet.

They let you be a citizen but you can't vote unless you live in the republic?

Sheesh, what a rip off

Might change in the future. If that referendum goes ahead i could vote in presidential elections, maybe another referendum could enable me to vote in dail elections.

[Rojava Free State]

They let you be a citizen but you can't vote unless you live in the republic?

Sheesh, what a rip off

Might change in the future. If that referendum goes ahead i could vote in presidential elections, maybe another referendum could enable me to vote in dail elections.

It'd be nice if they had a referendum where they stop dicking around and just give northern Ireland to the republic and redraw the borders of the UK to be the island of great Britain

[The Huskar Social Union]

Might change in the future. If that referendum goes ahead i could vote in presidential elections, maybe another referendum could enable me to vote in dail elections.

It'd be nice if they had a referendum where they stop dicking around and just give northern Ireland to the republic and redraw the borders of the UK to be the island of great Britain

Different can of worths

worths? worms you muppet

[Rojava Free State]

It'd be nice if they had a referendum where they stop dicking around and just give northern Ireland to the republic and redraw the borders of the UK to be the island of great Britain

Different can of worths

worths? worms you muppet

It makes more sense to have the island of Ireland be Ireland and the island of Britain be Britain than to have two thirds of Ireland be Ireland and a third be Britain

[Risottia]

I don't normally go for centre-right parties, but Ireland needs FG and Varadkar at this critical time to make sure that progress can continue and that any negotiations with Britain aren't upended.

That would be the task of the Irish commissioner in Bruxelles, that is mr.Hogan - who by the way is commissioner for Trade.
It's not like the Republic of Ireland can negotiate a deal with the UK alone.

[Risottia]

Might change in the future. If that referendum goes ahead i could vote in presidential elections, maybe another referendum could enable me to vote in dail elections.

It'd be nice if they had a referendum where they stop dicking around and just give northern Ireland to the republic and redraw the borders of the UK to be the island of great Britain

"They" who? The only ones who have the right to choose what to do with Northern Ireland are the citizens of NI.

[Rojava Free State]

It'd be nice if they had a referendum where they stop dicking around and just give northern Ireland to the republic and redraw the borders of the UK to be the island of great Britain

"They" who? The only ones who have the right to choose what to do with Northern Ireland are the citizens of NI.

Guess who they are then

[Greater Carloso]

I would vote for The National Party, which is a small, national conservative and republican party that was founded in 2016. However, since they are new they're only running 10 candidates this time around (mostly in the Midlands), none of which are in my constituency. It looks like I'll have to vote independent this time around, or spoil my vote.

Fine Gael is the party of incompetence and kleptocracy. Our country is falling apart under them after 8/9 years of misrule. Never has violent crime, housing, homelessness and the state of our public health service been so terrible. Fianna Fáil are not that much different and brought this country to its knees and surrendered vast amounts of our sovereignty to foreign entities. For things to change in this country, the Civil War politics have to end.

EDIT: That said, if it comes down to it, I might vote for Peadar Tóibín's new Aontú party if they run a candidate here. They're relatively conservative.

[Bienenhalde]

I used to like Fine Gael, but I am disappointed with their support for abortion, so now I would say I am more sympathetic to Renua Ireland.

[Greater Carloso]

I used to like Fine Gael, but I am disappointed with their support for abortion, so now I would say I am more sympathetic to Renua Ireland.

The impression I'm getting is Renua has basically fallen apart after their disastrous run in the local elections last year. Whatever niche they had before has been filled by Aontú, the Irish Freedom Party (not a fan) and the NP. Nobody has replaced John Leahy as leader since he resigned from Renua, and that was months ago.

[Ifreann]

It did allow us to hold irish citizenship and to identify as irish alongside british if we wish to, and i do have Irish citizenship, but i dont live in the republic and there are not voting stations where i live (belfast) for elections in the republic.

They don't let you vote in absentee?

We do not allow absentee voting, but Huskar can't vote because he isn't registered to vote in Ireland. By way of comparison, I know people who have moved from Ireland to other countries. They can vote in Irish elections, because they are registered to vote here, but they have to travel home to do so.

[Pasong Tirad]

Now then, here's how the election will go. There are 160 TDs, 159 of which(excluding the Ceann Comhairle AKA The Speaker) are elected by STV. There are 39 multi-member constituencies with 3-5 TDs each. Ballots will be counted, a quota will be formed, and anyone above the quota gets in. If there are still seats available, then the last-place candidate is removed and their second preferences are counted until all seats are filled.

STV <3

[Aureumterra]

Fine Gael has had great policies, that allowed pharmaceutical companies to make Ireland the global hub for pharma, a kind of silicon valley for pharma. That has bolstered a lot of jobs and economic growth, and due to corporate taxes, they can sue this pharma company’s tax revenue to fund social programs

In short, they’ve really done well, and I hope they get reelected

[Greater Carloso]

Fine Gael has had great policies, that allowed pharmaceutical companies to make Ireland the global hub for pharma, a kind of silicon valley for pharma. That has bolstered a lot of jobs and economic growth, and due to corporate taxes, they can sue this pharma company’s tax revenue to fund social programs

In short, they’ve really done well, and I hope they get reelected

Ireland's low corporation tax model was introduced under Charlie McCreevy when Fianna Fail was in government back in 1999, not Fine Gael. On the face of it, yeah, I agree. It has been good for employment and economic growth, even if this has been greatly exaggerated in GDP figures. This is a regime built on sand and very sensitive to changes in the world economy. In my opinion, these 'Leprechaun economics' won't be very sustainable in the long run, and it is a massive shame that more effort hasn't been put into building up domestic Irish industries who have more loyalty to their country. The Irish government would never 'sue' these companies. As the Apple incident of 2016 shows, Fine Gael are totally beholden to foreign multinational interests first and foremost. Apple illegally avoided paying €13 billion in tax to Ireland and Fine Gael under Enda Kenny let them walk free, despite the EU telling them to collect it.

[Outer Sparta]

Despite not being Irish, I took a political quiz to see where I align just for fun. It was a close race to the top between Social Democrats, Labour, Greens, and Sinn Fein. I also matched 66% for FG and 61% for FF, which is interesting.

[Shrillland]

Despite not being Irish, I took a political quiz to see where I align just for fun. It was a close race to the top between Social Democrats, Labour, Greens, and Sinn Fein. I also matched 66% for FG and 61% for FF, which is interesting.

What quiz? An iside with or is some outlet in Ireland actually making one of their own that actually discusses Irish issues?