On RTÉ programmes like Prime Time, there have been increasing calls from members of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail for everyone to shoulder the responsibility of helping to form a government. This very often is preceded by a refusal to say just what is the difference between the two big parties. There are then heart-felt denunciations of these TDs, with specific mention made of some Independents but particularly Sinn Féin. These people, we’re told, were elected to form a government, yet they simply sit and watch and leave the hard work of assembling a workable coalition or agreement for government to others.
Now I know the electorate have short memories – how else would Fianna Fail have made the gains they did last time out? But surely people are holding their sides when they hear this charge against the Shinners, how they’re sitting on their hands instead of working with others to get a stable government going. The source of their mirth: statements by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael during the election campaign.
Back then, both parties danced around a lot of questions but both made one thing spotlessly clear: they would not be having anything to do with Sinn Féin. Their reasons for this, given that they urged unionists in the north to go into government with the Shinners, were a bit vague. Sometimes it’d be talk of SF’s absurd economic policy, sometimes it’d be “a whole range of matters”, sometimes it’d be (hint hint) the shadowy forces that were behind Sinn Féin. But whatever the reason, there was no mistaking the message: Sinn Féin was out, out, out for FG and FF.
Yet now these two parties are critical of the Shinners for not joining with them and seeking ways in which a government can be formed. Oh dear. Sorry, lads and lassies. If Sinn Féin really are the tainted goods you insisted they were, then what on earth are you thinking of, wanting this rotten egg to be added to the mix of parties and Independents who are working hard to form a government?
Which reminds me: over forty-five days since the election and the two biggest parties are only now getting round to talking to each other? Mmm. Supposing their TD salaries didn’t start arriving until after they’d agreed a government, do you think it would have taken 45+ days before they got the coats off and started sorting things?… Sorry – my cat is having a seizure.
well, FG/FF need a scapegoat for their failure to form a workable government & SF fits that bill nicely…………………….as you say, short memories, I would say there is a outbreak of collective amnesia…………….curable only by the truth, in short supply here. I’ve heard many other elected politicians over the past few weeks imply that SF were somehow disloyal to the state, when in fact they are the only ones sticking by their election promises.
Howling in the wind
The farce continues. Mr Howlin has described the politics of Fianna Fáil as being, “Haughey-esque”. This from a man that now desires his coronation rather than an election as leader of the Irish Labour Party, however, Joan and Alan also want the job.
It gets better, Joan is prepared to nominate Alan if Alan is prepared to nominate Joan as evictions proceed in Cork, Blackrock and Tyrrelstown. Michael O’Leary has a point when he talks about,
“the half-witted politicians that Ireland has ended up with…”
Methinks O’Leary’s description of the ‘half witted’ politicians is more generous than they deserve!
The Bullock-befriending Bruton was on various RTE radio shows, perhaps even simultaneously, Esteemed Blogmeister, over the weekend.
This acutely-aware political sage was asked to define the fundamental difference between FF and FG and in that delightfully dewlapped, wither-wringing way of his, answered thus:
-The difference lies in the fact that FG is more international in its philosophy than FF.
Hmmm.
Fine, indeed Fine Gael as it goes. But then one is reminded that fundamental is an adjective derived from fundament. In this instance, sadly, the former Prime Minister of the Free Southern Stateen and all round jolly good fellow of the bull-like bellow, is articulating through his ample, erm, fundament.
To expatiate about ‘international’ the way this Royal Meath Rancher does is akin to talking about, say, ‘intergalactic’ without a solitary Bar of Galaxy on the counter, much less two or more of these yummy bars of milk chocolate which are guaranteed to give you ‘a share of country goodness’.
In act two of Henry 5 by The Great Shakes , the following question is refinely posed by the Irish character, Captain Macmorris:
-What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a basterd, and a knave and a rascal. What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
Now, it appears that the reason why the nation of Captain M wash in such bad odour at the time of the drama’s writing (1599) was because the Earl of Southampton had just returned home after fulfilling an away fixture. Where he got what-not on his snot from the brave-hearted Hugh O’Neill who was the captain of Team Tyrone at the time.
And who seemingly combined all the better features of Peter the Great, Jody, Frank, Ricey, Brian, Sean and Stephen. That would be, l to r, Canavan, O’Neill, McGuigan, McMenamin, Dooher, Cavanagh and O’Neill.
(Nil aon ghanntanas Ui Neill anseo / No shortage of O’Neills here).
The Earl of Southampton was the patron of The Great Shakes, a shrewd dude who was imbued with the folk wisdom as to where his next groat cometh from.
But, back to the Bullock-befriending Bruton (see above). He wasn’t quizzed as to which nation the nation of FG actually, erm, ish.
Mind you, one can give an educated (if not a Clongowes-educated one) that it might be one which features prominently in the Near East magazine as distinct from the Far East magazine. This is based on the Royal Meath Rancher’s snaking regard (suspected) for Redser Redmond, perhaps the greatest Khakiavellian of them all.
Actually, the word on the street at the mo re. the political impasse (of Kibosh rather than Khyber) is the choice of name. What to call this new marriage of true mindlessnesses:
-Fine Failure or Fianna Ghoul ?
In fact, the word on Talbot Street, to be specific about it. This is where Independent (sic) House is located, even though the same street is named after/ for a former (gulp) Lord Lieutenant of Her Madge. One identifies this street name for it is upon the office of the Sindo that the anus-aching onus on naming the new, unionist, oops, unified part, falls.
Not only that,but upon the chipper shoulders of one scribe, and one scribe alone.
Though well out on his own this scribe well might be.
-Fine Failure or Fianna Ghoul?
For Harris (for indeed it is he !) this is causing him much floor walking even as he tries to wrack his globally-acclaimed brain as to which of the two equally mellifluous names he ought to opt for. So torn is he between the two, that his restlessness is such he cannot even sit down on the chair.
The very chair he pontificates upon matters political each and every Sunday morning, ex cathedra. Coming down this Sunday morning on that side, coming down that Sunday morning, on this side.
Tis almost as if Harris had a, erm, boil on his bum.
Tis not easy being a Corkonian in Dublin.
Curiously enough, there is a passage in another H-play – King Henry 6,part 1, this time in which the following exchange occurs:
-If Talbot do but thunder, rain will follow.
(The English whisper together in council).
-God speed the parliament ! who shall be the speaker ?
You couldn’t make it up, unless , of course, you went by the name of The Great Shakes.
PS
Just finished poring over your namesake’s clinical dissection of the situation on both sides of the Affrontier , Esteemed Blogmeister, and came to this conclusion: whatever about the both of you being blood relations there is no doubt at all but that you are brain-relations.
To filch a word from the Rugby Fraternity while they’re flexing their pects in the me-mirror: massive stuff.
Regina Doherty gets namechecked. Which reminds one of a diverting side-show currently being staged while the pair of Effers, G and F, are doing their Danse Macabre.
(Thank you, Brendan Howlin: a daaaaarlin phrase. Who’d have thought the wee Wexican was a devotee of the Tarot Card? Or, ought that read Camille Saint-Saens? One slips in the second in, just in case of a, erm, howler in the first instance).
This political side-show consists of seeing which of the Les Deux Danseureuses can hoof the highest while doing the can can to check which of them can can kick the Shinners the most wholeheartedly. Each party has put forward two specially handpicked high-calibre hoofing spoofers.
In the blue corner of FG, you have the ubiquitous Regina and in the snot-green corner of FF, you have (gulp) D. O’Brien.
Drawing breath from her main role as a high kicker in the Shins, the ubiquitous Regina over the weekend detoured just long enough to welcome the release of (gasp) Michaela the Drug Mule from donkey chokey. This took real courage of the moral variety on Regina’s part: the next thing she knows she could well be getting a nocturnal knock on the door from the, erm, Federal Burro of Investigation.
She just stopped short of calling for a celebratory ceili at the cross roads in her constituency but for whatever reason, she did not. Could it be that the main chokey in Rome is, erm, the Regina Coeili Jail ?
But, would that be cause enough?
Once again, when in doubt, one turns to the Wicked Wikipedia of the Wesht. Consider the following:
-In 2013, Regina Doherty’s IT company (Enhanced Solutions Ltd ) went into liquidation with debts of 280,000 euros including 60,000 euros owing to the Revenue Commissioners.
(Note: the Wicked Wikipedia of the Wesht doesn’t do (gulp), (gasp) or even (sigh) or erm, itself).
Not even in the case of her friendly rival in FF, Darragh O’Brien, TD. (for it is he !). Where there might even be more cause for the bracketed and subdued exclamation. Consider what Madame W.W.W. has to say about this journeyman along the Yellow Pack Road:
-Before entering politics Darragh O Brien worked in the Financial Services sector for 15 years.
The mention of the time-span there reminds one of the ancient adage ‘Time is Money’. Now, impecunious folk with oceans of time of their hands have often found this wisdom of the ancients somewhat difficult to get their heads around. Perhaps the next entry in the Wicked Wikipedia of the Westht might well give them reason to believe.
-Darragh O’Brien was born and raised in Malahide where he is an active member of St. Sylvester’s GAA club, Malahide United F.C. and Malahide Rugby Club.
Eh?
The crucial word there is the a-word: active. That is the word which gave rise to the e-word being uttered by The Perkin. As one who is an in-active member of just one of his local clubs – Le Club Croquet du Crocked – one can just about find enough time at the weekend to indulge in that same in-activity.
Now, as the weekend is the time when sporting clubs are generally at their busiest and their active members at their most active, one can only stand back and gawk agog at the multi-tasker from Malahide who is truly all sports to all men (including women). it’s a FF thing.
And that’s not the only sport to be factored in. The weekend also just happens to be the busiest time on the airwaves for the favourite sport of all professional Shinner kickers. Of which D.O.B. is a dab hand, or even, foot.
Just how does he do it ? How does he find the money, oops, time to fit all these simultaneous sporting pursuits at the weekend. In.
What is the, Solution to this conundrum? Indeed, what is the, erm, Enhanced Solution?
Perhaps, it lies in the old adage of after all, the ancients.
(Feach anios/ See above).
Its really a simple choice for Sinn Fein: A Short Term Victory in Government as a Junior Partner or wait 5 years for a Long Term Victory where they will most likely hold a majority to form a Government of their own or a coalition where they will be the biggest party. Sinn Fein is obviously aiming for the Long Term Victory, their immediate aim is to become the official opposition.
If Sinn Fein were such a “rotten egg” then why would people vote for them at all? how could they possibly be the largest party in Ireland if they are so toxic?
I think another election is on its way. I don’t see Fine Gael and Fianna Fail forming a long term Government and they are the only two parties capable of doing it. Though I don’t think Fine Gael or Fianna Fail want to have another election so soon, its risky and the same result may just be returned again anyway.
Sinn Fein would obviously prefer that there wasn’t another election so soon, the desire being they want to be in opposition and they have enough TD’s to be that but if there was another election it could see Sinn Fein maybe building on their current 23 TD’s. I would say Sinn Fein might get an extra 4-5 TD’s if there was another election, they came very close to gaining TD’s in some areas last month but just fell short.
Just a short term diversionary tactic from fianna Gael & fine fail before they do the inevitable & come to an arrangement. Sinn fein are in the best position of the three parties despite having less seats than both FF & FG ( a strange reality, unprecedented even)
Fianna fail are in the worst position. If they don’t do a deal they will get the bulk of the blame for another (costly) election whereas if they do the deal they will be accused of contradicting what they said prior to the election – no coalition with fine Gael.
I think an arrangement between FF & FG will be an easier pill to swallow for the FG voter than the FF voter. The belief in their ‘right to rule’ is still strong amongst FF people, & FG in the more dominant position within the arrangement could be very costly in the long term. FG voters are more comfortable with coalition, they are used to it, they’ve never been in government without a coalition. And fine Gael know what they are, a right wing, conservative, pro EU, Brit friendly party.
Fianna fail don’t know what they are.
Remains to be seen what Sinn Fein do with their new position as the main opposition. Hope they don’t bugger it up. I also think it is time for the preparation for a new leader, McDonald & that Donegal TD need to be pushed to the forefront as often as possible for SF to make best use of their new found strong position.
“Fianna fail don’t know what they are. ”
The return of Sinn Fein has really messed them up. Sinn Fein are now the ONLY republican party.
Can you imagine of President Higgins refuses to dissolve the Dail without agreement, and the two parties are unable to agree, the final say will be the EU who will make them very quickly do what they are told.
Says a lot about sovereignty when you think about it.
The EU and Britain have more control over Ireland than the Irish.