Republic – Page 70 – Slugger O'Toole

“my hands are tied in this instance”

Pete Baker on June 19, 2007, 12:05 am

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As Maman Poulet points out at IrishElection, the blogging TD, the Green Party’s John Gormley, is now the blogging Minister for the Enviornment and in his latest post he restates his argument that his hands are tied in regard to Dick Roche’s last decision as Minister for the Environment – a decision which someone decided not to tell anybody about until Bertie Ahern was confirmed as Taoiseach “I spent all day Friday, right up until 11pm, Saturday morning and even …

“it was decided not to issue a press release at that point because there was so much else going on”

Pete Baker on June 15, 2007, 2:37 pm

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One of the Green Party’s new ministers in government is John Gormley.. and he’s Minister for the Environment. Good news for the Greens? Perhaps, but the out-going Minster for the Environment, Dick Roche has left an unpleasant legacy in regard to the M3 motorway and Tara Hill – recently declared one of the world’s 100 most endangered heritage sites. According to the report, on Tuesday the then-Minister “signed an order for the “preservation by record” of the recently discovered prehistoric …

“Previously they had the War; now they have our policies.”

Pete Baker on June 15, 2007, 1:28 am

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Another unsuccessful Sinn Féin candidate, Joanne Spain, disagrees with Eoin Ó Broin’s analysis of the party’s poor performance in the Irish General Election, as noted in the comments zone by Cruimh. As well as “the continued censorship of our biased media” – although the particular example chosen is somewhat contradicted by this online RTÉ report on the day of the press conference she hosted attended – the lack of success of “The Left” throughout Europe is mentioned as are other …

Ahern announces cabinet..

Mick Fealty on June 14, 2007, 10:51 pm

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IrishElection.com’s twitter service should bring you up to date. John O’Donoghue is Ceann Comhairle, Bertie is back as taoiseach. Sinn Fein have just been knocked back on the speaking rights in the chamber. It’s doesn’t mean they can’t get to speak (outside points of order), but they can, only when government and opposition agree they can. You can follow the naming of the Ministers here.Update: Most stay the same: Brian Cowan now Tainiste, stays at Finance John Gormley – Environment, …

Timing, eh?

Pete Baker on June 14, 2007, 6:00 pm

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Something for the Green Party to think about as they sign up to government with Fianna Fáil and the PDs. The European Court of Justice has ruled that Ireland is in breach of EU regulations protecting water quality and has failed to implement pollution-reduction measures in designated shellfish sites around the country. In a ruling published today, the court found that Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations under the 1979 European Shellfish Directive, under which EU states are required …

“There is no way am I going to hang the technical group to dry”

Pete Baker on June 14, 2007, 4:57 pm

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Whether Independent TD Beverley Flynn remains a TD beyond Monday’s appearance in the High Court on bankruptcy proceedings isn’t clear, but she’s voting for Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach today – even without a confirmed deal in the manner of those other Independents. And of those other Independents, Finian McGrath has told the Irish Times that he hasn’t forgotten about the implications for the technical group.. we’ll see.. From the Irish Times Mr McGrath also said that he and the Greens …

Greens go for it

Pete Baker on June 14, 2007, 1:31 am

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The Green Party have endorsed the programme for government, 441 votes to 67. Earlier today Fianna Fáil rubberstamped the same deal. There are reports that Trevor Sargent will stand down as party leader.. but that would seem to be an unfair punishment, if the twittering is accurate, for securing two ministries. Adds RTÉ has other details of the proposals. And Irish Times Breaking News has the quote from Trevor Sargent “I’m stepping down on the basis that I said I …

Twittering from the Greens

Pete Baker on June 14, 2007, 12:25 am

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Via Irish Election. There’s an interesting twittering which seems to be coming from inside the Green Party conference. Pete Baker

Another Independent TD signs up

Pete Baker on June 13, 2007, 5:29 pm

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Still looking at those hoping to be able form a technical group in the Dáil, should the Green Party members endorse the draft programme for government later today.. another Independent TD, Michael Lowry is now on-board. That’s two down and one more Independent required. Make that three down. Pete Baker

An opportunity to ‘Green’ the Republic’s foreign policy…

Mick Fealty on June 13, 2007, 5:14 pm

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My own take on the Greens going into government over at Comment is Free is rather more upbeat. The Republic’s electorate did not vote en masse for a ‘Green revolution’, nevertheless, if the party were to box smart and leverage the Green issues that are dominating world affairs (or at least outside the bloody conflict zones of the Middle East and Africa), as well as a recognisable environmental gains within the country itself, it might just come out of this …

Tasks facing the Greens in coalition…

Mick Fealty on June 13, 2007, 4:41 pm

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There is some fascinating comment around the prospective deal between the Greens and Fianna Fail. Vincent Browne thinks a Green agenda will change nothing, because it is out of kilter with what people want: “It cannot be done particularly in coalition with a much larger party that is far more in tune with the will and mood of the electorate than you are”. In the Examiner, Steven King though looks at the party’s chances of success, by looking more widely …

Greens and Fianna Fáil agree draft programme for government

Pete Baker on June 13, 2007, 12:53 am

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RTÉ reports that the Fianna Fáil and Green Party talks have resulted in an agreed draft programme for government The 90-page document is to be put to a special Green Party conference tomorrow afternoon and will also be discussed by the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. Adds As Mick mentions in the comments, one Independent TD, Jackie Healy-Rae, is also on-board which would mean a tight numbers game for those smaller parties seeking to form a technical grouping. And Green Party …

Sargent meets Bertie…

Mick Fealty on June 12, 2007, 12:04 am

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The Greens facing the last but one hurdle, the face to face meeting with the taoiseach… thence to Wednesday and the midweek national convention… Update: Adjourned for the night. Betfair prices have been spinning between FF/PDs and FF/PD/Greens all day. Now shifting back towards the latter 4/6, with almost another £2,000 added to the market today. You can find the briefest of contributions from yours truly (and paid) 52.55mins on Drivetime. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

Greens’ price worth paying?

Pete Baker on June 11, 2007, 2:26 pm

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With Fianna Fáil studying a Green Party document, outlining where they believe last week’s discussions broke down, the word is that the conversation between the two parties will continue. Whether that conversation concludes before Thursday is another matter.. Meanwhile in the Irish Times, Stephen Collins points to the Hill of Tara as the kind of major symbolic gesture that Fianna Fáil would “have to do” to secure the Green Party’s support..[subs req] but that At this stage it appears that …

“It’s not like the Greens are a listed building or anything…”

Mick Fealty on June 10, 2007, 3:25 pm

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Blogorrah has 6 reasons why the deal failed. Expad.ie’s take on Ciaran Cuffe’s devil talk. WorldbyStorm reckons it was 40 hours work well worth the effort from the Greens. Miriam Lord’s extended metaphor on Fianna Fail as property developers in yesterday’s the Irish Times is worth repeating. Fianna Fáil have learned a thing or two from their developer friends. For sure, build it and they will come. Better again, target a suitable property, demolish, rebuild and reap the profit. Nearly …

Why Sinn Fein’s Long March was halted in the south…

Mick Fealty on June 10, 2007, 3:14 pm

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Fascinating final analysis from WorldbyStorm of the general failure of the left in the Republic’s elections, and Sinn Fein’s failure to capitalise on it’s achievement of power in Northern Ireland. He targets the party’s ruthlessly pragmatic abandonment of leftist policy, in the immediate run up to the election (here’s the latest clarification of how the party stands on the southern economy). Maybe people don’t want the left in power, but they want it to act as joker and conscience to …

Mansion House cancelled: deal over…

Mick Fealty on June 9, 2007, 12:41 am

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We’ve just heard that the Greens have cancelled the meeting for Sunday… deal over Update: Harry doesn’t think it’s done and dusted.… and Pete points to an interesting last line in Sargent’s communique… “We remain committed to forming a government and will continue to explore all avenues with this in mind. However the current deal on offer is not sufficient and will not best serve the interests of our country” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …

Greens walk out on FF…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2007, 9:19 pm

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Politics.ie carried a report that the two sides had agreed a draft programme of government, then shortly afterwards RTE report the Greens have walked out on the talks… Something screwy going on here… Oh, it looks like shot a fame is gone… shame, because we had some great quotes lined up… our day will come again, no doubt…. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …

Heads up for Drivetime…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2007, 7:47 pm

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Okay. There’s no knowing how this deal is going to pan out in Dublin. Or when it might be resolved one way or the other. If we are still in suspended animation by about 5.20 this afternoon, Mary Wilson will be featuring some blogger comment (including some from our regular Sluggerites) on Drivetime, on RTE Radio 1 this evening, followed by a short commentary from yours truly, who will, probably quite rashly and with a minimal amount of solid evidence, …

Working through lunch…

Mick Fealty on June 8, 2007, 5:07 pm

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Greens and FF working through lunch and into the afternoon… It must be serious… Of all the comment the most apt advice was given on Morning Ireland this morning from former PD advisor Stephen Byrnes: stay close to your core competence. In other words keep it environment, environment, environment… “They [the Greens] may be missing their focus if they bring in a very large shopping list… The absence of the Progressive Democrats from a senior economic ministry and the fact …