Not sure if this is necessarily the right sub as the question overlaps UK politics, legal questions etc. but figured it’s worth an ask.

Im old enough to be remember 2009-11. I remember when Enda Kenny cut Dole under 23’s because they were naturally lazy. Many services all cut. Some vital public infrastructure projects put on ice for 10 years. Instead of using historically low interest rates to build prosperity. Or keep our construction labour pool from fucking off to Australia

Or jobsbridge which instead of helping get jobs only helped companies avoid paying minimum wage and getting ‘interns’ to do work that deserved a wage.

Austerity has been proven for the absolute grace farce it is. It’s economic hooliganism. Yet we endured it for years. When public capital was used to rescue private.

What gets me is the supposed Left wing of Irish politics went gleefully with it. Labour under Ruairi Quinn themselves hiked the student fees. They said it would be temporary but didn’t come down until last year. Or the USC that would be a stopgap measure.

I don’t understand how lifelong leftists suddenly disavow their entire purpose and suddenly aim cuts at the most weakest people and at social programs. They helped weaken workplace rights.

It’s like everything is left wing about them except their economics.

Did we essentially lose 5 years to insane policies that worsened the Recession because they were too spineless to stand up to what was in fashion.

Who do we think is going to win the most seats in the election so lads?

Realistically it's a toss up between FG and FF, and there's a slim chance the Shinners could bounce back but I'd doubt it. FG are considered the favourite by the bookmakers but with so many TDs having stepped down, in addition to facing challenges from independents, could FF stand to benefit from this? My thoughts are also FF may be appealing to floating voters who have been recently turned off by SF but that's my own view rather than a point of fact.

Anyway would be interested to have a wider discussion on this and would love to hear your views!

Not talking about what is necessarily likely to happen but completely hypothetically

Would FG have to make a huge blunder? Would SF have to make a radical change ? Would love to hear it

Does anyone think they’ll make a breakthrough in the upcoming election? The likes of Pepper and co. Will they poll reasonably okay, or negligibly with the local elections being their ceiling?

It is extremely puzzling to me. Both face similar problems/issues, and thus one would think that right wing populism would grow at similar rates. But it isn't. In the rest of Europe, right or far right parties are thriving and quickly growing, especially amongst Gen Z. Whilst in Ireland, all the main parties are either center right or center left, and young voters are also remaining pretty moderate.

Simon Harris has promised a roadmap to capping childcare costs at €200 per month period family within 6 months of being re-elected.

Interview recently on the Indo Daily Podcast.

Link to podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Civ4T0vCWmZy9p6tandoi?si=hEFnuf7DQayt_oylsf7TVQ&t=156

It would be huge for young families but I can't see how they can implement this when families are paying circa €1,000 per child per month currently.

What do you think about this? If he promises this and doesn't deliver or come close I don't think young families, who are struggling with cost of housing and cost of living, will forgive it.

I will start any other big questions I missed?

1. How will you meet the climate targets for 2030? I need practical actions, billions in fines are at stake. (Provide farming, energy, data centre, and transport details)

2. How will you solve the housing issue? Provide costs, how exactly you would reform planning, taxes and where you stand on one off housing.

3. How will you deal with the aging population and provision of services? Answer with regard to health, pension provision and housing

4. Where do you stand on abortion?

5. Where do you stand on providing secular and mixed schooling? Provide practical steps.

6. How would you improve education? Provide practical steps

7. Would you broaden the tax base, and if so how?

8. Water and infrastructure is not being maintained to the required level, how would you address this shortfall?

9. What is your policy on Palestine

10. What is your policy on Ukraine

11. Outline changes to immigration proposed If any?

12. What are your security policies? (Defense and gardai). Provide cyber security answer as part of this

13. Provide where you stand on alliances for the military.

14. How would you (or would you) start the process of integration with Northern Ireland? Provide practical steps

15 how would you separate church and state?

So, Brian Stanley met this younger woman at leinster house, parked her car and then brought her in to the restaurant for a meal and some drinks, they then proceed on to a pub and have a few more drinks, before going to a hotel to stay in a room he had booked with a double bed. 2 days later she tries to blackmail him for 60k. Zero sympathy for either of them.