It is likely that the next Dáil will have 178 members
Last Thursday’s Irish Times/Ipsos poll findings left many people wondering why Fine Gael had suffered such a big drop in support (-4%).
The publication of the second half of the poll’s findings, a day later, offered an answer. It showed that voters would much prefer to see more money spent on improving public services and infrastructure than on tax cuts.
Only 13% of 35 – 49-year-olds (which at 19% is Fine Gael’s strongest voting cohort – though only just) want to see the government surplus used for tax cuts compared to 24% who want to see the surplus used to improve public services such as health and education or 39% who want to see it used to build infrastructure such as public transport, housing, hospitals, and schools. The ratios are very similar across other age groups. Continue reading “Next Dáil will have 18 extra TDs… but how many extra will FF or FG win… I doubt it will be many…”→
I was on Newstalk FM’s The Hard Shoulder radio show (Podcast) on June 8th once again arguing against the idea of Dublin adopting the directly elected mayor model. This time I was debating with Green Party Dublin City Councillor Michael Pidgeon. This was on the day that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar indicated that Dubliners might get to a vote on the proposal on the same day as the local and European elections in early June 2024.
Welcome to my first column and podcast in several weeks. Apologies for the delay.This column is also available as a podcast via Spotify
From Google Maps – Schuman roundabout in Brussels (rond-point Schuman), site of several EU offices)
It has been a few weeks since I last produced a column or podcast. This lull has not been due to any lack of material. Far from it. There has been enough political activity over the past two months for several columns.
So why the dwindling output, you ask?
Well, it is indirectly related to the late great Jeffrey Bernard. Regular readers and listeners will know that I am a bit of a fan of Bernard… and regularly pepper my output with his bon mots.
I was on RTÉ Radio One’s Today with Claire Byrne discussing the political trap set by Fine Gael… sorry… what am I saying? I of course mean the very public lobbying by a trio FG junior ministers on how the budget surplus should be spent.
Derek Mooney on Today with Claire Byrne RTÉ Radio One – May 25 – at 10.00am
I followed a very measured and constructive contribution from @JMcGuinnessTD and opened with my favourite Sean Lemass quote that
derekmooney.ie 