Ireland Election News

Link to Original ArticleLeader of Fine Gael Enda Kenny has ruled out the possibility of three-way televised election debates during the election campaign. Kenny said he would participate in five-way debates because he would not exclude any party. He dismissed calls from Michel Martin to have three-way debates between the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour [...]

Link to Original ArticleMICHAEL Noonan is streets ahead of Joan Burton as the public’s choice of next Finance Minister. The popularity of the Fine Gael finance spokesman is borne out by the latest Irish Independent/Millward Brown Lansdowne poll, which shows that 44pc of voters would like to see him take over from Brian Lenihan in [...]

Link to Original ArticleLabour’s Pat Rabbitte gave a half-hearted apology last night after comments he made about new recruits to Fianna Fail’s frontbench sparked a sexism storm. Mr Rabbitte, the party’s justice spokesman, said some female members of Micheal Martin’s frontbench could have been plucked off Grafton Street. He said Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, an FF [...]

Link to Original ArticleHolly Mae Smith (2) with her mum, Natasha of the Pottery Shed at the Goods Shed, gives Eamon Gilmore the Labour Party leader a red rose which she made and painted for him during his visit to the Goods Shed Market on Tuesday afternoon. Photo Pat Moore. By Naoise Coogan While on [...]

Link to Original ArticleLABOUR’S Pat Rabbitte gave a half-hearted apology last night after comments he made about new recruits to Fianna Fail’s frontbench sparked a sexism storm. Mr Rabbitte, the party’s justice spokesman, said some female members of Micheal Martin’s frontbench could have been plucked off Grafton Street. He said Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, an FF [...]

Link to Original ArticleMARY MINIHAN MINISTER FOR Tourism Mary Hanafin and Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews have both ruled out moving from the Dn Laoghaire constituency they share to contest the general election in Dublin South. Ms Hanafin said she did not know where the rumour that one of them would contest the [...]

Link to Original Article‘This election is turning into a proper open contest, which will also have that rarity in Irish politics — ideological polarities’ JUST when we thought the next election was in danger of becoming a mere coronation for Labour and Fine Gael, with the only question being how many seats each would get [...]

Link to Original ArticleThe Tallyman A wounded Fianna Fail is currently setting up for the next election campaign on two fronts Eamon Gilmore and Inda Kenny are the modern day political version of the odd couple Even though their new leader, Steve Silvermint (he really is a cool, clean hero), has been around the Cabinet [...]

Link to Original ArticleSTEPHEN COLLINS and DAN O’BRIEN Sharp differences between Fine Gael and Labour emerged over the weekend as the election campaign got under way in advance of the dissolution of the Dil tomorrow. In a significant move, Labour pulled back from its commitment to the 15 billion budget adjustment target by 2015, opening [...]

Link to Original ArticleNew Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin is expected to announce his frontbench later today. Mr Martin is due to meet senior party TDs at 2pm this afternoon as the party prepares for the General Election. He is expected to promote more women and some of the party’s younger members. Last night, Donegal [...]