I think if you look at the FF and GP election manifestos, and indeed the Programme for Government they agreed when this Govt came to power, you'd see they have no political mandate for what they are doing.

That's not to say that its impossible to believe the policies are necessary, nor that there is something illegal in Cowen being Taoiseach. But it does mean they have no political mandate, rather important in implementing changes as drastic as they have, and the only way to get this is by means of an election.

Hopefully this has cleared it up for you.

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"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life" - Bill Shankley

Actually I think you are confusing the ability, nay obligation, on a government to change direction in accordance with the wishes of the legislature with an assumption that they only have a mandate for what was in their manifesto. An extension of your logic would be to say that coalition pacts have to be presented to the electorate as surely each party's manifesto (and thus their mandate) will have changed from the election.

Our constitution is pretty clear on this. The people elct the legislature to serve for a maximum of 5 years. That body then has the mandate to elect whatever leadership they see fit and to approve whatever policies they see fit.

I would agree, normally it doesn't normally play well with the electorate, but we're taking about Enda Kenny here, and man who's approval rating is ~30% and who is clearly holding the party back. FG have the perfect chance to be seen to doing something. Someone in the PP should put down a motion of no confidence if Kenny hasn't resigned by Thursday.

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Back to the future?
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Agreed on all 3.

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Out of curiosity Keith, who would you like to see replace him?

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"If we do not act until we know the answers to all possible questions, we shall never act, we shall never achieve the certainty for which we have been waiting, and we shall be swept along by events which we have forfeited the power to control". Jean Monnet, 1952

I would like to see Richard Bruton given a chance. He's not perfect, but given the lack of talent of the FG front bench, I think he would be the best choice.

I would like to see Gay Mitchell brought back from Europe to fight DS and every effort made to bring Shane Ross back into the party.

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Alex White, Jim O'Leary and Maria Corrigan. Unfortunately, Shay Brennan showed in the By Election that he isnt able for the political campaign trail.

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surely there somebody else been ff'er working away in the constituency for years, who isn't the son of...

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local elections
Is Enda our Barack?
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Yeah Senator Maria Corrigan

DLRCC County Councillor for Glencullen 1999-2007
GE Candidate 2002 and 2007 where she was ahead of White at the end of the county
Senator 2007-Present

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O'Leary has to be in the running to take back that seat for FG . Remember he topped the poll in the locals and has earned the reputation of being a very hard worker with plenty of cop on. He handled himself very well on JD today.