Where now for the opposition?

[Blackadder]

Enda Kenny needs to re-shuffle the front bench. Move Bruton on Cullen and bring Deasy back from the cold and put him on Dick Roche.

He needs to get the front bench to pull his weight.

The fact is that Fine Gael are lucky. This governmnt has a few no-hopers as the public are aware and if Fine Gael put their best performers on the incompetant ministers and with a little help from the media, this ineffective opposition nonsense will be proved to be just that.

Their is no hope in Bruton being on Cowen when the economy is booming.

Enda Kenny has to play to his strengths.He is no JFK but when it comes to leading a party out of oblivian and being a competant, honest potential taoiseach freefrom sleaze he is the obvious condidate for the next taoiseach.

The electorate are no fools and by the time the election dawns and the focus is on policy the coalition will come out on top.

As for Labour I do not have a clue. I honestly think there in big trouble.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Enda Kenny needs to re-shuffle the front bench. Move Bruton on Cullen and bring Deasy back from the cold and put him on Dick Roche.

He needs to get the front bench to pull his weight.

The fact is that Fine Gael are lucky. This governmnt has a few no-hopers as the public are aware and if Fine Gael put their best performers on the incompetant ministers and with a little help from the media, this ineffective opposition nonsense will be proved to be just that.

Their is no hope in Bruton being on Cowen when the economy is booming.

Enda Kenny has to play to his strengths.He is no JFK but when it comes to leading a party out of oblivian and being a competant, honest potential taoiseach freefrom sleaze he is the obvious condidate for the next taoiseach.

The electorate are no fools and by the time the election dawns and the focus is on policy the coalition will come out on top.

As for Labour I do not have a clue. I honestly think there in big trouble.

Regarding "a little help from the media" I think the reality is that the real Opposition in this country are the media. If you want more help from the media then fine - we've seen how 'helpful' they can be in recent weeks and poll-ratings.

Labour are indeed in trouble. Labour must wait.

[Blackadder]

Most "Media" stories criticizing the govenment come from palimentary questions asked by opposition deputies. The revelations concerning this governments incompetancy have come from opposition spokespeople. The Media have jumped on the bandwagon so to speak and carried some of these issues themselves.

Case in point. Richard Brutons Rip off Ireland and Eddie Hobbs' Rip off Republic.

If Richard Bruton had done that programme Fine Gael/Labour would be dead certs for government.

Of course RTE would never have allowed it!

[Blackadder]

I note FutureTaoiseach that you have not denied my assertion that there are incompetant ministers in this FF/PD government. Am I to imply your acquisence?

[President Bartlet]

[quote="Blackadder"]Enda Kenny needs to re-shuffle the front bench. quote]

I dont think FG should have a full reshuffle - two or three positions not a whole sale purge - a whole reshuffle would smack of desparation.
Needs to bring people like Convey, English, Enwright, Deasy into promiment positions.
Also must ensure that his front bench spokespeople have alternatives at hand to counteract the govt - and get themselves and these policies known to the electorate

[FutureTaoiseach]

I note FutureTaoiseach that you have not denied my assertion that there are incompetant ministers in this FF/PD government. Am I to imply your acquisence?

Every govt tends to have one or two bad apples I would like Dick Roche to resign I have never been a fan of what I see as his indifference to criticism over issues like sorting out the Electoral-Register. I don't understand why he won't agree to centralise the process perhaps under the CSO. Maybe he feared Industrial-Relations issues regarding the existing role for local-authority staff. Another reason to vote for the PDs to stand up to the vested interests in the unions and elsewhere.

FG and Labour have also had flawed ministers. Remember Lowry? People in glass houses etc. :P

[RBinge]

Ireland is effectively a one party state. Let's look at the history of FF government - 1932 to 1948, 1951 to 1954, 1957 to 1973, 1977 to 1981/2, and 1987 to 2007 with a three year gap after Albert's desire to help Harry Whelehan in the teeth of the Fr. Brendan Smith scandal forked up the FF/Labour government. Seventy four years, only eighteen years where they were not in power. Of course, nearly ten years after Albert's hamfisted attempt to prevent the Catholic Church from shipping damage Bertie is at it again looking to limit the liability of the employer of the child abusing bastards whose unbridled power over the weak and vulerable lead to the abuse scandals in the first place.

Bone stupid attack dogs telling blatant lies will be the spine of Fianna Fáil's attempt to remain in power, and useful idiots in Sinn Féin wanting to be the squeaky wheel of government in the 26 will raise the bones of Ballyseedy and the Blueshirts to ensure that the party of Cute Hoors will continue to ransack the pockets of the ordinary people.

Fianna Fáil call themselves the Republican Party. Using an American analogy this is apt, because they have shown themselves to be the defenders of the status quo in Ireland. No Welfare State. Make the Church immune from future claims from those abused. Allow those with influence get planning for more housing more remote from Dublin, but with no conditions as to school or transport provision. Encourage private road development where commuters are forced to pay one or more tolls to companies with links to the Party.

Can the alternative government break through this? Only if the people can be convinced that a change of government means that they and not the cute hoors with the inside track will be put first.

[Blackadder]

With regard to your reference to Michael Lowry Future Taoiseach, at least he did resign, unlike Cullen and Roche and dare I say the Taoiseach.

[FutureTaoiseach]

With regard to your reference to Michael Lowry Future Taoiseach, at least he did resign, unlike Cullen and Roche and dare I say the Taoiseach.

There was no evidence of being compromised on the part of those 2 though. Don't recall them getting house-extensions paid for by wealthy-businessmen.