FF leadership heave:

[Congalltee]

Noel O'Flynn makes the first move.
O'Flynn calls for Cowen appraisal - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 11, 2010

“His rating is down to 18 per cent. Surely now we as a parliamentary party have to look at the future of the leader".

"It must be examined in the context of the latest polls and as you know before Easter we had a very long discussion with him and a debate in the parliamentary party where he indicated that he was going to do better, that he was going to have a higher profile which he has done. It would appear to me that the support for the Government is at 12 per cent and the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party will have to decide if he is the best person to continue to lead”, he said.

[James Healy]

FF can not really have two leadership changes in present Dail. And if new leader were to take over now, result will be same in GE, so I expect them to let Cowen lead them ovber the cliff whenever it comes. Then new leader will start off in opposition, and oppose everything, just like FF always did, and as Gilmore is doing now.

[Toland]

Here's a thought - could FF Backbenchers arrange a Tied vote that would need the support of the CC to pass?

It would mean 7 govt TD's abstaining, leaving 78 for (assuming all 78 opposition vote against).

CC passes the motion, Government survives, but Cowen as leader is weakened beyond repair... but the government survives...

Would/could the beasts be that cunning?

Fianna Fáil 75
Green Party 6
Independents 4
Total 85
Ceann Comhairle 1

Fine Gael 51
Labour Party 20
Sinn Féin 4
Independents 3
Total 79

That'd be very risky. I doubt you'd get seven FF TD's who could coordinate that. Particularly since some of the independents have their own minds and no whip to change them.

[redhead101]

... Cowen as leader is weakened beyond repair... but the government survives...

What's the upside of that for an FF backbencher?

[adamirer]

I think the likes of Hanafin (in particular) and maybe Martin, if they wish to make a move, need to do it before an election. There's no guarantee they'll hold their seats to do it afterward.

[Disillusioned democrat]

Here's a thought - could FF Backbenchers arrange a Tied vote that would need the support of the CC to pass?

It would mean 7 govt TD's abstaining, leaving 78 for (assuming all 78 opposition vote against).

CC passes the motion, Government survives, but Cowen as leader is weakened beyond repair... but the government survives...

Would/could the beasts be that cunning?

Fianna Fáil 75
Green Party 6
Independents 4
Total 85
Ceann Comhairle 1

Fine Gael 51
Labour Party 20
Sinn Féin 4
Independents 3
Total 79

Or, Green Party abstain from the vote....

[Disillusioned democrat]

Noel O'Flynn makes the first move.
O'Flynn calls for Cowen appraisal - The Irish Times - Fri, Jun 11, 2010

Cowen certainly got a higher profile alright - just not the one he would have sought. He's certainly in the global spotlight now, but heaping more shame on the country than thought possible a few weeks ago.

[adamirer]

Wonder will the Sindo run another John McGuinness special on sunday, or just lay into the opposition.

[slumdog1971]

I hope that FF do nothing to save themselves, but as you say, if they did, Hanafin may in fact be an inspired choice.

There is something rarely mentioned about the polls and voting intentions. IMHO, the Dubs love having a taoiseach, and assume the taoiseach should be based in Dub.

What happened when FF offered them Bertie?? he may not have been able to string 2 words together, and was visible as a chancer from 500 miles away, but he was a dub and they chose him.

Now, Enda - culchie, and whatever they say to peoples faces, the dubs just think "we dont want a culchie". Who won the locals and Euro's overall? - FG
But who won in Dublin?? Why ??

Now to Gilmore - which is the only major party to give the voters a Dub TD as potential taoiseach??? Correct
And what is happening to the polls in Dub since he took over??? Biggest party in the locals in Dub??? correct again

What happened to FF in Dub when Cowen took over??? Euros? Locals anyone??

Now to Hanafin. A dublin based FF leader not contaminated by the sh1te???
Actually badly treated by "the culchies"?

bug*er, I shouldn't have pointed it out to them.

Mary Hanafin is the most likely Minister to lose her seat in the next election.

She will deffo not be leader of FF. Cowen is finished and Lenihan, even apart from the man's illness, would never be considered a leader of FF. FF is a populist party. There is no chance they would ever elect a man who cut both pay and SW.

We'll have to look elesehwere for a leader. Cork maybe ???

[dónal na geallaí]

What a roll call of mediocrity,congalltree.A veritable plethora of plonkers.Makes you realise how utterly moribund FF have become if these old hoofers and spent rockets are the 'white knights' riding to the rescue!