Will Cowen hang on until 2014?

[motorheed]

Nonsense. FF won enough seats in the last election to form a government and has an entitlement to stay there until it loses a confidence motion or their term elapses.

So you think duty with entitlement applies only to lesser mortals e.g. your victims and favorite scapegoats on the dole? You sound more and more like feudal masters as time goes on.

As regards the “cost”, you’re living in cloud cuckoo land if you think that the opposition will wave a magic wand and solve all the problems of the country should they gain power after the next election. [/FONT][/COLOR]

I haven't seen anything to make me think they'd do any better a job and I would fear they'd do far worse.

So putting the nation first is an alien concept too. You fit in well with the Greens.

[revolution]

Certainly in these moments of national crisis, the overriding objective must be fostering a sense of national unity. The desire of the opposition parties to tear the nation apart in a festival of partisan bloodletting in order to pursue their own selfish and sectional interests is the anathema to the very concept of patriotism. Now is the time to put our trust in the constitutional mandate given to our leaders by the people at the ballot box. Now is the time to place our faith in the constitution given to us by those with the wisdom to foresee such grave national crises and draft such constitutional provisions accordingly. The dark cloud of recession can only be lifted by a nation that sets it's shoulder to the wheel with a unity of purpose, and the corner will not be turned by political leaders who seek to point us in the opposite direction. Our nation needs stability, not partisan squabbling.

[baldur0300]

So you think duty with entitlement applies only to lesser mortals e.g. your victims and favorite scapegoats on the dole? You sound more and more like feudal masters as time goes on.



So putting the nation first is an alien concept too. You fit in well with the Greens.

That post doesn't even resemble a cohesive thought.

[revolution]

I appreciate that the ABFF crowd, in their intellectual bankruptcy, will not engage on actual points of substance, preferring instead their time-tested tactics of truculence and ridicule.

But the case for an election before 2014 is hard to make. Will things have changed by 2012? It seems hard to believe that they will, despite the hard work and inspirational leadership of the Taoiseach and his cabinet. By 2014 the corner will truly have been turned, and it will be time for a real national debate about how best to share the proceeds of growth and how best to invest in our future. An election then will unify the people around the Government, and maximise the chances of stability and growth into the future. An election now would reward division, nihilism, and partisanship, and would plunge the country into a valley of despair from which no escape is immediately visible.

you're a funny fook spotty

[odie1kanobe]

No, he can't. The Constitution says that the length of a Dail term is determined by legislation, and that legislation is limited to 7 years as a maximum length. BUT - the current Dail was elected under the current legislation, which limits its term to 5 years under law. Even if FF-Greens were to legislate for a seven-year term tomorrow, that legislation would only take effect after the next election.
To put it simply, when we voted in 2007 we were voting for a Dail with a maximum length of 5 years. That was the legislation, that was the understanding under which we voted, those were the Terms and Conditions - hence that Dail can only sit for 5 years.

Thank you HBAP it took 6 pages before finding someone who knew the REALITY rather than the Moronic OP who hasn't a clue.

[Indy-pendant]

No, he can't. The Constitution says that the length of a Dail term is determined by legislation, and that legislation is limited to 7 years as a maximum length. BUT - the current Dail was elected under the current legislation, which limits its term to 5 years under law. Even if FF-Greens were to legislate for a seven-year term tomorrow, that legislation would only take effect after the next election.
To put it simply, when we voted in 2007 we were voting for a Dail with a maximum length of 5 years. That was the legislation, that was the understanding under which we voted, those were the Terms and Conditions - hence that Dail can only sit for 5 years.

HBAP, I hope you're right. I really REALLY hope you're right.
Quite honestly, I think that FF see that they're cornered, and if we thought they fought dirty when things were going well, just wait for the next phase. That post of Spotty sent chills up my spine - hack/hackette or not.

Remember, it is now survival stakes time for them - individually and collectively.

I'll bow to your knowledge about the legislation, but if you're correct, why have they passed legislation to delay the údarás na Gaeltachta elections, and why does the same not apply. That legislation was rushed throught the Seanad - on the final day if I recall correctly. If what you say is true, how could this legislation have passed, and as I said at the time, is it possible that a precedence has been/is being set?

Here's a bit from that thread:

Whether people think that Gaeltacht areas should have elections or 
not, or "pretendy" governments or not, the fact remains that Fianna Fáil 
have put this Bill through nice and quietly - to cancel the elections due to be 
held by Oct 2010 at the latest. Not only that, but reading through the entire 
debate (phew..!) I was particularly struck that Sen. Alex White noted that 
the Minister had waited until that day to bring it to the Seanad. He also put 
down an amendment that a phrase be included which would limit this 
extension (from 5 and a half years max to 7 and a half years max) to the 
2010 election only.

This amendment was not accepted.

Is this the shape of democracy now?
Is it the precedent for the GE to be held every 7 years - ie. 2014?

Nice one FF, if you get away with it...

http://www.politics.ie/elections/133...ppening-2.html

THIS BILL HAS BEEN PASSED - so where does that leave your argument.
Please tell me I'm just being paranoid...

[SIZE="4"] [/SIZE]

[SideysGhost]

That post doesn't even resemble a cohesive thought.

Nothing FF have done in the last 13 years has been remotely coherent.

Isn't there a lamp-post nearby you could be swinging from?

[FutureTaoiseach]

The next GE should wait until a new IRP Bill is passed - insofar as permitted by the Constitution. The Labour PC-brigade would never accept such legislation, but it would be harder to reverse it than pass it.

[hiding behind a poster]

Well Indy-Pendant, while I'm open to correction on this, I suspect there's nothing in the Constitution about Udaras elections. They're not an arm of the Oireachtas, hence the same rules don't apply. But if you look back at the statutory provisions for the 2007 General Election, I'm sure you'll find it mentioned somewhere which Act they're being held under - which basically nails down the maximum length of this Dail term.