McDaid calls for general election.

[Digout]

He was on Newstalk and reckons it would be best for FF in the long run if an election was called now...He said he has discussed this with some senior FF people....is this the beginning?

[Kf]

On the basis that they would get a mandate to govern and apply the cuts or on the basis that FF could seek security in oppositon?

[Blueisthecolour]

Probably on the basis that they don't want the opposition parties to stregthen any further.

[LeftOfCentre]

Are you sure he said this? . . . I had it on but didn't hear this,

[Digout]

On the basis that they would get a mandate to govern and apply the cuts or on the basis that FF could seek security in oppositon?

Gives them a chance to regroup before they get destroyed because there is a lot more bad news coming.

[White Horse]

An open and frank discussion with the electorate, and their subsequent mandate for a government to make the agreed changes is what is needed.

Otherwise, we are stuck in limbo.

An election is essential.

[Eorna]

It would be the best thing from their point of view, let the opposition make the hard cuts, and have their share of the news. They would have a sizeable rump left, from which to rebuild. One thing that mitigates against this is that, even if the bail now, there will still be a lot of TD's and Ministers that would loose their seats. The Fianna Fail / PD mantra of "what is good for me", will prevent this from happening, as they will all put their own seats above party or country.

[Dare to Dream]

while I agree an election now would solve a lot of issues and be a good thing for many reasons, I didn't think that FG and L had a better idea of how to get us through than FF. What would their mandates be like now?

[QuizMaster]

Even though we would lose seats, I think it would be for the best.

[spalpeen]

It would be the best thing from their point of view, let the opposition make the hard cuts, and have their share of the news. They would have a sizeable rump left, from which to rebuild. One thing that mitigates against this is that, even if the bail now, there will still be a lot of TD's and Ministers that would loose their seats. The Fianna Fail / PD mantra of "what is good for me", will prevent this from happening, as they will all put their own seats above party or country.

and they would loose their soft touch jobs to hire cronies on their staff, their influence to get their little sisters jobs as press advisers with other ministers....
your talking millions of Euro annually that some TD'S & Ministers get to allocate
Most of these positions allow for a whole network of cosy little nests..