#IRELAND: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Agree On Coalition Government

[world politics news]

Sinn Féin will provide “the most effective opposition in the history of this State”, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Speaking after the emergence of the draft plan for a coalition government, she described the document as “very long, very wordy” and said the content was “vague”.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael back in government together, that’s not change.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#IRELAND: Sinn Féin Makes Dramatic Advance In Election; But Forming Gov't Will Be Difficult

[world politics news]

In Ireland's national election this past weekend, the Sinn Féin Party, with overwhelming support from the youth vote and dissatisfaction with the government over housing shortage, did better than it ever has; while the two major parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, came up short in the popular vote count, which is still ongoing.

Fianna Fáil will likely retain the largest number of seats in the Díal, the nation's parliament, and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar retained his seat, but it's unclear whether he will remain the party's leader after the election results are tallied.

Sinn Fein will find it difficult to form a government in the Díal. A party will need 80 seats in order to form a government without a coalition. Sinn Fein only fielded 46 candidates in Saturday's election, however.

Sinn Féin party officials say their best hope is to seek partners in other left-leaning parties.

Fianna Fáil officials campaigned on not forming a coalition with any other party, especially Sinn Féin, but even with only partial results in, officials reportedly are softening their position on a coalition with Sinn Féin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Violent Crime Becoming Major Election Issue

[world politics news]

Violent crime has jumped to the centre of the general election campaign following further gangland shootings in Dublin and a stabbing in Cork city.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid a visit to the family of a victim, but his claim that “Fine Gael is the party of law and order” was ridiculed by opposition leaders, while local people told reporters they were scared to go out on the streets.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Fine Gael Election Platform Features Tax Credit Rebate For The Poor

[world politics news]

Lower income families could be repaid up to €2,400 in tax every year under plans being considered by Fine Gael as a key element of its general election campaign.

A new policy of allowing the Revenue Commissioners refund unused tax credits to individuals earning below €16,500, or couples earning €33,300 a year, is detailed in internal documents discussing Government and party policy.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Taoiseach Varadkar Polling High At 60% In Latest IPSOS Survey

[world politics news]

The soaring satisfaction rating of Taoiseach [President] Leo Varadkar, in a Times/Ipsos MRBI poll, is evidence of the dramatic impact he has had on Irish politics since his accession to the leadership last summer. Varadkar is polling at 60%, far higher than his predecessor had ever polled, and his party, Fine Gael, is polling well, too, at  34%, ahead of its closest rival, Fianna Fáil, which is at 25%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#IRELAND: Polling Shows Sharp Drop For Fianna Fáil Party

[world politics news]

A new opinion poll suggests a sharp drop in support for Fianna Fáil, with the party now tied with the governing Fine Gael Party as the most popular party. The Ipsos/MRBI poll for The Irish Times indicates that support for the party is down seven percentage points to 26% since the last survey in July. The survey, when undecideds were excluded, shows a two point increase for Fine Gael to 26% and a three point gain for Sinn Féin to 19%. The Labour Party remained unchanged at 5%.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Government buildings, via Wikimedia Commons

#IRELAND: Parties Remain Unable To Form Coalition Gov't After Feb. 26th Election

[world politics news]

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are facing into a week of further contacts with smaller parties and Independent members of parliament (The Dail) to assess the possibility of forming a government. Since the failure of parliamentarians to elect a new Taoiseach when the 32nd Dáil convened for its first session last week, no grouping has yet presented itself as capable of commanding a majority in the House.

Pictured: Party Leaders Micheál Martin and Enda Kenny, who are holding talks with all interested in forming a government.

#IRELAND: Enda Kenny Announces Feb. 26 General Election Date

[world politics news]

Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny has asked Irish President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the parliament (Dáil) Kenny said that the Dáil will meet again on 10 March. The 32nd Dáil will have 158 seats, eight fewer than the previous one, and the number of constituencies has been reduced to 40 from 43. Kenny has been in office for almost five years, leading a Fine Gael/Labour coalition government since March 2011.

#IRELAND: Fianna Fail Pity Ldr Positions Pty "A Little Bit To The Left; Criticizes US-Style Taxation

[world politics news]

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has sought to position his party “a bit to the left” ahead of the general election, and criticised Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael Party's plans for United States levels of personal taxation.

#IRELAND: Polls Show Gov't Parties Fine Gael & Labour Slipping, Independents Rising

[world politics news]

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton 

#IRELAND

Breakaway Fine Gael Legislators Register Unofficial "Third Party" [world politics news]

Lucinda Creighton of the Reform Alliance says the group of expelled Fine Gael legislators has no intention of forming a formal political party.