Irish Current Affairs

mancity2012_eamo said:
Are you at a permanent disadvantage being bi-lingual?
I know Gaeltacht areas find it extremely difficult economically to retain a population. The young need to find work and usually have to leave.
What are you referring to in particular Aguero?
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Not everyone that leaves a Gaeltacht area could be described as 'bilingual'. That requires being immersed in both languages at an age where you're still developing. Many speak English as a second language which is mentally taxing to do on a day to day basis. Many also struggle to pick up a third language ie Spanish, German or French which is a requirement at school level now and indeed for many degrees, as they're forced to learn through English, meaning they have to translate everything twice in real time, which literally causes the brain to overheat. It's far from the easy advantage that Tony thinks it is, even with the bonus 5%, especially when you consider the lack of funding education in Gaeltacht areas gets compared to more affluent parts of the country.
 
AlexWilliamsGloves said:
As Eamo (i think) said previously, a vote for Sinn Fein now isnt an IRA sympathy vote....i have absolutely no love for SF, yet essentially, half the country up here voted them in....so they are currently in government in the UK.

Plus, theres this...

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/sinn-fin-deputy-michelle-oneill-17728875

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill says she has been told by police of a dissident republican plot to attack both her and MLA Gerry Kelly.

Making the announcement at Stormont, the deputy First Minister said she will not be deterred.

She added: “I have been told by the PSNI that they have intelligence that dissident republicans are planning an attack against myself and Gerry Kelly.

“These people have nothing to offer society. These people have clearly intent to attack myself and Gerry, our families. We are also aware this comes on the back of both myself and Gerry attending the PSNI recruitment fair last week.

“So let me be very clear, dissident republicans have no strategy, they have no plan, they have no progress towards Irish unity and I think this intelligence comes at a time when we have never been closer to Irish unity.

“I will not be deterred. Gerry Kelly will not be deterred. Sinn Fein will not be deterred from trying to build a better society.”
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aguero93:20 said:
Not everyone that leaves a Gaeltacht area could be described as 'bilingual'. That requires being immersed in both languages at an age where you're still developing. Many speak English as a second language which is mentally taxing to do on a day to day basis. Many also struggle to pick up a third language ie Spanish, German or French which is a requirement at school level now and indeed for many degrees, as they're forced to learn through English, meaning they have to translate everything twice in real time, which literally causes the brain to overheat. It's far from the easy advantage that Tony thinks it is, even with the bonus 5%, especially when you consider the lack of funding education in Gaeltacht areas gets compared to more affluent parts of the country.
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That's funny. The Gaelscoils tell parents that it's easier for kids to pick up a 3rd langauge if they are already have 2 languages. I always wondered about this because if so people from the Gaeltacht must be amazing globe trotters. And the 5% bonus for the Gaeltacht seems a bit strange if they are mentally stressed less because they are doing the exam in their first language.

I love that there are Gaeltacht areas and I'd be glad to see them have excellent resources. I love the GAA too and Irish music and culture. I just don't have a great personal history with the language - for example I don't know the words to the national anthem and I'm not sure that it's fair that many kids will grow up like me and be at a disadvantage. It's like we aren't Irish enough. Which is especially tough to take when you are an ugly red head with a tiny pecker.
 
TonyM said:
That's funny. The Gaelscoils tell parents that it's easier for kids to pick up a 3rd langauge if they are already have 2 languages.
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If you can learn it through your first language. Very few secondary schools (if any) in this country teaching German or French through Irish.
 
So FF have ruled out going into coalition with SF. FG have previously done so as well. The two could still team up in theory, with a few independents, but that seems unlikely, and would probably damage them even more. And none of the three really have the numbers to do it without one of the other two, even with all the other smaller parties combined..
 
Brilliant.

Vote Tory or Brexit party and you are a racist right wing nut job.

Same posters....a vote for Sinn Fein is in no way a vote to support the IRA.

At least its starting to dawn on you all why people vote the way they do and there is not always some sinister plot behind it.
 
Coatigan said:
So FF have ruled out going into coalition with SF. FG have previously done so as well. The two could still team up in theory, with a few independents, but that seems unlikely, and would probably damage them even more. And none of the three really have the numbers to do it without one of the other two, even with all the other smaller parties combined..
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My first preference went to Fine Gael this time, more for the candidate than for any faith in that party. If we get another FG/FF coalition I'll be voting for SF next time, as I don't have a PBP or Labour candidate. Doubt I'm the only one that feels that way.
 
blueinsa said:
Brilliant.

Vote Tory or Brexit party and you are a racist right wing nut job.

Same posters....a vote for Sinn Fein is in no way a vote to support the IRA.

At least its starting to dawn on you all why people vote the way they do and there is not always some sinister plot behind it.
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I’m reading this as you having a dig at certain remain doctrine as you see it, and not particularly a dig at the Irish electorate.
But strange as it may have sounded 25 years ago, a vote for Sinn Fein is not a vote for the IRA.
Certainly not down south and I wouldn’t even make an assumption like that up north either.

One thing for sure, it’s left the country in a situation where we have a three way split with two parties not wanting to talk to the other one. They also don’t want to talk to each other but in not doing so, they will make their popularity marginally lesser than if they go into a confidence and supply arrangement again.

Sinn Fein are in a win/win situation, not that it’ll do the country any good.

This is out of date regarding the likely coalition but the analysis of the vote is accurate enough.
 
Magicpole said:
So what's happening Cat Boy? Whose going to be running the gaff?
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Talk today is it's going to be FF/FG/Greens, which will see the Greens wiped out at the next election as most of their seats were won by the skin of their teeth on SF transfers. Think we'll have another election soon tbh. Sin é an chaoi.
 
Got to say - that after many years of criticising the FPTP model in the UK - seeing the 'outcome' of elections in Ireland (and others across Europe) - I am thinking that perhaps the system is not so flawed after all.

When it has worked least well recently is when there is no working majority secured - e.g. 2017. At least, when there is a working majority, there can be decision making and progress in implementing policy.
 
mcfc1632 said:
Got to say - that after many years of criticising the FPTP model in the UK - seeing the 'outcome' of elections in Ireland (and others across Europe) - I am thinking that perhaps the system is not so flawed after all.

When it has worked least well recently is when there is no working majority secured - e.g. 2017. At least, when there is a working majority, there can be decision making and progress in implementing policy.
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Varadkar playing games now.
Could be April before a government is formed although can’t see how. FG and FF would have to get together again but they’re both pariahs to the rest of the house bar a few independents.

Another election would be interesting to see what it would return.
 
mcfc1632 said:
Got to say - that after many years of criticising the FPTP model in the UK - seeing the 'outcome' of elections in Ireland (and others across Europe) - I am thinking that perhaps the system is not so flawed after all.

When it has worked least well recently is when there is no working majority secured - e.g. 2017. At least, when there is a working majority, there can be decision making and progress in implementing policy.
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By a government voted in by a minority of the electorate..........."one man one vote" should be the only democratic way that way a winner would have to persuade over half the electorate to vote for them to get a majority. FPTP is used in a GE but other ways are used in other votes in this country - the authorities take the piss and load the dice in whatever way they think will suite them best in a number of cases.
 
It will take a while to put together, but no reason why a FF/FG/Green coalition wouldn't provide stable government. A fixed term parliament act might also help!
 
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