'I didn't leave Fine Gael, they left me'. In conversation with leading journalist Sarah Carey
"Sinn Fein have peaked, the brand to watch is labelled 'independent'"
Leading journalist Sarah Carey talks to Jim and Chris about Leo Varadkar's departure and Simon Harris' accession.
'Harris needs to be much more than a good communicator'. The big test, one of many, will be his choice of cabinet. That will signal whether genuine change is on the way. 'The reshuffle will tell us if Harris is serious'
Will any exiting FG TDs be tempted back?
Why are so many voices of the centre so scared to speak up?
Why do 'progressives' oppose building anything?
Harris should ban his party from social media.
Mainstream media ( we are looking at you Fintan and Una) is as responsible as Sinn Fein for painting Ireland as a failed state. All of the evidence, with full acknowledgement of all of the problems, shows emphatically that Ireland is the opposite of a dystopian hell hole.
Sinn Fein have peaked. The electorate is waking up to the fact that they offer slogan without solutions.
The ones to watch are the independents. Maybe some of them should be tempted into government via ministerial appointments - but only if they join the Party.
Politicians take all of the blame and none of the credit. It's a cruel and thankless gig. Maybe FG need a spell in opposition?
Apple podcast link here
On spotify:
Excellent podcast guys. I agree with pretty much everything Sarah says. My only difference would be the thought of FG taking a position after the next election to opt out of seeking to form a government so as to spend time in opposition rebuilding the party. As we know from many other jurisdictions and indeed FG's experience during the Bertie Ahern years, opposition can lead to a very long time in the wilderness. That may not be good for FG and it certainly would not be good for Ireland. Say for example if we had 10 years of SF as the main party in Government, if they implement their present taxation plans, rental market plans and housing plans, this country may never recover from the likely loss of capital. investors, MNCs and higher earners that would ensue.