Harney quits as PDs leader [Irish Deputy Prime Minister]

UTV ^ | THURSDAY 07/09/2006 18:09:36 | N/A

[Irish_Thatcherite]

There is yet no mention as whether she will remain as Tanaiste [Deputy PM], though I don't see her doing so as tenable, considering her resignation from party leadership is of immediate effect.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

End of an era in Irish politics!

[fanfan]

Is this good news?

[wideawake]

It's amazing to an American how a party with less than 75,000 voters can have such an impact on Irish national politics and, in turn, EU politics.

But she's about as responsible for the Irish economic miracle as anyone, right?

[wideawake]

The PD, unless I'm horribly wrong, is about as close to a libertarian party as you can get in Irish politics.

[fanfan]

Thanks, Wideawake.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Is this good news?

It depends, because even though I hate Bertie Ahern an Fianna Fail, I like Mary Harney and the PDs in general - as wideawake points out, they are as close to being a libertarian party as you can get in Irish politics, the trouble is; who will replace her?

Two frontrunners - Justice Minister Michael McDowell, an out spoken critic of the IRA, and Liz O'Donnel, Minister of State at the Department of Foriegn Affairs, who is an out-and-out liberal. Needless to say, I'm hoping for Michael McDowell!

[fanfan]

I get it, thanks.

Lets hope for Mr.McDowell then.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

It's amazing to an American how a party with less than 75,000 voters can have such an impact on Irish national politics and, in turn, EU politics.

And they have an extraordinarily high numbers of Dail seats per vote - brought about by the electoral genius of John Higgins, the PDs general secretary - a man who happens to come from a town not far from me.

The PR system, with it's multi-party outcome has a lot of potential - it means a small party can wield a lot more power than their size would normally dictate, no two-horse races like Britain and America.

But she's about as responsible for the Irish economic miracle as anyone, right?

The economic reform started in the 80s under Garret Fitzgerald - but, yeah, Mary Harney deserves a lot of credit for the Celtic Tiger.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

He's a firebrand and he's a maverick - perfect for the job! :)

[wideawake]

I assume you're an FG supporter, since FF is SF lite, and all that's left are PD, Labour and the Greens.

Sickening how well the terrorists did in the last election - will they repeat?

BTW, every gung-ho Irish American will tell you how Michael Collins was one of their favorite movies and then claim that they would vote SF if they were voting in an Irish election - yet FG is Collins' party.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I assume you're an FG supporter, since FF is SF lite, and all that's left are PD, Labour and the Greens.

I am a grassroots member of FG, but my support for the party is tacit - I always get the feeling they want to recover their conservative roots, but are unable/unwilling to do so because of their long running pact with Labour.

And you're right FF is SF lite - in fact some backbench FF TDs are involved in the IRA, I know of one Fianna Fail TD who marched with Ruairi O Bradach in an Easter Rising parade years ago.

Sickening how well the terrorists did in the last election - will they repeat?

Now there's the downside of the PR/multiparty system - fringe lunatics like Sinn Fein could acquire power, and I fear it could be as soon as the next General Election (9 months max.).

BTW, every gung-ho Irish American will tell you how Michael Collins was one of their favorite movies and then claim that they would vote SF if they were voting in an Irish election - yet FG is Collins' party.

They are willfully unware of the fact that, in the end, Collins was shot by the IRA!!

[Happygal]

I hope McDowell doesn't get the job.

The man is opposed to freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press.

He's a loose cannon.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Yeah... but Liz O'Donnell?

[Happygal]

Any man who tries to force through a law that will practically stifle the Irish press, just because of a report about his own son, is not best placed to be Tanaiste.

So yeah, I'd take Liz O'Donnell over him any day.

[Happygal]

You gotta remember, McDowell is a very polarising character. Do you think he would attract votes for the PD's in the next general election?
I can't see it happening myself.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Of course, we are assuming that Harney will immediately step down as Tanaiste... she has made no mention of that.

I'm tempted to say I'd like to see Frank Connolly's freedom of expression stifled! :P

*sigh* You are right about McDowell, he is a nanny-stater - nanny-statism is what pushed me to join FR, I dunno.. this country needs someone to stand up to the threat from Sinn Fein/IRA.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

You gotta remember, McDowell is a very polarising character. Do you think he would attract votes for the PD's in the next general election? I can't see it happening myself.

You are right, but then again, I can't see the PDs doing well anyway - John Higgins will REALLY have to perform a miracle for them this time!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Update:

Ireland's justice minister faces uncontested run to become deputy premier

[fanfan]

Woo-Hoo!

He might be your Ronald Reagan, Lady Thatcher, Stephen Harper!

Go Ireland!