Oh, by the way – fill your car with diesel today. If the Greens get their way, it will cost you more tomorrow.
Goodies
Thus is the Government operating on immigration: Having started the fire, they now stand before you promising to douse the flames and get matters back under control.
Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins TD says his party is ready for a general election, with candidates at the ready. He also addresses the Ciaran Mullooly controversy, and explains how he would avoid being dominated by a bigger party in a coalition government.
The bike shed story is about as clear an indication as any voter could hope to have about how the present system works, and how those responsible for managing it have managed it.
As things stand, though, with the proviso that they can change quickly, the Taoiseach is going to cruise to re-election, and an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in Government for Fine Gael.
The stunning thing here, really, is that the polling consistently now has Sinn Fein on course to lose seats, rather than gain them, at the next election.
We have a bizarre situation where the next Government will be bound – at least to some degree – by major spending decisions taken in the dying days of this one.
All most of these people want is reasonable limits on immigration, and more homes for their own kids. And there isn’t a candidate in the land with a shot at taking power who is willing to offer that formulation.
Ironically, in this case, phones in schools is actually a pretty good example of why Government shouldn’t interfere with the small stuff:
You’d nearly be glad the Dáil is on extended holiday, wouldn’t you?
Behind the scenes, a detailed and well-thought out plan is in place with the aim of making anti-immigration candidates a functional irrelevance