With respect: putting FF-FG back into power for 4 years is *not* keeping them in check. It's the total opposite. And I'd dispute that the Greens had a lot of positive influence: their Minister Hackett oversaw a Draft Forestry Plan all about more Sitka, while Noonan insisted sheep graze a new NP. - ThreadSky

irishrainforest.bsky.social • 51 days ago

With respect: putting FF-FG back into power for 4 years is *not* keeping them in check.

It's the total opposite.

And I'd dispute that the Greens had a lot of positive influence: their Minister Hackett oversaw a Draft Forestry Plan all about more Sitka, while Noonan insisted sheep graze a new NP.

Reposted from Emma Quinlan

I dispute this. If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu. Greens had a lot of positive influence in gov and fought headwinds and probably kept main parties in check likely. SD should do same. Or they’ll never lead.

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oisinmcgann.bsky.social•51 days ago

What was the alternative? We’re now about to find out what it’s like to have a FF/FG government with no one motivated about climate change on board, and we are out of time. We can’t spare another four or five years. What would you have done?

barrysguidedtours.bsky.social•51 days ago

SF 39, SD 11, LAB 11, GR 1 = 62 seats. For that bloc to have any chance of governing, they would have to grow numbers by approx 50%. On the face of it, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of that happening. To have even the remotest chance, they simply have to present a coordinated platform.

oisinmcgann.bsky.social•51 days ago

Yes, I agree. And until they do, coalitions are our only chance of progress.

barrysguidedtours.bsky.social•51 days ago

Perhaps.

irishrainforest.bsky.social•51 days ago

I (respectfully) disagree, Barry. I don't accept that Ireland's eternal political destiny is to be governed by the roughly 40% bloc that always votes for the status quo, ie FF-FG.

barrysguidedtours.bsky.social•51 days ago

I didn't suggest that. I perhaps should have included the word 'currently". But without some ilk of credible left-wing coordination, then yes.

irishrainforest.bsky.social•51 days ago

Do you *really* think an endless succession of FF-FG coalitions, backed by small progressive parties that achieve a few minor concessions (tied to right-wing policies: housing, health care, etc, crises), and then get electorally wiped out is how we tackle climate breakdown or ecological collapse??

irishrainforest.bsky.social•51 days ago

There needs to be a real alternative for people to vote for, ie a coalition of left, progressive, parties that people trust NOT to keep propping up the business-as-usual status quo at every opportunity.

judisutherland.bsky.social•51 days ago

You are right, Eoghan, there needs to be, but there isn’t.

irishrainforest.bsky.social•51 days ago

No, but there could be.

oisinmcgann.bsky.social•51 days ago

I've been waiting my whole life for a proper left-wing government. In the meantime, Ireland votes persistently centre-right, with a bit of belligerent left-wing pushing in from the side. People accusing smaller parties of 'propping up' these governments are contributing to this failure.

kevinteljeur.bsky.social•51 days ago

But that's because there's now only one Green Party TD. They made the choice, and having one term before getting wiped out was the outcome that they were comfortable with. They made decisions over the five years knowing that they'd be finished, and they were ok with that.

oisinmcgann.bsky.social•51 days ago

They thought it was better to do something than nothing. That’s worthy of respect. I don’t know what decisions they were forced into as part of the deal, but they got good stuff done. More than any other progressive party has in years.

kevinteljeur.bsky.social•51 days ago

Sure, but they also made some terrible decisions, and that's what cost them the election. They could have not done those things, and avoided getting wiped out. Now, a number of their policies will be unravelled, and we take some steps backwards. They chose that as a strategy.

oisinmcgann.bsky.social•51 days ago

If you’re a minority party government, you have to support the majority party’s crap policies in order to have them support yours, and you have to do so publicly. That’s how coalitions work. I don’t know where that division was, and I’m assuming you don’t either.

kevinteljeur.bsky.social•51 days ago

Not all of it, but some was a matter of public record. And that's fine, they made those choices and they lost their voters, such as me (and clearly, many more). For a second time. I'd be surprised if they get a third chance.

tinydbass.bsky.social•51 days ago

Not disagreeing but I've yet to see analysis (as in, I haven't really looked) that backs this up (i.e. that left people stopped voting for them because they went along with "bad" FFFG policies). It also seems possible that they got a lot of "soft" support from FFFG voters last time that evaporated.

kevinteljeur.bsky.social•51 days ago

I saw a number of people leave the party directly after they went into coalition (and joining other parties, such as the SocDems), but I took that as anecdata, which isn't useful.

stephencredmond.bsky.social•51 days ago

In all things political there are always ropes to walk, and balances to be achieved. The new NP thing was one such situation - but we do have new NPs that can evolve over time. On balance the GP delivered a lot of what they were elected on and moved the Green agenda forward. But now it moves back.

stephencredmond.bsky.social•51 days ago

All of the Green items are *urgent* but there are only so many that can be delivered politically in a short 5 years.

stephencredmond.bsky.social•51 days ago

Sure as hell that a left-wing government led by SF would have no more push for a Green agenda than FF/FG - they have their own priorities.

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