thinking again about how the pitch that Progress Ireland made to their investors was essentially that it'd be super duper easy to gain a lot of influence in Irish politics, just sooo fucking easy, barely any effort

@tommygreene.bsky.social has spent years reporting on this. If you've been following his work or listening to him on the tortoise shack none of this will come as a surprise.

The ones i was in were basic spec I mean. No sunroofs for example.

THIS THIS...... Louder for those not paying attention at the back of the class.....

Especially the ones that turn up for Terence Wheelock (RIP) demonstrations

Racism is shit. As you'd expect there's racists trying to downplay/justify last Fridays incident in Henry street. Because the person who died had "the wrong skin colour, the wrong name and from the wrong country......" Racism is shit. Did I mention that Racism is shit......

And it was absolutely the rental rule changes in March that prompted their eviction, so they were part of that 51% increase in evictions, for which I will never vote for any government party again as a result (and I haven't in a GE) since 2007.

I have been beyond stressed for this family, as we're friends with them through our kids and absolutely nobody, and I mean nobody deserves to be homeless in this day and age.

After getting word a family who were in emergency accommodation (EA) for the last 4 months have gotten a new place. Local authority messed them around, putting them on the housing list, then telling them recently they've no right to be on it, and giving them a deadline to get out of EA in a month.

And to the social media editors posting about this story in their channels and leaving the comments open, knowing full well what is going to happen - you are dirt, and you have no place in journalism or media. Vile, despicable people.

Yves Sakila was murdered. If the Gardaí, DPP and Government fudge this and do not prosecute those responsible we will have yet more evidence of the institutional racism at the heart of the Irish State.

And the political effects of this are not negligible. If people can't settle properly, have long commutes, postpone starting families, the social capital that Rob talks about withers - and people stuck in precarity are too wrecked to organise, leaving politics to 'the lads'.

And on the other side of the equation, I've met people with multiple rental properties who can simultaneously decry how difficult it is for their young relatives to get on the ladder, but who would shriek at any attempt to curtail their own rent seeking capacity.

The below would actually be a sensible argument

It's easy to point to 5 series BMWs on sharp lease deals as the nail in the coffin for the Ford type executive car. However these Passats surely played a role as their size was intruding into the traditional exec class.

Christ

I love that pleasant surprise when someone rolls up with unexpected genuine experience in what they are talking about. Therefore demolishing the potential counter argument of "you don't know what you are talking about". Before that counter argument can get going.

"But let's just allow everyone build one off houses".

For me there's an interesting mindset in Govt. Where it's seen as bad to incur the expense and debt of a 400 k to build house as a state. And therefore "it's better for people" to pay a landlord 900 k euros plus over 30 years for the exact same house. Its wild to me

This looks very interesting

WTF......... So Air bnb causes issues even when units come up for sale. Due to (unauthorised) changes made to the property to maximise the Air bnb potential

So my thinking is this. A tourism based hospitality focus should....... 1) add to the holiday experience. 2) be something a tourist gets pleasure and memories from.

Great topic.

I neglected to mention that I full supported the ambulance strike last week. Will support any continuation of the strike too

I'm very grateful to Deirdre and the Irish Examiner for giving me the chance to offer a voice for rural Ireland that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of our communities. It is long past time to dismiss the reductive idea that rural Ireland can be reduced to two industries. #Spéirgorm

Unfortunately there's too much do a trade "because Uni is wrong" thinking. Rather then do a trade because it's a potentially great career and experience. We are at risk of opposition to Uni for the sake of opposition to it. Rather then a holistic approach of the best option for each young person.

I've always felt the best way to get people subscribe to @dublininquirer.com, is just to publish good articles and wait and hope. But I'm told, that people are busy and might have other things on their minds than us, so I'd better make a pitch, better ask. So here goes. 1/

When SEAT became a member of the VW Group in 1986, few would have predicted that 11 years later its entry-level model would be so recognisably Fiat-based. The Marbella - essentially an early Panda with beam axle rear suspension - featured in 899cc form in this Spanish brochure. #weirdcarbs

For those of you yet to experience it, it's different. Very different. The joy. The positivity. The energy from the fans. It's a rugby party, not simply a game. It's an incredible vibe and it can't really be explained. It has to be experienced.

54 mpg was impressive for 1975. Especially as it's a magazines test figure and not just Citroen claiming it.

It's being literally 0 mins since I discovered that a 1.8 litre engine in a motorbike is a thing. A 6 cylinder at that.......

Ireland is a rich country with poor infrastructure due to delays, disputes, and overruns www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Really important argument here...... Demonstrates a lot of the myopic thinking re Rural Ireland. Let's me explain myopic - I mean the wider logic that Rural Ireland is to be agri and tourism focused. Because of tradition.

Today is Nakba Day. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine began 78 years ago today and it has never stopped.

Keir Starmer's political failure comes down to one issue above all others: his unwillingness to put the public interest ahead of the demands of the oligarchs, corporations and foreign governments who lobby him. Whoever replaces him had better be prepared to stand up for us, or Labour's finished.

Families are paying a second mortgage on childcare while Ireland remains one of the most expensive countries in Europe. A public childcare model would cut costs and support providers. Vote for a person who is proud of his roots and passionate about raising his family in Dublin Central.

This won't be forgotten. Talk about a lack of compassion. #Spéirgorm #Repeal #Abortionishealthcare

They are bad people with bad intentions governing badly

Those of us who volunteered on the Repeal campaign know we couldn't have won so decisively without the stories shared by the people this vote leaves behind. This is deplorable cruelty. It's a betrayal of everyone who shared their story to help others. #spéirgorm

I knew so many people who reduced their working hours, turned down full-time work, or otherwise took financial hits so they could give more time to the Repeal campaign. They recognised how important the opportunity was and did more honest work than just about any sitting TD at the time.

67% of the electorate voted for Repeal. Tonight 100% of Clare TDs failed to reflect that outcome. We desperately need more people in politics who respect social democratic ideals. #spéirgorm

During Repeal canvassing, I personally found the 3 day wait time etc didn’t come up as being a reason people voted yes. It was a vote for autonomy, genuinely. The demographic this is supposed to appeal to wouldn’t ever vote for abortion provision no matter way “safeguards” are put in

Some might think Míde is too young to be a TD. But her youth doesn't make her any less experienced, knowledgeable, or passionate about the issues that affect Galway West. There has never been a more important time to send Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil a strong message. On May 22nd, vote Míde # 1.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael actively worked to generate more housing insecurity by inflating rents and property values. Their only interest is in being reelected by ensuring the value of their voters properties keep increasing. The rest of us are just a resource to be exploited. It's deliberate.

My dumb ass predicted this (see piece below), but more importantly so did charities and experts who deal with the homelessness crisis caused by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. They can't claim ignorance. When you do something knowing what the outcome will be, the outcome was the purpose of the action.

We all knew this would happen. You don't need to be a housing expert (And I'm not) to understand how this legislation would influence the landlord class. You only need to have spent any time at all renting in FFGs Ireland. They knew this would trigger evictions and they did it anyway #Spéirgorm 1/2

Gave Rose Conway Walsh my vote in the last GE, not because I'm a SF voter, but because she is a woman, she has always been incredibly decent in my dealings with her, and the only other alternatives on the ballot (one GP aside) were FF/FG/right wing melts. I won't make that mistake ever again.

Since 2015 Labour and the Greens have a NET loss of 37 seats simply by propping up FF/FG. The Greens were supposed to jump in to secure climate action. But made things worse long term due to the botched outcomes that compromising with FF/FG results in.......

Given their recent role in attacking the ordinary people of Ireland while in government, I could never in good conscience tell anyone to join or vote for Labour or the Greens, so all that's left is the SocDems or PBPS. Whatever you choose, choose something different.