Irish Politics Thread

MacSharry of FF doing his best last couple of weeks to canvas for Junior Ministry. Surely Greens will be eyeing that Ministry given the role transport will play in many of its key policies 

All depends. If harsh austerity yes, if there is heavy investment and spending then probably not.

Likelihood is it will be the latter. It will be interesting. 

Ironically, it will be the “austerity” of the last decade that will allow for the necessary investment and the ability to borrow to deal with this crisis. Given that the crisis is so focussed and occurred over the course of a relatively short period of time, and that business will need a “jump start”, it makes absolute sense. This of course doesn’t mean it would be the right approach in other times, especially in times like 2009-2010 when the financial contagion had hit every aspect of the economy, and originally went back to over-reliance on single sectors and massive borrowing at low rates. I don’t think too many countries will apply the austerity approach. It doesn’t make sense and it will allow for greater popularity.

The Greens, at PP level seem to be favourable, generally to the programme, which I suspect will make a major difference when proposing government membership.

It's the first time FF and FG have formed a coalition together. In terms of Irish party politics, yes it is historic, because it signals the end of the cartel between them.