By: Cahir O'Doherty | Published Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 8:50 AM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:05 PM
Where are the women? Where are the younger generations? Where's the diversity of the island itself? Looking at the leaders debate between Ireland's major political parties you have to wonder. At a time when an unprecedented economic crisis has completely disrupted the nation's politics as usual, it's extraordinary how reflexive and impervious to innovation and change Ireland's political establishment looks. The more the landscape of fact changes, it seems, the more our leadership hunker down with the tried and tested. This does not auger well. Yes, that actually was Enda Kenny wearing a 'Lets Get Ireland Working' badge, as if the nation's problems could be quickly addressed if citizens cheered up and redoubled their efforts. Elderly white conservative men in suits, for the most part, wooden as Giant Redwoods, are these really the faces that will rescue and inspire the nation? Or are we sleepwalking into a new administration that will prove as impervious to innovation and change as the old one?
What I understand by 'Lets Get Ireland Working' is that a lot of Irish are currently unemployed and h'd like to resolve that situation. Maybe I'm wrong, the Irish all have jobs and need to work harder, yeah?
newnation | Feb 25, 2011, 11:22 AM EST
Its the old folk that stay who have ruined ireland while the self named smart ones runaway to various corners of the globe and complain. stay and create a true republic or go enjoy your new found homes and keep your mouth shut, your no help 5000 miles away!!
newnation | Feb 25, 2011, 11:18 AM EST
too easy for someone on the otherside of the world to say, maybe if people stopped running away from ireland and stood up and fought to get our country back from the partys of the last century we could have a real nation for once, till then the runaways need to shut up or come back!
PolinDeB | Feb 22, 2011, 12:16 AM EST
Sleepwalking - we're simply asleep ... but hopefully RTE doesn't reflect the true reality of the voting public.... time will tell...
Towngate | Feb 17, 2011, 07:57 PM EST
HOLLA: There is little point ~ it's the 'same old same old' of ex-Colonial nervous,insecure muddled mindset. You can see for yourself on 'RTE Player' Try not to worry too much. Btw: great name. Is it a riding term?
hollabackgurl | Feb 17, 2011, 09:12 AM EST
This is interesting: what's the point of this musical chairs election if men with little to distinguish them from each other are replaced by their doppelgangers?
talon3355 | Feb 16, 2011, 09:31 PM EST
Or are we sleepwalking into a new administration that will prove as impervious to innovation and change as the old one?
Fine Gael needs to stop the hating a reaction that they are genetically predisposed to do by Opposition and get on with the right things that FF did(but like children they will not be told) for the Republic.What is Kenny doing going to Germany on a rant to Germany Chancellor Merkel and tell her our sad story on how we were abused. Sound like a bad dream to me but sometimes it better to just say nothing.
Towngate | Feb 16, 2011, 08:55 PM EST
GOOD POINT Cahir: The debate line-up looked more like Mount Slushmore. The trouble is these 'frontmen' hide what is really wrong with the country: Hidden behind them, secure in every key position of influence and Authority,at every parishpump, farmers union and sports association are the stale,complacent, seeming-complaining 'Old Guard'(and their coming youngsters)who think they own the Country. ~ ~ ~ The election is only shuffling a few faces around - what Ireland needs is for all those Citizens who are left out of the Cosy Cabal to realise it, stand up for themselves and root this cancer out!
GeorgeDillon | Feb 16, 2011, 05:38 PM EST
Well the foreigners are on the dole.
greensod | Feb 16, 2011, 12:25 PM EST
You always yet,what you always get,when you always do, what you always do.The younger generations are on the plane or the boat.The women are trying to hold the country together.
Searlit | Feb 16, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
You're right Cahir! I wish you weren't.
talon3355 | Feb 16, 2011, 10:01 AM EST
You mean: Meet Ireland's New Leaders, worse than the Old.
"Where are the women? Where are the younger generations? Where's the diversity of the island itself?" If you had been reading the political Blogs latly you would know that they are spoiling their vote.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Newrone | Mar 01, 2011, 10:42 AM EST
What I understand by 'Lets Get Ireland Working' is that a lot of Irish are currently unemployed and h'd like to resolve that situation. Maybe I'm wrong, the Irish all have jobs and need to work harder, yeah?
newnation | Feb 25, 2011, 11:22 AM EST
Its the old folk that stay who have ruined ireland while the self named smart ones runaway to various corners of the globe and complain. stay and create a true republic or go enjoy your new found homes and keep your mouth shut, your no help 5000 miles away!!
newnation | Feb 25, 2011, 11:18 AM EST
too easy for someone on the otherside of the world to say, maybe if people stopped running away from ireland and stood up and fought to get our country back from the partys of the last century we could have a real nation for once, till then the runaways need to shut up or come back!
PolinDeB | Feb 22, 2011, 12:16 AM EST
Sleepwalking - we're simply asleep ... but hopefully RTE doesn't reflect the true reality of the voting public.... time will tell...
Towngate | Feb 17, 2011, 07:57 PM EST
HOLLA: There is little point ~ it's the 'same old same old' of ex-Colonial nervous,insecure muddled mindset. You can see for yourself on 'RTE Player' Try not to worry too much. Btw: great name. Is it a riding term?
hollabackgurl | Feb 17, 2011, 09:12 AM EST
This is interesting: what's the point of this musical chairs election if men with little to distinguish them from each other are replaced by their doppelgangers?
talon3355 | Feb 16, 2011, 09:31 PM EST
Or are we sleepwalking into a new administration that will prove as impervious to innovation and change as the old one? Fine Gael needs to stop the hating a reaction that they are genetically predisposed to do by Opposition and get on with the right things that FF did(but like children they will not be told) for the Republic.What is Kenny doing going to Germany on a rant to Germany Chancellor Merkel and tell her our sad story on how we were abused. Sound like a bad dream to me but sometimes it better to just say nothing.
Towngate | Feb 16, 2011, 08:55 PM EST
GOOD POINT Cahir: The debate line-up looked more like Mount Slushmore. The trouble is these 'frontmen' hide what is really wrong with the country: Hidden behind them, secure in every key position of influence and Authority,at every parishpump, farmers union and sports association are the stale,complacent, seeming-complaining 'Old Guard'(and their coming youngsters)who think they own the Country. ~ ~ ~ The election is only shuffling a few faces around - what Ireland needs is for all those Citizens who are left out of the Cosy Cabal to realise it, stand up for themselves and root this cancer out!
GeorgeDillon | Feb 16, 2011, 05:38 PM EST
Well the foreigners are on the dole.
greensod | Feb 16, 2011, 12:25 PM EST
You always yet,what you always get,when you always do, what you always do.The younger generations are on the plane or the boat.The women are trying to hold the country together.
Searlit | Feb 16, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
You're right Cahir! I wish you weren't.
talon3355 | Feb 16, 2011, 10:01 AM EST
You mean: Meet Ireland's New Leaders, worse than the Old. "Where are the women? Where are the younger generations? Where's the diversity of the island itself?" If you had been reading the political Blogs latly you would know that they are spoiling their vote.