Alan Shatter running as independent

Duke of Marmalade

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Yesterday the duchess asked me who I would be voting for. I said no-one as I was disgusted at the universal fear of being outflanked by Sinn Fein on Israel. Then this morning I see our neighbourhood bedecked with posters of Alan Shatter. Problem solved. And considering we gave Israel 10 points in the Eurovision I would like to have a bet that he will be successful.
 
Very wealthy man running on a single-issue platform of abolishing inheritance tax* so that his wealthy children can become even more wealthy. There are better people to vote for.

* In fariness, he is a 2-issue man - abolishing inheritance tax and partisan support for Israel.
 
2 issues is probably double that of the typical independent.
 
Not the sort of issues government parties will do a deal on if need independent support.
 
While it's good to have a voice in favour of Israel, though just as biased in the other direction, I strongly disagree with him on inheritance tax.
 
While it's good to have a voice in favour of Israel, though just as biased in the other direction, I strongly disagree with him on inheritance tax.
Yes, I think there needs to be a counterbalance, given the echo chamber Irish media has become on the conflict, but Shatter is the other extreme; he's extremely disingenuous too as he talks about a two-state solution but actively promotes strategies that render it impossible.

His framing of his inheritance tax proposals really irks me, he keeps referring to it as "State sponsored grave robbery". He should at least be transparent and declare to what degree he expects his adult children to benefit from his proposals.
 
I agree completely.
 
The reason he's not been an FG TD since 2016 is because he was outflanked by his local constituency organisation supporting Josepha Madigan at the selection stage. Seemingly he was perceived as being a lot of hard work by the constituency and didn't do anything for himself. If that is true then he's not going to do all that much better as an independent where he very much will have to do everything for himself.
 
Isn't ex-FG TD Kate O'Connell running as an Independent in that constituency also?
The seats are going to be hard to call there, a headache for whoever is running FG's campaign in that neck of the woods.

No sign of any Count McBinface's this side of the pond, although I see the Monk is running in Dublin Central, rumoured to be trying to spoil things for Mary Lou. If he could take out Clare Daly too, that'd be something.
 
two neighbouring constituencies.

Shatter = Dublin Rathdown
O'Connell = Dublin Bay South
 
I disagree with Alan Shatter on many, many things, but:

1) He’s completely transparent in his views He doesn’t slip and slide or dodge a question
2) He is very hard working
3) I met him professionally once and was genuinely astonished at how much he knew about what he was advocating

He is very, very different from a typical Irish politician.
 
Yes, he's highly intelligent and a brilliant legislator.
 
Yes, he's highly intelligent and a brilliant legislator.
I think it's a pity he was at cabinet for a mere three years of the 33 he spent in the Oireachtas, most of it as an under-utilised backbench TD.

I think the Irish system doesn't make space for TDs who are good at legislative scrutiny and committee work.

If Shatter fails at the Dáil I think he'd have a good shot at a TCD Seanad seat.
 
I agree.
If Shatter fails at the Dáil I think he'd have a good shot at a TCD Seanad seat.
Hopefully, though his heritage is a big disadvantage in this country.