Both above and below the Waterline: Varying results for Fine Gael-Labour coalition in Sunday Business Post-Red C (26 May) and Irish Times-Ipsos MRBI poll figures

Adrian Kavanagh, 13th-18th-26th-27th-29th May 2012 Three polls published over the weekend before the European Treaty referendum have produced rather mixed results for the government parties. A constituency level analysis of support based on the latest Irish Times-Ipsos MRBI poll estimates that the government parties would not win a sufficient level of seats to maintain a majority in…

Announcement of a Claiming Our Future event

COF IDEAS – REINVENTING OUR DEMOCRACY A NATIONAL DISCUSSION IN: CROKE PARK, DUBLIN ON: 26TH MAY REGISTRATION: 10 AM Individuals and organizations from the full breadth of civil society will explore new ideas on democracy and share their thinking with each other on how to reinvent our democracy. Register now and join the discussion in…

Lobbying legislation

Posted by Elaine Byrne The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are currently engaged in a process of consultation in order to introduce a regulatory system for lobbying in Ireland. Department officials will publish a policy paper on the process in May and the anticipated legislation is due early next year.  I believe that this is…

Water’s going on? Party and European referendum support trends; Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI (19/20 April)/Sunday Business Post-Red C (29 April) polls

Adrian Kavanagh, 20th and 29th April 2012 A series of polls point to a drop in support for the two government parties in the wake of the Household Charge and Water Charge proposal controversies with Sinn Fein and the Others grouping appeating to be the main beneficiaries and likely to make significant seats gains should these results…

A shadow constitutional convention

From Eoin Daly (posted by Jane Suiter) 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of our Constitution. The present Government has committed to establishing a “constitutional convention” this year, as part of its political reform agenda and on foot of the Programme for Government. However, the convention will serve essentially as an advisory group, constituted of citizens…

Change we can believe in? The government’s proposed Constitutional Convention

Matthew Wall The government’s recently unveiled proposals on the forthcoming constitutional convention make for disappointing reading for those who, like this author, had hoped that such a body could facilitate profound political reform in Ireland. The proposed convention, to be comprised of a chair, 66 members of the public and 33 elected politicians, is hobbled…