Presidential election.

"Presidential blather a mix of sweet nothings".- Fintan O'Toole in today's I.Times.
But what can he expect.  The President is a powerless position, a figure-head.
There is nothing to argue about.

The country is in a major crisis, but what is the government doing about it ?
Entertaining us again with another leadership contest.
It would be funny if it wasn't so serious.

Why can't Brian Cowen, and Fianna Fail, realize that regardless of what they believe about their own actions - the very question of their suitabilty for leadership is weakening the country.

It is a measure of the dysfunctionality of our political system that this afternoons press conference even took place.
If we could manage our own affairs this issue would have been resolved months ago.

It is time for everybody in Leinster House to resign and for the President to apply to Brussels for direct rule.

Donegal bye-election

4 Nov 2010
"To be fair, we have given no consideration collectively to the situation created by Jim McDaid. That just hasn't come up yet for consideration."  The Fianna Fail Chief Whip, John Curran on RTE's Morning Ireland denying that any date had been set for the "other three" bye-elections.
But it is just not credible that the government didn't discuss the situation created by McDaid's resignation when they met to discuss the outcome of the court decision last night. Given their narrow majority it would have been irresponsible NOT to discuss it.
How long do they think they will survive ?