Times poll shows Sinn Féin surge holding nationwide

The surge in support for Sinn Féin is holding nationwide according to a new Irish Times survey.

The survey puts Sinn Féin on 15%, down 1% from the Suns Red C poll two weeks ago, but up 7% on the last Times poll taken last September.

The poll has Fine Gael on 30%, Labour on 25%, Fianna Fail on 17% and the Greens on 2%. It puts others, which includes independents and smaller protest parties on 11%.

This poll shows the dramatic rise in Sinn Féin support nationwide holding strong, despite a recent onslaught from the national media.

The poll has also revealed that Gerry Adams in the second most popular party leader in the nation on 28% behind Labours Eamon Gilmore,  but well ahead of Fine Gaels Enda Kenny and the Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

FG and Labour refuse to reverse cuts to students grants

Last night, the "government in waiting", Fine Gael and Labour could not make a promise to strickened students to reverse the cuts to their grants.

The Union of Students in Ireland is furious over the change which it claims will force many to drop out of college.

Anger is mounting over drastic cuts in grants for 25,000 students who will lose €1,700 each on average from next September.
The students will be forced onto lower grants because they live less than 45km from college.
Until now they got the higher 'non-adjacent' grant which kicked in at 24km from college.

60% of Irish people believe politicians are corrupt

A new poll by Transparency International Ireland has found that six in ten people believe corruption to be rife in Ireland, with the majority blaming politicians.

Bankers and clergy are also named in the corruption list.

John Devitt, Chief Executive of T.I.I said that, "The findings are similar in other countries."

Irish Social groups condemn Budget of Misery

Social groups are today digesting the details of Budget 2011.
Barnardos says there is despair in many Irish households as a result of the cuts in child benefit.

The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed says Ireland is a much colder place for those out of work.

Respond, the housing association, says cuts to social welfare and child benefit will inflict further hardship on families.

The Civil Public and Services Union, which represents lower-paid civil servants, said that the Budget fails the test of fairness, while the ICTU said that it is "utterly lacking in any sense of the common good”.

Frances Byrne from OPEN, the national network of one parent families, says the Budget is devastating.

"It makes a huge lie of protecting the vulnerable," said Byrne.

International medias reaction to Irish Budget coloured by Irish Medias censorship

International Media Articles about yesterdays budget have been widely regarded as pro government, and blamed upon a conservative national media in Ireland which is actively censoring the news.

One Irish ex pat in New York blog, "Ireland is like Burma now....you only hear what the government there wants you to hear..."

Some 1,800 articles relating to the package appeared in more than 800 publications in 41 countries in the past 24 hours. The vast majority quoted the Fianna Fail line that the budget was necessary and that stability would now be restored to the markets.

Several Left wing parties, including Sinn Féin and the United Left Alliance have criticised RTEs post budget coverage, claiming it to be pro government and anti left.

First stage of Budget of Misery passes in Leinster House

The first vote on Budget 2011, dubbed the budget of misery has been passed in Leinster House this evening.

The vote on financial motions dealing with increases in petrol and diesel along with cuts to the air travel tax have been passed.

The government won the vote by 82 votes to 78. Independent TDs Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry supported the budget despite indicating in the days leading up to it that they might not.

The Budget has been opposed by Sinn Féin, Labour, Fine Gael and a number of independents.

Several Fine Gael members had indicated that they would abstain or even vote in favour of parts of the budget had it been voted on in individual sections.

Even in opposition Fianna Fail will push for painful four year plan

Last night, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said that Fianna Fail in opposition would support any  government that implemented the four-year national recovery plan announced by Mr Lenihan two weeks ago.

Some commentators have said that this indicates that Fianna Fail in opposition will support Fine Gael austerity measures, which they outlined in their pre budget plan at the weekend.

This has gave more credibility to those people who say that Fianna Fail, if badly damaged in the next election, will consider merging with Fine Gael.

Crane protestor arrested outside Leinster House

An anti Budget protester was arrested outside Leinster House earlier today, after parking a cherry picker covered in anti government slogans outside the gates.

Slogans condemning Anglo Irish bank and ministerial pensions were hastily removed by Gardai as they attempted to get the man to come down.

The man was in the cage at the top of the crane, the arm of which was fully extended, played music through loud speakers and threw a number of tennis balls at the ground below.

"Opposition" party Fine Gael members refuse to vote against budget

Members of Ireland's main opposition party Fine Gael have ruled out voting against the extreme austerity measures in tomorrows budget.

While the Irish people cry out for someone to oppose Fianna Fails reckless budget of cuts, Fine Gael have not been able to insure the support of all their TDs to go against the measures that will be presented tomorrow.

Several Fine Gael TDs, including Lucinda Creighton, have refused to vote against the budget, saying that they agree with the principal of cuts outlined. Ms Creighton, and the other dissenters will not vote against their party in support of the budget however, instead choosing to abstain. This will give Fianna Fail a comfortable majority to pass tomorrow's budget.

Budget in Independents hands

The passing of Budget 2011 is now in the hands of two independents, according to government sources.

The Fianna Fail/Green coalition are facing the prospect of losing the budget vote and being forced out of office tomorrow.

Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry are both waiting on clarifications on a "number of areas" before deciding whether or not they will support the budget. Both Independent TDs have claimed that they will vote either for or against, and that they will not abstain.

Sinn Féin to hold over night vigil at Leinster House

Dublin SF is to hold an over night vigil at Leinster House on the eve of the budget.

Sinn Féin are the only party represented in Leinster House standing against the consensus for cuts.

Sinn Féin are calling for a suspension of the budget and an immediate general election.

Champagne Socialist Gilmore wants €190,000 salary

Champagne Socialist Eamon Gilmore has said that he will "cut" his salary to €190,000 a year should he become the next Taoiseach.

The Labour leader has shocked much of his grassroots support by not making more radical cuts to the over paid position of Taoiseach while the rest of the country faces extreme economic hardship.

58% of people support SFs plan to default on Bank debt

A new poll in todays Independent shows that 58% of Irish people support SFs plan to default on Irelands banking debt.

61% of the public believe the EU/IMF deal is a bad one for Ireland, while 71% believe the Dail should be given a chance to vote on it. 54% believe the next government should not be bound by it.

Irish Independent predicts Labour/Sinn Féin government

Todays Independent has sensationally predicted that the next Irish government will be comprised of Labour, Sinn Féin and left wing independents.

The Indo, a traditional bastion of the Blueshirt movement has claimed that this coalition could win 87 seats in the next election.

Independent commentators have said that the weakness of Fine Gael in opposition and the desire of the majority of Irish people for real political change has led to a massive rise in support for Sinn Féin and other left wing candidates.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has ruled out coalition with Sinn Féin, but Finance spokesperson Joan Burton has refused to rule it out.

46% of people believe crisis will last a decade

A Red C poll in yesterdays News of the World paper found that 46% of Irish people believe that the current economic crisis will last up to a decade, and have little faith in either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael leading us out of it.

It also asked the public who they believed now had the most power over Ireland's destiny, it found that 41% believe the European Union now has the most power when it comes to running the country, while 36% say it is the International Monetary Fund.

When asked who had the least control, 59% said it was the Irish public.

politicalreform.ie says 24 seats for SF in next election

politicalreform.ie has predicted that Sinn Féin will take 24 seats in the next general election, while Fianna Fail drop to a record low of just 12 seats.

The Independent group also has Labour taking 48 seats, while the independents and other groups, such as the United Left Alliance, will take 15 seats. According to their detailed survey, the Green party will lose all their seats.

This is the second poll in a week that has Fianna Fail being annihilated in the next election, to the benefits of more left wing groups.

Predicted seats in next election from politicalreform.ie

Fine Gael     -  67 seats
Labour         -  48 seats
Sinn Féin     -   24 seats
Fianna Fail  -  12 seats
Greens        -   0 seats
Others         -   15 seats

Fine Gael: Labour wrong about cuts

Fine Gael frontbench spokesman Leo Varadkar has claimed that Labours plan to go without major cuts in the next budget is not "credible".

Mr Varadkar added that the differences between Fine Gael and Labour were "not insurmountable", but clearly hinted that Labour would have to alter their pre budget plan.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore ruled out coalition with Sinn Féin, indicating that he was prepared to make the changes needed to accommodate Fine Gael.

Government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael "a real possibility"

Political commentators have claimed that for the first time in the history of this state, a government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael is a real possibility.

Leading commentators have said that a combined coalition of Sinn Féin, Labour and the Green party could now out weight the combined strength of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

Ireland has never had a government which did not include one of the two civil war giants.

Fine Gael propose cutting dole - but no cuts to TDs wages

PAY cuts for TDs and ministers are not included in Fine Gael’s four-year budget proposals — despite plans to slash welfare payments by €18 a week.

Enda Kenny has hinted that his party will not touch pensioners or the disabled, but over four hundred and thirty thousand people on the dole will be hit, as will loan parent families.

Government confirm record 32% deficit

The government has confirmed today that Irelands deficit for 2010 will be 32% -  the highest in the eurozone. This had been stated by Sinn Féin in their pre budget plan over a month ago, but at the time was denied by Fianna Fail and the Greens.

The true deficit of 32% is the result of the governments stubborn plan to recapitalise the banks.