Yes, I can visit - National News, Frontpage. US President Barack Obama last night promised to give the Government all the economic assistance he can as he revealed he is to visit here in May. President Obama pledged his support as he announced his visit during Taoiseach Enda Kenny 's traditional St Patrick's Day trip to the White House . Speaking in the Oval Office, with Mr Kenny sitting next to him, he said: "I'm sure that we will be co-operating very closely with Mr Kenny and providing any assistance that we can on the economic front. " He said he had "an excellent conversation" with the Taoiseach about how Ireland will bounce back from the economic challenges which the country is facing. The visit, expected to be towards the end of May, will provide Mr Kenny's new Government with a significant economic and tourism boost. Mr Obama's trip will also come within weeks of an historic visit by Queen Elizabeth to Ireland.
From there, Mr Obama will head on to Deauville in France for the G8 summit of world leaders. Irish Independent. Fionnan Sheahan: Obama visit promises us national moment of hope - Fionnan Sheahan, Columnists. Fionnan Sheahan – Updated 02 December 2012 10:48 PM HE'S about as Irish as Tony Cascarino. But the visit of US President Barack Obama, -- of the O'Bamas of Leinster, as Taoiseach Enda Kenny said in the White House -- will be warmly welcomed by a country used to hitting the international headlines for the wrong reasons. Kenny's honeymoon period in office just got a guaranteed extension to at least the end of May. The crucial first 100 days in office will hit the crescendo of a visit by the US president at the end of May. Coming in the same period as the historic state visit by Queen Elizabeth II, the new Taoiseach will get ample opportunity to appear statesmanlike.
Kenny's dream start to his first week as Taoiseach culminated in the glamour of a St Patrick's Day visit to Washington DC and the announcement of a visit by the world's most powerful leader. The United States' economy is still faltering and Obama's foreign policy is less than surefooted but he's still a rock star with the public. Obama visit is already boosting morale in Ireland | Business. Ireland's new taoiseach, Enda Kenny, with Barack Obama on St Patrick's Day Barack Obama's announcement that he was coming to Ireland in May was the best St Patrick's Day present the country could hope to get. Like Ronnie Reagan before him, he will be visiting a tiny village whence some distant relative once hailed, but there the similarities with the US Republican president and Ballyporeen end.
Obama's visit will help restore the country's battered image abroad and judging by the reaction on Twitter and in the press, it has already boosted morale in the country. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is suddenly looking like a man who 'can do' and was brimming with pride in Washington where he was given just 15 minutes notice about the announcement of the presidential visit. Obama described the "incredible bond between our two countries" and promised economic assistance. • US companies employ 100,000 in Ireland • US companies contribute 33% of the country's corporate tax take.
Gene Kerrigan: Kenny's good intentions won't save day - Gene Kerrigan, Columnists. Updated 30 November 2012 12:24 PM If he gets things right -- the mantra goes -- we'll get out of this awful mess. If he doesn't -- well, the country could become an economic sinkhole, perhaps for the rest of this century. So, we cheer. Come on, Enda, do the business. I've met the man, and he's good with people. Perhaps I'm being naive, but Kenny seems to lack the brutal cynicism that has characterised our governments in recent years.
Yes, they are surrounded, at the highest ranks of Fine Gael, by bucketsfull of cynicism. And now, to completely spoil your Sunday, I will quote our new leader: "This is our country. You think I'm being selective, taking the man out of context? "For Ireland and each other, let us lift up our heads, turn our faces to the sun . . . " Please, Enda, I muttered to myself, please don't say it. It was his first speech as Taoiseach-elect, you complain. But the deep doo-doo we're in isn't due to a lack of inspiration. But Mr McCarthy is no Saul on the road to Damascus. Brussels - Fine Gael warns on Irish bail-out terms. Irish general election, 2011. The Irish general election of 2011 took place on Friday, 25 February, to elect 165 Teachtaí Dála[nb 3] across 43 constituencies to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of Ireland's parliament, the Oireachtas. The Dáil was dissolved and the general election called by President Mary McAleese on 1 February, at the request of Taoiseach Brian Cowen.[1] The electorate was given the task of choosing the members of the 31st Dáil, who met on 9 March 2011 to nominate a Taoiseach and ratify the ministers of the Government of the 31st Dáil.
Fianna Fáil was swept from power in the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state in 1922.[11] Fianna Fáil lost more than half of its first-preference vote from 2007 and garnered only 20 seats. It is the third-largest party in the 31st Dáil–the first time since the September 1927 election that it is not the largest party in the chamber. Background[edit] The key dates were: Electoral system[edit] Date[edit] Constituency changes[edit]
Voters set to endorse EU-IMF deal in election - The Irish Times - Tue, Feb 22. Election to show that Irish people are scared of any great change to society – despite what we might tell Joe Duffy, writes FINTAN O'TOOLE WHATEVER SCEPTICS may think, the election will make at least one huge difference. Up until February 25th, there will have been no popular mandate for turning bank debt into public debt and imposing another four years of austerity. After Friday, unless all the polls are completely askew, there will be a popular mandate for the bank bailout, the EU-IMF deal and the cuts. Behind all the excitement of a historic changing of the guard, this is the real big event. Come Saturday morning, like every morning after every election in the history of the State, right-of-centre establishment politics will be triumphant. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will have well over half the vote between them, 53 per cent according to yesterday’s Irish Timespoll.
This outcome will be greeted with relief by the European Central Bank and the fiscal hawks within the EU. Colère et malaise dans les urnes irlandaises » Article » OWNI, Digital Journalism. Mêmes si les élections générales vont bouleverser les rapports de force politiques en Irlande, il y a peu de chance que cela détourne le pays de la dépression économique et sociale. Sauf mention contraire, tous les liens de cet article sont en anglais. Les citoyens irlandais votent aujourd’hui 25 février 2011. Une élection différente des précédentes. Depuis que la crise économique a frappé l’Europe en 2008, l’Irlande a des difficultés à maintenir la tête hors de l’eau. Le pays, qui était devenu un modèle à l’échelle européenne, a connu de lourdes pertes financières, au point de devoir nationaliser les dettes insolvables de ses banques.
Les Irlandais se rendent aujourd’hui aux urnes pour exprimer leur indignation contre un gouvernement qu’ils estiment irresponsable. Mais la plupart d’entre eux savent aussi qu’il faudra plusieurs années pour combler le trou financier actuel. La chute du tigre celtique Avant 2008, l’Irlande était prospère. Nouvelle crise, symptômes anciens.
L'Irlande vote pour la rigueur. Sèvère défaite aux élections législatives du Fianna Fail accusé d'avoir mal géré la crise économique et financière. Le nouveau gouvernement sera dirigé par le Fine Gael. Ce parti de centre-droit promet de "refaire fonctionner l'Irlande". De la sueur, du sang et des larmes au programme. De notre envoyé spécial à Dublin Le millier de sympathisants applaudit à tout rompre. Coupes budgétaires franches Le Fine Gael n'a cependant pas la majorité des 165 postes de députés et devra donc former un gouvernement de coalition avec le Labour. Pour cela, les deux partis ont déjà prévenu de leur volonté d’opérer des coupes franches dans le budget national (qui concernera surtout le service public) et de renégocier le crédit de 85 milliards d’euros attribués fin novembre au pays par le Fonds monétaire international et l’Union européenne.
Soldats sans destinée D’où la déroute du Fianna Fail, dont la traduction littérale, "les soldats de la destinée", n’a jamais semblé aussi peu appropriée. Les électeurs irlandais renvoient les responsables de l'austérité. Enda Kenny, dirigeant du parti irlandais de centre-droit Fine Gael, après sa victoire samedi (Darren Staples/Reuters) Sans surprise, les électeurs irlandais ont infligé au parti centriste Fianna Fail, sanctionné pour sa gestion de la crise financière, la plus sévère défaite d’un parti au pouvoir depuis l’indépendance de l’Irlande en 1921. Dans la capitale, Dublin, un seul des 13 élus du Fianna Fail a réussi à se faire réélire, et le parti perd le pouvoir de manière humiliante et durable avec seulement 15% des voix.
Pour autant, les Irlandais n’ont pas accordé leur confiance à un seul parti politique, et une coalition sera nécessaire pour gouverner dans la nouvelle configuration. Le parti qui la dirigera sera le Fine Gael, devenu le premier parti de l’île avec environ 36% des voix, qui a certes son plus haut score depuis près de 30 ans, mais n’a pas atteint son objectif qui était la majorité absolue. Rejet des responsables de la crise. Crise: aux urnes, Irlandais! DOSSIER L'HUMANITE.
En deux ans, le Tigre celtique a vu ses pattes coupées par la crise et son avenir muselé par le plan de sauvetage de l'Union européenne et du FMI. Les Irlandais votent ce vendredi pour se définir un futur. Les élections législatives anticipées devraient balayer le parti au pouvoir du premier ministre Brian Cowen. Mais elles sont loin de susciter l’enthousiasme dans un pays englué dans la crise économique et sociale.
Irlande, les stigmates de la crise: retrouvez ici notre reportage photo sur les docks de Dublin, quartier d'affaires et branché des docks, symbole du boum économique de la capitale de l'Eire, qui tente de se construire un avenir, entre les immeubles de bureaux à vendre, les chantiers à l'abandon et les anciens entrepôts désaffectés. Plan de sauvetage à l'Irlande: la potion est amère Cowen balayé par la crise Face à l'alternance, la gauche irlandaise cherche une alternative politique Certains sont récompensés pour leur dévouement à la cause libérale. Ould Ireland embraces its first internet election » Article » OWNI.eu, Digital Journalism.
“I met wit Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand, and he said ‘How’s poor ould Ireland, and how does she stand?” – The Wearin’ o’ the Green (Irish Ballad) January 25th marked the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, but for the Irish February 25th is set to mark a new dawn in political life. This Friday the people will cast their votes in a general election that will lead to the biggest political shake up in the 89-year history of the state.
This quiet revolution carries no catchy colour moniker – some might say the Irish have had the colour drained out of their faces along with the money from their bank accounts – but for a small nation of less than four and a half million inhabitants, the election affords the unique opportunity to redraw the political landscape. Even the outgoing Fianna Fáil government are running on a message of change. A Social Media Election? This has been labelled the first general election of the social media age. Speaking on Irish radio last week he said: Martina Devlin: Eager to prove he's not just a pretty Facebook campaign . . . - Martina Devlin, Columnists. Martina Devlin – Updated 30 November 2012 10:56 AM Despite his youth, student Dylan Haskins (23) is not the youngest contender in the general election, though he does stand out amid a sea of middle-aged candidates.
While he may not have the experience of other potential TDs, nor does he have their baggage. Think of a young Jason Donovan, comb-tracks visible in slicked back fair hair, and you have the Independent candidate for Dublin South-East. He is not the only Independent targeting John Gormley's seat in this competitive constit-uency, but he is probably the only one who shops in Topshop. "He's the fresh face of Irish politics," chorus Dublin-based American students Ashley Chase (21) and Rachel Birnschein (22), when they meet him canvassing on Grafton Street. They chant his snappy campaign slogan: "It starts here. " Dylan is definitely getting his message out to his own age group. You quickly forget about his tender years once he starts talking about shaking up the political system.
Ireland: elections, depression, and potatoes » Article » OWNI.eu, Digital Journalism. In Ireland, citizens are exercising their democratic right to vote. This election, however, is not a typical. Ever since the 2008 economic crisis that shook Europe, Ireland has struggled to keep its head above the water. Once a strong economic power in the region, the country suffered huge financial losses when it nationalized the debt of its private banks. The Irish are taking to the polls today to express their outrage about the economic situation, but most of them realize it will take years to climb out of the financial hole that was dug. Yet today is not just an important day for the citizens of Ireland, but also for the rest of Europe. Irreversibly linked by the euro, the countries in the Economic and Monetary Union are responsible for both the successes and failures of the currency. Greece is a primary example of how a previously solid currency could falter when one country forged its bookkeeping.
The fall of the Celtic Tiger Before 2008, Ireland enjoyed a stable economy. Irish election frontrunner promises to drive down country's debt by 2014 | World news. The five party leaders debated on live TV on 14 February. From left: John Gormley (Green), Eamon Gilmore (Labour), Enda Kenny (Fine Gael), Micheal Martin (Fianna Fail) and Gerry Adams (Sinn Fein). Photograph: Julien Behal /Getty Images A government led by Fine Gael would be committed to driving down Ireland's budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product by 2014, its leader, Enda Kenny, has pledged. The morning after he appeared to be the winner of a TV debate involving five party leaders, Kenny refused to be drawn on questions about policy differences with the Irish Labour party or whether he would prefer Fine Gael to govern alone. Kenny is the favourite to succeed Brian Cowen as Ireland's prime minister after the general election on 25 February. Labour has said Ireland needs more time to reduce the deficit and has called on Europe and the IMF to allow the Republic until 2016 to cut the national debt.
"The next government must pick up the pieces," he said. Irish election: this will be Ireland's chance to move on from 1921 | Martin Kettle. It is an article of Irish republican faith not to acknowledge the authority of the British crown. So the fact that Gerry Adams, of all people, did it symbolically this week is important, because symbols matter to republicans. By submitting to the procedural charade – which should be replaced – of accepting a meaningless medieval office in order to resign his Westminster seat, the Sinn Féin leader showed how desperate he is to take part in the most important Irish general election in decades. This year's Irish election will be an all‑change affair, but not just for Adams, who is trying to win a seat in Louth. The exact election date – late February or early March – will be announced in the next few days. Often, Irish elections tend to be of local interest only. There are two main reasons for this. In one sense, it is a surprise that Ireland should be going to the polls now.
But these are not normal circumstances. Ireland is used to changes of government of that kind. Deal done but huge hurdles now confront new partners - National News, Frontpage.