Republic of Ireland referendums to decide the fate of the Irish Senate

[Guest]

I had no idea that this was going on in an EU member state and UK's closest trading partner

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24404157

... and all in the name of cutting costs!:yikes:

I hope that Padraig can give us the run-down on this :ok:

[Mr Pee]

P+CA.

Will you never learn? :erm:

[amateur51]

P+CA.

Will you never learn? :erm:

The situation could not be clearer.

French frank has said: "A Host referred this thread to me and I've moved it to P&CA. Rule of thumb is that where people discuss sensibly and amicably a topic can remain on the open forum as being of general interest to other members. Where is descends into the sadly habitual tedious squabbles, it goes to the usual place, link in the sidebar."

So that's why I posted where I did.

It's down to you now not to create a squabble.

[Beef Oven!]

P+CA.

Will you never learn? :erm:

It's deliberate Mr Pee, why do you always fall for it? :Lol!

[Mr Pee]

The situation could not be clearer.

French frank has said: "A Host referred this thread to me and I've moved it to P&CA. Rule of thumb is that where people discuss sensibly and amicably a topic can remain on the open forum as being of general interest to other members. Where is descends into the sadly habitual tedious squabbles, it goes to the usual place, link in the sidebar."

So that's why I posted where I did.

It's down to you now not to create a squabble.

In which case there's no need for a seperate politics and current affairs forum, just a squabble forum, where any thread, musical or otherwise, can be moved if it becomes a bit too lively.

Thanks for clarifying that, Amateur. If I now start a thread in the main forum explaining why voters should support UKIP, that will obviously be fine. :ok:

(And beefy- whether it's deliberate or not, it is plainly out of order and makes a mockery of FF's recent decision to move P+CA to the dungeon.)

[amateur51]

In which case there's no need for a seperate politics and current affairs forum, just a squabble forum, where any thread, musical or otherwise, can be moved if it becomes a bit too lively.

Thanks for clarifying that, Amateur. If I now start a thread in the main forum explaining why voters should support UKIP, that will obviously be fine. :ok:

(And beefy- whether it's deliberate or not, it is plainly out of order and makes a mockery of FF's recent decision to move P+CA to the dungeon.)

I thought french frank created the rules under which we're meant to operate, Mr Pee. Don't get ahead of yourself.

What do you think about the Irish referendum?

[Tevot]

I had no idea that this was going on in an EU member state and UK's closest trading partner

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24404157

... and all in the name of cutting costs!:yikes:

I hope that Padraig can give us the run-down on this :ok:

Had no idea about this either... I suppose a unicameral system might work such as in New Zealand. Playing the :devil:'s advocate the former Celtic Tiger might wish to rejoin the UK :oh: Perhaps if that brand name is problematic we could consider Conor Cruise O'Brien's IONA (Islands of the North Atlantic) or perhaps less controversially Manchester United ... :winkeye:

Best Wishes,

Tevot

[Stillhomewardbound]

Can I suggest that where a member feels something is being posted in the wrong place then they simply report the item to our board moderators rather than publicly taking issue with other board members. I just don't think its very good form.

On a separate point, can I suggest to our noble Mods (unpaid, and underappreciated at that): the P&CA is more than a little ghettoised in its sidebar location. It really takes a bit of hunting around to find it and deserves better visibility. Certainly I understand Am51 posting here as a first resort.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Assuming we can continue with this posting, thanks for raising this AM51. I only became aware of the controversy in the last few days. There's very good coverage on the Irish Times website. This article is pretty good for background:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/our-power-as-citizens-is-at-stake-in-seanad-referendum-1.1541473

While there is the compelling erraticism of Senator David Norris on form at the Seanad last month:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51fGHV6ViAk&feature=youtu.be

[french frank]

On a separate point, can I suggest to our noble Mods (unpaid, and underappreciated at that): the P&CA is more than a little ghettoised in its sidebar location. It really takes a bit of hunting around to find it and deserves better visibility. Certainly I understand Am51 posting here as a first resort.

It is ghettoised becaused I'm thoroughly embarrassed by the way BOTH SIDES have a go at each other.

I think of Radio 3 (a bit out of date, I know) as being a thoughtful, intelligent radio station aimed at thoughtful, intelligent listeners. In ghettoising absurd, factional squabbling, I'm protecting the reputation of both Radio 3 and this forum.

Current Affairs (political or not) are for the present placed here. They aren't what the forum is for.

Human frailty being what it is, I shall probably have a sudden brainstorm and have a mass deletion of accounts - from both sides of (seemingly) every argument.

Platform 3 is for 'light-hearted' general topics. Others will be permitted as long as they are a) intelligent and b) discussed without descending into childishness.

[vinteuil]

... as far as I recall, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden all have unicameral Parliaments. So if Ireland wanted to go down that route I don't see that it wd have any reason to be ashamed of such a decision. Half of the world's sovereign states seem to have adopted this system...

Of course, lots of unsavoury regimes also have unicameral Parliaments too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicameralism

[amateur51]

Assuming we can continue with this posting, thanks for raising this AM51. I only became aware of the controversy in the last few days. There's very good coverage on the Irish Times website. This article is pretty good for background:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/our-power-as-citizens-is-at-stake-in-seanad-referendum-1.1541473

While there is the compelling erraticism of Senator David Norris on form at the Seanad last month:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51fGH...ature=youtu.be

Many thanks for these leads, shb. I read Senator David Norris' autobiography recently - a work of much modesty, as you can imagine, and wildly entertaining :winkeye:

[Stillhomewardbound]

It is ghettoised because ...

Very kind of you to elucidate, FF!

[Stillhomewardbound]

Many thanks for these leads, shb. I read Senator David Norris' autobiography recently - a work of much modesty, as you can imagine, and wildly entertaining :winkeye:

Do look at that clip. One of Norris's key objections is what he describes as a power-grab and, in the detail of the thing, I'm led to believe that, there's much divillry in there.

Latest indications are that it is looking like a close vote. Currently the NO campaign may have a small lead but there's a fair bit of counting still to be done.

[Mr Pee]

On a separate point, can I suggest to our noble Mods (unpaid, and underappreciated at that): the P&CA is more than a little ghettoised in its sidebar location. It really takes a bit of hunting around to find it and deserves better visibility.

Well, it doesn't really. Just click on "Forum", top left, then scroll down to "Politics and current affairs forum." It takes a couple of seconds.

Alternatively, bookmark it next time you're here, and then you can go straight to it.

As far as the dungeon itself goes, I was at first wholly against the move to sideline political discussion in this way. However, I now rather like the fact that I can visit the main forum and not be distracted by political threads- if I want to read them and contribute, I have to click that seperate forum link. Which is why it irritates me that certain members continue to post political threads on the main forum page.