Texts and Emails, Wednesday 25 August 2010

Topic: Should we force women into politics? Also the downgrading of Ireland's credit rating.

Panelists: 
Mairead Enright, Liz McManus, Mary White, Frank Flannery and Tom McInerney.

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We should get out there and make it known that the gremlins that run this country should be ran to ground. We should not sit back and take this crap. the people of ireland should speak up.
Liz, Co. Louth.

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The Green Party are collaborators with Fianna Fail, in the destruction of our economy.
Peter Mathews

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The problem with vecs is not gender balance, but cronyism. Their rotten structure should be open for review by the Public Accounts Committee. councillors and CEO's have milked it for Long enough Limerick VEC is an example.
Joe

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NAMA. Not Able To Manage Apocalyse.

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More waffle by Mary White.

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The only personal guarantees Ireland got was for the banks. If Europe was doing its job, the top European leaders would be locked up already. !PERIOD!

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We the irish people need a Robin Hood not politicians of either gender.
Bernie joyce.

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I do agree that there should be more women in politics but I feel more strongly that it's a class issue. I am working class woman and dont feel working class women and men are considered or represented enough in politics. Look at Margaret Thatcher in Britain for example. She crucified working class women and men. I would prefer to have a working class man in government than a middle or upper class woman.
Breda, Waterford City.

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I'm sick to my stomach of headlines telling us of our debt! Tell the governement! Maybe they'll listen to you! Oh they haven't so far! And they're on holidays!

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Sarah Mary White said the Dail sits from 2 till 10 they only sit for 3 days a week. Christmas Easter Summer holidays. Looking at Dail report on TV where are the TDs? Maybe they are in the bar
John, Dublin

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SARAH PLEASE ASK THE MOTHER TDs ON YOUR PANEL, WHY THEY ARE UNDERMINING AND OPPOSING ME, EXPOSING EVIL INSTIGATORS OF CHILD ABUSE ETC ? Peter Preston

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I am not surprised our credit rating has been down graded after the way this government has and continues to mismanage our economy it is hard to believe.

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Tomorrow is my birthday, and i dont give a sxit cos women kids & elderly lay in their graves. As the Govmnt & Hse walk around free from any kind of JUSTICE

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We need more Women in Irish politics. maybe someone like Elizabeth the First that might get rid of all the cosy bullshit artists in Dail Eireann and make some radical change to this sorry mess of a country
Sligo Person

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Maybe Liz or Mary could tell us the percentage of women/men in their respective parties ?
James, Dublin.

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I enjoy TV3 and tonight's show is interesting but i was watching 'midday' with Collete Fitzgerald last week discusing underage teenage drinking where one woman stated 'we all did it when we were young'. This justifies continued underage drinking for any teenager listening to the show, in my opinion. Would u agree?

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Starting with Bertie & Biffo !!!!!!???WHY???!!!!!! aint the Govmnt & HSE already been locked up for neglecting people in State care to their graves. ?WELL?

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Is John Gormley ready for the backlash from the Travelling community regarding his proposed changes to commercial taxation of vehicles? 95 per cent of Travellers drive vans and are not registered in the system as having any sort of busisness. Is this the end of the hiace van?
John, Portarlington.

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HEAD hunted? it should have been cut off her.
Joe.

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Forget The women and forget The politicians. What we need is a restructured format for government without the political parties and bring in business people be they male or female who are capable of managing The taxpayer's money.
Paudie Dineen, Cork City.

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As a self proclaimed make chauvinist pig, I look forward to a female Dail majority. This country is crying out for a strong willed female leader in the mould of the great Margeret Thatcher.
Brian. Walkinstown

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We need quality honest people any gender.And less of them.
Tom, Wicklow

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Use your vote and stop bitching about each other and there would be more women in government. Women spite each other behind each others backs.

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Truth will stand to any argument. If it aint truth it holds as much argument as a sieve holds water. People who died in state care deserve their JUSTICES

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After the next election Mary White and the greens will not be reformed. They will be disbanded.
Jim, Letterkenny.

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The argument for more women politicians is stupid and sexist. Just because the majority of our current screw-up government is mostly made of of men, doesn’t mean more women will fix the situation. After all what has the wonderful Mary Harney done for us, except send nursing up by about 50 points. Oh and that terrible Flynn woman! If more women will make a this world a better place then the next election will let us know.
Andrew.

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What we really need in politics are intelligent, honest and less greedy people. It is a disgraceful country to live in. Such greed on the part of our government and so many of us suffering because of their greed.

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After watching previous progamme, bring on the women they manage households effiently so certainly the goverment.

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I would have no difficulty with a big increase in female politicians once their advisers are male!

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Keep women well away from politics. They destroy every organisation.

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Why would any woman or man go into politics, Its a dirty word. As bad as banking and scandals in health exec. Will stick to my Volunteer work thank you. No money, but satisfaction from helping all those in stress.. Sadly they shoot the messenger because we are highlighting many scandals.
Anne.

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Stop moaning and get into politics if it annoys you that much. Thatcher, Sarah Palin, Harney  and Coughlan are not great role models for women in politics. Great job been done on show by Sarah Carey nearly as good as Vincent.

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Come on Sarah, unlike your Miriam, Emer O' Kelly etc and more, the "record" of some of our "female gender" politicians is NOT that good now, is it? This "gender" business helps who? As BOYS underperform in school, majority of female teachers have FEMALE "LEADERS" championed their cause? Have they heck, they (women)learn fast, keep head down, take the money? Have banker WIVES/DEVELOPERS etc turned "whistleblnwer? Like heck? Caring? Suicide rates?

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Any woman or man would be better than John Gormley. Senator Calely is a saint compared with mr Gormley. Employers are at his mersey.
TOM c.

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Having a woman as health minister has been disastrous for womens health. When she shelved the cervical cancer vaccine. Jim Mc Daid, a man, had the strongest voice of protest, in support of women.

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I just heard Frank Flannery say something about a talent pool in the same sentence as politicians. Well the current lot of politicians certainly did not come from any talent pool, or if they did, it was a tiny one.
Catherine Daly, Cork

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After the Greens nearly all getting themselves pensions I think and hope they will never be back. And I'm from Mary Whites County and know what they do for people. The con them and want to close down rural Ireland.
Pat, Co carlow.

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When will our ministers and TD's and our overpaid Taoiseach realise that we cannot afford 2 pay them. They must take a large paycut, at least half. Nothing else is acceptable.
Mk

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WHY ARE THE WOMEN TDs ON YOUR PANEL MOTHERS THEMSELVES, UNDERMINING AND OPPOSING ME, EXPOSING EVIL INSTIGATORS OF CHILD ABUSE ETC ?
Peter Preston

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The problem is that women do not vote for women. I have example if needed.
Jack, Waterford.

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Women need to be in politics because society has two genders. The current system is a leftover from the British Empire. We should get rid of that system and have one suited to modern life. Quotas could be used until our culture adjusts. People have always to be forced to accept their responsibilities that come with their rights. People fought for these rights. We should use them.
Karen Wise, Co. Clare.

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Mary came through the council system herself, so why is her colleague John Gormley trying to dispand councils?
Foley, Macroom.

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If there were more women in Government we would not be in the mess we are in, women more frugal than men - the men spent money excessively.
Ger, Galway

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Sarah, firstly I think you are doing a fabulous job even though I disagree with you on loads of stuff. On last nights show you said "We're pretty racist". Really? Based upon what evidence? Not trying to rub you the wrong way but what makes you say this? Based upon what evidence? Thanks for reading this text, hope you get a chance to clarify.
Brian, Walkinstown.

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30 like Mary Harney, Mary White or Mary O'Rourke. Unthinkable.
JD, Dublin 24.

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More Beverlys? No thanks.
Louis Ryan, Athlone.

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Perhaps if we had more ladies in the Dail, as we do work 365 days of the year at 2 jobs between home and work! Instead of taking the Summer off like our dail reps. What is wrong with us why do we put up with that?

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There is too much work involved in getting elected. Better people and more women would run if you didn't have to do all the parish pump crap!! That is why so many idiots run. It's personality before policy. James, Newbridge.

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Dont agree with Mary White. Green Party had good women candidates who left because the party is not women friendly.

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So the panel want more of a type of person to run the country who can't even decide what to wear, not to mind decide on a policy.

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Wouldnt it be more democratic to have the three byelections now than to be worried about female quotas in the Dail?
Martin, Tipperary.

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Are quotas not inherently anti-democratic and anti-meritocratic? Shouldn't both the people and the parties choose on the basis of merit and not even consider gender?

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I have just returned from visiting my husband who has terminal cancer and used our work jeep please ask M White is this considered a pleasure trip by the way we paid for it ourselves not like ministers on tax payers cars

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New ad for drug driving, how are they going to enforce it? According to former assistant Commissioner Eddie Rock, their methods are antiquated that has not changed????
Pj Blake, Letterkenny.

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I disagree with quotas simply because they would be undemocratic. Also, if you set a quota for women, then why not for representative age-bands, or even a representative quota for homosexual TDs? While a broad range of members is important, Setting quotas is not the way to go about it.
Brian O'Reilly

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Saying more women is just like saying more gays etc. We just need more committed people. Intelligent people. We also need a reduction in the number of TD's. Its ridiculous for such a small country.

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We vote for our government so if women want more of their problems dealt with, then they can vote for women.

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Men of the Dail want their rib back!
Kevin devitte, Westport

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There are far too many people getting far too well paid working for the State. It is a little communist state they have built for themselves. And most of their time is spent fooling us fools the fools we are. Joe, Donegal

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There is no maternity leave in political life. Women are expected to continue work straight after having a baby as they cannot employ a replacement. This is ruling women out of politics until they have raised their family to a certain age.
Caitriona.

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Time to get rid of councillors. Mary is aware its costing council in Kilkenny 17 thousand Euro a week between them. What role do they REALLY play? Apart from attending funerals in their red robes. Waste of tax payers money.
Anne Ryan.

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If you had said 'token woman' you'd be taken off the air.
Tony, Dublin.

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Why should we as tax payers bail out the banks while they can put people out of their homes. Mr Gormley even tryin to tell farmers they cannot cut silage during mating time for hares he should try restore jobs which would be more important. Great show thanks.

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Are quotas not anti democratic?
Pat Lawlor, Wexford.

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Four Mary's in the Dail, One in the park. What have we done?.
Joe.

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Are women not responsible for for producing the shower of wasters we have in the dail?

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Whats next ? A quota for gays ,coloured, religious groups. Give it up, I watched the ladies irish open golf on tv that men cannot enter, yet uproar ensues if you want a men only competition. Equality should mean just that get there on merit, not different wobbly bits.
Frank sligo

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I have been watching the previous programme, "Money to Burn" the taosich's salary is unbelievable, give that salary to a woman and she would run Europe.

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Well women can get value for money and multitask and shop around to do the best for their families. If they consider the tax payers family then i say only women should be in the dail. Its time to set aside party politics and genuinely work to better things for everone in this country. We are paying a high price for mens refusal to take responsibility. Let women 4ve it a go!

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All you have to do is look at Mary Harney. What does she do only eat by the looks of it.Her and Margaret Thatcher who started a war that says it all, and anyone in Government are only there for power and money not for the people.
Rose, Longford.

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How many more Ivors out there all political parties. I think time now to expose all. Anne ryan.

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If making the ratio fairer means having seven more Mary Harneys or Mary Coughlans, forget about it.
Bernie, Dublin 1.

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Politics are one thing but what about women at the top in the banks. The new hierarchy in the banks has marginalised women and excluded them even more than before due to male ego's which is what caused the prob in the first place. We need a proper gender balance in order to make meaningful progress.

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What a georgeous looking presenter you are sarah. Stay where u are and keep brown of the chair for good.
Des, Donegal.

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Yawn Snore zzzz.
Ned.

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Sarah, I'd just like to say that I think you're doing an absolutely fantastic job presenting the programme. You are professional, articulate and enthusiastic, which is a refreshing combination, particularly for Irish Television. You should definitely have your own political television programme. Keep up the great work.

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We have well enough women in the dail. Mary harney was leader of the PDs and Tanaiste in government and she has wrecked our country.
Kevin, Galway.

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Not if they are all yes women like mary white.
Alma, Kilkenny.

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I think Mr Gromley and the Greens should be removed before they destroy Rural Ireland they are doing nothing. Great Show,
Laois Viewer

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From Politics 2 religion 2 media. There ain't a single PERSON calling for criminal prosecutions against the government & HSE for the KIDS who died in state care.

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What difference have the women in politics that are there now, made? Mary Harney has ruined our health service for one.
David, Dublin.

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September 10th Mental Health Day. Ask mary white what she intends doing about our dire mental health services. And the serious suicide figures increasing weekly. Many while under psychiatric care. I rest my case. Anne. Kilkenny

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The Govmnt & HSE are guilty of state neglect of kids who died in state care. STARTING with Bertie, Biffo, Charlie mcGreedy Michael mcFool. LOCK THEM UP