The media and Magill in particular have been perceived as being biased against the leader of the opposition. We therefore offered Fianna Fail the right of reply - and herewith its submission in its entirety. By Fianna Fail
Predicting the result of Election '82 is very much more hazardous than usual. Normally one canrdetect the drift of public opinion from the trend of the opinion polls over a year or so prior to the election and the preevailing level of price increases over this time span is also a useful guide - Govvernments lose when inflation has run high for a year to 18 months previously.
How big a mess are we in?
Des O'Malley was choosing his words the way Steve Davis choooses the angle off the side cushion into the corner pocket. Very carefully, deliberately.
The 1982 General Election could be a disaster both for women candidates and for women's issues. There is, as yet, no evidence of women's groups organising or even being prepared to begin organising for this election. Several of the women candidates who got in on the last count in 1981, largely assisted by the public awareness of women's issues and women's candidates, are in danger of losing their seats. There is a distinct possibility that the number of women elected will be considerably less than the 22nd Dail's unprecedented figure of eleven women members. By Pat Brennan
YOU could tell that Charlie was feeling confident - he was making Arms Crisis jokes. He picked up a rifleemicrophone left on the table by a TV crew, cradled it in his arm and trained it on the gathered press, a wide grin on his face. Some of the journalists began laughing and Charlie joined in and there was a big ho-ho , nudge-nudge, wink-wink, until a couple of journalists raised their cameras. By Gene Kerrigan
A leaked document from the Department of Finance reveals the extent of Haughey's misrepresentation of public finances
By Vincent Browne
Following a press briefing in the Fine Gael headquarters in the early stages of the June '81 election campaign, John Bruton mused to a friend that if Fine Gael actually implemented its programme in Government, it and the country would be in serious trouble. Bruton was aware of the time-bomb contained in that manifesto but, in the event, he was unable to defuse it.
The first problem was George Colley. He had behaved badly during the general election campaign when he made it obvious that he collld not bl;ing himself to solicit votes for a party led by Charles Haughey. Then he had indulged again in his convolutions about loyalty and in saying "he still hoped to be leader he made it clear he was hoping something untold would happen Haughey in the next two or three years- both men are 56 this. 'Ye!!:r and" fo.;r Colleytp becoml!Jieader Haughey would have to keel over or be keeled over fairly shortly.
Our politicians have propelled us towards economic and social calamity in the last decade. Wild irresponsible election promises and commitments, reckless public expenditure schemes, uncontrolled deficit budgeting and an unprecedented falsification of budget figures have coalesced to create the' worst serious economic crisis the State ever known. by Vincent Browne