Since this year, I'm trying to make an effort to pay attention to as many non-American elections as possible, I thought I'd make a thread about the Irish general election.

Today, Michael Higgins dissolved the Irish parliament (or Dáil Éireann) meaning Ireland's next election will take place later this month (26/02/16) and will use the single transferable vote. Discuss.

who cares about Ireland? As long as corporate tax stays the same, we're all good.

First question: Michael Higgins dissolved the Irish parliament (or Dáil Éireann)

Why did he dissolve it and is that constitutionally legal?

Why did he dissolve it and is that constitutionally legal?

He's the president of Ireland and the Irish president has to dissolve their parliament before an election can take place. An Irish election was already due to take places somewhen this year (so he'd have to dissolve it at some point), but this confirms the date of the Irish election.

no one cares

who cares about Ireland?

no one cares

Then why did you bother replying to this thread?

I would like to say that I did qualify my statement with "As long as corporate tax stays the same, we're all good."

get better hospitals.
That's all I want in this fucking country.

Nice to see Ireland is using a good voting system.

UK desperately needs the STV.

Who are the major parties and what are the major issues?

^

who cares about Ireland?

Bill O'Reilly says he is flying off to Ireland if Bernie gets elected. Wich is funny since being an american, he'll still have to pay taxes to america (wierd tax policy from america btw)

global taxation is pure dogshit

he'll still have to pay taxes to america (wierd tax policy from america btw)

He does not have to pay taxes, this is very unlikely, if you flee to another country you are not forced to pay taxes of the country you were from before. The only thing he may face is a trial when he comes back to the US, but as long as he stays in Ireland (or elsewhere) and have a permanent residence or double nationality granted then no worries.
And again if this was possible then the rich people fleeing elsewhere just to avoid taxes (like in France) could not avoid to pay these taxes, this would be pretty nice for our economy... but guess what, this is not that easy.

No Koala, the US is a special case. When a french citizen move to another country, he pays taxes to the country he moves to, not France. The US on the other hand require their citizens to still pay their taxes to america even if they move out. Usually there is a reciprocal agreement between the US and other countries, like France. This policy is kinda wrong in my opinion, because when you live in a country, and you enjoy its public infrastructures and public services, you should pay taxes in said country, not in your country of citizenship. This is a kind of protectionism to keep "american" money in america.

Edited 2/4/2016 19:25:12

I understand your point Hitchslap, what I meant is that US citizens are illegal in an American context, under US law. But still if an American citizen refuses to pay taxes to his country he has the right to do so even if he is an outlaw in the US territory. You just need to see similar cases in Justice where some people are considered as outlaws or criminals by the US justice and are still not worried because they are protected by another country not signing treaties of extradition with the US (see Polanski with France, or Snowden with the EU parliament and then Russian asylum).

Quick plot into Irish politics, Some of the main parties here are Fianna fail, Labour, Sinn Vein and Fine Gael.

Finns fail were the main giant but due to causing the country to be broke and causing a bailout they have fallen support heavily.. Interestingly Independents now have 3
25% of the general Irish support.

Fine Gael are currently the biggest in Ireland due to the party leader being Taoseach (leader) of Ireland.

Labour have failed in most general elections but with Joann Burton hoping to gain more votes.

Fun fact: The general election is on in about 4 weeks the shortest in Irish history and the way it should be tbh..

well i don't think O'Reilley had that in mind when he said he would go to Ireland...Leaving everything behind and becoming a criminal in your own country because you don't want to pay taxes seems pretty dumb, especially when you are a multi millionair like him and likely have a lot of assets and bank accounts in the US...

I didn't even know Ireland had a vote, I just assumed they were still under English rule. Maybe I'm behind the times though...

And the UK failed on the vote to change the political system, so we're stuck with fptp for at least another 200 years :/

What happened to Enda Kenny? :P