Last night.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin told RTÉ’s Bryan Dobson that Labour would not go into Government with Sinn Féin.
It followed reports that he said he would be “happy to sit down” with Sinn Féin and discuss working in government as part of an alliance of left-wing parties on Monday night.
Mr Howlin and Mr Dobson had this exchange:
Brendan Howlin: “From the Labour Party’s perspective, I’ve made it clear, we’ve real difficulties with Sinn Féin. Fundamental issues of trust and governments can’t be formed unless you have trust.
“So I was asked would we sit down with ehh…”
Bryan Dobson: “So what’s the answer to the question. Will you go into Government with Sinn Féin or not?”
Howlin: “I, I…I would not see the Labour Party being involved in any arrangement with Sinn Féin but if people want to, if they want to talk to us after the election, I said that we’d sit down, as a sort of a trade union official, and talk to everyone.”
Dobson: “But to no purpose, because you wouldn’t go into Government with them?”
Howlin: “Well it depends, I think…”
Dobson: “I mean, are you trying to have it both ways?”
Howlin: “No, no, no…absolutely not.”
Dobson: “Sounds like you are.”
Howlin: “Well there you are. I think that it’s very clear. I’ve made it crystal clear right now.”
Dobson: “I’m still not clear: would you go into Government with them or not?”
Howlin: “I said, from the Labour Party’s perspective, I would not. I don’t see any situation where that would arise.”
Right so.
Previously: How Was It For You?
Meanwhile…
RTE Leaders questions. Brian Dobson needs to take a chill pill. confrontational and agitated questioning which adds nothing.
Just ask the questions.— John Greene (@JohnGreene18) January 29, 2020
So is this @RTEOne new way of doing things Just having Brian Dobson shout at all party leaders for 7 minutes each Absolutely disgraceful interviewing. RTE your bias is definitely showing #GE20
— Emma Hendrick (@Emm511) January 29, 2020
This Brian Dobson election special is like some sort of bizarre political speed dating. At the end I am expecting Dobbo to stand before them all & announce who he is taking on 2nd date @rtenews #Election2020
— Colm Moloney (@Colm_Moloney) January 29, 2020
Um.
Only the like minded right wing parties want Labour, Labour are not left wing they are not even Left of centre.
…hopefully, the electorate will show that they have ‘issues of truth’ with labour…
in fairness to dobson trying to get a straight answer out of any of them must be such a headwreck. i’d be pulling out their fingernails and hooking up their nipples to car batteries if i had his job.
…which would make for great viewing. It would do wonders for the licence fee.
I did find his questioning to be a bit too much on the rapid fire side…
It normally takes a politician minutes to answer (evade) a question. So fair play to Dobson for insisting on an answer quickly.
why even ask him? they haven’t a snowballs chance in hell of getting into a position where this might happen. theyre at 4% or something. They’re completely irrelevant.
They have, I think. Both FG and FF will happily accommodate the handful of Labour TD’s in the formation of a Government. Much more malleable and reliable than some of the Indo’s.
Give Howlin a Cabinet seat and a half car for O’Riordain and they’re anyone’s.
Howlin saying “I won’t” is just doublespeak for the party will get into bed with whoever offers them a chance to get back into power. Howlin can say he’s against it but will humbly defer to the majority.
Labour talking about trust issues. The balls on him.