Sinead

“No one can get up much enthusiasm for a Government which puts you in jail if you open your mouth’ George Orwell

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ShaileshVara No need for you to worry about that now pal. So glad you are gone.

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@mamamaisonbleu @ScottyGoesAgain I put a big X on the paper and wrote “None of you deserve my vote”. There are a few ways to do it, but I wanted mine to be clearly “spoiled”. Some ppl write in the little box and I believe this possibly goes into the “could be counted” pile. I was clear!

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain I have a postal vote and sent my spoiled ballot back yesterday. If more people did this, it would send more of a message than just not turning up. It has to be counted. And I know ppl will tell me it’s a waste, but it’s a message if more do it instead of the tactical BS

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain We’ve been working at closing our business since Feb. It has been a real struggle for a while, but we knew we were getting a Labour Gov later in the year so started the process before it became absolutely untenable. Labour will do absolutely nothing for true small businesses.

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@Arwenstar I’m so sorry to hear you are feeling so low at the moment Nat. Many of us out in the ether think very highly of you and all the strength you have shown over the years has been an inspiration. Wishing all the very best for you and hoping you take time to heal xxx

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@AvonandsomerRob Classic!! Amazing. Thank you for bringing this to my attention again 🎤

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@RyanRallyOh So true Ryan x

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@RyanRallyOh You’re amazing. To admit these things, especially if ure a “just get on with it” person takes a lot. It takes bravery to be so honest about it all. I bet there are many around you who love you so much. You have many here who can see how wonderful you are. Lots of love to you xx

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@AllezLesBoulez Amazing actor.

[Senator Rónán Mullen @RonanMullen]

The people of Ireland have had their first chance in four years to give their view as an electorate on the way they are being governed. This referendum result is their verdict on the political leadership class and it is a damning one.

Faced with secretly drawn-up proposals to dilute the significance of marriage for family life, and to dishonour women and motherhood by removing the only direct reference to their interests in Bunreacht na hEireann, and observing the ruthless way in which debate on these proposals was suppressed in the Dáil and Seanad, the people have – I think it is fair to say – snapped back. They weren’t confused. They knew what they were voting for. They didn’t like it. And they rejected it massively. The Irish people can be led. But they won’t be pushed.

The arrogance, secrecy, insider-ism, and sometimes duplicity, that characterised the selling of the so-called ‘Family’ and ‘Care’ referendums, not just by the Government and their allies in State-funded NGOs but also by the main opposition parties, Sinn Féin and the parties of the Left, has got the response it deserved. This arrogancy and insider-ism has characteristed the Government’s handling of a whole range of issues in recent years – from aspects of public health management during the pandemic, to controversies in recent times around migration and gender and the pushing of ideology at children in schools. In all these areas, we see a Government that seems to be in a propaganda war against its own people, unwilling to face up to or even acknowledge the existence of hard questions, mainly backed up by opposition parties who largely share their point of view that the people are not to be trusted, and a media that seems too often worried about biting the hand that feeds it.

The result is a loss of faith among many ordinary people in our democratic institutions. And to the rise of the citizen journalist and the citizen politician. Because the people do not want faceless people, with names we don’t know and no accountability to us, shaping our destiny.

Today we see a resounding defeat for the Government, Sinn Féin and other parties (with the honourable exception of Aontú). There are lessons to be learned:

-You can’t put referendum questions to the people without properly teasing them out in the Oireachtas first. The Government must apologise to people on this specific point and the main opposition parties should acknowledge their complicity in this.

-You can’t hijack the apparatus and resources of the State to push through your own ideological agenda. In that context, the three Government parties should be pressured to fundraise to pay back between €15m and €20m of taxpayers’ money that they squandered on a standalone referendum.

You can’t ignore for years the importance of promoting marriage as the bedrock of a stable society and then try to get rid of the only Constitutional incentive to marriage. The Government must now, in the light of today’s result, commit to policies to promote marriage as an institution that serves our society well.

You can’t use a promised recognition of care as the carrot to entice people to get rid of the only bit of Constitutional support that’s there for mothers and the vital work they do for us all. The Government must reflect on what it must do in future to promote recognition for fathers and carers without diluting the special Constitutional pledge to support motherhood.

The Government must stop playing ideological games. Today’s resounding reaffirmation of family life, marriage and the role of mothers, and the rejection of NGO-sponsored groupthink means the Government should press the pause button on its culture war policies, including to name three:

-its controversial hate speech legislation, with its lack of definition of hate and its strange new definition of gender; this Bill threatens our political freedom of expression;

-the abuse of the education system to promote gender ideology;

-any legislation that would try to underpin surrogacy, which turns children into commodities.

Right now, the Independents and Aontú are the only show in town telling the truth to people. That culture wars and ideology are the Government's focus, not the real challenges that people are facing in their lives.

Finally, there are two major concerns that have arisen in this campaign. One is the extent of mistruths peddled at the highest levels of Government. This brings politics into disrepute and cannot go unchallenged. Number two is the apparent abuse of the McKenna judgement principles which forbid the spending of public money on advocating one side of a referendum. When an organisation like the National Women’s Council, which gets 95% of its staffing costs from the State, is leading one side of a referendum campaign without any consultation with ordinary women across the country, you see another blatant case of insider-ism and the abuse of taxpayers’ money.

The Government and the main opposition parties have a lot to think about. They should start by apologising to the people today.

#Referendum2024

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain Huge, good summary from one of the last good hearted politicians there

https://t.co/fsnW7aRELc

[Senator Rónán Mullen @RonanMullen]

The people of Ireland have had their first chance in four years to give their view as an electorate on the way they are being governed. This referendum result is their verdict on the political leadership class and it is a damning one.

Faced with secretly drawn-up proposals to dilute the significance of marriage for family life, and to dishonour women and motherhood by removing the only direct reference to their interests in Bunreacht na hEireann, and observing the ruthless way in which debate on these proposals was suppressed in the Dáil and Seanad, the people have – I think it is fair to say – snapped back. They weren’t confused. They knew what they were voting for. They didn’t like it. And they rejected it massively. The Irish people can be led. But they won’t be pushed.

The arrogance, secrecy, insider-ism, and sometimes duplicity, that characterised the selling of the so-called ‘Family’ and ‘Care’ referendums, not just by the Government and their allies in State-funded NGOs but also by the main opposition parties, Sinn Féin and the parties of the Left, has got the response it deserved. This arrogancy and insider-ism has characteristed the Government’s handling of a whole range of issues in recent years – from aspects of public health management during the pandemic, to controversies in recent times around migration and gender and the pushing of ideology at children in schools. In all these areas, we see a Government that seems to be in a propaganda war against its own people, unwilling to face up to or even acknowledge the existence of hard questions, mainly backed up by opposition parties who largely share their point of view that the people are not to be trusted, and a media that seems too often worried about biting the hand that feeds it.

The result is a loss of faith among many ordinary people in our democratic institutions. And to the rise of the citizen journalist and the citizen politician. Because the people do not want faceless people, with names we don’t know and no accountability to us, shaping our destiny.

Today we see a resounding defeat for the Government, Sinn Féin and other parties (with the honourable exception of Aontú). There are lessons to be learned:

-You can’t put referendum questions to the people without properly teasing them out in the Oireachtas first. The Government must apologise to people on this specific point and the main opposition parties should acknowledge their complicity in this.

-You can’t hijack the apparatus and resources of the State to push through your own ideological agenda. In that context, the three Government parties should be pressured to fundraise to pay back between €15m and €20m of taxpayers’ money that they squandered on a standalone referendum.

You can’t ignore for years the importance of promoting marriage as the bedrock of a stable society and then try to get rid of the only Constitutional incentive to marriage. The Government must now, in the light of today’s result, commit to policies to promote marriage as an institution that serves our society well.

You can’t use a promised recognition of care as the carrot to entice people to get rid of the only bit of Constitutional support that’s there for mothers and the vital work they do for us all. The Government must reflect on what it must do in future to promote recognition for fathers and carers without diluting the special Constitutional pledge to support motherhood.

The Government must stop playing ideological games. Today’s resounding reaffirmation of family life, marriage and the role of mothers, and the rejection of NGO-sponsored groupthink means the Government should press the pause button on its culture war policies, including to name three:

-its controversial hate speech legislation, with its lack of definition of hate and its strange new definition of gender; this Bill threatens our political freedom of expression;

-the abuse of the education system to promote gender ideology;

-any legislation that would try to underpin surrogacy, which turns children into commodities.

Right now, the Independents and Aontú are the only show in town telling the truth to people. That culture wars and ideology are the Government's focus, not the real challenges that people are facing in their lives.

Finally, there are two major concerns that have arisen in this campaign. One is the extent of mistruths peddled at the highest levels of Government. This brings politics into disrepute and cannot go unchallenged. Number two is the apparent abuse of the McKenna judgement principles which forbid the spending of public money on advocating one side of a referendum. When an organisation like the National Women’s Council, which gets 95% of its staffing costs from the State, is leading one side of a referendum campaign without any consultation with ordinary women across the country, you see another blatant case of insider-ism and the abuse of taxpayers’ money.

The Government and the main opposition parties have a lot to think about. They should start by apologising to the people today.

#Referendum2024

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain @Jeremy_Hunt

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@JohnJohnfarrier @CartlandDavid I did it on his website initially, but he followed me back here so I could DM him. I couldn’t message here before that.

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@JohnJohnfarrier @CartlandDavid He’s been very kind and responded. Thank you ☺️

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@RebeccaCNReid May 2023. Has it permanently run out of fuel?

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain

[Sinead @lyons_sm]

@ScottyGoesAgain Night Scotty x 😴