Dean Buckley
@deanbuckley.bsky.social
300 followers 160 following 1.2K posts
bad news from the zone, tumbleweeds. writer & critic. catholic socialist. smalltown journalist. pop punk kid. podcaster. all opinions mine. leftinthelurch.net | thesundae.net
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deanbuckley.bsky.social
according to this actual real policy document, you can't even begin the application until the staff member is already working at the Oireachtas

so many questions need to be asked not only of TDs who lied about this, but journalists who fell for it
wereontheditch.bsky.social
Heather Humphreys is spreading misinformation that Oireachtas political staff need so-called garda clearance – they don’t, according to documents obtained by The Ditch

Alan Shatter joined in – posting a fake document on X purporting to be official policy

www.ontheditch.com/heather-hump...
Humphreys spreading misinformation about Oireachtas vetting
Humphreys’s former party colleague and ex-justice minister Alan Shatter has also joined in.
www.ontheditch.com
deanbuckley.bsky.social
I'm shocked Fine Gael picked John Clendennen to go out and defend the VAT cut

he owns a pub and glamping business and was the president of the Vintners' Federation when he was elected. his sister replaced him on board after his term ended

it's a VAT cut for him personally
tonightvmtv.bsky.social
🗣️ "I do think we need to call out the opposition […] what changed from the election last year?" — John Clendennen, Fine Gael TD
#TonightVMTV
deanbuckley.bsky.social
Jack Chambers like a robot stuck in a repeating loop here
tonightvmtv.bsky.social
🗣️ "Beyond asking Jim Gavin, what was the other thing that you did that was robust and comprehensive?" Kieran Cuddihy

🗣️ "There are a number of people who would go through a due diligence process with a presidential candidate..." Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform
#TonightVMTV
Reposted by Dean Buckley
manucleardevice.bsky.social
"This Whole Thing Smacks Of Gondor," i holler as i overturn my uncle's funeral pyre and turn the 4th Age of Man into the 4th Age of Shit
deanbuckley.bsky.social
Maria Steen calls for clear and unambiguous violation of the constitution
Irish Times Politics tweet with headline

Maria Steen calls for presidential election to be cancelled over Jim Gavin's departure
Reposted by Dean Buckley
johnmoynes.bsky.social
Hearing reports of Jim Gavin canvassers in the Wicklow mountains who are refusing to surrender.
deanbuckley.bsky.social
Reveal the Deep is my favourite game that no one has ever heard of
deanbuckley.bsky.social
imagine being one of the most tenured political columnists in the Irish press and (1) not knowing the contents of the Seville Declaration and (2) publicly admitting you don't know them as if that's not a clear sign you are unqualified to hold your job
David Quinn tweet reading

I had forgotten that the Irish Government committed to a referendum ahead of giving up our military neutrality. "The Government of Ireland have made a firm commitment to the people of Ireland, solemnized in this Declaration, that a referendum will be held in Ireland on the adoption of any such decision and on any future Treaty which would involve Ireland departing from its traditional policy of military neutrality."
deanbuckley.bsky.social
if Catherine Connolly wins, what's the chance Éamon Ó Cuív comes out of retirement for the Galway West by-election?
Reposted by Dean Buckley
cathalmalone.bsky.social
This is so weird precisely because I think she's telling the truth. She could have picked literally any author in history, and so many were safe choices. Just say Ayn Rand FFS. If she says Pratchett, it's because she genuinely enjoys his books. Which... Wow.
paulhaine.bsky.social
Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild
Reposted by Dean Buckley
aodhan.bsky.social
heather humphreys green paper on disability reform from the end of 2023 proposed to reduce disability allowance payments based on opaque criteria. this dragged on for months, causing upset and stress to one of the most marginalised groups in the country. should have ended her career tbh.
deanbuckley.bsky.social
the spirit of Leo "Tiny Tim should get a job" Varadkar lives on, evidently
A tweet from Fine Gael councillor David McManus that reads

Social Justice Ireland telling RTÉ that €10 increase in social welfare is 'not enough'.

👉 The best social welfare measure is called employment
#Budget2026
deanbuckley.bsky.social
how fascinating that there are two Fine Gael TDs on the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with a direct financial interest in the hospitality sector. how interesting

bsky.app/profile/dean...
deanbuckley.bsky.social
Fine Gael TD John Clendennen was president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland when he was elected. now he sits on the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. just something that seems relevant to the great VAT cut debate that no one mentions
deanbuckley.bsky.social
Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan is Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan is also a former hotelier who now runs a hospitality consultancy firm

just two fun facts about Fine Gael TD Brian Brennan
deanbuckley.bsky.social
I think it's important to be clear that since McDonald's et al are franchises, this VAT cut isn't only going to them, but their franchisees, a group that is increasingly dominated by private equity firms. so this also a VAT cut for them
Reposted by Dean Buckley
paulmurphy.pbp.ie
Jack Chambers just now.
The government has an aim to ONLY have 3% of children living in poverty by 2030...
Jfc.
Not a single child should be living in poverty.
We need rid of this cruel government
#Budget2026
deanbuckley.bsky.social
your one weehole ye all share. one fourth-dimensional quantum-entangled metaweehole for everyone in the entire Irish government. shove a tenner up your weehole every Wednesday until the next Budget
deanbuckley.bsky.social
shove your €10 increase up your weehole, lads
deanbuckley.bsky.social
the exact opposite in fact. TDs are shouting into the wind that this was normal and journalists are ignoring them
Reposted by Dean Buckley
vermontgmg.bsky.social
You know what was weird last week? I didn’t see anyone fired for quoting words actually spoken by Jane Goodall.
deanbuckley.bsky.social
the official position of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael appears to be that if gardaí want to leak confidential information about private citizens to damage a political candidate, they are not only entitled to do so, but it is righteous
deanbuckley.bsky.social
everyone – including Kieran Cuddihy – jumping down Paul Murphy's throat for correctly raising the very serious issue of confidential garda vetting information being leaked to the media

disgraceful

#TonightVMTV