THE linkage of state funding for political parties, which is explicitly given on the basis that it can’t be used for electoral campaigning purposes, to the manner in which they conduct their campaigns, is deeply ironic.

I’VE read some peculiar attempts to shift the blame for failure in my time, but rarely so far in advance of the end of the contest.

POLITICIANS are busier than ever these days briskly embracing the electorate on doorsteps and pressing punters for votes across Ireland.