Nothing can stop Shinners protesting... except the cold snap

The Dublin branch of Sinn Féin held an 'Eve of Budget overnight vigil' at the gates of the Dáil on Kildare Street last Monday night. It was organised to demonstrate Sinn Féin's opposition to the government's 'Consensus for Cuts', for the suspension of the budget and for an immediate general election. The vigil was led by the party's Dublin South-Central TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh and it kicked off at 7pm. But it was by no means an all-night vigil. The Insider hears that the Sinn Féin group called off the vigil at midnight. The reason? It was too bloody cold!

And here is the next Dáil...

With a general election imminent, pollsters and political journalists have been busy making election predictions. Shane Coleman (of this parish), John Drennan (Sunday Independent), Nick Coffey (Irish Daily Mail), Garret FitzGerald (Irish Times) and Sean Donnelly (pollster with Public Opinion Ireland) have all made predictions on each party's final seat tally recently. The Insider has learned of an analysis that combines each of their predictions and the results are: Fianna Fáil 41 (-37 on 2007), Fine Gael 60 (+9), Labour 48 (+28), Greens 0 (-6), Sinn Fein 7 (+3), Socialist party 1 (+1), Independent 9 (+4)

Dunphy and Giles labour for election hopeful

There was some speculation a few months ago, that RTÉ soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy was approached by Fine Gael and asked if he would run for election with Lucinda Creighton. But the controversial journalist and his TV colleague John Giles lent the Labour Party a hand this weekend. On Friday night, the Labour Party's Dublin North Central candidate Aodhán Ó Ríordáin held an election fundraiser. Billed 'A night with Dunphy and Giles', Newstalk broadcaster Ger Gilroy interviewed the RTÉ pundits in Grainger's pub on Dublin's Malahide Road. Admission was €10 for those who wanted to see the TV stars and help Ó Ríordáin "get my election off the ground".

Globally renowned rock group Arcade Fire played Dublin's O2 venue last Sunday and Monday. During a fantastic concert on Sunday night, Win Butler, the lead singer, made several references to the dire economic circumstances Ireland finds itself in with the IMF in town. Butler's advice for us all was to keep the head up and blame the politicians. His comments were met with a huge roar of approval. However, The Insider saw some irony in Arcade Fire feeling sorry for us all. He had just returned from the bar where he bought one pint of Carlsberg and one bottle of Carlsberg for the ridiculous sum of €12.50. Let's hope Arcade Fire told the O2 management that it's not 2005.

The Insider at politicstheinsider@tribune.ie