Word: dail
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Haughey (pronounced Haw-hee) was almost right. In last week's Irish election the Fianna Fail (Soldiers of Destiny) party won 44.1% of the vote, giving it 81 seats in the 166-member Dail Eireann, or House of Representatives. But that was three short of an absolute majority, thus forcing the Republic of Ireland into a period of minority government. Ruling by compromise will be difficult for the autocratic Haughey, who has won the nickname "the Boss...
...years the outlawed Irish Republican Army has refused to recognize the - authority of the Irish Republic's Parliament, contending that doing so would bestow legitimacy on the British partition of Ireland. That has not stopped the I.R.A.'s political wing, Sinn Fein, from contesting seats in the 166- member Dail, the assembly. But once elected, Sinn Fein winners have always boycotted the Dail. Last week Sinn Fein reversed its policy and said its candidates will take seats if elected...
...they would be swallowed up in a predominantly Catholic state. FitzGerald proposed changing the Republic's constitution and laws to remove Catholic bias. He cited articles that claim jurisdiction over the whole island and ban divorce. FitzGerald is likely to have trouble getting his plan passed by the Dail, since he leads a coalition that has only a two-vote margin. If approved, the constitutional amendments would have to be ratified by national referendum...