Pooka,

Louth - for one, and any one of the 3 or 4 constituencies taking in Dublin's badly planned and often disadvantaged sprawl could return a Sinn Féin TD. Dublin North Central also - taking in the North Inner City. With the proportional representation system, parties with a small percentage in the poll often sneak the last seat. It depends on how transfers go - traditionally Sinn Féin haven't picked up too many - may change this time with the changed circumstances.

There are 2 pointers to the power of the what I would call 'Independents for Ballygawleypickmearse' in the last Dáil. That pointless abortion referendum was definitely on their agenda - and also the recent Anti-Traveller law passed in a hurry - which hopefully will be sanctioned in Europe. Both, I strongly suspect, were the result of deals with FF for their support. In the early 80s, 1 TD on his own found himself in a similar position of powerbroker - Tony Gregory. As a result the North Inner City got some nice new housing at a time of alleged austerity. I should say he's a man I respect far more than the current powerbrokers, the same Tony.

I don't know why British 'Intelligence' feel forced to sabotage Sinn Féin... I thought that their utter hypocrisy regarding the 3 blokes arrested in Columbia and especially their wonderfully original approach on the ground to the crime issue did MI5's work for them. Sad to say, but it's the latter, rather than the bigger issues of United Ireland etc. which will win them their votes in and around Dublin