Winner and answers to the 2016 political quiz

There was a great response to the 2016 political quiz fromSunday Business Post readers, with entries coming in from all around the country by post and online.

The winner was John Tarrant of Coole, Millstreet town, Co Cork. He will be getting a case of Pèppoli Chianti Classico wine from the legendary Italian wine family Antinori.

Here are the correct answers – it is still not too late to test your political knowledge on some of the big and small events of 2016.

1. Where did Taoiseach Enda Kenny announce that he was going to ask the President to dissolve the 31st Dáil?

a) Twitter

b) Dáil Eireann

c) 10 Downing Street

d) Castlebar

Answer: (a)

2. Gerry Adams states that his occupation before he became a TD was as:

a) Radio operator

b) Farmer

c) Army Officer

d) Barman

Answer: (d)

3. The Green Party’s election campaign slogan was which of the following:

a) Grow Your Own

b) An Ireland For All

c) Think Ahead, Act Now

d) Let’s Keep the Recovery Going

Answer: (c)

4. Seán Canney TD was appointed Minister of State after what process:

a) A toss of a coin

b) Drawing of straws

c) First come, first served

d) Interview with the Taoiseach

Answer: (a)

5. Who is the new British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland?

a) John Fixcounty

b) Jeremy Fairisle

c) James Brokenshire

d) Sir James Mendedparish

Answer: (c)

6. The Irish general election campaign in 2011 was the shortest on record. It had a formal duration of how many days:

a) 21

b) 22

c) 23

d) 24

Answer: (c)

7. From what island did Mary Anne MacLeod – aka Donald Trump’s mother – hail?

a) Tory

b) Lewis

c) Sicily

d) Valentia

Answer: (b)

8. Who was the 158th and last TD elected to the 32nd Dáil?

a) Willie Penrose

b) Seán Barrett

c) Catherine Martin

d) Peter Burke

Answer: (a)

9. Who did Enda Kenny appoint as the Irish government’s Brexit minister?

a) Pascal Donohoe

b) Michael Noonan

c) Charlie Flanagan

d) Nobody

Answer: (d)

10. Who is the Tanaiste?

a) James Reilly

b) Frances FitzGerald

c) Simon Coveney

d) Leo Varadkar

Answer: (b)

11. What term did Enda Kenny to woo voters in Castlebar before the general election last February?

a) Whingers

b) Whiners

c) Wankers

d) Weirdos

Answer: (a)

12. On the 7th February, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said that if returned to power, FG would abolish which of the following:

a) USA

b) USB

c) USC

d) USI

Answer: (c)

13. What is the most common occupation of TDs in the new Dáil?

a) Farmer

b) Auctioneer

c) Teacher

d) Publican/hotelier

Answer: (c)

14. Who is the new independent TD in Westmeath Longford?

a) Paul “Boxer” McGrath

b) Kevin “Boxer” Moran

c) Roy “Boxer” Keane

d) Damien “Boxer” Duff

Answer: (b)

15. In what location did talks take place last April between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on the formation of a minority government?

a) Private members’ bar in Leinster House

b) Provost’s Library, Trinity College Dublin

c) Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park

d) Snug in Doheny & Nesbitts

Answer: (b)

16. Who is the US vice-president elect?

a) James Pound

b) Ron Schilling

c) Mike Pence

d) Dale Kroner

Answer: (c)

17. Who is the chairman of the government’s Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services?

a) Kevin Duffy

b) Padraig Ó Céidigh

c) Joe O’Toole

d) John Horgan

Answer: (a)

18. Shane Ross wants new legislation which will allow a majority of lay-people to appoint which of the following?

a) TV Licence inspectors

b) Judges

c) County Librarians

d) Lollypop men and women

Answer: (b)

19. Who was the youngest TD elected to the 32nd Dáil Éireann?

a) Lisa Chambers

b) Simon Harris

c) Noel Rock

d) Jack Chambers

Answer: (d)

20. Who is the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann?

a) Paddy Burke

b) Denis O’Donovan

c) Seán Ó Fearghaíl

d) Sean Barrett

Answer: (b)

21. Author Robert Harris published a best-selling book last year called Conclave. What was it about?

a) The election of a new Taoiseach after the general election in 2016

b) The election of a new pope

c) The appointment of judges to the Superior Courts

d) The appointment of the new Labour leader

Answer: (b)

22. In the talks on the on the formation of the government in March, what colour did the parties use to paint the line under the really important issues:

a) blue

b) green

c) black

d) red

Answer: (d)

23. The Anti-Austerity Alliance – People Before Profit won how many seats in the general election?

a) 6

b) 7

c) 8

d) 9

Answer: (a)

24. Who is the chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party?

a) Bríd Smith

b) Niamh Smyth

c) Brendan Smith

d) Michael Smith

Answer: (c)

25. Climate change – according to Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae – can be best attributed to which of the following:

a) the Devil

b) Farting cattle

c) Industrial development

d) God above

Answer: (d)