With less then seven days to the close of nominations for the Irish Presidential Election. Senator David Norris has 17 nominations from Oireachtas members but he is going to find it very hard to get the final three signatures. The 17 Oireachtas members who have nominted are as follows: Stephen Donnelly TD Catherine Murphy TD Maureen O’Sullivan TD Mick Wallace TD Joan Collins TD Joe Higgins TD Clare Daly TD John Halligan TD Richard Boyd Barrett TD Senator Katherine...
While a lot of attention is being focused on Senator David Norris’s attempt at getting 20 Oireachtas signatures, the Council route seems to have been neglected by the Senator. That could change after tomorrow as Fingal County Council holds a special meeting to discuss motions for nominating a candidate in the Presidential Election. The following have motions tabled for tomorrows Council meeting: Senator Davis Norris Gary Smylie Richard McSweeney Joseph Duffy Garrett Kelly Dr Pat Jones A motion in...
The Sunday Independent is reporting that David Norris is to re-enter the race for the Presidency. After withdrawing from the race over the summer I am surprised at his re-entry to the race. His reasons for re-enter seem to be because of the support being shown, but his reason for withdrawal has not changed. Those who withdrew their support for Mr Norris have not changed their mind, though there are talks that some Fianna Fail TD’s and Senators may help...
Image via Wikipedia Although they made sound like turkeys voting against Christmas, two Senators have made good arguments in favour of keeping Seanad Eireann. Yesterday speaking to the Irish Times, Independent Senator Joe O’Toole had the following to say, Speaking this afternoon, Sen. O’Toole acknowledged the existing arrangement was “undemocratic, unfair” and “unrepresentative” and described voting arrangements for the Upper House, where it does not have a universal mandate, as “indefensible”. However, the independent senator said the abolition of...
Image via Wikipedia So Fianna Fail have done a U-turn on the Seanad according to the Irish Times, they along with Fine Gael, Labour, the Green Party and Sinn Fein no longer want an upper house in the Oireachtas. Is this want the people of Ireland want? Do we want an unfeathered Dáil whos only check on power is the President, who’s powers at that are very limited. While I agree with those in favour of abolition that the...
Image via Wikipedia A public meeting will be held on Monday 8th of March at 8:00pm in Silversprings Morans Hotel Cork on the the new Fine Gael Health Policy “FairCare”. Speakers on the night will include Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD, Fine Gael Health Spokesperson Dr. James O’Reilly TD and Fine Gael Seanad Health Spokesperson Senator Francis Fitzgerald. Local elected representatives will also be in attendance. This is a good chance to find out more about the Fine...
Image via Wikipedia Last night the at the Fine Gael Presidential Dinner, Enda Kenny announced the following: I believe the Seanad should be abolished and the next Fine Gael Government will put this to the people. I have come to the conclusion that a second house of the Oireachtas can no longer be justified. In abolishing Seanad Eireann, I have examined the outcome of similar decisions in countries such as Sweden, Denmark and New Zealand. Our two-house Oireachtas is...
Last night I attended the GLEN briefing on the Civil Partnership Bill, hosted by the Cork Gay Project and L.inc. It was a very interesting meeting and I certainly learned a lot! We were given a 3 booklets on the Bill and I am currently working my way through them and they are fascinating. The speakers were Eoin Collins, Director of Policy Change at Glen and Dr Fergus Ryan, head of Law at DIT. A few things struck me...
Image via Wikipedia I got an email today from the lovely people at European Movement Ireland which a good bit of information on the run up to Lisbon 2 Referendum. The bill setting up the Referedendum is published today, meaning that the Referendum Commission can be set up. Commission will aim to inform voters of the issue as well as encourage people to vote. The Commission will be made up of the following: A former judge of the Supreme...
Currently reading the above document but decided to make a wordle of it first so if you are going to read you know what words to expect! Not surprising EU, European and Ireland are among the top mentions. The report can be downloaded in Word format from the Oireachtas Website
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