On Morning Ireland this morning Fianna Fail TD Dara Callaery suggested that the Government had a series of referendums planned for next year. The question is what will these be on? Two we know of. They are the long awaited Children’s Rights Referendum and of course a referendum to abolish Seanad Eireann. But what else can we expect? I asked for suggestions on Facebook and Twitter. There was some interesting answers. Most people wanted a Children’s Rights Referendum...
RTÉ reported last night that a party whip was being applied to Fianna Fail TD’s and Senators to stop them individually nominating Independent candidates. Speaking in an interview aired on RTÉ’s This Week In Politics, Seán Ó Fearghail, The Fianna Fail whip, said the party would act collectively if it chooses to support an independent candidate. This is seen as a blow to the possible return of Senator Norris to the race for the Presidency. The Irish Times today...
The Dáil has been dissolved by President McAleese in the last minutes. The date of the election has also been set. Voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on Friday 25th of February. Any prospective Candidates have until noon February 9th to file nomination papers. People eligible to vote but not yet registered as electors may apply for entry in the supplementary register. Deadline is 8 February. The closing date for eligible categories to apply to the relevant...
Image via Wikipedia One of the interesting parts of elections is trying to figure out who will replace outgoing TD’s as this represents the minimum number of new TD’s that will enter the Dáil this year. 39 new TD’s are guaranteed to be elected during this General Election Campaign. Fianna Fáil has the highest number of retirees with 21 TD’s stepping down including some high profile names like Brian Cowen. Fine Gael have 8 TD’s stepping down and strangely in...
Image via Wikipedia So Fianna Fail are as divided as Fine Gael was last summer. The Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting gets under way at 5:30pm and is expected to last until around 9pm. The wording of the motion to be debated is reported to be “That the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has confidence in Brian Cowen TD as leader of Fianna Fáil.” Its been a tough week for Brian Cowen in his office as Taoiseach and Leader of...
Whitebox have an interesting prediction competition for the next Dáil. Fullhouse is an interesting tool to try and guess who will be elected in each constituency. There is talks of prizes, but I would have done it anyway! I have managed to finish off my prediction have come up with the following results: Fine Gael 75 Labour 40 Fianna Fail 31 Sinn Fein 10 Independents 6 United Left Alliance 4 There are some interesting stats also on the website...
Image via Wikipedia Today’s Editorial in the Irish Independent asks for that the following occurs, On December 7, the Dail must pass the Budget. Then the Finance Bill should go through with unprecedented speed, to clear the way for the General Election. Most people would agree that that is the way that the Government should be planning things, if the budget passes. But are they? According to Leo Varadkar TD, they are not. Under Fianna Fáil’s plan, there are...
Image via Wikipedia I received a letter today from Cllr. Laura McGonigle announcing her candidacy for the Fine Gael Dáil Convention. This brings to five the number of declared candidates. Fine Gael is planning to run 3 candidates in the next General Election. The other declared candidates are sitting TD’s Simon Coveney and Deirdre Clune, local Senator Jerry Buttimer and two Councillors from the South East Ward, Des Cahill and Laura McGonigle. In the last General Election Fine Gael...
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...
So the Ceann Comhairle, John O’Donoghue is to resign next week. He has been under huge pressure to resign following the revelations of his use of expenses. But is he only the top of the ice berg? Are other Ministers (current and former) even worse? Or does this waste at the top go all the way down to backbench TD’s and Senators. Who ever takes over as Ceann Comhairle must have the backing from across the house. That means...
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