Review of Trinity College Seanad Candidates

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Wednesday June 13, 2007 13:03 by Bachelor of Arts

11 candidates for 3 seats.

The University of Dublin constituency has 11 candidates and promises to be compeditive. The electorate consists of those with University of Dublin degrees (Trinity College mainly, but also a few DIT & Froebel College). The constituency shows how elitist the Seanad University seats are. Not only do graduates get more representation, but within graduates there is distinction between NUI and TCD and all others. Ballot papers are to be returned by 11am, 24 July 2007.

Ivana Bacik (Labour member): Probably one of the most prominant candiates. Bacik is a member of the Labour Party and was a candidate for Labour in the 2004 European election. Bacik is a former SU president in TCD.

Shay Conway: Conway is a trained mediator. He highlights a few issues such as house prices and transport. But like many Seanad candidates his webpage appears more like a rambling of one man on a wide variety of unconnected issues without any underlying political philosophy. He describes himself as an independent candidate.

Stephen Douglas (Labour 'gene pool'): Douglas works for Mary Upton TD in her Dáil office. He has previously worked for Green TD Ciaran Cuffe and for New Labour in Westminster.

Ike Efobi: Efobi has no website. His occupation is IT Auditor and Systems analyst.

Dr. Maurice Guéret (Fianna Fáil 'gene pool'): Guéret is a former member of Fianna Fáil who was unsuccessful in gaining a party nomination to the Dáil. He performed well in the last election to the Seanad but was unsuccessful. With Dr. Mary Henry gone he hopes to pick up on a medical vote.

David Hutchinson Edgar (Green Party endorsed): His policies are generally in-line with Green Party policy given that he is officially endorsed by them. His main emphasis is on Education, the environment and equality.

Rosaleen McDonagh: She is a member of the Travelling community and has done very well in the previous election. MacDonagh highlights issues around travellers such as racism, discrimination, education access, Dunsink, and equality. Not clear if she has any party loyalties.

David Martin (ASTI): Martin is a secondary teacher backed by the ASTI teachers' union. Due to his union backing him he may well get a credible vote.

David Norris (Independent): Norris is a sitting Senator. Norris would be best known for his campaigning on Gay Rights and is a noted Joycean scholar. Norris also spoke at anti-war rallies in the past 5 years.

Seán O'Connor (FF 'gene pool'): O'Connor is the nephew of Charles Haughey and grandson of Sean Lemass. O'Connor describes himself as a business man.

Shane Ross (Ind, former FG member): Ross is a sitting Senator and is very strongly pro-privatisation. He has a neo-liberal economic outlook akin to the right-wing of FG or the PDs. Ross is the editor of the Sunday Independent's business supplement.