NUI Seanad Candidates' Include Secret FFers, FGers, et al

by Louise Mon Mar 14, 2011 09:16

Shane, I don't think your analogy between the loss of the skills of Daniel O'Sullivan and Paddy Healy and those of Dr Crown if elected to the seanad are valid. I don't doubt the competence of the Daniel and Paddy but quite honestly there are capable people with their skills who are unemployed.

Dr Crown is possibly the top oncologist is Ireland. He saves lives. How many unemployed oncologists are there waiting to take up the days he wouldn't be working if elected?

I admire Dr Crown. He has spoken out on our health service but he doesn't need to be in the Seanad to do that.

After your post Shane, I see that candidate James Coyle, has posted his policies and they include the retention of St Luke's Cancer Hospital which Harney was determined to close. I have a relative being treated there currently. It is a wonderful place and it would be scandalous to close it. I would like to know what Dr crown feels about St Luke's. He does not treat patients there as far as i know.

by spucwatch Tue Mar 15, 2011 22:14

was active in the nasty anti-choice campaigns in UCD many moons ago.

by FG Wed Mar 16, 2011 23:44

"you could say Daniel Sullivan is a good software engineer"

He is using a wordpress blog as his election website.

A text heavy, but designed to be hard to read, blog.

by Daniel Sullivan Thu Mar 17, 2011 17:34

Actually the site danielsullivan.ie is a straightforward hack of a free template, no more, no less. And it does what it needs to do. And the Wordpress side is simply what I've been using for the old blog a good few years but sure we all know that software these days is only about website design.

Perhaps you are thinking I should have written a content management system from scratch for what is after an election website? I suppose I should have thrown in some Flash content to make it seem cooler. I would doubt it very much that where people end up coming in the poll will be based on what gimmicks they used for their website. Could the site be better? Sure. But the question is does it do the job I want it to? And I reckon it does.

by Avon Barksdale Sun Mar 20, 2011 20:28

John Crown supports the governments plans to bring private insurance companies in to make profits on the health system through compulsary health insurance.

He has also welcomed the announcement of the visit of Obama.

I wouldn't touch this guy with a barge pole, he's not remotely progressive or left

by ex fianna fail - seanad watch dog Tue Mar 22, 2011 16:05

regina o connor is a ff or from that 'gene pool' adviser to them in eu.

by Graduate Tue Mar 22, 2011 18:15

Paddy Healy is now officially endorsed by the Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation. The INMO is the main union representing nurses and midwives in the State.

by Pádraig Ó Ruairc Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:10

I am a UCD graduate and have a vote in the Seanad elections. Daniel Sullivans literature which I have recieved makes no mention of his membership of Fine Gael - If he is proud to belong to the party then why is he hiding it?

Eoin O Broin - Sinn Fein seems to be the only canditate happy to advertise what party he belongs to by having a prominent party logo on his leaflet. In fairness James Doorley does mention that he is a member of the Labour party in the small print but does not use the party logo.

Im not surprised that members of FF don't advertise the fact - more proof if ever it was needed that you can both run and hide!

The Seanad elections get so little coverage and there are so many canditates that it is very hard to find out about their policies and politics. Id like to see more articles like this on indymedia.

by Mark Mulligan - Left Alliance Fri Apr 08, 2011 13:17

O’SHEA FARREN, Linda, Solicitor, Disability Rights Advocate and Member-Nominated Independent Director of EBS

The above woman held a very prominent function around 4 years ago to finance the campaign of Hilary Clinton to be President
of the USA. The elite gallery was held at her home on Raglan Road, in Dublin 4. I recall the night very well. I had lost my cat and my aunt was deeply worried. While passing through Raglan Road I noticed at least 6 unmarked squad cars, almost the same marked, and a contingent of Gardai blocking the road which meant only people on the list got through. Hosting the event was Linda, an unknown at the time but who came: yes, Bill Clinton, followed by Sean Fitzpatrick, Drumm, Fingleton, Vincent Browne, Terry Prone, the late Gerry Ryan and believe it or not Jack O'Connor (Siptu). Also in attendance and may I say this was on every newspaper at the time so you can check out the facts for yourselves. Also in the elite gallery were Justine McCarthy; the Garda Commissioner at the time and many others from the Law Library. The late arrivals were Peter Sutherland and Denis O'Brien.

My question is: since Linda had the house party she has been on more TV shows than Shirley fecking Temple so money talks and gobshites walk. Now this woman has turned over 23 house-keepers in 5 years. They have to wear a uniform to her liking and before they join they complete an Upstairs Downstairs course. These are facts that people should be aware of on the left side of society and if anybody has any doubts in what I have written google the newspapers and also Indymedia and you will see more names than I care to mention. I believe the Ming Flanagan and Paddy Wallace plus Clare Daly have serious reservations on the motives of her Higness and some say she is already deciding to run for the Aras.

Mark Mulligan Belmullet Co. Mayo

by Daniel Sullivan Fri Apr 08, 2011 16:09

Pádraig Ó Ruairc, the NUI (who are running the election) does not allow people to use party logos on the Litir Um Thoghchán or to say on the ballot that they are candidates for specific parties unless those parties send the NUI documentation saying that X is an officially sanctioned candidate for that party. The official position of Fine Gael is that it is not running any candidates but that there are party members who are running. I've received no assistance in running from the party other than one email that mentioned me and the other 2 FG members who are running which was sent to those who have subbed to the party members email list.

I've got it right on the front of my site that I'm a member of Fine Gael, I've hidden nothing. I'm simply not allowed to have FG on the ballot or to have used party logo on the literature.

by Serge Gainsberg Sun Apr 10, 2011 14:29

A recent study has shown that only 7% of NUI graduates register to vote. There are about 100,000 registered to vote. In the last election less than 40% of those registered voted. This year there are only 15,000 votes cast so far. The turnout this year is likely to be lower than 2007. The university seats are reserved for gradudates which are a minority of the population. Of gradudates only TCD and NUI get a vote. Of these only a minorty register. Of these only a minority vote.

There are many resons for this low-turnout. The big one is how irrelevent the Seanad is. And how Senators have generally offered nothing over decades except workign full time at attending funerals around constituencies and general parish pump rubbish.

Another reason for the low turn-out is that there is such blatant hypocrisy from the parties. All the parties are running candidates in the university seats. They are seats in the national parliament. Of course they are running candidates. But they are trying to fool people into thinking they are not party members. Somehow they are independents. Madness. Daniel Sullivan has acknowledged his FG membership. The design of his leaflet is an FG design. John Kennedy and James Doorley also acknowledge their pro-government stance if elected. Eoin Ó Broin is the most honest with his party name and logo on literature (Daniel, why did you/FG not do this!). Helen Keogh is a FG member and does not acknowledge it. Regina O'Connor is FF and does not acknowledge it. Paddy Healy is a ULA member (although not a political party yet) and does not openly acknowledge it. This all adds up to the Seanad being prime for abolition.

The NUI as an institution have questions to answer. Why have they allowed the registration process be so neglected. Why have the NUI never flagged the fact that a minority even register. Why do they allow addresses, etc. be so out of date and make no attempt to update the register. Why have successive FF/FG/Lab governments never even reformed this, never mind abloishing the university seats!

by Oswald Bastable Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:07

"Paddy Healy is a ULA member (although not a political party yet) and does not openly acknowledge it. "

Paddy Healy is open about his ULA membership. He has chaired ULA Press Conferences during the last couple of weeks. Hes standing as an independent who is openly committed to fighting against cutbacks in public services and wants to make the rich pay for the crisis. I don't think anyone will mistake him for a FF, FG or LP candidate.

by Peter Mooney Mon Apr 11, 2011 15:21 peter at petermooney dot eu

Can I just clarify something for Radio Boy. Brendan Ryan endorsed my Senate campaign because I was a founder member of the Simon Community and so was he. Mary Upton endorsed my campaign because I have a long record in promoting science and she is one of our more eminent scientists. I have no intention of taking any party whip if elected. If you go to my website you will see that I have been endorsed by a number of well known social justice activists and scientists. As far as I am aware I am the only person on the NUI slate that is coming from the left that is not affiliated to any party or organisation. I have been working on this campaign for a long time and all anyone needs to know about me is in my blogs and on my website and I will answer directly any question anyone wants to ask me on any issue. I understand many people on the left have qualms about the Senate but if people don't vote we allow the Senate to become a platform for some of the most right wing views in the country if the last Senate is anything to go by.

by James Doorley - NUI Seanad Election Tue Apr 12, 2011 00:57

The title of this thread is a little misleading in relation to me. On both my website www.jamesdoorley.com and on my Litir Um Thoghchan I have clearly stated that I am a member of the Labour party. I have been since 1996. However I was not nominated nor endorsed by the Labour Party so it would not be possible to include a logo on my literature. Apart from circulating an email on my behalf which other organisations/networks have done, I have had no Labour Party support.

Donncha O'Connell also confirms he is a member of the Labour Party on his website. I have also seen requests from members of the Labour Party in Dublin Central asking for support for Peter Mooney because he canvassed for the party in the last General Election, for Aine Clancy I think.

by Seanad Election 2011 Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:19

I believe the Seanad should be abolished as soon as possible. It is a waist of tax payers money. The Senators get payed nearly as much money as the TD's and Senators don't even do very much if elected. They don't even sit many times a year and most importantly senators have no power to do anything.

The only thing the Seanad can do is send a new law back to the Dáil if the Seanad see anything wrong with it. That i am affraid to say never happens.

In other words Senators get nearly as much as TD's for doing nothing. All these people who are running say they are running to help us the people and make change in the Seanad but really they are only in it for the money or they are people who have ran for the Dáil before but failed to get in and are wanting to make a big fat pension.

My fellow NUI graduates lets not vote in this election and let them know that we do not want them elected.

The Seanad is a waist of tax payers money

by UCC head Tue Apr 19, 2011 18:09

I disagree. The Seanad or any institution should not be abolished just because of money. It's an argument that can say "lets get rid of juries as it costs too much" or "lets bring in First Past Post voting system as it's cheaper than PRSTV".

The Seanad should get the chop. not because the politicians are rotten (they are but so are the cllrs who choose them), not because it's to blame for crisis (it's not!). It should go because it's a second chamber and second chambers are only in existance to be conservative force and to frustrate a popular government implementing wishes that go against the political and economic establishement. Much of the abolitionists advance worrying arguements that should be opposed. The Seanad needs to go, but for the right reasons.

I voted in this election a few weeks back. I want Seanad abolished. But I also want to take Seanad seats off the political establishment so voted for an anti-establishment cnadidate. Most of my fellow graduates are voting with their feet. There are only 21,000 votes cast in the election so far. This is dramatically lower than the 98,000 registered graduates!

by Seanad Election 2011 Tue Apr 19, 2011 20:02

To respond to what somebody has said I don't just think it should be abolished to save money but people who are elected to the Seanad have no power to do anything except reject new laws that the Dáil have made and they never do reject any laws because the majority of the Senad is made up by people who support the government.

The taoiseach of this country gets to nominate ten people to become senators without them having to go through a vote.

Anyway even if the Seanad reject any law it goes back to the Dáil and if they make any change to the law they can send it to the Seanad again and even if the Seanad reject it for a second time it dose not matter. The Seanad can only reject once and the second time round it dose not matter.

They have know power and cannot do anything. Why pay people for doing nothing at all!

Most of the Senators or people who run for the Seanad get paid for doing and alot of them are former politicans who could not get elected to the Dáil.

The Seanad at this moment in time has no reason to be there at all.

by Seanad Election 2011 Tue Apr 19, 2011 20:10

Another thing I forgot to mention was that Eamonn De Valera abolished the Seanad but brought it back.

The reason he brought it back was because he wanted to keep his friends who didn't get elected to the Dáil with money and jobs.

by UCC Head Wed Apr 20, 2011 18:13

The Seanad should be abolished. The fact that it can only delay the Dáil shows why it is irrelevent. But I would not stand for a Seanad that could block the Dáil (unless it was elected on universal franchise).

"Seanad Eleciton 2011" is not fully correct to say De Valera brought it back to get his mates into Parliament. He did it mainly to put in a second chamber that would be more conservative than the Dáil and would be out of touch with public opinion. University graduates getting 6 seats, 43 chosen by Councillors elected a few years back and then 11 senators chosen by Taoiseach. It has in built conservative majority and is very removed from the population. It was done to dampen down a radical Dáil or a radical proposal if the estamlishment wanted.

The Seanad does have power to put issues to referendum, this has never been done. There would need to be a majority in the Seanad and one-thrid of Dáil. Again, another thing that would be used to frustrate a radical government.

But the entire idea of a second chamber is wrong. Unless you are in a federal set-up, it simply cannot be justified. The President, the Council of State, the Seanad.. these are all institutions that need to get the axe. They are undemocratic.

by Seanad Election 2011 Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:06

I believe that the Seanad should be abolished or changed.

What I would like to happen to the Seanad is that all the people that are running for the Seanad must not have ran for the Dáil or the Seanad before. Also that any people running for the Seanad must not be county councillors.

This way the Seanad would be a place for people who are entering politics.

It would be the growth place for new young candidates. The Seanad could at least then have a reason to function.

This is my opinion on what should happen to the Seanad.

If this were not to happen then I believe the Seanad should be abolished.

by UCC head Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:40

So you want the Seanad to be a place that's reserved for 'new' people. So you switch one restricted electorate with a restricted choice. Why shouldn't any citizen be entitled to run? why restrict it to people that have never run before in Dail elections? and no cllrs! Madness. You'll find that there are many hundred and hundred of people that have run in Dail elections before.

Abolition is only way forward. There can be no justificatiion for a second chamber in a non-federal state. Anything short of abolition is not democratic. Tinkering and playing around with it won't make a difference. Who cares if there are emigrants or a 'voice for the north'. abolish!

I hear there are 25,000 votes cast in the NUI contituency and due to Easter there won't be any more posted in. This is out of 98,000 votes issued, not to mention the thousands and thousands that don't even register. The NUI election in 2011 has confirmed the death of the institution in my opinion. It cannot be justified to have a minority of a minority of graduates voting, and then look at the panel elections. One candidate sent out Kit Kats to Councillors to get their vote. The people elected are elected along party lines (fair enough as we elect cllrs and TDs on that basis) but within the parties Councillors and TDs decide who to vote for on whimsical gimmicks such as 'being from the area' or who send out most free stuff to them, such as chocolate bars and pens.

by Seanad Election 2011 Mon Apr 25, 2011 15:23

I am sorry about what I said in my previous post. I was incorrect to say that the people who run the Seanad should be restricted and I do agree with UCC Head.

The Seanad is very a unfair democracy because not every person in this country is allowed to vote.

Like I have said before the Seanad should be abolished as soon as possible.

I am not sure but I think that there will be a referendum in the Dáil in 12 months time on the Seanad.

One thing though that I can say for the Seanad is that over the last few years there have been some great debates in the Seanad.( E.G. The smoking ban) Also the Seanad has made afew great politicians come through the Seanad and get into the Dáil.( E.g. Shane Ross.)

Even though these are some good about the Seanad, the bad things outnumber the good things and I still believe the Seanad should be gone.