No more political fudges on Seanad reform
Today the NUI have informed me that, of 103,000 ballot papers issued by registered post, only 15,000 completed ballots have been returned so far. A further 18,600 have been returned to the NUI as undeliverable, of which 600 have been re-posted to voters on request. This leaves around 70,000 votes which have yet to be […]
Bewildering, silly, inexcusable – the process of government formation since #GE16
It shows very little self-confidence for Fianna Fáil to refuse, on moral principle, to enter a partnership government in which they would be treated as equals with Fine Gael. But it does display a “cute hoor” mind-set that suggests that FF expects any new government to have to take hard decisions to govern properly for […]
An update from the NUI #Seanad16
Dear candidates, Here is an update on polling in the election: As of noon today 18-04-2016: Ballots cast: 19,186 Ballots returned: 19,500 Ballots reissued: 861. Today 18 April is the last day on which a voter can request that a ballot paper be re-issued with a reasonable expectation of getting the re-issued ballot paper in time to vote in the election. We will continue […]
Eamonn Mallie meets Michael McDowell
Recently, I sat down to discuss politics, nationalism and other topics with broadcaster and journalist Eamonn Mallie on Irish TV. You can watch the interview back here: https://goo.gl/1tEm8z
Seanad Bill 2016 initiated 15/06/16
I was delighted to today initiate the Seanad Bill 2016, which was co-sponsored by a number of colleagues in Seanad Éireann, please see link below to a pdf of the full document Seanad Bill 2016 BILL (as initiated) SeanadBill2016 An Act to implement reforms proposed in the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform […]
Democracy, for all its difficulties, is in need of being cherished
The savage slaying of Jo Cox, by all accounts a really great emerging politician, at the hands of a deranged loner came at a time when the Brexit referendum campaign was about to reach its climactic last weekend. And the awfulness of her death led to a temporary cessation of hostilities in that campaign. Terrible […]