Dublin West General Election 2011 [Mod note post #218]

iMADEtheBBC

Gaspode wrote: »

iMADEtheBBC, while you may have valid points, they are not necessarily local D15 issues. I've added a moderation note into the first post, please read it ahead of your next contribution thanks.

No, you're wrong about that. They are Dublin 15 issues. Changing the goalposts after the game has started ? Who are you to tell me otherwise?

Don't think I'll bother contributing further. Not if this is the standard of moderation.

iMADEtheBBC

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Hi, can I ask you and other posters not to post huge essays about your political beliefs. There is a politics forum or political theory for that. I am hoping that this thread will just be about candidates for Dublin West, and your views about said candidates.

You can ask.

My points are all valid and concern Dublin West.

Vote for 'local' candidates and nothing will improve.

iMADEtheBBC

athtrasna wrote: »

I've lived in the area 7 years and have yet to see a politician on the doorstep. As a resident of a managed development, Burton and Varadkar have been active in helping clarify the position of management companies and what it means for owners and have been very good at keeping us posted on progress. The FG and SP councillors have been the most useful on issues in our development.

At the end of the day I will vote based on a combination of my situation and the national situation. I won't vote for Higgins for the reason I've already stated, and I know I'm worse off than I was in 2007 which is reason enough not to vote for anyone or any party who played a role in that.

Last time I had Brian Lenihan on my doorstep he told me my vote for the Green party candidate was a waste. His contempt for my views was consistent with the arrogance of a political dynasty. The Greens certainly haven't covered themselves in glory since getting into bed with Fianna Fail. The local candidate certainly had good ideas but (as I've already pointed out earlier in the thread) was not ready for national government and should stick to local government to gain experience. Oh wait... we don't have proper local government.
I pointed out to Mr. Lenihan that we had significant natural resources at our disposal (wind, sea) and questioned him why the other resources off our west coast were being sold at a knock down price to multinationals.

Didn't get an answer to that.

Haven't seen him since.

Pineapple stu

Thaedydal wrote: »

Well what has he done 'for the area'? and do you think Ministers should be going door to door? esp the Minster for Finance when the country is in the condition it's in?




I would say the same of Lenhian, who only ever appeared on my doorstep for the first time a few months ago and had not done so in the last 11 years.

He has been in the area im in a lot of times for personal issues for various people. He has helped a lot of community projects one which he cleared his schedule just to spend time with the local people when he opened a community centre, not just open and leave but spend the whole afternoon there talking to people . I find him very approachable and seems to do what he can for you if possible.
As for them going door to door then not really as thats what the constituancy office is for.
My point about Leo is that i havent heard of him doing anything for the community im in and its an area where you hear what is going on, its not to say that he hasnt done anything in Dublin 15 in general.
Ive heard of Joan doing some decent work but seems to have her own agenda going by her crazy rant at the budget and seems to be a bit anti man.

Pineapple stu

iMADEtheBBC wrote: »

Vote for 'local' candidates and nothing will improve.

Should i vote for someone that knows nothing about the area then?

Pineapple stu

athtrasna wrote: »

.

At the end of the day I will vote based on a combination of my situation and the national situation. I won't vote for Higgins for the reason I've already stated, and I know I'm worse off than I was in 2007 which is reason enough not to vote for anyone or any party who played a role in that.

How did FG and labour do the last time they were in power and what scandals like the hep c one with noonan was there? Why did they lose power?
How was the economy, are you better off than what you was then?

Arciphel

I have never seen Lenihan, Varadkar, Burton on my doorstep. Patrick Nulty has called several times, even when there wasn't an election in the offing. Varadkar is the king of the leaflet drop, I get something from him about once every two months telling me what he is doing in the area. To my mind, he is doing not much - he made numerous promises about building a noise barrier along the N3, bus shelters, school places, a community centre etc which have not been realised. When I see him on the news I have to admit I find his manner and communication skills a bit aggressive and off-putting.

I like Joe Higgins as a person, however I feel that his only two claims to fame are handcuffing himself to a bin once and making a few jokes in the Dail chamber with Bertie Ahern about them both being socialists. Neither of these had any positive effect far as I can see. So I am really not interested in giving him a platform again to shout from, even though my political views would be to the left.

I really wish there was a strong independent candidate in the area but alas not.

Pat Dunne

Pineapple stu wrote: »

How did FG and labour do the last time they were in power and what scandals like the hep c one with noonan was there? Why did they lose power?
How was the economy, are you better off than what you was then?

I do agree that the way in which Minister Michael Noonan and let us not forget the faceless Civil Servants in the Dept of Health who were advising him on the Hep C scandal, was especially callous and cruel.

However, I will say the economy was in far better shape, Ruairi Quinn as Minister of Finance returned the first ever budget surplus in the history of the State. A major policy of his was the reduction of Corporation Tax to 12.5%, which really kick started the economy.

As the mods saying earlier let's keep this local. What we badly need in D15 is more school places both at primary and secondary level, we need a major upgrade of the facilities and resourses in Connolly Hospital, we also need a better planning system which is not developer led. But above all we need jobs, jobs, jobs!

Annasopra

If I had a vote in Dublin West it would definitely goto Patrick Nulty - (I know him personally) - he is highly intelligent and articulate and not afraid to stand up for principles - The way he shamed the councillors going on Junkets in Fingal demonstrates this for me

athtrasna

Pineapple stu wrote: »

Should i vote for someone that knows nothing about the area then?

Have reported that quote - it's not mine, imadethebbc said it and you've somehow made it look like it was me.

Pineapple stu wrote: »

How did FG and labour do the last time they were in power and what scandals like the hep c one with noonan was there? Why did they lose power?
How was the economy, are you better off than what you was then?

Noonan handled the situation badly but he was only just in the job and I don't think it's fair to hang him for that. He has been the voice of reason in recent debates on the economy. And to be honest, I'm worse off now than I was under the rainbow.

Dublin 15 needs many things, our infrastructure sucks, the water pipes, the roads, the public transport system. Connolly needs more money, the area needs more schools, more Gardai. Will any of the candidates running secure any of that? I'm not sure.

Gaspode

OK, I've updated the first post again due to feedback from posters.
Refrain from name-calling and personal attacks please.


To prevent any further degradation of what should be a really good thread, have a look at this diagram and try to stick to the top 3 layers when replying to posts. Dont get sucked down to the lower levels!

hotmail.com

When people talk about local issues do they not factor in the huge local unemployment rate?

hotmail.com

Pineapple stu wrote: »

He has been in the area im in a lot of times for personal issues for various people. He has helped a lot of community projects one which he cleared his schedule just to spend time with the local people when he opened a community centre, not just open and leave but spend the whole afternoon there talking to people . I find him very approachable and seems to do what he can for you if possible.
As for them going door to door then not really as thats what the constituancy office is for.
My point about Leo is that i havent heard of him doing anything for the community im in and its an area where you hear what is going on, its not to say that he hasnt done anything in Dublin 15 in general.
Ive heard of Joan doing some decent work but seems to have her own agenda going by her crazy rant at the budget and seems to be a bit anti man.

You are clearly a FF voter. Nothing wrong with that, but let's not have silly arguments as to why you're voting for Lenihan.

ArmaniJeanss

It really does look a shoe-in for the 'Big Four', with the only unknown which order they'll get elected in.

Does anyone know much about the 'new areas' of Dublin West which were added by the redrawing of the constituencies, roughly 6000 homes out by Swords as far as I know (They are not D15 but we can hardly exclude them from the debate).
Is there any serious candidates (from any party) in this area who could throw a spanner in the works of the big four?

jack presley

Has anyone ever seen Varadkar or Lenihan in Castlecurragh or Mulhuddart in general?

The Waltzing Consumer

hotmail.com wrote: »

When people talk about local issues do they not factor in the huge local unemployment rate?

This is, for me, the BIG issue. I want TDs with experience in bringing in and retaining employment. Ain't a FF voter firstly, but I will acknowledge the amount of opportunities their policies and policies of the short lived rainbow Governments have brought to west Dublin. I think it is pretty easy for Joe Higgins and Councillors in the area to just criticize and use cliches in bashing FF or FG, but these guys, in my view, are not bringing in eBay/PayPal/IBM/Blanchardstown Shopping centre etc.. Who brought these companies and opportunities to D15? It was not socialists and other "protest" politicians in the area. Sorry, but it was FF and FG.

We have thousands of jobs in D15 because of these parties and their policies, including FG who introduced the 12.5% Corporation Tax which is ESSENTIAL for D15 to retain these jobs. My problem with voting for Joe Higgins is this, from his website, which offers an alternative to the IMF/EU deal. http://www.socialistparty.net/theory/547-the-socialist-alternative

"A hefty wealth tax should be introduced; tax loopholes for the rich abolished and corporation tax significantly increased"

This is definately a D15 issue cause Joe is leader of the socialists, who wish to significantly increase the corporation tax, which would utterly destroy our area and its employment opportunites.

The Waltzing Consumer

jack presley wrote: »

Has anyone ever seen Varadkar or Lenihan in Castlecurragh or Mulhuddart in general?

I don't see what difference this makes if you see or do not see a politician in the area. Every TD has a clinic where you can make an appointment and see them, every TD has a phone number to contact them, every TD attends huge amounts of meetings in the community. Every TD has a website that you can contact them on. The population of D15 is massive, if any politician spent the time meeting everyone or going to every estate, nothing would get done. Come on, be a bit realistic here.

In the past, face-to-face was important because there were so few alternatives to meet local politicians and areas were way smaller. Now you have many more means to get in contact with politicians.

This type of complaint is as legitimate as saying "has anyone ever seen Varadkar or Lenihan kiss a babies forehead?" Come on, is it really a proper concern of yours?

Murt10

jack presley wrote: »

Has anyone ever seen Varadkar or Lenihan in Castlecurragh or Mulhuddart in general?

Do we really need to see them at our doors for them to represent us.

Varadker is a case in point. He doesn't hold clinics, but I have contacted him on a couple of occasions by email, and he has always responded promptly.

I have also emailed O'Gorman (Green Party), Bruton, Lenihan and Higgins. All have responded. I have also met Burton several times in the Roselawn shopping center.

IMHO, the TD's and public reps are there and are very accessable if we need them.

Nevyn

The thing is many of the things which they bang on about for the 'community' fall under the remit of the co counicl and planning rather then thier remit as T.D.s

I think the blogs is a start but they don't have email updates, I'd rather see them then leaflets in the door.

Pat Dunne

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

We have thousands of jobs in D15 because of these parties and their policies, including FG who introduced the 12.5% Corporation Tax which is ESSENTIAL for D15 to retain these jobs.

Could I just point out that is was the Labour Party's Ruairi Quinn, who introduced the 12.5% rate of Corporation Tax.

The Waltzing Consumer

Pat Dunne wrote: »

Could I just point out that is was the Labour Party's Ruairi Quinn, who introduced the 12.5% rate of Corporation Tax.

My mistake! Thanks for correction

Godge

If you are voting on the basis of local issues, you have to consider that we have had the Minister for Finance from Dublin West for the last few years and he has been able to ensure that Coolmine Community School got the upgrade that was promised in 1989 by Michael Woods (oops, didn't happen), that Connolly Hospital was upgraded to a major regional hospital with modern facilities (oops, only partly happened), that Metro West got built (oops, not yet), that the Maynooth line was upgraded to electric (oops, not yet), that the M50/N3 interchange was freeflow by the end of 2006 (Ok, only four years late), that housing was properly planned, that local unemployment went down, that schools were upgraded (nothing, nothing, nothing). Ok, the conclusion from that is that FF only did a little for the constituency when the most powerful Minister was from there. So anyone but FF is the answer if you are voting on local issues.

If you are voting on the basis of national issues, anyone but FF for anyone of 1000 reasons.

Nevyn

Well all 3 of them were on newstalk this morning was listening to them as I got the kids out to school, the podcast of it should be up shortly.

BostonB

TBH I have no faith in any of them. I also can't believe any could do a worse job than FF have done. Even if their replacement is inept, it has to be better.

oblivious

BostonB wrote: »

Even if their replacement is inept, it has to be better.

Also the world is really looking at how this pains out, the New York Time has apparently drop "Irish prime minister" to just Cowen as its felt the readers are all ready very familiar with the story to know who the government are, that not good at all.

Turbulent Bill

There's a wider election issue in the newer parts of D15, and that's poor voter turnout. One of the local papers published the area-by-area results after the last (general?) election, including the percentage turnout. My area (Castlecurragh) had <50% turnout (I think), lower than the other D15 areas and very low compared to national figures. Even allowing for absentee landlords it's a complete shame that less than half of the population exercised their democratic right.

I know people are disenchanted with politics etc. but you have to use your vote.

Pineapple stu

And the same people who dont vote are the first to complain about the politicians.

Pineapple stu

hotmail.com wrote: »

You are clearly a FF voter. Nothing wrong with that, but let's not have silly arguments as to why you're voting for Lenihan.

I'll post what i like and im far from being a fan of FF.

Godge

Pineapple stu wrote: »

And the same people who dont vote are the first to complain about the politicians.

Have you a source for that statement? Any evidence to back it up? Or is it just an attempt at trolling?

I can only base my opinion on my own experience. I have voted in every election (local, national and European) and referendum bar one since I became entitled to vote. I was out of the country on unavoidable business the one time I failed to vote. Yet, as my post earlier in this thread shows, I will be first to complain about FF politicians who have done little or nothing for Dublin West despite high office and long years of power(local view) and who have ruined the country and destroyed our economy (national view).

So my experience tells me the opposite to your statement. I am sure that you can quote experience to back up your statement (though I note its absence from your post) which is why I am asking you to back up your statement with some evidence/facts/independent corroboration.

Pineapple stu

A source? are you for real? A bit of an over reaction there Godge.

Have you ever talked or listened to people complaining about the government and the politicians and when asked who they voted for they say " Ah sure i cant be arsed to vote as they are all the same ".
Give me a few days and i will try and find their names for you if thats what you want.