The Dublin West 2014 By-Election Thread

Grudaire

Batholemow Cubbins wrote: »

Where has that been said above? Don't be stating your own opinions and try to pass them off as fact or the generally held view.

In fairness any opposition TD will achieve very little in the Dáil. That applies to David McGuinness (had he been elected) as well though.
Coppinger and the Socialist party have unworkable policies, but are fantastic for standing up to the government, so while I don't want them in power, I'm glad they're there!



I'd agree that blaming FF membership for not getting elected is a cop out. McGuinness is a member of FF, and has been for many years. He has supported FF, and their decisions. Seperating the member from the party (pretending to be their own opposition) is something that FF have successfully done in the past but it's nonsense.

chucknorris

Grudaire wrote: »

In fairness any opposition TD will achieve very little in the Dáil. That applies to David McGuinness (had he been elected) as well though.
Coppinger and the Socialist party have unworkable policies, but are fantastic for standing up to the government, so while I don't want them in power, I'm glad they're there!



I'd agree that blaming FF membership for not getting elected is a cop out. McGuinness is a member of FF, and has been for many years. He has supported FF, and their decisions. Seperating the member from the party (pretending to be their own opposition) is something that FF have successfully done in the past but it's nonsense.

Let me correct what I was saying. FF has recovered some what in the majority of the country, but not so in Dublin. Dublin west is a fairly more left leaning constituency than it has at any time in the past, so don't get me wrong on membership, it's certainly not a sole reason at all.

It was a tough ask.

Regarding opposition, I'd tend to agree that the government have a massive majority so will not be out voted in the Dail. My issue with the Socialists is that they seem to concentrate on specific big ticket items. Bin charges, water charges etc. Those issues are of course important, but they fail to deal with all of the various issues that constituents need assistance on, where they cannot simply be dealt with on a council level. For example, you might have an issue brought to you by a parent who has an issue with a disabled child for example, and the request of the parents can only be dealt with by writing to the minister in question and asking for a review of something etc. This happens all of the time, but the Socialists don't really concern them selves with the individual requests for representation - they go with the big items and protest with them.

I suppose that's their way, but a rep in the Dail should be a rep for all issues. IMHO.

athtrasna

Batholemow Cubbins wrote: »

Why doesn't he go Independent then? Seems strange that you would say this, and yet we see pictures of him hanging out with Michael Martin in the run up to the election. I reckon Anita Lenihan is going to be wheeled out in the next general election and your candidate will be pushed into the background by HQ, sad but true.

See my post from Saturday, Newstalk rightly pointed out that Chambers will probably have aspirations and Mary Fitzpatrick moves into Dublin West as part of the electoral boundary changes. It will be quite the dogfight for the FF nominations!

dtf

Batholemow Cubbins wrote: »

I have no love for FG but any time I have dealt with Kieron Dennison I found him to be very good. I think he is a good Councillor that has no aspirations to be stuck in the Dail every day where he would be of little impact - I am happier that he is staying as a Councillor. Sometimes people should accept their role and not try to let their ambiton over-reach them.... imho.

Didn't he run for the Dail in 2011? And then when didn't get elected he ran for the senate? No Dail aspirations me arse!

LoonyLovegood

I can't see Chambers running in the next general election - remember he's still in college. I've my own opinions about his campaign and how it was run, but they're not for airing on a public forum. Mary Fitzpatrick has a huge following in the Navan Road area, so she couldn't be counted out. The main difference is going to be how the expansion of the constituency works. We'll gain Fitzpatrick as a candidate, and probably another one or two (Will Ciaran Perry move to Dublin West?)

Zaph

As there have been no posts in this thread for a few days I think it can be unstuck now.