Soc Dems announce replacement for Galway City Council

Any reason why they did not pick others that ran in 2019? Sharon Nolan just missed out on a seat and would be vocal for constituents

I think Dara Bradley reported recently that Sharon Nolan had said she was not putting herself forward? There was also a SocDem candidate in the Galway City West ward in the last local election but I don't remember his name and I seem to remember he was far behind Sharon Nolan and Owen Hanley in terms of vote numbers.

Thanks. He did better than I had (mis)remembered.

Agree on the co-opting, it should go to the next candidate or have a bye-election. On local elections I generally vote for the candidate rather than the party.

The idea for a by election should be looked at as well, the losers here are the electorate in the east ward, they have had no input into the selection of the new SD substitute, and I note that other parties avail of this as well especially when someone is made a Td/senator. There should be no automatic right for the political party to hold onto the seat.

If my calculations are right we will now have 3 council member who have been co opted but at least Imelda Byrne did receive some votes from the electorate unlike the other 2 substitutes.

The current system is imposing councilors that have never stood for election, thats the biggest distortion.I am sure the electorate would rather the opportunity to vote on a new councillor rather that having one imposed on them, the will of the electorate is paramount here, if the new substitute is good enough they should be able to win.

I see this thread is being censored and my previous comment has been deleted, without even the courtesy of a "moderator" letting me know, or why. Anyway, I remain of the view that appointing a one-trick pony to the Council is a complete waste of time. This guy is identified with the cycling fanatics, and nothing else. He will only be listened to by the Greens on the Council who most likely won't return following the next election.

It's a wothy cause (almost as hood as wanting footpaths that all the kids can walk on) vs bike lanes for the richer ona es.

Buti ts still a single issue. Thats what makes him fanatical.

So you are only aware of Curran's cycling activities, despite the media coverage of his involvement in all sorts of community activities from underage coaching to mountain rescue, and you feel justified in labelling him fanatical?

When Eddie Hoare put himself forward for election his public profile centred entirely around football. Does that make him fanatical?

What about when Imelda Byrne was co-opted into Ollie Crowe's seat and was only vaguely known for her education access work in NUIG. Does that make her fanatical?

As for your snide comments about kids who happen to travel by bike, you just can't help yourself, can you. It costs more than €10k a year to keep the average car on the road, according to the AA. The lifetime cost of keeping a kid's bike running would be less than €100 per year. Painting kids who cycle as 'rich kids' really betrays your petty biases.

And, if you're really concerned about footpaths and facilitating kids been able to get about on foot (although how does that square with your militant aversion to permeability measures that actually facilitate walking?), you'll be happy to know that Galway Cycling Campaign submissions to the Planning Department in the Council generally place at least as much emphasis on facilitating pedestrian movement as they do on bike paths. Often even more emphasis.

3 of our Cllrs just did in the current Galway City Council term.

Local Gov is so weak and such a mess not sure its even worth going down the by-election process for this when the Cllr's have so little power (in comparison with TD's. ) I agree with it though in principle that we should have by-elections, if Cllrs where full time positions - then for sure it should be the norm.

I would agree with you in principle re non-elected substitute getting appointed - but not sure why make that a specific SD issue? The same is done by all the other political party's.

Re other points on the SD's. I think ya that is fair to have that information out in the open. No idea on the structure they have at local level.

The same system exists with MEPs. It is cost effective and short-term, plus it gives the substitute a chance to prove themselves. Who is Chris MacManus? Who is Colm Markey?

TDs have more power, plus it is a requirement by law.