The Cork South Central Constituency Poll

[jungle]

Micheal Martin 20%
Simon Coveney 14%
Dan Boyle 14%
John Dennehy 11%
Michael McGrath 11%
Ciaran Lynch 9%
Jerry Buttimer 7%
Henry Cremin 6%
Deirdre Clune 6%
John Minihan 2%

I disagree with the Evening Echo's findings on this one. Those figures to me look like Ciaran Lynch would just scrape the last seat, which would also be consistent with my belief that only one candidate will be returned from the Carrigaline end of the constituency.

However, FF are close here and it would be embarassing if they were to get a majority of seats in one of the Cork City constituencies considering the shabby treatment that they have given to the city.

[elwood blues]

I'd have thought Deirdre Clune would poll higher than that.

[jungle]

I'd have thought Deirdre Clune would poll higher than that.

Me too.

But then her campaign scarcely seems to have started yet, while people like Ciaran Lynch and Henry Cremin had posters and pamphlets all over the place last time I was back.

I'm not too surprised by Ciaran Lynch's showing. I think Kathy Sinnott took a lot of natural labour votes last time out (ironic since she's been quite right-wing since elected to the European Parliament). Also, he strikes me as a more natural politician than Brendan Ryan who they ran last time out.

[elwood blues]

There are a lot of posters gone up in the past week but the only ones out in the flesh so far have been FF.

John Dennehys 11% may be down to this as he is the only politician I have seen at my front door.
Micheal was outside the churches a couple of weeks ago alright but he is a banker for a seat anyway.
I do think Deirdre Clune will be very close to a seat.

[Beaty]

Mehole will mole his way back in alright, would like to see Jerry make it. A crap teacher but a deaycint politician!

B

[ehrayeah]

cant possibly vote for j buttimer, i never heard of him untl about 3 mnths ago - he criticised city manager Joe gavin in the media about urban sprawl of the city but Jerry is also anti high rise, being involved with the Communities for Sustainable Development. Make those positions meet if you will.

I hadnt heard of Ciaran Lynch for that matter either but at least I saw he tabled a motion to get Pairc Ui Chaoimh built into a multi discipline sports stadium - the way it should have been years ago

I'm not thrilled by any of them (partic by S Coveney who's had a tasty 2 salary job for the last while) but in terms of voting for FF, not a hope

[jungle]

I have little time for Jerry Buttimer. He'll always say the populaist thing, but that gets to be an increasingly difficult position as you get to more and more powerful positions.

I'm undecided as to how to vote at the moment. As people who've read my other posts on here will probably guess, I'll be looking to get rid of the current crowd, but in terms of actually doing that I'm undecided between Boyle, Lynch and Clune.

[elwood blues]

as a side note Fine Gael need to have a word with their printers.Some of the posters they have put up for all candidates are very strange looking.
Simon Coveney looks fucking freaky.

[jungle]

It would have been dishonest to photoshop it though...

[cartoon]

Im in south central and while Ill probably give Boyle my number one I would be tempted to give Michael McGrath number 2. He has been doing the ground work for a Dail seat since he got a seat on the town commissioners in Passage years ago.

He's very young, sharp, full of energy and a master of self publicity. He has done everything a young Irish politician should have done in the lead up to his first attempt. He's at every community meeting, is a minister of the word in Passage church and is involved in the GAA.

He's quoted the Echo almost everyday and has a weekly column too. He should poll very well in the Carrigdhoun area but might fall short closer to the city. id like to see him ahead of Dennehy because I think McGrath
will be a junior minister sooner rather than later because of his qualifications.

I hate getting all these magazines from politicians two months before polling day pretending they're just another issue of a regular publication. McGrath is the only one who is doing this honestly. I can remember my folks getting his newsletters years ago and he hasn't let up.

Unfortunately when the airport debt was announced I pledged not to vote fianna fail and Im going to stick to it. Id be sick to my stomach if I thought theyd get three seats. Imagine what Bertie would do to us next time round?!!

Opposition to the airport debt has been pretty feeble from Fine Gael. Why dont they have a few posters with a few issues on it like this so people can equate voting for them with definite policies. A "contract" we can hold them to as Enda Kenny likes to say.

Clune is weak as water in my book - she's a councillor and not TD material.

[jungle]

He's quoted the Echo almost everyday and has a weekly column too. He should poll very well in the Carrigdhoun area but might fall short closer to the city. id like to see him ahead of Dennehy because I think McGrath will be a junior minister sooner rather than later because of his qualifications.

He'd never be a minister as long as Micheal Martin is around. They don't like to give out two ministries (even junior) per constituency. This was one of the things that held back Batt O'Keeffe and one of the reasons he decided to jump constituency.

[EDDIEB]

I have little time for Jerry Buttimer. He'll always say the populaist thing, but that gets to be an increasingly difficult position as you get to more and more powerful positions.

I'm undecided as to how to vote at the moment. As people who've read my other posts on here will probably guess, I'll be looking to get rid of the current crowd, but in terms of actually doing that I'm undecided between Boyle, Lynch and Clune.

Jerry Buttimer is a bit of a muppet allright as he is against high rise development AND Urban Sprawl.He's not the sharpest tool in the box but he could be a tool.
McGrath FF should end up ahead of John Dennehy who at 67 is yesterdays man.Also he got upset with me for asking him about the airport debt question and the governments poor record in Cork.Thats democracy John and unwise not to respectfully answer a potential voter after winning by 6 seats last time ?

[cartoon]

Youre right there about the ministries jungle. Im saying he's one to watch for the future if he gets in though. He's no long term backbencher like Dennehy.

I think Boyle will cruise home but it's a shame Chris OLeary is polling so low on the northside. Having an arson attack on his home after standing up to anti-social behaviour would have got him a lot of votes down there but crossing
the river is a big problem for him. He's down around 5% I think according to an EE poll.


Just found this on MmcG's website.
xonm7maDs5Q

He comes across well - surprised he's only 30. The shots of Cork are all done on a dreary day from the Clarion with the exception of the market which is a bit lazy but one assummes it was a Fianna Fail hired crew in Cork for the day.

[jungle]

If this is going to become the thread for party political broadcasts...

Upd2hhcy8ug

[Darker Conscience]

xonm7maDs5Q

Thought he came across a bit of a twat.

Upd2hhcy8ug

Never heard him speak before but he does so confidently and seems to be more genuine.

[nothingtobedone]

i'll never vote jerry buttimer for the simple fact he "taught" me Irish and Civics. I wouldn't want to feel responsible for inflicting "big butts" aka "crater face" on the good people of South Central. As for his policy against urban sprawl, and high rise- I think he may be in favour of subterranean habitation.

[Beaty]

i'll never vote jerry buttimer for the simple fact he "taught" me Irish and Civics. I wouldn't want to feel responsible for inflicting "big butts" aka "crater face" on the good people of South Central. As for his policy against urban sprawl, and high rise- I think he may be in favour of subterranean habitation.

Haha, my vote's for Jerry so!

B

[emerh]

I've been fairly impressed by Lynch i have to say. Wouldn't be surprised if he slid into a seat on the day. Clune has been less than impressive so far in any q&a sessions i've heard or with being around in person. The polls clearly reflecting this. But she could pull it out on the day, a lot of people in South central will forward their preferences on to her as a non-threatining familiar face. Buttimer has been more impressive i think. It cold be a scrap up too between Dennehy and McGrath...hmmm.


My prediction for now is Martin (FF), Coveney (FG), Boyle (G), Lynch (L)....and Clune(FG)?? if she gets the game together. If not...Dennehy(FF).

oh and try this:
http://www.quizmatic.com/predict/main.asp

[jungle]

My prediction for now is Martin (FF), Coveney (FG), Boyle (G), Lynch (L)....and Clune(FG)?? if she gets the game together. If not...Dennehy(FF).

No second seat for Fianna Fail?

oh and try this:
http://www.quizmatic.com/predict/main.asp

That gave me

FF 65
FG 48
Lab 25
PD 4
Greens 8
Sinn Fein 7
Others 8

Which as I've been saying for a long time would leave all possible coalitions coming up short.

However, the FG/Lab/Green one is only two short and as one of the others is Michael Lowry who would back up Fine Gael, they could be looking for just one more vote.

Alternatively, there are enough Socialist seats there for a FG/Lab/Green/Soc coalition (assuming the Socialists would go in).

[EDDIEB]

Jerry Buttimer was at the Kinsale road rindabite this morning trying to shake peoples hands and not get killed.

He looks scary on the posters but at 7.20am he looks a lot worse in real life.

[Beaty]

Jerry Buttimer was at the Kinsale road rindabite this morning trying to shake peoples hands and not get killed.

He looks scary on the posters but at 7.20am he looks a lot worse in real life.

Priceless!

Actually shaking hands in car windows???!

B

[jungle]

You'd think going to one of the ones where people were queueing because of a flyover/underpass that hadn't been built would have been more effective...

[Bill O'Reilly]

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are different cheeks on the same ass. In Cork South Central both these conservative, right-wing parties are offering a poor crop of candidates.
On the Fianna Fail side you have John Dennehy, officially the most expensive T.D. in the country with the poorest attendance record in the Dail. Apparently he has only turned up 4 times since being elected in 2002 (Google it if you don't believe me).
Michael McGrath who seems to aspire to be Cork South Central's answer to Noel O'Flynn (probably the worst thing to happen to the Northside in living memory) is another muppet.
The trio of poor candidates is completed by Michael Martin, another chancer who is lucky to still have a job in politics after his expensive mess up in the last Dail term.
Fine Gael are no better. Deirdre Clune, possibly the most incompetent woman in local politics, mixes lousy speechs, no ideas, and her very rich, privileged upbringing to show just what an out of touch party looks like. How and why Fine Gael selected this moron really is beyond me. And even if, heaven forbid, she took a seat, she would certainly lose it in the following election due to her weak performance and record.
Jerry Buttimer or Butthead and he is also known, is a bullshit artist if ever there was one. He will say anything to try and satisfy his ego and take power.

Simon Coveney is probably the best name on the Fine Gael ticket. More competent than the two other muppets, but will he be any good at national politics, that is the question. He also has a weak attendance record in the Dail, but unlike Dennehy he is an M.E.P. and this might explain why.

I would hate to see the Green Party's Dan Boyle lose out to Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. He is certainly competent and is the only candidate who I have, so far, been convinced to vote for.

[emerh]

No second seat for Fianna Fail?




hmmm, entirely possible. when you look at the candidates put forward. I think the only sure things we are looking at are Martin, Boyle and Coveney. after that, you'll have an interesting race for the 4th and 5th seat. I would like to see Lynch take one. Realistically, Dennehy will probably take one...thus giving us the 2 FFers.

Outcome that should come about: Martin, Boyle, Coveney, Lynch, Dennehy

Although possibly interchangeable for one of last two seats: Clune. If she pulls the socks up.

[jungle]

TBH a second FF seat is a certainty. A party only needs about 28% of the vote in a five seat constituency to get a second and barring meltdown, they'll achieve that.

First elected will be Martin on the first count
Second elected will be either Coveney or Boyle, depending on how much vote Fine Gael manage away from Coveney.
Third elected will be whichever of Coveney and Boyle doesn't come second.
Fourth elected will be the second Fianna Fail candidate (I suspect McGrath, but it could be Dennehy)
Fifth elected will be one of the third Fianna Fail candidate, Clune, Lynch or Buttimer.

On the basis of the opinion poll, I'd expect this to be Lynch, because Dan Boyle will have been elected by the time Sinn Fein are eliminated, so Lynch will pick up the vast bulk of their transfers.

However, Fine Gael have plenty of scope to reduce Simon Coveney's vote and get people to vote for Clune or Buttimer instead, so I don't really expect the poll figures to be that closely repeated on the big day.

[EDDIEB]

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are different cheeks on the same ass. In Cork South Central both these conservative, right-wing parties are offering a poor crop of candidates.
On the Fianna Fail side you have John Dennehy, officially the most expensive T.D. in the country with the poorest attendance record in the Dail. Apparently he has only turned up 4 times since being elected in 2002 (Google it if you don't believe me).
Michael McGrath who seems to aspire to be Cork South Central's answer to Noel O'Flynn (probably the worst thing to happen to the Northside in living memory) is another muppet.
The trio of poor candidates is completed by Michael Martin, another chancer who is lucky to still have a job in politics after his expensive mess up in the last Dail term.
Fine Gael are no better. Deirdre Clune, possibly the most incompetent woman in local politics, mixes lousy speechs, no ideas, and her very rich, privileged upbringing to show just what an out of touch party looks like. How and why Fine Gael selected this moron really is beyond me. And even if, heaven forbid, she took a seat, she would certainly lose it in the following election due to her weak performance and record.
Jerry Buttimer or Butthead and he is also known, is a bullshit artist if ever there was one. He will say anything to try and satisfy his ego and take power.

Simon Coveney is probably the best name on the Fine Gael ticket. More competent than the two other muppets, but will he be any good at national politics, that is the question. He also has a weak attendance record in the Dail, but unlike Dennehy he is an M.E.P. and this might explain why.

I would hate to see the Green Party's Dan Boyle lose out to Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. He is certainly competent and is the only candidate who I have, so far, been convinced to vote for.


Good points but Coveney also has a very rich priveledged background very similar and linked to Clunes family.

Dennehy is 67 now and should retire on that basis alone never mind his poor attendance or lack of action for Cork.

Buttimer is useless and hoping to get the pensioner vote who is concerned about "development"

It will be

Martin
Boyle
Coveney
Clune
McGrath

A F.F. / Green coalition is on the cards.

Anyone want to put 30,000 punts on it ?

[emerh]

OOh, I don't know. Clune and McGrath for the last two seats. They'll have competition from Lynch i'd say. And if there is a second FF seat (which is likely) i reckon we'll see Dennehy take it before McGrath, despite age and attendeance records, i reckon joe soap will elect him first, even if only on transfers.

[emerh]

And for the record, would like to see a FG/Labour/Green coalition

[Murdock]

Micheal Martin 20%
Simon Coveney 14%
Dan Boyle 14%
John Dennehy 11%
Michael McGrath 11%
Ciaran Lynch 9%
Jerry Buttimer 7%
Henry Cremin 6%
Deirdre Clune 6%
John Minihan 2%

If that ends up being the result, it will be proof positive that Cork is mostly populated by fuckwits. Three seats for FF?! After they treat the so-called second city of this country like a piece of shit (not to mention all the corruption etc.). Part of the reason for that is Cork people are so passive and gullible.
As was said before Dennehy is never in the Dáil and he has no power whatsoever. A vote for him is the equivalent of voting for a hamster.


Im in south central and while Ill probably give Boyle my number one I would be tempted to give Michael McGrath number 2. He has been doing the ground work for a Dail seat since he got a seat on the town commissioners in Passage years ago.

He's very young, sharp, full of energy and a master of self publicity.

That's hardly a decent reason for voting for somebody. I'm from Carrigaline (where he's a councillor) and I wouldn't vote for him, because Carrigaline is a mess really. It's like a microcosm of Celtic Tiger Ireland. Massive growth with feck-all planning. The public transport system is shite. The schools are over-crowded. Despite massive population growth it's gotten basically no new facilities apart from a crappy playground (built on top of the pitch and putt course) and actually lost others (the cinema and said P+P course).

And also beccause there is no way in hell I will vote FF, even if Nelson Mandela was one of their candidates. Even more so SF and I won't vote for the PDs either. I'll probably give my #1 to Lynch and two to Boyle (I was gonna give him the #1, but Lynch needs it more). I'll probably give a 3 and 4 to Coveney and Clune respectively.


Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are different cheeks on the same ass. In Cork South Central both these conservative, right-wing parties are offering a poor crop of candidates.
Shouldn't they be right up your street so, Bill? :)
In many ways you're right about them being two sides of the same coin, but I believe FG are less corrupt (especially if you compare their two leaders) and less up the holes of property developers/ the catholic church than FF.
The way they got the taxpayer to pay most of the church's bill for the child abuse compensation was despicable. Then there's the Civil Union Bill which was defeated by government parties, but supported by most, if not all FG Cork TDs. And then you had Bertie making a fool of himself yet again by saying secularists have no place in Irish society.
This FF-led government have made the Blue Shirts look like a bunch of liberal Pinkos.

[bark]

Aren't the Lynchs former Sinn Féin people with IRA links? Some people are forgetting that. Won't be getting my vote. Sponsored an event about a year ago and ended up not paying for the majority of the supposed amount. My only reason for not voting Dan Boyle is because when I did research for a Young Scientist project back in the day he didn't get back to me.
My 5 will be:
1. Simon Coveney
2. Michael Martin
3. Jerry Buttimer
4. Michael McGrath
5. Morgan Whatshisface.

[jungle]

Aren't the Lynchs former Sinn Féin

Kathleen Lynch is former Workers' Party, who came out of Official Sinn Fein as opposed to Provisional Sinn Fein who are currently abusing the name.

The Official IRA went on ceasefire in 1972, so it's unlikely Kathleen Lynch really had any involvement (unlike someone like Proinsias De Rossa), so the main criticism you could level at her is that she was once a Marxist.

Ciaran Lynch is only 42, so he really has no association with the old Sinn Fein aspects of The Workers' Party.

Can someone answer me this question? I've been told that Ciaran Lynch is Kathleen Lynch's brother, but also that he's her brother-in-law. Which is correct?

[storysham]

Irish Constituency Betting

Cork South Central Betting to win a seat. 5 seats available, Singles Only. Others on Request http://www.paddypower.com/newimages/e.gif (support@paddypower. com?) Selection Previous Odds Current Odds Micheál Martin (FF) 1-10 1 - 200 Dan Boyle (GP) 1 - 33 Simon Coveney (FG) 1 - 10 Michael McGrath (FF) 1 - 5 Deirdre Clune (FG) 4 - 7 John Dennehy (FF) 4 - 6 Jerry Buttimer (FG) 5 - 4 Ciarán Lynch (Lab) 11 - 4 Henry Cremin (SF) 20 - 1 John Minihan (PD) 20 - 1 Morgan Stack (Ind) 100 - 1

[FreakPower]

Anyone want to put 30,000 punts on it ?

ITYM 45,0000 dollars.
</conspiracy>

[storysham]

Jerry B was vote hunting at the traffic lights again today.
he should sell echos or wash windscreens, hed get more votes.

[bark]

I saw him this morning. He has my number 3! :D

[Bill O'Reilly]

The two candidates that I think it is important not to let in, in this constituency are Deirdre 'Clueless' Clune (FG) and John 'I never turn up for work' Dennehy (FF). Both are disasters as politicians!

[Bill O'Reilly]

P.S. I wouldn't vote for Jerry Butthead either. A bullshitter we can do without.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Jungle - Ciaran Lynch is Kathleen Lynch's brother-in-law.

[emerh]

Hmmm, things are becoming very interesting indeed.

Firstly, Morgan Stack will NOT get elected, whoever said that i'll assume it was in jest...He's also running in Kerry somewhere i believe.....

hmmmmm, Joe will probably lose it to McGrath for the second FF, and i hope he does. McGrath has the makings of a steady politician. He is a hard worker.

Clune won't get in i think at this stage.

So you have Martin, Coveney, Boyle, and McGrath i reckon....

so who takes the 5th seat?

I think more people will vote for Minihan than are letting on. I hate the slogan though, 'Don't Throw it All away' its truly awful, and is not going to do him any favours.

I would like to see Lynch take the last seat, and depending on transfers i reckon he could. He's a good hard worker, and a solid bet i reckon. He's also been coming across very well on the campaign trail, and has some great people canvassing for him....

So my line at this stage to take the seats is:
1. Martin (FF)
2. Coveney (FG)
3. Boyle (G)
4. McGrath (FF)
5. Lynch (Lab)

[Lamps]

Debate not long over on Niall Prendergast.
Shit from start to finish. Micheal Martin head, shoulder and a bit more above the rest. The Fine Gael ticket is awfully weak. Simon Coveney unable it seems to rise about talking about personal cases, tried to blather on above Autism when time running out, it scares me to think he might be a minister. Dennehy was hopeless as usual, he did nothing for 5 years so started going on about something he nephew did. I shit you not.
Highlight of the show was some student politican (i think) going absolutely ape shit and coming across as a right langer.
Audience was packed with FF'ers.

I never thought I'd say this, but North Central has better candidates.

Henry Cremin sounds like he'd kick the shit out of ya.

[pudgee]

Kathleen Lynch is former Workers' Party, who came out of Official Sinn Fein as opposed to Provisional Sinn Fein who are currently abusing the name.

The Official IRA went on ceasefire in 1972, so it's unlikely Kathleen Lynch really had any involvement (unlike someone like Proinsias De Rossa), so the main criticism you could level at her is that she was once a Marxist.

Ciaran Lynch is only 42, so he really has no association with the old Sinn Fein aspects of The Workers' Party.

Can someone answer me this question? I've been told that Ciaran Lynch is Kathleen Lynch's brother, but also that he's her brother-in-law. Which is correct?

Wasn't Kathleen Lynch's husband rather heavily, er, involved?

Anyhoo, t'Labour party's dominated by sticks now.

[Lamps]

Wasn't Kathleen Lynch's husband rather heavily, er, involved?


accoring to the hane bush telegraph, supposedly. and we'll say no more

[northmallexile]

Highlight of the show was some student politican (i think) going absolutely ape shit and coming across as a right langer.
.

What'd he go apeshit about? That'd never have been the 9/11 guy, would it?

[Lamps]

What'd he go apeshit about? That'd never have been the 9/11 guy, would it?

it was indeed, he was challenging to anyone to a "real debate not a soundbite one", and he was screaming it, voice was trembling with passion. I think Ted Neville and some other loon may have taken up the offer. Sounds like something you'd get on a slow morning on Prendeville

[In da Lough Like]

Can someone answer me this question? I've been told that Ciaran Lynch is Kathleen Lynch's brother, but also that he's her brother-in-law. Which is correct?

She must have married her other brother if that's the case.

[miahp]

Kathleen is married to Ciarán's brother, and that's all.

[storysham]

Didnt realise there would be so many candidates...

http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ff.gif John Dennehy (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=310 2) 8/10/05
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ff.gif Micheal Martin (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=392 3) 8/10/05
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ff.gif Cllr Michael McGrath (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=856 3)
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/fg.gif Cllr Jerry Buttimer (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=157 ) 19/04/06

[storysham]

http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/fg.gif Cllr Deirdre Clune (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=148 ) 19/04/06
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/fg.gif Simon Coveney MEP (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=444 3) 19/4/06
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/lb.gif Cllr Ciaran Lynch (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=143 ) 24/11/05
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/pd.gif Sen John Minihan (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=476 0) 17/1/06

[storysham]

http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/gp.gif Dan Boyle (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=392 7) 9/10/05
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/sf.gif Henry Cremin (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=535 1) 7/11/05
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ind.gif Maurice Fitzgerald (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=878 2)
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ind.gif Gerard Linehan (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=878 3)

[storysham]

http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ind.gif Ted Neville (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=476 4)
http://www.electionsireland .org/images/party/ind.gif Morgan Stack (http://www.electionsireland .org/candidate.cfm?ID=873 3)

[elwood blues]

I am quite surprised at the lack of activity by Fine Gael with regard to canvassing in the lead up to the election.Considering that FF are widely expected to lose a seat I would have thought that FG would be flat out promoting their candidates.In the Grange/Douglas area I have not seen hide nor hair of Deirdre Clune or Simon Coveney.Jerry Buttimer to be fair has been doing his traffic dodging routine at many of the busy junctions and his representatives have been door to door and all the other main candidates have been around.
I would like to vote to keep FF/PD's out of government but if some of the alternatives are not putting an effort in before the election will they be any different afterwards?

[EDDIEB]

I am quite surprised at the lack of activity by Fine Gael with regard to canvassing in the lead up to the election.Considering that FF are widely expected to lose a seat I would have thought that FG would be flat out promoting their candidates.In the Grange/Douglas area I have not seen hide nor hair of Deirdre Clune or Simon Coveney.Jerry Buttimer to be fair has been doing his traffic dodging routine at many of the busy junctions and his representatives have been door to door and all the other main candidates have been around.
I would like to vote to keep FF/PD's out of government but if some of the alternatives are not putting an effort in before the election will they be any different afterwards?

Correct - no sign of Coveney or Clune and Buttimer is becoming a pest as he is popping up everywhere,flyers every third night,posters,person al begging letters in a final act of desperation which go straight into the recycling bin.

Not much sign of Micheal Martin either and John Dennehy is probably scared that he may get elected and actually have to attend the Dail at some point and represent his constituency.

Michael McGrath called and got an earfull.

PD's have dissapeared like their election prospects.

Sinn Fein concentrate on disadvantaged areas with a United Ireland on top of their agenda which is aspirational and pointless to the people of south central stuck at the Wilton or Bandon Road roundabout wondering about road funding for Cork.

[jungle]

Clune (in person) canvassed my parents' house in Douglas last time I was back. I also caught canvassers from McGrath and Lynch when I was there.

[elwood blues]

Correct - no sign of Coveney or Clune and Buttimer is becoming a pest as he is popping up everywhere.

I'm presuming that Coveney is taking it for granted that he will get in(which will stop him getting my vote) but I would have expected Clune to be putting in the effort like Buttimer.He may be becoming annoying but he is in the minds of the "not sure which of the others to vote for" of which I'd say there are many.

[Murdock]

Clune is definitely putting the work in. I've seen her a rake of times - more than any other politician. I've seen her by the Shannonpark Roundabout in Carrigaline, in Douglas and that junction by the Victoria Hospital. My mother was at one of her coffee mornings. I've seen Coveney a couple of times too. The only other politician I've seen is McGrath - once, outside the church in Carrigaline.

On the subject of independents....
I know about the two comedy acts - Neville and Stack - but does anyone know who Maurice Fitzgerald is? Besides the ex-Kerry footballer.
Ger Linehan is running on the fathers' rights issue it seems: http://www.gerlinehan.com/
I migh give him a number.

[jungle]

No idea who Maurice Fitzgerald is.

Got to admit that having read his story, I'm considering voting for Linehan on the basis that he won't get elected and my vote will transfer on anyway.

[Bill O'Reilly]

Clune may be putting the work in canvassing but she won't put the work in when she is in the job. Don't be fooled before election day. Most candidates will promise absolutely anything at this stage of the campaign. And Clune's track record is poor to say the least.

[Univibe]

McGrath called to my Place and spoke in nodded agreement on all local issues i raised in Blackrock, non starters in my park were Boyle,Dennehy,Cremin ,Coveney and his Up With People Troupe, hopefully they will all have a good sweat over the next few days and experience the real world in which the rest of us dwell !

[Bill O'Reilly]

I notice that chancer John Dennehy (FF) lost his seat in this constituency. This is defintely good news for democracy and should benefit the people no end. Someone should tell him to take down his plastic poster ties with his posters. His people are after leaving them up everywhere.

Unfortunately Deirdre 'Clueless' Clune (FG) managed to sneak back in. No doubt she will lose her seat again for the same reason she did before. FOR BEING USELESS.

[raZor]

Deirde Clune got elected off the back of her Lord Mayor run last year before that she was known as the one that cried last time she lost her seat.

Wouldnt be seeing much of her around her for the next few years anyway.

[Bill O'Reilly]

If that isn't a convincing argument to get rid of the anti-democratic Mayoral pact on Cork City Council I don't know what is! The pact should be banned! It only serves to allow the big parties raise the profile of weak candidates and then get them elected to the Dail. It is an insult to democracy and something should be done about it. The people should elect their Mayor. It should be their right!

[jungle]

I'd agree with directly elected mayors (So long as we didn't elect Bernie Murphy). However, I think you're being a bit harsh on Clune. She's been a decent councillor who took the largest number of first preferences in the last election. I also don't remember her being any worse than Dennehy, O'Keeffe or Coveney last time out. Martin was a minister, so it hardly counts for comparison.

[Alright!]

Has Deirdre 'Clueless' Clune (FG) done a single thing since she became a TD? As far as I know she hasn't. What a complete waste of a vote.

[tokyo anal dynamite]

she writes a piece in the douglas weekly, basically she either attacks or commends what other politicans have done, never does anything herself... she's a royal cunt.

[jd26]

She's been quite vocal on the airport debt. She's also been doing a lot of work on broadband connectivity in Ireland. As an opposition TD, it's hard to do more than harangue the government.

She certainly compares well to Michael "No airport debt. Oh, I've been elected now, so maybe 80 million" McGrath. What exactly has he done since the election other than ignore the outrageous promises he was making before it?

[tokyo anal dynamite]

some of my family canvassed for her an are in Fine Gael, she lived about two minutes down the road from me and I can honestly say she never did one thing for the area...never once seen her around either. Last time I saw her was with Enda Kenny in Dunnes during the elections...

[jd26]

But there is a limit to what an opposition TD can do. At best they can keep the government honest.

At least she hasn't broken promises like McGrath. He really is a waste of a vote.

[Lamps]

But there is a limit to what an opposition TD can do. At best they can keep the government honest.

At least she hasn't broken promises like McGrath. He really is a waste of a vote.

open up your inbox lad

[Alright!]

A lot of those pieces you see written by politicians are actually written by somebody else, in their name. I'd say Clueless Clune has her father write her opinions for her. She clearly has none of her own.

[jd26]

Lamps, I've opened it up. I don't normally allow private messaging on forums, so I'll be closing it off when I leave work.

Alright, all that you've done is come on here and cast aspersions. You say she did nothing and I show you some stuff she's done. Then you fail to address my points about Michael McGrath, so you cast more aspersions.

She only came no. 4 on my voting sheet, so I have no great reason to defend her, but I'm not prepared to see unsubstantiated allegations made. How does her record compare to other opposition back benchers? How does it compare to government back-benchers?

[Alright!]

Can't agrue with the fact that Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath is a waste of a vote. But it is unfair to compare him to Fine Gael's Clueless Clune as McGrath is a first time TD, while Clueless Clune has been a TD a number of times and been voted out everytime for being shit! In fact the whole airport debt emerged under her watch as Lord Mayor. If only she had bothered to read the small print.

Clueless Clune has done nothing. You refer to her being against airport debt. She has done nothing whatsoever to fight against this. Made a speech written by somebody else and mumbled a few words, tripping over most of them. If you think that is something worthwhile JD26, then you are a fucking retard.

Clune's daddy may have bought her a seat in the general election. I have no doubt that she will be turfed out on her ear come the next election for being complete shit - the story of her political life.

[jd26]

She has been elected once before and lost her seat when Fine Gael lost a shedload nationwide. Can you honestly say she is worse than any of the following?

-Michael McGrath
-Simon Coveney
-Noel O'Flynn
-David Stanton
-PJ Sheehan
-Christy O'Sullivan
-Michael Moynihan

A couple of them are serving their third term on the government benches.

Didn't look at the smallprint? There was no smallprint, just a blatant lie.

Clearly from your other posts, you have a serious problem with Fine Gael. Rather than spreading untruths about their representatives, why don't you tell us what positice your party has to offer?

[Alright!]

Coveney and Stanton would be far better than Clueless Clune. Point taken on the rest.

My party? I don't have a party. The whole idea of backing a party blindly is a stupid one. You should vote for who is the most competent politician in your area and not on party grounds.

If you vote on blind party grounds, that is exactly how idiots like Deirdre 'Clueless' Clune sneak in. It is also how scum like Noel O'Flynn survive. I think you should hold all politicans to account and not let them off because of party affiliation, which is what a lot of people have done in the past.

As far as I know Clueless Clune has been a TD three times. This current term being her third.