A good politician, not a great politician?

Seth Brundle

Dunphy 'to run against Harney' at next election

27/04/2010 - 09:33:28

It is being reported today that the broadcaster and soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy could make a run for the Dáil.

The Irish Daily Star newspaper is running a front-page story this morning suggesting Mr Dunphy will run against Health Minister Mary Harney if she decides to seek re-election.

Mr Dunphy, a regular columnist for the newspaper, has apparently made the decision over the state of the health service as his grandson Brandon is in hospital and receiving ongoing medical treatment.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/text/ireland/eyojojeysnmh/

More celebrities in the dail. I suppose it beats nepotism!
I presume that he would win but would he be any use or just all mouth?

sceptre

If he runs in Harney's constituency of Dublin Midwest and actually gets elected, he's less likely to "win against Mary Harney" and more likely to "win against Paul Gogarty".

I suspect that Frances Fitzgerald will make another attempt as well, thought she might try another constituency, having previously been elected in DSW before coming fifth in DMW last time out.

Tea drinker

kbannon wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/text/ireland/eyojojeysnmh/

More celebrities in the dail. I suppose it beats nepotism!
I presume that he would win but would he be any use or just all mouth?

Well, given that it is a very mouthy proffession he might just make some headway. He also is a bit of a loose cannon / unpredictable, and people may find themselves agreeing with him rather than confronting him.
But we are back to the same situation as with George Lee, one man on the inside, when we might be better of making a new "inside" and excluding the old members.
If George had stayed, it might make an interesting tag team, and throw McWilliams in too, then you have potential.

bijapos

He would be running as an independent, right? He was rumoured a couple of weeks ago as an FG candidate.

If he became an independent TD he would, by the rules get little speaking time in the Dail. Knowing Dunphy a lot of this would be ranting and raving, some of it productive, some not.

If he was an FG TD he would find out soon enough exactly how cynical the political system really is. Either way his fellow TDs would regard him as little more than an eccentric.

Would have a high media presence for the first few months but this would soon wane when he has little to show for his efforts.

Either way I think the bookies can open two books on him.
1. Will he get elected
2. How long will he last before in a fit of rage he resigns.

He could do with a ministers car and driver though, isn't he still banned.:)

mike65

Load of nonsense, he had a bad weekend as a grandad. He's not going to change anything or even feel any better, if anything he'll end up feeling worse having dragged his family through an election campaign.

Kiwi_knock

Can not see him running for the Dáil, this is just a knee jerk response to his grandson's treatment. We all can get passionate and worked up about government failings and believe we can do a better job. However this a fleeting thought for most, which I presume will be the same for Dunphy. He is a intelligent guy, he should know that he will not have much affect in the Dáil with or without a political party. He will grab the media headlines of course but it will only be temporary, he will struggle to make any impact as an independent TD especially if he is looking to reform the Health service. Whatever happens I think it would be the wrong move for him to enter politics, his impact would be minimal.

danman

I'd love to see him running, it'd be an entertaining run up to the election.

But I doubt whether he will though.
I thought Mary Harney stated after the last election that she wouldn't run again. I haven't heard her saying that she has changed her mind.