Olwyn Enright to stand down next election

martinn123

just listened to Olywn being interviwed on News at 1 RTE.

She is standing down at next election as she feels poltics and a young family do not mix.
She has a 10mth old baby, and another on the way. Long days and nights attending meetings and the Dail, she wants to spend more time with her children.

Says she thought long about this decision, my question why wait until the next election.

Some of the factors she would have to weigh up.

At least two years salary 200K. Expenses for two more years ?K
paid maternity leave ?K

Pension entitlement with two more years service, ?K

having announced the decision I am assuming she will be less available, or of interest to constituents, so the benefits to her family life will be immediate.

So why not go now, enjoy her 10mth old baby, and have her second child with no political responsibilities to distract her.

Best of both worlds?

The_Minister

She was against Kenny wasn't she?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Raiser

Hopefully She will be remembered solely for double claiming on her expenses with her Ventriloquists Dummy as this article claims.

- Seems She is a qualified Solicitor - Am sure the above accusations will not will not hinder her Career......

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

rightwingdub

Will her hubby be running in Donegal North East?

irishh_bob

a pretty face olwyn but little else

rightwingdub

irishh_bob wrote: »

a pretty face olwyn but little else

I sent her an email a few months ago regarding her criticisms of O'Cuivs plans to oblige single parents to seek employment when the youngest child reaches 13, just lets say I got a real bleeding heart response, she came across as been a bit of a do gooder.

Coillte_Bhoy

Maybe she's staying on for party political reasosn. if she steps down now, there wont be a by election in our rather strange democracy and so the opposition would be down 1 vote

P. Breathnach

rightwingdub wrote: »

... she came across as been a bit of a do gooder.

I take it you see that as a bad thing.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Darsad

She should have spoke to Liz O'Donnell she could have given her plenty of tips on how to be a yummy mummy at the tax payers expense until they no longer loved her .
Obviously she is comfy enough financially as been a TD has to be the one job I though you could do with kids biggest problem is to get elected then just sit back and coin it.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

rightwingdub

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I take it you see that as a bad thing.

In Ireland it is a very bad thing thesedays, sometimes you've got to be cruel to be kind.

irishh_bob

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I take it you see that as a bad thing.

being a do -gooder is more about making oneself feel pious and morally righteous than anything else , such piety rarely results in any real positive change for the person or group the do - gooder proports to help

so yes , it is a bad thing

Nijmegen

I suppose this could be a good juncture to discuss women in politics in general - how are we to maintain quotas of women in politics if they decide to have children and leave the Dail at (we can only presume) regular intervals? Either on leave - where they cannot be replaced, as someone in the workforce at large can - or completely.

We lose all of their experience and potential to contribute, and they must be replaced by new, less experienced women (if we are to hold to our quotas).

I'm not saying keep women out of politics... It's simply one example of how maintaining a Dail with a quota of female TD's to be a difficult thing to carry through if you want the most consistent representation.

(Then again, one might also argue that it would actually open us up to bringing in fresh blood to the Dail on a regular basis...)

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Eliot Rosewater

Nijmegen wrote: »

how are we to maintain quotas of women in politics if they decide to have children and leave the Dail at (we can only presume) regular intervals?

I think it's an indictment of our culture that, in a case where a working couple have a child, it is automatically assumed that the women will be the one to stay at home. It would have been interesting if McHugh had been the one to resign; would a few heads have turned? Probably.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Eliot Rosewater

Well, you don't leave much room for counter argument.

Our man in Havana

irishh_bob wrote: »

a pretty face olwyn but little else

She did feck all for the people of Laois/Offaly. Good riddance.

Essexboy

OceanFM had a local slant on her departure.
"Deputy Mchugh’s wife to quit politics" http://oceanfm.ie/news/2010/08/30/deputy-mchughs-wife-to-quit-politics/

Puts her in her place!:rolleyes:

gizmo555

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Not quite, it just means that at least one third of American women college graduates "will not be able to find an equivalently educated partner". As of 2009, just 29% of American women had degrees.

ninty9er

Olwyn made the very valid point this morning, that if the Electorate expected TDs to fulfil their constitutional role of legislators and left the more local issues to local government, this would not be an issue for her, as the legislative constraints on her time are predictable, whereas constituency constraints placed on TD by an electorate which does not understand the function of a TD cause more unpredictable pressures to arise.

So basically, if TDs were judged on their Dáil and Seanad performance and were allowed to get on with their lives at the weekends, there would be no need for her to take this action.

On the point of Mr. Olwyn being the one to stay at home with the kids, Mr. Mary Coughlan does this as they have 2 small kids, whilst other TDs have husbands and wives working full time in their constituencies and rely on hired help and family support.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Nijmegen

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

There's talk, for years now, of imposing quotas for female politicians. This is a discussion point around and away from that idea.

Olwyn made the very valid point this morning, that if the Electorate expected TDs to fulfil their constitutional role of legislators and left the more local issues to local government, this would not be an issue for her, as the legislative constraints on her time are predictable, whereas constituency constraints placed on TD by an electorate which does not understand the function of a TD cause more unpredictable pressures to arise.

So basically, if TDs were judged on their Dáil and Seanad performance and were allowed to get on with their lives at the weekends, there would be no need for her to take this action.

An excellent sentiment that can only be expressed by a politician not seeking re-election. To get elected in Ireland to run the country you also need to show up at funerals and deliver passports.

monkeypants

ninty9er wrote: »

So basically, if TDs were judged on their Dáil and Seanad performance and were allowed to get on with their lives at the weekends, there would be no need for her to take this action.

Doesn't the Dail only sit 60-odd days a year? She'd be able to juggle a whole heap of kids with that schedule.

Nijmegen

monkeypants wrote: »

Doesn't the Dail only sit 60-odd days a year? She'd be able to juggle a whole heap of kids with that schedule.

Not if she has to show up to every funeral, fete, school event and opening in the constituency.

A TD does more than sit in the Dail. They should be out in the country figuring out what the heck is wrong and coming back with clear ideas on how to fix it.

Not delivering passports to people.

monkeypants

Nijmegen wrote: »

Not if she has to show up to every funeral, fete, school event and opening in the constituency.

A TD does more than sit in the Dail. They should be out in the country figuring out what the heck is wrong and coming back with clear ideas on how to fix it.

Not delivering passports to people.

That's my point. You take all this local work out, there's a lot of time to fill.

rightwingdub

Haddockman wrote: »

She did feck all for the people of Laois/Offaly. Good riddance.

She obviously failed to get the potholes fixed, din't get medical cards for people, your comments is everything that is wrong in Irish voters when it comes to politics, ie you tend to focus on local issues instead of national issues.:mad:

irishh_bob

Nijmegen wrote: »

There's talk, for years now, of imposing quotas for female politicians. This is a discussion point around and away from that idea.


An excellent sentiment that can only be expressed by a politician not seeking re-election. To get elected in Ireland to run the country you also need to show up at funerals and deliver passports.

when you refer to the delivery of passports , are you talking in terms of josie who lives down the lane or shiekh ahemed from riyadh who owns three dozen race horses because i thought all irish citizens were legally entitled to a passport , i thought you simply filled out an application form , dropped into your local garda station to get it stamped and posted it to dept of foreign affairs

Eliot Rosewater

irishh_bob wrote: »

when you refer to the delivery of passports , are you talking in terms of josie who lives down the lane or shiekh ahemed from riyadh who owns three dozen race horses because i thought all irish citizens were legally entitled to a passport , i thought you simply filled out an application form , dropped into your local garda station to get it stamped and posted it to dept of foreign affairs

TDs have a drop box in Dail Eireann which allows them to skip the passport que and have passports made in a few days. Apparently TDs have been abusing this, by putting passport forms for their neighbours and friends into the priority box, as a political favour.

This is what Nijmegen is referring too.

monkeypants

rightwingdub wrote: »

She obviously failed to get the potholes fixed, din't get medical cards for people, your comments is everything that is wrong in Irish voters when it comes to politics, ie you tend to focus on local issues instead of national issues.:mad:

Can't think of a damned thing that she did for the country either. Can anyone enlighten me?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Nijmegen

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Then why do we bother sending her to the Dail? Have a system whereby we elect you, but if your party can't make up the numbers you go back and can have another crack in five years.

The opposition should be at the forefront of seeking the kind of transparency in government that you and I agree is much needed.

They should be out getting ideas and making proposals for fixing the country.

They should be thought leaders and facilitators to people with good ideas.

monkeypants

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

So that's nothing then.

She might as well get people their passports and fill in some potholes. She's getting paid handsomely and given generous expenses and we have no expectations in return.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

monkeypants

I fired up the Googles and took a quick look. Naturally enough, the recent news of her stepping down is prominent. When further information is found, a lot of it is about her being a woman, married to another TD and that her Da was a TD.

But there is a list of stuff that she's been involved with here. Might be useful.

martinn123

Many thanks for all the comments, however in my original post I queried her stated reasons for leaving, and wondered why she was not leaving now.

Married to a deputy from the other end of the Country, having a 10mth old and another on the way, all valid reasons to consider a change.

But why the wait, we are at least 2 yrs from an election, so the child will be nearly 3. The new arrival will be 18mths, hubby will be still in another constituency. If it does not suit her lifestyle today, why wait 2 yrs.

The answer I suggested is

2 yrs Salary
2 yrs Expenses
Paid Maternity leave. etc. etc.

There are 3 bye-elections which will not be held so the Dail Numbers theory does not hold.

Go Now, and enjoy Children, hubby, new baby

Or

Keep taking the cash

monkeypants

martinn123 wrote: »

Keep taking the cash

This one gets my vote.

P. Breathnach

martinn123 wrote: »

...
Go Now, and enjoy Children, hubby, new baby

Or

Keep taking the cash

This post strikes me as being particularly obnoxious. You are attacking a woman because she is married, has a child and is expecting another and -- horror of horrors -- has a paid job.

Coillte_Bhoy

martinn123 wrote: »

There are 3 bye-elections which will not be held so the Dail Numbers theory does not hold.


Keep taking the cash

the Dail numbers theory is valid cos if she steps down now, the opposition are a vote down.

martinn123

P. Breathnach wrote: »

This post strikes me as being particularly obnoxious. You are attacking a woman because she is married, has a child and is expecting another and -- horror of horrors -- has a paid job.

Quite the opposite in fact, if you take the time to read my post it asks a simple question.

If the job does not suit you, if you announce you are leaving, why wait 2 years to leave.

I am happy she is married, has a child, and another on the way, I am happy anyone has a paid job, but if they state they are leaving because it does not suit her lifestyle, why wait.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

martinn123

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Civil Service speak, whats the difference

We do not know exactly when the next election will be—but we do know that the current Dáil must be dissolved on or before 14 June 2012, so we are at this stage approximately 21 months at most from the next election.

Sorry I am out by 3 months

Ms Enright's decision not to stand again is a personal decision, based on personal factors. There should be no pressure on her to give up her position now as long as she can continue to discharge her duties. She's perfectly entitled to her salary, her maternity leave, and her other benefits in the meantime.

The pressure I thought was Personal Factors,

Entitled to.........now where have I heard that before, something about a Politician and expenses I think.

monkeypants

I agree with the points made, but I don't see why she's going to wait until the next election. Do TDs get extra pension or service payments if they reach ten years/two terms in the Dail?

Executive Steve

monkeypants wrote: »

I agree with the points made, but I don't see why she's going to wait until the next election. Do TDs get extra pension or service payments if they reach ten years/two terms in the Dail?

Presumably because she was elected with a mandate to represent her constituents until such time as the next polling day?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Focalbhach

martinn123 wrote: »

Civil Service speak, whats the difference

'Civil Service speak'?!

"I am leaving my job" = with immediate effect. Vacancy arises.
"I will not stand for re-election" = continuing to discharge the duties of the job she is paid for, until such time as she is no longer in that job. Quite possibly until 2012.

What do you think is going to happen? Now that the announcement has been made, she's going to sit on her couch watching tv for the next two years?

martinn123 wrote: »

Entitled to.........now where have I heard that before, something about a Politician and expenses I think.

How very pithy. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, unless you've got a general objection to maternity leave, etc.

martinn123

Leto wrote: »

'Civil Service speak'?!

"I am leaving my job" = with immediate effect. Vacancy arises.
"I will not stand for re-election" = continuing to discharge the duties of the job she is paid for, until such time as she is no longer in that job. Quite possibly until 2012.

I have a child, this job does not suit my current lifestyle, so I will hang around for the next 18mths

What do you think is going to happen? Now that the announcement has been made, she's going to sit on her couch watching tv for the next two years?

No perhaps she will enjoy her child, and have more time with her husband. Our political system thrives on deputies sorting out problems for constituents in expectation of a vote next time around.

She wont be seeking that vote and so all those good deeds become irrelevant. someone else will be nominated to contest the seat, and will be groomed over the coming 18mths by looking after the needs of constituents.

How very pithy. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, unless you've got a general objection to maternity leave, etc.

No objection to any benefits, maternity leave, enhansed pension, leaving money ( cant remember what that is called ), maybe someone will calculate the cost to taxpayer of this decision.

If I said my job does not suit, I would be expected to leave without all these benefits