Why Do We Need To Send Politicians To Observe U.S, Moid-Term Elections???

dixiefly

This really is taking the p*ss...and of course the bould ivor c (or was ) in on the action.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0830/callelyi.html

Callely removed from US election committee
Monday, 30 August 2010 22:44
The office of the Government Chief Whip has said that Senator Ivor Callely will not be travelling to the US to observe the mid-term elections there.

A statement on behalf of the Chief Whip said the Government has removed the Senator from the committee which is travelling to US for the November elections.

A spokesman said the decision to remove Senator Callely was taken in June.

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Houses of the Oireachtas said the suspension of Mr Callely from the Seanad did not preclude him from travelling to the US to act as an observer.

The Senator wrote to officials last month saying he had been invited to take part in the trip - which coincides with his suspension from the Upper House.

The trip came about because of Senator Callely's involvement with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

That position was given to him by the Government Chief Whip.

In his letter - obtained by RTÉ News under the Freedom of Information Act - Senator Callely also said that he had been invited to Bosnia Herzegovina for its October elections.
The US Mid-Term elections take place on 2 November, but Senator Callely's suspension from the Upper House is due to run until mid-November.

The OCSE said it is up to the individual parliaments to pay for their member's participation.

Attempts to reach the senator today proved unsuccessful.

A spokesman for the Houses of the Oireachtas said that no-one has yet been nominated to make the trip and it is understood that ultimately the Government Chief Whip decides who to send.

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Audio & Video
Six One News: Conor Hunt reports that Ivor Callely wrote to officials last month saying he had been invited to take part in the trip, which would be paid for by the Oireachtas
Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0830/callelyi.html

Seth Brundle

Junkets for the FF boys!

deise go deo

Do we really need them here?

hallelujajordan

kbannon wrote: »

Junkets for the FF boys!

I can't find any details but I imagine this is an all-party junket !

mikemac

kbannon wrote: »

Junkets for the FF boys!

All parties take part in these junkets, it's not just a FF issue.

Remember FG control most local councils.
I don't know where you're from but our local councillors end up in Boston every St Patricks Day, their wifes and husbands go also.

Oh yeah, they are hoping to attract business to the area though I though the IDA was supposed to do that.
No Sinn Fein voter but that councillor or councillors from that party are the ones who speak out against it.

And if it's a business trip why are their wifes/husbands going also?

PeterIanStaker

So they can observe how Civil War politics work in another country?

Diom

In fairness international monitoring of elections is pretty important. It's quite normal and a necessary part of international diplomacy. I am happy to be represented at these things.
I'm also happy that a number of our politicians go abroad on St Patrick's day to promote Ireland, Irish culture etc... What annoys me is the manner in which it is done. It shouldn't be a holiday, it should be meetings after meeting, negotiating better deals for Irish companies and supporting Irish ex-pat communities.

PeterIanStaker

Diom wrote: »

I'm also happy that a number of our politicians go abroad on St Patrick's day to promote Ireland, Irish culture etc... What annoys me is

that they come back.

dan_d

Do you know, I couldn't care less where he (or any of them) go, as long as it's not being paid for by "expenses" - also known as the Irish taxpayer.

If the Americans are prepared to pay for him to go there, or if he's prepared to pay out of his own (fairly substantial) salary, then he can work away. If we're paying for it - I don't want him setting a foot outside this county, let alone this country.

goose2005

Diom wrote: »

In fairness international monitoring of elections is pretty important. It's quite normal and a necessary part of international diplomacy. I am happy to be represented at these things.
I'm also happy that a number of our politicians go abroad on St Patrick's day to promote Ireland, Irish culture etc... What annoys me is the manner in which it is done. It shouldn't be a holiday, it should be meetings after meeting, negotiating better deals for Irish companies and supporting Irish ex-pat communities.

What qualification does Ivor have to monitor elections?

RealityCheck

goose2005 wrote: »

What qualification does Ivor have to monitor elections?

He would'nt want to be going to a country where elections are regarded as dodgy. He would be easily bought.

Eliot Rosewater

RealityCheck wrote: »

He would'nt want to be going to a country where elections are regarded as dodgy. He would be easily bought.

With respect, there's quite a large difference between filing fraudulent expenses claims and accepting bribes to rig elections. Though I think you may have been joking...

Diom wrote: »

In fairness international monitoring of elections is pretty important. It's quite normal and a necessary part of international diplomacy. I am happy to be represented at these things.

I agree. Free and fair elections are taken for granted in Ireland, and are something people will only appreciate when they've lost them. Even in advanced countries like the US and Ireland, it's still important to ensure that there is no silly business going on.

RealityCheck

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

With respect, there's quite a large difference between filing fraudulent expenses claims and accepting bribes to rig elections. Though I think you may have been joking...

I think I should have used one of these .