Fidelma Healy Eames' train ticket scandal

antoobrien

serfboard wrote: »

A lot of that was an anti-FF/anti-government vote though. I'd say if she gets half that the next time she'll be doing well.

I suppose the fact that she sent from 1,320 in 2002 to 3,904 in 2007 was anti government as well?

It's true that she made a bit of a show of herself with the recount, but consider this: if either Brian Walsh or Hildegarde Naughton weren't brought onto the ticket she'd probably have been elected at Noel Grealish's expense.

serfboard

antoobrien wrote: »

I suppose the fact that she sent from 1,320 in 2002 to 3,904 in 2007 was anti government as well?

No - her increase of 2,500 can be explained by the fact that a) Dana (1700 votes in 2002) wasn't running and b) there were an extra five and half thousand voters in 2007.

Elections Ireland suggests she got 2.67% of the first preference votes in 2002, 7.09% in 2007 and 8.32% in 2011.

Lissavane

Deleted User wrote: »

Elections Ireland suggests she got 2.67% of the first preference votes in 2002, 7.09% in 2007 and 8.32% in 2011.

Makes one wonder about the merits of democracy.

Robbo

She announced that she's standing as an independent in the next General Election, aligned with the Reform Alliance. This was announced at the Pro Life conference so I'd imagine there'll be some Dollars in the campaign coffers.

serfboard

Robbo wrote: »

She announced that she's standing as an independent in the next General Election, aligned with the Reform Alliance. This was announced at the Pro Life conference so I'd imagine there'll be some Dollars in the campaign coffers.

Here's a link for that story.

Of course she's going to run as an Independent - she won't get the Fine Gael nomination the next time. As I said earlier, she's inherited Dana's mantle in Galway West, so expect lot's of Pro-Lifers to be campaigning for her.

However, they didn't manage to get Dana elected the last time, and I don't expect FHE to get elected the next time.

Since the box has been ticked regarding the Supreme Court judgement, the abortion issued is now closed, and there will be no political capital to be made from trying to open it.

FouxDaFaFa

I cannot wait until she canvasses me. I have time to plan some kind of interpretive dance.

Redhairedguy

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

I have time to plan some kind of interpretive dance.

And elaborate trap à la Home Alone.

swiftman

The Galway Advertiser
Fine Gael have summoned Fidelma Healy Eames to a disciplinary hearing to take back her membership card and boot her out of the party for good. But she's not going without a fight.

,,,,,

Melty

more here: http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/64814/healy-eames-to-battle-fg-attempts-to-throw-her-out-of-the-party-

FouxDaFaFa

It says in a few of the recent articles this disciplinary action is because she voted against organ donation legislation but the articles I've read have been unclear about what exactly happened/her reasons for voting against it. Does anybody know what her reason was?

McTigs

Interesting that you can be disciplined for voting against the party but not for not paying your car tax.

Mr_A

This is fantastic:

“My values are still the core values of the party and they are worth fighting for, even if democracy is no longer a value of the leadership,” she said. “The Seanad referendum was testimony to the disdain of the current leadership for what have long been the core values of Fine Gael - honesty, integrity, debate, tolerance.

Let us unite behind our oppressed local politician and fight the evils of dishonesty and intolerance.

serfboard

I can't see why she's fighting so hard to retain her membership when she won't be selected at the next convention.

Or are the party hierarchy afraid that she'll pack the convention with her supporters and will be selected?

She's obviously decided that she wants to stay in the party, and fight the next GE as a Fine Gaeler. She seems to want to avoid running as an independent. She obviously doesn't have much confidence in her ability to attract votes as an independent as opposed to being in FG.

Das Kitty

Brian Walsh is probably going to retain his membership. I'd say she might be put out that she isn't wanted.

If FHE is notable for anything, it's her complete dog-with-a-bone tenacity. We saw it with the numerous recounts last election where she tried to pip her own running mate. She'll hang on to the bitter end and I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to wreck the place on the way out.

Redhairedguy

Das Kitty wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to wreck the place on the way out.

All I could think of!

snubbleste

She has now called for a rent increase (~€1pw) for local authority tenants, because the property tax liability falls to the Council - who are broke.
And then tries to spin this as a positive thing
"We need to look at ways to reverse this cycle, by empowering them and giving them every chance to make a contribution, no matter how little. Only then are we treating them as equals," she said. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/council-tenants-to-escape-bill-for-property-tax-in-new-year-29800738.html

dilallio

Overheard at the Healy-Eames breakfast table ....

Fidelma: 'Michael dear, have you seen the egg-opener?'

Michael: 'Honey - it's his day-off!'

Annasopra

I see her views on adoption for same sex couples are blowing with the wind and she is being shown up as a hypocrite



- See more at: http://fidelmahealyeames.ie/2010/07/08/senator-fidelma-healy-eames-galway-west-shows-her-support-for-the-civil-partnership-bill-in-the-seanad-this-week/#sthash.ep73894d.dpuf

The Bill does not address the issue of adoption and guardianship, leaving the law unchanged for same sex couples. That is a major flaw and I would like the Minister to address this when summing up. When will we have the guardianship Bill? The Ombudsman for Children, when advising us on the adoption Bill, recommended that the categories of people eligible to apply for adoption should be extended to include same sex couples, and that if the Bill was unchanged, it would continue to deny certain children the possibility of enjoying a permanent and secure legal relationship with both of their parents.

Change is incremental and in process. A guardianship Bill is needed to protect the rights of children of same sex couples. As a member of a democratic party and as a legislator, my duty is to protect the rights of all the citizens, not just the rights of the majority or the mainstream. For that reason, I am delighted to support this Bill today and to contribute in some way towards making our civil society more inclusive, more tolerate and stronger as a result.

gordongekko

If anyone needs a laugh she's called the liveline and talking to Joe.

snubbleste

Snap!
She's after the Dana vote

gordongekko

snubbleste wrote: »

Snap!
She's after the Dana vote

caller: asks difficult question.
The: Joe the lines terrible I can't hear ya but I never said anything against that person.

snubbleste

She has no shame

phelixoflaherty

Hold on to values like respect for the law?

kodute

Biggest scandal yet... that daft b*nt has littered my hallway with her Reform alliance nonsense. Paid for by the Seanad judging by the letter head, and she didn't put this in herself I assume, so wages were expensed to the tax payers.

Why is she sending me letters? You don't have a constituency nor do I need to be invited to this seanad reform BS. Stop haranguing me you unelected parasite of the state!

Here is the offending literature:http://imgur.com/jzVfw8y

Birroc

If Healy Screams is anyway involved with the Reform Alliance, they will never get my vote. They need to rethink their members.

mikom

Birroc wrote: »

If Healy Screams is anyway involved with the Reform Alliance, they will never get my vote. They need to rethink their members.

Bead rattlers united............... she'll fit right in.

FouxDaFaFa

kodute wrote: »

Biggest scandal yet... that daft b*nt has littered my hallway with her Reform alliance nonsense. Paid for by the Seanad judging by the letter head, and she didn't put this in herself I assume, so wages were expensed to the tax payers.

Why is she sending me letters? You don't have a constituency nor do I need to be invited to this seanad reform BS. Stop haranguing me you unelected parasite of the state!

Here is the offending literature:http://imgur.com/jzVfw8y

She quoted Charles De Gaulle?

*dies laughing*

FrPhelimYoung

What's the "Galway West" nonsense in the header of the letter just below the harp?

Is there such a thing as a Seanad constituency???

Robbo

FrPhelimYoung wrote: »

What's the "Galway West" nonsense in the header of the letter just below the harp?

Is there such a thing as a Seanad constituency???

Not in any geographic sense unless you want to be pedantic and incorrect when describing the University constituencies.

Without investigating further, it doesn't seem to be the most legit use of Oireachtas stationary/postage. I suggest you send it onto Broadsheet and we get the ball rolling, because this is one internet lynchmob I'd love to get behind.

On the De Gaulle quote, from his Wiki:

Like her husband, Yvonne de Gaulle was a conservative Catholic, and campaigned against prostitution, the sale of pornography in newsstands and the televised display of nudity and sex, for which she earned the nickname "Tante ("Auntie") Yvonne." Later she unsuccessfully tried to persuade de Gaulle to outlaw miniskirts in France.

Seems like Madame De Gaulle and Fidelma are two peas in a pod.