RTE 1 @ 9:35pm - 'Looking After No.1' (Inside TDs clinics) 21/10/13

Lady Chatterton

This looks like an interesting little programme.

All politics may be local. But Irish politicians are regularly criticised for spending too much time as social workers, counsellors and even parish pumpers.

Some argue they would be better working as national legislators; that the national gets lost in the local. Yet Irish TDs in 2013 still forge a unique and intimate relationship with local constituents and their issues. Whether its hospital waiting lists, anti-social behaviour or housing repairs, it seems a TD's door is always open.

Now under the microscope for a new documentary, Looking After No.1, five members of the Oireachtas travel from Dublin to Kerry, Mayo to Limerick as the country's temperature is taken mid-term through the current DÁIL.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/lookingafternoone.html

The Politicians

Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fáil) Limerick

Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) Mayo

John Lyons (Labour) Dublin

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) Dublin

Michael Healy-Rae (Independent) Kerry

keith16

This has the potential to be both comedy gold, and rage inducing. A bit like the LLS.

So I'll be watching.

Lady Chatterton

keith16 wrote: »

This has the potential to be both comedy gold, and rage inducing. A bit like the LLS.

So I'll be watching.

All we're missing is Michael Lowry :D

Skid X

It's one of those "I really shouldn't watch it, it will only raise my blood pressure, but I don't want to miss it" programmes.

Harry Angstrom

For a second there, I thought it was a programme about STD clinics

FloatingVoter

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

For a second there, I thought it was a programme about STD clinics

Nah, our TDs go to the vet for that kind of thing.

grey_so_what

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

For a second there, I thought it was a programme about STD clinics

If it is Harry it's aptly named!.........:D:P

Skid X

MrsD007 wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/lookingafternoone.html

That says it all - looking after no.one = looking after no-one !

Kerrydude1981

This should be good,get a look inside the royal family of South Kerry the Healy Raes

grey_so_what

How does Willie O'D manage to grow his mustache with a perfect line of grey and black?....

Skid X

I don't like how Michelle Mulherin drives with only one hand (very loosely) on the wheel.

Lady Chatterton

I don't think it's safe for people to be driving while doing a piece to camera :mad:

grey_so_what

Dodgy driving there........

Daith

Interesting time to get Mulherin with the abortion debate.

Skid X

"So this is the door?"

No files on this man :rolleyes:

grey_so_what

The poor woman, she has a lot on her mind there...........

I hope it goes well for her.

Kerrydude1981

grey_so_what wrote: »

The poor woman, she has a lot on her mind there...........

I hope it goes well for her.

Ya,who ever made that decision not giving her the grant should take a reality check

nightpark

Are they all driving around for the mileage.

hotmail.com

Mulheirn exclusive there - her head is mush.

Daith

It does nothing to change the whole "vote for the guy who fixes your potholes and not for what they can do for Ireland".

grey_so_what

I have the urge to get that cap and throw it in the washing machine, he must have been baking this summer.........

keith16

Semantics there from Healy-Rae, completely missing the point and appears to have a big chip on his shoulder.

Lady Chatterton

The scenery in Kerry is fab!

Kerrydude1981

South Kerry election area is a mental size

grey_so_what

It's bloody disgraceful that parents have to bring their children to a politician for basic needs...........:(

hotmail.com

Can TDs get you skipped up the queue for these things?

Lady Chatterton

It's so sad/poignant to see that young girl playing with a baby toy

Skid X

Healy Rae is visiting 14 pubs on the Dingle Peninsula in one night ... that brings back memories of a great weekend I had down there

COYW

Skid X wrote: »

Healy Rae is visiting 14 pubs on the Dingle Peninsula in one night ... that brings back memories of a great weekend I had down there

That is how he gets elected. I don't agree with parish pump politics but he puts in the hours and miles.

That text on abortion, holy sh1t.

Wonder if Aengus has any spare office supplies in the car.

hotmail.com

Just stop believing in god Michelle. Problem solved.

wolfpawnat

Just over 70 odd thousand in salary and 42 grand roughly in allowances! The poor creatures!!!

I think I better start my election campaign now!

castletownman

Skid X wrote: »

Healy Rae is visiting 14 pubs on the Dingle Peninsula in one night ... that brings back memories of a great weekend I had down there

And sure doesn't he know a lad who is striving to a turn a blind-eye to drink-driving down there

Skid X

It is a peculiar system that Irish people use TDs as a means of appeal and oversight to get things done ... but it does sometimes work for the individual.

There are so many poor systems and anomalies that you have to appeal and get your voice heard using both official and unofficial means.

hotmail.com

Aengus claimed €50,000 in ink expenses.

Daith

Skid X wrote: »

It is a peculiar system that Irish people use TDs as a means of appeal and oversight to get things done ... but it does sometimes work for the individual.

There are so many poor systems and anomalies that you have to appeal and get your voice heard using both official and unofficial means.

Absolutely no problem with this but it seems ridiculous that it needs to go to a TD level. Say that one about getting the door widened. If a TD can fix it there's no reason why the official channel shouldn't have worked either.

COYW

wolfpawnat wrote: »

Just over 70 odd thousand in salary and 42 grand roughly in allowances! The poor creatures!!!

I think I better start my election campaign now!

I wouldn't do it for any money. No money is worth that stress.

Kerrydude1981

hotmail.com wrote: »

Aengus claimed €50,000 in ink expenses.

Don't mention the INK

LostInLM

If TD's are operating at this level, what the he'll do county council lads do.....

keith16

COYW wrote: »

That is how he gets elected. I don't agree with parish pump politics but he puts in the hours and miles.

That text on abortion, holy sh1t. Wonder if Aengus has any spare office supplies in the car.

Text was clearly from a nut job. How she could have taken it seriously is beyond me. Anyone in the public eye who reads tweets / text that contain abuse need to take them with a massive helping of salt.

Lady Chatterton

John lost a number 1 vote there.

Skid X

The constituent complaining to the TD complaining about the garden is eerily similar to the plot of 'In The Loop'

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2009/may/08/mandelson-expenses-in-the-loop

grey_so_what

Oh, I'm delighted for Mary!!!:):):)

hotmail.com

Daith wrote: »

Absolutely no problem with this but it seems ridiculous that it needs to go to a TD level. Say that one about getting the door widened. If a TD can fix it there's no reason why the official channel shouldn't have worked either.

It's unfair for the people that do go through the official channels.

COYW

hotmail.com wrote: »

Aengus claimed €50,000 in ink expenses.

That money could fix a fair few problems in that programme alone, house jobs etc.

Kerrydude1981

LostInLM wrote: »

If TD's are operating at this level, what the he'll do county council lads do.....

I think county Councillors are powerless,well thats what I think of our own Councillors down here in Kerry.

COYW

keith16 wrote: »

Text was clearly from a nut job. How she could have taken it seriously is beyond me. Anyone in the public eye who reads tweets / text that contain abuse need to take them with a massive helping of salt.

I agree. You couldn't pay attention to them but you have to remember that the same nut could approach you in the street or worse call to your home. That'd be my worry.

wolfpawnat

COYW wrote: »

I wouldn't do it for any money. No money is worth that stress.

Personally I would love to do what they are doing in the programme. I love social work like that, though I would probably be in tears at the bureaucracy, but I would still want to try and help.

Daith

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

I think county Councillors are powerless,well thats what I think of our own Councillors down here in Kerry.

This seems to be the case. I want my TDs working on a different level than getting rid of rubbish for someone.

Skid X

keith16 wrote: »

Text was clearly from a nut job. How she could have taken it seriously is beyond me. Anyone in the public eye who reads tweets / text that contain abuse need to take them with a massive helping of salt.

One or two nutjobs you could deal with, but it must grind you down after a while. Especially if you get people like Youth Defence on your back.

The Pontiac

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

I think county Councillors are powerless,well thats what I think of our own Councillors down here in Kerry.

So what is exactly their job then?

While I have you, what's with Healy-Rae's accent? It couldn't be put-on more.

grey_so_what

I once approached a Councillor regarding the road up to my house (about 20 odd years ago), it was basically impossible to get up and down it at one stage, he said he'd come up to have a look at it and then the day he was due to visit, he rang me from a couple of miles away telling me he couldn't come because the road was to bad to drive on!.......

I never heard from him again........Still makes me laugh!...:)