European Election Candidates Lists & Facts

Scofflaw

Euro candidates, and their alternates, from here: http://www.europarl.ie/en/the_eu_and_you/european_elections_2014.html

Dublin: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/dublin_poll_notice.pdf

Midlands North West: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/candidates-notice-of-poll---midlands-north-west.pdf

South: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/candidates-notice-of-poll---south.pdf

An "alternate" is the person who will replace the candidate if the candidate steps down or otherwise vacates their seat.

MEPs cannot also be TDs, so if one of the TDs standing for election gets in, they have to resign as a TD - alternatively, I suppose they could resign their EP seat and let their alternate take over, although I'm not sure what the legal position is there. Certainly if they stand for election to the Dáil in 2016, they'll have to resign their EP seat if they're elected, and the seat then goes to their alternate - there is no such thing as a European by-election.

cordially,
Scofflaw

oscarBravo

Interestingly, I see some of the independents/small party candidates don't have alternates. What's the situation if one of them is elected and subsequently vacates their seat?

Scofflaw

oscarBravo wrote: »

Interestingly, I see some of the independents/small party candidates don't have alternates. What's the situation if one of them is elected and subsequently vacates their seat?

Apparently, the Dáil selects:

If an MEP dies or resigns, the person who is at the top of his or her replacement list and is willing to become an MEP fills the vacancy. If there is no list, there are no replacements left or those on the list are unwilling or ineligible to become MEPs, Dáil Eireann may select a person to fill the vacancy from the replacement lists presented for that constituency at the European Parliament election before the last European Parliament election.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/european_elections/replacement_candidates_for_the_european_parliament.html

Something else that's interesting is that it's possible for a candidate who is also a TD to get elected, and immediately stand down as MEP, effectively pushing his/her replacement into place while retaining his/her own Dáil seat. The EP's Legal Affairs committee, which verifies the credentials of those elected, would likely be unhappy, but the move is apparently not illegal.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Calina

As a member of the electorate I wouldn't be happy with that at all. That's not seeking election in goodwill.

Scofflaw

Calina wrote: »

As a member of the electorate I wouldn't be happy with that at all. That's not seeking election in goodwill.

I'd agree, but I wonder if there aren't some places where it might not be seen as a cute move?

I'd also presume that quite a few MEP candidates will stand in the 2016 Dáil elections (or sooner if Labour explodes), so the replacement lists are quite important.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Calina

Scofflaw wrote: »

I'd agree, but I wonder if there aren't some places where it might not be seen as a cute move?

I'd also presume that quite a few MEP candidates will stand in the 2016 Dáil elections (or sooner if Labour explodes), so the replacement lists are quite important.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Really wish it was mandatory to complete your mandate rather than hopping between elected authorities. At least we got rid of the dual mandate thing ages ago.

Scofflaw

Calina wrote: »

Really wish it was mandatory to complete your mandate rather than hopping between elected authorities. At least we got rid of the dual mandate thing ages ago.

In terms of councillor/TD? I tend to view that as really a centralisation stroke by FF HQ - it removed an independent local power base for back-benchers.

cordially,
Scofflaw

C14N

Scofflaw wrote: »

Euro candidates, and their alternates, from here: http://www.europarl.ie/en/the_eu_and_you/european_elections_2014.html

Dublin: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/dublin_poll_notice.pdf

Midlands North West: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/candidates-notice-of-poll---midlands-north-west.pdf

South: http://www.europarl.ie/resource/static/files/Elections%202014/candidates-notice-of-poll---south.pdf

An "alternate" is the person who will replace the candidate if the candidate steps down or otherwise vacates their seat.

MEPs cannot also be TDs, so if one of the TDs standing for election gets in, they have to resign as a TD - alternatively, I suppose they could resign their EP seat and let their alternate take over, although I'm not sure what the legal position is there. Certainly if they stand for election to the Dáil in 2016, they'll have to resign their EP seat if they're elected, and the seat then goes to their alternate - there is no such thing as a European by-election.

cordially,
Scofflaw

This is very useful, but is there any easy way to find out more about the candidates in my area? I've got 14 names but aside from Ming, I don't know anything about any of them and even then I only know Ming because he's the oddball TD.

Scofflaw

C14N wrote: »

This is very useful, but is there any easy way to find out more about the candidates in my area? I've got 14 names but aside from Ming, I don't know anything about any of them and even then I only know Ming because he's the oddball TD.

The only ones I can find are brief run-downs from the European Movement - they do seem to just give the bare facts:

Midlands-North West:http://www.europeanmovement.ie/just-the-facts-midlands-north-west-constituency-review/

Dublin: http://www.europeanmovement.ie/just-the-facts-dublin-constituency-review/

South: http://www.europeanmovement.ie/just-the-facts-south-constituency-review/

cordially,
Scofflaw