Is this the catalyst for a FF push on Michael Martin [inc. Averil Power Thread]

gandalf

With the resignation of Averil Power will the knives be truly out to get Michael Martin. There's been a lot of grumbling from the fringes of FF but no action but with the loss of one of their "bright up and coming" stars will certain characters could be jolted into action.

It could be an interesting and very uncomfortable few days for Mr. Martin.

http://www.thejournal.ie/averil-power-resigns-2123330-May2015/

MOD: Edited to include the other Averil Power thread

Dave!

Yes he'll be shifting nervously for sure. She was pretty scathing in her remarks about the party, and Martin too. I'd say he'll be gone.

I wonder what Power will do now – are there any parties that would make a natural home for her? Would be a bit of a shame to see her wasted as an independent, she's obviously very competent. But I'm sure if she became a minister, she'd quickly lose her popularity among the electorate when she can't achieve everything.

Larbre34

She'll be in Sinn Féin by sundown, a natural fit.

Just when Micheál thought he might have a window of calm waters too! Although any party that sees old stagers like Bobby Aylward as the way forward when dynamic younger folk like Averil are leaving is in deep trouble.

arayess

poor MM - can't catch a break , can he?

he better polish up his smoking ban plaque at home - it'll be the only thing he'll be remembered for.

FF going nowhere.

gandalf

Larbre34 wrote: »

She'll be in Sinn Féin by sundown, a natural fit.

I'd be surprised if she does, I'd say there's a bigger chance her been unveiled by Renua myself.

BoJack Horseman

Looks bad for MM to lose a spokesperson, even if its a senetor.

Power obviously is just looking at another Dáil run next year.... Either as an indie or SF.

crusier

She's married to fionnan Sheehan of the Sunday independent, say no more!

expectationlost

Larbre34 wrote: »

She'll be in Sinn Féin by sundown, a natural fit.

ya think

Larbre34

gandalf wrote: »

I'd be surprised if she does, I'd say there's a bigger chance her been unveiled by Renua myself.

No chance in my opinion, too conservative. Look at Averil's background and record. She'd be a shoo-in for a Dublin based seat for SF, not nearly so with Renua.

Larbre34

expectationlost wrote: »

ya think

Would hardly be unprecedented though, would it?

RobertKK

I was posting on twitter for months, asking why is Averil Power in FF when she is out of line with FF voters as is Micheal Martin.

I think MM needs to go, his views are too liberal for FF and he can't get the party to follow them.

Pappacharlie

crusier wrote: »

She's married to fionnan Sheehan of the Sunday independent, say no more!

No she is not!! He is married to an FG TD. Can't remember who.

BoJack Horseman

Pappacharlie wrote: »

No she is not!! He is married to an FG TD. Can't remember who.

No, Power is indeed married to Fionan Sheehan.

MJohnston

Pappacharlie wrote: »

No she is not!! He is married to an FG TD. Can't remember who.

What a bizarre thing to say

expectationlost

Larbre34 wrote: »

Would hardly be unprecedented though, would it?

she was accusing them of still being involved in crime https://irishelectionliterature.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/keep-sinn-fein-out-vote-power-no-1-averil-power-fianna-fail-dublin-north-east/#more-15077

Pappacharlie

MJohnston wrote: »

What a bizarre thing to say

Please accept my apologies I am 100% wrong.

Larbre34

expectationlost wrote: »

she was accusing them of still being involved in crime https://irishelectionliterature.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/keep-sinn-fein-out-vote-power-no-1-averil-power-fianna-fail-dublin-north-east/#more-15077

As a Fianna Fáiler, it hardly put her on the moral high ground, SF wont be much of a departure for her if it comes to that.

expectationlost

Larbre34 wrote: »

As a Fianna Fáiler, it hardly put her on the moral high ground, SF wont be much of a departure for her if it comes to that.

ah but there a difference between state backed crime and crime without authorisation.

gandalf

So if there is a push who is going to be the ring leader? O'Cuiv? Michael McGrath? or AN Other?

Black Menorca

Averil is Labour in waiting. By September, Ivana will be welcoming her onto the Labour benches of the Senate.

raymon

She was not going to be selected for FF ....Haughey was going to be the choice. That was the hard reality facing her.

She is right that Martin is a terrible leader and that FF have no policies and is not fit for government. However she knew this already , and she didnt act and would not have unless she saw the selection failure ahead.

Still - it is great news . I wish her luck as an Independent.

expectationlost

Black Menorca wrote: »

Averil is Labour in waiting. By September, Ivana will be welcoming her onto the Labour benches of the Senate.

with Aodhain O'Riordain, Sean Kenny and Jane Horgan, Jones, Brian Mc Donagh and Alison Gilliland already there.

Black Menorca

I would love to see Sean back in the Dáil. A real gentleman who puts his constituents first.

kidneyfan

She won't go for Renua; Lucinda Creighton attacked Averil Power in a pamphlet because Power would not support a woman's right to choose.

expectationlost

Black Menorca wrote: »

I would love to see Sean back in the Dáil. A real gentleman who puts his constituents first.

Sean who?

Red Kev

Black Menorca wrote: »

I would love to see Sean back in the Dáil. A real gentleman who puts his constituents first.

As a TD he should be putting the country first before his constituents.

t's one of the biggest problems in Irish politics, one of the reasons why a partial list system wouldn't go astray here.

seamus

Yeah, this could be a tough one for FF less than a year out from a general election. They have very few people who have made a name for themselves on the public stage and aren't associated with the same party who destroyed the economy. Averil was making good waves for them - socially progressive, young and popular, with no link to the past.

Stick with MM through to the election and you risk having a wet fish there who makes no impact. Bring in old heads like like Willie O'Dea and you could make things worse.
Maybe they'll look to a popular outsider, one of their councillors perhaps, to bring a "new blood, new party" feel to FF?

charlie14

More to do with Sean Haughey than MM imo. If Haughey is running, she knows her chances of winning a seat for FF are slim.
Wasn`t she the FF spokesperson on education and skills ?
I cannot remember her having any great input if she was tbh.
She`ll do the sulking "poor me" act and run as an independent, and if she doesn`t get the seat, be happy that she took votes of Haughey and stopped him getting it

Zubeneschamali

gandalf wrote: »

will the knives be truly out to get Michael Martin.

Who else have they got, that could keep the likes of Power on side?

The rest of the party won't even follow Martin's half-hearted gestures on abortion or same sex marriage, they are even worse than Martin from Power's perspective.

raymon

Black Menorca wrote: »

I would love to see Sean back in the Dáil. A real gentleman who puts his constituents first.

In my opinion the little Haughey has been dishonestly trying to hoodwink his constituents into believing FF is anti Irish Water. He calls it a quango, but fails to mention that the creation of a company called "Irish Water" was agreed initially with the Troika with Fianna Fail in their memo of understanding (2010)

Haughey (2014):
"A new super quango called Irish Water has been established to take over responsibility from the Local Authorities for the provision of water supply."

Fianna Fail (2010)
"The Government will publish the General Scheme of a Water Services Bill with the aim of defining the regulatory framework for the water sector under a national public utility setting and providing for the establishment of Irish Water in its final form. There will be prior engagement with the European Commission as appropriate, in developing the legislative arrangements. "

He calls himself "honest and decent" . I'm expecting more dishonesty from this one

charlie14

Red Kev wrote: »

As a TD he should be putting the country first before his constituents.

t's one of the biggest problems in Irish politics, one of the reasons why a partial list system wouldn't go astray here.

With the four in the Economic Management Council making all the decisions on how the country is run, there doesn`t appear much else for the rest of them to do other than look after their constituents.
Nothing much else for any backbenchers to do in any government.