Seanad Election 2020

An Ciarraioch

Nominations for the university panels closed last week, with Ronan Mullen and Ruth Coppinger the most prominent names on the NUI panel, while Lynn Ruane, Ivana Bacik and David Norris are the Trinity incumbents. Needless to say, a number of defeated TDs have applied for the vocational panels, including Malcolm Byrne, Seán Kyne and Timmy Dooley. Surprisingly, there appear to be no Green nominees to these panels yet, and only two candidates each from both SF and Labour occur on the lists to date. Finally, the Soc Dems have put forward their defeated Galway West contender, Niall O'Tuathail for the Industrial and Commercial panel, but too recently to catch Adrian Kavanagh's attention yet.

https://adriankavanaghelections.org/2020/02/17/elections-to-26th-seanad-2020-lists-of-nominated-declared-candidates/#more-18596

L1011

Labour are having an internal whittling down of nominees for the inside subpanels. The two there already are nominated on outside subpabels. I imagine the Greens are the same.

L1011

Labour have added 4 inside subpanel candidates - Wall, Sherlock, Hoey, Moynihan - that'll be that from them now.

Actually I think Sherlock was already outside panel nominated so I'm not sure if its a case of no nomination; or on both panels somehow if that's even possible?

L1011

Greens selection is Hackett, McHugh and Pauline O'Reilly from Galway.

Still not seen a full SF list

brownangel

Separate question - I hope this is the correct place.....

I refer to the Seanad election for the university panels (2020).

Does anyone know where one can find out the track record of each candidate. I've just received the ballot paper for the NUI panel, and even though I take a keen interest in current affairs only 4 of the 19 candidates are familiar to me - and only because they are prominent politicians. I don't want to depend on election blurb without fact-checking. Also, I am more interested in voting for "the person", than for a party.
I'm resident in Ireland but this must be even more of a problem for those who reside elsewhere.
With most other elections, (general, MEP, presidential, by-elections) one can be informed by TV debates and some fact-checking by informed political commentators. Am I missing something? Any good suggestions?

L1011

No NUI candidates are running as a party member albeit some actually are. You should receive a Litir um Togchain from most of the candidates before polling date although I've only seen a Higgins one so far (for my partner, my English degree gets nothing!) which will give you some ideas.

L1011

Adrian Kavanagh has some or all of the SF inside nominations up now - Lynn Boylan, Elisha McCallion being the big names

They have to be careful not to run too many as their very poor showing in May 19 has seriously depleted the vote base and I suspect the other parties councillors will be a lot more cautious with transfers to them!

brownangel

Just to be clear, I'm not looking to know what candidates say about themselves, but what their track record is, like a fact-check on their CV.
For example, if someone has been on a governing body or a county council, what their voting record is, and if they've been company managers or in professional positions (in public bodies, or private companies, private practice or freelance) I would like to know if they have convictions for fraud, or if they have significant achievements, etc.
I'm wondering for example, if a competent job interviewer would volunteer to do a thorough job interview with each candidate in turn and put it on YouTube.

L1011

Effort to reward ratio of that, as well as the relatively limited time to do it mean it will never happen

Geuze

It seems that some candidates are running for both NUI and TCD panels?

Hotblack Desiato

L1011 wrote: »

Effort to reward ratio of that, as well as the relatively limited time to do it mean it will never happen

Yep, you'd be lucky to get that kind of detail on a Dail candidate, tbh, unless they've held national office already

Geuze wrote: »

It seems that some candidates are running for both NUI and TCD panels?

AFAIK you don't need to be a graduate of either of them to run.

Frogdog

Who's best to vote for if I want Ronan Mullen out?

An Ciarraioch

McDowell and Higgins will be elected anyway, so Rory Hearne seems the challenger with the best chance of displacing Mullen.

antimatterx

Catherine Noone for the win

Salary Negotiator

Frogdog wrote: »

Who's best to vote for if I want Ronan Mullen out?

I don't think it would make a difference, Mullen will do very well with the St. Pats graduates from Maynooth.

I remember looking at his previous results and he does very well on the first count and then gets very few transfers thereafter.

Frogdog

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

McDowell and Higgins will be elected anyway, so Rory Hearne seems the challenger with the best chance of displacing Mullen.

What about Ruth Coppinger?

An Ciarraioch

Frogdog wrote: »

What about Ruth Coppinger?

Too radical for most, considering the demographics, whereas Hearne at least dresses his left campaigning in academic terms.

L1011

Frogdog wrote: »

Who's best to vote for if I want Ronan Mullen out?

One suggestion I've seen is stick with H - Hearne, Higgins, Harmon - as the nearest opposites of Mullen.

Transfer to nearly everyone else too though, on the basis that even if you dislike them you dislike Mullen more!

PopePalpatine

L1011 wrote: »

One suggestion I've seen is stick with H - Hearne, Higgins, Harmon - as the nearest opposites of Mullen.

Transfer to nearly everyone else too though, on the basis that even if you dislike them you dislike Mullen more!

That's what I've done, I think I spent about 20 minutes doing research just to sort out my 7th/8th/9th etc. preferences. :pac:

Hotblack Desiato

Hopefully Mullen's disgraceful behaviour during the referendum campaign a couple of years ago has encouraged a lot more NUI graduates to get registered and vote!

Didn't Coppinger call the Seanad "classist'' (she'd be correct) a while back?

An Ciarraioch

First count in the Cultural and Educational panel:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244667807645732864

An Ciarraioch

Second count:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244674631631503361

An Ciarraioch

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244678027323334659

L1011

Not sure why they didn't eliminate Walsh, Flynn and Conroy in one go as their combined votes cannot catch Maher *or* get Warfield elected yet. Just makes the glory of seeing Conroy (the worst public representative I have ever encountered) get eliminated slower and more glorious though.

An Ciarraioch

A good count four for Saoirse McHugh:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244692465220714503

An Ciarraioch

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244696069721722881

An Ciarraioch

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244705513402703873

An Ciarraioch

Up to the ninth count now, and it seems the transfers between FF and FG candidates could squeeze out the Greens:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244716661397164046

An Ciarraioch

Malcolm Byrne shoots into contention:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244726905049415680

An Ciarraioch

McGahon (of the Louth FG dynasty) leaps into second:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244732607625154564

L1011

Kyne elected. Byrne, Warfield and McHugh all got significant transfers from Conway but Kyne's small surplus will presumably break heavily to McGahon and when Margaret Murphy O'Mahony is eliminated next she will presumably transfer solidly to Byrne which should pull him ahead

We've no risk of inside/outside problems here as it'll be 2/3 or 3/2.

grayzer75

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

McGahon (of the Louth FG dynasty) leaps into second:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244732607625154564

Short memories......

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/mcgahon-asked-not-to-run-in-general-election-by-fine-gael-37494001.html

L1011

Kyne's transfers went one vote to Chambers and the rest to the bin actually; doesn't change the likely outcome of MMMs elimination.

antimatterx

Jesus, wonder what Tom Neville is going to do now. He was a real up and coming

L1011

Byrne and Chambers elected by MMM transfers

Don't think its numerically possible for McHugh now; Warfield and McGahon to take the last two seats. 3 outside 2 inside.

An Ciarraioch

So Kyne, Byrne and Chambers elected so far, with McGahon and Warfield presumably eliminating McHugh.

antimatterx

If nothing else, that head case Saoirse McHugh is finished in politics. 3 election defeats in a row, and nothing to run for until 2024!

expectationlost

grayzer75 wrote: »

Short memories......

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/mcgahon-asked-not-to-run-in-general-election-by-fine-gael-37494001.html

managed to get his trial delayed Fine Gael candidate in upcoming election faces summer trial for assault https://extra.ie/2019/03/31/news/irish-news/fg-candidate-john-mcgahon-assault?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare via @ExtraIRL

An Ciarraioch

And thus, the Cultural and Educational panel was completed:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1244959666985226241

L1011

On the Ag panel, Dominic Hannigan decided to run anyway without the Labour badge and came third last with 9 votes.

Official candidate (Hoey) got 63

Sitting Senator Ian Marshall only got 10; so implausible he'll retain.

Hotblack Desiato

When do they start counting the university panels?

L1011

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

When do they start counting the university panels?

I think they're counted by the universities not the Oireachtas. NUI panel first count is expected late this evening if not tomorrow.

An Ciarraioch

L1011 wrote: »

On the Ag panel, Dominic Hannigan decided to run anyway without the Labour badge and came third last with 9 votes.

Official candidate (Hoey) got 63

Sitting Senator Ian Marshall only got 10; so implausible he'll retain.

Suspect Hackett will fare better for the Greens than McHugh did - this was the panel where Grace O'Sullivan won in 2016, and the Offaly farmer is currently 4th out of 25! candidates:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1245042127043727361

An Ciarraioch

Victor Boyhan (ex-PD) has been elected.

grayzer75

expectationlost wrote: »

managed to get his trial delayed Fine Gael candidate in upcoming election faces summer trial for assault https://extra.ie/2019/03/31/news/irish-news/fg-candidate-john-mcgahon-assault?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare via @ExtraIRL

There was also the twix incident at Oxygen.......

L1011

Hackett has done very badly on transfers so far, surprisingly badly I'd say

L1011

One FG elimination (Maria Byrne) elected 4 other FG candidates there. Something you'll never see even in the largest council wards!

An Ciarraioch

Though surprisingly, Lynn Boylan could be the casualty here:

https://twitter.com/OireachtasNews/status/1245301381369663488

L1011

I don't see enough votes in play for her to be overtaken

An Ciarraioch

Ag Panel concluded with Murray's elimination, with 4 FF, 3 FG, 1 Green, 1 Ind, 1 Lab, 1 SF.