Rónán Mullen tops poll and re-elected to Senate

BarryD2 · 01-04-2020 3:37pm #1

https://www.irishcatholic.com/senator-ronan-mullen-tops-poll-and-re-elected-to-senate/

Had a double take when I heard this earlier, is it an April Fools!: "Independent Senator Rónán Mullen has been successfully re-elected to the Seanad, topping the poll in the National University of Ireland panel."

Anyone looking at modern Ireland and aware of Rónán Mullen's egregious commentary on social matters must be baffled.

One presumes the graduates of the National University of Ireland are reasonably well educated and informed of such matters, so how on earth could they elect him top of the poll, indeed how could they elect him fullstop.

The only possible explanations I can think of are a) graduates of the National University of Ireland are far more conservative than the rest of society and/ or more likely b) only the religious conservative graduates bother voting.

Anyone else have an idea?

Salary Negotiator · 01-04-2020 3:39pm

NUI Maynooth has a seminary so a lot of priests are NUI Graduates and likely to vote for him.

bloodless_coup · 01-04-2020 3:39pm

The saltiness is evident.

BarryD2 · 01-04-2020 3:42pm

Salary Negotiator wrote: »

NUI Maynooth has a seminary so a lot of priests are NUI Graduates and likely to vote for him.

http://www.nui.ie/about/structure.asp

UCD, UCC, UCG etc? Graduates of these surely would vastly outnumber Maynooth seminarians.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 3:43pm

a socially conservative person, oh no, help!

Salary Negotiator · 01-04-2020 3:46pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

http://www.nui.ie/about/structure.asp

UCD, UCC, UCG etc? Graduates of these surely would vastly outnumber Maynooth seminarians.

They would but there’s more than 1 seat and (I think) 19 candidates so a concentrated vote will push a candidate to the top.

andekwarhola · 01-04-2020 3:46pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

https://www.irishcatholic.com/senator-ronan-mullen-tops-poll-and-re-elected-to-senate/
Anyone else have an idea?

He got more votes than any other candidate, that's why. I despise him but he entitled to the seat.

It's only the senate. Hardly the most representative voting base in the country.

chicorytip · 01-04-2020 3:50pm

He has a constituency who agree with his opinions. Conservatives in relation to issues of morality and sexuality, particularly abortion. I belong to that category myself. There are many, many more of like mind out there. What's wrong with that?
Over thirty percent of the electorate voted No in the abortion and marriage referenda.

irishgrover · 01-04-2020 3:51pm

andekwarhola wrote: »

He got more votes than any other candidate, that's why. I despise him but he entitled to the seat.

It's only the senate. Hardly the most representative voting base in the country.

I fully agree with your statement. However its still funcking annoying that we as a nation are funding this stupid and undemocratic practice

GLaDOS · 01-04-2020 3:51pm

Only 34% turnout I read. A lot of people just don't care about the Seanad.

BarryD2 · 01-04-2020 3:52pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

a socially conservative person, oh no, help!

Fair dues to him on one hand if he can get elected from the NUI panel. But I've heard him in full flow and I can think of few other public representatives that are so 'in your face' as regards social conservatism. I'd respect people generally but I find him quite unlikable and objectionable in the way he carries debate.

And would dare say I share that with most moderate citizens of this state. I can only assume that the valid poll for the NUI panel must be completely unrepresentative of and a small fraction of all those entitled to vote. Well shame on those who had a vote and failed to use it.

I say that also as someone not entitled to vote for the Seanad elections but who did vote back in the referendum to get rid of the whole shower of shysters!

ELM327 · 01-04-2020 3:52pm

This moron again

SEPT 23 1989 · 01-04-2020 3:53pm

It good to hear other opinions even if you don't agree with very much they say

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 3:54pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

Fair dues to him on one hand if he can get elected from the NUI panel. But I've heard him in full flow and I can think of few other public representatives that are so 'in your face' as regards social conservatism. I'd respect people generally but I find him quite unlikable and objectionable in the way he carries debate.

most politicians are unlikable and objectionable

_Whimsical_ · 01-04-2020 3:55pm

I think his view points represent a silenced sector of society. Their perspective is not aired in the media at all so if there's a candidate who voices their concerns they will understandably rally hard behind him.
No one else will have particularly excited a strong base, they're all fairly bland.

It's been a strange few weeks. I wonder if overall voting numbers were down because people have been very distracted. I'm amazed that anyone noticed or cared that this election was happening. Leaflets dropped through my door and went straight to the bin I'm afraid.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 3:55pm

GLaDOS wrote: »

Only 34% turnout I read. A lot of people just don't care about the Seanad.

and who can blame them?

rgace · 01-04-2020 3:56pm

Remember when The Seanad was going to be reformed instead of disbanded. I wonder how that is going.

caff · 01-04-2020 3:58pm

I imagine it's to do with the register. Can't check it online and getting it updated isn't straightforward.
By the time most people had thought about checking where their ballot was to be sent to it was too late to update it.

Also 7th amendment was put in place back in 79 to expand the franchise, 40 years later and no government has legislated for it.

BarryD2 · 01-04-2020 3:59pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

most politicians are unlikable and objectionable

No you can see the good side in most, even those whose policies you don't agree with. Maybe Mullen has some likable qualities but he's always come across as dogmatic, abrasive and even rude to this citizen. I wouldn't give him the proverbial steam off my p***, let alone a vote

statesaver · 01-04-2020 4:00pm

Increased his 1st preference vote by over 2000, impressive.

01-04-2020 4:01pm

An undemocratic, yuppy, mickey mouse institution.

andekwarhola · 01-04-2020 4:01pm

irishgrover wrote: »

I fully agree with your statement. However its still funcking annoying that we as a nation are funding this stupid and undemocratic practice

Have to agree.

yosser hughes · 01-04-2020 4:03pm

irishgrover wrote: »

I fully agree with your statement. However its still funcking annoying that we as a nation are funding this stupid and undemocratic practice

True, we had our chance to get rid of it and the electorate voted to keep it, with vague aspirations of reform etc.
I have a vote in it and I voted to abolish it as I resent the fact that I have a vote but my Mother doesn't. It really rankles with me.
I can't stand the sight of some of them.
Giving out about a candidate you don't like, topping the poll is a bit childish though.

Rodney Bathgate · 01-04-2020 4:04pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

https://www.irishcatholic.com/senator-ronan-mullen-tops-poll-and-re-elected-to-senate/

Had a double take when I heard this earlier, is it an April Fools!: "Independent Senator Rónán Mullen has been successfully re-elected to the Seanad, topping the poll in the National University of Ireland panel."

Anyone looking at modern Ireland and aware of Rónán Mullen's egregious commentary on social matters must be baffled.

One presumes the graduates of the National University of Ireland are reasonably well educated and informed of such matters, so how on earth could they elect him top of the poll, indeed how could they elect him fullstop.

The only possible explanations I can think of are a) graduates of the National University of Ireland are far more conservative than the rest of society and/ or more likely b) only the religious conservative graduates bother voting.

Anyone else have an idea?

I had the same reaction when I learnt that Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett and all those looney SF candidates like Violet Ann Wynne (anti vaxxer) and Reada Cronin (anti semite) were elected as TDs.

Do we have a ‘recall’ system like the US?

At least tell me that Ivana Bacik lost her Seanad seat?

jimmyrustle · 01-04-2020 4:05pm

I regard myself as politically aware and in tune with the goings on of it.

I've only ever heard of Ronan Mullen when the hard left are having a whinge about him about something. Although to be fair you seldom if ever hear a word about any Seanad member for any reason.

Last I checked this morning it was looking like Ruth Coppinger wouldn't get a seat which is always welcome. I was about to ask if she gets to go back to Fingal CC and get back the seat that waster Matt Waine co opted when she went to the Dail (he of "the Irish tricolour is offensive to immigrants" speech), then I remembered he got booted out in the last council election.

With no elected office and no school teaching to go back to for the foreseeable, it would seem Ruth is now as welfare dependent as the dregs of society who vote for her.

Guy:Incognito · 01-04-2020 4:05pm

chicorytip wrote: »

I belong to that category myself. There are many, many more of like mind out there. What's wrong with that? .

Nothing, until your views start getting imposed on others.

Be as conservative as you like with your own life and let others be liberal with theirs. It wont affect you in the slightest.

jimmyrustle · 01-04-2020 4:06pm

I should point out I wouldn't vote for Ronan Mullen. I wouldn't vote for the majority of them, it seems bizarre that a failed TD can immediately try jump into this.

Rodney Bathgate · 01-04-2020 4:08pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

No you can see the good side in most, even those whose policies you don't agree with. Maybe Mullen has some likable qualities but he's always come across as dogmatic, abrasive and even rude to this citizen. I wouldn't give him the proverbial steam off my p***, let alone a vote

I don’t see the good side in Senator Norris with his letter writing to depend paedos etc. Wouldn’t give him the flies off my turds.

BarryD2 · 01-04-2020 4:12pm

Rodney Bathgate wrote: »

I don’t see the good side in Senator Norris with his letter writing to depend paedos etc. Wouldn’t give him the flies off my turds.

But you can look past that and see Norris as a generally warm, engaging, thoughtful & considerate person & public representative. We all make mistakes and have to live with them. I've never heard Norris trying to ram his ideology down peoples throats.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 4:16pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Nothing, until your views start getting imposed on others.

Be as conservative as you like with your own life and let others be liberal with theirs. It wont affect you in the slightest.

you won't get much politics done with that attitude

Guy:Incognito · 01-04-2020 4:18pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

you won't get much politics done with that attitude

God forbid the politics of stopping women deciding what to do with their own bodies or stopping gay people having rights gets interfered with. Wouldnt want to clear up time to actually get important **** done.

RobertKK · 01-04-2020 4:21pm

It is good that Ronan Mullen got elected, it shows we live in a democracy.

I don't get why some people want everyone to be like sheep singing from the same hymn sheet, we need people of varied opinion whether one agrees with them or not.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 4:21pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

God forbid the politics of stopping women deciding what to do with their own bodies or stopping gay people having rights gets interfered with. Wouldnt want to clear up time to actually get important **** done.

quite. but my point stands.

politics involves imposing your world view on people who didnt vote for you.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 4:23pm

RobertKK wrote: »

It is good that Ronan Mullen got elected, it shows we live in a democracy.

I don't get why some people want everyone to be like sheep singing from the same hymn sheet, we need people of varied opinion whether one agrees with them or not.

because to some, people who disagree with us socially or politically are no longer "wrong", they are evil.

Rodney Bathgate · 01-04-2020 4:26pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

But you can look past that and see Norris as a generally warm, engaging, thoughtful & considerate person & public representative. We all make mistakes and have to live with them. I've never heard Norris trying to ram his ideology down peoples throats.

No, I can’t. He is a pompous self serving leech who I have no time for. On long term ‘disability’ from his university job for decades yet he can serve as a full time senator and run for president? Pull the other one.

growleaves · 01-04-2020 4:27pm

But you can look past that and see Norris as a generally warm, engaging, thoughtful & considerate person & public representative. We all make mistakes and have to live with them. I've never heard Norris trying to ram his ideology down peoples throats.

I like and respect Norris too.

Political liberalism was presented to Irish society from the '60s onwards in such a monolithic way as normal - appearing in neighbouring nations, across all media including films and TV etc., and talked about as if it were just a fact of life that people don't think of it as 'pushing ideology'. Norris has campaigned for politically liberal causes all his life, starting when the society was still traditionally Catholic.

donkeykong5 · 01-04-2020 4:29pm

RobertKK wrote: »

It is good that Ronan Mullen got elected, it shows we live in a democracy.

I don't get why some people want everyone to be like sheep singing from the same hymn sheet, we need people of varied opinion whether one agrees with them or not.

Am delighted that ronan Mullen got elected.

01-04-2020 4:31pm

RobertKK wrote: »

It is good that Ronan Mullen got elected, it shows we live in a democracy.

I don't get why some people want everyone to be like sheep singing from the same hymn sheet, we need people of varied opinion whether one agrees with them or not.

There is nothing democratic about the Seanad. There is a reason he isn't in the Dail.

suicide_circus · 01-04-2020 4:32pm

growleaves wrote: »

I like and respect Norris too.

Political liberalism was presented to Irish society from the '60s onwards in such a monolithic way as normal - appearing in neighbouring nations, across all media including films and TV etc., and talked about as if it were just a fact of life that people don't think of it as 'pushing ideology'. Norris has campaigned for politically liberal causes all his life, starting when the society was still traditionally Catholic.

Is Ronan Mullen kind of the David Norris of Ireland in 2020? ie totally at odds with the moral majority?

growleaves · 01-04-2020 4:41pm

Is Ronan Mullen kind of the David Norris of Ireland in 2020? ie totally at odds with the moral majority?

I guess that both have had some courage to go against the dominant beliefs.

I don't think that traditional Catholicism can make a comeback. Especially after the last few weeks where the church closed the healing pools at Lourdes because of a disease (irony?). I think a future Christian society, if it was ever going to happen, could only be created by people with a totally different mentality, i.e. less conformist, more creative, possibly uninterested in politics and more purely 'spiritual'.

A lecturer in England said that Irish Catholicism was 'covertly materialist', in other words way too focused on political power and directing things.

Snake Plisken · 01-04-2020 4:46pm

Delighted Ronan got elected and increased his overall votes. Whilst I voted for the Seaned to be abolished as it is a waste of taxpayers money with the likes of Mary Black, Norris, Bachik and that SF lad Warfield, but I didn't go off and set up a dedicated thread to have a pop at them, like the OP decided to do with this thread about Senator Mullen. So suck it up OP, it was a democratic election Ronan won, you got upset and life moves on!

Guy:Incognito · 01-04-2020 4:50pm

RobertKK wrote: »

It is good that Ronan Mullen got elected, it shows we live in a democracy.
.

Surely everyone should have a vote in a democracy?

RobertKK wrote: »

I don't get why some people want everyone to be like sheep singing from the same hymn sheet, we need people of varied opinion whether one agrees with them or not.

No one needs anyone to tell them what they can do with their bodies or who they can love .

statesaver · 01-04-2020 4:58pm

So, does this mean Ruth is going back to teaching. A more frightening prospect surely

alan partridge aha · 01-04-2020 4:59pm

Delighted Mr Mullen got elected, poor auld Ruth may wave her thong in the kitchen.

listermint · 01-04-2020 5:02pm

doylefe wrote: »

The saltiness is evident.

I don't think it's salty I find it particularly galling that a load of priests can vote someone into he seanad just by having gone to a bloody college.

I find it equally galling that of load of anyone can vote anyone to the seanad just by having gone to a college.

This is not democratic and even less so given this places graduate makeup.

This system needs to be scrapped asap. Mullen has no democratic Mandate for his platform. None.

jimmyrustle · 01-04-2020 5:08pm

statesaver wrote: »

So, does this mean Ruth is going back to teaching. A more frightening prospect surely

Someone should really move to organise a protest to prevent this vile misandrist thug getting to run a classroom of impressionable youth.

Normally I wouldn't agree with people being sacked because of their personal views or politics. But Ruth thought it was good enough for George Hook and Paddy Jackson so I don't see why it shouldn't be applied to her.

jimmyrustle · 01-04-2020 5:10pm

Lisa Smyth must be delighted Lynn Boylan got in to fight her corner. Boylan did a fine job of deflection and fake news peddling the last time a lying Islamist radical got into bother abroad.

donkeykong5 · 01-04-2020 5:12pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

Is Ronan Mullen kind of the David Norris of Ireland in 2020? ie totally at odds with the moral majority?

Ronan Mullen is absolutely nothing like David Norris. That's why I am delighted that ronan Mullen is elected.

RobertKK · 01-04-2020 5:13pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Surely everyone should have a vote in a democracy?

No one needs anyone to tell them what they can do with their bodies or who they can love .

I agree it should be opened up to more people to vote in the seanad elections.

If you do not agree with someone, then you don't vote for them if you have a vote. We should not be encouraging censorship of opinions one disagrees with, it is not compatible with a liberal democracy.

Acosta · 01-04-2020 5:17pm

There was probably nobody else against Repeal that did their side more harm than he did over the entire campaign when he appeared on the final debate 24 hours before the referendum. He's an evangelical nutter, against anything remotely progressive that takes this country away from a time when the church had too much of a say on how we lived our lives, and the vast majority of Irish people have his number.

CtevenSrowder · 01-04-2020 5:34pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

Fair dues to him on one hand if he can get elected from the NUI panel. But I've heard him in full flow and I can think of few other public representatives that are so 'in your face' as regards social conservatism. I'd respect people generally but I find him quite unlikable and objectionable in the way he carries debate.

And would dare say I share that with most moderate citizens of this state. I can only assume that the valid poll for the NUI panel must be completely unrepresentative of and a small fraction of all those entitled to vote. Well shame on those who had a vote and failed to use it.

I say that also as someone not entitled to vote for the Seanad elections but who did vote back in the referendum to get rid of the whole shower of shysters!

Was this the lad that tried to falsely claim someone sexually abused someone else when he was in TCD? I think it might have been. Think there was a thread about it years ago

Rónán Mullen tops poll and re-elected to Senate

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