European Parliament Elections 2024 - Friday, June 7th

Now the dust has settled I’ve started to look at the depth of ability in elected candidates amongst the two main parties here.

Id traditionally be an FG supporter but they’ve solidly swung behind the celebrity candidate now. There appear to be only 2 capable FG selected MEPs. Doherty and Kelly. I’ve seen Kelly being interviewed in relation to European affairs so he at least looks like he knows what he’s doing. You could say they don’t have it the role of GAA president for showing up. He’s used to politics. Same with Doherty. All that has been notable about Maria Walshe lately is her absence from any media. I expect Carberry to follow suit as, from what I see, she has no qualifications to indicate she’ll be a useful addition whatsoever.

Tge FF side has Cowen, Andrews, and O’Murchu who is a celebrity candidate oof sorts. She seems more impressive though as she could I’m sure have been an RTE lifer but followed her own trail and left, qualified as a barrister and, while there seems to be a question on whether she’s still practicing, whether way, they don’t had it calls to the bar for nothing. In fact, if I was in Ireland NorthWest I’d hsfe voted anyone but FG. The lineup there was an insult to the electorate I think.

It looks like FG got lucky with McGuinness as she seems like a sharp operator and she went far I’d say Kelly can handle himself as well At a time when what’s being decided at European level is becoming far more important than it used to be, we should be sending people who can hit the ground running FG seem to be sending people now who can keep a seat warm for 5 years I’d have more confidence in one of the FF lineup being useful than FGs at this stage

Lol, I use the word loosely. Indeed she didn’t impress in her interviews this week. She hadn’t ever really impressed me but is capable in the sense she’s used to the political hand. In her case I fear it’s FG sending a troublesome character far away, out of the national glare. That’s another bad thing we do when selecting EU candidates.

I think in the selection process you can probably tell who will be proactive and who will largely keep a seat warm and do what they’re told. McGuinness I’m sure didn’t morph into an able dealer the minute she walked through the parliament doors. Certainly having media experience was no loss either.

I think there’s a line between name recognition getting someone across the line and them being good at the job. Cynthia has the media experience and the legal chops so could turn into a great choice. IMHO Maria Walshe should have been turfed out and Carberry should have been rejected. Walshe is just another back bencher and I don’t expect any different from Carberry. Not every one can get the big jobs but you have the power as an MEP to make a big contribution to the world. Case in point, the EU voting on USB-C and turning around Apple’s view. Carberry is a successful sports person but hasn’t ventured far beyond that. We’re a small country. We need to punch above our weight. I don’t see riding horses and dancing with the staff translating very well to political heavyweight boxing.

If I was McNamara I’d stay in the EU but he might be wary of losing national exposure.

As an aside, what was he story with the guy from the LE who stood in two areas for council seats and won both. There really should be a rule that you stand only fur one seat. He deprived another candidate of a seat.