Ever contacted your TD/Senator? did s/he always reply?

Essexboy · 20-09-2010 05:47PM #1

I emailed 3 TDs in June about a Bill before the Dáil: one replied, two did not.
yet according to Mark Mulqureen, Head of Communications, Houses of the Oireachtas "I would suggest that readers contact their member of the Oireachtas. They will discover members who are exceptionally accessible "
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2010/0903/1224278126343.html

Strangely, when I pointed out to him that at least 2 TDs were not exceptionally accessible, he did not answer me.

Was I just unfortunate in being ignored by the unDynamic Duo? I would like to know. Alternatively, you can tell Mark Mulqueen at Mark.Mulqueen@Oireachtas.ie

(PS Mark's starting salary in 2007 was €101,000)

prinz · 20-09-2010 06:02PM

A few years ago I emailed one of our politicians in Europe for info I needed for a thesis. The Irish MEP didn't bother acknowledging or replying despite an online plea from same man for people with questions to get in touch. There has been talk recently of this man running for the presidency :rolleyes:

I have also sent queries to a number of TD's. Got acknowledgements and one email back from an assistant. Heard nothing further.

On the other hand I sent a request to an MP in the UK not expecting anything (not being from the UK or his constituency) the man got back to me quickly and was a great help in sending me info, and the links to other things which were helpful, a true gent in all correspondance.

Ren2k7 · 20-09-2010 06:10PM

I got in contact with my FF TD about rubbish broadband under the NBS in my area. I got an acknowledgement from him or his assistant, i'm not sure which.

Haven't heard anything since. I guess they feel if they get back to you saying they've read your email then they've done enough for you.

Pat D. Almighty · 20-09-2010 06:18PM

I've emailed many politicians over the past 12 months. The only ones who got back to me were Eamon Gilmore, Enda Kenny, John Gormless and Dan Boyle.

P. Breathnach · 20-09-2010 06:22PM

I have never contacted a TD to ask for intervention on my behalf. That's because I think there are very few circumstances where it might be justifiable. If I need to deal with the public service, I can write letters or make phone calls -- in effect, go in through the front door.

I did ask two TDs, one a serving Minister and one a former Minister, for assistance with an academic project. Both gave me generous amounts of time.

mikemac · 20-09-2010 07:53PM

Contacted our local TD twice and got swift replies and followup phone calls, can't ask for more then that

But they are independent if it makes a difference.

Realy, if I wanted to contact a TD I'd write a letter instead of sending an email.
Yes it's 2010 and they all use email, just write a letter and you'll get a letter back

I do the same if I ever make a complaint against any company, the likes of Xtravision or UPC for example. No, I'm not a crank
Just getting better results with letters then bashing off a 30 second email.
Shows you are serious

bijapos · 20-09-2010 08:58PM

In the past 9 months or so.

Contacted all the Green TDs and Senators on proposed pension reform, all responded except Sargent. Got an invite off Niall O'Brolchain to meet to discuss the issue.

All 5 TDs in Dublin South on a planning issue, only Eamon Ryan replied with any sort of reply, got "your mail is being considered" off the others.

John Gormley on the proposed sewage charge, he replied saying the issue has not been decided.

All 5 Dun Laoghaire TDs on a planning issue, only Cuffe and Gilmore replied, both offered a meeting at a constituency clinic.

Alan Shatter twice, as former President of the Irish Council Against Blood Sports on his voting against the Stag Hunting Bill, no reply.

Cookie_Monster · 20-09-2010 09:12PM

I've emailed a few of them, always get back paper letter on Dail paper with all it gold seals and what not. Such a waste, I sent an email, I want an email back :mad:

Bottle_of_Smoke · 20-09-2010 09:20PM

I recently left a message for a TD about getting backpay on a jobseekers benefit claim. TD rang me back the next day and took my details. I also put an appeal in myself. The payment came through but I don't know if it was just on the wording of my appeal or if the TD made a case for me

bijapos · 20-09-2010 09:29PM

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I recently left a message for a TD about getting backpay on a jobseekers benefit claim. TD rang me back the next day and took my details. I also put an appeal in myself. The payment came through but I don't know if it was just on the wording of my appeal or if the TD made a case for me

I don't want to go OT but this is what I hate about this country, that a TD is expected/willing to do this ****e. Its no wonder we need 166 of them. You were either entitled to a payment or not, Social Welfare have procedures for dealing with this. If the TD had any way in influencing a decision then thats worse.

goose2005 · 20-09-2010 10:11PM

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

I recently left a message for a TD about getting backpay on a jobseekers benefit claim. TD rang me back the next day and took my details. I also put an appeal in myself. The payment came through but I don't know if it was just on the wording of my appeal or if the TD made a case for me

You do realise that a TD is a legislator - a member of the national parliament, tasked with passing laws?

Eliot Rosewater · 20-09-2010 10:20PM

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I did ask two TDs, one a serving Minister and one a former Minister, for assistance with an academic project. Both gave me generous amounts of time.

You've tickled my curiosity - would it be too audacious of me to ask what kind of academic project required the assistance of the ministers?

thebaldsoprano · 20-09-2010 10:40PM

Yep, I emailed my local TDs a couple of times in the last three years about some of the more objectionable Government decisions. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised with both the content and speed of their replies. FF/GP ones smacked of being written by a press secretary, but it'd be unreasonable to expect them to personally reply to every inquiry about a contentious issue.

irishgrover · 20-09-2010 10:52PM

I've mailed a few of them in my time. Not specifically looking for something, mostly just commenting on various different national stances etc.
The only one to get back to me each and every time is Ciaran cannon, senator, ex pd, currently FG. He even phoned me once. ( am assuming he wants to me my TD at next election.
By coincidence I emailed him, Enda K and other FG reps in Galway today stating that drunk drivers were scum,, as were those who facilitated drunk drivers, and suggested there were morally deficient and had lost all right to have any valid moral opinion on anything. So probably wont get an answer to that one too quickly ....

Focalbhach · 20-09-2010 11:19PM

I've emailed one of my local TDs on two or three occasions. He has always replied (by email) within a day or two, with a considered reply.

johnnyskeleton · 20-09-2010 11:26PM

I emailed a Green TD about the Home Choice Loan Scheme being put in place to keep property prices artificially high (when a Green manifesto argument was that they would make property prices more affordable if in power).

Emailed with some detail about the terms of the scheme and got a boiler plate response saying that the matter hadn't been finalised. A few days later the terms were finalised and I followed up with no response. I emailed again expressing dissapointment at getting no reply, still no response.

Of course, that was back in the heady days of early September, 2008 when the HCL Scheme was the biggest concern.

Aard · 21-09-2010 08:21AM

I've contacted several TDs about Bills in the past year, and managed to get a meeting with one within about two weeks of contacting. All have acknowledged receiving emails, and most replied personally. I've found the same with local councillors.

Never would I dream of contacting a TD about a personal issue, per se.

djpbarry · 21-09-2010 03:19PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

Realy, if I wanted to contact a TD I'd write a letter instead of sending an email.
...
I do the same if I ever make a complaint against any company, the likes of Xtravision or UPC for example.

I'd second that. Even a poorly written letter has a much greater impact than an articulate email.

As for contacting TD's, I've contacted several and, generally speaking, they're pretty quick to get back to me. Councillors, however, tend to be a little less reliable.

mgmt · 21-09-2010 04:13PM

Is it true that politicians look up your voting attendance record before bothering with you?

i.e. if you havn't voted in the past 5 elections then they wont take your query seriously

Nightwish · 21-09-2010 05:19PM

I've contacted a few of my local TD's on issues that I felt strongly about. I got standard "your issue is important to me" responses from Mary White (G) and John McGuinness (FF) and subsequently put on their mailing lists. I was ignored by Phil Hogan (FG) and got the most in depth, comprehensive replies from Sen John Paul Phelan (FG).

PomBear · 21-09-2010 05:24PM

I asked Frank Fahey (FF TD) what was the deal with FF still calling themselves 'the Republican Party', he didn't reply

Dun Muirigh · 21-09-2010 11:09PM

I have contacted over the past few years two TDs - Emmet Stagg (Lab) and Aine Brady (FF), and one MLA - Basil McCrea (UUP), and have received responses (not all to my satisfaction however) from all three.

Having worked as an intern for both a TD and a Senator, I've seen that it could be any one of the politicians' aides replying, but sure as long as you get sorted that's all that matters!

Manach · 21-09-2010 11:24PM

Over a local road matter contacted local TDs. Best responses in order: FG, FF, Lab. On another matter, contained MEP Mr. de Rossa. Whilst I'd disagreed with the import of his reply, it was polite, long and well reasoned by him.

djpbarry · 22-09-2010 08:30AM

Manach wrote: »

Over a local road matter contacted local TDs.

Why?

bamboozle · 22-09-2010 08:48AM

Manach wrote: »

Over a local road matter contacted local TDs. Best responses in order: FG, FF, Lab. On another matter, contained MEP Mr. de Rossa. Whilst I'd disagreed with the import of his reply, it was polite, long and well reasoned by him.

back in college i contacted all the Irish MEP's on a thesis i was doing, Pat the cope Gallagher and De Rossa were extrememly helpful.

I frequently contact my local TD's and councillors when stories break in the media which infuriate me (Pension received by Pat Neary, FAS, Bertie's lack of tax clearance certificate etc etc) Finian McGrath and Richard Bruton are always responsive, Sean Haughey has replied once to about 10 emails sent, the real beauty i received was by a local FF councillor Deirdre Heney who pointed out the great role played by FF in the irish economy over the previous 10 years....considering she seemed unaware of the recession and its reason's i havent bothered contacting her since!

Essexboy · 22-09-2010 02:32PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I've emailed a few of them, always get back paper letter on Dail paper with all it gold seals and what not. Such a waste, I sent an email, I want an email back :mad:

My view exactly. Although the TD I would have regarded as least computer-literate was the one who replied (bright assistant?).

Just to make one point clear. I emailed the trio about a bill before the Dáil, not a personal matter - don't see the point in that.

Nehaxak · 23-09-2010 03:17AM

In my own experience, apart from Labour politicians and councillors, if you want to contact a TD/minister and hope for a reply from them, do it via phone and follow up with a snail mail letter.

FG never bother to reply, complete waste of time even bothering to contact them, self serving selfish individuals imho and pretty uninspired, unhelpful and somewhat ignorant assistants working for them.

As for Labour, they seem more on the ball, will mostly reply personally themselves via snail mail, email, phone, text message (!), meet with you in person and even via their facebook if they happen to have one. More of a younger generation showing through in Labour it seems with more of a willingness to embrace technology or revert back to the age old best choice of one on one conversations via phone or in person. They also seem to be more willing at least to take your issues on-board and action them if needed.

Green Party and SF - Never bothered to ask anything of either of them so I can't comment.

amacachi · 23-09-2010 05:55AM

Emailed the local FG TD a while back and got a reply in under an hour. I was almost annoyed at the fact that he replied so quickly, as though he had nothing else on at 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon. :pac: He also gave me his mobile number in case I wished to discuss the matter further, but I saw there was little point in doing so.

Have to ask Nehaxak just how many FG TDs have you needed to contact? Seems like you're painting some broad lines.

djpbarry · 24-09-2010 07:59AM

Nehaxak wrote: »

FG never bother to reply, complete waste of time even bothering to contact them, self serving selfish individuals imho and pretty uninspired, unhelpful and somewhat ignorant assistants working for them.

Totally disagree - I lived in Richard Bruton's constituency for a while and I never had any trouble getting hold of him (although, in my experience, I would say that is true of most TD's).

bamboozle · 24-09-2010 08:54AM

Nehaxak wrote: »

In my own experience, apart from Labour politicians and councillors, if you want to contact a TD/minister and hope for a reply from them, do it via phone and follow up with a snail mail letter.

FG never bother to reply, complete waste of time even bothering to contact them, self serving selfish individuals imho and pretty uninspired, unhelpful and somewhat ignorant assistants working for them.

As for Labour, they seem more on the ball, will mostly reply personally themselves via snail mail, email, phone, text message (!), meet with you in person and even via their facebook if they happen to have one. More of a younger generation showing through in Labour it seems with more of a willingness to embrace technology or revert back to the age old best choice of one on one conversations via phone or in person. They also seem to be more willing at least to take your issues on-board and action them if needed.

Green Party and SF - Never bothered to ask anything of either of them so I can't comment.

in my experience FG have been quick to response.

groom · 24-09-2010 04:27PM

I've contacted Trevor Sergeant on a couple of occasions and always gotten a considerable reply

Ever contacted your TD/Senator? did s/he always reply?

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