Jim McDaid resigns as TD

Riskymove · 02-11-2010 09:41AM #1

now on www.rte.ie

Arfan · 02-11-2010 09:47AM

Want to posit an opinion or something of an actual story in order to bump this up to a legitimate post? Perhaps even a brief summary of who Jim McDaid was.

Sleepy · 02-11-2010 09:50AM

McDaid's resignation doesn't change anything does it? Just leaves Donegal further unrepresented...

johngalway · 02-11-2010 09:51AM

I don't like FF, or what McDaid did in the past *coughdrivingcough*. But I found a grudging respect for some of the things he had to say and his stand of losing the whip over the cervical cancer stunt the Govt. pulled.

I don't think this Govt will get as far as actually getting the budget through.

seamus · 02-11-2010 09:52AM

Jaysus, a bit of content would be good here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1102/mcdaid.html

Jim McDaid left FF a couple of years back after abstaining on a vote about cervical cancer vaccines.

He's not been with FF, so there's no loss for them there, but it's another bye-election where the opposition's numbers may grow.

Riskymove · 02-11-2010 09:52AM

He is a former FF TD for Donegal North-East

there are now 4 vacant seats in the Dáil so one more by-election in the works if not a General Election

Lapin · 02-11-2010 09:55AM

Just heard it on Newstalk.

Jim McDaid for those who have recently arrived from Mars was TD for Donegal North East. Formerly of Fianna Fáil he lost the party whip over his refusal to back the government over their cancer care programme.

His departure now leaves four vacant seats in the Dáil (2 of them in Donegal) and a new headache for the government.

whatawaster · 02-11-2010 10:03AM

He's been voting with the government though, hasn't he?

Liam Byrne · 02-11-2010 10:05AM

No loss, given his track record.

He's just desperately trying to cover his ass and regain some much-needed credibility in time for the next election.

Hopefully the people of Donegal will have more cop on, but unfortunately you never know in this country.

bijapos · 02-11-2010 10:11AM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

He's just desperately trying to cover his ass and regain some much-needed credibility in time for the next election.

Hopefully the people of Donegal will have more cop on, but unfortunately you never know in this country.

Why would he resign his seat and then run again at the next election ? Makes no sense.

I cant see him doing anything but leave national politics for the foreseeable future.

the groutch · 02-11-2010 10:11AM

Sleepy wrote: »

McDaid's resignation doesn't change anything does it? Just leaves Donegal further unrepresented...

the opposition now only need 81 votes to oppose a bill, previously 81 would be a tie and the have CC passing it

Lenny Lovett · 02-11-2010 10:12AM

Sleepy wrote: »

McDaid's resignation doesn't change anything does it? Just leaves Donegal further unrepresented...

Yes! It changes a lot and makes the Government's margin extremely tight now. The death knell possibly....

Arfan wrote: »

Want to posit an opinion or something of an actual story in order to bump this up to a legitimate post? Perhaps even a brief summary of who Jim McDaid was.

You think there's people reading/posting here who don't know who he is?:rolleyes: Give us some credit and don't be so patronising...

Liam Byrne wrote: »

No loss, given his track record.

To be fair to him, he's probably just made a huge contribution by resigning. He's shoved them a good few strides closer to the edge of the cliff.

Lapin · 02-11-2010 10:13AM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

No loss, given his track record.

He's just desperately trying to cover his ass and regain some much-needed credibility in time for the next election.

Hopefully the people of Donegal will have more cop on, but unfortunately you never know in this country.

Why would he be trying to regain credibility in time for an election he won't be standing in ?

Permabear · 02-11-2010 10:20AM

This post has been deleted.

dicknorris · 02-11-2010 10:28AM

Why would he resign now ? There was no race meeting on yesterday was there

senordingdong · 02-11-2010 10:34AM

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

Yes! It changes a lot and makes the Government's margin extremely tight now. The death knell possibly....

That's a good point.

But on the other hand it paints (another) bad picture for the govt.
Their support is falling fast and they don't seem interested in re-gaining any of it.

The current politcal climate doesn't make a lick of sense.

Lapin · 02-11-2010 10:38AM

dicknorris wrote: »

Why would he resign now ? There was no race meeting on yesterday was there

Was he at The Melbourne Cup? 4 o clock this morning SDT, (Standard Donegal Time).

If he's back already, he'll probably face speeding charges

whatawaster · 02-11-2010 11:02AM

This is fascinating. The attendance record of TDs at Dail votes in 2009

http://www.herald.ie/multimedia/archive/00568/TD_attendance__data_568048a.pdf

By far the lowest are:

Jim McDaid - 17%
Bertie Ahern - 30%
John O'Donoghue - 44%
Brian Cowen - 48% - as Taoiseach, this is probably understandably low

This an absolute scandal. McDaid should not be resigning. He should have been sacked.

TDs should only be paid based on the % of votes they attend. Obviously Ministerial duties, committee duties or certified leave is a valid excuse.

JonathanAnon · 02-11-2010 11:06AM

whatawaster wrote: »

By far the lowest are:
Jim McDaid - 17%
Bertie Ahern - 30%
John O'Donoghue - 44%
Brian Cowen - 48% - as Taoiseach, this is probably understandably low

They should have made him Ceann Comhairle, that would have sorted him... Very strange time in the Dáil term to hand in his resignation.. wonder is there more to it..

whatawaster · 02-11-2010 11:08AM

JonathanAnon wrote: »

They should have made him Ceann Comhairle, that would have sorted him... Very strange time in the Dáil term to hand in his resignation.. wonder is there more to it..

this post is from Politics.ie

"Mc Daid along with all other politicans were at a Save Donegal Health Services meeting last night and he got a roasting from the general public re his support for the Govt and its savage cuts to the Health Service.
He seemed shaken and somewhat shocked and suggested he would not support the govt in the budget."

Could have something to do with the timing

Amhran Nua · 02-11-2010 11:09AM

johngalway wrote: »

I don't think this Govt will get as far as actually getting the budget through.

Its a very interesting question. If a couple more TDs feel that pushing the budget through will result in them losing their seats, you might see national altruism going out the window and the mighty parish pump rearing its head again, this time against FF's interests. The real question though is will that be better for the country as a whole or worse - will the succession have the willpower to press ahead with what are likely to be quite unpopular cuts? Is there any other option at this stage?

sollar · 02-11-2010 11:36AM

whatawaster wrote: »

This is fascinating. The attendance record of TDs at Dail votes in 2009

http://www.herald.ie/multimedia/archive/00568/TD_attendance__data_568048a.pdf

By far the lowest are:

Jim McDaid - 17%
This an absolute scandal. McDaid should not be resigning. He should have been sacked.

TDs should only be paid based on the % of votes they attend. Obviously Ministerial duties, committee duties or certified leave is a valid excuse.

I wonder did he claim 17% of his yearly expenses or did he claim the whole whack?

Liam Byrne · 02-11-2010 11:54AM

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

OK - and thanks; missed that part.

In that case it may actually be the first salvo in the return of power to actual people; if he got such a roasting last night and it caused him to resign, is there any chance that we can get last night's attendees to arrive at every public meeting at which a con-man sorry, government minister is scheduled to appear ?

Imagine if those people had been at Harney's meeting instead of the paint-thrower!

steelcityblues · 02-11-2010 12:20PM

This is a bit of a cop out! He could have stayed on to vote against the upcoming Budget, and therefore making a real statement!

The by-election will probably be scheduled for 2050!

North_West_Art · 02-11-2010 12:22PM

whatawaster wrote: »

this post is from Politics.ie

"Mc Daid along with all other politicans were at a Save Donegal Health Services meeting last night and he got a roasting from the general public re his support for the Govt and its savage cuts to the Health Service.
He seemed shaken and somewhat shocked and suggested he would not support the govt in the budget."

Could have something to do with the timing

Jim McDaid refused to back the government on their plan to scrap the cervical cancer vaccine on ethical grounds, becasue he is a practicing and well respected GP. I imagine his decission to quit is based on similar ethical grounds with the government's plans to make huge cuts to dept of health funding. He will probably continue to practice as a GP in Letterkenny and leave politics completely behind now.

senordingdong · 02-11-2010 12:22PM

He probably has involvment in some sort of scandal that is about to be un-earthed.

hallelujajordan · 02-11-2010 12:25PM

whatawaster wrote: »

this post is from Politics.ie

"Mc Daid along with all other politicans were at a Save Donegal Health Services meeting last night and he got a roasting from the general public re his support for the Govt and its savage cuts to the Health Service.
He seemed shaken and somewhat shocked and suggested he would not support the govt in the budget."

Could have something to do with the timing

Odd that he is resigning his seat in that case. He would have had twice the impact had he voted with the opposition rather than just give up his vote completely ? ?

I'm sure there is a backstory here somewhere; the timing is very odd

Speak Now · 02-11-2010 12:25PM

Riskymove wrote: »

He is a former FF TD for Donegal North-East

there are now 4 vacant seats in the Dáil so one more by-election in the works if not a General Election

Is it another by-election or just 2 seats up for grabs if they ever get around to holding one?

Actually maybe it's a parting shot from Mcdaid. By-election will have to be called now in Donegal North-Eat with 2 TD's down.

They'll have to hold the other 2 then as well.

mikemac · 02-11-2010 12:25PM

Liam Byrne wrote: »

He's just desperately trying to cover his ass and regain some much-needed credibility in time for the next election.

Hopefully the people of Donegal will have more cop on, but unfortunately you never know in this country.

Can't agree

You won't see McDaid in any more elections
He's 61, has a successful GP practice and is finished with public life

There is no devious tactic for the next election here

edit: reading Page 1, you already got replies

Essexboy · 02-11-2010 12:41PM

senordingdong wrote: »

He probably has involvment in some sort of scandal that is about to be un-earthed.

Hard to imagine a scandal which would damage him in Donegal. Even being found in bed with a dead woman or a live horse would not prevent his re-election up there!

Riskymove · 02-11-2010 12:42PM

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Is it another by-election or just 2 seats up for grabs if they ever get around to holding one?

Actually maybe it's a parting shot from Mcdaid. By-election will have to be called now in Donegal North-Eat with 2 TD's down.

They'll have to hold the other 2 then as well.

2 different constituencies

Jim McDaid resigns as TD

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