Pembroke-Rathmines Local Election 2009

[CorkHurler]

Having spoken to a number of people in the ward today I will stick my neck out and say Murphy will top the poll for FG despite the attempted political mugging of him in the phoenix article (for which much of the information was planted by party colleagues). According to some in FG, his campaign is going so well that they are even looking ahead to a possible by election if the government does a "Dick Burke" and appoints Ruairi Quinn as EU Commissioner in the autumn. They think that Cllr Lacey would probably get the Labour nomination ahead of Oisin Quinn with the support of Freehill and Humphreys at convention and that they would edge him out the by election. Time will tell.

[cllr]

Having spoken to a number of people in the ward today I will stick my neck out and say Murphy will top the poll for FG despite the attempted political mugging of him in the phoenix article (for which much of the information was planted by party colleagues). According to some in FG, his campaign is going so well that they are even looking ahead to a possible by election if the government does a "Dick Burke" and appoints Ruairi Quinn as EU Commissioner in the autumn. They think that Cllr Lacey would probably get the Labour nomination ahead of Oisin Quinn with the support of Freehill and Humphreys at convention and that they would edge him out the by election. Time will tell.

The conspiratorial mind boggles. My commitment and interest is in and to Local Government. If this posting is saying that Mr Murphy or any of the other candiates wants to be a Councillor so that he can be a TD I hope the electorate bears that in mind.

All I can say is that I was out in Ranelagh tonight - not part of my existing ward - and was very encouraged.

My prediction now stands at Mc Cartan FG to top poll, followed by Quinn and then Wynne or Murphy,( cannot decide on that one), Freehill then home comfortably with Donnelly next, I hope then to beat Robins for final seat

[Paddylekker]

If a councillor didn't want to be a TD I'd be far less inclined to vote for them.

Anyway, I'm sitting in Rathgar still waiting to be canvassed. No-one has been knocking on doors up here at all.

[cllr]

If a councillor didn't want to be a TD I'd be far less inclined to vote for them.

Anyway, I'm sitting in Rathgar still waiting to be canvassed. No-one has been knocking on doors up here at all.

That seems to me to be an odd view. It is a bit like saying I would not vote for a TD who did not wish to be an MEP. As a Councillor I have a commitment to Local Government I have never made any secret of that. I happen to believe that the best way of transforming Irish society is through a radical reform of Local Government.

Paddy please contact me directly and I will happily engage for as long as you wish on tihis point.

Moving up through Ranelagh at present and will be in Rathgar next week - not sure which night yet but it is scheduled for two nights next week next week.

[Fairplay]

Noticed a garret tubridy poster on the town side of charlemont bridge today and said to myself isn't this South Inner City consituency?

Just a few metres further on saw posters of the lovely lady candidates of south inner city - Vicky crosbie, Sarah Ryan and the Fg lady whose name i have forgotten.

Which of the candidates do not know the constituency boundaries? Where does Pembroke rathmines stop? Is it an offense to put up posters in the wrong constituency - after all you are taking up lampole space from those who are actually standing there?

Incidentally while Garret T does have the FF logo on his posters he is not using the traditional FF colours, green, white and gold (as the South inner city girls are) so unless you are up close and see the FF logo you wouldn't know which party he's standing for.. he has a little bit of green on the poster but its more like the green party green.

[mccafferty cat]

Is it an offense to put up posters in the wrong constituency - after all you are taking up lampole space from those who are actually standing there?

There's an Independent running in Clontarf, whose expensive campaign is being funded entirely by Finian McGrath TD.

He has posters lining either side of Westland Row

[clairec]

If a councillor didn't want to be a TD I'd be far less inclined to vote for them.

Anyway, I'm sitting in Rathgar still waiting to be canvassed. No-one has been knocking on doors up here at all.

Rathgar here too. I've had no canvassers and the last piece of literature I received was something from Edie Wynne more than a month ago.

[Paddylekker]

That seems to me to be an odd view. It is a bit like saying I would not vote for a TD who did not wish to be an MEP. As a Councillor I have a commitment to Local Government I have never made any secret of that. I happen to believe that the best way of transforming Irish society is through a radical reform of Local Government.

Paddy please contact me directly and I will happily engage for as long as you wish on tihis point.

Moving up through Ranelagh at present and will be in Rathgar next week - not sure which night yet but it is scheduled for two nights next week next week.

I don't think it's a particularly odd view and I'm not arguing that I definitely wouldn't vote for someone who disavowed any intention of running for the Dail. I'm not sure that the TD to MEP analogy is correct either.

Surely the only people who can radically reform Local Government are TDs and the executive that is elected from their number. No?

While I don't doubt your commitment to Local Government at all I just think there is significant merit in testing someone out at local level before unleashing them on the national parliament.

Anyway, get up to Rathgar soon. There's a Labour vote in our house and she has pledged to give her first preference to the first candidate to canvass her.

I may be slightly more difficult to convince.

[cllr]

I'll do my best!

[councillor]

I don't think it's a particularly odd view and I'm not arguing that I definitely wouldn't vote for someone who disavowed any intention of running for the Dail. I'm not sure that the TD to MEP analogy is correct either.

Surely the only people who can radically reform Local Government are TDs and the executive that is elected from their number. No?

While I don't doubt your commitment to Local Government at all I just think there is significant merit in testing someone out at local level before unleashing them on the national parliament.

Anyway, get up to Rathgar soon. There's a Labour vote in our house and she has pledged to give her first preference to the first candidate to canvass her.

I may be slightly more difficult to convince.

"first candidate to canvass her"???? is she a simpleton?