Stepping Stone candidates.

[adamirer]

I will be voting Mitchell, DeRossa and probably Ryan in the order in the elections.

I can't bring myself to vote for McDonald, DeBurca or Joe Higgins because they have run for TD in the last General Election and I believe will run for TD again at any subsequent General Election be it this year or 2012. If I vote for a candidate in an election, I expect them to respect that vote and see their term out, not to use it as a stepping stone to a more high profile job and second pension. Thats what I, personally, want from a candidate - not some sub doing the job for half their term.

For the same reasons I would not vote for in the

North: Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (FF), Padraig macLochlainn (SF) or Joe O'Reilly (FG)
East: Mairead McGuinness (FG) and big doubts over Thomas Byrne TD (FF)
South: Dan Boyle (Greens) and big doubts over Ned O'Keeffe TD (FF)

Each of these if elected, you'd expect to run for GE if one was called four months later. The worst examples are McDonald and McGuinness, who have already shown their voters from 2004 that they'd rather be in the Dail than Europe.

And before factual or some MLD apologist comes on here and says MLD ain't running in DC by-election - she's not running becuse she knows SF can't win a seat like that in a by-election. It's not some commitment to the MEP seat.

[topcat4]

Not a very valid point for not voting for someone, sometimes a person in Europe is better suited for national politics.

[adamirer]

It is when they their priority isnt the job they've asked us to allow them do, but rather to heighten their profile for a run at the Dail. I believe those listed above will drop the duties of an MEP if they can get elected to the Dail.

If you ask voters to trust you to do a job, you should do the job. Its disrespectful otherwise. I think O'Keeffee and Byrne and the Cope (all FF TDs) are just in to improve the FF vote and will not heavily contests due to the risk of a by-election, but the Cope already quit as MEP, prioritising the Dail, so he is already and example of a bad MEP candidate - as was Coveney (FG) in 2004.

[Ah Well]

I will be voting Mitchell, DeRossa and probably Ryan in the order in the elections.

I can't bring myself to vote for McDonald, DeBurca or Joe Higgins because they have run for TD in the last General Election and I believe will run for TD again at any subsequent General Election be it this year or 2012. If I vote for a candidate in an election, I expect them to respect that vote and see their term out, not to use it as a stepping stone to a more high profile job and second pension. Thats what I, personally, want from a candidate - not some sub doing the job for half their term.

For the same reasons I would not vote for in the

North: Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (FF), Padraig macLochlainn (SF) or Joe O'Reilly (FG)
East: Mairead McGuinness (FG) and big doubts over Thomas Byrne TD (FF)
South: Dan Boyle (Greens) and big doubts over Ned O'Keeffe TD (FF)

Each of these if elected, you'd expect to run for GE if one was called four months later. The worst examples are McDonald and McGuinness, who have already shown their voters from 2004 that they'd rather be in the Dail than Europe.

And before factual or some MLD apologist comes on here and says MLD ain't running in DC by-election - she's not running becuse she knows SF can't win a seat like that in a by-election. It's not some commitment to the MEP seat.

I can to an extent see the logic in that. I'm not that much in favour of people hopping and jumping all over the political landscape myself particularly. It's a bit like someone turning up for a job interview, lying through their teeth and getting the job only to feck off a few months later with the employer having to go to the trouble to interview candidates all over again.

Boyler failed to get elected in 07, ran in the back door when Bert left it unlocked and slightly ajar and is now off down the Euro yellow brick road.

Another thing I don't agree with is (particularly with the Local Elections coming up) is candidates standing for Town Councils and LEAs and people getting elected to stand on both ... that can mean someone else not being in one of those where it might prove beneficial plus a Cllr donating 50% of their time to each electoral area, when it would be better served if they were 100% donating their time to one particular electoral area

Don't even get me started on the I got co-opted into Daddy's Council Seat cos they moved on to better things slant

[mccafferty cat]

Realistically, in the extremely unlikely event that Paddy the Cope, Ned O Keeffe or Thomas Byrne get elected, there is no way they could run at the next General election.

How could they be elected an MEP, quit their Dail seat, provoke a byelection, only to return at the next General? They would be facing a serious credibility problem

[Victor Meldrew]

I agree with the OP. this sort of thing shows contempt for the whole MEP role and by extension, the EU.

However it pales into insignificance when you consider the message we send if we inflict Coughlan on the EU....

[topcat4]

I agree with the OP. this sort of thing shows contempt for the whole MEP role and by extension, the EU.

However it pales into insignificance when you consider the message we send if we inflict Coughlan on the EU....

At least Coughlan would be out of national politics, what a lightweight, I have never seen a politician some much out of her depth.

[Odyessus]

I will be voting Mitchell, DeRossa and probably Ryan in the order in the elections.

I can't bring myself to vote for McDonald, DeBurca or Joe Higgins because they have run for TD in the last General Election and I believe will run for TD again at any subsequent General Election be it this year or 2012. If I vote for a candidate in an election, I expect them to respect that vote and see their term out, not to use it as a stepping stone to a more high profile job and second pension. Thats what I, personally, want from a candidate - not some sub doing the job for half their term.

For the same reasons I would not vote for in the

North: Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (FF), Padraig macLochlainn (SF) or Joe O'Reilly (FG)
East: Mairead McGuinness (FG) and big doubts over Thomas Byrne TD (FF)
South: Dan Boyle (Greens) and big doubts over Ned O'Keeffe TD (FF)

Each of these if elected, you'd expect to run for GE if one was called four months later. The worst examples are McDonald and McGuinness, who have already shown their voters from 2004 that they'd rather be in the Dail than Europe.

And before factual or some MLD apologist comes on here and says MLD ain't running in DC by-election - she's not running becuse she knows SF can't win a seat like that in a by-election. It's not some commitment to the MEP seat.

Whatever about a stepping stone, I don't think De Rossa will see his term out if re-elected. He wants to retire as he is almost 70, but the Labour party strategy is that he gets re-elected and hands over the seat to Emer Costello when he retires shortly afterwards.

People should only vote for De Rossa if they are happy to have Costello as their M.E.P. Then again if they were, Gilmore would not have to have twisted De Rossa's arm to run again.

[adamirer]

Glad I'm not the only one who finds that unsettling!

[breakingnews]

I will be voting Mitchell, DeRossa and probably Ryan in the order in the elections.

I can't bring myself to vote for McDonald, DeBurca or Joe Higgins because they have run for TD in the last General Election and I believe will run for TD again at any subsequent General Election be it this year or 2012. If I vote for a candidate in an election, I expect them to respect that vote and see their term out, not to use it as a stepping stone to a more high profile job and second pension. Thats what I, personally, want from a candidate - not some sub doing the job for half their term.

For the same reasons I would not vote for in the

North: Pat the Cope Gallagher TD (FF), Padraig macLochlainn (SF) or Joe O'Reilly (FG)
East: Mairead McGuinness (FG) and big doubts over Thomas Byrne TD (FF)
South: Dan Boyle (Greens) and big doubts over Ned O'Keeffe TD (FF)

Each of these if elected, you'd expect to run for GE if one was called four months later. The worst examples are McDonald and McGuinness, who have already shown their voters from 2004 that they'd rather be in the Dail than Europe.

And before factual or some MLD apologist comes on here and says MLD ain't running in DC by-election - she's not running becuse she knows SF can't win a seat like that in a by-election. It's not some commitment to the MEP seat.

Agree completely with this. The MEP position is used as a publicity getter for future elections.

Isn't the power of the E.U. in the Commission anyway. MEPs are mere footsoldiers.