Ciaran Cannon, cross the floor or resign?

[RBinge]

The point of the Seanad is act as a check against the Dail and the executive. Not much of a check if people are bound to take the whip in any circumstances.

It was a shabby deal that put Canon in the Seanad (he is only there so FF can claim they are not responsible for Harney's destruction of the health service).

Bertie played politics with the Seanad and now it might bite the man who shafted him.

Brian Hayes entered the Seanad originally in a cunning piece of scullduggery when Gordon Wilson was seeming replaced with Sam McCaughtry (Wilson had been a nominee of the taoiseach - but Hayes replaced him and Sam had to face a bye election that Hayes could not have won.

Its politics. I Think Conor Lenihan making a nazi salute on the floor of the Dail is a slightly stronger reason for being chucked out of parliament than a senator voting with his conscience

Oh, I dunno. Brian Hayes may have been called a fascist on one night but Conor Lenihan will always be Conor Lenihan.

[RBinge]

There's a HUGE difference between Behan and other elected TDs and Senators and Cannon. Cannon was not elected to the Senate. He does not have a public mandate to be there. He is an appointee of the Taosieach and his position in the Senate was only secured as part of the deal which saw the PDs join the government. If the PDs fold, he should resign or support the government. If the PDs continue and he leaves them, he is morally obliged to resign as he would be in the Senate under false pretences.

I'd be obliged if you could show me in the Constitution where any Senator must do as you bid them to do.

A Constitutional referendum would be necessary.

However, there is a much broader issue of Senate Reform, which is a much bigger and more urgent issue than DC's desire to give a public slap to a potential member of Fine Gael.

[retailx]

If the PDs wrap up (or even if they don't it would seem) Ciaran Cannon is expected to join Fine Gael.

But should he do that? A Senator for just over a year, he's a Senator appointed by An Taoiseach on the basis of the PDs supporting the Government.

So if he no longer wants to be a PD (whether or not the PDs decide if they want to continue to be) - should Ciaran Cannon resign his Seanad seat and lead Brian Cowen appoint a replacement?

Not sure why you keep pushing this issue, David; you first posted this as a topic on the PD forum and when you failed to drum up debate there on the issue - you have decided to start same thread on the FG forum! And with a scientific poll to boot!

Perhaps, your links with Libertas are influencing your judgement. Are the rumours true that Mr. Ganley has been making unofficial approaches to PD councillors with regard to the next general election. Also, interesting to note Mr. Ganley lives in Ciaran Cannons electoral constituency of Galway East. Perhaps Libertas made an approach to Cannon and he turned them down. Maybe you can tell us more?

This is a thread on an opinion and my opinion is that Cannon is free to cross the floor if he should wish. I do not agree with the system of Taioseach's appointments but that is the system we have.

Fianna Fail have abused this system for their own ends in recent years. Perhaps it is time the system bit back! The most glaring and unreported abuse of this system was when Bertie Ahern appointed four senators in the last days (or was it day?) of the 22nd senate after 4 sitting senators won seats in the new dail. Among them Sean Dorgan, General Secretary of Fianna Fail. I think he and the others spent literally days in the senate...now why would Bertie have done that?

[DavidMurphyperson]

Would we have an government minority in the Seanad if he does cross the floor?

I assume the PD Councillors and TDs voted for FFers in the Seanad election, considering what a tough election it was for them I'm sure their votes brought home at least 1 FF seat in the end. So sounds fair to me that he stays

[Myles_per_hour]

Well Joe Behan has a democratic mandate from the people of Wicklow. Senator Ciaran Cannon was nominated by An Taoiseach on the advice/reccommendation of the PDs as part of a deal on their support for the Government. If that support no longer exists, is he entitled to the seat in the Seanad?

Yes he is.

i. Cannon has a democratic mandate. He was appointed to office under the rules laid down by the people in their constitution enacted by them by a referendum, and selected by the head of government in accordance with the constitution. He has the same constitutional mandate as every other Oireachtas member. The people set the rules, not p.ie, and not you or I.

ii. The constitution does not recognise political parties. Receiving a nomination is not linked in any way to party membership or voting commitment. The PDs wanted someone appointed. They suggested him. But he, and all taoiseach's nominees, are appointed as individuals and have the same freedom as any other member of a parliament in either house to change party or vote any way they want. No-one in our parliament is required as a condition of their seat to be in party X and vote Y. Nominees are appointed as individuals for a term of office. They are perfectly free to change party allegiances as often as they wish.

[ajcahill]

why should he, the Seanad is mainly appointments of the Taoiseach & the parties, with a few "elected" by those lucky enough to have a degree from a handful of colleges. The Joe Duffy radio show text poll or euro star as a method of election to the Seanad would be an great improvement.

[Leveller on the Liffey]

No, Ciarán Cannon shouldn't resign - tough luck, Fianna Fáil, your patronage could be thrown back in your faces.
Maybe this will teach FF (and FG) a lesson about the dangers of handing Seanad seats to non-entities with few political principles.

[myk]

If a FF/PD/Green member is appointed to a state board, and he/she leaves that party, should they also resign from the state board?

Similarly, if a Taoiseach appoints someone to a state board because they are a friends, and they later fall out with the Taoiseach, should they resign from the state board?

[Myles_per_hour]

If a FF/PD/Green member is appointed to a state board, and he/she leaves that party, should they also resign from the state board?

Similarly, if a Taoiseach appoints someone to a state board because they are a friends, and they later fall out with the Taoiseach, should they resign from the state board?

An interesting point.

[EoinMn]

This thread got a mention in the Galway Independent.
Canon under fire - Galway Independent