Gormley Commits to Act on University Seanad Seats

[nui]

Following a meeting with John Gormley on Seanad reform in the university panels this afternoon, the following is the outcome summarised in a press release:

www.martinhogan.ie


Candidates Welcome Gormley’s Commitment to Act on Seanad Reform

Following a meeting with Minister Gormley today, four rival candidates, Brendan Price, Linda O’Shea Farren, Sean O’Connor and Martin Hogan, who are seeking action in relation to Seanad reform expressed satisfaction with the Minister’s commitment to act at the earliest opportunity.

As a former Seanad Eireann candidate himself (1992/ NUI election), the Minister recognised the concerns of the 4 candidates at the meeting in relation to the management of the registers and the difficulties of working with these registers in election campaigns.

In the short term, the Minister committed to assigning a senior official in his Department to oversee the development of an action plan for implementation of Seanad reform in relation to the 6 university seats. In the course of discussion, the Minister agreed to consider sending a representative to observe the counts that are scheduled to take place in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland for the NUI and Trinity College next Tuesday (24th July), to further assist in the development of his action plan.

This action plan will be completed by the end of the summer (2007), at which point the Minister agreed to brief the group on his plans and next steps.

As Minister for the Department of the Environment, Mr. Gormley’s concern about the potential for waste of public funds and the restoration of public confidence in the electoral process were at the forefront of the discussion. This was of particular concern to Green endorsed candidate Martin Hogan, who has been campaigning door to door for some time.

The delegation presented the Minister with the expert report by Experian commissioned by Seán O’Connor, which revealed inaccuracies of up to 57% in the Trinity Register and 67% in the NUI Register.

The fact that the NUI has not been complying with the requirement on the universities to add new graduates in its annual revisions in the way provided for under electoral law, which Linda O’Shea Farren referred to as a ‘haystack of legislation’, was highlighted by her at the meeting.

The discussions also covered concerns of Brendan Price in relation to the risk of impersonation in a situation of a flawed register and no traceability of voter identification.

The 4 candidates who met the Minister today also supported the representations from the USI seeking the implementation of the 7th Constitutional Amendment passed by the Irish people on the 5th July 1979, which the candidates maintain allows the Minister to broaden the franchise to other higher education graduates.

The Minister thanked all the interested parties who have contacted him with information and suggestions regarding reform of the Seanad and the better management of the electoral process. ‘It is important that we constantly strive to improve the workings of our democracy and ensure that the maximum number of voters have their voices heard in every election’, the Minister concluded.

[Insider2007]

Let me understand this: during an election a government minister chose to meet 4 candidates, but not the rest, to discuss the policy platform of those four candidates, in the process allowing those candidates then to gain publicity during the election by his actions.

Sweet Jesus. Just when you think Gormley cannot make a bigger fool of himself, he manages to do it.

He is perfectly entitled to raise the issue of Seanad reform, but it is absolutely wrong for a minister to intervene on an issue during an election campaign by meeting some candidates promoting an agenda while not meeting others. Ministers are never supposed to do that during Senate election campaigns. What sort of imbecile do we have as a minister?

[qtman]

Let me understand this: during an election a government minister chose to meet 4 candidates, but not the rest, to discuss the policy platform of those four candidates, in the process allowing those candidates then to gain publicity during the election by his actions.

Sweet Jesus. Just when you think Gormley cannot make a bigger fool of himself, he manages to do it.

He is perfectly entitled to raise the issue of Seanad reform, but it is absolutely wrong for a minister to intervene on an issue during an election campaign by meeting some candidates promoting an agenda while not meeting others. Ministers are never supposed to do that during Senate election campaigns. What sort of imbecile do we have as a minister?

Yes, its the End of the World as we know it.

[DOD]

What about non NUI graduates? I have no interest in voting on this little mickey mouse talking shop, but I don't see why I should not be allowed to because I went to UL. Original constituencies were put in place when there were a lot fewer colleges. How hard would it be to have seats allocated to UL and DCU as well as the ITs?

[Insider2007]

Let me understand this: during an election a government minister chose to meet 4 candidates, but not the rest, to discuss the policy platform of those four candidates, in the process allowing those candidates then to gain publicity during the election by his actions.

Sweet Jesus. Just when you think Gormley cannot make a bigger fool of himself, he manages to do it.

He is perfectly entitled to raise the issue of Seanad reform, but it is absolutely wrong for a minister to intervene on an issue during an election campaign by meeting some candidates promoting an agenda while not meeting others. Ministers are never supposed to do that during Senate election campaigns. What sort of imbecile do we have as a minister?

Yes, its the End of the World as we know it.

No. It is just yet another meddlesome imbecile interfering in the election. But given the Green Party's illegal attempt to demand the right to vet their councillors' ballot papers, nothing should surprise us anymore.

Of course if the Greens were in opposition, and Dick Roche as Environment Minister decided to publicly meet some candidates in the senate election, so drawing attention to their campaign agenda, while ignoring the other candidates, the Greens would be screaming their heads off from the high moral ground accusing Roche of interfering in the election and trying to help certain candidates electorally. People who thought McDowell's u-turn after u-turn on Bertie's money embodied hypocrisy can now sit back and enjoy the even greater hypocrisy of the Greens.

I'd love to have seen the response of the civil servants when they found their minister screwing up something else through interfering in something without checking.

[teachertime]

I did my master's in UL so I am with you on that. But from what it says above at least they seem to be pushing for other graduates to have the vote:

"The 4 candidates who met the Minister today also supported the representations from the USI seeking the implementation of the 7th Constitutional Amendment passed by the Irish people on the 5th July 1979, which the candidates maintain allows the Minister to broaden the franchise to other higher education graduates."

[KingKane]

It's a complete smokescreen and really just a chance for a last minute photo op for Martin and Sean.

I notice the figure of 67% inaccuracy for the NUI Seanad is stated as fact when the most that could be claimed is that the report (which no one else has been offered the opportunity to see by Sean, why is it not on his website? Curious that don't you think) suggests the register could be up to 67% inaccurate. Also, Sean suggest using SMS for voting and also private courier for delivering the paper ballots, perhaps he isn't aware that courier expect you to be home too to sign for things just like An Post only it would be even more expensive. This from the man claiming to be concerned about waste! I think sitting next to him on the VB show has warped Martin's brain as up to that point he seemed to have a head on his shoulders.

[DOD]

Feck it, there seems to be a lot of UL heads here. Going back there for my own masters in September actually.

[Insider2007]

It's a complete smokescreen and really just a chance for a last minute photo op for Martin and Sean

Correct. And one that the Minister for the Environment is never supposed to get involved in during Seanad elections.

[MookieBaylock]

why do the university's even have seats anymore?? how did they ever get them to begin with??? i went to college outside Ireland to a seat far more prestigious than either UCD or Trinity so why can't I vote?? how can some idiot who did ag science in UCD vote and an actuarial graduate from DCU not?? the whole thing is a joke...
why not reserve 6 seats for people who left school after their INTER or six for GAA players or 6 for nurses..
also why does trinity (a university so far down the world rankings that its veneer of superiority induces manic laughter in my heart) have equal weighting to the much broader NUI?? aside from the fact that UCD and UCG are better schools, why does one decaying college control 5 per cent of our upper house?? that's more than SF, the PD's or the Greens have in the Dail!?!?!?!??!? it's bizarre....
if gormley wants real seanad reform he should abolish it, if not, he could start with getting rid of the 6 uni seats - at least the councillors are themselves elected so that makes some sense...