Should Labour and Fine Gael nominate non-party candidates for the 2 Seanad Elections?

[myk]

I was reading a few political blogs this morning and thinking about the upcoming Seanad By-elections.

The government parties are likely to nominate party members for the two Seanad by-elections. Probably either 2 FF members who would be candidates in the next general election or 1 FF member and 1 Green member.

If either of the main opposition parties had the votes they would likely nominate members of their own parties to stand, and they may still nominate people who they wish to field in future general elections.

I think Labour and Fine Gael should agree to nominate two non-party candidates for the vacancies. Jim Higgins after the 2004 Euro elections held his Seanad seat as well as his seat in Euro elections. He offered at the time to vacate his Seanad seat in favour of a representative of the Irish diaspora. However he was unable to agree this with the relevant parties so the idea never came to fruitition.

Even if Labour and Fine Gael nominate a non-party candidate such a candidate may still lose. However such a candidate would have a better chance of getting support from independent, FF and Green voters than a party candidate. It could potentially add new independent voices in the Seanad to balance out the would-be TDs, and it could either bring new expertise to the Oireachtas or give a stronger voice to certain groups suffering in Ireland today.

Potential candidates could be;

Prof John Crown; cancer specialist and critic of the HSE
a representative of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed
someone with business or economic expertise and experience
some from the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland or someone like Orla Tinsley or another spokesperson for Health Service users

do people think such an idea has merit? any other suggestions of candidates?

[Question R24U]

What a vote of confidence in FG and Labour!
It would have to be someone with a national profile (feck the diaspora) of such standing that the public, as expressed through the newspapers, approve in overwhelming support. Is Crown an Irish citizen?

[fgrep]

Excellent idea. It also could apply to Cowan, gives him an opportunity to rise above partisan politics.

[mespilroadflats]

by-elections?

[myk]

by-elections?

Yes, there will be two separate by-elections to fill the Seanad seats that were occupied by Alan Kelly (Lab) and Tony Kett (FF). All Oireachtas members are eligible to vote.

[locke]

Annoy the Greens by nominating Patricia McKenna and Chris O'Leary?

Nominate someone from North Tipp for Alan Kelly's seat and then watch Lowry be made squirm by taking something away from the constituency?

Other ideas?

[myk]

Is Crown an Irish citizen?

Do Seanad members have to be Irish citizens? I would have thought that some of Seanad members from the Unionist Community in Northern Ireland didn't claim Irish citizenship.

[Dáiler]

They can nominate who they like, the numbers are with the Government side and who ever they nominate will be elected. FF & Greens as part of any new deal will agree on their candidates and that will be that. It was ever such and no amount of "fantasy seanad island" will make it any different.

[myk]

They can nominate who they like, the numbers are with the Government side and who ever they nominate will be elected. FF & Greens as part of any new deal will agree on their candidates and that will be that. It was ever such and no amount of "fantasy seanad island" will make it any different.

I think people might behave differently in a secret ballot than they would in an open vote. The party whips wouldn't be able to control Oireachtas members in such a vote.

Do you really think that if there is a close election that for example Chris Andrews might be attempted to vote for someone other than Eoin Ryan in a secret ballot?

[jayblue]

Eddie Hobbs/George Hook or Michael O'Leary, now can you imagine them walking around the members bar, the FF/Green ministers would love that