Senator Cannon to contest leadership.

[fergalr]

This meandered down the wires just a while ago. No jokes about the definition of "contest"

Loughrea-based Senator Ciarán Cannon has said he will contest a new position for an
organisational leader within his party, if it becomes "the radical, visionary party
it was 20 years ago."

Speaking to the Galway Independent yesterday, Senator Cannon confirmed that Minister
for Health Mary Harney has agreed to remain as Oireachtas leader, but has said she
will need a co-leader to fulfil the organisational role of rebuilding the party.

"Over Christmas, I was considering my own future and that of the party, which are
inextricably linked. Friends and supporters have suggested I should go for the role.


"If the party would become the radical, visionary party it was 20 years ago, I would
certainly be willing to do that," he said.

Senator Cannon said he believed there were plenty of enthused and energetic party
members willing to rebuild the party after its disastrous election performance.

However, he acknowledged that the party would have to move in a new direction in
order to reinforce its niche.

"It was a courageous move made by Bobby Molloy and Dessie O'Malley and others, 20
years ago, and it really broke the mould of Irish politics. But a lot of our clothes
have been stolen by the mainstream parties recently and we need to move back to a
position of radicalism, where we're unafraid to tackle the status quo," he said.

Among the issues upon which Senator Cannon will be campaigning are the interaction
between government and citizens, what he calls the "hampering" of business
innovation by government bodies, and integration.

"We will never be a mainstream party, with 30 or 40 per cent of the vote. But we
have reached ten per cent, and that's one in ten people voting for us, and if we can
reach that again, we'll definitely be back in action. There are a lot of people out
there who are disenfranchised and we should be attracting them."

[fergalr]

Good man. It's a relief that somebody has roused themselves and grasped the bull by the horns.

[meriwether]

Indeed.
Ciaran Cannon.

Now, call me a pessimist, but I dont think thats going to do it.

[NotDevsSon]

This meandered down the wires just a while ago. No jokes about the definition of "contest"

Loughrea-based Senator Ciarán Cannon has said he will contest a new position for an
organisational leader within his party, if it becomes "the radical, visionary party
it was 20 years ago."

Speaking to the Galway Independent yesterday, Senator Cannon confirmed that Minister
for Health Mary Harney has agreed to remain as Oireachtas leader, but has said she
will need a co-leader to fulfil the organisational role of rebuilding the party.

"Over Christmas, I was considering my own future and that of the party, which are
inextricably linked. Friends and supporters have suggested I should go for the role.


"If the party would become the radical, visionary party it was 20 years ago, I would
certainly be willing to do that," he said.

Senator Cannon said he believed there were plenty of enthused and energetic party
members willing to rebuild the party after its disastrous election performance.

However, he acknowledged that the party would have to move in a new direction in
order to reinforce its niche.

"It was a courageous move made by Bobby Molloy and Dessie O'Malley and others, 20
years ago, and it really broke the mould of Irish politics. But a lot of our clothes
have been stolen by the mainstream parties recently and we need to move back to a
position of radicalism, where we're unafraid to tackle the status quo," he said.

Among the issues upon which Senator Cannon will be campaigning are the interaction
between government and citizens, what he calls the "hampering" of business
innovation by government bodies, and integration.

"We will never be a mainstream party, with 30 or 40 per cent of the vote. But we
have reached ten per cent, and that's one in ten people voting for us, and if we can
reach that again, we'll definitely be back in action. There are a lot of people out
there who are disenfranchised and we should be attracting them."

[fergalr]

On a political forum? I can't imagine why.

[Munion]

It's Barry's belief that posting here is pointless because of the inevitable snide remarks along the lines of "Last rat to leave the PD ship", "Can't wait for the votes the PDs stole to come back to FG", "Haha fascist right-wing filth die!" etc., etc.

[fergalr]

Well publish and be damned. Jesus, we're hardly going to continue the hibernation indefinitely.

[hiker]

It's Barry's belief that posting here is pointless because of the inevitable snide remarks along the lines of "Last rat to leave the PD ship", "Can't wait for the votes the PDs stole to come back to FG", "Haha fascist right-wing filth die!" etc., etc.

But its still great fun winding up the wingnuts.

[KingKane]

I'm still thinking of contesting it... after all do you even need to be member now?

[fergalr]

Indeed.
Ciaran Cannon.

Now, call me a pessimist, but I dont think thats going to do it.

Well it's this or the YPDs were going to run an insurgent nominee