Will PDs contest Euro elections in 2009?

[FutureTaoiseach]

They should have last time. They should have put forward Liz O'Donnell in Dublin where polling allegedly indicated she would take a seat. However do they not have a ban on the dual-mandate? They should remove that ban. Maybe they would not have lost Pat Cox had they retained the right to dual mandate.

Put forward Des O'Malley or Mairín Quill in "Ireland South", Ciarán Cannon in Northwest, Liz O'Donnell in Dublin and Colm O'Gorman in East, while allowing them to serve in both Dail Eireann and the European Parliament simultaneously. Getting back their Euro seat will raise their profile.

[rockofcashel]

why do you constantly write stuff you seem to know nothing about FT.

The PD's cannot "allow persons to serve in the Dail and the Euro Parliament simultaneously"

From the next Dail election, that is forbidden by Dail legislation.

[AndrewM]

I largely agree with those predictions, but maybe John Minihan in South? Yes, they badly need to raise their profile for the 2009 locals, and this is the only way.

[jady88]

I don't know.. they badly need to do something that is for sure Mc Dowell has mooted simply running sister poarties instead but that would be idiotics in my view. Totally removing the chance of developing any party image? I don't think Des would bother he is old.

[FutureTaoiseach]

They should try to get Marion Harkin to join the PDs and run for them in 2009. She is part of the Liberal group in the European Parliament after all. If they can't then they should pick Cannon. If unavailable for this then other names should be considered including:

John Dardis (East) (got 12% in Kildare South)
DJ Carey (East))
Colm O'Gorman (East) (if he loses in Wexford next yr)
Eddie Hobbs (South)

[President Bartlet]

I agree Liz O' Donnell would be a good candidate and had she stood the last probably would have one - but as it seems likely they will be back in govt - and the prospect of a Cab. job or junior miniisterial post - would she want to go to Europe in 2009?

[jady88]

They should get Marion Harkin to join the PDs and run for them in 2009. She is part of the Liberal group in the European Parliament after all.

Yeah that is not a bad idea but i think it is time that the party started to seacrh its membership for some talent? A lot of people would love the chance to run but get passed over for the stars.

[Rocky]

They should have last time. They should have put forward Liz O'Donnell in Dublin where polling allegedly indicated she would take a seat. However do they not have a ban on the dual-mandate? They should remove that ban. Maybe they would not have lost Pat Cox had they retained the right to dual mandate.

Put forward Des O'Malley or Mairín Quill in "Ireland South", Ciarán Cannon in Northwest, Liz O'Donnell in Dublin and Colm O'Gorman in East, while allowing them to serve in both Dail Eireann and the European Parliament simultaneously. Getting back their Euro seat will raise their profile.

FT do not you think it hurts a TD or MEP ability to do their job if they hold two positions instead of one? You also seem to believe that, who you believe, will be future ministers should be able to be a MEP’s as well. Do you not think being out of the country a lot will hurt their ability to be a Minister and do a good job in that position?

[rover]

They should have put forward Liz O'Donnell in Dublin where polling allegedly indicated she would take a seat

futuretaoiseach.....why do you open your mouth when you just come out with total nonsense???

read back from the newspapers. the reason o donnell didn't run was because the polling that the pds did showed she didnt have a chance of winning because gay mitchell and ivana bacik were too strong on the southside of dublin for her to get a big enough vote.

then everyones favouroitve lonny-tune fiona o malley publicly supported bacik! which kinda put an end to o donnell's chances. you've a very short memory

However do they not have a ban on the dual-mandate? They should remove that ban. Maybe they would not have lost Pat Cox had they retained the right to dual mandate

??
what are you talking about?? do you have the slightest clue how the euro/dail dual mandate ban will operate after next year??

Put forward Des O'Malley or Mairín Quill in "Ireland South"

in june 2009, dessie o malley will be 70 and mairin quill will be a month off her 73rd birthday

what then? pearse wyse and peadar clohessy to make comebacks at the 2012 general election???

[FutureTaoiseach]

They should have last time. They should have put forward Liz O'Donnell in Dublin where polling allegedly indicated she would take a seat. However do they not have a ban on the dual-mandate? They should remove that ban. Maybe they would not have lost Pat Cox had they retained the right to dual mandate.

Put forward Des O'Malley or Mairín Quill in "Ireland South", Ciarán Cannon in Northwest, Liz O'Donnell in Dublin and Colm O'Gorman in East, while allowing them to serve in both Dail Eireann and the European Parliament simultaneously. Getting back their Euro seat will raise their profile.

FT do not you think it hurts a TD or MEP ability to do their job if they hold two positions instead of one? You also seem to believe that, who you believe, will be future ministers should be able to be a MEP’s as well. Do you not think being out of the country a lot will hurt their ability to be a Minister and do a good job in that position?

It doesn't hurt it as much as a local-councillor/TD dual-mandate would, as the Europarliament doesn't meet that often.