Tag Archives: Dáil

Shannon-based county councillor Gerry Flynn has decided against running for the Dáil. The independent councillor said he made the decision with a heavy heart but had concluded that it wasn’t possible for him to win a seat, particularly with support for Fine Gael rising. He predicted that the electorate will punish Labour but that Fine Gael will perform well and will probably hold onto their two Clare seats. Councillor Flynn said finance is part of the reason for not running. “I have thought long and hard about it, I’ve looked at the opinion polls. I have also costed how much I would need. I’d have to have approximately €30,000 at my disposal to even think about it. The parties are funded by the taxpayer but, for me, it would be like climbing Mount Everest 10 times. There was no way Gerry Flynn was going to enter any race unless I thought I was going to win. From an economic perspective, …

A Clare TD has proposed two amendments to the Marriage Bill (2015) introduced to the Dáil on Wednesday. Deputy Michael McNamara, a barrister, wants to see the legislation amended so as to allow for new civil partnerships to be entered into and to widen the number of people who hold can the role of solemniser. The Bill, as it exists, does not change the status of any existing marriage, or any future marriage between a man and a woman bit instead proposes to remove the current obstacles in legislation that prevent a lesbian or gay couple from marrying. Marriages abroad of lesbian and gay couples will be automatically recognised in Ireland on passing of the Bill. Existing civil partners will have the choice to marry, but may also choose to remain as civil partners all their lives. However, according to Deputy McNamara, if the Bill passes through the houses of the Oireachtas as it is, no new civil partnerships may …

THE battle to win one of the four Dáil seats in the Clare constituency hotted up this week following the entry into the race of Councillor Ann Norton. “I feel there is a seat for an independent female candidate. It has been a number of years since there has been a Clare woman in the Dáil. “I wouldn’t be entering the race unless I felt I had a chance of winning a Dáil seat in Clare, said Ms Norton “I believe this is one of the reasons why people should vote for me. People shouldn’t vote for me just because I am a woman,” she added. Councillor Norton believes she has a huge amount to offer as a businesswoman, health advocate and a person who has benefited from having a very diverse life. “There are 27 female deputies to date and there has only been 95 women elected to the Dáil. I think I will be a very strong female …

A new Bill, which provides for reform of our laws, including stronger sanctions, aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation; child abuse material and online grooming, has been introduced by Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015, which has been approved by Government, provides for a more effective response to sexual offending within our criminal justice system and responds to new and emerging threats such as predatory activity which target children via the internet and social media.” Minister Fitzgerald noted the Bill will bring Irish law into line with a number of international instruments, including an EU Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child abuse material (child pornography). “It is a further step toward the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse,” she said. Continuing, Minister Fitzgerald said, “The Bill will also implement the recommendations of two …

ENNIS Councillor Mary Howard has joined the race to receive the Fine Gael nomination at the party’s convention to decide its general election candidates, saying, “I’ve proved myself”. The councillor joins sitting TDs Joe Carey and Pat Breen and Senators Tony Mulcahy and Martin Conway in seeking the party’s nomination on September 11. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Councillor Howard said the decision to seek nomination is something that she has been thinking over for some time. “I’ve been mulling it over in my mind, I love what I do and I see my future within Fine Gael. I absolutely love my job within Clare County Council but I thought now is the time to put my hat in the ring. “I believe that I’ve proved myself over the last six years. I’ve worked hard and I have been very involved in my community. A lot of people have asked me would I go forward and when you hear that …

EAST Galway Labour Senator, Lorraine Higgins has been selected as the party’s candidate in the constituency for the 2016 General Election. Senator Higgins is the Seanad Labour Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade and was nominated to the Seanad by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in 2011. She had run in the general election earlier that year but was narrowly beaten. Last year, she ran as the Labour candidate in the Midlands-North-West constituency in the European Parliament election. Speaking at the Labour Party convention in her home town of Athenry on Friday, Senator Higgins said she planned to win a seat in Dáil Éireann. “In regard to the question of whether or not I can win, the simple answer is yes. The perception that Galway East is not Labour heartland no longer applies. At the last election, we turned that thinking on its head, when the party received almost 8,000 first-preference votes, enough for me to take a seat next time …

Clare Labour TD, Michael McNamara will not support a Government motion in the Dáil this afternoon to sell the State’s 25.1% stake in Aer Lingus to IAG. Deputy McNamara’s refusal to support the government in the vote will lead to automatic expulsion from Labour’s parliamentary party. Suggesting in the Dáil today (Thursday) the IAG takeover is “a gamble he’s not prepared to support” he added, “Shannon’s current business level is no guarantee that services would not be cut in the future”. “I’m not prepared to gamble with what I believe is key to the economic development of this state, all of this state. I don’t have confidence in these guarantees at the moment as they stand. On that basis Minister [Donohoe], I regret that I will not be able to support you in this afternoon’s motion,” Deputy McNamara stated.

Two Clare members of a national lobby group, looking for the introduction of a 20kph speed limit in housing estates, took part in a protest outside the Dáil earlier this week. Rita Malone, whose son Oran was knocked down in Ardnacrusha last September and Paula Flynn, Dalcassian Park, Ennis stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Roseanne Brennan, who is spearheading the Jake’s Legacy campaign after her son, Jake, was killed by a car outside his Kilkenny home. Ms Flynn said she was inspired to support the campaign after hearing Ms Brennan’s story about the death of her child. Five out of every 10 children hit by a car at 50kph, the current speed limit in estates, die, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Ms Malone pointed out that motorists are only allowed to drive at 30kph on one of the main streets in Dublin, while motorists can drive up to 50kph in a housing estate where children are playing. She described standing outside …