Gearóid O’Keeffe Deflects to Fine Gael June 1, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in FG, Politics, Topical.Tags: Dublin South, Gearóid O'Keefe, George Lee, Jim O'Leary
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O'Keeffe: Strengthens Fine Gael in Dublin South
Independent Dun Laoghaire -Rathdown Councillor Gearóid O’Keeffe will today be unveiled as a member of Fine Gael. He has served as an independent Councillor, representing the Stillorgan district for 6 years and brings a wealth of experience to the party.
He has performed very impressively in past elections. He topped the 2004 local elections with 2,329 first preference votes, 5 years later he was returned to the council with 2,383 votes. He has proven to be a hard worker at local level and is said to be popular. He has voted with the local Fine Gael party at council level over the last few years. Nevertheless many appear surprised that he has joined Fine Gael.
O’Keefe is based in Dublin South and may now feature as the By-Election candidate for Fine Gael after George Lee left politics. It follows just weeks after Jim O’Leary of the Dundrum ward left Fine Gael and politics, leaving the party in a weakened position in Dublin South. He left citing work reasons after getting promoted to a new job with AIB. It now remains to be seen as to when the candidate convention will be held for the upcoming By-Election and as to whether or not O’Keefe will be taking the place on the ticket, that O’Leary would have been in.
Irish politics reaches a new low? April 20, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, Topical.Tags: Deirdre de Burca, FF, FG, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, George Lee, GP, Green Party, Politics
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Deirdre de Burca: Morally, could walk the walk, but couldn't talk the talk?
The current political year has been something else. The end of the Dáil term approaches so it is fitting for one to take a step back and ponder the happenings of politics in this country. This probably has been one of the most stunning Dáil terms I have ever seen.
Earlier this year we were stunned by George Lee. He entered the Dáil with the country believing he could move mountains, the problem was, he thought so too. It’s no surprise that he soon got fed up with the lack of action in opposition and quickly departed Leinster House to return to his well remunerated package in RTÉ. Why work longer hours for less pay anyway? Who wants to be dealing with Mary’s pothole issue or Johns planning issue when you want to be dealing with fiscal policy? The harsh reality for Lee is that he was actually more effective in the media then he was in the Dáil. There, he did a great job of locating the massive holes that exist in Government banking policies etc. I wonder how many people can name the new RTÉ economics editor? (Its Sean Whelan and he doesn’t hold any economic qualifications)
This year also saw the final steps of demise if the Green Party. The party who claimed to be this nations moral compass were found out to be what they are, corrupted by power. They talked the talk in opposition but once they got their hands on power they become as bad as Fianna Fáil themselves and failed to walk the walk. I must say its a massive shame. I had a great respect for Trevor Sargent, he was a man who made the Green Party seem less like a crazy far left bunch of shrubs and more like a party that could actually bring morality and decency back into Irish politics. Then he goes off and totally destroys that image by doing such a heinous act. Naturally, the Green image is far from the holy grail it once was. John Gormley started his speech at the Green Conference praising the fact that he now got a new job for one of his boys (Mary White). Then of course you have Deirdre de Burca walking away from them because she didn’t get a job!! This year has seen Green followers appointed onto state boards, Fás and so on. In fact arguably they are no worse then Fianna Fáil, for we knew what to get from them, they never denied they would find jobs for ‘the boys’. For the Greens it is a new all time low.
What is sexism? March 14, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Topical.Tags: Current Affairs, Dail, Female, FG, George Lee, Ivana Bacik, Labour, Politics, UCC
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So here we are. The point when eventually one political party proposes to provide a quota to allow more women to join political life. It has been coming for a long time. When one listens to people like Ivana Bacik day in day out eventually some one will listen. Fine Gael this weekend tried to introduce a rule into the party’s constitution requiring a minimum amount of candidates to stand in an election. (For example 20% must be female.) The idea behind this is to increase the amount of females in politics.
The Fine Gael party has rejected this- and rightly so. Lucinda Creighton was one of the main apparent opposer’s of the idea. Today I read that John Waters agreed with her view. I also agree! Let us remember that if we place a quota on females, it is actually discriminating against males. (Think about that one) The “Crazy” feminists never stop to think of that fact. Its said the reason there “is always” a female poet on the leaving cert English paper is to represent women. For if it wasn’t there it would be discrimination. However equally by having it there is also a form of discrimination.
There is no doubt in today’s world that women are equal to males. Yes, there’s more males in the Dáil. It’s clear why! Why would any woman want to spend 3 days in Dublin away from her family? Why would she want to spend the rest of week travelling around the constituency? Why would she want to lose out not only on family time, but personal time?
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Women have an equal opportunity to get into the Dáil as males do. They simply are choosing a life away from politics. Nevertheless, look at who we have! Lucinda Creighton, Olwyn Enright and Deirdre Clune etc, all excellent politicians. No one is stopping women from joining politics they have the choice to enter if they please. Recently George Lee told a group in UCC, that he couldn’t understand why any woman would want to enter the political world.
Clearly this must return to the question of what is sexism? If we were to create a law meaning a certain amount of women must enter politics then suddenly by default we have created a law meaning there is a maximum amount of men which can enter politics. What will follow this….once we go down that route where will it stop? Next we will have a minimum amount of homosexuals or “young people” that must be in the Dáil. Then a minimum amount of transsexuals, bisexuals, immigrants, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, disabled…the list goes on and on. Thank God we have people like Lucinda Creighton in the Dáil, for without her, all the arguments would be left to someone like Ivana and co.
What a week? February 20, 2010
Posted by Scandalcentral in Current Affairs, Politics, Topical.Tags: FF, FG, George Lee, Labour, PD, SF, Willie O'Dea
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So, another week in politics down. With out doubt, there is no other small western country that has as many scandals that has rocked Leinster House over the last 14 days. One had just adjusted to life post-Lee and De Burca and then this..
“Dea-gate” will surely have to go down as one of the most idiot scandals to ever hit Irish politics. The fact the Mr O’Dea did what he did at all, to me seams baffling. Common sense would tell anyone that Sinn Féin were never going to trouble the regular poll topper in Limerick. So why did he do what he did? What demon possessed him? These questions will possibly never be answered. Whatever the actual motivation behind O’Dea’s actions- its clear, he has paid the price.
Interestingly, the Green Party may also pay a serious price. They once again have managed to get their fingers burnt in an affair which they should have thought out before they flip-flopped publicly. One day they vote in the Dáil supporting O’Dea….24hours later they want him gone? Did the Green’s think they were going to win major brownie points from the electorate by removing him from office? Clearly, they realized the media wanted blood and galloped along en route. The next opinion poll will be crucial for the Green’s, personally I expect a drop in support. Deirdre De Burca is unfortunately right- they are now no more then an extension of Fianna Fail. They now face the same fate as the PD’s- Oblivion.
As for the opposition, they fared as expected in the fracas. Eugene Regan of Fine Gael was the politician who originally brought the whole thing into the House. Sub-sequentially he was supported well by his party. As for Labour, they did what they always do- release a lot of hot air! As usual the party leader was all over the media (Along with Pat “the” Rabbitte) Neither party did anything overly memorable. Thankfully this affair has come to a close. The apparent end of “Willie O’Dea” has not come a day too soon! 
