Search Results for 'Members of the 24th Dáil'

Last night in Dail Eireann, the first chapter of the new history of this country was written. We hope that with the introduction of this new Government that an end of public service gombeenism is in sight. Taoiseach Kenny in his inaugural speech spoke of the need for the Government and the governed to move closer and he acknowleged that to do that, he needs to build up trust, and to build that, he will use the rare commodity of truth. It is something that has been in rare supply in recent years. He must acknowledge too that politicians are in the Last Chance Saloon when it comes to honesty and integrity, and that his Government, more than ever, will have to be seen to be above party politics if it is to achieve what needs to be done. If it fails, it will go down in smoke, and with it, the body politic.

While Enda Kenny swept the boards across the county as Fine Gael surged to picking up four seats in Mayo, there was also a shift in the power base of TDs in the county last weekend. For the first time in a number of years, Ballina has the largest number of TDs in the county. The election of both Fine Gael’s Michelle Mulherin and the return of Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary has seen Ballina overtake Castlebar in the number of TDs.

Calleary, Dara, 12,222 (775) 12,997

All eyes will be on Castlebar this weekend and specifically the election count centre at the Royal Theatre where local man Enda Kenny is set to make history.

Fine Gael party leader, Enda Kenny TD, along with members of his front bench have outlined the core elements of the party’s ‘5-point plan to get Ireland working’. The plan is designed to create jobs, reform the health system, fix the budget crisis, make Government smaller and more cost effective and put the burden on politicians first.

GUBU. Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented. That’s how a period of turmoil involving Charlie Haughey was defined in the 1980s. It does not come close to describing events since Christmas.

A family in turmoil. Yes these are the only words to describe a family at war which was the Fianna Fáil party this week.

Twelve Fianna Fail TDs, including three members of the cabinet, will not contest the next general election. It’s a sign of the level of cynicism that people now associate with the word ‘politics’, that most people wonder whether the retirements are so that politicians can take advantage of the current pension arrangement pensions. While some have left for reasons of health, the collective ship-jumping just three years after the formation of the most fraught Dail in our history prompts The Insider to wonder why people put themselves forward for office in the first place. Was it just to enjoy the trappings of power while the good times rolled, or was there a deeper commitment to lead and to give service?

Fianna Fáil has chosen its candidates for Galway West but uncertainty still surrounds what the party is doing about Galway East.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has confirmed that serious political reform will still be an important part of Fine Gael's policy for the upcoming general election. A number of months ago, Fine Gael launched its political reform document 'New Politics' containing a number of proposals such as holding a referendum on abolishing Seanad Éireann. Other features included a reduction in the numbers of TDs, making Government more open and transparent, and providing initiatives to empower citizens.