Search Results for 'Members of the 23rd Seanad'

Within the next fortnight, Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames and Independent TD Noel Grealish, will learn whether they will remain representatives for Galway West or find themselves fighting for seats in Galway East at the next General Election.

The Green Party has announced a new front bench to mark 30 years since the party was founded.

Castlebar Fine Gael Senator Paddy Burke took over the office of Cathaoirleach of the 24th Seanad this week. The Mayo Senator will lead the 60-strong house for the duration of the current government’s term. He takes over the chair from Donie Cassidy who was the Cathaoirleach of the last Seanad, during which time Sen Burke held the position of Leas Cathaoirleach. He will be the 14th leader of the Seanad since it was first established in 1922 and possibly the last if the Government goes ahead with plans to abolish the upper house.

County Galway’s two constituencies look set to undergo major changes in advance of the next General Election, with Galway West likely to lose one of its five Dáil seats and Galway East to become a geographically larger constituency.

With the amount of apathy that has surrounded this week’s Seanad Elections, there is no doubt that the biggest talking point last night was the (at time of going to press) almost certain re-election to the Seanad of local candidate Fidelma Healy Eames.

Galway and the west of Ireland will have voices in the new Seanad Éireann that will campaign and use all the powers it can to represent the concerns and fears of the people, and make the Seanad relevant to Irish political life, so say the county’s newest senators.

NUI, Galway lecturer and former dean of the faculty of law, Donncha O’Connell has become the latest person from Galway to stand for election to Seanad Éireann.

Alice-Mary Higgins, daughter of Labour president and former Galway West TD Michael D Higgins, is to seek a seat in Seanad Éireann.

What a week it has been. It was a great weekend for Fine Gael — they couldn’t have asked for more in Carlow Kilkenny. They had been hopeful of securing two seats — but to have gained three was a huge bonus for the party locally.

There is a strong case to be made for lowering the voting age and a project recently carried out by students in Gairmscoil Mhuire Athenry showed how young people are more interested in politics than the State cares to acknowledge.