Search Results for 'politician'

I have been watching the progress of Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan with some amusement, and admiration for a number of years. Amusement because of his long running campaign to legalise cannabis, which has to be a no-hoper. He has been convicted on several occasions for possession of the drug, but undaunted, he sent a beautifully rolled cannabis cigarette to every politician in the Oireachtas as part of his campaign, pleading for them to enjoy a smoke, inhale deeply, and support his cause. That man doesn’t know the meaning of ‘no’.

Fianna Fáil Ballina town councillor Johnny O’Malley rejected claims that he was playing politics this week at a meeting of Ballina Town Council.

The Republic of Ireland stands at a crossroads, not only economically, but in terms of what it stands for, its values, and the entire make up of its political system and Constitution.

He may not be as long on the scene as Éamon Ó Cuív, he’s not quite the ‘new kid in town’ that is Derek Nolan, and he may not be as outgoing as Noel Grealish, but Sean Kyne has become the quietly emerging figure of Galway politics, who this week took his first steps on the national stage.

Naoise Coogan

“It is entirely up to the people of Carlow Kilkenny as to what they do with their votes but unless there are two seats in this constituency there may not be a senior minister position.” That’s the warning from incoming Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in last week’s Kilkenny Advertiser. So what happened to picking the best person for the job? Surely that’s what we’re electing this government for, not to return favours to vote getters, regardless of their ability? We’ve seen enough gobshites topping the poll over the years, Bertie Ahern, Padraig Flynn, Jackie Healy-Rae immediately spring to mind, and dragging in a second or even a third candidate on their coat tails. We want the best man or woman for the job, Mr Kenny, the days of returning favours are over. If you don’t believe me ask the IMF or the ECB.

During his opening speech to a gathering at the Rivercourt Hotel in Kilkenny this week, Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny told the audience of supporters and media during his constituency visit, that in the past, politics was dominated by politics of cronyism made up of small groups of insiders — so-called ‘friends of Fianna Fail’.

If there was ever a constituency which defined the term ‘boringly predictable’ it was certainly Galway East, a place even more beholden to repeating patterns and traditions than its sister electoral area Galway West.

As a year of potentially enormous political significance begins, Insider has decided to look at the prospects for each party, both on a national and local level. Insider will look at Galway West today, and return to Galway East in the coming weeks. Insider cannot recall a time of more political uncertainty, and he firmly believes that the result of the election could also differ considerably depending on the date it is held. Is the 'Gilmore Gale' still blowing? Will Brian Cowen even lead FF into battle? Has Enda Kenny put the questions over his capacity for the job of Taoiseach to bed? Will the disaffected members of the public support SF in unprecedented numbers? How many more sitting TD's will opt out? Are the Greens already a spent force? So much uncertainty, and so much anger. So much to lose, and so much to win. Insider has decided to sum up the reasons he would vote 'for' or 'against' each party.

Carlow-based MJ Nolan has announced his decision not to contest the forthcoming General Election and to retire from politics.