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Often you see a TD (member of the Irish parliament) ask parliamentary questions answered with,
I have referred the Deputy’s question to [State Agency] for direct reply. I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Departments send by letter further details directly to a TD which means the public don't get to see the full answer to all parliamentary questions, often TDs pass this information to the media for the basis of stories, which is unfortunate as we mostly don't get to see the full government information these stories are based on.
A few times I've asked TDs to pass onto me this further information, they have done so without question.
As with all parliamentary questions sometimes this infomation is publically available or could be researched or collated from the state agency website, but the Minister will ask the agency to get the information requested for the TD anyway or direct them to the website or specific website address.
Relevancy of Questions.
34. Questions addressed to a member of the Government must relate to public affairs connected with his or her Department, or to matters of administration for which he or she is officially responsible (including bodies under the aegis of his or her Department in respect of Government policy).
Grouping of Questions:Questions not answered orally or not reached.
40 (4) Where a Question put down for oral answer is of such a nature as to require a lengthy reply or a reply in the form of a tabular statement, the Ceann Comhairle shall, at the request of the member of the Government to whom the Question is addressed, direct that the answer be furnished in the Official Report of the Debates.
Programme for Government
Reference to it in the programme for government Programme for Government Pg 18
We propose a radical extension of the parliamentary question system, so that it shall be a statutory duty on any body established by or under statute, or with a majority ownership or funding by the State, to submit to the same parliamentary questions regime as applies to Government departments. This will involve a liability to provide answers to written questions within a specified number of Dáil sitting days. (We will however recognise the special position of bodies with a commercial mandate operating at arm’s length from Government.)
Although departments (such as the Department of Transport below) may have introduced new procedures in this regard, I don't know of any statute implemented to compel them.
My predecessor introduced new procedures for answering Parliamentary Questions within the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport where they relate to the functions of State Agencies under the aegis of the Department. The procedures, designed to introduce greater transparency in answering Parliamentary Questions, require that all such parliamentary Questions be referred to the Agency or Agencies in question for a direct response to the Deputy within 10 working days.
Can full replies be made public?
I wonder could you automatically asks TDs or departments for the full answer to these types of questions?
19.2 To assist in the maintenance of this database and to ensure that it contains up-to-date information all Departments are required to notify all appointments to State Boards (including ex officio positions) to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the time of appointment.
The updating of the stateboard membership website is getting quicker and more complete but it is still not definitive.
Guidelines 13. Appointment of Board Members
13.6 At the time of the appointment of new members of State Boards, information shall be published by the relevant Department, for example in the press release announcing the new member(s), on the specific reasons the person(s) appointed meet the criteria determined by the relevant Minister for the role.
how soon is that? I asked the DPER and they wouldn't give a specific time period in which Minister have to announce appointments and give reasons.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) has been since atleast 2011 prompt in in updating a document state boards on its website but the Minister is neglecting to announce and give reasons for the appointments.
3 new people appointed to the board of national public transport provider CIE in July, It took between 57 and 74 days to be given an indication of the reasons why these people were appointed as per the guidelines. CIE board overseas the national and local public train and bus companies.
CÓRAS IOMPAIR ÉIREANN APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD
In accordance with Section 6 of the Transport Act 1950 as amended, the Government today appointed
(1) Ms Christine Moran
to the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann, as a member for a period of 3 years, with immediate effect; and
(2) MS Niamh Walsh
AND
Mr. Ruairí O’Flynn
to the Board of Córas Iompair Éireann as members for a period of 3 years, with effect from 24th July 2015.
MARTIN FRASER
Ard-Rúnaí an Rialtais
BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH,
An 7ú lá seo de d’Iúil, 2015.
DUBLIN,
This 7th day of July, 2015.
Christine Moran "Experienced Non-Executive Director .Certified Bank Director & Qualified Chartered Accountant"
One can try to search yourself but Niamh Walsh is too common a name to figure out who it is, ultimately Department needs to tell us who these people are.
I asked DTTAS and they replied saying they wre busy with the merger of the NRA and NPA to become the TII, but surely this information should be to hand.
I emailed CIE and month after she was appointed the CIE added the names to its Board member biographies page ,with the message, "Recently appointed - biography coming soon"
CIE board members are appointed by the government rather then the Minister Transport Act, 1950 Section 6 but the guidelines would apply to them too surely?
The issue was highlighted by online newspaper Dublin Inquirer who contacted the Minister didn't get any further then me, but explained it a little more fully. Who’s on the Board of the National Transport Authority? Willy Simon October 13, 2015
These new guidelines brought in after the clear abuse of Ministerial office for party gain by Minister Humphreys can be ignored with impunity. The Public Appointment Service is more invovled in selecting candidates but can also be evaded.
Irish Ofiguil Iris Oifiguil Irish state gazette has the official public announcement of state board appointments.
Although in not clear what determines which stateboard appointments are announced in it and which are not.
The Seanad Clerk and Judge review took place on Friday the 23rd of October and as far as I know all four nominations were accepted but the list of candidates still has not been uploaded to the Oireachtas website.
Vincent Browne intereview Jerry Beades Indepdendent and Sinead Burke on TV3, interview starts about 30 mins in. Tonight-with-Vincent-Browne on the 28th Oct 2015. Neither Mairia Cahill the Labour candidte or Keith Swanick the Fianna Fail candidate were on the programme.
Vincent Browne asked whether SF ever wanted abolition she said "We were in favour of reforming it" Vincent Browne repeats himself and says I thought SF wanted it gone, she says 'no I don't think so, its was definiely reform", she said "she canvassed to save it".
Jerry Beades
Asked about qualifications Jerry Beades said that he had 30 years working in the construction sector, 'working in architecture and engineeering' as required by the Industry and Commerce panel.
Jerry Beades said he was one of the people that drafted the Construction Contracts Bill, which was enacted but hasn't been put into practice."
The main purpose of this Bill is to provide for a mechanism whereby prior notice of an intention to withhold sums from payments otherwise due must be given. Otherwise, payments must be made in full and/or the payee may suspend the provision of works and/or services under the construction contract until payment is made in full. This provision is proposed in ease of persons along the chain in the construction sector who may suffer unduly where an entity under a superior contract would find itself withholding payment unilaterally without cause. This would bear unfairly upon the payee or others dependent upon the payee.
7 1° Before each general election of the members of Seanad Éireann to be elected from panels of candidates, five panels of candidates shall be formed in the manner provided by law containing respectively the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely:–
iv Industry and Commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture;
the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
Candidates
There are 4 candidates, for the Seanad By-election 2015 Dr Keith Swanick for Fianna Fail, Mairia Cahill for Labour Party (with Fine gael support), Sinead Burke for Sinn Fein and Jerry Beades Independent.
Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced today (30 September, 2015) that he has made an order directing that a bye-election be held to fill the vacancy in the Seanad caused by the resignation of Senator Jimmy Harte.
Senator Harte was elected from the Oireachtas Sub-Panel of the Industrial and Commercial Panel at the Seanad General Election in April 2011.
The last day for receiving nominations at the bye-election will be 15 October, 2015 at 12 noon. The Seanad Returning Officer and High Court Judge will sit for the ruling on nominations on 23 October, 2015. Ballot papers will be issued on 30 October, 2015 and the poll will close at 11 a.m. on 13 November, 2015.
The electorate at the bye-election will be the members of Dáil Eireann and Seanad Éireann.
Scrutiny
The Seanad Returning Officer will sit for the ruling on nominations on 23 October, 2015Minister Kelly Signs Seanad Bye-Election Order Department of Environment, Local government 02/10/15
38.—(1) The President of the High Court or some other judge of the High Court nominated by him shall attend at the completion of the panels and there sit and act as judicial referee.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may, on his own motion, and shall, if so requested by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person, refer to the judicial referee any question arising during the completion of the panels in relation to any nomination paper, the nomination of any person to a panel, the qualifications of any person for a panel, the statement by the Seanad returning officer of such qualification, or any other matter connected with the provisional panels.
(3) The judicial referee shall there and then decide and announce his decision on every question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer.
(4) The decision of the judicial referee on any question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court.
(5) A question may be referred to the judicial referee under this section whether the Seanad returning officer has or has not himself given a decision thereon.
The Seanad Clerk and Justice, accepted week old stateboard appointment by the Minister for Arts as legitimate qualification for the 2014 Seanad Educatioanl and Cultural Panel Bye-election, the same Seanad Clerk will be reviewings 2015's candidates along with a similar qualified judge as last year, I don't trust it, do you?
Maria Cahill Labour
My first blog on the Seanad By-Election 2015 focussed on Mairia Cahill because she is the likely winner having both government party's Labour and Fine Gael's support and was only person nominated at the time I wrote it. You can read her deleted Linkedin CV there. Strangely she has rarely specifically said she works for the Probations Services Office in Northern Ireland for 8 years.
Fianna Fáil has selected County Mayo GP Dr Keith Swanick as its candidate in the upcoming Seanad Bye Election prompted by the retirement of Senator Jimmy Harte.
Dr Swanick is married with one child, runs a busy GP practice in Belmullet County Mayo and is actively involved in local community development.
Experience Community Development
Meath Travellers Workshops Ltd
November 2001 – Present (14 years)
Community work, working with marginalized groups, social lobbying and keeping fighting the good fight!
Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD has commended the choice of Meath County Councillor, Sinéad Burke as Sinn Féin’s candidate for the upcoming Seanad by-election. Teachta Ó Snodaigh has praised the enterprising community development worker as an ideal candidate for the Seanad vacancy, serving on the Industrial and Commercial panel.
She has been a community development worker for the past 14 years, during which time she has worked with Meath Travellers Workshops as Co-ordinator of Navan Community Development Project and as Editor of the national magazine Voice of the Traveller.
She was elected to Meath County Council in 2014, representing the Navan electoral area, having been co-opted to Navan Town Council in 2013.
She also served as Mayor of Navan in 2014/15.
Sinéad is a member of the Board of Directors of Meath Enterprise Centre.
Not running for the general elections as far as I know
I'll have to read and write more about Sinead Burke.
Jerry Beades Independent
It had been reported on the 11th of October that Jerry Beades builder, developer and former member of the Fianna Fail National Executive was runnning for nomination and had received one committment from 1 Oireachtas member, by the 15th of October he had gotten the required 9 nominations and was provisionally accepted as a candidate.
The businessman and anti-eviction activist Jerry Beades is challenging Labour nominee Mairia Cahill for the Senate vacancy, claiming that he is also a victim of abuse and promising to donate his salary to help those whose homes have been repossessed.
Mr Beades said the other Oireachtas members who nominated him were David Norris, Ronan Mullen, Feargal Quinn, Seán Barrett, Fidelma Healy-Eames and Mary Ann O’Brien, along with TDs Mattie McGrath and Michael Healy-Rae.
I'm supporting Mairia Cahill in the Seanad bye-election but I'd like to see the nomination process opened up http://t.co/2XzsUgEsKh
Jerry Beades got into debt over developements as the economy crashed and now engages in delaying tactics in the courts over his and other peoples debts.
SCREED Sales and Technical Consultant
Stoneyford Concrete
January 2010 – Present (5 years 10 months)
Update November 3rd I received a copy of what Jerry Beades sent the Clerk about his qualifications.
Enclosed Statement Outlining some of my construction experience for Assessment regarding the vacancy in the Oireachtas Sub- panel of the Industrial and Commercial Panel which requires a candidate must have knowledge and practical experience of industry and commerce which includes banking ,finance,accountancy engineering and architecture.
My Qualifications are self explanatory
Gilbert Ash Construction N I LTD Newry Road,
Warrenpoint, Newry, BT34 3LD
Built 3 number Albert Gubay Shopping Centers Finglas and Foxfield Kilbarick and Newbridge.
Gubay concept in 1978 is remember for the "stack-'em-in-boxes and sell-'em-cheap" style of retailing Similar to the modern retailing at Aldi and Lidl
Main Contractor For new Buildings and maintenance throughout Ireland for BP Oil LTD , later re-branded Statoil, and Eiregas Arklow Building new petrol stations and Oil Tank Depots and installing Auto Gas Retail Pumps on Forecourts
Main contractor for final phase of works when new government ordered the Hospital completion to happen in a time frame of 3 Months after Hospital project had been stalled/stopped for 5 Years when then Minister for Health Barry Desmond was in dispute with Hospital Consultants
Successfully Tendered and Beat G & T Crampton who five years earlier built main hospital
Aer Spares, (Aer lingus Subsidiaries) Airways Estate, Santry,
Design and Built New Headquarters
CARA COMPUTERS (Aer lingus Subsidiaries) Clonshaugh Dublin,
Design and Built New Headquarters
Pioneered the Value for money concept and value engineering of design and build Package for clients and in joint ventures with partners built factories /warehouses, Convents, Homes, Pubs, apartments, Roads
1999 Established ; Jerry Beades Concrete building up a fleet of 30 trucks,
To supply ready mix Concrete to the small contractors in the Dublin region
2000 Established ; EASY SCREED
A liquid floor screed product for self leveling Concrete floors.and for topping underfloor heating pipe system
2003/2004 Uganda East Africa Shipped and built Irish Pub in Kampla and acted as consultant on Housing project.
2010/2015 For the last number of years with the down turn in Construction in Ireland, Jerry has Worked as a Construction Consultant on modular housing abroad in far away countries Nigeria, Kurdistan region of Iraq, Doha Qatar and norther Ireland.
1994 Peace Commissioner
It is an honorary position and every single area in the country has people performing these duties.
Appointed by the Fine Gael Minister for Justice Nora Owens TD.
1980/2012 Construction industry Federation CIF
32 years member served on the Executive Master Builders & Contractors Association also served on the main CIF executive. Representing the interests of small contractors. An unpaid member of the government Established Construction and Demolition Waste Council (NCDWC); a body established to over see European Regulation of the industry.
2010/2015 The Construction Contracts Bill
The Construction Bill aims to stop abuse of subcontractors to help address the issue of non-payment to contractors and subcontractors alike.
Jerry in his role of representing the small contractors within the CIF Developed the conceptbased on similar legislation from the UK and drafted simple proposals that Sean Gallaghertook to Senator Feargal Quinn and the Draft preposal took off.
Jerry worked with Senator Feargal Quinn and the late former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to get the proposed legislation into and through the 23rd Seanad Éireann Jerry Beades negotiated with the late former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and got the agreement of the outhgoing Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD for the Seanad to sit for the last time on Tuesday 8th March 2011 with the Order of Business Construction Contracts Bill 2010:
SEE ;Seanad Debate. Vol. 207 No. 10, Tuesday, 8th March 2011 Senator Feargal Quinn Private members bill was now a reality the day before Enda Kenny, T.D. Became Taoiseach. That evening Tuesday, 8th March 2011 Jerry and a small group of small contractors sat in the Dail Restraint with an Taoiseach Elect Enda Kenny, T.D and he promised that within 3 months the legislation would be through the Dail as he understood the difficulties of payment delays for small contractors. Four and a half years later the The Construction Contracts Bill is still not operational.
One of the founding members of FRIENDS OF BANKING IRELAND (FBI)a lobby group formed to expose Rouge Banks at the time in 2006 and the first to speak out about about the failure of finical regulation Before the Crash.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008 DAIL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC REGULATORY AFFAIRS,
Banking issues Discussion with Friends of Banking Ireland
Statutory Declaration by Jerry Beades Statement of Facts
This Declaration of Fact has been forwarded to the Taoiseach and selected members of Dáil Éireann as well as to the Courts and the National Media (incl a variety of Social Media sites).
For further information or comment contact:
JERRY BEADES
Spokesperson | New Land League
DECLERATION OF FACT regarding the failings of High Court Judge Brian McGovern & Other Judicial Appointees
I Jerry Beades P.C. do solemnly and sincerely declare that this Statement of Fact is made from my own experiences of the Irish Court system I am also spokesperson of the new land League which has been involved in supporting families to stay in their homes and on family farms.
A subsequent protest meeting was held in Kilmuckridge on October 11th. It was attended by anti-eviction groups Right2Homes and members of the New Land League, and addressed by debt campaigner and Senate candidate Jerry Beades.
John Lloyd, a former civil servant, who was medically retired because of visual impairment, and his wife were unable to meet the full repayments on the €186,000 mortgage on the property that they have lived in for 14 years.
Brian Reilly Right2homes Facebook page seems to be best avenue to get information about his campaign.
CONGRATULATIONS are due to our good friend Jerry Beades, pictured here in Dáil Éireann with Pearse Doherty (SF) and Austin Byrne (Right2Homes), who has just succeeded in gaining the required nominations to enable him to contest the upcoming Seanad election.
A constitutional challenge to the legal measures used by banks to ease repossession of homes is being funded by a group of individuals known as Right2Homes, using a crowd-funding initiative.
The group, co-founded by Malahide businessman Brian Reilly, was set up when it emerged more than 110,000 families were in financial distress over their mortgages, and almost 40,000 repossession applications are currently being processed by the main banks.
Vocational Panel
The Seanad is the Upper house of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas. It has 60 members elected either by nominating bodies, other TDs, Senators and local councillors, or by appointment by the Taoiseach.
Those elected are nominated to 6 panels based on vocations, Administrative Panel, Agricultural Panel, Cultural and Educational Panel, Industrial and Commercial Panel, Labour Panel.
Its meant to be a house of people with knowledge and experience in various areas to review legislation and bring their expertise to the Seanad and Joint Oireachtas Committees, perhaps somebody who has been already engaging on relevant issues on a natioanl level, but it mostly used by political partys to give prominence to failed/future Dail election candidates.
7 1° Before each general election of the members of Seanad Éireann to be elected from panels of candidates, five panels of candidates shall be formed in the manner provided by law containing respectively the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely:–
iv Industry and Commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture;
the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
The current members of the Industry and Commerce panel are Averil Power Ind (ex FF), Mary M White FF, Marc MacSharry FF, Imelda Henry FG, Paul Coghlan FG, Colm Burke FG, Kathryn Reilly SF, Catherine Noone FG. Looking at the qualification (sheet8) Oireachtas Sub-Panel members of the Industry and Commerce, although maybe looking at a low bar because all 3 were failed election candidates at the preceding general election.
Jimmy Harte UCD BA Pyschology,Insurance Broker, Councillor, son of a TD, Councillor, GE canddiate for FG,IND,LP Source Averil Power TCD, BA Business,Dip Kings Inn,parliamentary assistant, special adviser Dept of Social/Education, GE canddiate for FF Source Kathryn Reilly DCU BA Economics,UCD MEconSc in European Economic, parliamentary assistant, GE canddiate for SF Source
I searched for times when the Seanad Clerk queried qualifications for panels.
Kathy Sinott in 2002. Disability rights campaigner to run for Seanad. She as allowed run for the Labour Panel. Thomas Byrne in 2011, who wasn't allowed run for the agriculture panel so he ran for Educational and Cultural panel based on his legal qualifications.
Qualifications Criteria Reform
The Working Group on Seanad Reform suggested changes to the qualifications criteria, they don't apply now, but there are not radical and could be a guide to making a judgement about this by-election's candidates qualifications. Final Seanad Reform Report
The Working Group recommends that the level of knowledge and practical experience required by the constitution be defined in legislation.
Legal Issues Concerning Reform Of Seanad Franchise And Nominations - Michael McDowell Feb 2015.
It is constitutionally open to the Oireachtas to enact a law for the formation of panels under Article 18.7.1 fora process where, on objective criteria, the nomination of a candidate required that the candidate requiredsignificant degree of knowledge and a significant degree of practical experience of one, some or all of the“interests and services” to which the panel relates, rather than simply “some knowledge and some practicalexperience”,
It is also open to the Oireachtas by law to:
(a) establish objective minimum standards both of knowledge and of practical experience of the relevant“interests and services” to be eligible for nomination and
(b) establish a body capable of deciding whether any particular nominee satisfies such standards.
11. Knowledge and practical experience.
Part IV of the Act of 1947 is amended in Chapter II by inserting the following before section 25 -
“Knowledge and practical experience.
24A.
(1) This section gives further effect to the requirement set out in Article 18.7 of the Constitution which requires a person seeking to be a candidate in a Seanad general election to have knowledge and practical experience of the interests and services pertaining to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to be elected.
(2) The requirement that a person mentioned in subsection (1) have knowledge and practical experience of the interests and services pertaining to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to be elected may be met by establishing to the satisfaction of a judicial referee that he or she has-
(i)
(a) attained a formal qualification, or
(b) through several years of work experience, has attained a level of knowledge which can be regarding as being equivalent to a formal qualification, in a field which is of direct relevance to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to become a candidate, and
(ii) has verifiable practical experience which is of direct relevance to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to become a candidate.
(3) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), persons seeking nomination to the–
...
(d) industrial and commercial constituency shall, to the satisfaction of the judicial assessor, demonstrate knowledge and practical experience of the following
interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
...
(5) A person who has previously served as a member of the Seanad shall be deemed to meet the knowledge and practical experience requirements of Article
18.7 of the Constitution and therefore subsections (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply in respect of the nomination of such persons.
(6) The Seanad Electoral Commission, having consulted with the Minister for Justice, shall appoint a serving or former Judge of the Superior Courts to serve as a judicial assessor for the purpose of this section.
(7) In order to be eligible for inclusion in a replacement candidates list provided for under section 57, a person shall satisfy the requirements of this section
Despite the electorate being only member of the Oireachtas there have been calls for national media debate between the four candidates. I would hope their knowlege and experience of Industry and Commerce would be the main topic of such a debate.
https://twitter.com/averilpower/status/654645368886575104
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/meath-councillor-to-contest-seanad-byelection-for-sinn-f%C3%A9in-1.2393032
https://twitter.com/themayonews/status/654639909479821312
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1047813211916851 http://www.shannonside.ie/news/castlerea-native-dr-keith-swanick-to-contest-seanad-by-election-for-fianna-fail/
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/community-based-gp-services-1.1478317
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-fail-to-finalise-candidate-selection-in-coming-weeks-1.2334333 frontrunner adriankavagharchive
Dr Keith Swanick, National Association of General Practitioners NAGP Secretary http://t.co/br9n3JacZE
http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22924:belmullet-doctor-to-run-for-seanad-&catid=23:news&Itemid=46&utm_content=buffera16a5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Belmullet doctor to run for Seanad
Thursday, 15 October 2015 10:54 Edwin McGreal Mayonews
http://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/654368947064676352
adrainkavanagh history of contest and thejournal article and list tweet
Community-based GP services http://t.co/hWahds0Krt Letter to IT editor from Keith Swanick 2013
spoke at ff ard fheis
what industry is he in?
https://twitter.com/sinnfeinireland/status/654664837968982020
Congratualtion to Seanad bye election candidate Jerry Beades from Right2homes co-founded Brian Reilly https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1037699486250057&set=p.1037699486250057&type=3&permPage=1 photo
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/crowd-funders-set-up-constitutional-challenge-to-mortgage-law-1.2311256
trust the process
Cathaoirleach of Seanad Paddy Burke informs the House of the resignation of Senator Jimmy Harte. Seanad debates Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Resignation of Member Before I call the Leader on the Order of Business I wish to announce that I have received notice in writing from Senator Jimmy Harte of his resignation as a Member of Seanad Éireann. I wish to thank Senator Harte for his co-operation and assistance during his time as a Member of the House and I wish him well in the future.
Tradition has it that Labour seat is replaced by Labour candidate, and Labour's coalition partners will vote for any Labour candidate, unless like in John McNulty's case his/her qualifications are questioned.
Announcement
On the fourth of October it was reported by Martina Fitzgerald of RTE News that Joan Burton was proposing Maria Cahill as the Labour party candidate for the Seanad bye-election.
New- labour leadership just emailed parl party proposing Mairia Cahill @mairiac31 as party candidate for Seanad By-election
I am contacting you to inform you that as Leader of the Labour Party, I am nominating - and Deputy Leader Alan Kelly is seconding - Mairia Cahill to be our candidate in the upcoming bye-election to Seanad Eireann.
Mairia Cahill is an excellent candidate for Seanad Eireann. She has joined our party and is committed to supporting our work inside and outside the Oireachtas. She is a person of depth and broad experience. She is seeking to serve on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and is suitably qualified, having a background in youth employment, activation, and community enterprise.
I am delighted that Mairia Cahill has taken up an invitation to join the Labour Party and to seek nomination to contest the upcoming bye-election to Seanad Eireann.
I am proud to support her candidacy and am formally seconding her nomination following Party Leader Joan Burton's proposal. Mairia is a qualified candidate for the Industrial and Commercial Panel given her background in community development, employment, and activation.
For anyone who knows me personally, politics is a natural progression. As someone who grew up in the highly politicised west Belfast, who took Politics for A Level, who worked within the field, and who consistently has worked in the community sector in order to help empower people to change their lives for the better, the politics of social democracy is one which attracts - because I have seen in action how it can work.
Mairia Cahill has been confirmed as Labour Party candidate to contest the by election for the Industrial and Commercial in Seanad Éireann caused by the retirement of Jimmy Harte.
At the close of nominations yesterday one valid nomination was received. Mairia Cahill was proposed by Party Leader, Joan Burton TD, and seconded by Deputy Party Leader, Alan Kelly TD.
As Maria Cahill is the only candidate nominated, a joint meeting of the Central Council and Labour Parliamentary Party to select the Party's candidate for the by election is not now required, and she is formally nominated the Labour Candidate
Nominated by the party leader and deputy leader, no contest within the Labour Party.
Mairia Cahill said: “I would like to thank Joan Burton, Alan Kelly and the Labour Party for putting me forward as a candidate for the Seanad Eireann by-election.
“In particular, I believe that as a member of the Industrial and Commercial Panel, I will be able to bring to bear, my experience in local and community enterprises since 1998.
“I have relevant experience serving as a Company Director and Secretary on a number of community employment and regeneration projects in Belfast, as well as experience working in a family-run business. I hope to use the knowledge I gained on these emphasising the need to get young people into work, and at the activation measures required to assist them.
Mr. Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced today (30 September, 2015) that he has made an order directing that a bye-election be held to fill the vacancy in the Seanad caused by the resignation of Senator Jimmy Harte.
Senator Harte was elected from the Oireachtas Sub-Panel of the Industrial and Commercial Panel at the Seanad General Election in April 2011.
The last day for receiving nominations at the bye-election will be 15 October, 2015 at 12 noon. The Seanad Returning Officer will sit for the ruling on nominations on 23 October, 2015. Ballot papers will be issued on 30 October, 2015 and the poll will close at 11 a.m. on 13 November, 2015.
The electorate at the bye-election will be the members of Dáil Eireann and Seanad Éireann.
Vocational Panel
The Seanad is the Upper house of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas. It has 60 members elected either by nominating bodies, other TDs, Senators and local councillors, or by appointment by the Taoiseach.
Those elected are nominated to 6 panels based on vocations, Administrative Panel, Agricultural Panel, Cultural and Educational Panel, Industrial and Commercial Panel, Labour Panel.
Its meant to be a house of people with knowledge and experience in varying areas to review legislation and bring their expertise to the Seanad and Joint Oireachtas Committees, but it mostly used by political partys to give prominence to failed/future Dail election candidates.
7 1° Before each general election of the members of Seanad Éireann to be elected from panels of candidates, five panels of candidates shall be formed in the manner provided by law containing respectively the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely:–
iv Industry and Commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering and architecture;
the expression “the industrial and commercial panel” means the panel required by the said subsection 1° to contain the names of persons having knowledge and practical experience of the following interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
The current members of the Industry and Commerce panel are Averil Power Ind (ex FF), Mary M White FF, Marc MacSharry FF, Imelda Henry FG, Paul Coghlan FG, Colm Burke FG, Kathryn Reilly SF, Catherine Noone FG. Looking at the qualification (sheet8) Oireachtas Sub-Panel members of the Industry and Commerce, although maybe looking at a low bar because all 3 were failed election candidates at the preceding general election. Jimmy Harte UCD BA Pyschology,Insurance Broker, Councillor, son of a TD, Councillor, GE canddiate for FG,IND,LP Source Averil Power TCD, BA Business,Dip Kings Inn,parliamentary assistant, special adviser Dept of Social/Education, GE canddiate for FF Source Kathryn Reilly DCU BA Economics,UCD MEconSc in European Economic, parliamentary assistant, GE canddiate for SF Source
Beades Frank Connolly Village Magazine 1 June, 2015
Scrutiny
The Seanad Returning Officer will sit for the ruling on nominations on 23 October, 2015Minister Kelly Signs Seanad Bye-Election Order Department of Environment, Local government 02/10/15
38.—(1) The President of the High Court or some other judge of the High Court nominated by him shall attend at the completion of the panels and there sit and act as judicial referee.
(2) The Seanad returning officer may, on his own motion, and shall, if so requested by any person whose name is on a provisional sub-panel for the time being under consideration or by the agent of any such person, refer to the judicial referee any question arising during the completion of the panels in relation to any nomination paper, the nomination of any person to a panel, the qualifications of any person for a panel, the statement by the Seanad returning officer of such qualification, or any other matter connected with the provisional panels.
(3) The judicial referee shall there and then decide and announce his decision on every question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer.
(4) The decision of the judicial referee on any question referred to him under this section by the Seanad returning officer shall be final and conclusive and shall not be open to review by any court.
(5) A question may be referred to the judicial referee under this section whether the Seanad returning officer has or has not himself given a decision thereon.
The Seanad Clerk and Justice, accepted week old stateboard appointment by the Minister for Arts as legitimate qualification for the 2014 Seanad Educatioanl and Cultural Panel Bye-election, the same Seanad Clerk wll be reviewings 2015's candidates along with a similar qualified judge as last year, I don't trust it, do you?
I searched for times when the Seanad Clerk queried qualifications for panels.
Kathy Sinott in 2002. Disability rights campaigner to run for Seanad. She as allowed run for the Labour Panel. Thomas Byrne in 2011, who wasn't allowed run for the agriculture panel so he ran for Educational and Cultural panel based on his legal qualifications.
I asked Mairia Cahill if she would publish her CV. She refused. She said bizarrely it was up to Labour, why? She's her own person, its her CV, its up to her publish it herself.
So I gave up expecting answers from her and checked Linkedin and found her Linkedin profile.
She published her education and work history online at some point in 2015, but when she decided to run for public office she deleted it...
posted a link to Mairia Cahill's public Linked profile/work history last night https://t.co/LED7WJSYJw now deleted
"I started my first degree at Queens...I had to drop out."
Employment
Her longest job has been working for the Probation Services Office (previously as an admin). Presumably her duties include helping those on probation get jobs, which is what she means by 'activation'.
It is mentioned that she is a probation worker in this UCC Express interview but no where else, I could find, I honestly never heard exactly what she did before other then 'community worker'.
Qualifications Criteria Reform
The Working Group on Seanad Reform suggested changes to the qualifications criteria, they don't apply now, but there are not radical and could be a guide to making a judgement about this by-election's candidates qualifications. Final Seanad Reform Report
The Working Group recommends that the level of knowledge and practical experience required by the constitution be defined in legislation.
Legal Issues Concerning Reform Of Seanad Franchise And Nominations - Michael McDowell Feb 2015.
It is constitutionally open to the Oireachtas to enact a law for the formation of panels under Article 18.7.1 fora process where, on objective criteria, the nomination of a candidate required that the candidate requiredsignificant degree of knowledge and a significant degree of practical experience of one, some or all of the“interests and services” to which the panel relates, rather than simply “some knowledge and some practicalexperience”,
It is also open to the Oireachtas by law to:
(a) establish objective minimum standards both of knowledge and of practical experience of the relevant“interests and services” to be eligible for nomination and
(b) establish a body capable of deciding whether any particular nominee satisfies such standards.
11. Knowledge and practical experience.
Part IV of the Act of 1947 is amended in Chapter II by inserting the following before section 25 -
“Knowledge and practical experience.
24A.
(1) This section gives further effect to the requirement set out in Article 18.7 of the Constitution which requires a person seeking to be a candidate in a Seanad general election to have knowledge and practical experience of the interests and services pertaining to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to be elected.
(2) The requirement that a person mentioned in subsection (1) have knowledge and practical experience of the interests and services pertaining to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to be elected may be met by establishing to the satisfaction of a judicial referee that he or she has-
(i)
(a) attained a formal qualification, or
(b) through several years of work experience, has attained a level of knowledge which can be regarding as being equivalent to a formal qualification, in a field which is of direct relevance to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to become a candidate, and
(ii) has verifiable practical experience which is of direct relevance to the constituency in respect of which he or she is seeking to become a candidate.
(3) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), persons seeking nomination to the–
...
(d) industrial and commercial constituency shall, to the satisfaction of the judicial assessor, demonstrate knowledge and practical experience of the following
interests and services, namely, industry and commerce, including banking, finance, accountancy, engineering, and architecture;
...
(5) A person who has previously served as a member of the Seanad shall be deemed to meet the knowledge and practical experience requirements of Article
18.7 of the Constitution and therefore subsections (2), (3) and (4) shall not apply in respect of the nomination of such persons.
(6) The Seanad Electoral Commission, having consulted with the Minister for Justice, shall appoint a serving or former Judge of the Superior Courts to serve as a judicial assessor for the purpose of this section.
(7) In order to be eligible for inclusion in a replacement candidates list provided for under section 57, a person shall satisfy the requirements of this section
IT will act as an umbrella for Independent candidates on issues, such as, a better health service, urban disadvantage, unemployed, equality in education, negative equity victims, rural issues, disabilities, small and medium business enterprises, Banking, protecting our constitution, etc. Candidates representing general issues are also welcome. IT is not hung up on political ideologies of left, right or centre.
Founding document Irish Citizens Party Páirtí Saoránaigh na hÉireann love of humanity; love of country.
Jim's track record in the voluntary sector also includes founding the charity Rural Resettlement Ireland in 1990 (still in operation) which has helped over 760 urban families to move to the West. Declan Mac Partlin, another founding member of the IRDA who was later elected as an Independent to Wexford Co Council.
Independents Together is a voluntary non-party organisation set up to encourage ordinary people from all walks of life to run as independent candidates in all counties.
The only way to break the disastrous cycle of Civil War politics and return power to the people who pay the bills, is to see as many independents as possible elected to Councils and to the Dáil.
Independents Together (the organisation) does not subscribe to political ideologies of left, right or centre.
Independents Together candidates shall uphold basic principles, such as, a commitment to democracy, accountability, equality, transparency and to fundamental humanitarian principles which put the quality of life of every citizen as a top priority.
Anti-pylon candidates, anti-fracking candidates as well as all other sectors and groups who feel powerless to influence decisions which directly affect their lives are encouraged to put forward candidates.
All major problems in Ireland are political at their core and the only solutions have to be political ones.
We call on voters to elect independent candidates in large numbers and put control of Government spending in the hands of the people who pay the taxes.
If elected, Independents Together candidates retain their independent status and are answerable and accountable only to the electorate and not to any party or organisation.
councillors Tom Welby – Group Secretary, Connemara area councillor Joe Folan – Irish Officer; Tuam area councillors Sean Canney, Shaun Cunniffe and Des Joyce; Loughrea area councillor Pat Hynes and Ballinasloe area councillor Tim Broderick – Treasurer.Meanwhile Oranmore/Athenry area councillor James Charity and Tuam area councillor Karey McHugh also announced thier membership
Cllr Gardner asked if holistic therapies and orthodox medicine could work together and if the HSE could take positive action to empower people to heal themselves.
In response Ms. Lanigan advised that health options are a personal choice and if attending a GP or being treated in hospital, patients will generally follow the clinical advice given, including the medication prescribed.
Independents Together supported Breda Gardner in her 2015 Carlow Kilkenny by-election campaign
Independents Together Limited
Independents Together Limited was set up on Fri the 20th of Mar 2015 in Co. Galway, C/O Thomas Welby Directors Christy Hyland Nicholas Crossan.
Independent Together associated candidates
For the 2014 Local elections I found 16 potential candidates, 4 didn't run, 2 didn't win, 10 did win, only one was a first timer. Google spreadsheet with the help Elections Ireland
Sheet3 shows the overlap between Independents Together, Independents Network and Independents Alliance.
April 2014 17 candidates spread over nine counties.
May 2014 13 candidates
Jan 2015 national figure ~27
As an Independent, and a recently affiliated member of ‘Independents Together’, I welcome submissions and ideas from constituents and/or community organisations working with vulnerable and marginalised groups to assist in shaping my forthcoming core policies.
I am asked Tommy Broughan what Independents Together was and he said
"Independents Together is a group of Independent councillors from around the country who are not part of any other alliance. They approached me earlier this year about joining them and explained that they hope to support Independent candidates in the forthcoming Dáil and Seanad Elections. The Councillors I met would be generally supportive of the core policies I have outlined over the past 4 years including an end to austerity, fair fiscal policy and a major public housing programme."
I live in Dublin North East soon to be Dublin North Bay, I've voted for Tommy Broughan before I may to reconsider my vote.
Independents Groupings
They were a couple of other Independent groupings in recent years.
The Independents’ Network aims to encourage and assist independents to contest at Local Government level in order to capture the energy of the large numbers of people who are very active at a community level and who can bring those community values into the political arena.
The Network is envisaged as a platform where independent politicians and candidates can come together on the basis of shared principles; Equality, Democracy, Community, Sustainability, Solidarity and Human Rights, and cooperate, where appropriate, to bring about change in the political status quo. These principles are laid down in the Networks’ guiding document ‘Independent Thought –United Vision’ which came about as a result of collaboration between Independent TDs Catherine Murphy, John Halligan and Thomas Pringle. Recently, they have been joined by fellow independent TDs Maureen O’Sullivan and Finian McGrath (Patrick Nulty) until he resignedand together the five TDs have worked to bring the movement to its official launch.
Marian Harkin MEP was also involved in the Independents Network and now the Independents Alliance replacements for her European seat she retained in 2014 is Thomas Welby and Tim Broderick who were associated with Independents Together.
Representatives featured on www.independentsnetwork.org have signed up to the principles of Equality, Democracy, Solidarity, Sustainability, Community and Human Rights, as set out in Independent Thought - United Vision. Inclusion on this website is not an endorsement by other featured representatives or the Independents' Network.
The Independents’ Network, a loose alliance of non-party candidates, saw nineteen of its 36 members – two MEPs and seventeen councillors – elected at the last local and European elections.
Jim Connnolly 087 7755683 Rural Resettlement Ireland
Secretary of the Irish Rural Dwellers Association (IRDA)
http://www.waterford-today.ie/waterford-today-news/2864-independents-together-22249.html
Roscommon Leitrim South Michael Fitzmaurice founder?
http://www.politics.ie/forum/political-reform/192969-irish-citizens-party.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/left-wing-independent-tds-to-discuss-forming-umbrella-group-1.1682819
Fracking
Thursday, February 28, 2013 Jim Connolly Irish Citizens Party
http://erc.epa.ie/public_consultation/#.Vgk0EexVhBc
http://erc.epa.ie/public_consultation/download.php?f=Final_Combined_Submissions_File_3
Marian Harkin
https://www.donegalreturningofficer.com/index.php/auto-generate-from-title/11-notice-of-poll-north-west
