I must be doing something right

Interesting to see yet more pieces in the national papers on Saturday on the issue of Seanad Reform this time in the Independent from my fellow Kerryman and then from a TCD candidate in the Irish Times. And also on the cover of the Irish edition of the Sunday Times. Yet the mainstream press appears solid in its steely resolve not to allow some upstart who went to UL be the spokesperson for an issue that affects them directly.

After all who do we think we are? Instead why not give an NUI graduate or TCD graduate a platform to say how they feel our pain and hope that we will go away. Well, I won't, the issue won't and we won't. It is an issue that is straightforward to fix and long past time to fix it. And I suspect everyone knows it.

Not that this issue alone would be sufficient to get anyone elected. However, it would seem that at least some of the candidates are twigging that there is a constituency out there who recognise the urgent need to reform the Seanad and are eager to elect someone who is hungry to get cracking on the work involved. Combine this with the growing possibility of the government lacking a working majority in the Seanad and you get a concerted effort from them not to allow someone from outside the government parties get a seat.

Indeed, I had another NUI candidate call me today to emphasis their personal commitment to extending rights to those of us outside the NUI or TCD. I reckon that as more folks are seeing that there is merit in the points I've been making, the more it will start to everyone's agenda.

Misquoting Gandhi, I think we're possibly in the third phase.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then some fight you while others join you, then you win.”

Recycling old promises for Seanad

Interesting how any number of people are claiming how interested they are in Seanad Reform now that we have an election but they were remarkably silent

Take Joe O'Toole who said in 1997 while campaigning for election that "On the canvass, however, he has discovered the depth of resentment among graduates of universities other than the NUI or Trinity who are not entitled to a Seanad vote. "I agree. Why on earth should votes be restricted to these two universities, one established by a queen and the other by a cardinal. If elected I intend proposing changes.""

Doing something would have made sense even his own perspective of looking to protect his seat as primary teaching graduates of Mary Immaculate and St. Patrtick's Drumcondra can no longer vote. Sadly no action has been taken.

Seanad finances

The Independent News and Media folks have updated their site in recent weeks, and as a consequence appear to have upgraded their search engine too which is quite a good thing. For reasons of naked self interest I had a looksee at what turned up from the archives when I typed in “Seanad” and came across a very interesting article about campaign funding for the NUI Seanad race in 2002. I have to say that the €8,867 that Bernadine received in 2002 would have paid for a hell lot of advertising and printing in today’s prices not to mind how much it bought back then. Interesting that she was in effect getting every ASTI member to cough up for her campaign while suggesting she was putting herself on their behalf.

Another more recent article throws up the issue of money and financial backing again but in different context. Ms. Susan Philips says "...But the university Senators - and there are six in total, three from the NUI and three from Trinity - should ideally be absolutely free from pressure groups, party politics or financial obligations.'"

It might be just that I’m coming from a PAYE background with my dad as a council worker in Kerry but I would have thought the salary of a Seanad member (running at €62,000 for a newbie though many more are apparently on much higher sums) should be more than enough to keep them free from "financial obligations" yet it would appear from her comments that Ms. Philips believes that being terribly, terribly rich is not alone a good thing in politics but that when it comes to the Seanad it is darn nearly a requirement. I suppose it is easy for someone who has the financial clout of Ballyfree Farm behind them to say this.

I’ve paid for my campaign out of my own funds. I’ll post the amounts I've outlaid at the end of the campaign (don’t want people stealing in on my bargains now, do I) and in large part the SSIA has met the bills.

Jim McDaid for Ceann Comhairle

I have a suspicion that the alternative and the independents might pull a fast one to keep FF/Pd government on their toes.

How? By nominating Jim McDaid as Ceann Comhairle. He is none too pleased with the support he got from the FF organisation and it would secure his seat and he could claim that it allows FF to hold 2 there next time out. It would actually suit FF locally in Donegal as they would hold two seats time out. and it would suit McDaid as he would enjoy at least 2 more terms of office and as a dapper dressing gent he may well like the perks of office.

Doing so would strengthen the position of the independents by increasing the FF dependency on them. And I think SF would be inclined to support him in the short/medium term as they must reckon a seat in DNE is off the cards for the moment. They will concentrate on DSW for the time being.

FG+Lab+Grn (77) + SF (4) + Gregory and McGrath (2) = 83 and Jim would either vote for himself or simply abstain.

A Wii has temporarily made its home in my house

Heaven help us all.

Justice

So what do I mean when I say "Reforms to ensure consistency in sentencing and the delivery of real justice."?

I suppose I believe that the balance of the criminal justice system prioritises crimes against property over those against the person. How often do you hear about armed robber getting a suspended sentence? And I think we need to look are refocusing sentencing so that custodial sentences are for those who are violent and a danger to society.

We should explore non-custodial options for non-violent offenders who aren’t a danger to society.

I'm not suggesting that politicians hand down sentences, far from it. I would not like to see the minister for justice or anyone else interfering in court proceedings.

I would suggest the DPP is staffed by professionals and that they should be able to ask for a sentence appropriate to the seriousness of the particular offence compared to the sentencing norms that would be established by reviewing previous sentences. And that is reflective of the nature of the crime committed. However, if you wanted to know what the average sentence for assault was in 1995 there is no point in asking the department of justice as no one had been tracking some ploddingly trivialities like who got how long for doing what. So the department does not know what the norms are because they’re not tracking sentence.

Victims of crime should be consulted and advised of the progress of the case though they should be able to opt out of this if they so choose but we should not have cases where someone is released back into the community without the victims being aware of it. This happens all too often and for victims of sexual crimes seeing their assailant back in their home town without warning is just unacceptable.

if you wanted to know what the average sentence for assault was in 1995 there is no point in asking the department of justice as no one had been tracking some ploddingly trivialities like who got what for doing what.

The aim of the criminal justice system is meant to be summed up in the terms Punishment, Protection of society, and Rehabilitation. Prison on its own makes us as a society feel good but the question remains does it do any good.

It seems odd that whenever alternatives to prison are suggested people lose the plot; whether it is ankle bracelets, curfews, or random testing for drugs. We seem to have both on the left and the right of the political debate a belief that it is prison or nothing. As free citizens we have many rights including the right to liberty which could be curbed in the case of those convicted of non violent offences. Why for example should we not prevent someone from consuming of alcohol if they are convicted of an alcohol related crime?

In combination with this, we need to realise that if we are prepared to spend X millions on prison then we need to commit to similar expenditure on prevention and that means educational opportunities and family supports. Justice is more than just building prisons and introducing new laws. It is about the application of the law.

For an Able Life

I am campaigning for the reversal of the imposition of charges on disabled adults who are living independently. Click for some history.

I guess when my main activism has been concentrated around ensuring that my sister and every other person with a disability is treated in a decent manner just as every other citizen of this republic should be.

I read this piece by Fergus Finlay (updated link now in Irish Examiner archive) in the Examiner* back in April and I was positively seething afterwards. I urge everyone to read Fergus's piece. And please Click the Clamp to the right to sign the petition - >

My sister, who is a year, a month and a day younger than me, is intellectually disabled (as if she didn't have enough to put up with being my sister) and lives quite happily in Killarney, in sheltered housing managed by the Kerry Parents and Friends Association who do a fine job trying to ensure that people in Kerry can live as independently and fulfilling a life as possible. Finding a place close to home was a process of years of fighting mainly on the part of my mother dealing with the various bureaucracies of the state, during which she was placed in Devlin, Co. Westmeath, Mayfield Co. Cork, Tralee and now Killarney.

It now appears that the department of health (which has historically dropped the ball on supports for those with disabilities) is planning to implement the same regime of charges for those with disabilities as for the pensioners in residential care. Which means they will charge disabled people for living in residential settings. And charge them out of their disabled person's maintenance allowance. The DPMA is currently €184 per week which is less than an old age non-contributory pension and about the same as the dole. So if you are on the dole, and live away from home the state will pay you a rent supplement but if you make the same attempt to live independently as a disabled person the state will charge you for the pleasure? And, get this, the state is also planning to apply this new regime retrospectively! They are right now sending bills to the parents of people with disabilities looking for back payments. Can you fucking believe it?

You know one of the most stressful things for parents of someone with a disability is the ever present thought of what will happen when you're gone. This is someone that you love with all your heart but you know that unlike your other children who you will also worry about (worrying seeming to be in the very nature of parenting, and is something that you don't realise until you become a parent yourself or see friends become parents) that your disabled child won't ever be able to fend for themselves completely and they will always need someone to be looking out for them. And when you're gone you hope that your community will care for them and the state which is the community writ large and the mechanism for expressing that care will do what it can.

I actually genuinely thought that Cowen's efforts, particularly in his budgets , were the sign that the issue of treating people with disabilities fairly, and supporting those organisations that work in the area, was now completely part of the mainstream of Irish political life. I thought despite all the other differences I might have with the guy that here is someone that gets it.

I can tell you now that anyone whether from the revenue or the department of health who tries to take or takes by sleight of hand money from my sister will find me on their door beating their fucking head in with whatever comes to hand. When it comes to my sister I will happily get all Timothy McVeigh on you and your place of work.

As Fergus points out unlike the elderly those with disability will almost certainly never have the chance to be members of the work force and accrue money and assets that might be put into paying for their care. Again, I would urge people to read Fergus's piece he manages to be put it much more than I do.

* The examiner has in the last few years become my alternate to the Irish Times, in large part because you can't depend on the Independent to get the days of the week right.

The NUI Stakes are off and running

The horses in the paddocks and as they approach the track itself we will have a quick look over the following runners and riders.

Bresnihan, Valerie: - Social and Human Rights Researcher

A previous runner and also did quite well as I recall.

Brodbin, Shane: - Product Manager

Ex-DCU SU President

Connolly, Mark: - Financial Services Official

Apparently he is very supportive of the government, in fact wanted that on his entry on the ballot paper but did not have any documentation to back it up. Honesty when I saw him in person I thought he was one of Bock the Robber's men from the Blog Awards. Seriously.

Crowley, Liam: - Solicitor

Another man from Puck, Christ people will think we're trying to take over. A director of elections for John "the bull" O'Donoghue on occasion. And a local election candidate for FF in 2004.

Garavan, Mark: - Lecturer and Sociologist

The Shell to Sea representative. I'll bet J/Gerry Cowley never thought when deciding to support him that he would be out of the Oireachtas himself when the election was being held. Sociologist? I thought he had suggested he was some sort of chemical engineer when taking about the pipeline.

Healy, Paddy: - Immediate Past President, Teachers’ Union of Ireland, and Lecturer

Apparently, a brother of Seamus Healy who was TD for Tipperary South until a short while ago.

Hillery, John Anthony: - Medical Doctor

Hogan, Martin: - Green Reform Candidate and Business Mentor

Nice bloke. Can't imagine he is too impressed at Mark Garavan's late declaration.

Kennedy, John Paul Alexander: - Software Engineer; Young Fine Gael
Endorsed Candidate

Lowe, Martina: - Director, GET AHEAD

MacCárthaigh, Dáithí: - Abhcóide/Barrister

Monahan, Oonagh: - Business Manager

NUIG person, is the west awake?

Mullen, Rónán: - Barrister, Teacher, Columnist

Was or is a columnist for examiner or Daily Mail. some suggestion on p.ie that he is supported by the cleric wing of Irish politics. Was with the press office of the Dublin Diocesan Communications Office at one time too.

O’Callaghan, Bernie: - Hotelier

Ó Gógáin, Liam: - Engineer and Lecturer

Father's rights is primarily his focus or so it appears from googling.

O’Riordan, Mary: - Medical Doctor

O’Shea Farren, Linda Mary Patricia: - Solicitor and Human Rights Advocate

Was Nora Owen's programme manager according to the good people at thepost.ie and has a nice address apparently.

O'Sullivan, Bernadine: - Secondary Teacher

Former ASTI President who has run before and came close to unseating Brendan Ryan. Was last time her only real chance? Her campaign may well consist of saying
Benchmarking- bad ICTU - boo hiss and so on.

O'Toole, Joe: - Senator and Educationalist

Educationalist no less! there's posh for ya. Used to be when being a teacher was good enough for our Joe. Still and all he's from Dingle so I won't say anything too bad about him.

Philips, Susan: Political Analyst

Seems to be UCD academic

Price, Brendan: - Biologist, Founder: Irish Seal Sanctuary

Plenty of experience over this course and well aware of intricacies of the process.

Quinn, Feargal: - Senator

A pleasant man to speak with and surely a shoe-in again this time out.

Ryan, Brendan: - Senator and Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

Interesting to see Brendan making a targeted love bomb of engineers. His vote dropped last time out after he had joined the Labour party and run in the general election. Not sure what impact it may have this time.

Sullivan, Daniel K: - Disability Activist and Software Development Researcher.

The above was intended to have read Software Development Researcher and Disability Activist but the box was rather small and once I got Software Development Researcher written I realised I would have write Disability Activist above it for it to fit in the same area. I have some qualms with the word "Activist" too as it speaks to me of folks gathered around a Formica topped table, smoking butts talking about assisting the workers in their struggle to overthrow the bosses. Still it seems to be the vernacular of the times so.

Oh and the flag has been dropped and they're off...

Where could Labour have won?

Reflecting on Tommy Broughan comments and those of others whether in the meeja or the Labour party about the Rabbitte - Labour Strategy got me thinking about where the party could actually have won if they had pursued a more independent path and if as a consequence their % had been up.

In essence that would mean taking votes from FF candidates that would have come from those that would have wanted Bertie as Taoiseach. After all those that wanted Enda would be less inclined to vote for a more neutral Labour.

Kerry South - the key factor here I would reckon was Moynihan-Cronin's decision to retire and then come back. While she was out of the picture others were knocking on doors and saying "vote for me", it is hard to make up that gap once others have gotten the political mind share in a locality.

Meath East - This is a kind of split in that the FG vote seems to have been up too. Was Byrne's vote down to geography? Strange thing is that Fitzgerald's votes did not particularly go anywhere. They just sort of drifted off in various directions.

Dublin South Central - the problem for the Labour party here is the variety of left options who to be honest do not think much of Bertie or Enda. Here people have a choice between the left, the hard left, the far left and the "we're so left we must be right" people.

Wicklow - well, the FG vote was up too so it could be argued that had the Labour party been even more anti FF that they might have secured that vote instead of it going to FG. It has to be said that Nicky Kelly's more recent brushes with the law in relation to driving issues can't have helped.

Tipperary North - more of a problem with the same old face I'm not so sure the locals are all that crazy about the self help crowd O'Meara is involved with.

Dublin North - again another old face though this time the brother. If they had gone for some new in Dublin North instead of the Ryan's regarding it as a fiefdom.

In essence Labour could have been 2/3% higher nationally and not won anymore seats (bar Hannigan I reckon) unless the candidate selection issues about were addressed. In all bar one of these seats it was old familiar faces, perhaps too familiar faces that were running.

So, I think the problem for Labour wasn't the accord it was the failure to prevent FF getting votes instead of Labour's failure to get them.

I'll be FF are glad we don't have E-Voting machines now!

Imagine what the reaction that would have come from many quarters if this result had happened with E-Voting machines in use. I would think that a good many people might have suspected some tampering.

Just goes to show the benefit of some transparency in the democratic process.

How to go about forming an FG lead government.

I know most people will think this belongs in the realm of pure fantasy, but at this point in time we are looking at FG 51 + Lab 20 + Grn 6 = 77

If the PDs decide they have no future as a party then moves should be made to do the following

• Elect Mary Harney as Ceann Comhairle, on the proviso that she would step down in advance of the next election allowing Tony Gregory to be elected as Ceann Comhairle securing his support. It would appear that Mary Harney does not wish to be leader of a party that requires considerable rebuilding and also that she was always planning on leaving the Oireachtas at the end of this the 30th Dail.
• Get Noel Grealish to join FG with the certainty of being an FG candidate for Galway West next time.
• Do a deal with Jackie Healy Rae which includes making one of his sons a Taoiseach's nominee for the Seanad giving him the profile to succeed Jackie next time out.
• Sort out some packages that would satisfy McGrath and Lowry over the lifetime of the government.

That would give FG 52 + Lab 20 + Grn 6 = 78 + TG1 + ML1 + BF1 + JHR1 +FMcG = 83

I would agree that this at this point in time might not seem the most likely of outcomes but those measures should be explored because while they might not result in a government lead by FG this year we may yet see one in the next 2/3 years.

Bev may have to step down inside the next 12 months if the RTe suit for bankruptcy is successful. This would result in a bye election that FG might well win if it were to happen when such a result would lead to a Mayo Taoiseach.

It is noteworthy that while the last few Dails have had no bye elections due to members passing away that some such as Jackie Healy Rae, Mary O'Rourke and Michael Woods are, as the sayings goes, getting on in years indeed all three are over 70 at this point. That is not something I'm exactly wishing for but we need to be realistic about the possibilities that might arise during the lifetime of the Dail.

So I am basically saying that I think that a new FF lead government might well not last 5 years. Of course my predictions on the election results were pretty off the mark so I will hold my hands up and admit my credibility on this might be viewed by some as being weak.

Was this 'the' local general election?

I will post more on this, but it occurs to me that in many ways this was a very local general election.

Minor moments of the election - part 1

1) Seeing SF outpoll the PDs in Dublin North.

2) Seeing RockofCashel being excluded from the 3rd count.

By moments, I don't necessarily mean moments of delight (though the first one certainly was) more that they are moments that will stick in my memory.

Are we all focused on the wrong debate as the turning point of the election?

Given the substantial increase in the FG vote and seat return from that vote and the disappointing performance of the smaller parties, might it be that it wasn't the Leader's Debate part 2 with Bertie and Enda that was the turning point of the election but rather the part 1 version with Pat, Gerry, Michael and Trevor.

Just my initial thoughts.

Dude, was I ever wrong!

That's all I'm saying for now, I'm going to head over to some mates and rehash the whole thing and watch how it unfolds.

Election predictions - the whole shebang

I did the old election prediction thing a while back and I think I'm going to revise it here.

Constituency	Seats	Result of 2002 election	kingkane's Prediction
Carlow Kilkenny	5	FF 3, FG 1, Lab 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 Green: 1 I think that the two Labour candidates are too weak and transfers won't be tight enough to get them the seat especially when geography comes into play.
Cavan Monaghan	4	FF 2, FG 1, SF 1, Ind 1. Rory O`Hanlon FF will be returned as Ceann Comhairle, making this a 4-seater.	FF: 1 FG: 2 SF: 1 Connolly has been a failure on the hospital and Conlon was selected much too late.
Clare	4	FF2, FG 1, Others 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 FG will deny the various FF's the chance to move outside their areas and gain votes. Indo Breen to be squeezed as people want a government.
Cork East	4	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 It seems to be forgotten that Sherlock Snr. used to struggle at one for a his seat. Also SF will eat into that vote a bit. So FG to gain in the end.
Cork North Central	4	FF 3, FG 1, Lab 1 Was 5 seats.	FF: 2 FG: 1 Lab: 1 The entry of McCarthy has opened this open .FG should actually sneak it now but more likely it will stay the same
Cork North West	3	FF 2, FG 1	FF: 1 FG: 2 I think the vote management for FF is going to be truly terrible and that will cost them the seat.
Cork South Central	5	FF 3, FG 1, Green 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 Green: 1 Martin won't have the surplus to save Dennehy this time.
Cork South West	3	FF 2, FG 1	FF: 1 FG: 2 FF are content to lose this one as they know O'Donovan could be the sole TD going for reelection in 2012
Donegal North East	3	FF 2, Ind 1. Niall Blaney (Ind) later joined FF.	FF: 2 FG: 1 Blaney to lose out and I'm coming round to the idea that SF might gain here too.
Donegal South West	3	FF 2, FG 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 SF: 1 The Cope to lose out.
Dublin Central	4	FF 2, Lab 1, Ind 1	FF: 1 Lab: 1 Green: 1 Others: 1 FF have made a right mess of this. If they had run just Mary Fitz , they would have held it.
Dublin Mid West	4	FF 1, PD 1, Green 1 Was 3 seats.	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1 Green: 1 I've changed my mind and now think that Harney's absent landlord bit is going to tell for her in the end.
Dublin North	4	FF 2, Lab 1, Green 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 SP: 1 Green: 1 I now think that Daly will take it. Labour should have found someone younger and earlier to replace Ryan.
Dublin North Central	3	FF 2, FG 1, Ind 1 Was 4 seats.	FF: 1 FG: 1 Green: 1
Dublin North East	3	FF 2, Lab 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Dublin North West	3	FF 2, Lab 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 SF: 1 I think that SF will eat into Labour enough that Tormey could get ahead of Shortall.
Dublin South	5	FF 2, FG 1, PD 1, Green 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 Green: 1 Sorry, Liz too inactive and lassiez faire about the whole thing
Dublin South Central	5	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1, SF 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 2 SF: 1
Dublin South East	4	FF 1, Lab 1, PD 1, Green 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1 Green: 1
Dublin South West	4	FF 2, Lab 1, SF 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1 SF: 1 Lenihan to lose out.
Dublin West	3	FF 1, Lab 1, SP 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Others: 1
Dun Laoghaire	5	FF 2, Lab 1, PD 1, Green 1	FF: 2 FG: 1 Lab: 1 Green: 1 On a really bad day for FF, Andrews could be at risk. But should just hold on.
Galway East	4	FF 2, FG 1, Ind 1	FF: 2 FG: 2
Galway West	5	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1, PD 1	FF: 2 FG: 1 Lab: 1 Green: 1
Kerry North	3	FF 1, FG 1, SF 1	FG: 1 Lab: 1 SF: 1
Kerry South	3	FF 1, Lab 1, Ind 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Kildare North	4	FF 1, FG 1, Lab 1 Was 3 seats. By-election 2005 replaced FF with Ind.	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1 Others: 1
Kildare South	3	FF 2, Lab 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Laois Offaly	5	FF 3, FG 1, PD 1	FF: 3 FG: 2 No more Parlon country
Limerick East	5	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1, PD 1	FF: 2 FG: 2 Lab: 1
Limerick West	3	FF 2, FG 1	FF: 1 FG: 2 Brennan and Nix to swing it for FG.
Longford Westmeath	4	New constituency. 2002 results for Westmeath: FF 1, FG 1, Lab 1.	FF: 2 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Louth	4	FF 2, FG 1, SF 1	FF: 1 FG: 2 SF: 1
Mayo	5	FF 2, FG 2, Ind 1 Beverly Flynn (FF) later became Ind	FF: 1 FG: 3 Others: 1 Cowley will hang on due to transfers from SF, Lab and Greens. That gets him ahead of Bev.
Meath East	3	New constituency 2002 results for Meath: FF 3, FG 2. By-election 2005 replaced FG with FG.	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Meath West	3	New constituency 2002 results for Meath: FF 3, FG 2. By-election 2005 replaced FG with FG.	FF: 2 FG: 1
Roscommon Leitrim South	3	New constituency 2002 result for Longford Roscommon: FF 2, FG 1, PD 1.	FF: 2 FG: 1
Sligo Leitrim North	3	New constituency 2002 result for Sligo Leitrim: FF 2, FG 1, Ind 1.	FF: 2 FG: 1
Tipperay North	3	FF 2, Ind 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Others: 1
Tipperay South	3	FF 1, FG 1, Ind 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Others: 1
Waterford	4	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1	FF: 2 FG: 1 Lab: 1
Wexford	5	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1, Ind 1 Liam Twomey (Ind) later joined FG.	FF: 2 FG: 2 Lab: 1
Wicklow	5	FF 2, FG 1, Lab 1, Ind 1	FF: 1 FG: 1 Lab: 2 Green: 1

Election snippets.

Got handed a "Central News" this morning, for a moment I thought the Flash might wheeze by too. In actuality it turned out to be a Fianna Fail newsheet.

Curious thing is there no moment of Mary Fitzpatrick while there are two pictures of Cyprian Brady. The rest is pure Bertie. I have to wonder what Mary Fitzpatrick did to ould Bertie. I've seen her and Cyprian on the box, and she is head and shoulders above him, to be quite honest with you.

And I thought there was some GAA rule about staying out of politics, there are two clubs featured in this particular freesheet. I recall some GAA diktat a month or two back involving a SF candidate somewhere.

Shane McEntee posters are along the North Circular road/New Cabra road. Not as far afield as those of Michael D. Higgins I guess.

Ivor Callely is making a last minute conversion to being a yellow belly supporter, with loads of posters. None which contain the relevant contact details as per the electoral act.

Medical advances & waiting times

Cyprian Brady or someone from FF in the last week was talking about how the medical advances were one of the things the government could count amongst their achievements. I've got to say that in my view unless the state was funding or doing the research themselves then I can't see how they can look for credit for them.

And in there lie some interesting tales I'm sure as to where we should be allocating the real credit for reductions in some of the waiting times for some treatments. Taking just one example, we have grown used to seeing the Taoiseach talking up the reduction in waiting times for cardiac patients but would it not be more accurate to suggest that advances in stents for example are the real reason why people have to wait less time for treatment.

Separated at birth? - Cyprian and Lilly Savage

Senator Cyprian Brady

and

Mr Lilly Savage

Cyprian - to be quite honest with you

Cyprian Brady gave us the "Move forward, not backward, upward not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom" moment of the election so far on campaign daily today. Also, his astounding use of the phrase of "to be quite honest with you" 6 times so far, makes me wonder what it is he could be so worried about being caught lying on.

And I thought he was meant to be so much better than Royston?

Update, his final total for "to be quite honest with you" was 8 times.