Comments on: The Rugbyman Bows Out http://www.irishelection.com/2006/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/ Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:23:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Green’s To Run Second Candidate in North Dubin at Irish Election http://www.irishelection.com/2006/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 Green’s To Run Second Candidate in North Dubin at Irish Election Sat, 04 Nov 2006 22:51:22 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/#comment-4423 [...] Selection later this month but its a sign of confidence in their abilities following the resignation of GV Wright, Jim Glennon and Sean Ryan. I wonder whose votes they are targetting, Labour of Fianna Fail? [...] [...] Selection later this month but its a sign of confidence in their abilities following the resignation of GV Wright, Jim Glennon and Sean Ryan. I wonder whose votes they are targetting, Labour of Fianna Fail? [...]

]]> By: Dan Sullivan http://www.irishelection.com/2006/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Dan Sullivan Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:49:05 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/#comment-3072 An interesting example of how the lack of a strong committee system to keep ministers accountable to the Dail denies many backbenchers a decent role and involvement in policy. Say for example who has the most influence on finance policy at the moment? Someone that is mates with Brian Cowen, a FF backbencher or Michael McDowell. I think the FF backbenchers missed the boat badly on having a real role this summer. And I personally, would encourage the formation of something similar in FG. Parties should use their membership and backbenchers to road test proposals before presenting them to the wider public. It makes reasonable sense to get as many people involved to draw strength from a diversity of opinions. It is rare to see real debates at any party Ard Fheis these days, most of them are occasions for announcing policy not deciding it. YFG play a useful role in FG of getting some real debates going even if it is in part because some YFG members are policy anorak and for many senior members it may be on issues that they'd prefer to leave alone. I'd wish Jim all the best in his future endeavours, and I wonder if this will impact the FF lineup in Dublin North East being finalised if there is now an opening for Deirdre Heney in North. An interesting example of how the lack of a strong committee system to keep ministers accountable to the Dail denies many backbenchers a decent role and involvement in policy. Say for example who has the most influence on finance policy at the moment? Someone that is mates with Brian Cowen, a FF backbencher or Michael McDowell.

I think the FF backbenchers missed the boat badly on having a real role this summer. And I personally, would encourage the formation of something similar in FG. Parties should use their membership and backbenchers to road test proposals before presenting them to the wider public. It makes reasonable sense to get as many people involved to draw strength from a diversity of opinions.

It is rare to see real debates at any party Ard Fheis these days, most of them are occasions for announcing policy not deciding it. YFG play a useful role in FG of getting some real debates going even if it is in part because some YFG members are policy anorak and for many senior members it may be on issues that they’d prefer to leave alone.

I’d wish Jim all the best in his future endeavours, and I wonder if this will impact the FF lineup in Dublin North East being finalised if there is now an opening for Deirdre Heney in North.

]]> By: Cian http://www.irishelection.com/2006/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/comment-page-1/#comment-3067 Cian Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:23:00 +0000 http://www.irishelection.com/10/the-rugbyman-bows-out/#comment-3067 Interesting in the phoenix of Glennons reasons for leaving, he has been hanging around for years for a junior ministry and was convinced he was getting the job mary wallace got. He then went about organising the revolt group of backbenchers seeking to influence policy only to see the limelight taken from him by his co-conspirators. He has apparantly been quite open in telling folk he is 'disillusioned' and 'betrayed' at the moment both by Bertie and his co rumblers in the backbenches. Interesting in the phoenix of Glennons reasons for leaving, he has been hanging around for years for a junior ministry and was convinced he was getting the job mary wallace got. He then went about organising the revolt group of backbenchers seeking to influence policy only to see the limelight taken from him by his co-conspirators.

He has apparantly been quite open in telling folk he is ‘disillusioned’ and ‘betrayed’ at the moment both by Bertie and his co rumblers in the backbenches.

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