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Green Party’s Dan Boyle to run for European Parliament
Read more about: Cork, Europe, Green Party, Ireland
Dan Boyle was selected last night to run for the Green Party in the Euro-South constituency next summer. The senator’s work will be cut out for him getting into one of the three seats.
The field is likely to have two sitting MEPs who won in 2004 and a third who was parachuted in for Simon Coveney’s return to the Dail. Labour Senator Alan Kelly will probably struggle against Dan Boyle’s higher profile but it will make for an interesting contest. As the Dublin candidates will find out five into three means trouble.
Cian, I’ve written over on p.ie about why I think the third seat could be more up for grabs than people think. I have to admit that I read nominating Dan Boyle is something of a statement of intent by the Greens that they also believe that the third seat in South could be in play. A lot of people who were left leaning voted for Sinnott the last time in preference to Brendan Ryan and Chris O’Leary the Green candidate. I think in light of her strong stance on some social issues that this vote is up for grabs. And it would seem FF will find it hard to get someone who can rebalance the ticket with Brian Crowley who is a huge draw for many people. FG also have a real challenge to get as high a profile ticket as with Coveney the last time, Colm Burke is working away at it there have to be those who might suggest running two. County loyalties play a party in all this too.
If Ferris has Kerry to herself she could push up close to double digits. Kelly with Tipperary to himself could look to do the same. Boyle is in my view starting with on at least double what O’Leary got but that’s still only 5%. If he can pull ahead of those too in 1st preferences (that means they don’t get much more than 7/8% each) and Sinnott is under 13% then I believe he could take a seat.
That should have read “FG also have a real challenge to get as high a profile ticket as with Coveney the last time, while Colm Burke is working away at it there have to be those who might suggest running two is the best option when the incumbent is not a household name.”
Dan,
I think the Greens seem, at least in polls, to have locked onto a steady 5-6 percent come hell or highwater. Dan Boyle will be likely to get that much and typically as a green would be expected to do well with the transfers. I think they will not attract as many transfers as they might have. Their govt. tenure has not affected their first preferences much but their transfer friendly appeal may be tarnished and accordingly someone like Boyle who will probably get about 5-6% first preferences may be in a weaker position than expected. That said maybe enough FFers will back him to cancel out that but I think he will not make it.
On Toireasa Ferris I think that she will crack ten. David Cullinane polled about 6 with a base very much to the east and poor name recognition. She has a much higher name recognition than he had. While the previous base is of course instructive I think there is something to be said about how higher profile SF candidates in other constituencies managed to raise their vote to what the opinion polls were saying was that party’s national support level. If thats the case then Ferris will be expecting to break 10 and I think she should do so.
I think Alex White is odds on for that third seat. His profile is being raised and if the recent polls are anything to go by (caveat lector) then he should be able to tap into a solid first preference base.
Cullinane had Waterford to himself, and Kerry is as much to the west as Waterford is to the east. It is also highly likely that FG or FF or even both will be running a candidate from Kerry.
Let’s be really straight about this what exactly is Toireasa known for outside the political commentariat? She’s a presentable, educated relatively young rep who is more known outside political circles for what she wore on the Late Late. For all her supposed political nous she’s no Mary Lou when it comes to handling herself in a debate of any substance. Breaking 10% isn’t impossible for SF but it is still very much an outside bet at this point.
With the Libertas candidate in the mix too, it’s going to be very interesting. I look forward to following Boyle around. The “two faces of Dan Boyle” is going to be a fun campaign
‘the two faces of Dan Boyle’? That’s still a good dozen short of what you’ve got yourself Damo, old buddy, old pal. Aren’t you that chap that gets himself introduced as a journalist one minute but then denies he’s member of the media the next? Or the technology expert that gets someone else to modify a wordpress template for the his blog for him? You should stick to making stuff up about yfg, that’s more your style. At least Dan Boyle has the decency and cojones to stand over his views unlike yourself.
Dan Boyle? The same Danno who sold out the mugs who voted Green so he could get one of the Taoiseachs 11 senate seats and so not have to get a real job? There are alot of folks out to get Danno for that.
NEXT ELECTION WILL BE PAYBACK TIME FOR THIS CORRUPT LITTLE SELLOUT.