Those FF Seanad picks May 30, 2016
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.trackback
Well, that was new, the sight of an FF leader having the leeway to select three of the Taoiseach’s nominees for the Seanad. And clever too in going non-FF in doing so.
Yet not without controversy in and of itself. The news over the weekend that Fine Gael TDs weren’t aware of the deal that led to Martin being gifted this selection may well have people (and those same FG TDs) wondering what other little surprises there are in store for them, what else was agreed..? It’s certainly the thought that would be uppermost in my mind if I were they.
That said, is this a sign that the government may last a year or two more than current predictions (8 months to 18 months seems to be the consensus)? Because will Martin want to pull the plug having put those three into the Seanad? Other questions arise. What loyalty will they have to the Fine Gael government or to Fianna Fáil. How, indeed, does all this work or not?
Strange times.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
One thing that was noticeable over the weekend was how annoyed RTE were at being surprised by this. They had previously identified Pádraig Ó’Céidigh as a fine gaeler, despite him being widely spoken of as a FF candidate in the 2009 euros in what can only be understood as lazy journalism.
When Mary Wilson noticed the reference to Mícháel Martin from Joan Freeman, it triggered a day of outrage over ‘secret’ deals – with the most obvious problem being they were a surprise to RTE. Claire Byrne on Saturday continued this much to the annoyance of Noel Rock who thought it was fine that he didn’t know anything of the deal.
But apparently this is new politics in a spirit of partnership (the partnership only extending to certain ‘opposition’ parties).
LikeLike
That’s a great spot seedot. Lazy journalism indeed on their part.
LikeLike
The Phoenix was speculating that Averil Power was going to get the nod in order to keep Fionnan Sheahan sweet. Quite apart from why FG would need to pander to the editor of a paper that has nowhere else to go to peddle their neocon agenda now that Renua are a busted flush, it made no sense to me why FG would elevate a gene pool FFer ahead of the myriad unemployed FG TD’s who would have been attempting to touch the hem of Enda’s cloak – and by that I mean harassing him endlessly by any and every means of communication available. Alas, poor Averil. Had she kept her head down she would have been (all other things being equal) a shoo-in for one of the FF picks, but now it’s hard to see how she can maintain her political standing.
LikeLike
I was baffled by why she jumped ship. It made no sense at all .
LikeLike
I’m gonna stick my neck out and say it might have been for the reasons she gave?
LikeLike
In part I would say yes.
LikeLike
Wouldn’t FFers have made calling an election harder, whereas the 3 “outsiders” will have no influence or bearing on the decision? Given their presumed lack of influence or power within FF itself.
LikeLike
I wonder though at the optics – not that I think it will stay his hand if the polls come right either way. It looks better to cast non-political people to the wolves I’d have thought, at least early in the cycle.
LikeLike
Not being tied to a political party they might end up being very passionate advocates for their respective positions. Particularly when FG doesn’t deliver sufficient funding. Potentially a win-win for FF – credit for any success and a stick to beat FG if they fail.
LikeLike