Friday, March 23, 2012

Big Phil’s mighty ambition for women in Irish politics

Environment Minister ‘Big Phil’ Hogan wants more women TDs.  As his Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding Bill 2011 winds its way through the Oireachtas, ‘Big Phil’ envisages that 30% of the candidates selected to contest the next general election un Ireland by the political parties who obtain State funding (Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin) will have to be females.  That pot of gold is worth €27.28 million over the next five years.  Failure to comply will eliminate the party concerned from any State funding throughout the life of the 32nd Dáil which must take office by February 2015.

The population of Ireland is forecast to increase to 5.69 million by 2026, a mere 14 years ahead. Currently, each TD represents, on average 26,873 voters.  If this ratio were to maintained the Dáil would comprise 211 TD’s in 2026 and Big Phil envisages that 30%, or 63 of them would be women.  This will mean that up to 250 female candidates will have to contest the general election that creates the 34th Dáil.

As the table below shows, ten constituencies account for 45% of the total votes cast for women in 2011 and for 12 of the 25 female TDs.

A female candidate had a 2/1 chance of being elected in Dublin in the 2011 general election but the chances of a female candidate succeeding in the Border, Midland & West Region, or the Mid-West was significantly less. 

There are currently 25 females TDs (15%) among the 166 that populate the 31st Dáil.  There were 85 female candidates (15%) among the 566 that contested the 2011 general election.  These garnered 335,532 (15%) of the total poll of 2,230,359 votes cast.  Three constituencies, Cork South-West, Kildare South and Limerick did not field a single female candidate.  The following is the voting record of women candidates’ in 2011 when women achieved 20%, or more of the votes cast.  Interestingly, the female vote in Galway W was 22% – but not enough to win a seat, while five female TDs won seats with significantly less than a quota.

The 25 female TDs won 178,975 first preference votes – 53% of all votes cast for women.  They spent €354.333 on their campaigns – equivalent to an average of €1.98 per vote

The State has provided taxpayers’ funding of over €90million to political parties in the decade to 2010 – but less than €900,000 was spent on promoting the cause of women in elected politics.  A massive cultural change will be necessary to achieve Big Phil’s dream if it is not to descend to the farce that has befallen the Household Charge and the Septic Tank Charge.

 

Constituency Total Votes Female TDs /
Female
Candidates’ Votes
Female Votes % Total Votes

Carlow-Kilkenny

73,743

(1) 18,647

25%

Cavan-Monaghan

71,275

(1) 21,253

30%

Clare

57,916

1,099

2%

Cork E

56,933

(1) 6,802

12%

Cork NC

52,137

(1) 7,676

15%

Cork NW

45,740

(1) 9,436

21%

Cork SC

64,040

9,038

14%

Cork SW

45,658

0

0

Donegal NE

37,918

1,150

3%

Donegal SW

43,263

5,211

12%

Dublin C

34,612

(2) 15,583

45%

Dublin MW

42,722

(2) 14,776

35%

Dublin N

49,347

(1) 7,513

15%

Dublin NC

38,774

2,641

7%

Dublin NE

41,839

4,794

11%

Dublin NW

32,811

(1) 9,359

29%

Dublin S

72,646

(1) 19,948

27%

Dublin SC

50,927

(2) 12,178

24%

Dublin SE

34,919

(1) 7,248

21%

Dublin SW

45,964

3,678

8%

Dublin W

42,472

(1) 9,627

23%

Dun Laoghaire

56,676

(1) 19,926

35%

Galway E

59,276

7,755

13%

Galway W

60,625

13,418

22%

Kerry N- W Limerick

45,614

2,161

5%

Kerry S

44,380

5,327

12%

Kildare N

51,222

(1) 11,688

23%

Kildare S

38,270

0

0

Laois-Offaly

74,158

(1) 5,817

8%

Limerick

45,041

0

0

Limerick City

43,188

(1) 6,843

16%

Longford-W’meath

57,525

(1) 3,555

7%

Louth

69,319

4,546

7%

Mayo

74,154

(1)17,215

23%

Meath E

42,752

(1) 9,845

23%

Meath W

40,178

9,809

24%

Roscommon-S Leitrim

47,504

0

0

Sligo-N Leitrim

44,428

5,672

13%

Tipperary N

48,273

8,709

18%

Tipperary S

41,361

4,525

11%

Waterford

53,720

(1) 5,554

10%

Wexford

75,539

175

0%

Wicklow

70,500

(1) 5,436

8%

       

TDs,
ranked by votes

Votes

Party

Spend/Vote

Mitchell, O

9,635

FG

€1.59

Burton, J

9,627

Lab

€2.27

Shorthall, R

9,359

Lab

€1.17

Mitchell-O’Connor, M

9,087

FG

€1.91

Mulherin, M

8,851

FG

€1.67

Doherty, R

8,677

FG

€1.73

Humphreys, H

8,144

FG

€1.32

Phelan, A

8,072

Lab

€2.55

Lynch, K

7,896

Lab

€1.94

Collins, A

7,884

FG

€1.50

Daly, C

7,513

S

€0.85

Tuffy, J

7,495

Lab

€1.92

Fitzgerald, F

7,281

FG

€2.11

Murphy, C

6,911

Ind

€2.61

Creighton, L

6,619

FG

€2.61

Collins, J

6,574

PBPA

€1.64

O’Sullivan, J

6.353

Lab

€2.47

McLellan, S

6,292

SF

€1.44

McFadden, N

6,129

FG

€1.66

Corcoran-Kennedy, M

5,817

FG

€2.62

Byrne, C

5,604

FG

€1.82

Conway, C

5,554

Lab

€2.30

Ferris, A

5,436

Lab

€2.67

McDonald, ML

4,526

SF

€4.52

O’Sullivan, M

4,139

Ind

€2.69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Austerity in Ireland delivers a huge return on investment–to TDs’

The most profitable return on investment in Ireland today is accruing to politicians and, in particular, those who advocate the non-payment of lawful charges and taxes as mandated by the Oireachtas that they have the privilege to be members of.  The describe themselves as the United Left Alliance.

The tell us that they are anti-capitalists who abhor austerity but who can recognise spinelessness and servility at a distance of 1,000 kilometres. This is how they system they detest has impacted on them personally since the 2011 general election.

 

GENERAL ELECTION 
February 2011

Socialist Party

People Before Profit Alliance

Workers’ Unemployed Action Group

VOTING RECORD      

Number of candidates

9

9

1

First Preference votes

26,770

21,551

8,818

% National vote

1.21%

0.97%

0.39%

TDs elected

Daly, C
Higgins, J

Boyd-Barrett, R
Collins, J

Healy, S

% Dáil Éireann seats

1.21%

1.21%

0.60%

CAMPAIGN SPEND      

Party campaign spend

€85,124.45

€47,756.93

Cost per vote, nationally 
all 566 candidates

€4.18

€4.18

€4.18

Party cost per vote

€3.17

€2.21

TDs’ direct campaign expenses

€12,296.74

€23,568.15

€12,739.26

TD spend
per vote won

€0.78

€1.84

€1.44

PAY-OFF,
Feb-Dec 2011
     

Salary, taxed

€156,893

€156,893.69

€78,446

Election expenses reimbursed, tax-free

€17,400

€17,400

€8,700

Parliamentary Standard Allowance

€63,731

€63,731

€49,911

Parliamentary Leaders Allowance, tax-free

€120,902.86

€120,902.86

€34,783

Travel and accommodation, tax-free

€20,316

€20,316

€28,347

TOTAL from State in 2011

€379,242

€379,242

€200,187

ROI for TDs 
Feb-Dec 2011

3,085%

1,613%

1,576%

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Fianna Fáil constituency money and vote trail

This Friday marks the first anniversary of the 31st Dáil when the Fianna Fáil representation was reduced from 77 in 41 constituencies to 19 TDs in 17 constituencies and only the leader, Micheál Martin, achieved a personal quota in the ballot box.

While the Party faces horrendous problems in Dublin, where following the death of Brian Lenihan, it has been wiped out, there are very significant pockets of strength throughout the country which is reflected in votes and money generated within constituencies.

The following table summarises the votes achieved within the 17 constituencies that delivered a TD:

CONSTITUENCY TD Winner’s Votes FF Quota
Carlow-Kilkenny McGuinness, J 9,531 1.69
Cavan-Monaghan Smith, B 9,702 1.21
Clare Dooley, T 6,789 1.11
Cork NC Kelleher, B 7,896 0.76
Cork NW Moynihan, M 8,845 1.00
Cork SC Martin, M 10,715 1.68
  McGrath, M 7,221  
Donegal NE McConalogue, C 6,613 0.70
Dublin W Lenihan, B 6,421 0.83
Galway E Kitt, M 6,585 0.90
Galway W Ó’Cuív, E 7,441 1.26
Kildare S Ó’Fearghail, S 4,514 0.97
Laois-Offaly Cowen, B 8,257  
  Fleming, S 6,024 1.61
Limerick Collins, N 9,361 0.83
Limerick City O’Dea, W 6,956 0.81
Longford-W’meath Troy, R 4,275 0.97
Louth Kirk, S 0 0.78
Mayo Calleary, D 8,577 0.96
Wexford Browne, J 7,352 1.11

Funding at the constituency level is in the form of an annual National Collection and an annual Superdraw.  There has also been an Election Draw, direct contributions and the proceeds of membership and cumann registration available to the Party nationally.

The following table summarises the estimated total income at constituency level between 2009 and 2011 and the general election expenditure by candidates. 

CONSTITUENCY Estimated Income, 2009 -11 

Constituency Expenditure – General Election 2011

Spend per Vote
Carlow-Kilkenny

51,523

51,265

€2.48

Cavan-Monaghan

124,768

39,253

€2.73

Clare

111,357

26,247

€2.05

Cork NC

19,890

19.905

€2.52

Cork NW

60,048

30,208

€2.65

Cork SC

34,151

40,907

€2.28

Donegal NE

22,867

19,213

€2.91

Dublin W

13,260

26,113

€3.71

Galway E

52,946

27,587

€2.58

Galway W

53,637

59,215

€4.66

Kildare S

16,805

19,430

€3.04

Laois-Offaly

123,200

46,062

€2.32

Limerick

77,944

17,033

€1.82

Limerick City

16,773

17,592

€2.53

Longford-W’meath

70,474

52,512

€4.69

Louth

55,192

50,231

€4.63

Mayo

67,614

30,921

€2.59

Wexford

67,430

41,717

€2.97

 

Fianna Fáil spent a total of €2,138,792 to obtain 387,358 votes in the 2011 general election.  Deputy Seamus Kirk, as a Ceann Comhairle of the 30th Dáil, was returned in Louth without contesting the election 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Fianna Fáil face titanic struggle in Dublin

The Fianna Fáil grass roots spent the weekend agonising how the party might be rebuilt.  The rubble that comprises its Dublin operation seems to be mortally wounded.

Dublin accounts for 807,000 of the nation’s 3.2 million voters – just over 25% of the total.  It accounts for 47 of the 166 Dáil seats and in the 2007 general election Fianna Fáil captured 19 of these with 196,029 first preference votes.  It achieved 67,836 first preference votes in last year’s general election and the late Brian Lenihan captured the party’s only Dublin seat.

The meltdown was pervasive and dramatic:

Constituency

1st Preference Votes 2007

1st Preference Votes 2011

Dublin Central

15,398

5,141

Dublin Mid-West

12,321

5,043

Dublin North

22,998

7,634

Dublin
North-Central

16,029

5,017

Dublin North-East

13,864

4,794

Dublin North-West

15,124

3,869

Dublin South

25,298

6,844

Dublin South-Central

15,725

4,837

Dublin South-East

9,720

3,922

Dublin South-West

16,355

5,509

Dublin West

12,726

7,044

Dun Laoghaire

20,471

8,632

TOTAL

196,029

67,836

 

Fianna Fáil raised €820,726 in its national collection during the three-year period 2009-2011 and the Party’s twelve Dublin constituency organisations accounted for €4,669 of this.  Another source of finance is the Party’s Superdraw which raised €531,750 last year and the Dublin organisation accounted for €70,600 of this.

A reluctance to raise money did not stop Fianna Fáil spending a fortune in its Dublin constituencies last year.  The general election cost Fianna Fáil €2,138,792, equivalent to almost €107,000 per seat won – compared to €47,405 per seat won in 2007.

Constituency Total Expenditure – General Election 2011, € Spend per Vote, €

Dublin Central

€37,605

€7.30

Dublin Mid-West

€12,013

€2.38

Dublin North

€47,829

€6.27

Dublin
North-Central

€20,185

€4.02

Dublin North-East

€17,761

€3.70

Dublin North-West

€22,156

€5.73

Dublin South

€33,545

€4.90

Dublin South-Central

€29,509

€6.10

Dublin South-East

€20,291

€5.17

Dublin South-West

€35,497

€7.02

Dublin West

€28,518

€4.05

Dun Laoghaire

€41,295

€4.78

TOTAL DUBLIN SPEND

€346,110

€5.10

FIANNA FAIL NATIONAL SPEND

€2,138,792

€5.52

 

Fianna Fáil generated income of €1.022 million last year from draws, national collection, donor contributions and membership fees.  But the taxpayer provided a further €1.3 million under the Electoral Acts and between 2007 and 2010 the Parliamentary Party Leadership Allowance added a further €31.88 million from the taxpayer – begging the question whether political parties in Ireland have effectively become semi-state bodies.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Northern Ireland MPs spend less than £10k on ink in an full year

While the erudite and learned Rt Hon Aengus Ó’Snodaigh TD was helping himself to €50,000 worth of printer ink cartridges so as proliferate his constituency enclave with thought-provoking messages in 2007-08, it is relevant to point out that the sum spent on cartridges and printing ink by the Northern Ireland MPs in Westminster for the year to April 2011 was under £10,000.

The following summarises the individual claims:

Northern Ireland MPs Spend on Ink and Toner £
April 2010 – March 2011
Ritchie, M 1,701.02
Dodds, N 373.86
Donaldson, J 795.39
Paisley, I 64.98
McDonnell, A 4,010.07
Wilson, S 1,266.40
Hermon, Lady S 256.95
Murphy, C 472.17
Simpson, D 59.45
Durkan, M 339.60
McCrea, W 646.68
TOTAL £9,985.57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MP Stationary 2007-08  £ Postage
2007-08 £
MP Travel – 2008-09 Home /Constituency £

Adams, G

85.24

218.00

1,218.00

Campbell, G

290.66

1,337.50

19,878.00

Dodds, N

1,118.15

4,052.00

17,624.00

Doherty, P

210.31

621.75

1,302.00

Donaldson, J

1,168.77

3,176.00

17,785.00

Durkan, M

237.04

545.00

12,254.00

Gildernew, M

110.87

518.75

375.00

Silvia, Lady Hermon

356.26

2,660.00

6,404.00

McCrea, W

627.15

2,033.60

18,850.00

McDonnell, A

209.19

864.00

10,450.00

McGrady, E

466.31

1,140.00

14,640.00

McGuinness, M

0

0

598.00

Murphy, C

54.98

170.00

840.00

Paisley, I

305.42

1,624.50

4,361.00

Robinson, I

879.00

3,192.00

10,891.00

Robinson, P

287.80

1,354,50

12,438.00

Simpson, D

481.80

1,445.75

19,943.00

Wilson, S

630.59

2,259.00

19,979.00

 

There is a relative consistency, moderation and pausibility in the above that does not exist in the case of printer cartridges because if each TD was as needy as the Rt Hon and distinguished learned member for Dublin South Central the State would be paying €8.25 million.  That would be the fault of the Oireachtas – if nobody were to say ‘anything’ to ‘anybody’.