Irish Politics, Politicians in Ireland, TDs, Irish Government

Now they’re the Granddad’s: Labour TD’s don’t get the new blood that they so badly need

Seen on The Labour Party and the 2007 General Election

Now they’re the Granddad’s: Labour TD’s don’t get the new blood that they so badly need May 25th, 2007 — Chris 10pm: … was under the age of 50. In fact the average age was 58, with Brendan Howlin the youngest... Continue reading »

Back from the Orient

Seen on Skin Flicks

I’m now back from the far east, and have quite a number of observations to make about China. But I’ll do that next week, as it’s impossible to ignore the small matter of a general election this week. It looks like Bribeable Bert’s in real trouble over the small matter of receiving free houses and maintenance buy-offs from shadowy businessmen in... Continue reading »

Rabbitte rules out coalition with Fianna Fáil

Seen on Balrog

It was the words that the Blue-shirts were longing to hear and the words that many in Labour and Fianna Fáil hoped would never be uttered … the election. That said with Brendan Howlin waiting in the wings waiting to strike it really is anyone’s guess... Continue reading »

Can’t we just vote online?

Seen on McGuire's Ireland

Well, can’t we? Being that it’s voting season here again I thought I’d contact local candidates (Colm O’Gorman, Brendan Howlin, Liam Twomey, Lisa McDonald) &/or their parties (Labour, Greens, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael…) to find out. Here’s what I sent them; Hello I would be happy to support... Continue reading »

This Glorious Celebration of Democracy: Irish Election 2007…. whisper it quietly, it’s sort of dull, isn’t it?

Seen on The Cedar Lounge Revolution

[ hospital.jpg] [ prog-dems.jpg] Something that has come home to me over the past five days (all of five days now) … t seen it before. Consider the photographs above. Excuse the worlds worst screen shot, but here we have Dr. Liam Twomey of Fine Gael... Continue reading »

Derision ‘07: Meet The Press Officers, Part 2

Seen on Blogorrah

[ 90084067.jpg] Name: Andrea Pappin Party: Labour Style: Tea Leoni meets Dolores O’Riordan Little Known Fact: … convinced Stephen Collins of The Irish Times that Brendan Howlin was 6ft tall.... Continue reading »

Rabbitte is Labour’s Sticky Wicket

Seen on Dublin Opinion

Rabbitte is Labour’s Sticky Wicket Apr 28th, 2007 by Ben [ john-dwyer_adams.JPG]John Dwyer, the Sinn Féin candidate for Wexford, has an interesting election poster. At the moment only Fine Gael and the PDs have put billboards up in the town, and both are calling for your no.1, reminding us how great they are as people and as public ... Continue reading »

Getting Wicklow Moving

Seen on Liz McManus

Nicky Kelly, Brendan Howlin TD and I launched a Transport Plan for Co. Wicklow. Twin track electrified rail system to Wexford, rural buses, improved roads are key elements in it. 37% of journeys to Dublin are by public transport. In Wicklow the figure is approx 6%-so a dramatic shift from private car to public transport is needed. On the way back ... Continue reading »

Letter to Irish Times

Seen on Queer Issues: Have your say

This item was published on the angryPotato blog: Here’s the letter that appeared in the [March 10, 2007 issue of the Irish] Times. MCDOWELL AND CIVIL UNION BILL Madam, – Justice Minister, Michael McDowell claims (Opinion & Analysis, March 2nd) that the Dáil amended the second reading resolution of Labour’s civil union Bill “to allow more time ... Continue reading »

Justice For Terrence Wheelock

Seen on Daniel O Neill

I’m sure most allot of people reading this blog are aware of the Justice for Terrence Wheelock campaign so I will not go through the whole story again, but if you are not you can read more about it here. Anyway, I decided to send Brendan Howlin, Labour Party spokesperson for justice, an E-Mail asking him to address the issue. The E-Mail explains ... Continue reading »

Legislation on a stream of consciousness

Seen on Public Inquiry

I see we have yet another critically important bill being rushed through the Dail so that our esteemed leaders won’t miss out on their traditional St. Patrick’s Day global junkets. The Criminal Justice Bill will change the law on such critical issues as mandatory sentencing and the right to silence yet it is to receive only five hours of Dail ... Continue reading »

Update on Child Protection (see previous post)

Seen on Daniel O Neill

The Government have introduced an emergency legislation to outlaw soliciting children for sex tonight. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill 2007 was introduced after Pat Rabbitte revealed in the House last week that emergency legislation introduced last summer omitted the offence of soliciting or importuning a child for sexual ... Continue reading »

I can’t believe……….

Seen on blúire | fragments of laura’s days

I live in a country where our elected representatives not only utter sentences like We can’t afford any more cock ups when talking about the legislation currently going through the Dail in relation to soliciting children for sex. But they utter such sentences IN the Dáil. Yes Brendan Howlin, I am talking to you. Worse still, he featured ... Continue reading »

Labour Party Concerns About Data Retention

Seen on Digital Rights Ireland

It’s been some time coming, but we’re glad to see the Labour Party shares our concern about data retention: The Labour Party Spokesperson on Justice, Deputy Brendan Howlin TD, has called for a review of the operation of powers given to the Gardai under the 2005 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act to access personal telephone records, ... Continue reading »

Civil Unions Bill Introduced in Dáil Éireann (Éire)

Seen on CLERICAL WHISPERS

The introduction last night of Labour’s Civil Union’s Bill during Private Members’ Time in the Dail was one of the most exciting in the House in recent years. To a packed gallery, a rousing speech was given by Labour Justice spokesperson Brendan Howlin, followed by subsequent speeches by other members of the party. Commending the Bill to the ... Continue reading »

Irish patient groups say infection spending too low

Seen on MRSA & Staph Infection (Staff) Symptoms & Treatment

Link: The Irish World : home : (Irish News). Patient support groups are also demanding to know why only €1 per patient per day will be spent on hygiene services, the lethal bug MRSA becoming more and more of a problem. Liam Twomey of Fine Gael’s, a GP in Wexford, said the government had some explaining to do: “Unfortunately the people who are ... Continue reading »

Depressing

Seen on All you got to do, is plug me in

There seems to be a lot of hoo-hah in the papers lately about the possibility of The Labour party going into Government with Fianna Fail if their usual pact with Fine Gael fails to do the business for them. I’m not sure where this comes from, given that the normal Labour Party line is that they would never even consider entering into a Coalition ... Continue reading »

Call for legal recognition of same sex unions

Seen on Dublin South-West Blog

LEGAL RECOGNITION OF SAME SEX UNIONS MUST BE PRIORITY FOR 2007 – LABOUR PARTY STATEMENT The Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, has said that the issue of legal recognition of and proper protection for couples in same sex relationships must be a priority for the Oireachtas in 2007. “I am confident that the our society has matured and ... Continue reading »

Same-Sex Marriage High Court Case

Seen on Irish Law Updates

Same-Sex Marriage High Court Case The full text of yesterday’s decision on same-sex marriage is available at two sites: Zappone and Gilligan v Revenue Commssioners High Court, Dunne J., 14 December 2006 PDF version on Irish Times site: www.ireland.com/newspaper/special/2006/lesbianmarriageruling/index.pdf Word Version on KALCase site: ... Continue reading »

Labour Women’s Contribution to the 16 Days Campaign.

Seen on Ireland 16 Days

As a contribution to the 16 days campaign LABOUR WOMEN and THE LABOUR PARTY will launch ‘SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY – Labour Policy on Violence Against Women’ on Monday 4th December. Mr Brendan Howlin TD, Labour Justice Spokesperson will speak at the event to be held at 2.30pm at the Royal Hibernian Academy – 21 Ely Place Dublin ... Continue reading »

O’Gorman calls upon Fine Gael’s Paul Kehoe and Liam Twomey to clarify their positions on plans to bring public sector jobs

Seen on Colm O’Gorman…believe in change

Wexford General Election candidate Colm O’Gorman has called upon Fine Gael TD’s, Paul Kehoe and Liam Twomey to clarify their positions on the decentralisation programmes for Wexford, Enniscorthy and New Ross. Last week it was announced that an advance office for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government would be ... Continue reading »

Another Fine Mess 2

Seen on Cllr Seamus Ryan's Blog - Waterford City Councillor

Berties problems just seem to be getting worse by the day. Just when he thought he had put the whole Manchaester affair behind him we now learn that according to RTE he may have purchased his house from one of those at the Manchester dinner. There is a sense of “making this up as I go along” about this whole affair. I was interested to read... Continue reading »

Air ambulance demand for critically ill in…

Seen on FlightNursing.Com - Index

QuoteIreland should be aiming for an air ambulance service for the transfer of critically ill patients, according to Fine Gael Health Spokesperson, Dr Liam Twomey. Dr Twomey made his comments following the publication of the Irish Standing Committee …... Continue reading »

Irish political parties can’t back claims that ‘magic’ mushroom are dangerous

Seen on cianginty.com

Opposition spokespersons, Liz McManus, Liam Twomey and Aengus Ó Snodaigh, who each supported the ban on magic mushrooms, do not know of any evidence to suggest “magic” mushrooms are dangerous to public or individual health. They were also unaware of academic studies which conclude that “magic” mushrooms are not dangerous. The majority of ... Continue reading »