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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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%

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 

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.

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’.