Annual Declaration of Expenses 2009.

Last March a local paper decided that it was time to print the expenses of each member of Wexford Borough Council, or to quote the article say what we cost the tax payer in 2008. Minister John Gormley lately decided to limit the expenses for councillors from Borough Councils to €3,000 as he believes that there is an industry in conferences that councillors are abusing. The limit he set is about is double what we budgeted for however there are no plans from the Wexford Borough Labour Party councillors to seek to have our allowance increased to the national limit.
I’m not abusing any allowance and unlike the minister I’m happy to publish openly my own expenses. I’m not feather bedding my political buddies in public office as John Gormley is. I take exception to the Minister’s suggestion that I’m living the high life. So unlike the Minister I’m publishing my expenses for both 2008 & 2009.

Let me explain how I’m paid by you. I’ve rounded off slightly to the nearest tenner rather than publish the exact sum. Every council has a representational payment which is linked to the salary of a Senator. In 2008 it was €8,800. This is taxed at 40%, a pension levy is deducted (for which I won’t get a pension) and I get net about €5,200 approx per year. Add to that an allowance for expenses incurred in dealing with meetings; communications etc which is roughly €3,300 and you get the basic income of a borough councillor which for me is €8,500 in 2009.
I attended one conference in ’09 and that was a North South conference in Castlebelingham,Co Louth. It involved 1 overnight and I received €377 for travel, accommodation and subsistence. The keynote speakers were our own Liz McManus who spoke about the challenge facing local councils on the environmental front, FG’s Shane McEntee who spoke on the need to harmonise road safety on an all island basis and Jeffrey Donaldson MP. I raised with Jeffrey the re-organisation of councils in the north and how following the re-structuring they plan to reduce councils. My question was highly relevant because the McCarthy report plans to abolish local authorities in the south.
I’d no other claim in 2009 from Wexford Borough Council, I note I received about €80 from Co Wexford VEC in relation to all the VEC meetings I attended. The VEC do not pay unless the time between leaving your home until you return is 3 or more hours. As I live 4 Km from HQ that’s unlikely and there’s no mileage paid for living close to VEC HQ. Moreover there’s a stay on VEC payments of 2 months. I’m not complaining about a 2 month stay, a student waiting for a grant has a greater need of payment than a VEC member.
In total the amount received in 2009 is about €8,600. In 2008 I received about €11,100 after tax from Wexford Borough Council and another 400 from the VEC. That includes an allowance of €500 for serving as Deputy Mayor. Included in the claim was a claim for phone calls in relation to local authority business that goes back to 2007. Later this year I’ll lodge my claim for calls from 2008/09.
I attended 5 conferences that year, 1 for Local Authority Members that was opened by the minister who condemned the conference industry! Another organised by him to explain his white paper on local government in Waterford, one on anti-social behaviour in Carrick On Suir and another on planning in Skibbereen. The final conference was of the AMAI in Trim. In total I spent 3 nights away in 2008. I think it’s a bit rich now that John Gormley will now attack councillors for attending conferences when he’s either opening or organising them! But then the greens are well able to play both sides of the argument and still manage to loose each way! Next year I’ll publish again for 2010.

Wexford says Yes to Europe

It won’t be long now until we know the exact result of the second Lisbon Referendum. Voting has been patchy throughout the country and throughout Wexford town. My own ballot box was at about 20% by lunchtime yesterday. I’ve noticed a trend in voters turning out earlier in the day at the 2009 local elections. This is more a lifestyle change as opposed to the rush to vote after tea.
Middle class areas seem to have voted heavier than working class areas within Wexford and this may have been a trend elsewhere. For supporters of the treaty it is vital that Wexford is won. Wexford is a bell weather constituency in Ireland, as Wexford goes so usually does the country. The only exception was Wexford marginally opposed Divorce in 1995. Last time the treaty was lost in Wexford by about 9%. If Lisbon is to be won nationally there is no better place to look for the indication than Wexford.
At the last referendum a high No vote was recorded in Kilmore Quay as fishermen voted No in protest to EU policing of the industry. Elsewhere a late call by the farmers organisation saw the support among farmers for Lisbon well below the usual support for the EU. In Enniscorthy a high No vote was believed to have the local response to the sacking by Brian Cowen of local Minister John Browne. Some people voted no last time in Wexford because the Department of Environment introduced a SPA on Wexford Harbour. The trends toady are less clear other than rural and middle class ares are more supportive than working class areas. We must ask why?

I’ve heard no mention of these issues during this campaign. Having seen the votes being counted today I believe that Wexford will vote Yes this time by a significant majority. The Yes vote will be in excess of 63% and could be as high as 67%. It’s also clear the treaty will be carried nationally. The pictures are of the scene this morning at the Wexford count in Clonard Community Centre in Wexford Town.

So why has Ireland gone Yes? I believe myself the emergence of non-party groups like Generation Yes or Ireland For Europe allowed the argument for Lisbon to be put in a non- party political way. Moreover the emergence of UKIP and return of Libertas injected the negative notion of outside interference to the electorate in a way that Sinn Fein or Coir could not have damaged the No campaign. Having said that the posters by Sinn Fein and Coir suggesting that incomes would drop because of Lisbon were known by the electorate to be wide of the mark and failed to attract support. No lost it rather than Yes winning it.
One final reflection, the debate of the last month was not precisely what was in the treaty but what people thought the effect of the treaty would be. There’s an important difference. Perhaps as the country moves on it’s something we shouldn’t forget

3 Long days journey into night ends but what have we learnt?.

Relief at last! 3 days and over 2 hours after the polls closed the campaign is over. The long wait ended in success. I think I’m the last Labour councillor elected in the country in the local elections of 2009. Dun Mhuire Theatre in Wexford has seen many’s a drama down through the years but there’s been little in the last few days to compare with the ebb and flow of political fortune as votes for Wexford Borough Council were counted at Dun Mhuire.
On Sunday evening Davy Hynes was elected Wexford’s seventh councillor. After midnight on Tuesday morning I was elected as the 8th member. There’s 4 more to join me. The picture shows me being hoisted up by Labour supporters.
It was a biter sweet moment for me as my election was only secured off the back of transfers from my running mate Theresa Walsh who was eliminated after 2 re-counts. This took over 24 hours to establish.
Theresa had fought long and hard and I was very sorry to see her go out. She can be rightly proud of the campaign she fought and the work she did. Theresa lost a week canvassing early on due to a heavy cold. She put in a great performance in the local radio election debate. She’s a great candidate and she’ll be back. The picture of the box shows the moment when her transfers to me actually put me above the quota. Someday, it'll be Theresa getting the votes needed to elect her.

The obligatory shoulder hoist was captured for me by my sons who I’m delighted to have at the count. Being elected to any body once is an honour and privilege. I think the officials tried their best but it’s clear that the town has outgrown the unitary ward model and that we need wards back again. There were too many candidates and too many seats. The ballot paper was so big that I saw it slide off a narrow ledge in a polling station. In those circumstances how could you see my name on a ballot paper as I was third last alphabetically and what chance had the voter to see Walsh, the last of 23 names when the ledge is so narrow?
There’s another side to the long count, the officials who’re still counting on as I type should be in work Tuesday doing the business that they normally do. Instead they’re trying to make the unworkable work. I believe that its time to return to wards within Wexford. Only Wexford, Kilkenny and Clonmel have 12 seat constituencies. The effect of our boundary extension brings extra voters, more candidates and more time wasting. Perhaps going back to the past may solve a problem for 2014? In the meantime spare a thought for the remaining 5 candidates I left beihind in the wee small hours to battle it out for the 4 remaining seats.

Wexford’s local election campaign now in full swing

Today the election campaign turned a corner. Nominations closed at noon. I was the first candidate to lodge my nomination papers last Monday as I’d to rush back to class ahead of my 4 Labour colleagues lodging their papers! The response this week continues to be positive to our campaign. We’ve covered the north end of town and each evening voters tell us how they’re glad its not FF or the Greens who’re calling. The only issue is the collapse in the economy resulting from FF & the PD’s mismanagement and the Greens now riding shotgun on board the Cowen express. All other issues are secondary. Fine Gael are behaving like the cat that’s got the cream but we’ll see about that in 3 weeks time.

In Wexford Borough there are 23 candidates declared for 12 seats, 5 Labour, 4 FF, 4 FG, 2 SF, a Green and 7 independents. In 2004 there was just 19 candidates with a quota of 535 votes from a turn-out of just 50% in the urban area. As someone pointed out to me, e-voting machines provided for just 15 candidates, what would have happened in the event of the number of candidates exceeding the number of options on the machine? There’s plenty of choice and I think that the increase in candidate number will bring out extra voters. There are significant changes since 2004.

The boundary of the council has been increased to include all lands inside the by-pass and about 1 mile north of Wexford Bridge towards Ardcavan. The functional area of the council provides for 20,000 people with an electorate of 15,000. Wexford is quite unique in that there are no wards and the entire town is 12 seater constituency. If a similar turn out of 50% occurs in 2009 the quota will be about 580. I expect a higher turn-out than in 2004. I think the quota will be close to 600 if not greater. This may surprise some of the candidates. Heretofore candidates relied on family networks to deliver votes but as family size has dropped and quota climbs the old way of winning may not be the sure-fire winner it once was.
Today Nessa Childers was back in town. Poor weather resulted in less people walking the streets so Nessa met with St Jospeh’s Community Youth Group before canvassing in Tesco and Pettits Supervalu. Nessa got a very positive response from voters and I think the Wexford welcome put a spring in her step as she returned to Dublin and further positive polls showing that she could win a seat in the European Parliament. However lets remember no one has voted yet, there’s still 3 weeks to go. If a week is a long time in politics what does that make 3 weeks? It’s time to get the heads down and work in for 3 more weeks. The election is only warming up and doesn’t end until June 5th at 10 PM. It’s only then we can count the votes not now!

Brian Cowen slipped into town to throw his weight behind the Fianna Fail campaign. Senator McDonald was visible in support of her man and Fianna Fail’s Bobby O’Neill marshalled his supporters as shops closed on Main St to escort the Taoiseach past the few curious on-lookers catching a glimpse of the Taoiseach on the day satisfaction with his government slumped to 10%. Conspicuous in their absence were many faces I’d associate with Fianna Fail in Wexford however I’m sure there are other reasons for that other than the fact that Fianna Fail’s local election campaign in Wexford is in a shambles. 2 FF candidates have no posters up yet and one is reported to be outside the state for the next week.

Tales from the Canvass

Another week over and the feedback towards Labour in Wexford has been very positive. My experience is similar to what I hear back from other parties not just here but throughout the country. Everyone on the doorstep wants to talk about the national picture. As a councillor I handled more local issue during Brendan Howlin’s 2007 General Election campaign by this stage than I’ve put through the council on my own behalf by now. The national issues are by now the key ones, anyone who says that local elections are all about local issues have missed the key shift and irony that the General Elections of ’02 &’07 may have seen local matters decide national government but now national matters will now decide local government.
We traditionally start our joint campaign at May Day weekend and this time round it was no different. There’s been a strongly positive reaction to our ticket. Its great to go to a door and have people come out to you address you by your first name and say yes they’re voting for Labour candidates. Today I met a local who’s involved in a free sheet paper. He cast a cold eye on our ticket and told me what he thought. He says feedback says we won’t win 5. I reminded him that at this stage 5 years ago his free sheet wrote me off in the contest. I recall that in 2004 at this stage of the election they produced a poll that gave me no chance and said that Ted Howlin was in trouble. The result of course was very different. I asked could they possibly print that I was in trouble this time? For some reason he changed the topic of conversation.
In Wexford the missing guest at the party is Fianna Fail, where are there candidates and their campaign? FG, Labour and SF posters are all up and their candidates out for some weeks now but just one Councillor Fergie Kehoe has his posters up which makes no mention of his running mates in the town because FF have as yet not finalised their ticket even though nominations open just for one week from today. I’ve met with Fergie canvassing and another FF candidate crossed my path the other evening but didn’t recognise me, presumably punch drunk at 7.10 after an early evening buffeting from the voters on Kennedy Park. The local media doesn’t carry one press release from the once great party just 4 weeks before polling. Fergie is a man I respect and who deserves to be elected on the back of his visibility since FF agonised as to his selection as a county councillor. The liberating thing about being a candidate however is that the decision isn’t mine, and I’m entitled to prevaricate on the doorstep, that’s if I’m at home at all!
FG on the other hand has a clear wind behind it. That’s obvious as many of their posters put up on Wednesday have already suffered from the gales. Many have already remarked on how FG has embraced technology because some of their candidates look visibly younger than comparable posters from 2004! Fine Gael is guaranteed 2 seats on our council but I wouldn’t rule out a third seat at all given the national mood.
Sinn Fein have 2 candidates outgoing councillor Anthony Kelly and Ann Hogan. 5 years ago Anthony was partnered by Ard Chomhairle member David Forde. David ran a very high profile campaign and the town was covered with posters from an early stage. By comparison with ’04 SF has less to shout about now. Sadly David Forde died at an early age about 18 months after the last local elections. SF in Wexford has had their internal difficulties in the past few months and I suspect they might have been handled differently had David still been alive.
The Green Party are running Danny Forde, a relation of David who missed out by just one vote in 2004. Despite loosing by a single vote for the last seat 5 years ago the expected Green onslaught on Wexford hasn’t materialised, no sign of Minister Gormley walking the streets of the town that will headquarter his department in ’09 with Forde on his shoulder. The count in 2004 was the third last to finish nationally after successive recounts. Given the Green lethargy so far, there’s little likelihood of late nights now in the south east in 2009.

That leaves just independents. Last time around there was just 3 now there’s 7. In reality there’s less support for independents now in national opinion polls as opposed to 2004. Could more than 2 be elected? Its doubtful, Could there be a change in faces on the independent side? I don’t know. Many independents fancy themselves as riding roughshod on Fianna Fail and in some cases they’re Fianna Failer’s who’ve funked the party. An added problem for independents is that there are more looking for recognition from a diverse grooup of voters. I've always thought that while a voter may declare for an independent that there's a problem for the independent candidate in that it automatically doesn't follow that soem one who considers themselves independent and to the left will vote for a candidate who's independent and to the right. A vote for an independent may turn out to be a vote for FF.
Lets be honest about elections and being a candidate, you get involved in your own campaign, if something happens elsewhere, unless it impacts in Wexford Borough, it’s not very important. Overall one vote isn’t just important, but as I found out 5 years ago one vote counts!

Wexford’s St Patrick’s Day Parade in the sun

Wexford lived up to its image of the sunny south east as today’s parade was bathed in sunshine from start to finish. It was an impressive show of community involvement as the parade led as usual by the colour party of RDF and the Defence Forces Pipe Band took well over 75 minutes to pass the reviewing stand at Wexford’s Quays. On the reviewing stand was the Leas Ceann Comhairle Brendan Howlin, Mayor Ted Howlin, County Council Chairman Peter Byrne, Catholic Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brennan, Senator Lisa MacDonald, Sean Connick TD and a handful of hanger’s on from local politics like myself!
It was a wonderful parade with over 20,000 watching as the parade moved along the quays. The float that caught my eye was the Danescastle Group who usually cast a cynical eye on something topical. A number of years ago they had “Gardaí” chasing “Eco-warriors” while “ESB men with chainsaws” tried to cut down trees. This year was no different.
They had Anglo Irish Bank fat cats waving money set against a backdrop of a crowded dole office while a politician preached patriotic duty to the onlookers. I wonder who they had in mind? I really liked it so I waved a €5 note back at them! Following on their tail was a delivery bicycle with the door of a certain helicopter balanced precariously and an embarrassed Minister in tow. It was suggested that the Taoiseach should show the minister involved the door however, it seems he’s seen enough of it already! There’s nothing like the Irish to take our own do a peg or two! Indeed if you look closely at my picture you’ll find “Investors in the Sun” right behind the Anglo Irish Bank float. How appropriate!
The rugby club had a pitch on the back of a trailer and the forwards were scrumming as they passed the stand, all looking forward to Cardiff next Saturday. The Gertrude Walsh School of Irish Dancing was up late last night performing at the St Patrick’s Eve Show in White’s Hotel and they were early risers again today as they danced their way along the quays. My own daughter is in there somewhere! The pikemen in their 18th century costumes also marched while the Tallaght Youth Band and An t-Inbhearr Mór from Arklow brought a little bit of razzmatazz to proceedings with their American style majorette display. There was Kung Fu, Clonard, Shelmaliers, St Mary’s Rosslare from GAA, Wexford Albion and North End from Soccer while the Gymnastic Club as usual put on their display. Scouts and Girl guides were also present.
Chun criochnadh bhí clan George Furlong ar an árdan inniu. Do bhí George ceannaire an Coiste Suiloid Namh Padraig í Loch Garman leis na blianta anuas ach cailleadh é annuraidh. Bhí a mhac ag freastal mar breitheamh don suiloíd agus ceapim go raibh post an deacair aige!