Mick Wallace running for the Dail

**Spudulika** · 07/02/2011, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

I'd rather he was in D�il, talking about wider social issues. imo he'd be waster with a sports only brief.

Is he ULA aligned?

Macy, I know what you're saying, and I agree. I used sports as an example, he'd be excellent to be an education czar with a free hand to completely revamp the education system from top to bottom. The reason I'd suggest he'd stay outside of politics is that he'd be brilliantly useful to Ireland without being stuck in the cesspit that is the Dail. The one thing I'd worry about is that he'd end up trying to save the world while the basics are ruined. If there was a council of state with individuals put in with set portfolio, experts or visionaries who would present plans to the Dail to be passed, it would be a real boost for the country. I just don't see the Dail as being sufficient for him. Not that he's a madman or megalomaniac, and his operating debts are just that. He'd be well able to manage.

**Mario** · 07/02/2011, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Isn't parish pump politics the problem in Ireland?

Yes it is and Wallace agrees so ... he's suggest here a max of two terms rule as some of his political reforms ...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiU8qWxsbOw

**Eminence Grise** · 07/02/2011, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by John83

I've never heard of such a rule. No word of that in the article I read either.

He would be forced to resign a Oireachtas seat in the event of being declared bankrupt, not being indebted no matter how large the sum. I presume the restriction also applies to eligibility of candidates.

Can't quite make my mind on his decision. I like him but I don't know how effective he would be as a reformist TD, unless he was part of a larger technical grouping with that as its core ideology. Imagine: Mick and Shane Ross on the same team. Oh the humanity of it all!!

**D.24saint** · 07/02/2011, 1:42 PM

He could replace the Dail Bar with a dodgy Italian wine bar.A bit rich a developer mouthing off about the state of affairs in the country!

**Mr A** · 07/02/2011, 1:44 PM

Just because he's a developer doesn't mean he's a bad guy. I don't think he was ever part of the set that really fecked things up.

**Mario** · 07/02/2011, 2:30 PM

Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

unless he was part of a larger technical grouping with that as its core ideology. Imagine: Mick and Shane Ross on the same team. Oh the humanity of it all!!

The current mayor of Roscommon Luke "Ming" Flanagan is running too and a local I know reckons he will get elected easily this time around. He has been very effective as a councillor and is liked and respected down there.

**Eminence Grise** · 07/02/2011, 2:52 PM

Indeed, he’s in with a good shot. I’m a Rossie and met him and his father on and off years ago, though I didn’t know either well. He’s come on a lot as a politician in recent years, though, paradoxically, it seems to be as a result of adopting the old-fashioned grassroots localism that we need to reform. Could be an interesting Dail if he and Mick were returned. He’s popular alright, but not universally liked: some consider him a pain in the neck, and there’s still an unforgiving traditionalist vote down home that thinks grass is best suited for fattening cattle....

**bluemovie** · 07/02/2011, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Is he ULA aligned?

No, the ULA (PBP) candidate in Wexford is a lapsed Waterford United fan, Seamus O'Brien. Even if Mick doesn't get elected, it's thought that he will sink FF's Sean Connick's chances due to geographical overlap, which is good news anyway. I'd love to see Mick elected. I'd put him in a thousand times before any silent backbencher following the party line and sponging on expenses.

Originally Posted by Mario

The current mayor of Roscommon Luke "Ming" Flanagan is running too and a local I know reckons he will get elected easily this time around. He has been very effective as a councillor and is liked and respected down there.

Another person I'd like to see elected. That said, remember the bother John Deasy had when he was caught smoking in the Dail bar. Ming could put a whole new slant on that.

**Spudulika** · 07/02/2011, 5:56 PM

I'm prudish in the sense of that I don't believe drugs should be legalised or present in society. Of course I'm a hypocrite as I enjoy alcohol (responsibly) though I'm also against tobacco (growing up in a household where the other 4, of 5, are smokers). I'm happy to be called a prude for not liking drugs, mainly because I have seen first hand the destruction they've done on my own home area, and continue to do. While I'm sure that grass is possibly harmless, I still would like to see it eradicated. Then again, if Prime Time Investigates is anything to go by, everyone in the country is coked or grassed out of their fields!

**paudie** · 07/02/2011, 8:12 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Just because he's a developer doesn't mean he's a bad guy. I don't think he was ever part of the set that really fecked things up.

In fairness Wallace has been speaking out in public about current affairs, especially in the construction industry, for a few years. Seem to talk sense when I've heard him.

**BonnieShels** · 07/02/2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by John83

I wish I'd kept it now. Can't imagine what it could have been if it wasn't the Tribune. Definitely not last week's - Wallace article, sports results, etc rule it out.

I've never heard of such a rule. No word of that in the article I read either.

Eh, did you per chance buy The Sunday Times?

**Charlie Darwin** · 07/02/2011, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by paudie

In fairness Wallace has been speaking out in public about current affairs, especially in the construction industry, for a few years. Seem to talk sense when I've heard him.

He was more into opposing wars, wasn't he?

I've listened to him talk and he seems like an interesting person but it seems like he's just decided to run on a whim with a bunch of vague sentiments that very few people would oppose. We tried electing people with vague, nice-sounding objectives before - they were the Greens and they were dreadful.

**Bluebeard** · 08/02/2011, 2:00 AM

I'm from Wexford originally myself, so this is of no little interest. Interesting to see a prominent LOI fan, and a Team owner running in the same contest, both pretty much in the same district. And a third football based candidate is to be had in John Browne, who played junior football donkey's ago for Moyne Rangers, which somehow always pops up as a fact in the People Newspapers, unless he is talking about when he played intercounty hurling; given that the Rugby is popular now, what are the odds...

Anyway, as I hadn't seen it on here before, here are the Wexford candidates. I don't know what the feeling is like on the ground, but I'd be shocked if there wasn't 1 FF, prolly John Browne - a great record of consistently fighting against the government, especially if not a current junior minister. Also has a big advantage being first on the ballot. I think Connick will face problems from the fact that there are three candidates who could be perceived as Ross district - a lot of people in the town (my local one growing up) would have voted for a shaggy dog if it said it was from Ross back in the day, and I doubt that has changed.

Otherwise, I'd guess at least 1 Labour and 2 FG, and who knows for the final seat. I always felt that there was potential for a second Labour seat given the right circumstances, and FG have had 3 seats in the county in the past. But there are a lot of left-ish candidates running, which could take from Labour, as I don't think there would be many who vote for Shamie or John Dwyer or whoever, and then transfer to Cody.

As for Mick, I'd think he is genuine, and he is going to run a good and popular campaign. There are a lot of people out there who will vote for him because of the man he is, and a lot who will vote for him because he is a genuinely independent mind. Of course, that would not alone be enough to elect him - lots of very old school party faithful still.

FF
John Browne TD
Sean Connick TD

FG
Michael D'Arcy Jnr TD
Paul Kehoe TD
Liam Twomey

LAB
Brendan Howlin TD
Pat Cody

SF
Anthony Kelly

PBP
Seamus O'Brien

IND
Mick Wallace
John Dwyer (independent Left? Used to be Sinn Fein, but reckoned he got shafted by the party)

**John83** · 08/02/2011, 8:55 AM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Eh, did you per chance buy The Sunday Times?

Must have. Or the Indo, or something like that. I just don't know.

**Dodge** · 08/02/2011, 9:32 AM

Originally Posted by John83

Must have. Or the Indo, or something like that. I just don't know.

The indo were another Sunday who pulled a stunt at the weekend. They had a 4 page newspaper wraparound and inside was 64 pages of absolute tripe

**Albatross** · 09/02/2011, 8:04 AM

If you want to write about Newspapers open a new thread this one is about Mick Wallace

**Charlie Darwin** · 09/02/2011, 12:23 PM

Well talk about Mick Wallace then. It's not as if there are no posts to respond to.

**cornflakes** · 10/02/2011, 5:00 PM

was handed a Vote for Mick Wallace leaflet in New Ross today
This is what it had on it if anyone is interested

Many Irish people would agree that the people of this country have been poorly served by its politicians. The present election campaign is bringing forward the usual barrage of promises which history has taught us, are seldom delivered. If the people of Wexford elect me to Dail Eireann, I will make no empty promises to deliver the usual 'stroke' politics. But I do promise to bring an honest approach in working to change the way we are governed.

We have not seen a proper working opposition in the Dail in recent memory - I will work with like-minded new Independents to create an unrelenting drive for major reform. We cannot expect our country to function in a healthy way unless we first fix things at the top. We need political reform to bring new politics, an end to political donations which seperate the electorate from legislature by allowing those with most money to have greatest influence, a smaller Dail with accountability and transparency in all its workings, a genuine effort to provide a decent State Health System for all, a greater emphasis on education including access to pre-school education, an end to expenses and pension abuse, and real local government that works.

We need a government that puts the interests of its people before those of big business; ordinary people should not have to pay for the mistakes of the financial institutions. Instead of the neo liberal approach of draining the system in an effort to balance the books, we need to listen to learn the lessons of history and hear the voices international experts who recommended investment and stimulus measures in order to create employment and economic growth