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SINN FÉIN HAVE taken their second European Parliament seat in the Republic.
Liadh Ní Ríada has been elected after the fourth count in Ireland South, surpassing the quota by 90 votes.
She will join Dublin’s Lynn Boylan in the European Parliament, with Midlands-Northwest’s Matt Carthy set to be confirmed tomorrow morning.
Earlier, Brian Crowley, the country’s longest serving MEP, was elected for a fifth term in the European Parliament after the result was announced in Ireland South.
The Fianna Fáil politician’s victory had been widely anticipated — he’s topped every opinion poll of this year’s campaign by a huge margin.
He claimed 180,329 of first preferences out of a total valid poll of 657,498.
As expected, sitting MEP Sean Kelly’s in third position in the four-seater so far, with 92,758 votes.
His Fine Gael colleagues Simon Harris and Deirdre Clune are next best placed, respectively on 54,511 and 52,295.
That means it is likely to be a three into two scenario for Fine Gael, as they look to take two seats to go with the one Brian Hayes has already claimed in Dublin and the one that Mairead McGuinness looks set to take in Midlands-Northwest.
Follow all the latest on our Election Liveblog.
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What does this guy actually do? I’m not being smart, I’m genuinely curious. He has been elected 5 times so he must be doing some really great work.
He knows where the stationary & copier paper is kept.
Plus where the meeting rooms are.
Gotta count for something!
MEP’s are not allowed to actually do anything.
He doesn’t go to meetings, Jeremy.
Not according to the Examiner stats! He seems the least active MEP. So, why is he getting re-elected? Draw you own conclusions.
on a side note.Whats going on with david davenpowers hair.
@ Piotrek Król apparently he does a lot of unseen work…..
His seeming lack of activity was due to illness folks.
Hmm would not let me say what I wanted to..anyway…
He’s getting it the same reason FF-FG getting nearly half the national vote despite everyone hating property and water charges: personal charm. Running candidates campaigns I used to avoid going on canvass, I found it too depressing to see how little policy positions mattered to voters.
1. How nice – friendly they are
2. How much you see them around the area (which correlates in voters brains to how busy they are, falsely)
3. How much they seem to be getting done (things they don’t actually directly control , but through their social connections they know people who do etc)
RARELY is it their actual brain power or policy positions, someone like George Lee or Shane Ross is running yes their positions on issues matter, but they set the bar v low for most candidates, if they like them…thats enough.
For some (incredibly) its that they went to the same school as the person (even primary school!) or they went to UCD and you went to UCD…even if they live in the area and you ”see them around” thats enough.
Vote based on their policy positions. Serial killers are charming too..thats no reason to like them.
In my opinion anybody who votes FF now or in the future has no right to complain about any corruption or bad decisions any government makes, because they obviously dont care that much.They are sending a clear message to this government and the next that the voters in this country dont really hold them accountable for their actions. They cant complain about inept governments when they are inept voters.
He is an active member of 2 standing committes and an alternate on a third. his attendance in 2012/13 was done for medical reasons.
In fairness Terry, if one is to be intellectually consistent, if they are not to vote for FF because their bad economic policies led to the 2008 crash, they they can’t vote FG either. Labour even were starting, towards the end in 07 to embrace bubblenomics.
The entire Irish political and media establishment drank the coolaid of neoliberal school economics, the magic formula of deregulation and massive tax cuts was going to lead to untold prosperity ”ITS THE TAX TAKE THAT MATTERS NOT THE TAX RATE” etc
The two main parties had basically the same economic agenda, and we can see now that Labour being in office does not change the economic policy agenda much, so anyone disgusted at those policies and what they led to should be voting independent or SF or Green or something, FG were just as bad as FF.
@Ryan i 100% agree. its why sf came out yesterday and said they would not be in government with ff or fg. Their policies are just too different. Its why labour shouldnt of went into government with fg.Parties just want to have power and dont care how they get it.
According to Alan above he’s very approachable( big deal), so if you want to know what he does give him a shout. Does a lot of silly grinning, grooming and mullet maintainence I’d say!
People give him the sympathy vote, end of.
You know now why, don’t you?
If he’s ill he shouldn’t be there.only heard every five years. We have him an apologist for murderers representing us in the south. Great stuff
Well he kind of gives a cheeky smile and has unruly hair so maybe he appeals to FF’s left wing voters
My grandad voted Fianna Fáil ! (Can this excuse really he given by 100,000 clueless voters?)
Sad times
I know. He does nothing. Refused to appear on any debates and yet topped the poll?!?!
Definition of insanity
Voting FF in time and time again and expecting things to change…..
Well, it worked. Perhaps if Gilmore had gone into hiding…………..
Yes Keith, there was someone I recall refused to debate and ended up Taoiseach! Incredible I know!
Well said Keith … Repent at leisure comes to mind!!
we need to overhaul the electoral system. Everyone should have to vote. Politics is not taught properly. FF go around telling people unless you give everyone a pref your vote is spoiled. Voting should be lowered to 16 to get school kids interested in politics. Voting should also be compulsory and you should be fined or made do community service if you do not vote. There is too much apathy. The posters are unfair and a waste of money, People like Dr Paddy Smyth in Rathmines bought his vote with the sheer volume of posters, leaflet drops and awful photoshop. The referendum commission should distribute the electorate with an impartial booklet with each candidates policies and credentials. There should be a limit on how many candidates from each party can run in a council area to ensure democracy and a voice for all.
Some really good ideas there.
Thanks. I’d run for office but I dunno who would vote for me.
Keith – Crowley WAS on the Prime Time RTE1 Debate !
Or just have elections for school councils with all the kids in each school or group of schools voting, using the PR system, vote counting and tallies. And maybe even “parties”.
Some good ideas Keith but living in a democracy means we have the right to choose whether we vote or not.
The real problem with making people vote is there are some people who should not vote , the stupidity of some people would astound anybody , also voting age to 16 is a no go as most kids that age don’t care and won’t care for it , better education as to why you should vote would work so much better ,the system needs changing but it ain’t going to happen overnight
Politicians do not do enough to get their message across. Elections are based on local issues and personalities. People should be properly educated, which they are not in schools. Some teenagers do care, and if given the power to, they would vote earlier.
@Ivan I would argue that living in a democracy, having 40% of the electorate choosing who represents them is undemocratic! Other countries like Australia, Argentina, Luxembourg, and many in the southern hemisphere have compulsory voting, and it works. Those who don’t vote have to do community service or pay a fine. I think it would boost the morale of people and get them involved as well as make them want to get informed. The local CoCo’s need to make sites where everyone can look up the candidates and people can get better informed impartially. It is hard to find out about local candidates.
True. There is no law against stupidity.
Again Keith I agree with your notion that there should be more information available to the electorate. However, as Colm said, the level of ignorance of political issues out there would astound anyone. If people can’t/won’t inform themselves prior to an election, nor be bothered to avail of their democratic right to vote, then would you really want to force those types of people to vote? I’m afraid it really would just turn into a popularity contest.
By nearly every measurable criteria Crowley is in the bottom 5% of MEPs.
http://www.votewatch.eu/en/brian-crowley.html
People need to look beyound his disabilities, and rather to his abilities.
a simple piece of research proves just how little he actually does
Super result for Liadh Ní Riada too!
In the General Election of 1918 in Ireland , SF secured a record 476,087 Number Ones !
In the EU Election of 2014 , SF secured 483,113 Number 1′s – 21.2% of the overall Vote !
It is also the Largest No.1 Vote of any Political Party in Ireland in The 2014 EU Poll – Stunning statistics & the Facts !
What has he done in the last 15-20 years of being an MEP. Anyone ?
Are we going to hear his name again anytime before the next European election comes along.
Made millions?
Do you really think the people of that area would respond if he started discussing the finer points of European wide financial regulation etc?
No no sure dey want te know if he’s a nice fella…datz all sure…
According to The Examiner last week (who rated all of Ireland’s MEPs for actual attendance, number of votes, participation on EU committees and contributions to reports (which is how most business gets done, apparently)), Crowley scored 17.
None of the other MEPs scored under 800.
After that, and refusing to debate, he still tops the poll? *sigh*
Sold us out on Nice and Lisbon and still people vote for him. Christ I wonder at times at how people think. All across Europe anti austerity and euro skeptic parties are being elected because it’s only now that people realize how much of our sovereignty has been sold out to the EU empire. The Bundestag gets to see our budget before our Dail the EU tells us how to run our affairs, sell our assets and protest German and French banks and all the while the likes of Crowley and the Blueshirts tell us that the EU is the best thing going!
I lived in west cork for 30 years, and in that time Brian Crowley has always been one of the most approachable politicians ive ever come across…just because you don’t see him splashed across the media or on debates doesnt mean hes not doing good work.Hes understated,keeps low profile and gets on with things, and obviously thats the right way to go about things as his vote has always been consistently very strong. Just because hes ff people think that he shouldnt get in. If your good at what you do people will vote you in
Can you answer the question not some vague waffle. He never showed up his own election literature doesn’t list any achievement just some committee in 07. Indefensible you get what you elect worse than nothing!!
He may be seen around west Cork but Ireland south is a massive constituency. I’ve never seen nor heard of him paying south Leinster a visit
People should be ashamed of them selves voting FF. FF are a party who lined their own pockets and brought this country to their knees.
And made us vote twice in both Nice and Lisbon until they bullied the electorate into voting yes.
Id love to know, as I havent been in his constituency up til Friday, what are his major achievements as an MEP? What has he brought to the Brusells table? What is his voting record like on the Financial issues that have gone through the parliament since 2007?
Good to see Theresa Heaney only getting 2% of the total vote,still scary that over 13,000 people voted for her though
dat face
Brian Crowley’s ultimate aim is to run for and win the presidency. I can’t for the life of me understand what his draw is. He never says anything about the EU. He never appears on any radio or TV show and he only appears at election time to take a bow for the massive vote he gets. A complete mystery! No one yet In any of the above comments has illustrated a single achievement of his or any influence he has exerted after all his years in Brussels.
I would like to congratulated Brian Crowley on his re-election. I listened to his interview on why he gets so many votes. He makes time to visit and explain in the homes of his constituents. He takes the time to visit and communicate personally with his constituents of all parties and none. His appreciation of his role as a MEP is one of quiet confidence and professionalism. Unlike most politicians he is a plain talker not a riddle maker. Maybe he should return home and lead FF.
The only reason he will return home is to run for President which is his ultimate aim. He was supposed to be livid that FF didn’t put him forward the last time so at least now he has something to do until the next run.
Crowley doesn’t even talk to FF HQ at this stage and despises Micheal Martin.
He is Independent FF at this stage. Part of the party but doesn’t bother them.
He has had 25 operations in the last 2 years.
In any other employment that sick record would mean having to retire on disability !
Sounds to me like he spends more time going around houses to secure his next election instead of going to europe and doing the work he is elected to do!
Just be glad you don’t have his medical problems!
Maybe he should step back from whatever he does in Europe and focus on getting better.
On a side note, the choice of candidates on the ballot in the south for Europe was shockingly bad. I was tempted to write “non of the above”.
Maybe he should. But at the moment he needs to have a presence in Brussels.
Has he got a medical card?
Actually. He was approached by the fact hq to run in the last presidential election and he declined.
Sorry that should read ff hq. Stupid auto correct! !
Are you his dad writing under a pseudonym
Roll on expenses claims!!!!
Great news for Sinn Fein
Never heard of him doing a tap
Surprised Clune is behind Harris.
I would have figured the cork candidate be ahead.
For a young guy Harris ran a strong campaign. Also getting some regognition from his work on the PAC.
Can anyone explain what is the attraction to the people of Ireland South of Brian Crowley?
Shouldn’t the heading be ‘Sin Fein STOLE second seat’ ya couldn’t trust them to look after printer cartriges
That guy looks weird like me so I like him
Super lol good one you
The abuse of the exclamation mark on here is astonishing.
This is Sinn Feins third seat…not second
Nowhere does it say that it’s their second seat. They took the second seat in the constituency.
Can anyone in the south constituency explain how the combined FG/FF vote is just short of 58%….. Has anyone told them the civil war was over 90 years ago….
Adams pulling a Boris Johnson. Slowly build up popularity…then bang!
He looks like the guy from Clockwork Orange
Lol, with his FF droogs
Dont underestimate the transfers of anti government transfers benefiting either Hartley or O’Flynn to get the last seat. Not a certainty for FG by any means.
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