The European Elections Thread

Please post European Election news and views here:


Just to make a start, from today's breaking news:

Sinn Féin nominate EU election candidate

Sinn Féin’s Lisbon Treaty Campaign Director Cllr. Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has been chosen as the party’s North West candidate for next years European elections. He was selected at an event held in Sligo. 500 party members and supporters were addressed by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.

I wonder will Mary Lou even hold her seat next time round.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/0918/1221599468078.html

The question of whether the Elections will be held under the Nice Treaty arrangements or under Lisbon is not settled.

This is a good set of recent articles on the question:

http://www.euinfo.ie/

All the information needed to register and vote: - multilingual site:

http://www.integratingireland.ie/local_and_eu_elections_2009_

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1101/1225321623322.html

Is it normal for political parties to be limited companies?

Unusual but there are reasons why one might. Being a limited company doesn't necessary mean that it is limited by shares. It would probably be limited by guarantee, similar to how most charities are constructed, and thus would not have any share capital.

cactus flower wrote:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1101/1225321623322.html

Is it normal for political parties to be limited companies?

Well, it worked very well first time round. What interests me is that the original Libertas Institute is not being used. Now that was the company to which DG made his loans - loans, not donations, because of course the limit on donations is much, much lower. Except that if the original Libertas vehicle is wound up without repaying those loans, then they will effectively be donations.

As a bonus, of course, the scrutiny applied to European parties will not be levelled at the original Libertas.

ibis wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1101/1225321623322.html

Is it normal for political parties to be limited companies?

Well, it worked very well first time round. What interests me is that the original Libertas Institute is not being used. Now that was the company to which DG made his loans - loans, not donations, because of course the limit on donations is much, much lower. Except that if the original Libertas vehicle is wound up without repaying those loans, then they will effectively be donations.

As a bonus, of course, the scrutiny applied to European parties will not be levelled at the original Libertas.

It strikes me as odd, but I know nothing about the legalities. Will the members be shareholders I wonder, or only the Directors? I tend to think of a political party as being owned by its membership.

In a company limited by guarantee, which is the likely form in such a body, there is no share capital so there are no shareholders. Directors are never shareholders merely by virtue of the fact of their directorship (save for individual agreement). Sports clubs, charities etc are generally companies limited by guarantee. You have members who provide a guarantee, rather than shareholders. The directors need not be a member but presumably Ganley et al will be the directors. You could have a load of members though.

Deirdre De Búrca of the Green Party has switched constituency from Ireland East to Dublin. Dublin is going to be a bitterly-contested battleground in next year's election in Europe.

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

johnfás wrote:

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

That it would johnfás. The constituency is down to 3 seats so, like the hit film of last year, there will be blood.

This is a nice little map with photos of the sitting MEPS.

http://www.europarl.ie/irish.html

Quote :

European elections take place every 5 years. The last elections were held in June 2004; the next European elections will take place in June 2009.

Ireland elects 13 MEPs in 4 constituencies.

Dublin (Dublin city and county) 4 seats
East (all Leinster counties except Dublin) 3 seats
North West (all Connacht counties plus Co Clare plus the 3 Ulster Counties in the Republic of Ireland) 3 seats
South (all Munster counties except Co Clare) 3 seats

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

That it would johnfás. The constituency is down to 3 seats so, like the hit film of last year, there will be blood.

I haven't yet found a list of the new arrangements: do you know what they are altogether?

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

That it would johnfás. The constituency is down to 3 seats so, like the hit film of last year, there will be blood.

I haven't yet found a list of the new arrangements: do you know what they are altogether?

I'm not sure, but I do know we have 12 MEPs in the new European Parliament.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

That it would johnfás. The constituency is down to 3 seats so, like the hit film of last year, there will be blood.

I haven't yet found a list of the new arrangements: do you know what they are altogether?

I'm not sure, but I do know we have 12 MEPs in the new European Parliament.

It looks like 4 x 3 ?

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

johnfás wrote:

Would love to see Mary Lou lose her seat .

That it would johnfás. The constituency is down to 3 seats so, like the hit film of last year, there will be blood.

I haven't yet found a list of the new arrangements: do you know what they are altogether?

I'm not sure, but I do know we have 12 MEPs in the new European Parliament.

It looks like 4 x 3 ?

I think so.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

It looks like 4 x 3 ?

I think so.

aye.

johnfás wrote:

In a company limited by guarantee, which is the likely form in such a body, there is no share capital so there are no shareholders. Directors are never shareholders merely by virtue of the fact of their directorship (save for individual agreement). Sports clubs, charities etc are generally companies limited by guarantee. You have members who provide a guarantee, rather than shareholders. The directors need not be a member but presumably Ganley et al will be the directors. You could have a load of members though.

What is the legal name for this johnfás ? I always thought Irish pol pars were trusts ?

Most, if not all, Irish political parties are trusts, my point was merely that the establishment of a political organisation by this method (a company) is not entirely shocking depending on the type of company used - there are lots. If established by guarantee it is not akin to creating a company limited by shares (essentially a for profit organisation) as might be inferred through the papers when referring to Libertas Ltd.

Wikipedia provides a brief, but useful, explanation of the company limited by guarantee. The 2006 Act referred to is meaningless in our context though, it is a piece of UK legislation but the article is broadly correct. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_limited_by_guarantee

Dan Boyle was selected for Ireland South last night. Labour have also selected their candidate but I cannot remember his name (Google tells me its senator Alan Kelly). FG still have to decide between sitting MEP Colm Burke and the former GAA Pres. Sean Kelly. FF are bound to put foward Crowley forward as he heads up the UEN and Sinnott is running too. I would love to see her lose her seat! She annoys me no end! Sinn Fein are running Cllr Toireasa Ferris (her with the legs!) .It will be an interesting contest.

spillercork wrote:

Dan Boyle was selected for Ireland South last night. Labour have also selected their candidate but I cannot remember his name (Google tells me its senator Alan Kelly). FG still have to decide between sitting MEP Colm Burke and the former GAA Pres. Sean Kelly. FF are bound to put foward Crowley forward as he heads up the UEN and Sinnott is running too. I would love to see her lose her seat! She annoys me no end! Sinn Fein are running Cllr Toireasa Ferris (her with the legs!) .It will be an interesting contest.

Any others? Libertas? "Stop the re-ordering" Committee?

no others announced yet or that I know of, the "substantialy correct" Libertas may run, Sinnott might run as their candidate?

spillercork wrote:

no others announced yet or that I know of, the "substantialy correct" Libertas may run, Sinnott might run as their candidate?

Aahhh!!

cactus flower wrote:

spillercork wrote:

no others announced yet or that I know of, the "substantialy correct" Libertas may run, Sinnott might run as their candidate?

Aahhh!!

yea i agree completely! shes a tool like!!!!

But wouldn't she be just great PR for them?

A friend of mine once got a phonecall from Sinnott asking her to essentially be her PA in Brussels - she ran a mile!!