Low stakes, high risks: the perils of the Seanad by-election
While Hazel Chu embarks on a solo run for a Seanad seat, many in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are concerned that their parties’ fragile election pact will fall apart in a welter of mutual distrust
The stakes may appear low, but Seanad by-elections have an increasing knack for embroiling our political leaders in controversy.
Enda Kenny found himself battling allegations of cronyism and stroke politics in 2014 after Fine Gael’s candidate John McNulty was shoe-horned onto the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art shortly ahead of his Seanad election run, which he ultimately withdrew from amid controversy.
Seven years on, Eamon Ryan is learning that even the...
Subscribe from just €1 for the first month!
Exclusive offers:
All Digital Access + eReader
Trial
€1
Unlimited Access for 1 Month, €19.99 Monthly thereafter
*New subscribers only
Annual
€200
€149 For the 1st Year
Unlimited Access for 1 Year
Quarterly
€55
€42
90 Day Pass
2 Yearly
€315
€248
Unlimited Access for 2 Years
Team Pass
Get a Business Account for you and your team
Related Stories
Michael Brennan: Acid test of Greens’ peace deal will be what happens in Dublin Bay South
Hazel Chu insists there is ‘no squabble’ with Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader, but time and the next general election will tell
Dozens of TDs and senators claim expenses without travelling to Leinster House
An estimated €123,000 was paid out last year under a clause allowing politicians to get a full allowance if they can show they were unable to travel to the Oireachtas
Sinn Féin backs reform of defamation laws despite €150k payout to TD
The party’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire settled his defamation claim against RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline last week for a large sum
Awarding part of search and rescue contract to Irish Air Corps ‘will end in tears’
Chris Reynolds, director of the Irish Coast Guard, warned against the proposal that the Air Corps could provide search and rescue services for the east coast of the country