Election failures get surprise Seanad nod

NINE defeated general election candidates were yesterday appointed to the Seanad in a line-up which produced many unexpected winners and losers.

One of the most notable surprises was the inclusion of Ivor Callely, the former junior minister for transport who resigned his position in the wake of controversy over the funding of the redecoration of his house in the 1990s.

He failed to retain his seat in the recent general election and subsequently obtained a mere 13 votes in the Seanad elections last week.

The other unexpected name on the Taoiseach’s list of 11 nominees was Eoghan Harris, a former RTÉ television producer and now a political columnist with the Sunday Independent.

In appointing defeated Fianna Fáil TDs Martin Brady and John Ellis from Leitrim, the county is no longer without any representation in Leinster House.

However, many had expected Drumshambo-based Paschal Mooney, who suffered a surprise defeat in the Seanad elections, to secure the nomination.

Other defeated TDs absent from the list were Waterford’s Ollie Wilkinson and Galway East’s Joe Callanan, both of whom failed to get elected to the Seanad.

Also absent from the Seanad when it resumes in September will be Dr Maurice Hayes, former Northern Ireland ombudsman.

Instead, councillors such as Maria Corrigan on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Lisa McDonald on Wexford County Council and Brian Ó Domhnaill on Donegal County Council received the nod, in the hope that they can win a seat at the next general election.

As predicted, the Green Party’s Dan Boyle, who lost his seat in Cork South Central, was appointed a senator alongside Wicklow County Council’s Deirdre de Burca.

Yesterday, Mr Boyle described it as a “tremendous honour” to be appointed to the Seanad and pledged to work to bring about “necessary reform” in the House.

Likewise, the Progressive Democrats obtained two seats in the Seanad in exchange for their support in government. From a list of 19 candidates, which included sitting senators John Minihan, Colm O’Gorman and Tom Morrissey, Cllr Ciarán Cannon in Galway and former TD Fiona O’Malley were appointed.

With Noel Grealish retaining his seat in Galway West, the county is now perceived as one of the party’s remaining strongholds. The party now hopes that Mr Cannon can win a seat in Galway East at the next election following their dismal poll performance in May.

Their appointment brings to four the party’s total representation in Leinster House. With Mary Harney expected to continue in the role of party leader for another 12 months, attention will again turn to whether Fiona O’Malley is the leader in-waiting.

If the party’s two TDs and two senators do not seek the leadership, it may have to change its rules to elect someone who is not a representative in Leinster House.