What you need to be a Green senator

AS a member of the Green party I wish to congratulate our newest senator, Mark Deary from Louth, on his recent appointment to the Seanad.

Here he joins our other two senators, Niall O’Brolcháin and Dan Boyle, surely a great achievement for such a small party, and what makes it even more significant is that none of them has had to face the rigours (and uncertainty) of a Seanad election, but have been appointed by the Taoiseach.

However, this does raise one very important question. What was the basis for their selection? As far as I can see, what sets these three apart from other equally qualified members of the party is that they were all defeated candidates in the last general election, gaining on average about one-third of a quota in first preferences.

To avoid the accusation of cronyism or worse, may I respectfully suggest to the leadership that all future appointments to the Seanad or any equally lucrative quangos should be thrown open to the general membership.

To ease the workload on hard-pressed headquarters staff, I have drawn up an application form with a list of simple questions:

1. Are you a paid up member of the Green party ?

2. Are you sufficiently mobile to get to Leinster House 50 days a year?

3. Is €80,000 annually sufficient remuneration to compensate you for this punishing schedule?

4. Can you speak with passion on such matters as global warming and stag hunting?

5. Have you recently been defeated in a general/local election?

If you can answer yes to any four of the five questions you should be deemed eligible for selection.

I have my bag packed and await the call`.

Richard Power

Grange

Kilmallock

Co Limerick