ASTI support in the Seanad elections must be clarified
However, a statement by Senator O’Toole on the main RTE News programmes on Thursday, July 18, must not go uncorrected.
Senator O’Toole, President of the ICTU, stated that he was “humbled by the level of support he had received from ASTI members”. There is no evidence whatsoever for this statement. Senator O’Toole has lost 27% of his first preference votes since the last Seanad election. In the same time, the first preference votes of the ASTI endorsed candidate increased by 30%.
As this was my first time contesting this election, I am immensely encouraged by this level of increased support, both for myself and for the policies of the ASTI.
My votes were not distributed as fifth time candidate, O’Toole, a former poll-topper, was elected without reaching the quota because he had the highest number of votes after the two candidates, Quinn and Ryan (who had reached the quota) were deemed elected.
When the vote of an ASTI member, who had applied for but was refused endorsement by the ASTI, were distributed, 263 went to O’Toole, 234 to me and the highest number, 340, went to Ryan.
If Senator O’Toole is assuming that these votes came from ASTI members, then this level of support for Senator O’Toole is insignificant.
What is important is the 27% decrease in his traditional support, in terms of first preferences, coupled with the 30% increase for an ASTI endorsed candidate who has articulated her union’s official position on benchmarking and who has expressed concerns on the Commission on Pensions of which Senator O’Toole was a member.
Did Senator O’Toole deliberately make his unsupported remarks about mythical ASTI support in order to create an impression that the concerns about benchmarking have been abated?
Distortion of the facts must not be tolerated.
Bernadine O’Sullivan,
131 Fortfield Road,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W
