Thurles Information

Noel Coonan TD with Fine Gael Public Representatives and the Fine Gael Team in North Tipperary/South Offaly

A phenomenal crowd gathered in the Templemore Arms Hotel, Templemore, Thurles, Co.Tipperry, last Saturday night, to officially celebrate the re-election of Fine Gael Deputy Noel Coonan to the 31st Dáil.

Speaking at the evening of celebration, the local TD said he was “truly humbled” by the large audience who turned out and “wished to thank every single person in attendance who rolled up their sleeves in the election.”

Addressing the gathering Deputy Coonan stated: “I feel very humbled here tonight to have been given the opportunity to again represent this constituency and to be elected to the 31st Dáil which I believe will be a very powerful Dáil. But tonight is about you because you are the people who did the work for Fine Gael, for Noel Coonan and for the North Tipperary/South Offaly constituency. Each and every one of you rolled up your sleeves to ensure we got the response we were all praying for and it was very humbling when the ballot boxes were opened and our vote increased in every area. That is due to the efforts of Fine Gael Public Representatives, the Fine Gael organisation in this constituency and the good will of the public.”

Deputy Noel Coonan with members of North Tipp Young Fine Gael at an evening of celebration last Saturday night to officially acknowledge re-election of the local TD

A loud enthusiastic cheer filled the packed ballroom as Noel continued: “Leader Enda Kenny asked me to pass on his thanks to Fine Gael members in North Tipperary/South Offaly who have stood loyal to the party over the years and achieved success yet again.”

The Fine Gael Deputy gave special thanks to the Fine Gael Organisation who “did a fantastic job” including Chairman Michael Harty, Director of Elections Tom Berkery, Secretary Margaret Mary Dwyer, Organiser Michael MacNamara, Campaign Manager Mary d’Estelle Roe, to Young Fine Gael who helped make the campaign a success and to many non-party and non-political people who participated and who encouraged.

“Heartfelt thanks to you all here tonight and I look forward in confidence to Fine Gael in Government, Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and to delivering for the people of our constituency by restoring hope and confidence. We will all work hard as a team over the next five years so that Fine Gael will never again lose it’s seat in North Tipperary/South Offaly. Ladies and gentleman, this night belongs to you the people who have given us the mandate to represent you in Dáil Éireann and work hard on your behalf and for that we are really and truly grateful,” concluded Deputy Coonan.

Vote more often!

The election is over, the people have spoken, revenge was sweet, but at what cost to the nation?

It is reckoned that the cost of ridding ourselves of the worst government in the history of the State will cost the taxpayer a total of €7,054,373.02 in the first year alone and €1,711,658.48 for every year thereafter.

Of course these figures listed are pre-tax, and tax is payable on all earnings, except of course part of the first years payment accounting for the lump sum of a parliamentary pension. This equates to three years worth of their annual pension and most payments are subject to pension levies.

Our TD’s do not receive parliamentary pensions until they turn 50, unlike the rest of us, but they can accept reduced pensions at the age of 45 years if they so wish. Note, Ministerial pensions are not paid to retirees under 50 or until they turn 65, as in the case of defeated TDs who first took ministerial office after 2004.

For those of our angry voters, now feeling some regret, a little guilt or even some remorse with regard to their haste to remove those totally responsible for our country’s indebtedness, dry your eyes because those you sacked are not exactly on the breadline.
In North Tipperary Maire Hoctor according to my reckoning will receive €142,890.67 in her first year of forced retirement and €27,950.47 for every year from then on.
In South Tipperary Martin Mansergh should receive €108,507.84 in his first year and €18,707.96 every year thereafter.
Thurles born Mary Hanafin fares out somewhat better, with €250,986.98 in her first year and a miserly €102,364.91 for every year from then on.

Of course nationally, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan will receive €312,239.56 in her first year and a mere €130,161.98 for every year after that.
Kerry’s high living John O’Donoghue, the Jobseeker’s Allowance friend of the Self employed worker, will receive €310,370.98 in his first year and €128,293.40 for every year thereafter, which should help him to continue to go racing.

These figures should now help your feelings of remorse, so dry your eyes and accept that all persons are equal, but some persons are just more equal than others.

On the MEP front the working class man’s friend Labour Senator Phil Prendergast and Socialist Party councillor Ruthie Coppinger are possibly due to become the Members of the European Parliament as an indirect consequence of how you voted.
In our democratic Ireland there are no by elections to the European parliament. If an MEP resigns, seeks work else where, or God forbid dies during their given mandate, the vacancy is immediately filled from a replacement list, latter usually presented by their Party or Independent candidate, to the returning officer in their constituency, prior to each European Election.

Phil Prendergast is the next eligible member of the substitute list for Southern Ireland’s MEP Alan Kelly, latter elected to the Dáil as a Labour TD for Tipperary North, this time around.
Ruth Coppinger replaces her Socialist Party colleague Joey Higgins, who was elected an MEP in Dublin at the last European elections in 2009, but has now been elected to the Dáil for Dublin West.

In the game of politics it seems you never really loose.

The people of North Tipperary have spoken and hereunder are the 2011 General Election results for the Constituency:-

Counts: 3. Electorate: 63,235.  Turnout: 77.2%.  Total Poll: 48,789.  Spoiled Votes: 516.  Total Valid Poll: 48,273.   Quota: 12,069   Seats Filled: 3.

Election Results 2011

Elected:-

Lowry, Michael, Sitting Independent. Elected on first count.  First Preference votes, 14,104.
Coonan, Noel, Sitting Fine Gael Party. First Preference votes, 11,425.   Transfers, 705.  Total: 12,130.
Kelly, Alan,  Sitting MEP Labour Party. First Preference votes, 9,559.  Transfers, 545+1,961.  Elected short of quota.  Total: 12,065.

Eliminated:-

Hoctor, Maire, Sitting Fianna Fáil Party. First Preference votes,7,978.   Eliminated + 378 + 1,085.  Total: 9,441 .
Morris, Seamus,  Sinn Féin Party. First Preference votes, 3,034.     Eliminated + 146.   Total: 3,180.
Clancy, Billy, Independent. First Preference votes,1,442.     Eliminated + 211.   Total: 1,653.
O’Malley, Olwyn Green Party. First Preference votes, 409.     Eliminated + 20.   Total: 429.
Bopp, Kate Independent. First Preference votes, 322.     Eliminated + 30.   Total: 352.

Electoral results were as forecast by the pundits and Tipperary North has elected no Fianna Fail T.D. for the first time in living memory. Tipperary North had the highest turnout in the State in the last General Election.