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A race to become the next leader of the Labour Party will gets under way later today, with Tipperary’s Labour TD Mr Alan Kelly, expected to enter the contest.
This contest follows the announcement by Mr Brendan Howlin, this week, to stand down as Labour leader.
The executive board of the Labour Party was expected to meet at 11:00am, this morning to set rules for the-is upcoming contest, which will take place in six week’s time, with Louth TD Mr Ged Nash and Dublin Bay North TD Mr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin also expected to throw their hats into the ring.
The winner will be decided by a majority vote of the party membership.
With 5 seats only up for grabs in the recent General Election in Tipperary, Mr Kelly, latter who spends his relaxation time viewing the American Netflik TV political thriller “House of Cards”, was once again lucky to be elected. Mr Kelly took the fourth seat with a mere 13,222 votes; 5,365 of which were second preference, leaving him several hundred votes short of a 13,632 quota.
This new Labour party leader when chosen will be expected to boost a political grouping which ended up returning with only six seats to the 33rd Dáil, one fewer than in the previous General Election.
Outgoing leader Mr Brendan Howlin said he would not be backing any future candidate and that a decision on any new leader would be a matter for their now diminishing party membership.
  
A group of rural TD’s, two from Co. Tipperary, are meeting in Dublin today as they compete to become the largest influential block in any prospective upcoming coalition.
This group currently consists of Mr Michael Lowry, Co. Tipperary; Mr Michael and Mr Danny Healy-Rae, Co. Kerry; Michael Collins, Co. Cork; Noel Grealish, Co. Galway, and Mr Mattie McGrath, Co. Tipperary.
This alliance of six TD’s from the previous 32nd Dáil are expected today to discuss their programme for government demands, as well as looking to attract new members to add to their current grouping.
This group will have the potential to grow considerably, given the views currently being shared by a large number of Independent TD’s, each committed to delivering a strong future programme for government and for rural communities within Ireland.
Sinn Féin Already In Trouble Just 24 Hours After Successful Election
Meanwhile, Senior Sinn Féin TD Mr David Cullinane has wisely been excluded from his parties main negotiating team; latter drawn up to form a possible government.
Same decision comes following Mr Cullinane’s “Up the Ra” offensive remark, at a late-night celebration on last Sunday.
“Up the Ra”– Meaning “Up the Provisional Irish Republican Army”, latter which emerged in December 1969. The Provisional IRA presided over the death of 1,700 people, 680 of whom were innocent civilians.
To fund its campaign, the IRA became involved in regular criminal activities e.g. robberies; counterfeiting; protection rackets; kidnapping for ransom, and later fuel laundering, drugs and cigarette smuggling.
The IRA also raised funds through donations abroad and by running legitimate businesses such as taxi firms stealing VAT in the Republic; social clubs; pubs and restaurants. It is estimated that by the early 1990’s, the IRA needed over 12 million Euro per year simply to operate
It is estimated that currently the IRA own at least €550 million in global assets, and remains classified as an illegal organisation in the Republic of Ireland.].
Mr Cullinane later confirmed that he never distanced himself from the IRA or the hunger strikers, since entering politics.
While Mr Cullinane had been involved in the St. Andrew’s Agreement talks in the 2000’s and had visited No.10 Downing Street on a number of occasions to meet with British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair; it was felt best by his SF colleagues that he not be included in any main current negotiating team; latter unveiled by finance spokesman Mr Pearse Doherty outside party HQ in Dublin last night.
It has been confirmed to Thurles. Info that there will be no question of a Sub-Post Office being located in SuperValu, situated at Friar Street, or indeed any other location here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Mr Angus Laverty, Public Affairs Manager with An Post has stated that the company is more than happy with its move to Thurles Shopping centre.
The question of a Sub-Post Office on Friar Street had first been raised by business owners on Friar Street, several months ago. SuperValu had been targeted as having an adequate free parking area to the rear of its sole business premises, thus identifying that parking charges in Liberty Square, was the reason for An Post’s move in the first place.
In more recent days outgoing Fianna Fáil Tipperary TD Mr Jackie Cahill had stated, “I have had a number of meetings with the owner of Supervalu Friar Street, Mr Tom Barry, with a view to having a Sub Post Office located at his store.
Because of the closure of the Post Office Branches in the villages around Thurles, and the relocation of the Thurles Branch to the Shopping Centre, I believe we need a sub post office to cater for the needs of older people particularly.
The Supervalu on Friar Street has ample parking to cater for people who do not want to make the trip to the Shopping Centre, and many SuperValu’s right around the Country have Sub-Post Offices, therefore Thurles must be treated equally.
I have made initial contacts with Senior Management in An Post to begin the process”.
Meanwhile, questions are now being asked why an initial petition which local residents were encouraged to sign, regarding the halting of An Post’s decision to move to Thurles Shopping Centre, on Saturday 24th September 2019, was indeed ever presented to An Post.
Thurles.Info has been unable to confirm if this signed petition was actually ever delivered.
Today, customers of An Post welcome the warmth and shelter afforded by the Thurles Shopping Centre’s long corridors and they claim that this protection from a freezing, wind and rain swept, Liberty Square, Thurles has come 20 years too late.
Electoral staff in Co. Tipperary have been finally informed that a General Election vote will go ahead on Saturday next, in the constituency.
Same follows extensive legal consultation in the office of the Attorney General over the past 24 hours.
The AG’s Office have examined legal arguments that claimed a delay to the Tipperary vote could be unconstitutional, because the Constitution states an election has to be held within 30 days of the dissolution of the Dáil.
DÁIL ÉIREANN – ARTICLE 16
2° A general election for members of Dáil Éireann shall take place not later than thirty days after a dissolution of Dáil Éireann.
Mr James Seymour, the Returning Officer for Co. Tipperary, stated that he has received “unofficial notification” to proceed with preparation for polling on Saturday February 8th, and expects a ministerial order to be issued later today to that effect.
It is understood that the existing ballot paper will be used in the election, which will contain the name of the late lamented Ms Marese Skehan.
Mr Seymour officially thanked the people of Tipperary for their understanding and patience; including the 700 staff who remained on standby and who are involved in the elections over all administration.
Polling stations will open from 7:00am to 10:00pm on Saturday next with the sorting and counting of votes beginning at 9:00am on Sunday morning.
There is a very strong possibility that the constituency of Co. Tipperary may be allowed to vote in next Saturday’s General Election.
The election in Co Tipperary, as our readers are aware, had been postponed following the tragic death yesterday, of Independent candidate Ms Marese Skehan.
However, we now understand that the Attorney General’s Office is tonight looking at legal arguments which could indicate that a delay in the Tipperary constituency could be interpreted as being unconstitutional, due to the fact that the Irish Constitution states that an election has to be held within 30 days of the dissolution of the Dáil. See HERE.
DÁIL ÉIREANN – ARTICLE 16
3 1° Dáil Éireann shall be summoned and dissolved as provided by section 2 of Article 13 of this Constitution.
2° A general election for members of Dáil Éireann shall take place not later than thirty days after a dissolution of Dáil Éireann.
Saturday, February 29th next had been observed as possibly the most likely date for the constituency of Co. Tipperary, to cast their vote.
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