Former Minister Jim McDaid resigns his Dáil seat.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Former Minister Jim McDaid resigns his Dáil seat. It has been accepted by the Dail clerk.

Thats a 4'th bye-election that the Govt. have to call

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1102/mcdaid.html

Jim McDaid resigns Dáil seat

Updated: 10:53, Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Former minister Jim McDaid has resigned his seat in the Dáil. It is understood the Donegal North East TD's resignation will be submitted to the Ceann Comhairle this morning.


Jim McDaid - Government sources say they were not relying on his vote in the Dáil

Former minister Jim McDaid has resigned his seat in the Dáil.

It is understood the Donegal North East TD's resignation will be submitted to the Ceann Comhairle this morning, and then laid in the Oireachtas library.

Although the Oireachtas authorities will not confirm that the resignation has been submitted, RTÉ News understands that it was given to the Clerk of the Dáil for transmission to the Ceann Comhairle.


Dr McDaid has been outside the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party since he opposed Government policy on the cervical cancer issue.

In November 2008 Dr McDaid abstained on a vote on a Fine Gael motion calling for the cervical cancer vaccination programme to go ahead. He automatically lost the party whip then.


Dr McDaid said during the debate that even though these were difficult economic times, the withdrawal of a life-saving vaccine was not a move he could support.

In November last year he withdrew his support for the Government, saying he would consider voting against it 'if and when necessary'.

Government sources say they were not relying on Dr McDaid's vote in the Dáil, and are confident of retaining a majority in the House.

The resignation brings the number of vacancies in the Dáil to four.

State of the parties

With four vacant seats - due to resignations of George Lee, Martin Cullen and Jim McDaid, and the election of Pat the Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament - there are 162 sitting TDs.

The Ceann Comhairle does not vote unless there is a tie, which means 81 votes is a majority.

At present, there are 70 TDs in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, six Greens, and three Independents - Mary Harney, Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae - committed to supporting the Government.

In addition, there are three TDs outside the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party who usually vote with the Government - Mattie McGrath, Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon. The Government has the committed support of 79 TDs, with another three who usually vote with it.

On the other side are 51 Fine Gael, 20 Labour, and 4 Sinn Féin TDs, giving 75 votes firmly committed against the Government.

There are four Independents who tend to, although not always, vote against the Government - Joe Behan, Noel Grealish, Finian McGrath and Maureen O'Sullivan.

[Declan]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Jim!!

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Will this seat return to Fianna Fail? It seems they still might be strong in this area. Can the government call this bye-election before the others are have they to be called in order.

[Bogball XV]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Jim!!

wasn't the worst auld jim - at least he had some principles, he's rehabilitated himself a bit in my eyes anyway over the past few years.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Jim!!

wasn't the worst auld jim - at least he had some principles, he's rehabilitated himself a bit in my eyes anyway over the past few years.

It seems he didn't want to vote for the budget, his tribal FFism kicked in and resigned so as not to vote against the government. However if he voted against the government that woud be a truer sign of rehabulitation and sign of principles.

He rarely attends the Dáil and maybe there is a cut to the ministerial pension in the off.

[Declan]

wasn't the worst auld jim - at least he had some principle

Whatever about his own personal demons I'm failing to see any political principles in "auld" Jim. His attendance record in this Dail is scandalous to say the least. I'd have more admiration for him if he stayed and voted against the Budget

[Tubberman]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Jim!!

wasn't the worst auld jim - at least he had some principles, he's rehabilitated himself a bit in my eyes anyway over the past few years.

A grand fella altogether. Drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway hammered drunk, and hasn't attended 80% of Dáil sessions in this govt term, all the while receiving his salary and pension presumably.

[Zapatista]

He'd make a great President.

[An Gaeilgoir]

He must have got tired of keeping one or two skeletons hidden in the cupboard. What are the chances of something in the papers over the next few days?

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

He must have got tired of keeping one or two skeletons hidden in the cupboard. What are the chances of something in the papers over the next few days?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEupW8oc87A

[The Subbie]

As someone on politics.ie said he most likely went so that his ministers pension & all other payments are now secured & can't be touched no matter what Brian lendahand does to td's pay & perks etc, even though that will most likely be the very very very last thing the pricks will cut going forward etc etc blah blah,

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

As someone on politics.ie said he most likely went so that his ministers pension & all other payments are now secured & can't be touched no matter what Brian lendahand does to td's pay & perks etc, even though that will most likely be the very very very last thing the pricks will cut going forward etc etc blah blah,

http://www.politics.ie/current-affairs/141683-jim-mcdaid-resigns-dail-seat.html

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Highland Radio now http://www.highlandradio.com/listen-live/

[Donegal Danny]

The real reason Jimmy resigned was because he has to practise more for the St Eunan's GAA Strictly Come Dancing taking place in the Mount Errigal Hotel on December 3. Fair play to Jimmy the Minister for Fun. There is no Sporting club in Donegal north East can say that Jimmy didn't help them out big time. From GAA clubs to Hockey clubs to Orange Halls he pumped some money into them all when he was Minister. Also never charged when you went into the surgery unlike his colleagues who charge 45 euro for a 2 minute visit. Everyone calling to the surgery would want to see Jimmy because they knew he probably wouldn't charge them. Great man with plenty of integrity.

[An Gaeilgoir]

The real reason Jimmy resigned was because he has to practise more for the St Eunan's GAA Strictly Come Dancing taking place in the Mount Errigal Hotel on December 3. Fair play to Jimmy the Minister for Fun. There is no Sporting club in Donegal north East can say that Jimmy didn't help them out big time. From GAA clubs to Hockey clubs to Orange Halls he pumped some money into them all when he was Minister. Also never charged when you went into the surgery unlike his colleagues who charge 45 euro for a 2 minute visit. Everyone calling to the surgery would want to see Jimmy because they knew he probably wouldn't charge them. Great man with plenty of integrity.

Sums up our attitude to political integrity. our local politican can do no wrong as long as he doesn't charge us to see him in his professional capacity and he gives every one a few quid. Job DOne. With politicans as good as this how did we end up where we are now?