What do you want for Ireland?
What do you want for Ireland? Ó Cadhla is standing in Cork North Central. Here is a copy of my election flyer. Are you happy with the direction our country has taken? Can senior citizens feel secure, can they be confident that Health and Home Care is available? Can those in need of housing, to […]
Fund the Process, not the Parties
ELECTORAL REFORM: I’ve always liked the idea that everyone should have ‘an equal right to elect and to be elected’, that is fundamental in a democratic society. Is this what we have in Ireland, does every citizens have equal opportunity? Every year the established Political Parties received up to €15 million in state funding. We […]
Corruption in Our Councils
The following is the text of a talk given by Cllr Diarmaid Ó Cadhla on 19th February 2019 at a public meeting entitled: End Corruption at City Hall It is easy for us to call the dealings of City Hall corrupt, the evidence is all around us, unfortunately it escapes many who get fooled by […]
Tenants of Public Housing are Entitled to Privacy
In Ireland, tenants of Public Housing are treated as 2nd class citizens. The view is that Public Housing tenants somehow get something for nothing, so they must forfeit their rights and be grateful. This view is confirmed by Cork County Council’s ongoing Rent Review (the same happens in all local authorities), which again imposes on […]
Council Budgets – but Don’t Express an Opinion!
I had the experience of being ejected from the Annual Budget meeting of Cork County Council last week, because I refused to withdraw my expressed opinion that the Political Parties were manipulating Council policy. Here are the small amendments I wanted to propose to the Budget, however, my exclusion prevented this. I wanted to do […]
Councils, TDs & Senators fail the Citizens
Oireachtas Members Disgrace Themselves! The statement released tonight by independent members of the Oireachtas reveals the sorry state of our democratic processes – does individual responsibility even exist? Just 19 independent TDs and Senators met and they have adopted a collective cop-out, none taking individual responsibility for their lack of action. There and sins committed […]
Presidential Election Must be Full Field
Citizens are looking for new politics, recent elections have proven this, and more change should be expected. The next landmark in political life is the coming Presidential election, but there is a danger that democratic choice is being restricted. It is vital that limits are not placed on democracy, we need to facilitate a full […]
The Politics of Private Member Clubs?
The foundation of any democratic system is that it should affirm and defend the rights of the people. Our own history has produced many documents declaring this, not least of which is the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916. The Constitution of 1937 affirmed the right of the people “to decide all questions of national policy”. However, we […]
Electoral Process for President of Ireland is Undemocratic
Cork County Council will facilitate the Nomination of an Independent Candidate in the Presidential Election In an effort to ensure some level of democracy in regards to the election of a new President Cllr Ó Cadhla made a proposal to the public meeting on July 23rd. Here is the Notice of Motion and the reply […]
Lack of Democracy and Indifference of Party Politicians is Revealed
The outstanding question arising out of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to allow Indaver to proceed with the incinerator at Ringaskiddy is that of democracy. How can planning be granted in the face of unanimous opposition from the wider community, in Ringaskiddy and throughout the Cork harbour area? What has happened to our representative democracy, why […]