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Eugene Murphy top Dáil contributor across Galway’s 3 constituencies
Galway Bay fm newsroom – As TDs return to the Dáil after their Christmas break, the top contributors of 2017 have been revealed.
There are eleven TDs and two Senators across the Galway West, Galway East and Galway-Roscommon constituencies.
Analysis of website Kildare Street, an online database of everything submitted in the Oireachtas, reveals the most active – as well as least active – contributors last year.
Fianna Fail Deputy Eugene Murphy is the top Oireachtas speaker among the 3 constituencies – contributing to 213 committee discussions and Dáil debates over the past year.
He also received answers to 222 written questions submitted to various Government departments.
Deputy Eamon O’ Cuiv participated in 72 discussions – but received 756 parliamentary replies, the highest figure across Galway’s public represenatives by a significant margin.
His Fianna Fail party colleague Anne Rabbitte spoke 99 times last year – and received answers to a further 566 written questions.
She’s followed by Independent Deputy Catherine Connolly, who made 171 spoken contributions – and received answers to 500 written questions.
Next is Independent Michael Fitzmaurice, who contributed to 93 Oireachtas debates and sought answers to a further 315 written questions.
Fellow Independent Noel Grealish took part in 28 discussions and received responses to 209 parliamentary questions.
Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton spoke during 109 committee and Dáil debates – and submitted 47 written questions.
Fine Gael Junior Minister Sean Kyne made 53 spoken contributions; Independent and former OPW Minister Sean Canney 24 and Fine Gael Communications Minister Denis Naughten 50.
However, Ministers do not submit written questions to Government.
Fine Gael Deputy and now Junior Minister Ciaran Cannon spoke in 11 committee discussions or debates in the Oireachtas over the past year – and submitted 14 written questions.
In the Seanad, Independent Senator Trevor O’ Clochartaigh took part in 108 discussions or debates – while Fine Gael’s Maura Hopkins spoke 32 times.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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