Candidates lists have exercised the minds of some of the visitors to the DSW Blog in recent weeks. Here is how the main parties handled the online challenge:
Fianna Fáil have an excellent list of candidates, grouped by constituencies and with clear photographs of the candidates on their Website at http://www.fiannafail.ie/candidates.phpx The visitor can search by constituency by text link or simply browse through the list. Further information on a candidate can be viewed by clicking on a "More" link.
Fine Gael's system is not dissimilar. Under "General Election Candidates" the party displays both a text list of constituencies and an image map of Ireland, divided into constituencies. However, the visitor has to click on each short-list candidate to view a photo and the candidate's bio, making the process slightly longer than on the FF site.
The Labour Party's presentation shows a text list of 204 people, both sitting Councilors and General Election Candidates. One has to scroll through the list, which goes onto several pages, to view the candidates and the list is not very user friendly in this respect. There is no single list of General Election candidates. But, on clicking on a candidate's name, one may also be taken to an option to view a You Tube video of the candidate in action at the Labour Party Conference 2007. Assuming, of course, the candidate spoke at the conference.
Sinn Féin's presentation of candidates is very straighforward and easy to find on its home page. Its list shows a photo of each candidate, the constituency and a short bio, together with a "View More" link.
The Progressive Democrats have no obvious link on their Home Page to the list of candidates. (There is a "Focus on..." link at the foot of the menu showing a random candidate, but this is not an obvious way into the list). One must visit any other page by using the selection of links across the head of the page before seeing a menu with "Our Election Candidates" on it. The PDs' list shows a photo, the name of the candidate and the name of the constituency. One must click on the candidate's name to view the bio. However, there is quite a good news archive accompanying each bio.
On the Green Party's website, there is a prominent "Election '07" link, which, like Labour, leads to a text list without any photos. It is, however, a much shorter list to navigate. One must click on the candidates name to view a photo and contact- and biographical-details.
The Workers Party website wasn't functioning when I tried to visit it.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Public Meeting to Save Tallaght Hospital: Labour
The Dublin South West Labour Party has organised a public meeting to highlight public fears as to the future of children’s healthcare in Tallaght Hospital. The meeting will take place: 8pm, Monday March 26 Plaza Hotel, Tallaght.
Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte TD said: “For as long as the Government decision of last summer stands, the only future facing Tallaght Children’s Hospital is ‘death by a thousand cuts,’ to quote Prof Ian Graham, Vice Chairman of Tallaght Hospital.
“When in the Dail on February 27 I asked the Taoiseach if there had been any change in the Government’s decision to relocate Crumlin and Tallaght to the Mater site, he replied: ‘The Deputy asked me whether there is a change in the position and I said there is not’.
“No amount of spinning can hide the formal Government decision.
“As the Government scrambles for a face-saving formula to get them past the General Election, the Taoiseach told me in the Dail that ‘there has been no review of the decision of last summer’. This means that the Government is proceeding to build the new hospital on the site of the Mater. This decision involves the relocation of both Tallaght and Crumlin to the North inner city.
“As a result, Tallaght will be left with a casualty station, or Urgent Care Centre, but no beds. It will be little more than a glorified clinic. This centre will care for children only in limited cases and where the length of the stay is less than 24 hours. It will be staffed by consultants and other staff rotating out from the National Children’s Hospital. However consultants say this is unworkable.
“Tallaght will lose its specialised staff and parents will be asked to travel in today’s congested traffic to the northside.
“It is dishonest of Fianna Fail to pretend that the Mater decision can be implemented and that everything remains more or less the same. We need honest answers Government instead of cynical misrepresentation of their own decision. We then need a commonsense solution in the interests of local families.
“This meeting will provide people with an opportunity to express their concerns over the future of health services for their children.”
Labour Leader Pat Rabbitte TD said: “For as long as the Government decision of last summer stands, the only future facing Tallaght Children’s Hospital is ‘death by a thousand cuts,’ to quote Prof Ian Graham, Vice Chairman of Tallaght Hospital.
“When in the Dail on February 27 I asked the Taoiseach if there had been any change in the Government’s decision to relocate Crumlin and Tallaght to the Mater site, he replied: ‘The Deputy asked me whether there is a change in the position and I said there is not’.
“No amount of spinning can hide the formal Government decision.
“As the Government scrambles for a face-saving formula to get them past the General Election, the Taoiseach told me in the Dail that ‘there has been no review of the decision of last summer’. This means that the Government is proceeding to build the new hospital on the site of the Mater. This decision involves the relocation of both Tallaght and Crumlin to the North inner city.
“As a result, Tallaght will be left with a casualty station, or Urgent Care Centre, but no beds. It will be little more than a glorified clinic. This centre will care for children only in limited cases and where the length of the stay is less than 24 hours. It will be staffed by consultants and other staff rotating out from the National Children’s Hospital. However consultants say this is unworkable.
“Tallaght will lose its specialised staff and parents will be asked to travel in today’s congested traffic to the northside.
“It is dishonest of Fianna Fail to pretend that the Mater decision can be implemented and that everything remains more or less the same. We need honest answers Government instead of cynical misrepresentation of their own decision. We then need a commonsense solution in the interests of local families.
“This meeting will provide people with an opportunity to express their concerns over the future of health services for their children.”
Friday, December 29, 2006
Call for legal recognition of same sex unions
LEGAL RECOGNITION OF SAME SEX UNIONS MUST BE PRIORITY FOR 2007 - LABOUR PARTY STATEMENT
The Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, has said that the issue of legal recognition of and proper protection for couples in same sex relationships must be a priority for the Oireachtas in 2007.
“I am confident that the our society has matured and attitudes changed sufficiently to the point where the majority of our people would have no problem with legislation that would provide same-sex couples with the same basic rights and duties that are available to married couples.
“Shortly before Christmas, my colleague Brendan Howlin TD, published, on behalf of the Labour Party, a private members bill that would create a status relationship equivalent to marriage for the benefit of people who are of the same sex and who, under the current constitutional understanding of marriage, cannot marry each other. The Bill provides that, in most respects, the rules of law applying to marriage would also apply to civil unions.
“If passed, this Bill would have an immediate, significant and practical impact on the everyday lives of gay and lesbian couples. Those who choose to enter into a civil union would enjoy vital legal rights which married couples take for granted, in areas such as inheritance and taxation. The Bill would bring to end many of the routine forms of institutionalised discrimination that exist in our society and which impinge on in a very real way on people’s lives."
[Read rest of statement]
[1. View discussion of this Topic]
[2. Post a Comment on this Topic]
The Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, has said that the issue of legal recognition of and proper protection for couples in same sex relationships must be a priority for the Oireachtas in 2007.
“I am confident that the our society has matured and attitudes changed sufficiently to the point where the majority of our people would have no problem with legislation that would provide same-sex couples with the same basic rights and duties that are available to married couples.
“Shortly before Christmas, my colleague Brendan Howlin TD, published, on behalf of the Labour Party, a private members bill that would create a status relationship equivalent to marriage for the benefit of people who are of the same sex and who, under the current constitutional understanding of marriage, cannot marry each other. The Bill provides that, in most respects, the rules of law applying to marriage would also apply to civil unions.
“If passed, this Bill would have an immediate, significant and practical impact on the everyday lives of gay and lesbian couples. Those who choose to enter into a civil union would enjoy vital legal rights which married couples take for granted, in areas such as inheritance and taxation. The Bill would bring to end many of the routine forms of institutionalised discrimination that exist in our society and which impinge on in a very real way on people’s lives."
[Read rest of statement]
[1. View discussion of this Topic]
[2. Post a Comment on this Topic]
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Hayes calls for Hospital to be saved
Following on from Minster of State, Conor Lenihan's, letter to constituents stating that there is "no question of downgrading the [Tallaght] Hospital", Senator Brian Hayes has circulated a leaflet detailing the "Case for the National Childrens' Hospital". Read more on www.brianhayes.ie
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