Politics & More Podcast

Politics & More PodcastIt's not just about Politics. There's More to it! Transcript.Ernest Draper, Independent, a Dub living in Monksland Roscommon, otherwise known as Ernie.‘’When the next local elections come, I intend to mount a serious challenge. I will be relying on the support of my community, and I will continue to stand by the values that define me, fairness, integrity and willingness to help anyone, no matter who they are.’’ – Ernest Draper.Roscommon County Council, Co-option 2025. Expression of Interest advertised to the public. What really happened.Mairead Kenny: Ernie, what motivated you to apply in Roscommon County Council, Expression of interest, Co-option?Ernest Draper: I've always had an interest in politics. I just said, why not. I may as well throw my hat in and see what happens. I'm very hard working, I'm honest, I’ve a great work ethic. I want to try and help people as best I can. I've always had an interest in community involvement as well.Mairead Kenny: As I said before on radio, there was a lot of drama going on with it.There was no invitation to address the council or meet with councillors or interviews. In fact, Ernest Draper and I, Mairead Kenny, we both reached out to the council executive and councillors (several times) regarding the process and requesting opportunity to meet, we were not facilitated. Continued in the transcript.Co-option is governed by legislation, Casual Vacancy S.19 Local Government Act 2021, for non-party candidate S.19 https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/act/37/section/19/enacted/en/html#sec19 (3) b delegates to the Councils S.19. 3 (b) Where the person causing the casual vacancy was a non-party candidate at his or her election to the local authority, the vacancy shall be filled by the co-option by the local authority of a person to fill the vacancy in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be set out in its standing orders.Standing Order E2 required ''a simple majority of the elected members voting in favour of the filling of the casual vacancy. '' While there is no statutory procedure for how councils undertake their co-options, it is advisable to have a lawful procedure to ensure fairness, transparency and consistency. There are a range of ways that councils can find out more about proposed candidates via Application form and Interviews with the full council or with a committee of the council. Only the full council can make the decision to co-opt and voting decisions should be impartial, on merit and with constitutional fair procedures in the process.21 May 2025. Mairead Kenny Withdrawal 2026, Shannonside 22 2026 at https://www.shannonside.ie/index.php/podcasts/lets-talk/podcast-reaction-as-michael-holland-snr-to-replace-anthony-waldron-264907 22-05-2025 - Kenny statement on Shannonside FM withdrawing from Roscommon County Council Co-option.Mairead Kenny: ‘’Hi Everyone, I just want to say congratulations to Michael Holland.I was informed yesterday (May 21st, 2025) that the coalition, the alliance of 12, that’s 5 Fianna Fail, 4 Fine Gael and 3 Independents, that they had given their majority backing and votes to Michael Holland Senior, and then that will go forward on Monday (26-05-2025). There isn’t really any point anyone else continuing because it’s been decided. Michael Holland Senior is backed. So yes, it was disappointing there wasn’t support for the other candidates especially the women candidates.Eoghan Murphy: And you’ve withdrawn now from the race Mairead is that right?Mairead Kenny: Yes, I have formally withdrawn yes, I want to draw a line under it. There’s been a lot of, there’s been a lot of drama going on with it. I just want to draw a line under it and wish everyone well and all the best for the future.Music & Credits. 1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Politics & More[1] Podcast. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!Colm Flood, Candidate, Dublin Central Bye-Election 2026. Transcript.Colm is an independent candidate with a focus on housing, healthcare and social justice.“Politics is definitely something I'm very passionate about. I think we all are deep down though. We say we're not a politicky kind of people, but I guarantee you, in the same breath down in the pub having a pint, you’re going to be like, the price of petrol, oh my god, did you see how much it is to own a house now. They’re all political statements whether you know it or not.’’ Colm Flood[2]Independent candidate Colm Flood. Colm was a former member of People Before Profit (political party), where he was a left leaning socialist. Colm is currently an Independent and is more of a centrist now with a focus on housing, healthcare and social justice.Colm has also campaigned on issues including public spending, cost of living and military neutrality.Colm’s election leaflet says ‘’I've been in your area this week listening. Over the past week I've been walking through Stoneybatter, Phibsborough and Cabra speaking directly with residents, families, young people and community leaders. I didn't come with a script. I came to listen’’.[3]Continued in transcript.[1] https://politicsmore.podview.com/[2] https://www.instagram.com/colmfortd/https://www.thejournal.ie/section/by26/candidate/2154/colm-flood/https://irelandelection.com/candidate.php?candid=20031May 20, 2026: colmfortd and flood.colm AsgeirG•Team Success. Shine Together 20 May 2026, ‘’Meet two of the Independent candidates running in by-elections’’ at https://gript.ie/meet-two-of-the-independent-candidates-running-in-by-elections/https://gript.ie/what-do-dublin-central-voters-think-of-the-upcoming-by-election/06 May 2026 ‘Who are the candidates in the Dublin Central by-election?‘ at https://gript.ie/who-are-the-candidates-in-the-dublin-central-by-election/[3] Colm Flood Election Leaflet Dublin Central at https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWe2D86jCch/Independent TD candidate bringing hope to the Dáil for our healthcare and for social justice. Free Palestine|End the Cost Of Living and Housing Crisis.Music & Credits. 1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Politics & More[1] Podcast. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!Colm Flood[2], Former Candidate, Dublin Central Bye-Election 2026[3]. Transcript. “Politics is definitely something I'm very passionate about. I think we all are deep down though. ‘’Colm Flood: We say we're not a politic kind of people, but I guarantee you in the same breath, down with the Pub having a pint, you're going to be like, My God, the price of petrol. Oh my God, did you see how much it is to own a house now. There are all political statements, whether you know it or not.Mairead Kenny: Colm is an Independent candidate with a focus on housing, healthcare and social justice.Colm Flood: This isn't about how you win or lose. I know the goal is to win. Being a part of this process is so humbling and so honouring to be a part of a democracy. You go out and you tell people who you are, what you stand for, what you will do for them and if you truly, I suppose, wear your heart on your sleeve, people will see that.”                                                                         *Mairead Kenny: Colm what motivated you to get into politics?Colm Flood: Over the years I started to see the issues in my own community, houses not being built, promises not being kept.                                                                         *Mairead Kenny: Standing up you are putting yourself in public. It's not like a job that you can apply for and you're interviewed. The public have to vote on you.Colm Flood: It can be very tough. People might not like you simply because of the reputation of the people that came before you. By jolly, we've had a number of controversies and issues in the country and granted, it may only be a small percentage in our young country's life, but it is enough for the Irish people to have felt betrayed by the government.                                                                         *Mairead Kenny: In terms of Irish politicians who do you admire most?Colm Flood: That's a good question. I suppose in Irish politics, it’s been a very mixed divide. I do think very highly of Mary Lou McDonald[4]. She fights for a lot of the issues that I would be fighting for as well. She's very passionate about what she does. I'd like to say she delivers a bit of hope wherever she goes as well. She's got this electric smile. She took note of me coming into the room the other day, she didn't have to, but she did! I think that speaks to us about who she is. I'd love to model myself to be very much like her.                                                                         Continued in Transcript.                                                                         *Colm Flood. Politics & More. Full Episode coming soon.Politics & More. It’s not just about politics. There’s More to it![1] Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/[2] Colm Flood For TD (@colmfortd) - Instagramhttps://www.thejournal.ie/section/by26/candidate/2154/colm-flood/https://irelandelection.com/candidate.php?candid=20031[3] Dublin Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, May 2026. https://www.dublincityreturningofficer.com/index.php/dublin-central-bye-election-2026/78-notice-of-poll-may-2026[4] https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Mary-Lou-McDonald.D.2011-03-09/https://sinnfein.ie/representatives/mary-lou-mcdonald-td/https://www.instagram.com/maryloumcdonaldsf/?hl=en[5] May 23 2026, RDS Count Centre Dublin, Colm Flood at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYrywjlsn0n/‘Keep Showing Up’ at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYrehM6M164/Music & Credits. 1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Politics & More Podcast. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!“Protect Moore Street – Preserve Our History & Heartbeat of Dublin”-      Preview Cllr Janice Boylan & the Moore Street Preservation Trust. Transcript. Full Episode coming soon! Mary Lou Mc Donald: ‘’This is Moore Street, the heartbeat of Dublin City, a place of history.’’Mairead Kenny: Janice Boylan, Councillor, Runner-up in the 2026 Dublin Central Bye-Election here.Janice Boylan: I'm really so grateful that I got to meet so many of you during this election campaign. You've shared your stories with me, your frustrations, your struggles, and your anger with this government, but also your unshakeable hope for something better.Mairead Kenny: Historic Significance of Moore Street. Moore Street is where the GPO garrison retreated at the end of Easter Week 1916. The leaders met in No. 16 Moore street and decided to surrender to avoid further civilian casualties. Numbers 14–17 are a National Monument owned by the Irish government (though restoration has been delayed).The surrounding area also has a long tradition as a vibrant street market.Janice Boylan: ‘’Moore Street, it's much more than bricks and mortar for me. This place is home to me. Moore street means so so much for me, the buildings, the people, the traders. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that this is developed the way that it should be and that the businesses and the traders can thrive.’’Stephen Troy: The conditions we've been left in here in Moore Street by the current government, we've had a decade of neglect despite funds being allocated for the national monument to be restored since 2015.Janice Boylan: Dublin's inner-city communities are proud and resilient and once again, and not by accident, they are being let down by this disastrous Fine Gael and Fianna Fail (coalition) government.Mairead Kenny: Moore Street Preservation Trust, 1916 battle sites. Current Status, there are ongoing legal and political battles over redevelopment plans. Moore Street Preservation Trust, the Trust continues to lobby the Irish government to purchase the site and implement their vision instead of the Hammerson developer-led proposals. The Trust has been active for over 20 years in this campaign and remains a central voice in efforts to honor Ireland’s revolutionary history in the heart of Dublin Central.Ian Noel Smyth: ‘’Winning isn’t necessarily everything, because you get the opportunity to run. It is an honor to run, you get to say what you think, and it gets out there into the public domain. It makes other things change. Winning is fantastic, it isn't everything. That's part of the reason I've ran a few times I have; it took Paschal (Donohoe).Mairead Kenny: If it doesn't happen this time, it could happen the next time. It's important to keep going.Ian Noel Smyth: ‘’It took Paschal a few times to get elected. Continued in the Transcript.MOORE STREET—THE LONG WAR By Mícheál Mac Donncha https://historyireland.com/moore-street-the-long-war/18 Sept 2024 Permission granted for controversial Moore Street development at https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2024/0918/1470723-moore-street-planning/An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for a controversial development between Moore Street and O'Connell Street in Dublin city centre. UK property group Hammerson made three applications for a mixed retail, office and residential scheme. This was approved by Dublin City Council in January 2022.Several groups, including the Moore Street Preservation Trust and the 1916 Rising Relatives Association, local businesses and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála here.Mairead Kenny: Politics & More. Full Episode coming soon.Politics & More. It’s not just about politics. There’s More to it!Music & Credits.1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Politics & More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!Ireland's PR-STV Election Voting system 🗳️ - Transcript With Dr. Cora Stack Mathematician.‘’Hi. This is Dr. Cora Stack again. I'm still on a roll with my trying to explain the mathematics behind Ireland's PR-STV voting system.’’ Mairead Kenny: Hello everyone. Mairead Kenny, Politics and More podcast. I'm here with Dr. Cora Stack. We’re talking about Ireland’s PR-STV Electoral Voting System. That’s the proportional representation - Single Transferable Vote electoral system. Ireland uses a Proportional Representation (PR)[1] system[2] for voting in elections, with each voter having a Single Transferable Vote (STV). We saw this in action in the recent Dublin Central[3] and Galway West[4] Bye-Elections[5]. This podcast explains the operation and maths behind this. I’m talking to Dr. Cora Stack whose an expert in Mathematics! Welcome Cora.Dr. Cora Stack: I will explain the mathematics behind the PR-STV system hopefully in a clear and logical way.Mairead Kenny: PR-STV is a candidate-based system. This means voters can choose to vote for as many, or as few candidates as they like, in order of their preference. The voter’s first preference vote, the candidates they give their number 1 vote to is most important and is always counted.A voter’s second and further preferences may be counted if their preferred candidate is eliminated at the end of a round of counting or if their preferred candidate is elected with a surplus. These are known as transfers. Transfers will be explained also in this podcast.Continued in Transcript.Dr. Cora Stack, The Mathematics Behind Ireland’s PR-STV System: Valid Votes, Quotas, Transfers, Surpluses, and Election Counts available here. http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The_Mathematics_Behind_Irelands_PR_STV_S.pdfDr. Cora Stack, Explaining PR-STV in Ireland: Valid Votes, Quotas, Transfers, Surpluses, and Election Counts available here. http//maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Explaining_PR_STV_in_Ireland_Valid_Votes.pdfDr. Cora Stack, The Droop Quota in PR-STV: The Least Threshold Sufficient to Secure Election.http://maireadkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The_Droop_Quota_in_PR_STV_The_Least_Thre.pdf[1] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/[2] https://www.electoralcommission.ie/irelands-voting-system/[3] Dublin Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://www.dublincityreturningofficer.com/index.php/dublin-central-bye-election-2026/78-notice-of-poll-may-2026[4] Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 17 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026[5] https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/communications/education/2026/2026-05-19_what-is-a-bye-election_en.pdfhttps://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/https://www.electoralcommission.ie/irelands-voting-system/https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government-in-ireland/elections-and-referenda/voting/proportional-representation/https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/a-guide-to-irelands-pr-stv-voting-systemMusic & Credits.1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Politics & More 🎙️ – It’s not Just about Politics – There’s More To It!BYE-ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF Dublin CentralThe Dublin Central West Bye-election takes place on May 22nd following the resignation of former Fine Gael TD & Minister Paschal Donohoe.Malachy Steenson, Independent, Councillor Dublin City Council.Councillor Malachy Steenson, Independent Candidate in the upcoming 2026 Dublin Central Bye-Election. Transcript .''’I've been working since I was 10’’ - Malachy Steenson Independent .Here’s Malachy raising concerns about Dublin City Council condition of housing, damp and deterioration and lack of maintenance followed by recent rent increases. Malachy said ‘’They increased people's rents and told us it was for maintenance, yet they expect people to live in these conditions. This is simply wrong on every level.’’[1]‘’I’m Just looking at a video there of a house that is owned by the council. Some of you would have heard me talking last night about the state of Oliver Bond[2] (flats) and pointing out that the same problems are in every flat complex in this city almost, Ballyboc House, Courtney Place and others. Any complexes that we've been in have these similar problems. The (Dublin City) council put up people's rent and expect people to live in something like this. This is bordering on insanity. This is dangerous. People are having to breathe in these spores.Is this why we have a huge increase in the amount of asthma in flat complexes? They put up people's rent, and they want people to live like this. Simply incredible in 2026 that we have Dickensian conditions again. They're no better than the tenement buildings that we took down. We took them down and we said, never again. Here we are and supposedly one of the richest countries in the world where we're supposed to be so progressive and this is what people have to live in.’’Continued in the Transcript Full Episode coming soon Dublin Central Bye Election with interviews combined.... 🎙️Full Candidate Ballot at Dublin Returning Officer webpage. 14 candidates!Malachy Steenson Cllr Malachy Steenson (@malachysteenson_cllr)  Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYRQnLiABHU/https://malachy.ie/Malachy Steenson, Canning Landy & Co. Dublin, Solicitor, Admitted 2009 Law Society Ireland. www.canninglandy.ie[1] 06-05-2026 The Journal 'Shameful': Regeneration of Dublin's Oliver Bond flats scrapped as government funding pulled at https://www.thejournal.ie/oliver-bond-flats-7032316-May2026/14 May 2026 Inside Oliver Bond: Residents describe mould and rat infestations | Prime Time at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3olvD0KfUP015-05-2026 RTE. Inside Oliver Bond flats: Mould and rats rampant, residents say at https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2026/0515/1573428-inside-oliver-bond-flats-mould-and-rats-rampant-residents-say/18-05-2026 'The walls are crumbling down around me' - Oliver Bond tenants living in flats ‘not fit for humans’ Dublin Live at https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/the-walls-crumbling-down-around-33966478https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Bond_flatsTuesday, 19 May 2026 Oireachtas Debate at https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-05-19/139/Tuesday, 20 May 2026 Oireachtas Debate https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-05-20/544/Music & Credits.Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Politics & More 🎙️ – It’s not Just about Politics – There’s More To It!BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WESTThe Galway West Bye-election takes place on May 22nd following the election of former Independent TD to the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly. 🏛Denman Rooke, People Before Profit PBP Candidate here, Artist & Designer, Galway. ⛵️ Transcript.Politics & More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!Denman Rooke: ‘’’I would like to be a thorn in the side to the government. Yeah’’Mairead Kenny: OK, so you would like to join Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett in the Dáil and be there representing Galway and representing the rest of Ireland as well and holding the Government to account.Denman Rooke: Yeah 100%.’I’m an illustrator and designer for the last twenty years. I often work in kind of the creative, screen industries, games, animation, film and TV.''Here’s Denman in action on his campaign in Galway.‘Denman Rooke here with People Before Profit. It's kind of a shame that in Galway, the city Council refuses to see Palas as a public asset, a public amenity that should go to serve the people of Galway. As a city that prides itself in its cultural and arts, kind of nature, the idea that that, that we would let this building sit unused without the proper investment is, you know, a shame. It really is.We in this campaign are calling on the city Council to publicly invest in making this a public cinema for use for the community and our arts workers and our arts creators to have the facility they need to create the kind of culture and art and film that we want to see.Because life and living in a city is more than just the basic necessities. It's also about the creativity that we want to live and the enjoyment and entertainment we want to live together with the people in our city. That's why we're calling on the city Council to invest in this public asset and to bring new life into the Palas as a public theatre for the public good.’’ 19.05.2026 socialistdenman Denman Rooke at https://www.instagram.com/p/DYiGt7mO2gy/ ‘’We fully support the Save Pálás campaign to demand Galway City Council to reopen our art house cinema on a not-for-profit model. Living in a city is more than the bare necessities. We also need arts & culture.''‘12-05-2026. ‘’Effort to reopen Galway's Pálás cinema abandoned as prospective operator withdraws’’ at https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2026/0512/1573029-galways-palas-cinema/As per Denman’s election leaflet‘’Denman will stand up to the establishment parties – fighting for you, for real change. People Before Profit are the only party that will never do a deal with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.’’Denman has also stated:‘’If elected I will fight for the people for Galway for a radical shift on housing and for an Ireland we can afford. I will also work to bring ordinary people together against attacks on our neutrality. We must resist the warmongers and those who want to spread hate and division.’’Continued in Transcript.Galway Bye Election (May 22, 2026). Full Episode coming soon. 🎙️Denman Rooke, Artist & Designer, Galway, People Before Profit Candidate.Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026People Before Profit, Denman Rooke selection at https://www.pbp.ie/denman-rooke-selected-as-people-before-profit-candidate-for-galway-west-by-election/Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, BlueSkyhttps://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/ Apple, Spotify and other Podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. 🎙️Music & Credits.1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Politics & More 🎙️ – It’s not Just about Politics – There’s More To It!BYE ELECTION 2026 CONSTITUENCY OF GALWAY WESTThe Galway West Bye-election takes place on May 22nd following the election of former Independent TD to the President of Ireland Catherine Connolly. 🏛Denman Rooke, People Before Profit PBP Candidate here, Artist & Designer, Galway. ⛵️ PREVIEWPolitics & More. It's not just about Politics. There's More to it!Denman Rooke: ''If rents were cheaper, if cost of living were cheaper, wages wouldn't be strained. We can't put the blame on workers who need a wage that is fair so that they can survive. We should be bringing the cost of living down, which includes rent and mortgages and insurance and all this stuff. A lot of those costs just keep on skyrocketing. What that does is it puts a strain on the wider economy of like, costs going up and up. Really when you look at it, the people who are benefiting are these big corporate landlords, these investment funds, these big corporate landlords, they're doing great, they're making lots. There's plenty of money being made, but it's like the ordinary person, the worker, the carer, we're left with nothing.''Galway Bye Election (May 22, 2026). Full Episode coming soon. 🎙️Denman Rooke, Artist & Designer, Galway, People Before Profit Candidate.[1] https://maireadkenny.ie/podcast-politics-more/ Apple, Spotify and other Podcast platforms. Hosted on Acast. [2] Galway Central Bye Election, Notice of Poll, 14 Candidates at https://galwayreturningofficer.com/by-election-galway-west-2026/notice-of-poll-may-2026[3] People Before Profit, Denman Rooke selection at https://www.pbp.ie/denman-rooke-selected-as-people-before-profit-candidate-for-galway-west-by-election/Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, BlueSkyFull Episode coming soon. 🎙️Music & Credits.1.     Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/