From top: Gary Gannon (top second right) on the night of his election victory and Christopher O’Sullivan (above centre) on his first day at the Dáil
Two newly-elected TDs have hired family members as Oireachtas assistants, the Irish Independent can reveal.
Fianna Fáil’s Christopher O’Sullivan and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats have both given taxpayer-funded jobs to siblings.
Cork South-West TD Mr O’Sullivan has two sisters working for him and Mr Gannon, a TD for Dublin Central, has employed his younger brother.
New old politics.
Good times.
Sad face.
Two new TDs put family members on Oireachtas payroll (Independent.ie)
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disappointing to see, but fair play to BS for covering this
On the one hand they could do an open and transparent interview process, which results in them hiring the best qualified candidate for the role. On the other hand sure feck it, sure just lets just hire an unqualified sibling, nothing remotely corrupt about that.
Whatever about FF (its still bad, but somewhat in character/expected at least) this is extremely disappointing from Gannon, given how much the SocDems pitch themselves as being “new politics” and not like FF/FG…
Politics is extremely disappointing full stop. Used to like SD policies but this lays waste to their believability. But Catherine & Roisin can’t commit to anything anyway except issue press releases. This sort of stuff only encourages people to check out, after they become cynical, like me.
‘There are only two types of politicians who really matter: those who can say ‘I wish to continue on the good work of’ and those who can object by asserting ‘here’s what I would do differently’. In the one year since our launch, the Social Democrats have set the standard for offering an alternative vision for how our country could operate’
Gary Gannon – Sept 9th 2016. Broadsheet.
Some change alright.
Were these siblings unemployed? If not, then they’ve moved job, into an area which wouldn’t be exactly hold a lot of job security.
To be honest, why shouldn’t they employ family members? It seems reasonable they would know the ins and outs of the boss and there would be some cop on when dealing with queries, etc.
What do you expect them to do, start trawling Indeed.com for someone from Gdansk?
There are more important – way more important – things to report on. This pure Irish Sun crud.
Why bother having civil service exams? Politicians could just hire their family members and pals instead, they could explain the ins and outs before they start.
It’s common practice in parliaments across the world.A lot of representatives employ their wives or husbands as secretaries or assistants.It helps keep marriages together during the long hours often being worked.
In this case perhaps these siblings played important roles in getting the TDs elected in which case why not reward them with a job.Seems to me eminently sensible to have a family member watching your back in the snakepit.
And ‘ best qualified candidates ‘ ?
They’re gofers not Henry Kissinger.
I’m open to correction on this, but isn’t Clare Daly’s son working as a PA to Mick Wallace?
Yes and thats more of the same. JohnMCGuinness (he of PAC fame) had his son Andrew working for him etc. Its rife.
‘ in which case why not reward them with a job’ = all that is wrong with Irish politics in a few little words.
Answer (there are many so I’ll pick a few)
1. Because its nepotistic
2. Because Social Democrats have positioned themselves as ‘new politics’ and this is definitely ‘old politics’
3. Because Gary is not married to his siblings
4. Because he campaigned on values that don’t resemble his actions so the electorate might feel cheated.
5. Because his siblings might have campaigned with him but may not have the skillset to work politically.
6. His siblings might have no skillset at all
7. It represents poor value for the taxpayer
8. It presents HR difficulties – how can he fire his siblings? Silly him for putting himself in that position – displays a remarkable lack of intelligence.
9. It shows contempt for an electorate who for generations have been taken for a ride by politicians
10. It calls all of the rest of his Social Democrat colleagues into question. Why vote for them if they do this?
+1
Nailed it with number 1 & 2,in fairness
+1-10
…Oh Gary…didn’t take long for the flag of convenience to show…like the perfidious greens, you’ll be hoping the FFGers get their act together and form a government…
Skillset ? They make tea and answer the ‘phone.Not appear in an episode of West Wing.
Set low expectations like that and you’ll really get the politics you deserve. Next time you wonder why we have homelessness, health inequality etc do cast your mind back to the ‘ah sure its only his brother’ thinking.
Nothing we so .give young people with no pull a chance that would be great to see
Both these TDs a something else in common btw
serving their own self interest?
Holly?
Did Gannon go Awol on the Council too?
O’Sullivan was co-opted onto Cork County Council in 2007, following his Father’s election as a TD. Thereafter, despite being a serving Councillor he spent quite a bit of time in Australia.
https://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150373
As for the siblings, politics is a family business. As is the contract to operate the social welfare office in Clonakilty for the DEASP, which is held by his Mother.
Bertie was on the ball with their mutual bed fellow
One political
The other lad – the other kind
Once elected – they’re all the same
Politics is politics and family is family. Political ideas are for idealists and pol corrs.
Looking at that picture, the Gannons appear to be like Russian Dolls, you pop Gary open and there’s a little mini-me inside him….
Probably because they’re brothers.Or are you bring intentionally silly ?
Do all younger brothers look like minature versions of their older brother? Is that how it works? Does Mrs Gannon have a little Hornswoggle son number 3 running around Sherriffer?
Granted, the optics are not good. But if it were me, I’d much rather work with someone I know, get on well with, and regard as competent, than take a chance on an unknown who might turn out to be hopeless. That said, given they’re all about the new politics blah blah, this was idiotic.
Lilly, no offense intended, but you need to re-read your comment – it’s the antithesis of democracy.
No offence taken. Re-read my comment which gives my personal preference, not what I’d do if I were an elected representative.
Righto. You’ll do very well in politics should you ever choose to suck the teat – if you’re not already.
I have no interest in being a politician. As I said, I like to reserve the freedom to choose who I work with. I especially like to steer clear of prigs.
You’re very fortunate not to be a politician, to have the full benefits of democracy and the freedom to choose with whom you work depending on your moralistic mood or nepotistic connections, not to mention the ability to steer clear of prigs…
Now, there’s an ideology – but don’t forget the optics!
Oh bog off you hectoring, sanctimonious bore. You have no idea what I, or anyone else here, contributes to society.
Lilly, I didn’t mean to upset/ annoy you, I apologise if I did, and I mean that.
A bit late in the row back now, after you’ve suggested that she is a person somehow benefiting from graft (“sucking at the teat”).
He continues to undo all the hard work of his decent party colleagues, SocDems should ditch him ASAP.
From what I’ve heard there’s already been a departure inside the party
And I suspect another – higher profile this time so ye won’t miss it
Before the year is out is my guess
If this practice is regarded by the majority as egregious, there’s a simple solution: ban it.
Very disappointed with the SDs. No change here then.
The little I know about Gannon that I learned from BS:
– objected against developments in his local area while a councillor
– threatened to split the party when it considered taking disciplinary action against a party colleague who lied in media interviews
– now this