On Tuesday 5th April, we hosted a campaign meeting for over 170 friends, colleagues and supporters in the Royal Irish Academy as part of my candidacy for the NUI panel of Seanad Eireann. For us, the event was a reminder of the warmth and friendliness which characterises many election campaigns, but which is often not captured by the media focus on the hostile and adversarial aspects of electoral politics.
It was a privilege to be joined by two members of the 24th Seanad – newly elected TD for Dublin South West, Katherine Zappone, and retiring NUI senator Feargal Quinn.
In 2013, Feargal, Katherine, Noel Whelan, Joe O’Toole and I founded Democracy Matters, a civic society group which successfully spearheaded the defeat of the government’s ill-conceived Seanad abolition referendum.
Last year, Feargal informed me of his decision not to stand in the forthcoming election, and invited me to stand in his place. Having not previously given membership of the Seanad much consideration, I was initially reluctant. But I quickly came around to the view that, in Feargal’s absence, it is vital that a strong, independent and experienced legislative voice represents the NUI in Seanad Eireann, and keeps the process of Seanad reform on the political agenda.
Since her appointment to the Seanad in 2011, Katherine Zappone and I have fought on the same side of several campaigns. In addition to our collaboration in Democracy Matters, it was an honour to be of some small assistance to those fighting for a Yes vote in last year’s marriage equality referendum, of whom Katherine was among the most passionate and most prominent. It was a particularly touching moment to attend the recent wedding ceremony of her and Ann Louise, and to see all of her hard work bear fruit in such a personal way.
I was delighted at Katherine’s recent election to the Dail as a TD for Dublin South West, having assisted her team both during the preliminary stages of the campaign and during a tense final count in Tallaght. As I listened to Katherine speak so generously about my candidacy in the RIA last Tuesday, it struck me that we were on the same side of yet another campaign.
I was also struck by the wide array of political voices and affiliations represented at the RIA event. TDs, councillors and candidates from across the political spectrum were in attended to offer their support. It brought home to me how the Seanad can be a place for a less partisan and more deliberative type of politics. There were plenty of people present in the room who were happy to offer their support, even if they haven’t always agreed with my politics. I believe it is important to look beyond traditional caricatures of political identity, and to instead consider what type of contribution we want our senators and our Seanad to make to the legislative process.
To put this in perspective, I was recently contacted on Twitter by a couple who have given me their Number 1 votes in the Seanad Election, even though they would never have been inclined to do so in a General Election. I think this demonstrates a mature and realistic sense of what our Seanad can and should represent.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who attended on Tuesday night, and Senator Quinn and Deputy Zappone in particular for their kind words of endorsement.
If you have yet to vote in the NUI election, I would be privileged and honoured to receive your Number 1, or as high a preference as possible. If you have any queries about my candidacy, please contact me at info@michaelmcdowell.ie.
Best wishes
Michael
