Mavericks line up to put their snouts in EU trough
As the sole colourful candidate in a sea of conformist faces, time was when pot-smoking, turf-cutting Luke Ming Flanagan wore the crown as the edgiest and most offbeat politician in the European elections. ‘Some people quote Shakespeare, I quote Rage Against the Machine: “It’s time to take the power back,”’ tweeted the enfant terrible of Roscommon local politics in 2014 after he defied predictions of his only having an outside chance of a seat to top the poll in Midlands North West.
But, this time out, Ming will have to battle harder for both his seat and his claim to the title of Most Maverick Irish MEP. Peter Casey, who shares his firebrand and outspoken nature, will run in his constituency on a platform for change in the immigration system and an end to the rural-/urban divide.
‘I think Ming will lose. Nobody has seen him in four-and-a-half years,’ says Casey, who has spent most of his working life abroad. Let the games, or the electioneering, begin.
On top of that, the normally dull-as-dishwater European elections may be further enlivened by combat between Mick Wallace and Clare Daly and two Sinn Féin MEPs, who will be anxious to hang on to the historical gains the party made in 2014 when their representation increased in Brussels from zero to three.
Reportedly, Daly and her Dáil ally Wallace are considering a joint bid for the European Parliament – her in Dublin and him in the south. As reported in last week’s Mail on Sunday, an internal Fine Gael poll found that Daly has the support of over 20% of Dublin voters, placing her in a formidable position to unseat Lynn Boylan.
While admittedly not attracting the same level of support as Daly, Wallace could threaten Liadh Ní Riada, particularly after her bruising performance during the Presidential election.
The readiness of some of our most colourful politicians to follow
Ming Flanagan to Brussels is intriguing and the result of several factors. A conviction politician of Daly’s calibre may be growing impatient of our moribund ‘Do Nothing’ Dáil and looking towards opportunities in Europe.
Just as Ming argued last time out about how Europe had as much impact on his constituents’ lives as the Dáil, Daly can justifiably argue that it’s the European Parliament that matters most when it comes to influencing climate change and workers’ rights.
Left-field politicians may also see how Ming’s brand of antiestablishment Euroscepticism has been undamaged by his membership of the elitist European Parliament, which is also the target of so much public cynicism due to its association with the gravy train.
As a route to untold riches and opportunities, the institutions of the EU have no rival. Agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan admits he’s eager for a second fiveyear term, but how likely is it that the Taoiseach will give the greatest prize in his gift to Enda Kenny’s scapegoat during the water-charge debacle?’
The post carries a salary of over €250,000 a year, a residency allowance of 15% of the basic salary, a once-off installation allowance of two months’ salary, and a monthly representation allowance. There’s also a pension for life.
It’s like winning Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. No wonder Ireland South MEP Brian Crowley only retires next month from the European Parliament, despite being unable to attend a single session since 2014 due to bad health. His voting record is the lowest of the 751 MEPs, but he is still entitled to a monthly salary of over €8,000 as well as a €4,342 monthly expenditure allowance to cover office rent and constituency activities.
Given the spoils of office, perhaps the real question is not why maverick politicians are suddenly trying to wrestle plum MEP roles out of the arms of mainstream figures, but what took them so long.