Donegal people would probably say no to an abolition of the household charge, a free TV license and free money for that matter, a leading local commentator in the county has said.
The country’s most northerly county yet again turned in a resounding No vote to a referenda yesterday.
Donegal South-West was the first constituency to reject the Children’s Referendum with 56.47 voting No.
It was followed closely by its neighbouring constituency of Donegal North-East which also rejected the referendum with an even larger No vote of 59.99 per cent.
It is the latest Government referendum which has been given the thumbs down by the people of the county.
Donegal is fast earning itself the reputation of a county which is saying no to any effort to remove the status quo.
Before this Donegal said No to the Fiscal Treaty and before that it was the Divorce referendum.
John McAteer, local political commentator and editor of the independently-owned Tirconaill Tribune, says the latest No vote is a wake-up call for Donegal’s six TDs and two Senators.
“Donegal has traditionally voted no to a lot of things including the recent referendums.
“But I think this time the rejection is more of a vote against our local political representation.
“There is a level of suspicion and apathy there that voters in Donegal would reject almost anything their local representatives might suggest be that a free TV license or free money.
“The combined call for a Yes vote by Fine Gael, Fine Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour and Independent Thomas Pringle was a chance for the electorate to show how disillusioned people are with their representatives.
“Almost half of householders here have still not paid the household charge and yet they are not being asked why.
“They (the politicians) thought this Referendum would slip through even by a marginal vote but the people in Donegal have spoken and shown their unhappiness with their politicians,” he said.
Mr McAteer’s theory is supported by the fact that Donegal’s two Sinn Fein TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn, who polled extremely well in the general election, both advocated a Yes vote.
Other factors include Donegal’s geographical location and its distance from Kildare Street.
Many are also referring to the ‘Dana Factor’ and the call by the former MEP, who polled very strongly here in the Presidential election, for a No vote.
Perhaps the only issue there is a resounding Yes vote on in Donegal is GAA manager Jim McGuinness’ undoubted talent.
Had there been a referendum on it however, Glasgow Celtic manager Neil Lennon could have been without a new performance consultant.
Tags: