Darragh's Soapbox: 'The world's greatest democracy'
Some of the count staff at SETU for the General Election 24. Photo: Joe Evans
Whilst at the count centre in Waterford, we asked a number of long-serving local politicians about the Irish democratic process, which was on full show for all to see during the Waterford Constituency General Election count last weekend:
Stalwart of the Fine Gael party in Waterford, said: “Ireland has probably the best democracy of all times.
“We saw it here today at the count, the tally was 99.9% right, and that would happen in no other country in the world. You can see what happened in England and America and you can see Ireland is the best in the world at this.
"You can see what’s happening in front of you here and I think we should stick with that and I do believe it’s the best way and the way forward here in Ireland.”
Meanwhile, Social Democrat councillor and general election candidate said: “I think this is an extremely good exercise in democracy.
“I love coming to the count to see how it all happens and where it all pans out. It’s very open, it’s very transparent and you can see where the votes are going.
“Is it slow? Yes it is, but that gives people the time to get their heads around what’s coming as well, which I think is fair, because behind every politician is a human. ‘Politician’ is a dehumanizing term, and people think they’re a sort of automaton that can take any form of criticism, but they’re not.”
Mayor of Waterford City and County and Fianna Fáil councillor, added: “When you look around at what’s happening throughout the world, I think we always have to be so protective of our democracy here.
“It’s a fantastic thing to see it in action here today, and it takes a lot to put yourself on a poster no matter what political party or independent you are, and that’s to be celebrated, it’s something in Ireland we’re very good at.”
