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CHARLES WARD OF the 100% Redress party has been elected in Donegal in the final count that saw him overtake incumbent Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue.
Ward ran for the party in the local elections earlier this year and failed to be elected, but now he’s headed for Dáil Eireann, where he plans to represent homes in the area that have been affected by defective building blocks.
Speaking to Ocean FM prior to his election yesterday, Ward said that the government would be forced to listen to his party’s demands for 100% redress. “They’ve got one choice now. They have to listen to us, because I’m going to be on the floor of the Dáil.
“They’re going to see somebody who’s been affected, 100% Redress badge on them, is affected, and they’re in the Dáil, elected by the people of Donegal because they didn’t do their job.”
Ward was ultimately elected yesterday on count 16 to take the fourth seat in the five-seater constituency. Speaking on Ocean FM, he said that he appeared to be “transfer friendly”.
Significant victory for 100% Redress Party with the election of Charles Ward. pic.twitter.com/hCWSXEB9Zb
— Highland Radio News (@HighlandNews) December 2, 2024
The party had four councillors elected in June – with Ward and party colleague Eamonn Jackson failing to be elected. Jackson was previously the Chair of the Mica Action Group.
The 100% Redress Party, which was formed last year, said it wants to secure “a genuine 100% redress scheme for all those affected by defective concrete products”.
The scandal first made headlines in 2021 when homeowners saw concrete blocks used to build their homes and were beginning to crumble.
The government introduced a scheme in November 2021 to support affected homeowners to remediate their dwelling and this scheme was enhanced last summer.
The Enhanced Defective Blocks Scheme allows affected homeowners in counties Clare, Donegal, Limerick, and Mayo to apply for a maximum grant of €420,000. Sligo is also set to be added to the scheme.
“Yesterday we were dead and buried at 9:30 and all the way to 5 o’clock hearing the same thing but I knew we’d be transfer friendly. We had to go a different strategic route to garner votes and transfers and we’ve done that,” Ward told the radio station.
When asked what else he would be focusing on while in the Dáil, aside from pushing the issue of redress for affected homes, the healthcare worker said that he would also like to focus on issues within the health system.
“We’re all rounders,” he said of the party. “The most important thing – we’re ordinary people who will have a voice in the Dáil hopefully. It’s very rare that you get someone who can be a healthcare worker less than 20 days ago and be here now, possibly going to be elected to the Dáil.”
He encouraged listeners to be proactive and get involved locally. He said that the party was “very transfer friendly” and that support varied across different areas of the county. “We knew that we would get a certain amount of votes [from more affected areas] and the rest would come through transfers,” he said.
“I could see the path,” he said. “It’s working.”
Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin was elected on the first count in the ward, securing 18,898 first preference votes. Doherty, who is the deputy leader and finance spokesperson for Sinn Féin, was the biggest name on the Donegal ballot.
Party colleague Padraig Mac Lochlainn was elected on count 2. In later counts, Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher (FF), Charles Ward, and Charlie McConalogue (FF) were deemed elected, despite Ward and McConalogue not meeting the quota of 12,771.
Includes reporting by Jane Moore
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Delighted for him. If ever there was a righteous one-issue candidate, this it it.
Best of luck
@William McSweeney: Interested to see if the hidden walls of the democratic process fold him neatly away.
@Thesaltyurchin: what ?
Release the funds!
@Basildon Joe: 100%…… write the bloody cheques!!!!!!
@Frank/Joe: Talking to yourself yet again.
Didn’t you have ‘Joe’ saying ‘Silly paddies. Clueless on politics’ earlier? You probably meant to make the first comment here as ‘Frank’.
@Brendan O’Brien: jesus brenny, is there no article ‘off limits’ to your juvenile meaningless ramblings??? Congratulations Charles Ward….. best of luck in the fight ahead
@Brendan O’Brien: stop with your stalking and trolling.
@Basildon Joe: So, you’re standing by your ‘Silly paddies’ comment?
@Brendan O’Brien: tut tut brenny, ol granny used say ‘if you’re in a hole, STOP digging ‘
@Frank Mc Carthy: Your ol’ granny must also have said ‘If you throw enough mud at a wall, some of it will stick’, because that’s what you try to do all the time here: accuse others of what you do yourself.
Some of us see through it and will continue to call you out for your antics.
@Brendan O’Brien: nope, don’t recall that one….. but here’s one you’ll like….’ eventually we all have to look into the mirror’
@Brendan O’Brien: yes that was me, so what? Paddy has voted the same trash in for 100 years. Silly Paddy indeed.
@Basildon Joe: Looks like you won’t be getting the angry reaction you were hoping for. But why would a Hibernophobic ‘Essex man’ be shouting for redress in Donegal?
I don’t think you thought it through.
@Brendan O’Brien: I am not looking for reactions or to make friends here, which appears to be your MO. Good luck but drop me out sweetie.
@Basildon Joe: Remember when you referred to the queen as ‘M’Lady’?
@Brendan O’Brien: I do not brendan. What if I did? Really so what?
@Basildon Joe: It’s here for all to see.
English people refer to the queen as ‘Her Majesty’. You’d be laughed out of Basildon if you said ‘m’Lady’.
@Brendan O’Brien: fck me have you got a spreadsheet or something? This is strange now brenny you need a holiday. M’Lady, god rest her soul, would not be best pleased.
@Basildon Joe: I’ve got Google.
@Brendan O’Brien: jesus Brendan give it a rest and stay on the topic of the article.
@Ger Whelan: The troll wrecks these comments sections. I don’t apologise for giving people who may not be familiar with him a heads-up.
@Brendan O’Brien: You’re the one wrecking the comment section by mentioning the same thing on every post. If the journal are letting it happen then it’s none of your concern. Its their site so it’s their rules. Unless you’re employed by the journal STFU and ignore them. Seriously grow up.
@Ger Whelan: You are not my boss and I have no interest in obeying your commands, as ought to be clear by now.
The Journal are letting my objections to trolling happen, so, by your reasoning, it’s none of your concern.
@Brendan O’Brien: it is my concern. It wasn’t too long ago you were accusing me of using fake accounts as well. You do it a lot and you’re turning comment sections into a joke. You’re literally the one who ruined this thread by going off topic and posting nonsense. Won’t be long before you’re back too accusing me of being a fake again.
@Ger Whelan: I didn’t accuse you of having fake accounts. I pointed out the similarity between some of your comments and those of a previous commenter (‘Roy Dowling’, I think). You say you’re not him: fine.
As far as I’m concerned, these comments sections are ruined by a person who makes hundreds of comments here every day in numerous IDs, some of which are vile and misogynistic, and suppresses and manipulates discussion. He must be a big reason why so few women comment here. The site should do something about it, but doesn’t. I do what I can.
I know you dislike me: that’s absolutely fine, you are entitled to your opinions, but so am I, and I have absolutely no intention of being dictated to.
@Brendan O’Brien: you accused me of using a fake name and account Brendan so don’t back track on it now. You still owe me an apology after I posted the date and article where I proved we *** me and you**** had a discussion about your carbon footprint. The one you apparently only had with another person so I must be that person. Sad thing is even If I didn’t have the conversation with you it wouldn’t register with you that the comments section is open and there is a possibility I could have read the discussion you had with my supposed fake account. You’re the one who ruined this comment section just remember that.
@Ger Whelan: You were attacking me pretty much exactly the same way as someone else had done (with the nonsensical idea that it’s hypocritical to support a green agenda unless one is using absolutely no fuel). You do attack me a lot (on this thread, for example), which is fine, but it’s more due to a personal dislike than to disagreement on issues. I may feel that your spleen is misdirected, but it’s your spleen and your business. And I don’t have time for any more of this.
@Brendan O’Brien: I’ve no personal dislike for you but I can’t fathom how you can’t see the fact you are actually running comments sections while thinking you’re saving them. You literally blasted by the cause of this article straight to your agenda and don’t see you are the one who broke the journal’s comment policy.
@Brendan O’Brien: lad, you’ve lost it. How many accounts do you have ?
@offside again: hey ‘offside again ‘….. I’ll hold my hands up fair & square…..I genuinely thought you WERE one of brennys……. that’s ON ME….. mea culpa…. apologies for that sleight
@Brendan O’Brien: Enough is enough Brenda o brien! Naughty!
@Frank Mc Carthy: he has proper lost it frankie he is feckin twisted man.
@Basildon Joe: ah, poor ol’ devil’s been ‘overboard’ quite a while…….. fairness to you Joe you really tried to help him though I knew it was a lost cause. In that run up to the US election anyone who said Trump might have a chance…..he accused them of being Me??? Figure that one out
What exactly does it achieve to replace an Independent (Thomas Pringle) who supported full redress with another Independent who supports full redress?
Government parties have gone from 2 TDs to 2 TDs, it unfortunately hasn’t moved the needle at all in Donegal.
@Rochelle Hart: People must have felt that Mr Pringle was making satisfactory progress on the matter over the duration of his tenure. Perhaps they feel that this is truly a matter for a single issue candidate.
When your house is collapsing around you, I’d say your priorities become fewer and more intensely focused on that issue.
No slight against Pringle I’d say, but this farce needs undivided attention and urgent remedy.
Well done Charles Ward. Your cause is just especially when they can squander millions on useless NGOs and candy floss education.
Also good to see the back of that useless loudmouth Pringle.
They should get 99% redress.
@John Moore:
99.5
Literally 1 TD with a single agenda. Sure I can see them listening to you and giving you everything you want for 1 vote. Deluded
@FoxyBoiiYT: jesus brenny …… ol granny used say : ‘ you know how the great wall of China got built?… started off with ONE brick, added a second brick’……… another of her classic sayings was ‘ Big trees grow from SMALL acorns’
Why are my taxes used to rebuild a house for somebody?. Why not sue the builders, the quarry and everybody else involved in this mess?.
@Gerry Lamont: I doubt the builders are directly responsible. But the fact that no quarries have been brought to account is very telling. You would think operations like CRH would have been examined thoroughly.
The reluctance to investigate the source would suggest to me that members of government may well be shareholders in whatever company or companies that own the quarries where the spurious materials originated.
What’s the story here? I thought these folks were getting 100% remediation up to €450/460,000. Is he saying it’s not enough to get a house rebuilt?
@honey badger: the builders put the prices up when they heard the tax payer was paying. As expensive per square ft as dublin is
@P. V. Aglue: Sounds like the builders are due an audit…
@honey badger: Can you audit a builders price?
@P. V. Aglue: Why should a house in Donegal be cheaper to build than one in Dublin?
Don’t think it’ll make any difference if I’m being honest.
They all are getting full redress ad it stands..
They just won’t get a second or third quotation.. whatca waste of votes.. smfh
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