18 Feb 2011: Green Party and ULA candidates with the highest response rate
  • ++ candidatewatch.ie – the GE11 campaign transparency website +++

P R E S S R E L E A S E


Green Party and ULA candidates with the highest response rate
...Fine Gael is most questioned party on CandidateWatch


The GE11 candidates of the Green party have answered 6 out of 16 (38%) questions received via www.candidatewatch.ie – the United Left Alliance has answered 4 out of 9 (44%) questions and is leading in the ranking of response rates. Independents are following with 28% and Fine Gael with 20%.

The low number of questions for the Green Party and ULA candidates may well be a relfection of citizens' thoughts on the chances of these candidates being elected into the Dáil. Fine Gael in contrast received 126 questions so far which outnumbers by far the number of questions Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Labour and Independents have received (around 60 each).

The same story for the party leaders: Enda Kenny replied to 6 of 11 questions so far, explaining the 8,000 job cuts in HSE in his most recent answer. Eamon Ryan (Greens) responded to 2 of 3 questions, Gerry Adams (SF) to 1 of 5, Micheál Martin (FF) to 0 out of 4, Eamon Gilmore (Labour) to 0 out of 4.

The principle behind CandidateWatch is very simple: It acts as an online forum enabling citizens to ask candidates questions online, and receive answers through the same platform. The most interesting aspect about it: Both questions and answers are public and will stay online after the election. The objective of CandidateWatch is to make election campaigning more transparent and politicians more accountable. Democracy at its best.

Questions to all GE11 candidates can still be submitted on
www.candidatewatch.ie until next Thursday, 6pm.


CandidateWatch – You Ask, They Answer, You Decide!



Contact:
Fabian Hanneforth
087 22 37 515
info@candidatewatch.ie


further links: