Who's behind the Dail Watch site?

[PaddyJoe]

www.dailwatch.ie

DailWatch is a politically neutral, non-profit initiative that allows citizens to engage in direct
dialogue with all members of the Dáil. Our vision is of a more responsive political elite and a more participatory citizen population. The platform also allows voters to track TD’s behaviour by providing access to their voting records and previous speeches. DailWatch is intended as a mutually beneficial tool that benefits both constituents and their representatives by removing all intermediaries and facilitating direct, respectful communication.

Very little information so far as the website is still under construction but it seems to be based on a German idea:

Though they often vote for a party rather than an individual lawmaker, German citizens can question their elected local and federal representatives directly, thanks to a website called Parliament Watch. The founders have expanded to other European countries and have plans for Tunisia and possibly even the United States.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...-a-834964.html

[Dr. FIVE]

https://twitter.com/Dailwatch

[Dr. FIVE]

looks like it's connected to tasc

[Dr. FIVE]

samepeople/idea http://www.tascnet.ie/upload/file/ta...ess_folder.pdf

4. How do you ensure an objective and fair dialogue on CandidateWatch.ie?
All questions and answers are read by a team of moderators and checked to ensure that they
comply with our moderation Code of Conduct. This process ensures, for example, that questions
which are abusive or intrusive, or e-mails with de-humanising content, are not published on candidatewatch.
ie. In the case of messages which have not been cleared („moderated“), both the
questioner and the candidate are informed of the reason for the message not being cleared. The
process is thus completely transparent. You will see a link to the moderation Code of Conduct on
each profile page below the question input field.
5. Who is behind CandidateWatch.ie?
candidatewatch.ie is a collaborative partnership between the German non-profit organisation Parlamentwatch
e.V. and TASC, the Irish think-tank for action on social change. Parlamentwatch e.V.
is non-partisan and institutionally independent. It is mainly financed through sponsorships and
donations from private individuals. The project is implemented by a not-for-profit company, Parlamentwatch
GmbH. Parlamentwatch GmbH is obliged to donate any profits to charitable projects.
Further information about candidatewatch.ie can be found by clicking on “About us” in the lefthand
menu bar.
6. How is CandidateWatch.ie financed?
The dialogue with voters is offered free of charge to candidates. In addition to the basic information
provided, candidates can book a profile upgrade. This is offered in return for a once-off
contribution of 100 Euro, and offers candidates the option of including a photo, a CV, a summary
of their political objectives and a campaign calendar in their profiles. A profile upgrade is merely
an additional option. The inclusion of basic profile information, such as name, party, constituency,
professional qualification and occupation, as well as the dialogue with voters, is naturally offered
free of charge.

[C. Flower]

Hmm.

[PaddyJoe]

Launched today:

Dailwatch.ie said in a statement that it is a nonpartisan, non-profit initiative overseen by a Board of Trustees. The board includes Alice Leahy Director of TRUST, Dr. Colum Kenny Professor of Communications at Dublin City University, Professor David Farrell, who holds the Chair of Politics in UCD, Dr. Jane Suiter academic at DCU and Stephen Collins Political Editor of The Irish Times.

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/H...0-a1fac0531695

[Baron von Biffo]

The legend on their graphs is intriguing:-



Is the 'Blank' category to cover the votes of Timmy Dooley and Boyd-Barrett?

[PaddyJoe]

The legend on their graphs is intriguing:-



Is the 'Blank' category to cover the votes of Timmy Dooley and Boyd-Barrett?

Think its a euphemism for 'haven't a fecking clue'

[Dr. FIVE]

Bit skeptical about this. Not necessarily the website or those involved but just the nature of Irish politics.
I could be surprised and someone will probably knock some use out of it.

Would be interesting to know how they're getting so much airtime though.

[PaddyJoe]

Bit skeptical about this. Not necessarily the website or those involved but just the nature of Irish politics.
I could be surprised and someone will probably knock some use out of it.

Would be interesting to know how they're getting so much airtime though.

Looks like quite a lot of background work has gone into it as they seem to have all the TDs signed up. A lot will depend on how much use people make of it.
I'm kinda dubious.

[Dr. FIVE]

Time will tell I suppose. I don't want to write it off till it's up and running but..

[PaddyJoe]

Time will tell I suppose. I don't want to write it off till it's up and running but..

1. Compose question to TD and submit it.
2. Moderator vets it and passes it on to TD
3. TD's secretary reads it and replies to dailwatch.ie
4. Dailwatch Moderator vets it and publishes it to site.
Could well have the effect of eliminating a lot of those embarrassing or inappropriate replies that emerge from Constituency offices from time to time.

[Dr. FIVE]

We already have opposition TDs reading two year old Labour speeches back at them and Government reading others back at FF. All to be repeated again no doubt.

time will tell

[Dr. FIVE]

Stephen Collins is on the Board of Trustees?

lol, indeed