My name is Patrick Bullman, known to my friends as Paddy. I was born and bred in Youghal, County Cork. I started work with Irish Shipping when I went to sea at the age of 16 in June of 1972. At the age of 23, (1979)  I was among the many young people that emigrated to foreign shores. I lived in Sweden from 1979 until 1999. I was always an active trade unionist during my years at sea and always took an active part in politics. I spent the early years at sea in Sweden as an active agitator in the Swedish Seamans Union. The latter 10 years I worked as a Swedish Seamans Union Representative for the Stockholm area. So my political beliefs are firmly grounded in the trade union movement. I am a firm believer in the trade union movement as an important part of the political structure, which, in my opinion is sadly lacking in Ireland.

I returned home at the turn of the millenium and have been self-employed as a Tattoo Artist until recently. At the moment I am between jobs.

I am a firm believer in the Democratic Principle that any member of any society has the unquestionable right to partake actively in any decision made by that society. It is also my belief that this is only achieved when the State is subject to the Will and Decision of the People without restriction. This will not come about until the People of this country Empower Themselves to do so. I like to call it ‘People Power’.

If the people of Ireland are to be sovereign in their own country, then all affairs of State must be subject to the will of the People. This has always been my goal and will always remain so.

Good Democracy is the Best form of Government,
And only the Best is Good enough !

Paddy Bullman.

County: Cork

Constituency: Cork East

Phone: 086 2412202

Click below to listen CPPC General Election Candidate for Cork East Paddy Bullman talking to station manager Declan Gibbons on Youghal local radio CRY – Audio courtesy of CRY

An Chomhdháil Phobail | The Peoples Convention (CPPC)

An Chomdhail Phobail/People’s Convention (CPPC) to contest General Election in East Cork Constituency. Youghal man Paddy Bullman selected as the Cork East candidate for the The Peoples Convention Party, while Claire Cullinane from Cobh is also selected to run as a candidate in the East Cork Constituency.

Report: Denise FitzGerald / Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

In a series of meetings being held across the Cork East Constituency by the People’s Convention, Youghal was the venue on Wednesday ( 26th Jan 2011)  where citizens were invited to attend and discuss the issues leading into the General Election.   CPPC is not a political party, and outlined at the meeting their approach that the people must have the say in running our country.   To achieve this, they claim, the political parties of vested interests must be removed from the Dail.

Diarmaid Cadhla, National Spokesperson, chaired the Youghal meeting, sitting with Danny Lordan, West Cork Co-Ordinator, Don Sheehan and Claire Cullinane East Cork Co-Ordinators.

Diarmaid Cadhla and Danny Lordan told the East Cork Journal that they have been friends since student times and were involved in the Students Movement in UCC and CIT.   Two years ago, with the ongoing crisis in our country they, along with several others, got together on many occasions to discuss the situation, and CPPC is the result of these talks.  Don Sheehan has lived in Youghal (Gortroe) for the past ten years, is married with children, and works in IT in Cork.  Last year, he told the East Cork Journal, he saw the writing on the wall and before Christmas  he contacted Diarmaid, was told of the principles of CPPC, and could immediately empathise with them.   He started talking to people in Youghal about the aims  of CPPC and getting them involved, and he was delighted with the response.

Claire Cullinane from Cobh has been self employed for 32 years.   She saw the change coming  and looked seriously at the situation.  Claire says there should be one policy – that of Democracy.  “CPPC, she said, “aim to secure, exercise and defend democracy.   “We, the electorate, must empower ourselves” she continued,  “and we should have Peoples Representatives, not Political parties”

The Peoples Convention outlines a new way for our Democracy by electing candidates  selected by, and contracted to, the people, not political parties.

The first public meeting of CPPC was held on December 14th last, and since then it has generated a lot of interest throughout the county.   To date, nine public meetings have been held, with several more discussions held in different parts of the country.   Meetings are ongoing throughout Cork City and County in the lead up to the elections.  The Public Selection Conventions will be held at Cork East, the GAA Pavilion, Mallow, Thursday 3rd Feb. 8pm;   Cork South Central, Rochestown Park Hotel, 4th Feb. 8pm and in Wexford, at White’s Hotel, Wexford, 4th Feb. 8pm

The aim of CPPC is to build a national movement for democracy, to create the conditions whereby the people can empower themselves in our democracy.  This work continues into this election and will continue after it to ensure that local Peoples Conventions are strengthened and organised in each constituency.

at the Youghal meeting it was confirmed that Four words underline the aims of CPPC, SELECT, ELECT, CONSULT, MANDATE AND RECALL a new way must be introduced to exercise our democracy, which begins with the actual SELECTION of candidates, people who are prepared to serve as Dail Delegates as a service to their community;  the Candidates are then ELECTED.   Candidates of The Peoples Convention will sign a contract agreeing to CONSULT the voters on the principals of all legislation before the Dail;   will obtain a MANDATE on how to vote;   CPPC candidates accept the citizens right to RECALL any elected TD who fails in their duty of service to the people.  We should not have to wait five years for a change.

The scandal is that, regardless of whatever may be thought of the policies implemented by various governments,, the people are never asked to have their say … they are limited to just a few moments every five years or so to mark off a ballot paper while voting.

This new way of exercising our democracy, say CPPC will ensure that the people are in control, that accountability exists, and it sets aside the party whip and the domination of the parties of vested interest.

What does one do if interested in The Peoples Convention?

Firstly, they must activate themselves and approach the CPPC.

They will select a candidate which they, themselves, want.

Such candidate should not be a free agent, must sign the agreement to return to the people about all laws to be enacted in the Dail, and the citizens should be given a chance to air their views and give their opinions.

CPPC candidates accept the citizens right to RECALL any elected TD who fails in their duty of service to the people.

A Question and Answer session then took place, with most of the attendance contributing, and the main feeling of the meeting was that Accountability and  Responsibility, together with the people having a say in decision making for the country, is what is mostly needed, with Nepotism banned from our system.

Our Economic Crisis has led to our Political Crisis, and every citizen of Ireland must now think seriously when they go to the polling stations.   CPPC say it is time to call a halt.  There will be a candidate on your voting paper at the next election who will be representing CPPC, so “Let’s elect peoples candidates, not political parties”  they ask.

CPPC spokesperson challenges neighbour Mr. Martin to debate

At the Cork South Central Selection Convention on Friday evening National Spokesperson for The Peoples Convention, Mr. Diarmaid Ó Cadhla, was selected to contest for a seat in Dáil Éireann.

Following his selection, Mr Ó Cadhla said:

“I would like to publically invite my neighbour Mr. Michael Martin to a debate, I’d like him to explain what he considers might be good standards in public office.  Mr. Martin has been in government for about 14 years and has been central to all the decisions leading into the current crisis.  Mr. Martin now leads a party branded for its corruption and lack of accountability and I don’t think we will see any change in this.”

Mr. Ó Cadhla went on to point out that “Mr. Martin has included Willie O’Dea in his front bench, a man associated with being ‘economical’ with the truth before the High Court.  This shows that Fianna Fáil are neither sorry for their decisions in the past nor have they changed any.”

Mr Ó Cadhla went on to state that if elected he would practice the “new way” for democracy outlined by The Peoples Convention.  Decisions and votes in the Dáil would be made following local consultations and accepting mandate from the people.  Mr. Ó Cadhla stated that a priority task would be to expand the network of Peoples Conventions to all parts of the country in order to provide the means by which citizens can empower themselves in our democracy.

Mr Ó Cadhla claimed that The Peoples Convention were the only organisation contesting this election that had “a programme to involve citizens in the decision making process before, during and after the elections – democracy must last more than the few minutes in the voting booth”.

Detail information on this new way for our democracy are available on the web site http://www.cppc.ie as is the ability to register with the Peoples Convention online.

For additional information or comment please contact:
National spokesperson, Diarmaid Ó Cadhla, 086-3805005

Meeting of People’s Convention, www.CPPC.ie, Wednesday Night, 26th Jan. 2011 at Youghal Community Centre. As citizens, we must come forward and claim our own democracy.

CPPC co-ordinator Don Sheehan who was guest on Christy Parker's talk show 'Today at 5' on Youghal local radio CRY. Pic: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

Come at 8:15 for an 8.30pm start.

This is the first in a series of meetings across the Cork East constituency.  Citizens are invited to attend and discuss the issues leading into this general election.  CPPC will outline its approach that the people must have the say in running our country and to achieve this the political parties of vested interests must be removed from the Dáil.

Citizens are asked to suggest/nominate who might be good candidates for the people in the election, the final meeting will be advertised later with the full schedule and will be the selection convention.

This meeting is facilitated by local CPPC coordinator Don Sheehan, phone 087 2408097

Mayor of Youghal Sandra McLellan and Deputy Mayor Michelle Hennessy are campaigning for a No Vote in next Friday’s Lisbon Treaty Referendum.
Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com    E Mail news@youghalonline.com

On October 2nd you are being asked to vote on exactly the same Lisbon Treaty that was rejected by 900,000 voters in June 2008.

Same Treaty – Same Answer – Democracy matters. Your vote matters

The Lisbon Treaty was a bad deal for Ireland and Europe then and it is still a bad deal.

Despite claims of the Fianna Fail government to have addressed the concerns of voters they have not secured a single change to the text of the Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty will undermine Irelands voice in Europe. We will lose our permanent right to a commissioner from 2014.

The Treaty will undermine workers rights and wage levels and damage family farms.

The Treaty will commit Ireland to a common defence and foreign policy further weakening our neutrality.
There is an alternative. A better deal is still possible. Vote NO to the Lisbon Treaty on October 2nd.