Almost a week in the life of a TD

Posted on January 29, 2010 at 12:47 AM

I have got a couple of questionnaires recently asking me for the percentages of my time I spent on this that on the other. How much of my time do I spend visiting my constituency the latest one asked – I live there I wrote in big letters across page!  It’s real guess work and I wonder about the scientific validity when all these questionnaires are collated. Some of the questions are straightforward, others you really are just making a stab at answering.  Questions that ask me to put in order of preference who influences my voting decisions, my constituents, the country, the party – it depends! How many times a year, a month etc. do I meet with this type of group or that type of group. I suppose I am glad to be asked although those questionnaires are time consuming in themselves. Anyway, having been frustrated at the task of splitting up my work into imaginary percentages of time, I thought that I would for my blog tonight do an outline of how I a TD spent my week, this week, so far. Just for the record, in case of interest, and for when I write my memoirs.

On Monday I didn’t have clinics because I hold them the first and third Monday of each month. My office was in touch with me about how to deal with an issue raised with me by a constituent in a previous clinic. Clinics can be hard work, although some are very quiet too, but they are worthwhile.  You are there for your constituents and for many who don’t even have a vote in Dail elections and you learn things about the lives your constituents live and the obstacles they face. Later I prepared for a public meeting organised by one of the local branches to which Joan Burton had been invited to speak about the Nation’s finances. I was a speaker too. Left for the meeting after tea and got home about 11.00 or 11.30.

On Tuesday I was in the Dail for most of the day till after I spoke on the debate about the Government’s response to the extreme weather and the water disruption.  Spoke about it from my experience as a T.D. in a constituency where my constituents were affected by these issues and had been in touch with me.  I can’t just rely on my own experience to represent the concerns of my constituents. There are many different experiences and many are tougher than mine.  I did get to experience some of the bad stuff during the snow including a 6 hour drive and a slip and fall. Didn’t mention that in my speech though! Before I spoke I spent time thinking about my speech and jotting down the bullet points I would use.  We had our Labour parliamentary party meeting. I worked with my staff on some queries. I liaised with the press office on the release of a statement in response to a report into high radon levels in parts of the country.  Sat in for leaders questions as a show of support for our party leader.  Got home after 8 and had my tea.  Had been asked during the day if I would speak on the Civil Partnership Bill so started reading up about it on the internet before bed time.

On Wednesday I got into the Dail before 10.30.  Spoke on the Civil Partnership Bill. Again brought some issues into the debate that have been raised with me by constituents, as well as the stuff I learned from the Glen website. Met representatives from an Environmental NGO about work they do in local communities to help people live more sustainably.  You get a fair amount of groups that want you to be informed about the work they do or the issues that concern them. Did some bits and pieces in the office, emails, drafting stuff, discussing queries with my staff.  Dropped down to TCD to a lecture because someone asked me to and it was of interest. Sat in for some of the private members debate. Had my tea.  Did a small bit of office work. We get a lot of emails as TDs from all over the country on all sorts of issues. Replying to emails is a huge part of our working time now as it is for many jobs I suspect. We are getting more than ever now in response to whatever the latest news story is and I try to reply to as much as I can. These are besides more specific queries by email and phone. Voted and arrived home just after 9.30.

In the Dail again today.  Voted on Order of Business. Returned some telephone calls and emails.  Worked on some PQs that might be of interest to the press.  Did other office work. Dictated a tape of queries and administrative duties.  Spent some of my time browsing the Internet, as you do, or at least as I do.  Often to get work done I try and sit away from my computer so as not to get distracted by incoming emails or interesting websites. Got home around 8 or so.  Have to go and check something now that a journalist emailed me tonight for clarification on. Travelling out of Dublin tomorrow for the funeral of a relative of a party member.

Obviously besides all I outline about the last four days I took some opportunity to do stuff to do with me and my family especially on Monday. I try to be seen a bit out and about if I can but largely at things to do with my being a member of my community and a parent. I often am my own boss in relation to how I use my time, for non sitting days especially, and for Tuesday mornings, Thursday afternoons there is flexibility, though the other side of the coin is you do political stuff on Saturdays and Sundays, because you need to keep your profile up and meet commitments. I brought home leaflets for dropping on Sunday with me this evening and some reading material about a bill and a policy document I have been asked to look after. I have a number of events and tasks over the weekend.   My biggest problem working as a TD is not the demands of the job, which I love and I think is an important one, but managing my time efficiently and here I am posting this just before 1am because I am terrible for staying up too late.

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