Libertas and the unions… April 20, 2009
Posted by WorldbyStorm in European Politics, European Union, Irish Politics, Uncategorized.trackback
Before:
LIBERTAS
PRESS NOTICE/PHOTOCALLFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 20th APRIL 2009
LIBERTAS CANDIDATE SIMONS TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR DUBLIN
Libertas European candidate for Dublin Caroline Simons will officially launch her campaign this evening at 6.30pm in the Connolly Room of Dublin’s Liberty hall. Ms. Simons will tell an expected crowd of over 100 supporters that she is “asking the people of Dublin for a job” and will discuss her ideas on the economic crisis, the future of Ireland in the European Union, and the importance and value of a vote for Libertas candidates.
A full transcript of Ms. Simons remarks will be made available this evening.
Ends
And after…
LIBERTAS PRESS NOTICE
20th APRIL 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHANGE OF VENUE – CAROLINE SIMONS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Statement by Libertas:
“SIPTU have informed Libertas that Caroline Simons is not welcome to launch her campaign in Liberty Hall this evening, despite the fact that the venue had been booked for some weeks. As a consequence, the event will now take place in Wynne’s Hotel, Abbey St. Lower, at 6.30pm, followed by a reception.
This extraordinary and last-minute u-turn by the authorities at Liberty Hall raises very interesting questions. Caroline Simons spent a large portion of her career working with the trade union movement to secure equality for women. She has been an articulate and hard working defender of worker’s rights. She adopted the same position on the Lisbon Treaty as an overwhelming majority of Trade Union members.
SIPTU’s decision this evening should leave working people in no doubt that SIPTU, rather than representing the interests of its members, is primarily concerned with doing the bidding of its political masters”.
Ends
Dear, oh dear, oh dear…
Thanks to one of my usual sources for the heads up…
Libertas oh Libertas. Us apostrophe festishists expect better from you, of all people. Or is Ms Simons MEP the worker whose rights Ms Simons hopes to defend into the future?
Seems odd that they’d leave it to the last minute to tell Simons et al. they couldn’t use the venue.
Joe, if it’s that Joe, I got that leaflet and will post it up during the week. Thanks a million.
It’s a very odd story indeed. i’d like to hear the SIPTU side…
Ya I saw that libertas was launching from liberity hall and then thought that is a bit odd. Now not so odd
I don’t know. One doesn’t want to be unduly cynical but this seems to fit all too well into a pattern that has emerged over the last six months or so of stuff meant to happen which doesn’t, or goes wrong in some way, in some publicity garnering way…
Libertas oh Libertas. Us apostrophe festishists expect better from you, of all people. Or is Ms Simons MEP the worker whose rights Ms Simons hopes to defend into the future?
Perhaps we should refer to them as “Liberta’s” from now on? That’ll teach them to misplace the workers’ apostrophe.
Very odd indeed. Something doesn’t quite fit. And are Libertas
trying to be all things to all people (a multi-millionaire with
ultra-conservative buddies and a trade unionist feminist?).
I was told, perhaps completely incorrectly, that Simons was associated with traditionalist groups prior to this…
Darn that apostrophe.
I was told, perhaps completely incorrectly, that Simons was associated with traditionalist groups prior to this…
Simons has turned up on conservative Catholic delegations to the Oireachtas in the past, such as this one in 2000:
We are now in public session and I would like to welcome the following representatives of the Pro-Life Campaign, Professor William Binchy, Dr. Berry Kiely and Ms Caroline Simons, to this meeting of the Joint Committee on the Constitution.
http://www.gov.ie/committees-00/c-constitution/000531/default.htm
She also was at a “Leadership Conference” for Opus Dei front group The Lismullin Institute back in October (along with a certain FF minister):
http://www.lismullin.org/index.php?option=com_easygallery&task=view&cid=630&Itemid=45
Ah… very good! So I was not misinformed. Just saw her billboard this morning on North Strand. To be honest I thought it pretty run of the mill… More Jobs. More this. More that… not as striking as the broader Libertas campaign billboards.
“Opus Dei front group”? That is a bit scary.
You’re welcome.
I saw a claim in a Politics.ie thread a while back that she came out against the HPV vaccine in a Vincent Browne TV interview last November (yet another one of those wolf-whistle conservative Catholic causes; better to let sluts die of cancer!). Maybe someone should tell the Left candidates about that one?
Gah – “dog-whistle”, of course.
“Opus Dei front group”? That is a bit scary.
It seems like the base that they hope to ride to victory on. You’ll notice that they’ve declined to put anyone up against Kathy Sinnott, who has that particular segment sewn up in her own constituency.
I don’t know if its fair to call the Lismullin Institute a “front group” since its fairly honest about its Opus Dei links. As for Simons, I think she spent some time working with the ATGWU so perhaps that’s what she was on about.
I came across the posters today on my way to work. They’re very run of the mill. They give off a very Fine Gael vibe. And at least the spelling was correct.
Oddly Simons struck me prior to this as very PR marketing oriented. This is quite a revelation. Got to say the crowd surrounding the Chairman certainly are a socially conservative bunch.
Why has SIPTU chosen to censor these people? Are there real sympathies been shown?
The reason why SIPTU cancelled the booking was that the original reservation made no mention at all that it was on behalf of Liebertas. As has long been apparent, Liebertas engage in some pretty sharp practice, in this instance in making a reservation without letting on who the booking was for.
When SIPTU officials became aware that the original booking had misrepresented the organisation making the reservation they cancelled the booking immediately. SIPTU only became aware of the true nature of the booking when Liebertas started publicly advertising the meeting this morning.
SIPTU acted honourably on this matter having accepted the original reservation in good faith. Liebertas, on the other hand, have acted with what the Village magazine has previously described (wrt Ganley) as a “deplorable attitude to the truth, transparency and moral conduct.”
The self-serving and utterly dishonest attack on SIPTU contained in the press release issued by Liebertas is a new low for this despicable organisation.
It is also reported on Libertas, nein danke! that barely 20 people turned up at Wynns Hotel for Simons’ launch and not the 100 that the Liebertas press release was predicting.
The reason why SIPTU cancelled the booking was that the original reservation made no mention at all that it was on behalf of Liebertas.
So, yet another student politics stunt, just to generate a headline on how poor Libertas was being victimised?
(And yes, I suspected that this was what had happened, as well)
“It is also reported on Libertas, nein danke! that barely 20 people turned up at Wynns Hotel for Simons’ launch and not the 100 that the Liebertas press release was predicting.”
No doubt, they were all around the corner at Liberty Hall bemoaning censorship.
why should any union let a group which is “empowered to “promote freedom of contact” and contribute funds to any body that resists interference in businesses by “any strike movement or organisation”. use its facilities?
Ganley registers Libertas as a European political party – The Irish Times – Sat, Nov 01, 2008 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1101/1225321623322.html
There were max 20 people there mostley Libertas hacks, maybe 5 civilains MAX
two posts on Libertas Nein Danke
One is a report of the event
Libertas Dublin candidate’s launch a farce as Irish Trade Union bars them using their Liberty Hall
the other on the Irsih Times coverage
Libertas stunt backfires as union refuses to let them use historic hall and Irish Times journalist inflates attendance figure from 20 to 70
two posts on Libertas Nein Danke
One is a report of the event
Libertas Dublin candidate’s launch a farce as Irish Trade Union bars them using their Liberty Hall
the other reporting the Irish Times coverage.
Libertas stunt backfires as union refuses to let them use historic hall and Irish Times journalist inflates attendance figure from 20 to 70
Great stuff LND…
EWI, Libertas seem to mistake happenings for news, don’t they? Years and years ago I interviewed the head of RTÉs programming about one thing and another, but having been involved in student politics for a while I was curious as to his take on student protests. He thought that in the main they were pointless because while they happened they weren’t per se news – in part due to size, etc, etc. When they did become news i.e. if they turned violent that tended to be counterproductive in appeals to a broader audience. I think he felt that students couldn’t achieve a critical mass, whereas localised protests in institutions, sit-ins, etc were more effective. Sure, it’s a nice easy mainstream view and more than a bit self-serving but I think it had a certain truth. And all this stuff, the shambolic progress of the campaign has that feel to it. That it’s all for ‘publicity’ in a very undifferentiated way. Problem is it looks utterly shambolic when it doesn’t look contrived. Big mistake I think.
I went to the Libertas launch out of curiosity. I’m not a member, knew nobody in Libertas or their campaign, but I counted 70-75 people. The only free drinks I saw were tea and coffee and I stayed from start to finish.
Did anyone else who doesn’t have an axe to grind go? The comments on LND make sneering references to the clothes of Ganley and Simons – hey, if you don’t like their policies fine, but skip the juvenile stuf and stick to the facts please
Does not Libertas give a choice between European bureaucracy and Irish leaders wiliness to do as they’re told? Is there a combined effort by so-called Lefties to ensure a Yes Vote the next time around?
SIPTU don’t need excuses to censor anyone who doesn’t slavishly follow their dictats – of touching the forelock to corrupt bankers and employers while they ignore how ICTU are well paid employees of the Ruling Class – who they will always curry favour off.
SIPTU may honour 100 years of ITGWU/SIPTU but a casual glance at http://www.corruptsiptu.co.uk gives reasons for their actions.
Joe, if it’s that Joe, I got that leaflet and will post it up during the week. Thanks a million.
Yes it is Joe and if that’s the leaflet for the Labour candidate in Cabra/Glasnevin, prepare dear readers for some information that will rock the state to its foundations….not.
Bill, that’s fair enough, but two thoughts. Firstly LND did make the connection between the oddity of Libertas having a launch at SIPTU, something entirely contradictory with their stated aims as you’ll see on the Unions and Libertas post. Secondly Libertas has not issued a policy platform. In fact their UK head said that first they wanted an electoral mandate and then they’d determine what needed to be done. I don’t think that’s good enough. Not by a long stretch and I think it’s incumbent upon people to ask tough questions of others who have yet to tell us what they’re about (although I do agree Simon et als sartorial sense isn’t a huge issue to me one way or another).
Tomorrow is the day then Joe. It will indeed rock the state to its foundations!
Incidentally talking about axes to grind. You’ll note if you look at the Communist Party of Ireland statement that although my own position is mildly and unenthusiastically pro-Lisbon and essentially pro-EU I have no problem publicising the thoughts of others who take a different view.
I’m sorry, Tim, but there was far more than your alleged 20 people there. If you look at the video taken at the event Caroline Simons explains her reasons for wanting to use Liberty Hall and you can also see at the end of the clip that the meeting was attended by much more than 20.
There was also 6 Libertas staff there, 8 if you include the candidates Caroline Simons and Raymond O’Malley.
Libertas is not a conservative catholic organisation, there are many who are involved and who support Libertas who are pro-choice, who support the HPV vaccine and regret the government’s decision not to issue it. Libertas is a party which draws broad range support from the political spectrum.
It’s a party which is offering a unique opportunity for people from all across Europe to have a voice they’ve never been trusted to speak with before and to end the incredibly wasteful spending of taxpayer’s money, money which we cannot afford to waste, to fund a Gravy Train that doesn’t respect us, doesn’t listen to us and doesn’t work for us. It’s not about left or right candidates, Libertas has support from across the board from the MPF in France to Partido de la Ciudadania in Spain.
There was also 6 Libertas staff there, 8 if you include the candidates Caroline Simons and Raymond O’Malley.
And how many Rivada employees, I wonder. /snark
Libertas is not a conservative catholic organisation, there are many who are involved and who support Libertas who are pro-choice, who support the HPV vaccine and regret the government’s decision not to issue it.
Do Libertas candidates Simons, Reynolds and Ganley support the HPV vaccine as public policy, or not? That’s the question here, not what individual Libertas/Rivada employees may or may not think. Well?
It’s not about left or right candidates, Libertas has support from across the board from the MPF in France to Partido de la Ciudadania in Spain.
Yes, indeed; a broad range “across the board” of right-wing Eurosceptics there. So people have noticed.
[Libertas being an 'opportunity'] to end the incredibly wasteful spending of taxpayer’s money, money which we cannot afford to waste, to fund a Gravy Train that doesn’t respect us, doesn’t listen to us and doesn’t work for us.
Oh yes; now, we can get representatives who work instead for Declan Ganley!
Speaking of the Libertas candidates, I can well recommend people to go have a look at the profiles, which are of a style familiar to those of us who still lament the passing of the old Freedom Institute.
“Bob, 39, is a husband, father of two and model railway enthusiast who believes that his experience in having his car clamped while in town two weeks ago shows that the dead hand of red tape and bureaucracy from the EU threatens our civil liberties” etcetc.
Very UK sort of critique… Colonel Blimp kind of thing…
Colonel Blimp kind of thing…
Well, the featured candidates/employees on the Libertas UK page are a soldier, a copper and an investment banker (sounds like the beginning of a joke):
http://www.libertas.eu/uk/candidates
Actually in fairness to Colonel Blimp, if you’ve ever seen the movie (Powell and Pressburger IIRC) it’s rather fine, and at the end he sees the error of his ways…
And it has a strong anti-fascist message too…
“Libertas is not a conservative catholic organisation,” and yet ….the leaflets from Raymond O Malley describe Libertas as “Pro Life” – Known Youth Defence Activists are bulking up the crowds in Declan Ganleys public meetings in Galway
Also, the IT reported that Ganley turned up at a meeting
in Roscommon with Ronan Mullen and Fr. Brian McKevitt-
two outspoken Catholic conservatives.
I was wondering how long it would take Mullen to appear in public with Ganley (where Waghorne goes, Mullen is not far behind, and vice-versa).
Any chance you could send a scan of that leaflet or is there one online?
I’ll try and scan it on Monday
So Libertas’s “Bob, 39, is a husband, father of two and model railway enthusiast who believes that his experience in having his car clamped while in town two weeks ago shows that the dead hand of red tape and bureaucracy from the EU threatens our civil liberties”, eh?
Quite right. What was the fight against Nazism for if it wasn’t for the right to park wherever you inconveniently want to in traffic-clogged town centres?
Sorry – slight mistake the paragraph on Raymond O Malleys leaflets is
“We stand for your values – Libertas believes in the right to life at all it’s stages, respect for the family, the elderly, those with special needs and the vulnerable, we believe that Irish people should decide their own values, and that those values should be respected
Thanks hannor….
Leveller
hannor, wow, they’re pretty explicit about it all of a sudden.
‘Libertas’s “Bob, 39, is a husband, father of two and model railway enthusiast who believes that his experience in having his car clamped while in town two weeks ago shows that the dead hand of red tape and bureaucracy from the EU threatens our civil liberties”’
Probably not a REAL railway enthusiast, then.
Good point, Croc – Another Libertas candidate off the rails (boom! boom!).
They are obvioulsy trying to appeal to some of those who voted for Justin Barrett in 04
Yep, that does appear to be part of it. Still, I’d have thought that was a small constituency.
‘I’d have thought that was a small constituency.’
In more ways than one.
Indeed.
[...] 2009 Posted by WorldbyStorm in European Elections Material, Irish Politics. trackback Thanks to hannor for forwarding this material to the CLR, which links in nicely with EWI’s post [...]