This weekend I’ll mostly be listening to… The Goats February 20, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in This Weekend I'll Mostly Be Listening to....add a comment
The Goats. Alternative hip-hop, politically charged alternative hip-hop at that. Their first album, and by some distance their finest, Tricks of the Shade, was released in 1992. And listening to it in later years is a curious experience, given that so many of the references remain oddly appropriate. Right down to the attacks on George Bush (Snr).
Were they like Public Enemy? Not so much, although their track ‘Typical American’ has something of the same dynamic.
Tricks of the Shade is a remarkable album. It opens with the words ”Yeah, you want to see a freak show?… Uncle Scam’s federally funded freak show… we are the freak show…’. From there it’s essentially a concept album with tracks interspersed by dialogue following Chicken Little and his brother Hangerhead (whose mother has been locked away by the ‘Pro-living’ for attempting to get an abortion), and their travels to find their Uncle Scam. Along the way there are encounters with a wide array of people, including ‘Mr. Columbus’… let’s just put it this way, they’re not fans… ‘Hey Mr. Columbus you took all my money…’ ‘No I didn’t, I discovered it…heh heh heh’. And what follows is a journey through the underbelly of US life in the early 1990s, thrown into stark relief by the satirical approach both to the sounds and the concepts.
This makes it sound either glib or po-faced, but it’s neither. Instead the individual tracks provide accomplished hip-hop and a fantastic range of samples (check out R U Down wit The Goats – “Politicians and bigots and pigs, oh my!”) positioned within an explicitly political narrative – pro-choice amongst other stances. And that politics incorporates some unusual stuff, surely this must be the only hip-hop album to ever name check Billy Bragg in the lyrics?
Highly recommended.
Typical American (‘clean’ version – natch!) – worth noting that two members of the Goats were Native American…
Here’s the proper version…
Do the Digs Dug, namechecking one Leonard Peltier (‘clean’ too 
)…
Tricks of the Shade
Columbus’ Boat Ride/R U Down Wit the Goats
New Union Post Online February 19, 2010
Posted by Garibaldy in Trade Unions.6 comments
The new edition of the Union Post is now online here, with a very wide range of stories both local and international, as well as commentary on the economic crisis.
Area man wins confidence vote and then resigns. Everyone in government hurt. Each time. February 19, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.50 comments
You’ve kind of got to love the caption on the IT front page on the web this morning to the following image…
Willie O’Dea resigned last night, a day after he was supported by all his Fianna Fáil colleagues and the Greens in a motion of confidence in the Dáil.
Well, yes. When you put it like that.
First up, what was I saying about the outline of a Dáil with 60 plus FG seats? Let’s wonder about a Dáil with 70 plus FG seats, for despite the last fortnight being bleeding awful for FG there’s little doubt that Enda Kenny, dealing with something of a charisma deficit, may well appeal to more than one voter as a safer pair of hands than the current incumbents…
And as ever with this government there’s the sense that their ability to react and respond to whatever it is that life throws at them is unsurefooted.
To put it mildly.
What’s astonishing, given the legal expertise available at the highest levels of the Cabinet (or… hold on a second… let me think about that one a while) is that this situation ever came to pass. Put aside O’Dea whose rhetorical propensity to shoot first ask questions later – whatever about being Minister of Defence, has finally caught up with him and how.
That his attitude in relation to the original issue spoke of the dislocation we see on the part of some that the normal rules still don’t apply to a Sinn Féin, that whatever else, has moved more than half way, more than two-thirds, more than three-quarters, more than… whatever, towards constitutional politics.
Well, now. There’s a painful lesson learned that the old days are gone. And the Irish Times editorial today notes that…
This matter should not have reached the Dáil. Mr O’Dea should have resigned for a number of reasons. The first and most obvious reason was because he had maligned a political opponent during an election campaign by claiming he was involved in a brothel. Such an accusation if proven amounted to an offence under the Electoral Abuses Act of 1923 and, could have barred him from the Dáil. In defending himself against that charge, Mr O’Dea swore an untrue affidavit for a High Court action. In doing so, he claims to have made an honest mistake. But he made no attempt to confirm the truthfulness of his denial. Had he done so at the time, he would have impailed [sic] himself on the original charge.
But think of it. A Minister resigns ultimately due to comments he made about a Sinn Féin candidate. Not that the media are making too much of that today. It’s all about the Coalition. As perhaps rightly it should be.
Consider too how quickly O’Dea was cut loose when the enormity of the issue finally… finally, for the love of God, struck them (and by the way, these are the people we trust to oversee this economy? People who didn’t quite see just how important this issue was). Of course, the narrative is that all changed utterly the moment that… well, let the FF Chief Whip do the heavy lifting for a moment…
Mr O’Dea resigned last night as Minister for Defence as a result of the controversy over his swearing of a false affidavit in a High Court case.
Speaking on Morning Ireland today, Mr Carey said the Government had supported Mr O’Dea during the confidence motion “on the basis of the information that was made to us at the time.”
He said a subsequent interview given by Mr O’Dea to RTE’s News at One mentioning garda involvement in his false affidavit had led to the minister resigning of his own volition.
“One of the issues that certainly raised concerns was the involvement of the gardaí, it was a combination of those issues which brought about the resignation on his own volition,” Mr Carey said.
Well, he might like us to believe that, but… From the off this was an issue that slowly snowballed. When I first heard about it some weeks ago my instinctive thought was that he was toast. Then I forgot about it to be honest, what with one thing and another. When it came to the fore more recently it struck me as bizarre that a Minister could ply his trade given the circumstances. But he was still there. As the week went on it seemed that he had to go, but he won the confidence vote. And I thought, in truth that he’d tough it out. Or the Government would. But in the long term it looked near impossible for him to stay.
Seems wiser heads prevailed.
But the damage to the Government is significant. And here their rhetoric that the economic situation is improving may play against them. Because as was notable during the Lee issue, and hardly at all as regards the bould Senator, there’s some appetite out there for political discussion which eschews the dismal issues of the economic. And even though, I’d suspect, most don’t believe a word about the situation improving, here’s an issue on a plate that goes to the heart of good governance. And what’s worse it strikes at an already sore spot (or gaping bloody wound) in regards to Fianna Fáil.
I’d bet the Green Party figure this has played well for them. But, it’s very striking how the opposition has made every effort to link them in the public mind…
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the resignation was an inevitable consequence of his false affidavit. “Despite knowing the full facts, the Taoiseach and his Fianna Fáil and Green Ministers queued up just yesterday to vehemently support Deputy O’Dea, to assert that he had done nothing wrong other than a simple human mistake, and to vote complete confidence in him.”
Now, it’s not as if Kenny thinks that the Greens will suddenly manifest themselves as revenants in 2012, but it is the perception which is all. The gulf between a Green identity that is perceived as cleaner than clean and the confidence vote. This may be grossly unfair to the GP, there is some indication that they were bounced into the vote, but unfair or not that’s quite irrelevant. The major issue here is not the GP and its feelings, but FF and its credibility. And if the FF were the mudguard to the GP initially in this coalition, then that position reversed in more recent times, now the GP become a convenient proxy to attack FF, to make the latter appear even less authoritative.
Of course, this analysis may be completely wrong. It may be that the public is simply glad that O’Dea fell on his sword. But… therein lies another problem. If that narrative is correct then the government appears impotent. Once more reacting rather than initiating.
It’s all very messy and they all come out of it damaged to a greater or lesser extent. Does this make the government more likely to go early? I’m unconvinced. The ‘events’ trope that Stephen Collins mentioned last weekend works both ways of course… As much as fearing that something will crop up politicians hope that something will turn up.
There’s no percentage in them going early. Particularly after this. We’ll be seeing them a while yet…
I should add – the De Búrca issue? Good and gone after all this. Who would have thought – a week ago – that Willie would inflict more damage?
This week at the Irish Election Literature Blog… February 19, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.add a comment
Again, as ever AK, has found another tranche of material of interest… some of it entirely of the moment… although as he notes… no Willie O’Dea to round off the week… In more ways than one!
From this weeks news….
Deidre De Burcas Newsletter from the 09 Euro Elections
New Labour Party Recruit in Roscommon, Councillor John Kelly running in the 2007 General Election
From the Left …..
The only Student related Democratic Left Material I have, ‘Are Students gettiing Value for money’ from 1992.
A simple pink flyer from former Workers Party Candidate Sean O’Grady in the 1999 Local Elections for Killarney UDC
From the broadish Left…
A detailed leaflet from the late Vincent McDowell standing for the Greens in 1997.
From 2004 the former Sinn Fein Councillor Robert Sargent, who was one of the first in the trend of Dublin based Sinn Fein councillors resigning.
Then From Somewhere very different, some ‘Ming the merciless’ posters
…and a few posters from the 1968 change in voting referendum…
Again I’m open to requests , If I have it I’ll post it. (irishelectionliterature at gmail.com)
60 seats for Fine Gael? Why let’s number crunch… February 18, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.13 comments
Reading the report of the latest poll in the Independent, and note that they haven’t conducted one like this – Milward Brown-IMS, all the trappings – in twelve months (!) it’s most interesting to see the prediction that Fine Gael could win 60 or more seats.
Let’s look at the detail of the poll.
The Millward Brown IMS poll published in today’s Irish Independent shows support for Fine Gael increasing by 4 per cent to 34 per cent over the course of the last 12 months.
Support for Fianna Fail has steadied and is up two points to 27 per cent while Labour has seen its support fall 3 per cent to 19 per cent.
The news is even worse for the Green Party which is now on just 2 per cent, down from 5 per cent last year. Sinn Féin has gained one to 8 per cent and the independents are steady at 10 per cent.
The poll shows that despite the fall-off in support for his party, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore remains the most popular party leader with his satisfaction rating up by 2 per cent to 54 per cent.
A few thoughts before turning to the 60+. Sinn Féin remains more or less where it has been. A solid 8%. Quite good really, and if translated into seats would certainly see them back with in or around the numbers they currently have and with the prospect of one or two more.
The Green Party… well, what to say. Within the margin of error, but if we factor in other polls from the last month or so we can see indications of a downward trend. The events of the weekend won’t help there.
Independents. Hmmm… I’m a suspicious person when it comes to the Independents category in polls. That’s a big bloc, no doubt about it. But I still guess there’s FF voters hiding out there. Probably less than before as the news begins to turn for them towards a more positive position. But… they’re there alright. On the other hand if the overall figure is 6% or more we can expect a fair few to be returned to the Dáil.
Labour. What to say? Perhaps some of the vote from FF is going home. Or, perhaps, some is going to SF. Or… perhaps some is going to FG. Either way we’re seeing much clearer indications of a trend where the LP vote is in or around the 17% range across a number of polls. Again, on a good day that could reward them quite handsomely with a good share of TDs. A couple of extra percentages and they’d be looking at a rerun of 1992. Tantalising for Gilmore. It will be telling how the transfers work.
Fianna Fáil is stabilising. As was almost inevitably going to happen. And trending higher. Not much higher. But 2% better than this time last year. Given their prodigious struggles over the last year they’ll reckon that poor recompense, but… they’ve another two to go… and again this week has given them heart like no other for many many months.
Here’s the thing about this poll. It was taken mid-week when the fall out from the Lee affair was beginning to dissipate. And, whatever about Pat Kenny’s wielding the RTÉ 16,000 responses poll on liveline to the George Lee resignation which were overwhelmingly in favour of the latter, it would appear that the general public wasn’t quite as smitten with George as his former, and future colleagues have seemed to be over the past few days. Or as broken hearted with his departure. Furthermore perhaps, and this pains me no end, Stephen Collins was right and the FG response and even that of Kenny (albeit his personal rating has dropped) was well pitched.
So, implausibly (to me) Fine Gael has strengthened again. And lo, 60 seats beckon.
So, let’s look at the shape of a Dáil where FG had 60 odd seats. It seems to me that if Labour is on anything over 13% or more they have to be looking at gains on their 20 current seats. So let’s be conservative and say they actually took 25 seats. SInn Féin should, on the figures, do as well as they did before. So again, being conservative let’s posit they have about 5 seats. The Green Party… I’m willing to bet they might retain up to 2 seats. Maybe not. But these are fractional changes all things considered. So let’s say they take 2. Independents, and here I’d include the SP and perhaps PBP… at most 9. Which would leave 65 Fianna Fáil TDs. Down 12 from their 77 in 2007.
Again, I’m trying to be conservative. It’s possible that the Independents/Greens would actually give one or two more to FF or FG. Who knows? But… the overall shape of such a Dáil with Fine Gael on figures still well below the 1982 of 70 TDs (where FF got 75 seats) would be something of a departure. Not because FG was larger, but because FF was so much smaller. Indeed for something approaching those figures we must return to 1992 where Fianna Fáil had 68 TDs. But in that context it was a diminished FG as much as a diminished FF which gifted Labour its largest number of TDs ever.
And yet, in 1992 FF retained 39% of the vote. 27% is so significantly lower one has to wonder how this would all play out, at least on the figures we see today. But all this indicates is that the hill FF have to climb is actually steeper than many (including myself) have suggested if they are to recover their previous position. Indeed I’m not sure how, or if, they can possibly do it. And it could be that they’re going to fare much much worse than suggested here. And given that, so far, there’s no evidence that the Lee controversy has blown FG off course – if anything the opposite (to know them, or more accurately to hear more of them in the news, apparently is to love them that little bit greater – for some).
Wouldn’t it be just a little ironic if George Lee’s parting gift to FG was to ensure that in the response to his departure he solidified rather than weakened Kenny’s leadership and the position of FG as a serious contender for government?
DOCK WORKERS TO RESUME PICKETS February 17, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.1 comment so far
DOCK WORKERS TO RESUME PICKETS
“LABOUR RELATIONS MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED THESE WORKERS “
Workers at Marine Terminals LTD (MTL) will resume pickets on the company from Monday 22nd February .
The decision was taken after the failure of the Irish states industrial relations mechanism to bring about a resolution. With the company blatently refusing to meaningfully engage with the Labour relations commission (LRC) , and ignoring the arbitrators recommendation, we now find that the state institutions have no teeth. The Irish state has failed these workers. They were left with no other option but to resume a strike which should be long ended.
It is worth noting that the workers have been out of their place of employment for 230 days. The strike originally lasted for 111 days, and “ended ” on 20th October. Since that day, not one person has returned to work. More days have now been lost in industrial relations procedures, and in been given the run-around than in strike action!
The Dublin Port Workers Support Group has pledged it’s full support to the strlkers. Members of the support group will today meet to discuss the appropriate tactics we will adopt and agree a timetable for these actions.
The support group was set up by the local communities of East Wall, Ringsend and Irishtown , and launched a campaign involving residents, trade unionists and which had cross party political backing. The support group co-ordinated a number of marches to the MTL terminal , and also targetted companies linked to MTL and Peel Ports. Those targetted included Deutsche Bank , Celtic Football club and the Dunnes stores chain. All options for renewed actions will be considered.
For full background and latest news on the strike, please see the official strike web site.
Caveat emptor… Stephen Collins has some (un)welcome advice for the Green Party February 17, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.37 comments
An amazing piece by Stephen Collins at the weekend in the Irish Times under the heading ‘Only way Greens can survive is to pick their time to go’. On a side issue, maybe it’s me, but I always dislike the ‘Greens’ formulation. Not quite sure why, but there we go.
As to the advice… well, Collins whipped it up on foot of the de Búrca resignation. Or as he puts it:
LAST MONDAY, George Lee’s shock resignation from the Dáil put the spotlight on Enda Kenny’s leadership and threw Fine Gael into turmoil. Four days later, Déirdre de Búrca has done the same for the Green Party and its leader, John Gormley. It’s another illustration of Harold Macmillan’s adage that “events” have a far more important bearing on the fate of political parties and their leaders than anything else.
Let’s ignore, if we can, that now well worn political reference (did Macmillan ever contemplate that it would launch a thousand political articles) and contemplate a number of assertions in that statement. Firstly was it really a ‘shock resignation’? Not to many of us who had been paying attention to mutterings in the political undergrowth. Secondly, did it genuinely throw the GP (and its leader!) into ‘turmoil’? Not so sure about that either. I think this was chronicle of a resignation foretold. And that’s the story that hit the media on Saturday from Mary White amongst others.
But Collins, energised by ‘events’ argues that:
Since Christmas, three events have shaken the Irish political system. The first and the most important, in both a personal and political sense, was the news about Brian Lenihan’s serious illness. Over the past 18 months, Lenihan has imposed himself as the dominant figure in the Irish political system. He stood shoulders above his colleagues in Government as he attempted to sort out the crises in banking and the public finances that threatened to overwhelm the country.
The announcement about Lenihan’s illness in January shocked the political system. When the Dáil resumed a few weeks ago, a perceptible change in the mood since before Christmas was evident, and a lot of the steam seemed to have gone out of party politics. That calmer mood helped promote the notion that the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Coalition was going to survive for the long haul, with an election unlikely for another two years or so.
Uh-huh…
That was the background of the second “event”, when George Lee dropped his bombshell on Monday. The assumption that an election was a long way off probably affected Lee’s decision. This in turn had an impact on the debate over the Fine Gael leadership. Last year, with an election a possibility at any time, Enda Kenny’s leadership was quite safe, in spite of his relatively poor personal rating in the polls. However, as an election receded over the horizon the opposite happened, and the leadership issue was pushed to the fore.
The nature of Lee’s departure served to protect Kenny from an immediate challenge. The mood in Fine Gael this week was that the party was not going to change leaders at Lee’s prompting. But there was intense discussion on whether Kenny could survive as leader if the party was going to be in Opposition for another two years. Some TDs certainly came to the conclusion that the leadership issue was back on the agenda and would have to be sorted out some time this year.
This uneasy state of affairs poses a real danger for Fine Gael. If the future of the leader is going to be up for debate after every opinion poll or major Dáil debate, the party will be in a permanent state of jitters and will certainly not be able to present itself as a coherent alternative government.
Thing is that these ‘events’, these ‘shocks’ so far, if we look at Lenihan’s travails, and those of Kenny as regards Lee, serve merely to glue Fianna Fáil more firmly in place. Sure, the weekend polling shows FG going up, but that’s hardly a surprise, and there’s an increase in the FF vote as well. Everyone happy or no-one happy. You choose. And Collins notes that explicitly when he recognises that the reality that an election was at least two years away played in Lee’s thoughts. That, by the way, is a most interesting dynamic and one I’ll return to in another post… but for what it’s worth my view is that two years is an awful short time in Irish politics, election or none and Lee was far too much the man in a hurry and far too little someone who was thinking seriously (or God knows, rationally) about what actual as distinct from putative contribution he could make to Irish life.
Now, in fairness, there’s an element of truth in Collin’s next thought.
Then, yesterday, Green Party Senator Déirdre de Búrca reversed the dynamic with the second “event” of the week, and put the attention back on the Coalition.
Her scathing comments about party leader John Gormley raised uncomfortable questions for him. The Greens are saying much the same about de Búrca in private as Fine Gael TDs said about Lee – both are loners with egos out of all proportion to their political ability.
But only an element. It’s not the Coalition so much as the junior partner whom the focus has swung back towards. It’s the Green Party. And the focus isn’t that great for one blindingly obvious reason. They’re a small party with a small share of the vote, and whether in government or not most people have not (and I have, I know, to break this gently to some, including the main protagonist) heard much, if anything, about a certain D. de Búrca and of those who have most could not care much. Moreover, and if this sounds like GP special pleading it’s not meant to be, she was an unelected nominee to the Seanad. It’s not as if she’s taking a pile of votes with her (although I’ve heard some elements in Wicklow remain loyal to their erstwhile champion – whether that is reciprocated in any meaningful form is an interesting question). So unless she adds something to pep up the not exactly nuclear level shock of her resignation I fear her moment in the limelight will dissipate sooner rather than later.
And also in fairness Collins recognises that this wasn’t the existential crisis that many assumed would overtake the GP and leave it wracked with woe and remorse for its supposed temerity in going into government – and for the record I’ve never had much of a problem with their entry to coalition given that the numbers did not exist for a left led coalition, it’s subsequent issues which have been problematic.
The Greens TDs and Senators, like their Fine Gael colleagues, rallied around their leader yesterday, but like their counterparts on the Opposition benches they will have to ask themselves some uncomfortable questions about where they see themselves going over the next year or two.
One conclusion is inescapable. If the Greens keep on as they are going, they will almost certainly be wiped out at the next election.
To which one could argue if they do anything else they’ll also almost certainly be wiped out (bar one or two seats where the question remains open). Go to the country tomorrow? Sayonara, a chairde. Hang around for twelve months? Likewise.
But Collins has a great plan…
How to avoid that fate must now be their first priority.
De Búrca was right in at least one aspect of her resignation letter. The Greens have sent a clear message to the political world that they do not have the stomach for the kind of serious confrontation with Fianna Fáil that could sink the Coalition.
By making this so clear, they have forfeited their strongest negotiating card in dealing with their Coalition partners. It will take more than an occasional nod in the direction of the Greens on issues such as animal rights to convince the public that the party is not in fact an extension of Fianna Fáil, as de Búrca says. What her resignation may do is get the party to focus on exit strategy from Coalition, sooner rather than later, following the Coalition’s third birthday in June of this year.
Now, there’s something a little odd about all this. Because, to me such grandstanding seems to be the antithesis of serious politics. Or, to shape it slightly differently, the one single question over Deirdre de Búrca’s public statements is not that she resiled, but that she resiled at what appears to be the end of a long process where there were countless opportunities for her to do so earlier. And as with de Búrca, so it is – ironically – with the Green Party. For Collins proscription makes absolutely no sense. There is no issue which could seriously be used at this point that would measure up to what has already happened in this polity during the term of the Coalition to date. A Taoiseach with serious questions over them, so serious he took early ‘retirement’? Done that…. Budgets that slashed spending? Been there…
Indeed the very things that make most of the left incensed about the GP are the very points that Collins lauds…
The importance of supporting the decisive action taken by Lenihan in dealing with the public finances is highlighted by the current crisis affecting Greece. Just 12 months ago we held the unenviable position, now held by Greece, of the sick man of the EU. Thankfully we clawed ourselves out in time, and for this the Greens deserve their share of the credit.
But no… for Collins the GP, having fulfilled its national role can now… well, read on…
The only way the Greens have to survive as a viable entity is to pick their time of departure and the issue on which to go, well before the end of the Coalition’s five-year term. The party will have to fight the next election against Fianna Fáil, not as an apologist for it.
That will provide no guarantee of survival, but it might give them a fighting chance. The clear message from the past few weeks is that unexpected “events” to come are likely to have a greater impact on politics than even the best laid plans.
Which is essentially no more than the old fighter pilot adage of when the plane is augering in and there’s nothing left to do try something, anything. And if that doesn’t work. Well, damn well try it again. Now, let’s for a moment look at what I touchingly – no doubt – like to call reality, and consider the history of such approaches in this polity.
The truth is that Collins is referencing a foundation myth – or a post-foundation myth – of the Progressive Democrats. At the 1992 election, having been in government with Fianna Fáil for three years, they brought down Albert Reynolds administration due to the Beef Tribunal. For this they were rewarded with an increase of four seats, bringing them from 6 to 10. Notable that at the 1989 GE they had fallen from 14 seats to the 6 [as Logan rightly pointed out in the comments this is incorrect. It fell by 6 seats to 12 - wbs]. Despite some mutterings in 2006/7 they never tried the trick again.
And other parties that withdrew from coalition? Labour in 1987 fell from 16 to 4. When Labour withdrew from the 1992 coalition with Fianna Fáil, barely two years later there was no election, but at the subsequent election in 1997 they fell from their historic high of 33 to 17. Democratic Left who entered that coalition in 1994 with the LP and GP fell from 6 seats to 4 (albeit 2 were won in byelections).
In other words the GP is asked to move forward on the throw of a dice which has only delivered ‘results’ once before in recent Irish political history. That seems mighty risky to me.
I don’t know. Fundamentally I think Collins thoughts are set in an approach to politics where it’s not personality, it’s not policy, it’s just… well, to use his own term… ‘events’. Stuff that happens to fill newsprint. I suspect it would be seen as utterly self-serving by the electorate if the GP were to do. There’s no room for damascene conversions in the last few minutes of Irish electoral politics.
I may dislike much of what the GP has done, but… it is – like it or not – rooted in something like a policy, the main one being that by being in they’re doing more for chosen policies than being out. Now people will consider that’s self-serving, limited and ultimately counterproductive analysis, I’d think that in many areas – as we have seen – the analysis is simply wrong. But at least it’s something approaching an analysis. This though is simply politics as performance. The Green Party has done its ‘duty’ by the nation, or rather the lords of finance… now it must provide some entertainment if, as seems likely it moves to political marginalisation. Now that’s what I call cynical.
Anyone able to shed some light on this? February 16, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.20 comments
This was forwarded to me today…
Dear *******.
The Civil partnership Bill is going through the Dail at the moment.This bill if it is passed will allow Gay couples all the rights of married couples bar the right to call it marriage or the right to adopt children,but this will quickly follow as these rights are sanctioned by other European states and backed up by European law and the charter of fundamental rights which is legally binding in all EU countries after the passing of the Lisbon treaty by Ireland. The meeting in the Dail with Dail Deputies will take place on the 17th of February at 7pm and all who wish to convey their concerns about thiS bill are invited to attend provided that they email me or text me Their name by Monday 15th.February. All who wish to avail of this opportunity to tell their public representative of their concerns should meet on the 17th February at 6.30pm at Buswells Hotel opposite the Dail on Molesworth steet, for a short briefing meeting ,before we proceed into the Dail for the meeting which is being organised by the Green party Minister Mr.Eamon Ryan.Our concerns must be conveyed in a dignified and non-emotive way in order not to allow our concerns about the bill being described by the media as homophobic or intolerant.Our case will be that we have a democratic right to campaign for the protection of marriage and the family as they are understood by moral and natural law and by all the major religions of the world.Those attending should ring their local dail deputies and invite them to attend the meeting. The bill does not provide a conscience clause and those who refuse to register these ceremonies could be fined 2,00o euro and or face six months in prison.
Anyone able to shed any light on the ‘meeting’?
Meanwhile back at the Seanad… Week 4, 2010 February 16, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.5 comments
It doesn’t get more exciting than this. Actually, it does. It really does. But, in our second chamber there was no end of stuff for people to get riled up about last week. George had left. They barely knew him… but before getting to that, what of these interjections?
Senator Joe O’Toole: I note with interest that Greece has been closed down today by the first of a series of public sector strikes. People should keep that in mind when they study the Irish situation. The difference between the trade union movements in Ireland and Greece is that the former conceded immediately, or at least by last December, that the Government would have to save money the hard way and was prepared to find ways of achieving that goal.
Eventually the Government disagreed, as it was entitled to do. However, nature abhors a vacuum. Nothing is happening except that ordinary people are seething with anger. Nobody is driving the process. This should not be allowed to continue because bushfires are breaking out
in various public and private sector workplaces. We need to calm the situation by dealing with it now. The Government parties should be discussing how they can address the issues within their parliamentary party meetings. It is not a question of making concessions; it is about
identifying ways of making progress.
And while we ponder that, wondering precisely what point is he making, what of this, which foreshadows yesterday’s announcement…
Senator Alex White: …
Leaving aside who he or she may be, the introduction of a directly elected mayor of Dublin has the potential to bring about positive and important change to our system in terms of representation and the quality of democracy in the city. I note in this morning’s newspapers that the local government (office of the Dublin mayor and regional authority of Dublin) Bill was apparently discussed in Cabinet yesterday. Can the Leader ascertain whether it is possible to publish the scheme of the Bill now? If we have to await its publication next week or in the coming weeks, it will not be possible to have the quality of debate we need on such a profound change. I strongly support the proposal in principle and I want it to work.
Or a matter of profound national importance…
Senator Terry Leyden: Will the Leader of the House invite the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to the House to discuss the transport situation, in particular the 30 km speed limit debacle in Dublin, which affects us all? On my way to the House yesterday I had
to travel at 30 km with many cars behind me and a clear road in front of me. People have been getting penalty points for infringing the law in that regard. It is a proper mess. I understand the by-law cannot be changed until April of this year because it was only introduced in October
2009. I urge Fine Gael and Labour Party Members to urge their councillors to bring about a change immediately because it is causing chaos on the streets of Dublin. Will the Leader also discuss the matter of taxis with the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey?
Which one being the only reasonable response… but no, there’s no end of Senators ready to demonstrate their lighter side…
Senator Jerry Buttimer: Senator Leyden is in reverse. (Interruptions).
An Cathaoirleach: No interruptions please.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: Senator Leyden should go into neutral. Was he caught himself?
An Cathaoirleach: No interruptions please. Questions to the Leader without interruption.
Senator Terry Leyden: Ms Kathleen Doyle is the taxi regulator. There are approximately 14,000 taxis on the streets of Dublin. A total of 45 taxis were parked at Heuston Station yesterday morning at 11 a.m. I had to use a taxi recently to go to Herberton, Rialto. The driver was not from Ireland. He charged me €18.50 for a trip that was worth——
An Cathaoirleach: Where he was from is not relevant.
Senator Terry Leyden: He had no idea where we were going. He had to get out twice to find out where he was. I had to ring someone to find out where I was going. He charged me €18.50 for a trip that was worth €10.50. I asked him where he was from.
Senator Mary M. White: Where was he from?
Senator Terry Leyden: He told me he was from the Punjab.
An Cathaoirleach: Point made.
Senator Terry Leyden: It is a strange situation. There are 14,000 taxis in Dublin.
An Cathaoirleach: The matter is not relevant to the Order of Business. We have no control over taxis.
Senator Terry Leyden: There are approximately 21,000 taxis in London.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: Senator Leyden could be driving a taxi himself after the next election.
Senator Terry Leyden: There is a need to review the situation. The Minister should come to the House to explain the disasters of the 30 km speed limit in Dublin city centre and the taxi situation. He should explain the standards required to be met in order for a person to get
a licence.
An Cathaoirleach: That is a matter for Dublin City Council.
Senator Terry Leyden: I am afraid it is not doing a great job. The Minister has overall responsibility.
Senator Frances Fitzgerald: Senator Leyden should go to Deputy Harney. The Progressive Democrats played a strong role in the taxi industry.
An Cathaoirleach: The council introduced the system and it is up to it to change it. I call Senator Harris.
Senator Terry Leyden: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his views. It is great to hear him expressing them in this regard.
An Cathaoirleach: I will
But let us return to George Lee…
…
Senator Frances Fitzgerald: Although a great deal of media attention is undoubtedly currently focused on the resignation of Mr. George Lee from politics, I agree with our party leader in his comment that the real challenges facing us involve helping those people who are struggling to pay mortgages, getting credit flowing to the businesses in need of it and dealing with ever-growing unemployment…
Senator Joe O’Toole: As with Senator Fitzgerald, I will not raise the obvious issue either except to note it was a very expensive way to lose 15 stone from the weight of the parliamentary party for “Operation Transformation”. We must look at one issue very carefully. I hesitate to disagree with Senator Fitzgerald, but it is not true to say the Government came in here and
said credit would flow after NAMA.
…
Senator Alex White: This is an opportunity for us to ask questions of the Leader——
Senator Terry Leyden: Where is my seat?
Senator Alex White: You will not be surprised to hear that there are many questions on my
mind today after the events of the last 24 hours. I am sure there are questions on the minds of
colleagues in front of me.
(Interruptions).
Senator Eoghan Harris: He cannot stop smiling.
Senator Alex White: I am tempted to ask the Leader when he thinks there might be a byelection held in the other House to fill the seat that was so quickly vacated in the last 24 hours in Dublin South. However, I should pass on that as it is a matter for the other House.
Senator Terry Leyden: Not another ex-RTE man.
Senator Alex White: I may be ex-RTE, but I have passed the eight month test in politics.
…
Senator Terry Leyden: On 9 May 2009 I stated:
I am asking the Leader if he can invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to come to this House to draw up protocols and procedures for those in senior positions in RTE whose salaries are paid for by taxpayers’ money. I pay my licence fee, but I am not doing so for George Lee to contest the by-election in Dublin South.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: That is a Second Stage speech. Does Senator Leyden have a question?
Senator Terry Leyden: I want a health warning attached to those in RTE. George Lee is on €150,000. When I was elected to the House, I could not go back to my practice. George Lee can go back to RTE. That is the deal. I do not like hypocrisy.
An Cathaoirleach: Questions to the Leader, please.
Senator Terry Leyden: I ask the Minister to come to the House to draw up protocols to prevent Joe Duffy, Marian Finucane, Charlie Bird or Miriam O’Callaghan from running for the Dáil on the basis of their high profiles on television. A television licence costs €160. The amount raised comes to €195 million a year. I hope Senator Alex White has taken leave of absence from RTE because he will be a candidate.
Senator Alex White: That is outrageous. On a point of information, it is 16 years since I was an employee of RTE.
An Cathaoirleach: This has nothing to do with the Order of Business.
Senator Terry Leyden: The Minister has responsibility in this area.
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator should ask a question of the Leader and he will reply.
Senator Terry Leyden: I am also nominating Deputy Olivia Mitchell for an Oscar because Meryl Streep has withdrawn.
An Cathaoirleach: We are not nominating anyone for an Oscar. That is totally wrong — nominating anyone for an Oscar.
Senator Terry Leyden: I am asking the Minister to come to the House. I said this on 9 May 2009 and the Cathaoirleach did not object.
An Cathaoirleach: I do not know why I did not object.
Senator Terry Leyden: I made the same statement in 2009.
Senator Maurice Cummins: What answer did the Senator get in 2009?
An Cathaoirleach: I hope this Parliament is serious; serious questions should be put to the Leader.
Senator Terry Leyden: Of course, it is serious. It is very serious when politics is hijacked by a high profile RTE employee.
An Cathaoirleach: The Beano and The Dandy are back again; let others follow that.
Senator Liam Twomey: I do not know how to follow those comments. I wish George Lee well in the future. His contribution to politics was brief but it illustrated the hard work done by politicians and the lonely existence many of us experience in politics. That should highlight
how difficult a life in politics can be. It is no easy ticket for anyone who gets involved. We should have a good discussion about this issue and perhaps we might receive publicity for the hard work we do.
…
Senator Geraldine Feeney: Senator Fitzgerald is right to say there are more important stories than the George Lee story. I ask the Leader to organise a debate on mental health services. I have asked for such a debate on several occasions. The George Lee story was captured by the
media all day yesterday. Perhaps one eighth of that time could have been devoted to mental health issues such as obesity, eating disorders and, in particular, the stigma attached to mental illness.
…
Senator Ivana Bacik: Some of my colleagues commented on George Lee’s resignation from the other House. It will be a shame if his decision results in an increase in cynicism about politics. It is a shame he did not give politics longer than eight months. If a week is a long time in politics, eight months is a short time in which to make an impact. The question that must be asked is why he chose this course of action at this time.
…
Senator Ann Ormonde: The resignation yesterday of George Lee made me think about what is the essence and definition of a politician. Do we require letters after our names? This seems to be the projection as a result of this. George Lee felt he was so highly qualified that his talent was not used, and he used the word “talent”.
An Cathaoirleach: Questions to the Leader.
Senator Ann Ormonde: What about those very fine politicians who do not have letters after their names? Do they not have talent? The Seanad could debate the politician’s role in making a contribution, no matter what it is, in either House of the Oireachtas. We should discuss people’s personalities as well as their having or not having qualifications. Everyone elected to these Houses is very well qualified to take on any issue because, God knows, fighting to get elected to these Houses is the best qualification one could have. This proves the point again that catapulting does not work. Everyone should serve their apprenticeship and those who do are the best politicians. All of these points could be brought into a broad debate on this issue.
I also wish to raise the issue of private cosmetic clinics which have mushroomed throughout Ireland. Recently, complaints have been made about questionable practices in many of these clinics. There is a total lack of regulation and proposals to regulate these clinics.
Senator Rónán Mullen: Hear, hear. It is a load of botox.
Hmmm…
Cue a man who knows a fair bit about both the Oireachtas and RTÉ… and for once… yes, verily, he makes some of sense…
Senator Eoghan Harris: Two debates are going ahead today, one on NAMA, while the other is an attempt, not to discuss the George Lee issue, to discuss the serious issues that arise in regard to politics and political life. On a personal level, the George Lee issue is the equivalent of that of the mayfly. It is like a butterfly in the sun but there are deeper issues. I call on the Leader to find a way to extend the deliberations on the Constitution to examine the issues that arise in political life. What has been really worrying in recent days is how the discourse on the George Lee issue has become a general rejection of the notion that there should be no apprenticeship in politics. That is only one point in a bigger debate on political life. There is a cadet grade in some branches of life, namely, the police and the Army. Even in the Army one puts in two years hard training under NCOs. It is important to say this today. I have heard a great deal in the media about how Fine Gael muzzled and stifled George Lee and how the political parties all muzzle and stifle the lost leaders, the geniuses and those who would dazzle us if they were allowed to do so, but the truth is that the apprenticeship served in politics is important preparation in terms of character.
Senator Joe O’Toole: Hear, hear.
Senator Eoghan Harris: Listening to cranky people or those who are annoying or boring is a test of character.
Senator Paul Coghlan: There are a few of those around.
Senator Eoghan Harris: It teaches people how to deal with the public. Politics is about the rule of states and peoples. It starts with people. It is not an abstract issue. I accept there is a delusion among college students and certain of the younger sections of the political correspondents, not the old guard, that all one has to do is assemble people with first class honours degrees, involve them in politics and the country will be a land flowing with milk and honey. That is not how the real world works.
Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator Terry Leyden: Words of wisdom.
Hmmm, once more. Is he being treated with the respect his thoughts so readily deserve?
It is the Seanad. One fears not.
Mind you, his contribution the following day left perhaps a certain something to be desired…
Senator Eoghan Harris: I wish to return indirectly again to the question of political life. I was perturbed last night to hear two political commentators say that the Lee issue illustrated the gap between the insiders in politics and the rest of the country on the outside. That is a very pernicious doctrine. I seek a proper debate in the House on political life.
Following on what Senator Fitzgerald said, I remember doing a programme on mental health 30 years ago and the switchboard in RTE was blocked for three days because it was the first time the issue of mental health was raised in respect of Johnny McEvoy. Nothing changed for the better until politicians got to work. Ken Loach has admitted that the film “Cathy Come Home” did not get a house built in Britain. Publicity does not get things done until the political process goes to work. Someone has to mediate between the majority who would grab it all and the minorities whom Senator Fitzgerald spoke about, namely, the mentally ill, the Halifax workers, people with mortgage problems and the marginalised. That could be one of the great functions of the Seanad. Let us keep the pity for real pitiful cases.
Senator Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.
Senator Eoghan Harris: The Halifax workers cannot walk out of their offices today back into State employment in the ESB, as a certain celebrity candidate could walk out of the free market situation — after all politicians are subject to the free market — and back into a safe, secure and pensionable job in RTE. No Halifax worker can do that, unless they can walk back into the ESB.
I speak as someone who is an appointed Senator. I worked in RTE and I was appointed to the Seanad so I did not have to submit myself to election, nor would I.
Senator Nicky McFadden: Hear, hear.
Senator Eoghan Harris: I could not take the gruelling nature of a Dáil election nor far more seriously a Seanad election. Given the short, cushy hours they work, George Lee and people like him have no understanding of the business of politics. I am better placed than anyone to see how hard politicians work.
Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney: Senator Harris is such an eloquent speaker and I agree with all he said [really - even the 'far more seriously a Seanad election' quip? wbs].
An Cathaoirleach: Senator Keaveney should speak on the Order of Business.
And the day after he was still at it…
Senator Eoghan Harris: I dissent from the sentiments expressed by Senators O’Toole, Ó Murchú, Coghlan and Buttimer regarding the public sector. If politicians are to earn their money, they must mediate among the differing needs of society. The public sector went out of control during the boom years. Any correction is bound to be bloody and difficult. It is easy to implement social partnership in boom times but it failed the first test in the recession and it fell apart. Before we can talk, the reality check has to go in hard. There is still a huge gap between the public and private sectors. Ask the Halifax workers whether they can walk back into a permanent and pensionable job like a certain prima donna who allegedly left to try the free market of politics. They have no such safety nets [you know, this is an absolutely nonsensical argument if you stop to think about it for a moment, not just in reality, but in the context of the philosophy he espouses. The point about commercial activity in a mixed economy is that it is free to succeed or free to fail. This is what EH champions. The further point is that the safety net exists beyond the jobs themselves through welfare etc. The last point is that every worker in Halifax or whatever commercial enterprise had a choice to take up employment in public or private sectors. They chose the latter rather than the former. The safety nets still exist. Just it's a different form of net - wbs]. Everybody knows that is the dialectic or rhythm of life.
Edmund Burke noted that anybody who gets an emolument from the public purse will not give it up voluntarily. Public sector workers received emoluments from the public purse and the gap still stands at between 26% and 30% [this too is nonsense - wbs]. Before we speak to them, we have to know they understand there will be no return to the gravy train. They must do a hard day’s work for their pay like everybody else. Members of the Oireachtas have now accepted the need to give value for money but the public sector is not giving value for money in many areas. Many public servants would welcome a reformed system which rewarded those who do a hard day’s work on the basis of merit and fired time servers if necessary. The Government should not sit down with the public sector until the unions assure it that reform will be on the agenda. Furthermore, I deplore the decision of the Minister for Finance to allow 600 of them off the hook. That sort of sweetheart deal ties the hands of those of us who have rightly criticised the gravy train over the years. It was a mistake by the Government and it should be rectified.
Let us leave the last word to Senator Donie Cassidy…
Senator Michael McCarthy: During the past 24 hours, much has been stated about the profession of politics. From my perspective, it is a fine, honourable profession. It was a man with Tipperary connections and who occupied the White House in the 1980s who stated that politics was the second oldest profession in the world and bore a strong resemblance to the oldest profession. That to one side——
Senator Paddy Burke: He was an actor.
Senator Michael McCarthy: That comment from someone who was on Broadway.
Senator Camillus Glynn: Very colourful.
Senator Michael McCarthy: I want to pay tribute to the strong, firm and unambiguous defence of the political system and the body politic on last night’s RTE “The Frontline” programme by Noel Whelan. It was outstanding.
Senator Nicky McFadden: Excellent.
Senator Michael McCarthy: He has always written and commentated on politics in a fair and balanced manner. We must be careful not to allow ourselves to be sucked in by some elements of the media who——
An Cathaoirleach: Point made.
Senator Michael McCarthy: ——wish to debase politics and its practitioners.
Senators: Hear, hear.
An Cathaoirleach: I do not want names. He is a private individual.
Senator Donie Cassidy: Senators Fitzgerald, O’Toole, Alex White, Twomey, O’Sullivan, Hanafin, Feeney, Bacik, Regan, Ormonde, Quinn, Harris, Healy Eames, Corrigan, Buttimer and McCarthy were concerned by the events of the past 24 hours. As Leader of the House, I wish George Lee, his wife and their family every success for the future. He tried, did not like it and left.
So there then!
Mind you, God knows what they’ll be saying about their former colleague, Deirdre de Búrca this week…
More elections that you can shake a stick at… coming… well, not so soon as it happens. February 16, 2010
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.3 comments
What a busy little agenda Mary Hanafin has presented us with as regards byelections later, much later, to judge from her phrase ‘the back end of the year’, in 2010.
A number of thoughts strike me about that. This government values stability – what government doesn’t – but, after the events of its first two years the premium placed upon it is much much higher than usual. So anything that would rock the boat is being long-fingered, and this, I think, accounts for some of their more cloth-eared behaviour as regards decision making. Much of it simply comes down to a bunker mentality where the response to each new problem, or more often the reappearance of an old one, is something along the lines of ‘ah feck, what now?’.
So byelections, particularly byelections they’re not exactly in poll position in to begin with, are to be avoided at all costs if that can feasibly be done. And it can. Because they’re the government.
But there’s something different about these byelections. Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty is putting enormous effort on the ground in Donegal to growing his already well known ‘brand’, as the phrase has it. Whether that works or not is an interesting question. If I were he and SF I’d be looking at the next but one election he contests for the seat. That’s when the hard work is most likely to pay off. That said these are volatile times and he might just find himself arriving ahead of schedule (or is that behind schedule, given the disappointments of 2007?).
Meanwhile Dublin South. Now two weeks ago the notion that Fianna Fáil would find any comfort, any hint of solace, in that part of the world would have been dismissed out of hand. But times have changed remarkably quickly. I also hear that the troops are fired up, not necessarily at the prospect of winning, but simply being back in the game. This isn’t last year where it was hugely evident that there was no hope at all for the hapless scion of the Brennan family. And being in the game is half the battle. Every news report that touches on FF increasing their vote share, improving confidence and so on is a small brick in rebuilding their self-confidence and aura.
So FF will be entirely happy to allow their forces to regroup and if it is the end of the year, so be it.
Meanwhile not exactly great news for the GP since Ms. Hanifin was very clear that the election for Dublin Mayor is being held back. This brings to mind the old joke, I think from the New Yorker, which shows a businessman making an appointment for a meeting and asking into the phone ‘Never? How does never suit you?’.
Now, I’m fairly sure the Mayor will arrive, no doubt trailing clouds of glory. Eventually.
But Hanifin was pretty blunt in her statement…
She said “the legislation for the mayor of Dublin won’t be ready until then [June] and certainly no agreement on a constitutional referendum would be until then either.”
“We would anticipate with the election for the lord mayor of Dublin, the two byelections, in Donegal and Dublin South and possibly also at least one constitutional referendum.”
She added that “We have also promised in the programme for Government that there would be a constitutional referendum on a court of civil appeal. So all of those should probably take place, if they are to take place, around the same time and that certainly won’t be until the back end of the year.”
Christ almighty. With these elections you flatter us, Minister Or not. Most likely not.
Although, ‘if they are to take place’? What an interesting phrase that is to use.
