National Newspapers of Ireland Awards October 22, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Culture, Irish Politics.9 comments
Apparently this is the first year such awards are being held. Interesting who is in and who isn’t.
I know it will surprise some of you to find that Eoghan Harris has been overlooked in the Columnist/Commentator of the Year section… the nominations going instead to…
NNI Columnist/Commentator of the Year: Martina Devlin, Irish Independent ; Paul Drury, Irish Daily Mail; Paul Howard, The Irish Times; Declan Lynch, Sunday Independent.
But some familiar names for those of us on the CLR in the following:
NNI National Journalist of the Year : Noel Baker, Irish Examiner ; Simon Carswell, The Irish Times; Irish Independent Wikileaks team; Michael O’Farrell, Irish Mail on Sunday ; Jason O’Toole, Irish Daily Mail ; Mary Raftery, The Irish Times.
And…
NNI Business and Economics Journalist of the Year: Kathleen Barrington, Sunday Business Post ; Richard Curran, Sunday Business Post; Tom Lyons and Brian Carey, Sunday Times ; Dan White, Evening Herald.
And as regards Politics:
NNI Political Journalist of the Year : Niamh Connolly, Sunday Business Post ; Shaun Connolly, Irish Examiner ; Miriam Lord, The Irish Times ; Anne Marie Walsh, Irish Independent.
This Weekend I’ll Mostly Be Listening to… The Chameleons October 22, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Culture, This Weekend I'll Mostly Be Listening to....7 comments
The other day something a bit unusual happened. There I was whiling away an odd quiet hour on YouTube thinking I’d check out mid-1980s post punk/new wave stalwarts, the Chameleons. And suddenly there was a song I’d never heard before, Is It Any Wonder? And it was pretty damn good. And then there was another, entitled Sally. Now, I’ve always loved the Chameleons, and even purchased long long ago on vinyl a rarities disc of theirs called The Fan & The Bellows, but none of these songs appeared on it. A bit of googling and it transpires that Is it Any Wonder came from an EP they released [then almost immediately deleted] just after they broke up in 1987 and Sally came from a series of early tracks released practically beneath the radar. And I guess I’m not quite completist enough to have bothered checking their back catalogue that forensically. And that’s the thing about that period. If one didn’t manage to get hold of those limited releases that was it, they were gone and once gone gone for – nearly – good. It’s only in the past decade or so that they’ve begun to reappear online in various forms, often where music corporations see an opening for flogging a back catalogue, sometimes where fans want to put music that no corporation will bother re-releasing back into the public domain.
The thing with the Chameleons was that they were sort of the new wave band that got away, never making it anywhere near as big as they should have given both the audience and critical reception to their first three albums. Spoken about in the same breath as early Smiths, and with understandable, if inaccurate, comparisons made with U2’s chiming guitar sound and the emotiveness of their vocals, they should have been the group to lift above Echo and the Bunnymen and others in the popular consciousness.
It never happened, in large part because they disintegrated messily and it would seem some rancour in the wake of the death of their manager, the aforementioned Tony Fletcher. Mark Burgess, their singer, went onto a fairly prolific solo career – as noted here. And indeed is still working with a range of projects including the excellently named Black Swan Lane as well as ChameleonVox, which is essentially him and Chameleons drummer John Lever playing Chameleons material. Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding who were responsible for the guitar sound had a lower profile as the interesting, but never very successful, Reegs [who once tried in addition to Chameleons tinged guitar music, perhaps unwisely - perhaps not, providing dance backing to a John Cooper-Clarke like Mancunian poet].
But they were an odd band in some ways. For all the delicacy of guitar work and keyboard fills it often struck me that they were, of all the new wave outfits during the period, the most traditionally rock like. The guitars were loud, the dynamics in parts unrelenting and the vocals unashamedly Mancunian, hugely emotive and in parts shouty – all to the good. And for all the modish, and in truth innovative, echoing guitars they were clearly influenced by prog rock [a strand of their influences that would be most evident on their last album released in 2000.
This impression wasn’t dispelled by the carefully rendered pencil drawings which accompanied the albums. Surrealist imagery, beautifully done, but their hand-drawn styling speaking, as did the lyrics and music, of a labour of love and curiously 1970s influences.
I’d even argue there was something a bit blokey about them. Perhaps, as with Singing Rule Britannia (While the Walls Close In) that was a function of a certain melodrama. But then again… they also had a more nuanced side that rested in no small part on lyrically and musically nostalgic evocations of childhood. Yet all that said they still fitted neatly into a post-punk lineage containing, most obviously, Joy Division, Comsat Angels, The Sound [Adrian Borland and Mark Burgess later collaborated together in Borland's White Rose Transmission outfit] and, at a stretch, The Church. They were political albeit in a lower case ‘p’ sort of a way. More a cynicism about politics and ideology than a programmatic approach, although that said they had a clear lyrical antipathy towards the Tories.
Each of their three 1980s albums has strengths and weaknesses. Script of the Bridge is perhaps the best loved, and in some ways rightly so, though there was a point where I’ll bet most of us who heard it had overplayed it. Their last album Strange Times squirreled away near hits like the still remarkable Swamp Thing with its ubiquitous introductory guitar and Tears and demonstrated their mastery of the form. But I tend to think that the sequence of songs on their sophomore effort What Does Anything Mean? Basically contains their best sequence of tracks, like On The Beach or Looking Inwardly while also having some of their most reflective slower numbers like Home Is Where the Heart Is. And in a way I like the political thrust of the album, though that was true of all their work, and in particular it’s downbeat approach ‘Working class heroes mean nothing to me, I’m a working class zero, chained to the tree of life’. But to pick one album above the others is pointless.
I never saw them live, I’m not sure they ever visited Ireland. And that’s a pity, because even the underproduced and stripped down body of songs on that EP from 1987 I mentioned earlier, entitled Tony Fletcher Walked on Water La La La La La-La La-La-La are testament to their inability to write a bad track. It makes the absence of a fourth album in that decade all the more poignant because it is so clear just how strong it would have been. I suspect had I heard it twenty four years ago I’d have found it even more fantastic again. The Healer, a mid-paced but melodic number would have sat comfortably on their third album. Free for All and Denim and Curls move along at a speedier pace while Is It Any Wonder has a jaunty feel to it – and starts with a characteristic Chameleons sample of a child counting – that is odd when set against the lyrical contents. And if there are melodic – and lyrical – references to earlier songs, then that seems more appropriate than lazy since their music was always self-referential.
Their influence is unquestionable. Listen to Interpol, or I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness or any of a host of other shoegaze/post punk/new wave influenced bands and you can hear their sound. But they did it first and they did it, mostly, best.
Is it Any Wonder [Tony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La-La La-La-La]
The Healer [Tony Fletcher Walked on Water....La La La La La-La La-La-La]
Swamp Thing 7” Version [Strange Times - 1987]
75th Anniversary of the formation of the International Brigades Exhibition and Launch of the IBCC Songbook October 21, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.3 comments
75th Anniversary of the formation of the International Brigades
Exhibition and Launch of the IBCC Songbook
In Sandino’s Bar, Derry
On Sunday 6th November 2011 @ 3.30pm onwards:
Speakers
Manus O’ Riordan – - Ireland and The Spanish Civil War
(Activist in the Int Brigades Memorial Trust)
John Black, (chair of the North West SCW Project/No Pasaran) – – on the North West Brigadistas
Songs and music by
Manus O’ Riordan, Eileen Webster, Joe Mulheron and others.
Organised by the International Brigades Commemoration Committee with the North West SCW Project.
KKE Press Statement on Murderous Violence against PAME October 21, 2011
Posted by Garibaldy in Communism, Greece.82 comments
The KKE sent this statement to fraternal parties earlier today. I’m posting it as an expression of solidarity with the family and comrades of the PAME activist Dimitris Kotzaridis, and expression of support for the modes of resistance against the austerity measures adopted by PAME and the KKE, and their refusal to be sidetracked by the actions of others that serve only to strengthen the hand of the state against the working class and against the resistance to the troika.
Statement of the Press Office Concerning the Organized Murderous Assault Against PAME’s Rally in Syntagma and the Death of the Trade Unionist of PAME Dimitris Kotzaridis
Photos from the general strike
On this occasion organized groups with specific orders and anarcho-fascists unleashed an attack with Molotov cocktails, teargas, stun grenades and stones, in attempt to disperse the majestic rally of workers and people in Syntagma Square and especially in the area where PAME was concentrated. A result of this attack is the death of the trade unionist of PAME, Dimitris Kotzaridis, 53 years old, secretary of the Viron branch of the Construction Workers’ Union. Dozens more PAME demonstrators were injured.
The hatred of the hooded ones against the labour and popular movement and PAME expresses the fury of the forces which serve the system and bourgeois power. The government has massive responsibilities for this. The operation to intimidate, slander and suppress the labour and people’s movement is rooted in state structures, centres and services. History demonstrates this, today’s barbaric and murderous assault also proves this. The hooded ones, anarcho-autonomists, fascists or whatever they call themselves tried to achieve what the forces of repression, the blackmail and threats failed to do: to intimidate the people so that they submit. It objectively arises that the very same centres executed the provocateur murderous burning down of Marfin the day the Memorandum was voted on, 5 May 2010.
Their goal to disperse the rally of PAME failed. Likewise, the plans of the government, the mechanisms of the system, the parties of the plutocracy which seek to intimidate and suppress the torrent of the people’s counterattack which came onto the streets with the 48-hour strike must also fail.
The KKE expresses its sorrow and its condolences to the family of Dimitris Kotzaridis who fell in the struggle for the just cause of the working class and the people. It expresses its solidarity with the injured demonstrators, with all those who defended the workers’ and people’s demonstration from the provocateur groups. It calls on the people to stand up decisively; to struggle together with the KKE, to rally in the trade unions, in PAME and the other radical organizations which fight against the anti-people policies, the power of the monopolies. This is the opposition force to the parties of plutocracy, the EU and the IMF. This is the strength of the people in order to repel the barbaric measures, the violence and the intimidation of all the repressive mechanisms. The people can overthrow the anti-people policies and power.
ATHENS 20/10/2011
PRESS OFFICE OF THE CC OF THE KKE
This Week At The Irish Election Literature Blog October 21, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Election Literature Blog.5 comments
The above comes from 1938 and was a reaction to the founding of the Raithcairn Gaeltacht in Meath. One commenter put it as “The reference to “migrants” refers to the breakup of large estates owned by absentee landlords in Meath and the allocation of this land to people from Gaeltacht speaking areas in Galway and Mayo in Gibbstown and Rathcairn”
From 1933 some Fianna Fail promises on Land Annuities
From Fianna Fail in 1969 and hidden in the middle we get “Labour wants to disgrace us in the eyes of the world by opening an embassy in Cuba a Communist Dictatorship in Latin America”
A Fine Gael leaflet for the forthcoming Referenda on Judges Pay and Oireachtas inquiries
I got this leaflet as Dana canvassed beside the Occupy Dame Street Camp!
The Irish Anarchist History archive October 21, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.add a comment
This just in.
The Irish Anarchist History archive goes online on Friday, October 21st. at http://irishanarchisthistory.wordpress.com. This site will be updated at least once every two weeks with new material added.
Our aim is to build an online archive of magazines, pamphlets, papers and books from and about anarchist organisations in Ireland, from their early beginnings in the 1880s through to today. If we don’t record our own history, who will?
We have lots of material to scan and post, including complete and almost complete runs of Workers Solidarity, Red & Black Revolution, Irish Anarchist Review, Anarchist News, Outta Control, RAG, Black Star, Antrim Alternative, Ainriail (both the Belfast and Frontline Collective versions), Black Rag, Anarcho-Communist, Resistance (all three versions), Organise!, Solidarity Bulletin, No Masters, Working Class Resistance. Also pamphlets, leaflets, stickers and more.
That’s great to see, though worth noting that the Left Archive has attempted to cover much of this ground with examples of Ainriail in both variants amongst other Irish anarchist documents included in its collection. But the anarchist history archive is already content rich with a range of fascinating documents from a Black Rag from 1978 that includes a perceptive review of a Boomtown Rats gig to a WSM leaflet for the 2002 election and some newspaper clippings regarding the attendance of Belfast based anarchists at a conference in Leeds in 1912. Great stuff and crucial weekly reading…
Speaking of polling – congratulations to Quantum Research… October 20, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.3 comments
Let us stop for a moment to recognise the… er… quantum leap Quantum Research, a polling ‘organisation’ beloved of the CLR, has taken.
As some of you will know who is it that the Sunday Independent call upon first when a poll is needed? Why Quantum. And sure, this body appears to have no existence outside of the Sunday Independent and reasonably enough see no necessity to be a member of industry bodies like other polling organisations.
But it is now part of the news itself – validating, as it were, the emerging narrative… Consider the following:
Elsewhere, a Sunday Independent /Quantum Research poll carried on Sunday shows Mr Higgins continuing to lead the field with 36 per cent support. He is followed by Mr Gallagher on 29 per cent and Mr McGuinness on 13 per cent. David Norris is on 10 per cent while Fine Gael’s candidate Gay Mitchell is on 6 per cent.
Independent candidates Mary Davis and Dana Rosemary Scallon have 4 per cent and 2 per cent support respectively.
And here are the figures in the Red C/Sunday Business Post poll which showed:
Mr Gallagher leading for the first time. The poll shows support for the independent candidate rising 18 points to 39 per cent, 12 points ahead of Mr Higgins, who rose two points to 27 per cent.
Support for the remaining candidates has fallen away with all losing support, the poll shows. Martin McGuinness is down 3 per cent to 13 per cent while former favourite David Norris sees his support fall again to 7 per cent. Support for Mary Davis has slipped to 4 per cent while Dana Rosemary Scallon has just 2 per cent support.
Fancy that!
Five scenes from the Seanad October 20, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.9 comments
Five scenes from the Seanad…
1: A big thank-you to the Government!
Senator Jim D’Arcy:   Does the Leader agree that it is time to end the blather and congratulate the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government on the great work it is doing to restore our reputation? We are now the poster boy of Europe for recovery.
Senator Darragh O’Brien:   The Government has not yet brought in a budget. It has done nothing yet.
An Cathaoirleach:   Is Senator D’Arcy looking for a debate on the issue?
Senator Jim D’Arcy:   The point I am making is that when we talk about rationalisation, all I hear is talk about jobs and money. The objective is to provide services, not jobs. We must move with the times and try to provide a sustainable economy and not try to fool the people with talk about decentralisation, etc. We are trying to provide robust leadership. It ill-behoves anybody——
An Cathaoirleach:   Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Senator Jim D’Arcy:   ——to talk about jobs for this one and that one rather than rationalising and putting in place a proper structure.
2: Questions and answers…
Senator Tom Sheahan:   I bring to the attention of the House an article written by Mr. Bill Hobbs in last Monday’s Irish Examiner which stated it was inappropriate for politicians to comment on or question the Financial Regulator regarding his dealings with credit unions. Mr. Hobbs describes himself as a former ACC Bank official, banking commentator—–
An Cathaoirleach:   The Senator should not name people who are not here to defend themselves.
Senator Tom Sheahan:   —– and financial adviser.
 11 o’clock
However, the gentleman failed to add to his CV that he was a former chief executive officer of—–
An Cathaoirleach:   We are not discussing any individual who cannot defend himself in this House.
Senator Tom Sheahan:   That is fine. I am coming to my point. He failed to inform that he was a former CEO of the credit union development agency himself.
An Cathaoirleach:   I have ruled on this matter.
Senator Tom Sheahan:   This is about freedom of speech, and he is stating that it is inappropriate for politicians to question the regulator—–
An Cathaoirleach:   He does not have the privilege of the House to refute anything that might be said.
Senator Tom Sheahan:   Then I would suggest that the Leader either contacts the Press Council of Ireland about this man’s article, in which he states what politicians should and should not comment on, when he himself had a vested interest. It brings to mind the image of having a chip on one’s shoulder. He has a six inch block on his shoulder.
An Cathaoirleach:   I have ruled on this already. I call Senator O’Donovan.
3: Freedom of speech
Senator David Cullinane:   I join Senator Bacik in commending the Carers Association, which is giving a number of briefings to Deputies and Senators today, on its pre-budget submission. It hopes it will get the support it seeks in the upcoming budget. We had a very useful discussion with the association which represents tens of thousands of people who care for others.
I praise the Leader of the House in respect of changes which have been made in recent weeks regarding Ministers coming into the Chamber. On six occasions we have had Ministers in for statements followed by a question and answer session, which is a very welcome departure from the old way of simply having statements without any further interaction. I qualify that by saying that on the first four occasions, a Sinn Féin Member was given an opportunity to make statements, but on the last two occasions when the Minister for Finance and the Minister of State with responsibility for science and innovation came into the House a Sinn Féin Member was not given an opportunity. We were told by the Acting Chairman at the time that we would have one minute to address the Minister for Finance and one minute to address the Minister of State with responsibility for science and innovation.
It is not unreasonable for our party to refuse to accept one minute in a two and a half hour debate. It is important to recognise that we have three Senators in this House. This is not about Standing Orders because I have outlined the precedent that on four occasions we were given the opportunity. Why were we given the time to make statements on the first four occasions and not given that time on the last two occasions? I formally request and we can put this in writing, that a representative of the Sinn Féin Party meet the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, CPP, to discuss these issues. We do not want to have to continue to raise these issues on the Order of Business. We would like them resolved. The Leader of the House and other Senators have said they want all debates and discussions in the House to be inclusive and that all opinions and ideas are valued. In that context it is important that our voices are heard. I hope the Leader of the House will facilitate a Member of my party addressing the CPP. I ask the Leader to respond and put on the record why on the last two occasions we were not given an opportunity to make statements.
…
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Seanadóir Bacik a bhí ag caint faoi na cúramóirí ar maidin. Bhí cur i láthair iontach maith acu. Ba mhaith liom iarrraidh uirthi, ins an ról atá aici, labhairt leis an Aire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, an Teachta Pat Rabbitte, maidir leis an ESB agus na haonaid leictreachais atá caillte ag na cúramóirí le déanaíón chomhlacht sin. I commend Senator Bacik and the Carers Association for their fantastic presentation this morning. I ask the Senator to intervene with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the question the carers raised about the loss of electricity units. How come these have been lost? They should be reinstated.
Very much pressing this morning is the European scenario. When the first and second Lisbon treaties were being peddled by all the major parties in the State, we were told about a Europe of equals. Is it a Europe of equals as long as we are equal to France and Germany? That would appear to be the case. President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel met over the weekend to come to some kind of arrangement. Where is the Europe of equals? Are we not supposed to have all member states sitting around the table making decisions, or do we leave it to France and Germany, which tell us afterwards what is happening? President Barroso is announcing a new policy initiative today in Brussels and is to come tomorrow to the Taoiseach to tell him what is to happen. Is that the Europe of equals we were promised?
Government representatives seem to be at sixes and sevens on this issue. The Germans have suggested that there needs to be a third Lisbon treaty, whereas the Taoiseach’s stated aim is that we should regain sovereignty. He said we do not need a treaty. The Minister of State responsible for European affairs, Deputy Creighton, said she would consider a treaty whereas the Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, told us we would not need a treaty and that whatever changes would be required under Lisbon 3 would be brought in surreptitiously through some sort of legislation.
Senator Ivana Bacik:   Not surreptitiously. Legislation is passed—–
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   The question is—–
An Cathaoirleach:   Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   It is a question of where the people stand on this. We need a debate on these issues. Where is the coherent Government policy on what is happening in Europe? Is there to be a third Lisbon treaty? Is one being proposed? Where does the Government stand on the question of trying to regain our economic sovereignty from the European Union? Are we always to be at the beck and call of France and Germany, or are we to stand up for our national interests, as the Slovakians seem to have done last night? We call for a debate on these issues because they are really the pertinent issues of the day.
Senator Diarmuid Wilson:   I join Senator Kathryn Reilly in requesting the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills to the House to discuss the amalgamation of VECs and, in particular, the criteria used to decide on the location of the headquarters of the newly amalgamated VECs. It will be very interesting to hear the criteria the Minister used to decide on the locations. What savings, if any, will be made on foot of the amalgamations? From information I have gleaned, I believe it will cost rather than save money to amalgamate the VECs.
I will ask the Minister to reassure the staff in the VECs concerned that their jobs are secure and that nobody will be forced to move from their present location. Cavan and Monaghan VECs have been amalgamated and the headquarters is to be located in Monaghan town. While I welcome this on behalf of my constituents in Monaghan, I draw attention to the fact that Cavan town has a new purpose-built, fully fitted VEC office that is capable of accommodating twice as many staff as are currently located there. The office in Monaghan is much older and basing the headquarters there will necessitate the building of new premises. What savings will be made? I suggest to the Minister that a new location halfway between Cavan and Monaghan, at Cootehill, could be considered. I very much welcome the fact that Senator Reilly raised this issue yesterday. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Quinn, to the House as a matter of urgency.
Senator Jimmy Harte:   I join Senator Bradford in calling for truth and reconciliation. He mentioned, in particular, the Pat Finucane case, which is very relevant today. I object to the Sinn Féin Senator’s remark that European leaders are telling Ireland to jump. Sinn Féin, a 32-county, all-Ireland party, is the only party in Europe, or in a western democracy, that has different policies in different jurisdictions.
An Cathaoirleach:   Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Senator Jimmy Harte:   I call for a debate on the setting up of the truth and reconciliation facility.
Sinn Féin, which jumps higher than the DUP in Northern Ireland when it comes to accepting cuts should not talk about a different policy here. It has sanctioned cuts worth €300 million—–
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   When we have a united Ireland, we will have control over our sovereignty so that will be sorted.
Senator Jimmy Harte:   We do not have and the Senator will never have.
An Cathaoirleach:   Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Senator Jimmy Harte:   My question is that—–
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   Is the Senator saying we will never have a united Ireland?
Senator Jimmy Harte:   The truth has not gone away, you know: that is the expression. My question is whether the Leader will arrange a debate on the setting up of the truth and reconciliation facility. The people who are shouting most about truth and reconciliation in the press are those who—–
An Cathaoirleach:   That point can be made in the debate.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú:   Senator David Cullinane has made a very reasonable point on what could be perceived as the exclusion of Sinn Féin from some debates in this House.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh:   Hear, hear.
Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú:   It can only be helpful to our deliberations to have all diverse views put forward. Perhaps the CPP would again consider this matter.
4: Advertising… in so many ways…
An Cathaoirleach:   I am bound by the order of the House which provides for a time limit of 55 minutes. The Senator is out of time.
Senator Terry Leyden:   I accept that and will raise the matter next week, please God.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   I congratulate the Senator on his sprightly performance this morning. He obviously had his Weetabix.
Senator Mark Daly:   No advertising, please.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   In concurrence with all of the other Members who raised the matter, I also call for a debate on the Keane report. I was somewhat dissatisfied when I saw the briefing by the Minister for Finance which mentioned that the matter was to be discussed in the Dáil, particularly given the interest of, and the time devoted by, this House to the issue of mortgage debt and arrears. I point out to those who have not had a chance to read the report that two of the Seanad proposals relating to mortgage to rent and mortgage to shared equity are included. Senator Thomas Byrne should note that Labour Party Members were anxious to support his Bill, but they pointed out that, unfortunately, there were legal issues with it. They asked him to withdraw and amend it, but he did not do so.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   Every Bill we bring forward—–
Senator Darragh O’Brien:   They received the advice. They could have allowed it to move beyond Second Stage.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   I want it to have it recorded—–
Senator Thomas Byrne:   Every Bill we bring forward is unconstitutional.
An Cathaoirleach:   Senator Aideen Hayden to continue, without interruption.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   —–that the Labour Party was anxious to support the Senator’s efforts, but he did not take the necessary steps to enable it to do so.
Senator Darragh O’Brien:   The Labour Party has broken promise after promise on housing and mortgages.
An Cathaoirleach:   Senator Aideen Hayden to continue, without interruption.
Senator Darragh O’Brien:   It had an opportunity.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   On a point of order, the Fianna Fáil Party—–
Senator Aideen Hayden:   If I may continue—–
An Cathaoirleach:   Senator Thomas Byrne, on a point of order.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   The Fianna Fáil Party has tabled a Bill in the Dáil for discussion next week—–
An Cathaoirleach:   That is not a point of order.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   —– which deals with many of the issues raised in that debate. It amends the Family Home Bill by incorporating the Law Reform Commission proposals.
An Cathaoirleach:   That is not a point of order.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   We look forward to the Labour Party and Fine Gael, the Taoiseach in particular, supporting that Bill.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   The Labour Party is highly concerned about the issue of mortgage arrears and has shown itself to be so on many occasions. It does not dismiss other people’s—–
An Cathaoirleach:   The Senator should address her remarks to the Leader.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   I am. The Labour Party does not dismiss the efforts of others purely for partisan reasons, unlike others.
Senator Thomas Byrne:   Rubbish.
Senator Darragh O’Brien:   It has not produced any legislation in this regard.
An Cathaoirleach:   Does Senator Aideen Hayden have a question for the Leader?
Senator Aideen Hayden:   I do. Members may not be aware that earlier this week Threshold and Focus held a conference on homelessness in Ireland and, in particular, the most recent housing policy statement of June 2011. Unfortunately, front-line organisations such as Threshold have warned the Government that the number experiencing homelessness is on the increase. The fact remains that after all the debates in this House in the past two days about child trafficking and so forth, two out of every three children who leave—–
An Cathaoirleach:   Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Senator Aideen Hayden:   I do, if the Cathaoirleach does not mind. Two out of every three children who leave the care of the State end up homeless.
An Cathaoirleach:   Nine other Senators have indicated they wish to speak. The Senator is almost of of time.
Senator Aideen Hayden:   While I am unsure whether there is a precedent, I ask the Leader to invite three Ministers to come to the House, namely, the Ministers for Health and Social Protection, as well as the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, all of whom have responsibility in dealing with the issue of homelessness. A commitment was given by the previous Government and each party in this House to end homelessness by 2012. Consequently, I seek the attendance in the House of the responsible Ministers to explain to Members the reason we face an increase in the level of homelessness.
5: The real Sinn Féin project…
Senator Paschal Mooney:   I have sympathy with the proposal that Members debate the fiscal policy of the Northern Ireland Assembly and wonder whether this is part—–
An Cathaoirleach:   Senators have complained that they are unable to hear. While other conversations are taking place, they definitely cannot hear. Senator Paschal Mooney to continue, without interruption, please.
Senator Paschal Mooney:   I thank the Cathaoirleach. I was saying I had a certain amount of sympathy for Senator David Cullinane’s proposal to the Leader that we have a debate on the transfer of fiscal powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. I wonder if this is part of the project. As two thirds of the economy of Northern Ireland relies on the block grant and as two thirds of the working population of Northern Ireland is engaged in the public service and, therefore, reliant on the British Exchequer, one wonders whether the proposal to transfer fiscal authority to the Northern Ireland Assembly might perhaps lead to a collapse of the Northern Ireland economy, which might be part of the Sinn Féin project. It is a rather interesting development. However, I wish to take—–
Senator David Cullinane:   Sinn Féin wants fiscal powers. Fianna Fáil gave them away.
Senator Paschal Mooney:   I have no difficulty with that at all. Incidentally, I formally second the proposed amendment to the Order of Business.
The Oireachtas Inquiries Referendum October 20, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.1 comment so far
Meng Die rightly took the CLR to task recently for not concentrating on the referendum being held next week and it is genuinely remarkable how little comment there is on the Oireachtas Inquiries issue. The background to the amendment can be read here. I’ll say one thing about the Referendum Commission leaflet on it. Hugely inadequate is what I thought when I went to read it. And that’s no small thing given the significance of the amendment.
An Irish Times editorial last week noted that:
An issue of greater controversy is the proposal to give the Houses of the Oireachtas power to inquire into what the Dáil, Seanad – or both Houses – regards as a matter of “general public importance”. In holding such an inquiry the Oireachtas would have power to consider, and to make findings of fact about, any person’s conduct. In such inquiries the Dáil and/or the Seanad would become the arbiter in deciding the appropriate balance between the rights of those involved in the inquiry and requirements of the public interest, while having regard to the principles of fair procedures. Because that proposes to give the Oireachtas far more power than it has ever previously enjoyed, it therefore needs careful consideration by the electorate before it decides.
Telling, isn’t it, that that level of consideration simply hasn’t manifested itself and with barely a week to go isn’t likely to. And it’s not that those behind this are ill-intentioned, but one can see how easily this could lead to negative outcomes.
Vincent Browne put forward a very strong case this weekend in the Sunday Business Post as to why he would be voting no to the referendum and he also did something useful in positing some alternative approaches.
The proposed amendment is in three parts. The first simply says that the Dáil and Senate would have the power to hold an inquiry separately or jointly into matters of public importance. The second part says that such an inquiry would be entitled to make findings about the conduct of anybody.
It is the third section that contains the menace. It reads as follows: ‘‘It shall be for the House or Houses [of the Oireachtas] to determine, with due regard to the principles of fair procedures, the appropriate balance between the rights of persons and the public interest for purposes of ensuring an effective inquiry [into whatever is decided].”
The persistent refusal to insert words to the effect that, ultimately, the courts will have oversight of such procedures suggests that the government wants to keep the courts out of this altogether.
The courts might well determine that the wording of this section precludes them from having any say, for the section says that it is the Dáil and/or Senate that have the power to determine the balance between individual rights and an effective inquiry.
That, after all, is what the words say.
I think his analysis is particularly solid in suggesting that the problem with this legislation is that it is unsupported by structures within which to effect it, so therefore the Oireachtas might make findings without offering as of course legal representation to those under investigation, or the right to question those making allegations or as he notes ‘might not have the right to be told in advance what those allegations were; and there mint be nothing they could do about it’. He continues:
It would be great if we had a functioning parliament that held the government of the day to account, and that was free to institute inquiries into anything – most crucially, into what the government of the day was up to – and to conduct such inquiries with fairness and impartiality.
But we do not have a functioning parliament. Instead of our parliament controlling the government, which is supposedly accountable to parliament, parliament is the creature of government. Our Dáil and Senate debate what the government decides they should debate. They meet when the government decides they should meet. They establish committees that the government decides they should establish.
That, by any measure is hugely unsatisfactory. Indeed worse than unsatisfactory.
There’s never much utility in a system where one has to depend on the good will of others to ensure justice is done and seen to be done as distinct from structures within which those optimum outcomes are encourages. If we’ve learned a little from the events of the past few years one lesson that should be taken away is the idea that regulation is a necessity and that it has to be thorough and consistent. Frankly knowing some of our elected representatives the idea that the Oireachtas would be gifted this level of immediate power appals me. And not just me. To date I haven’t met one person who intends to vote for the referendum as presently constituted.
Browne also argues that there’s a way to improve the workings of the Oireachtas. He looks to Germany for assistance:
There is a way to deal with our dysfunctional parliamentary system, and it would entail another constitutional amendment, giving parliament immunity from government control. The idea is simply to incorporate into our Constitution what is already in the constitution – or Basic Law – of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Article 38 of the Basic Law states: ‘‘Members of the German Bundestag [the equivalent of our Dáil] shall be…representatives of the whole people, not bound by orders or instructions, and responsible only to their conscience’’, which means no whips system, as we have here.
The German Basic Law also provides for investigative committees. Article 44 states: “[The Bundestag] shall have the right, on the motion of one quarter of its members, to establish an investigative committee, which shall take the requisite evidence at public hearings.”
I’m not sure I entirely buy into the idea that doing away with a formal whips system would issue in a new age of transparency, there are too many other ties which bind individual politicians to their parties – nor would it prevent pernicious outcomes where people acted from malign motives, but it is reasonable to say that it would function as a strong statement of intent and that alone might be well worth it.
Likely to happen? Somehow I don’t think so. But it will be very interesting to see the vote for and against during the referendum on the Inquiries amendment.
This morning the Irish Times comes out against the Inquiries referendum, and it’s hard to argue with the logic. It’s not so much that the referendum is intrinsically flawed, because it’s very difficult to parse out the implications, as a sense that for such a significant change far too little time and consideration has been devoted to it. And that tends me to think that this might be one to pass on for the moment.
Mortgage relief? Er… no. October 19, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Economy, Irish Politics.3 comments
It’s hard to take entirely seriously the dance between the Financial Regulator and the banks and mortgage providers over interest rates. To refresh memories interest rates on standard variable rate mortgages are now substantially higher than ECB rates. Anyone with a mortgage will have noted the disparity between those ECB rates and the rates they’re actually paying and also noted that the two have little or no relationship. As the Irish Times says:
THE CENTRAL Bank will go to the Government if necessary to seek new legislation to allow it put a cap on standard variable mortgage rate increases which are pushing more people into arrears, deputy governor Matthew Elderfield has said.
Mr Elderfield said the Central Bank would engage closely with banks on the issue of mortgage arrears and would seek a detailed strategy from them by the end of November on how they propose to deal with the issue of mortgage arrears.
And he continued:
He warned yesterday that if banks did not address the issue of unsustainable mortgages and continued with increases to standard variable rate mortgages, then they would run the risk of the Central Bank seeking a policy intervention by the Government through fresh legislation.
Mr Elderfield said that, previously, variable mortgage rate rises occurred when the cost of funds increased. And while there was still some pressure on the cost of funds, it seemed in many cases banks were using variable rate rises to compensate for unprofitable tracker mortgages.
And noted that:
He said the banks should realise that variable rate mortgage increases can become self-defeating if they push more customers into arrears, adding to the arrears problem and ultimately costing the banks more in terms of capital.
“What I’ve said is really a warning for the future. The banks need to act responsibly on this and not take advantage of what I’ve called this dysfunctional competitive landscape. But if they don’t, then I think they court the risk of an intervention to cap rates,” he said.
Yes. Well. It’s hardly novel to suggest that of all the private sector the financial part of it has proven to be the most cloth-eared and the least tractable to persuasion over the past decade and longer, in part because regulation has been notable by its absence. But that said there’s a basic reason why the mortgage providers won’t do anything on this until forced.
By following the course they’re taking they’re able to continue to get as much monies from those still able [barely] to pay while secure in the knowledge that for those who are tipped into arrears or default the web of limited but extant protections will kick in. It’s a no-brainer, the banks want to increase their take from mortgages, they’ll continue to do so as long as they’re allowed to continue to do so. Whether the penny is dropping elsewhere as to the pernicious effects of this in the broader economy is an interesting question, hard to think Elderfield would raise the issue without some political sanction.
And even more intriguing is whether Elderfield’s shot across the bows will be sufficient to force them back remains to be seen. Their response so far?
Pat Farrell, chief executive of the Irish Banking Federation…
“On the issue of mortgage rates we are very conscious of the need to strike a balance between the cost of funds and not exacerbating the issue of mortgage arrears,” he said.
Irish mortgage rates compared competitively with banks in Europe, he said.
Hmmm… I’d like chapter and verse on that.
