Last night, Sinn Féin TDs used their Private Members Time to call for a Department of Labour Affairs separate from the department that oversees enterprise, as the present system has worked to the detriment of workers whose needs have been subordinated by the government to those of their bosses.
The Labour Party, as you'd expect, supported the motion. Fine Gael didn't. They didn't even turn up for the vote.
How on earth are these two supposed to be an alternative government when they can't even agree on what sort of government they want?
Ard Fheis Highs and Lows
pHighs
* Winning the motion to make repeal of the Offences Against the State Act a condition to entering coalition government in the south. I really didn't think we would win it, because not only the Ard Chomhairle but a couple ordinary punters I spoke to had indicated they would oppose it on the grounds it would "tie our hands". But, my God, if ever there was anything we should tie our hands on, surely imprisoning people just for being republicans is it? The membership did absolutely the right thing here, and I'm delighted.
* Dessie Ellis's speech on migrant workers. He set out our stall clearly, unambiguously, and live on RTÉ that we will not succumb to populist race-baiting. I can honestly say that I haven't been as proud to be a Shinner in ages as I was listening to that speech. The left-wing Labourites watching must have been sick.
* The appearances by Joanne Delaney and Mícheál Ó Seighin, especially when the latter confirmed that yes, Sinn Féin have been raising the Corrib Gas issue for many years (take that, Enda Kenny).
* Barry McElduff. The man is a national treasure.
* All three of the motions/amendments I wrote speeches on were passed. Clearly, my powers of persuasion are greater than I ever imagined :)
Lows
* Failure not only to rule out policing and coalition, but even to adopt the motions requiring a two-thirds majority to take part in either. Especially in the case of policing, I think it will be a huge mistake not to ensure we have widespread and not just majority support for such a step.
* Losing the pro-choice motion, although I hadn't really expected otherwise. It still depresses me to think that a revolutionary party like Sinn Féin could hold such a reactionary position on women's reproductive rights.
* The Ard Chomhairle elections - a "southern massacre" as someone put it.
* The stupid catering set-up in which you couldn't get a cup of coffee without queuing behind the people ordering hot food.
* Being skint, again. Why is it that Ard Fheis weekend always falls during a week when I have half a dozen bills to pay?
A pretty good weekend all in all, but we still have much work to do.
* Winning the motion to make repeal of the Offences Against the State Act a condition to entering coalition government in the south. I really didn't think we would win it, because not only the Ard Chomhairle but a couple ordinary punters I spoke to had indicated they would oppose it on the grounds it would "tie our hands". But, my God, if ever there was anything we should tie our hands on, surely imprisoning people just for being republicans is it? The membership did absolutely the right thing here, and I'm delighted.
* Dessie Ellis's speech on migrant workers. He set out our stall clearly, unambiguously, and live on RTÉ that we will not succumb to populist race-baiting. I can honestly say that I haven't been as proud to be a Shinner in ages as I was listening to that speech. The left-wing Labourites watching must have been sick.
* The appearances by Joanne Delaney and Mícheál Ó Seighin, especially when the latter confirmed that yes, Sinn Féin have been raising the Corrib Gas issue for many years (take that, Enda Kenny).
* Barry McElduff. The man is a national treasure.
* All three of the motions/amendments I wrote speeches on were passed. Clearly, my powers of persuasion are greater than I ever imagined :)
Lows
* Failure not only to rule out policing and coalition, but even to adopt the motions requiring a two-thirds majority to take part in either. Especially in the case of policing, I think it will be a huge mistake not to ensure we have widespread and not just majority support for such a step.
* Losing the pro-choice motion, although I hadn't really expected otherwise. It still depresses me to think that a revolutionary party like Sinn Féin could hold such a reactionary position on women's reproductive rights.
* The Ard Chomhairle elections - a "southern massacre" as someone put it.
* The stupid catering set-up in which you couldn't get a cup of coffee without queuing behind the people ordering hot food.
* Being skint, again. Why is it that Ard Fheis weekend always falls during a week when I have half a dozen bills to pay?
A pretty good weekend all in all, but we still have much work to do.
The Guardian reports today that a new study has shown that chemical abortions can be safely taken at home before the twelfth week of pregnancy.
This is good news for British women. Unfortunately, because of the draconian laws in this country, many Irish women will be unable to avail of it: the tablets have to be administered over the course of a couple days, making it impossible for women to travel over and back on a weekend.
Of course the lack of availability of these medicines won't prevent Irish women having abortions. Over 6,000 of them will continue to go to Britain, and an unknown (because no statistics are kept) number on top of that to Amsterdam, every year. But unless they can take a few days off they will have to make do with the surgical rather than chemical procedure, which I imagine must be quite a bit more unpleasant.
It is not acceptable for women in Ireland to be denied the benefit of medical advances simply on the basis of a moral belief which not all of us share.
Those who oppose the right to abortion, I ask you this: if women are not being prevented from having abortions (which, clearly, they aren't), but are simply having them later - because they have to make travel arrangements, maybe raise a bit of extra money, etc. - what has your side achieved? If a woman is planning to end her pregnancy anyway, isn't it preferable for all concerned (including the foetus if you insist) that she do it as early as possible?
How long do you suppose it will be before mifepristone and misoprostol are available over the internet, or on Moore Street (if they aren't already) and women are administering them themselves, with all the danger that will entail?
At this weekend's Ard Fheis Sinn Féin will be debating a motion calling for us to support the Irish Family Planning Association's Safe and Legal Campaign. I do not hold high hopes that it will be passed - there are still too many moral conservatives in this party, and too much fear (even among those who themselves are pro-choice) of division. But we are gaining ground. I have seen this in internal debates, and I have seen it in the wider society, and I know we will win this battle someday.
This is good news for British women. Unfortunately, because of the draconian laws in this country, many Irish women will be unable to avail of it: the tablets have to be administered over the course of a couple days, making it impossible for women to travel over and back on a weekend.
Of course the lack of availability of these medicines won't prevent Irish women having abortions. Over 6,000 of them will continue to go to Britain, and an unknown (because no statistics are kept) number on top of that to Amsterdam, every year. But unless they can take a few days off they will have to make do with the surgical rather than chemical procedure, which I imagine must be quite a bit more unpleasant.
It is not acceptable for women in Ireland to be denied the benefit of medical advances simply on the basis of a moral belief which not all of us share.
Those who oppose the right to abortion, I ask you this: if women are not being prevented from having abortions (which, clearly, they aren't), but are simply having them later - because they have to make travel arrangements, maybe raise a bit of extra money, etc. - what has your side achieved? If a woman is planning to end her pregnancy anyway, isn't it preferable for all concerned (including the foetus if you insist) that she do it as early as possible?
How long do you suppose it will be before mifepristone and misoprostol are available over the internet, or on Moore Street (if they aren't already) and women are administering them themselves, with all the danger that will entail?
At this weekend's Ard Fheis Sinn Féin will be debating a motion calling for us to support the Irish Family Planning Association's Safe and Legal Campaign. I do not hold high hopes that it will be passed - there are still too many moral conservatives in this party, and too much fear (even among those who themselves are pro-choice) of division. But we are gaining ground. I have seen this in internal debates, and I have seen it in the wider society, and I know we will win this battle someday.
The Taoiseach has just rubbished the last IMC report on the grounds that they only reported what they were told; they didn't do any investigation themselves. Hello, what have we been saying about the IMC since its inception?
How much money is your Government spending on these ridiculous reports Bertie?
How much money is your Government spending on these ridiculous reports Bertie?
The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, was on the Dunphy show this morning talking about the IMC Report. It was like listening to one of us! "The IICD is the body charged with monitoring decommissioning." "We have to recognise the huge steps the IRA have taken." "The IRA leadership are absolutely committed to the peace strategy." Wonder if the Irish government is starting to have second thoughts about the Frankenstein's Monster they helped to create?
So the latest Independent (sic) Monitoring Commission report will fail to give the IRA a clean bill of health. Dear dear me. Did anyone really not see this coming, after all of the DUP's insistence that they wouldn't work with Sinn Féin anyway? A too-positive IMC report would remove the DUP's last excuse and leave the Governments with no choice but to get on with the business without them. And they just haven't got the courage to do that.
Regarding Suzanne Breen's claims today about a "Stormont Spyring":
First of all it needs to be said that Breen has an agenda and a long history of peddling anti-SF propaganda. She has no credibility among republicans - and that's doubly significant in view of the fact that she's claiming one of us as her source for this article. Why would a Shinner speak to her? If I had a grievance with the party that I wanted to go public with, I wouldn't go to someone like her - not just because I can't stand her, but also because I would know most republicans don't believe anything she writes anyway.
But I'll play along. If these claims are true, they are so much further from the original allegations that they're almost laughable - and the fact that a democratically elected government could be brought down on the basis of them is appalling. There might be legitimate questions about the ethics of such activities, but for jaysus sake does anyone believe the likes of Fianna Fáil aren't up to the same thing?
Well, have a look at the following from Katie Hannon's book The Naked Politician (published in 2004):
There is one such person who is a familiar face around Leinster House. He eats in the self-service restaurant most days and can often be seen enjoying a sociable drink with his colleagues in the Visitors' Bar. And yet most people are vague about what it is he actually does. In fact he works in the Taoiseach's Department in Government Buildings where his post is officially described as that of 'researcher'. But that doesn't come close to describing the highly unusual role this young man plays in the Fianna Fáil political machine. His job involves keeping files on political rivals and media figures, for use when in election mode or in times of crisis. He reports directly to one of the Taoiseach's aides.
I am shocked. Shocked! Isn't it time that Fianna Fáil's Leinster House spyring was investigated, the government collapsed and the culprits brought to justice?
First of all it needs to be said that Breen has an agenda and a long history of peddling anti-SF propaganda. She has no credibility among republicans - and that's doubly significant in view of the fact that she's claiming one of us as her source for this article. Why would a Shinner speak to her? If I had a grievance with the party that I wanted to go public with, I wouldn't go to someone like her - not just because I can't stand her, but also because I would know most republicans don't believe anything she writes anyway.
But I'll play along. If these claims are true, they are so much further from the original allegations that they're almost laughable - and the fact that a democratically elected government could be brought down on the basis of them is appalling. There might be legitimate questions about the ethics of such activities, but for jaysus sake does anyone believe the likes of Fianna Fáil aren't up to the same thing?
Well, have a look at the following from Katie Hannon's book The Naked Politician (published in 2004):
There is one such person who is a familiar face around Leinster House. He eats in the self-service restaurant most days and can often be seen enjoying a sociable drink with his colleagues in the Visitors' Bar. And yet most people are vague about what it is he actually does. In fact he works in the Taoiseach's Department in Government Buildings where his post is officially described as that of 'researcher'. But that doesn't come close to describing the highly unusual role this young man plays in the Fianna Fáil political machine. His job involves keeping files on political rivals and media figures, for use when in election mode or in times of crisis. He reports directly to one of the Taoiseach's aides.
I am shocked. Shocked! Isn't it time that Fianna Fáil's Leinster House spyring was investigated, the government collapsed and the culprits brought to justice?
I'm out of the country for a fortnight and return to find the whole country's gone bleeding mad! Allegations against this republican and that republican. It seems that my prediction, made just after the IRA statement, of an increase in black propaganda against us was even more accurate than I'd feared. The usual suspects have obviously decided that their best hope for defeating us lies in turning us against each other. We are going to have to be resolute in our determination not to let them succeed.
On other matters, Pat Rabbitte's proposal to subject EU nationals to work permits simply defies logic (except, of course, when looked at as a cynical pre-election stunt). Anyone with a brain can see that tying workers to permits increases, rather than decreases, their exploitability and therefore makes them more, not less, attractive to unscrupulous employers. The solution to the displacement of Irish workers in favour of cheaper foreign staff is proper enforcement of the laws which make it illegal to pay foreign staff less.
Has Enda Kenny commented on this proposal? One almost wonders if he has told Rabbitte that FG intend to propose restrictions on immigration, and so Rabbitte is coming out with this stuff now so that it will look like a true Labour proposal and not one forced on them by their senior coalition partners.
On other matters, Pat Rabbitte's proposal to subject EU nationals to work permits simply defies logic (except, of course, when looked at as a cynical pre-election stunt). Anyone with a brain can see that tying workers to permits increases, rather than decreases, their exploitability and therefore makes them more, not less, attractive to unscrupulous employers. The solution to the displacement of Irish workers in favour of cheaper foreign staff is proper enforcement of the laws which make it illegal to pay foreign staff less.
Has Enda Kenny commented on this proposal? One almost wonders if he has told Rabbitte that FG intend to propose restrictions on immigration, and so Rabbitte is coming out with this stuff now so that it will look like a true Labour proposal and not one forced on them by their senior coalition partners.
At first, I thought it was a wind-up when I read, on a blog called El Blogador, which seems to be run by one of the SDLP's ever-dwindling true believers, that the Deputy Head Stoop Eddie Espie has called for Gerry Adams to resign over the Denis Donaldson affair. In fact, I had to Google "Eddie Espie" just to make sure he was a real person! He does appear to actually be the SDLP's Vice Chair, but I haven't seen independent confirmation of this statement; El Blogador doesn't provide a link and it doesn't appear on www.sdlp.ie (where clicking on "Latest News" takes you to a statement dated the 1st in which Alex Attwood hilariously demonstrates his flexible definition of "proof"). But I will take El Blog's word for it; it's certainly daft enough for a Stoop to say.
Here is the statement in full:
"This project of super collusion happened under Gerry Adams' watch. For twenty years, Denis Donaldson, one of Adams' closest allies, has been feeding information to the British intelligence services.
"Only a few days ago, Gerry Adams was happy to appear alongside Donaldson on the steps of Stormont, presenting him as a 'victim of securocrats' and trying to tell everyone to move on from the Stormontgate affair.
“Now it transpires that Adams was singing the praises of an arch-British agent. As party leader throughout the period of Donaldson's double agency, Gerry Adams was party leader. The buck stops with him. Then only option now open is for Gerry Adams to resign.
“That is the only way in which nationalists can start to put trust in Sinn Féin again.
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen Sinn Féin/ British collusion over OTRs and super-councils which have eradicated nationalists' belief that Sinn Féin is operating in the best interests of the people of the north.
“This whole debacle is the straw that has broken the camel's back. Nationalists no longer trust Sinn Féin, and as party leader, Gerry Adams must step up to the mark and take responsibility for this.
“The SDLP will be pushing for the full facts of this whole affair to be revealed. The people of the north deserve the truth.”
Eddie, a chara, Gerry Adams will step down when and if Sinn Féin members and supporters start to lose faith in him. That has not happened and will not happen as a result of this affair. In fact, judging by the comments of SDLP supporters over on Slugger O'Toole, you guys have a lot more to worry about on that front than we do.
Here is the statement in full:
"This project of super collusion happened under Gerry Adams' watch. For twenty years, Denis Donaldson, one of Adams' closest allies, has been feeding information to the British intelligence services.
"Only a few days ago, Gerry Adams was happy to appear alongside Donaldson on the steps of Stormont, presenting him as a 'victim of securocrats' and trying to tell everyone to move on from the Stormontgate affair.
“Now it transpires that Adams was singing the praises of an arch-British agent. As party leader throughout the period of Donaldson's double agency, Gerry Adams was party leader. The buck stops with him. Then only option now open is for Gerry Adams to resign.
“That is the only way in which nationalists can start to put trust in Sinn Féin again.
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen Sinn Féin/ British collusion over OTRs and super-councils which have eradicated nationalists' belief that Sinn Féin is operating in the best interests of the people of the north.
“This whole debacle is the straw that has broken the camel's back. Nationalists no longer trust Sinn Féin, and as party leader, Gerry Adams must step up to the mark and take responsibility for this.
“The SDLP will be pushing for the full facts of this whole affair to be revealed. The people of the north deserve the truth.”
Eddie, a chara, Gerry Adams will step down when and if Sinn Féin members and supporters start to lose faith in him. That has not happened and will not happen as a result of this affair. In fact, judging by the comments of SDLP supporters over on Slugger O'Toole, you guys have a lot more to worry about on that front than we do.
Like everyone else in Sinn Féin, I'm absolutely stunned at the news about Denis Donaldson, disgusted at the man personally, and heartbroken for his family, who don't deserve to be put through this. I simply cannot understand what would drive someone to do what he did - particularly someone who had previously done so much for the cause.
Questions need to be asked about how far up in the British Government his role was known. How many of those who publicly accused the republican movement of running a spy ring knew all along that the only spy was their own? How many knew that the Assembly was being collapsed on completely false pretences?
At the moment I'm just completely disillusioned with this whole peace process malarkey. Republicans have given and given and given, we've made compromises that were unimaginable just a few years ago and we are getting absolutely fucking nothing back because fundamentally the Brits and unionists just do not want the agreement to work. At some point we are going to have to question whether it is even worth our while anymore.
Questions need to be asked about how far up in the British Government his role was known. How many of those who publicly accused the republican movement of running a spy ring knew all along that the only spy was their own? How many knew that the Assembly was being collapsed on completely false pretences?
At the moment I'm just completely disillusioned with this whole peace process malarkey. Republicans have given and given and given, we've made compromises that were unimaginable just a few years ago and we are getting absolutely fucking nothing back because fundamentally the Brits and unionists just do not want the agreement to work. At some point we are going to have to question whether it is even worth our while anymore.
The plot thickens
Today's Times states, incorrectly, that An examination of newspaper records shows that it carried articles written by Mr Connolly every week in the period April-June 2001, with the single exception of the April 15th edition. This was five days after Mr McDowell, citing information from the Colombian authorities, alleges the journalist entered the Farc-controlled region as part of a "well-organised sinister enterprise". So what is this article then?
Suddenly Liam Lawlor's death seems a lot more sinister ...
Suddenly Liam Lawlor's death seems a lot more sinister ...
I am, of course, 100% behind the campaign for an All-Ireland soccer team. It only makes sense, and I'm even willing to put up with that musical abomination, "Ireland's Call", if I have to (but only if).
As for whether "God Save The Queen" should be sang at Norn Iron games, I'll leave that to people who actually care about Windsor Park attendance. But I must say I nearly fell over laughing reading UUP Councillor Jim Rodgers's comments about it in the linked article:
I'm a strong believer of 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'.
Had Jim's ancestors shared this philosophy when they arrived on this island, there'd have been no Norn Iron to begin with. And that's not even starting in on the irony of a Unionist calling for emulation of Romans ...
As for whether "God Save The Queen" should be sang at Norn Iron games, I'll leave that to people who actually care about Windsor Park attendance. But I must say I nearly fell over laughing reading UUP Councillor Jim Rodgers's comments about it in the linked article:
I'm a strong believer of 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'.
Had Jim's ancestors shared this philosophy when they arrived on this island, there'd have been no Norn Iron to begin with. And that's not even starting in on the irony of a Unionist calling for emulation of Romans ...
"You Couldn't Make It Up" Department
The Ceann Comhairle has disallowed requests to adjourn the Dáil to discuss the unconstitutionality of the Minister's actions on the grounds that ... it's not an appropriate forum for serious allegations of this kind.
Oh the irony.
Oh the irony.
On McDowell
I haven't intended not to post lately, but things get very busy for me this time of year. I don't even have time for this post! But it needs to be said.
Regardless of whether Frank Connolly actually has "questions to answer", regardless of whether he's guilty at all, those who are defending Michael McDowell's actions should ask themselves this question: what has McDowell achieved? If Connolly did break the law, he is no nearer to being brought to justice. If anything the opposite is probably true: if the DPP does ever decide to prosecute, he'll have a very strong case to argue that his right to a fair trial has been compromised.
McDowell can't possibly be unaware of this, so the intention can only have been to stain Connolly's character. The release of this information, and use of Dáil privilege for this purpose, is simply indefensible. And by engaging in such petty, vindictive behaviour, McDowell has primarily succeeded in staining his own.
He should resign.
Regardless of whether Frank Connolly actually has "questions to answer", regardless of whether he's guilty at all, those who are defending Michael McDowell's actions should ask themselves this question: what has McDowell achieved? If Connolly did break the law, he is no nearer to being brought to justice. If anything the opposite is probably true: if the DPP does ever decide to prosecute, he'll have a very strong case to argue that his right to a fair trial has been compromised.
McDowell can't possibly be unaware of this, so the intention can only have been to stain Connolly's character. The release of this information, and use of Dáil privilege for this purpose, is simply indefensible. And by engaging in such petty, vindictive behaviour, McDowell has primarily succeeded in staining his own.
He should resign.
I don't agree with the PDs often, but Liz O'Donnell's speech today on the Ferns Report should be shouted from the rooftops. Liz stated that the Church's catastrophic failure to protect the children in its care should - must - mean the end of its special relationship with the State. No more consultation with the Church on issues such as stem cell research, abortion, gay rights, etc. And no more control by the Church over education.
I agree on all of these, but particularly on the last. In an increasingly diverse society the lack of options for non-Catholics, or non-practicising Catholics (such as myself) is simply not acceptable. Schools along the lines of the Educate Together system should be the norm. If people really feel the need to have their child educated under a particular religious ethos, let them set up their own private (and privately funded!) schools. Neither the Catholic Church, nor any other religious institution, should receive public money toward this end.
It's not simply on a philosophical level that I object to state-funded religious education. I also think it's a bad idea as a practical matter. Because you can't discriminate against religions, so if you fund Catholic public schools you have to fund schools of other religions, and this simply encourages segregation. We've seen all too clearly in the northeastern part of this country what that does to intercommunity relations. It's a mistake we should not be repeating.
I agree on all of these, but particularly on the last. In an increasingly diverse society the lack of options for non-Catholics, or non-practicising Catholics (such as myself) is simply not acceptable. Schools along the lines of the Educate Together system should be the norm. If people really feel the need to have their child educated under a particular religious ethos, let them set up their own private (and privately funded!) schools. Neither the Catholic Church, nor any other religious institution, should receive public money toward this end.
It's not simply on a philosophical level that I object to state-funded religious education. I also think it's a bad idea as a practical matter. Because you can't discriminate against religions, so if you fund Catholic public schools you have to fund schools of other religions, and this simply encourages segregation. We've seen all too clearly in the northeastern part of this country what that does to intercommunity relations. It's a mistake we should not be repeating.
On the radio this morning, I heard the author of a book on who people respect most and least speak at length on Nelson Mandela (falling into the first category, of course) and then go on to say that most in the latter category were 'terrorist types'. Funny how times change, isn't it? I'm old enough to remember when Nelson Mandela was widely considered to be one of those 'terrorist types'.
Eoghan Harris has lost the plot completely!
You see all this criticism of the Sindo for their coverage of Liam Lawlor's death? It's all part of a Shinner plot to shut the paper down! And if it succeeds - which it just might do, since Sinn Féin virtually control the country now - there will be nobody left to tell the truth about the organisation!
I'm not making this up, it's all in today's Sindo. See for yourself.
Nurse!
I'm not making this up, it's all in today's Sindo. See for yourself.
Nurse!
Guess who said the following last night?
"The Unionist community can be sure that this part of the island holds no constitutional threat to the position of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom."
Kevin Myers? Ruth Dudley Edwards? Conor Cruise O'Brien?
No, it was Noel Treacy, Minister of State from Fianna Fáil, the self-styled Republican Party.
How they can still call themselves that with a straight face is absolutely beyond me.
Kevin Myers? Ruth Dudley Edwards? Conor Cruise O'Brien?
No, it was Noel Treacy, Minister of State from Fianna Fáil, the self-styled Republican Party.
How they can still call themselves that with a straight face is absolutely beyond me.
While I have serious doubts about the Government's ability to deliver on its transport plan, in theory, at least, it's a great idea. Public transport in this State is absolutely shocking and needs precisely this kind of initiative. Those who dismiss the need for a northside Metro obviously don't spend the amount of time I do sitting on buses that aren't going anywhere. Of course, it will probably be 2020 rather than 2012 by the time it's finally delivered, and at three times the cost, but it needs to be gone ahead with and sooner rather than (any) later.
I must add, though, that I was greatly amused when I went to the Department of Transport's web site looking for further details of this plan - and discovered that the site hasn't been updated since July. We may be getting a "21st century transport plan for 21st century Ireland", as their press release announces, but we're still very much stuck with 20th century communications.
I must add, though, that I was greatly amused when I went to the Department of Transport's web site looking for further details of this plan - and discovered that the site hasn't been updated since July. We may be getting a "21st century transport plan for 21st century Ireland", as their press release announces, but we're still very much stuck with 20th century communications.
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