The Daily (Maybe)

Steven Agnew, leader of the Greens in the North of Ireland kindly sent me this on the shape of the election campaign there, the Green New Deal and prospects for the future.

The Green Party recognises that in these harsh financial times what we need is Economy for People and Planet.

Resources are stretched and we have to prioritise spending on areas that meet a number of policy objectives. There is no sense in squandering money on projects that may be good economically but environmentally damaging.

Equally we should not be pushing environmental policies that are not good for people. The Green Party benchmarks all its policies on whether they are good for the economy, good for people and good for the environment. We believe government should be doing the same.

In the last Assembly with one MLA the Green Party was able to get cross party support for the ambitious Green New Deal programme. If fully implemented the Green New Deal will provide thousands of jobs while helping to tackle fuel poverty and combat climate change. We need a strong Green Party presence in the next Assembly to ensure the vision of the Green New Deal is realised.

To achieve this, our first objective in the next Assembly term must be to see that the current budget is scrapped and rewritten.

The Green Party opposed the cuts budget in both Westminster and in the Assembly. As it stands the Northern Ireland budget will see our public sector decimated and result in massive job losses. It is not a budget borne out of economic necessity but one that is driven by political ideology. As was clear from Peter Robinson’s speech yesterday, this budget is about slashing the public sector to make way for increased privatisation.

Public services must be provided on the basis of need, not on profitability.

This is a budget which has been supported by the DUP, Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party. The opposition that comes from the UUP and SDLP has more to do with political opportunism than from having any real alternative vision. The Green Party is the only viable alternative to the decimation of our public sector.

In this manifesto we propose that we mutualise Northern Ireland Water and put a moratorium on the building of new roads so that an extra £1.5billion would be available for front line services such as health and education and to fully fund the Green New Deal insulation scheme.

What the current budget offers is a Green New Deal pilot scheme. Why do we need a pilot when we know that invested in insulation creates jobs, reduces home heating bills and reduces carbon emissions? By insulating 500,000 homes we can provide employment for up to 15,000 people.

In the next Assembly we will oppose plans to increase fees for students that would see our young people burdened with crippling debt – this is an unacceptable price for university education which benefits our whole society. I myself have a £16,000 debt from my university days. I will not condemn the next generation of students to the burden of debts of up to £40,000.

The other parties are happy to blame Westminster for the cuts to higher education funding - we will not let them hide behind this smokescreen

We need to Invest in NI. We need to invest in our young people and in the small local businesses which are the backbone of our economy. Small businesses are being ignored by an economic policy that seeks the quick fix of Foreign Direct Investment. Other parties want to gamble with our economy. They are proposing putting £300million of our money on the corporation tax cut in the hope of landing the FDI jackpot. We entice these companies in with huge grants and the promise of cheap labour and lax environmental regulations. However they soon leave again once the money has dried up – taking their profits with them.

Instead we should be protecting the businesses we have and helping them to grow. We need to build the economy from the ground up to ensure that it is sustainable and resilient in times of global economic uncertainty.

The Green Party enters these elections in better shape than ever. Our European election result showed our vote had trebled in the space of five years. In these elections we are looking to translate that growth of support into seats in the Assembly and in local councils. We have young candidates that can bring a breath of fresh air to Northern Ireland politics and the experience and expertise of Green Parties across the globe to draw upon. While others dwell in the past it is the Green Party that has the vision for a brighter future.

2 comments Labels: Elections, Green Party, Ireland

While the Times today reports that the Scottish Greens could double their representation in May (although I think we can do better) life looks rather different to the West. The Irish Independent has published a rather comprehensive poll of voter intentions and it makes for fascinating reading.

This pie chart can give you some context in which to read the rest of the data. Yes, that is a lot of red. It essentially represents the colour of the voters' faces when they think about their government.


link[i-link]I should point out that you don't have to go back that far to see voter satisfaction in their government was over fifty percent (p. 11) - in other words the Irish aren't just people who hate the government historically, they hate this specific government. Well, all but 5% of them who are presumably the sort of people who are naturally cheerful and even if set on fire would remark at how toasty warm things had become.

So who is benefiting from this anti-government Tsunami? A party that's almost identical to the current government. Hard to imagine that isn't it?

link[i-link]But first for the caveat - this bar graph compares the actual result of the 2007 election with the polling figures (excluding don't knows) this January. They aren't going to be 100% accurate but the polling just before the last election was pretty accurate so let's not pretend they're meaningless either.

Who are the losers? Well, the only two parties to lose support, and lose it badly are the two parties of government (there was a third but it has ceased trading). Fianna Fail and the Greens are bracing themselves for the inevitably of being electorally washed out to sea. For Fianna Fail it means a generation in the wildness, for the Greens it probably means the end of the organisation permanently. I did say this was a likely outcome at the time but no one listens to me, hurumph.

If 'the others' do get 15% it could lead to an extremely interesting Dail. People like socialist Richard Boyd Barrett came very close to winning a seat in 2007 and this surge in the 'others' could well see him and others like him win an intimidating handful of seats. This would be a very welcome outcome as far as I'm concerned.

However, for those parties that are gaining support like Labour and Sinn Fein the future is not entirely rosy. The report (p. 17 and p. 19) also shows that the 'satisfaction' rates for Labour have not been lower for ten years despite the fact that Labour leader Eamon Gilmore is well respected. Also more people are dissatisfied with Sinn Fein and less satisfied with it since polling began on this. Indeed, in terms of the polls both parties are actually losing momentum and slipping back as voters begin to gravitate to Fine Gael, of all people.

It's also difficult to see the Sinn Fein vote as a shift to the left when (p. 26) Sinn Fein voters are the most likely to want to see compulsory redundancies as "part of public sector reform". That's more likely than Fine Gael or Fianna Fail - blimey.

Finally I just want a quick look at where the party votes are going.
link[i-link]As you might expect those who voted Green last time are the least likely to vote the same way in this election with just 13% of those who voted Green last time intending to do so again - the masochists. Most of those voters will be splitting their votes between Labour and Fine Gael, although they are also the people most likely to defect to Sinn Fein.

Fine Gael's voters are the most sticky and, if they are going to defect, will defect to Labour. The same is true of Sinn Fein as it happens.

Both Labour and Sinn Fein (and the hard left) will be hoping this is a game changing election for them. Indeed if you can't make a great leap forwards at a time when the government has disapproval ratings of 95% (which is probably worse than for Mubarak) you're doing something wrong - like being part of a ridiculous coalition.

3 comments Labels: Elections, Ireland

The Green Party in Northern part of Ireland has a foot in two camps. It's officially part of the Irish Green Party but it also has to deal with the UK government so it has a relationship to the Scottish, English and Welsh Green Parties too. At their recent conference they made a number of decisions, like opposing AV in the coming referendum, and adopting a new leadership structure.

They are currently conducting their first leadership election and the two candidates, Steven Agnew and Cllr Cadogan Enright, have very kindly agreed to take time out of their busy schedules to let me interview them. I've saved one question for a post of its own, look out for that!


Could you tell me something about yourself outside of the Green Party?

StevenAgnew[i-StevenAgnew]Steven Agnew: I have a two year old son and he is my best escape from politics. He’s an absolute dream. He smiles a lot and cries little. If I don’t have another child it will be because I know I can’t get this lucky twice. He has slept through the night since he was four moths old (apart from when he was teething) and he still sleeps from 7pm until 8am. I suspect that every parent reading this now hates me.

Before being a parent and getting into politics full time I went to a lot of gigs. I still do when I can but am now much more choosy about which gigs I go to. I like either heavy, punk influenced guitar music or stripped down singer/songwriters, particularly Elliott Smith and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

I also starred in an independent film called “I Wanted to Talk to You Last Night” made by my good friend Michael MacBroom. During the summer I played a cameo role in his second film “Endless Life” which will hopefully get some kind of release next year. I have also sang onstage with a few local bands, but I would neither consider myself a singer or an actor.


CadoganEnright[i-CadoganEnright]Cadogan Enright: I am married 30 years and have 5 children between 27 and 4 years of age. My wife Brenda has stood for election for the Green Party in Belfast, as has one of my sons Peter in the Republic. My father had a British Military background, and my mother a Bio-Chemist daughter of an Irish Cabinet Minister of very long standing who had led the war of Independence. After 1 year of primary school in Belfast, I was raised in Africa in the 1960’s by my Irish / British parents and we only returned to NI in 1972 following the Biafran War and a brief sojourn in London.

I left school in 1974 and worked mostly in England until 1977. I got a mature students grant (I totally support the students rebellion - in my day you got a grant that you could live on and your fees were paid) and studied in Derry City and Dublin Computer science and Commerce. Subsequently worked in the Republic, France, NI, Russia (back in the USSR), Britain, USA, Germany, Russia (post coup) mostly developing computer software and re-organising companies to make them more competitive. Qualified as an Accountant along the way.

I spent 10 years reorganising business systems in major multinationals from the mid-90's like Diageo, Cadbury Schweppes, Elan, Aerospace etc and set up my own business in Dublin which was finally killed off by the Irish credit crunch in 2008. We moved home to NI in 2003 and currently run a "Fairtrade and Local Café" in Market Street in Downpatrick where I am a Green Councillor.


Please describe your political experience or history to date.

StevenAgnew[i-StevenAgnew]Steven Agnew: I joined the Green Party in 2003 after meeting then leader John Barry at a protest march against the invasion of Iraq. I would not have considered myself to be interested in the politics of Northern Ireland which was limited to the arena of ‘the trouble’. I was interested in human rights, animal rights and social justice issues such as homelessness. These issues did not seem to fit into the political discourse in Northern Ireland. John seemed to be able to articulate my interests into a coherent political philosophy and soon. I was campaigning for him in North Down where four years later we would get our first seat in the Assembly. I hope to retain that seat next year.

In 2007 I stood as a poster candidate in East Belfast but it was in 2009 when I stood for the Party in the European elections that my political career really took off. A strong media campaign coupled with the message that the Greens were big players in Europe led to the Party getting its biggest vote to date in a Northern Ireland election. Along with the election of Brian Wilson as MLA, this campaign gave the Green Party the credibility that it been previously lacking.

In May of this year I stood in North Down in the general election. It was a tough campaign and I learned the importance of having a good campaign team around you, something I had during the European elections but lacked for this one. I now have a very strong team in place for the Assembly and local government elections next year and am raring to go.


CadoganEnright[i-CadoganEnright]Cadogan Enright: I joined the Greens on the 1990’s in Dublin in Fingal – Trevor Sargent’s constituency – Trevor has a great leadership style of permitting and facilitating people to become involved. I worked on policy documents like energy Download, building control, water (with my wife), economics, Northern Ireland, planning etc etc. I was also involved in Trevor’s election campaigns and helping greens get elected at local Government level. We moved to NI and in 2003/4 I set up the Green Party in South Down (see downgreens.com). I was election agent for our 3 successful council candidates in 2005 and for our successful Regional (MLA) candidate Brian Wilson in 2007.

I have been on the NEC in Ireland for many years, being nominated initially by Fingal and representing NI since the NI party merged with the Irish party in October 2006. I stood in this years Westminster Elections and am standing next May in the Local and MLA elections.

We have copied the Fingal approach to party organisation in my local party, and as Chair I have tried to emulate Trevor Sargent's approach locally. We travel down to Fingal for elections in the Republic, and they travel up for elections here. This connection probably explains why our local party is the only one really thriving to date in NI – but we have promising signs now in Antrim and other areas developing.


What do you think the priorities of the Greens should be in the coming years?

StevenAgnew[i-StevenAgnew]Steven Agnew: In Northern Ireland the first task is to increase our number of councillors, retain our Assembly seat, and hopefully gain one or two more. If we do that we will have cemented our place in Northern Ireland politics but should we lose our Assembly seat and fail to gain any others we will struggle to make any impact for many years to come.

In terms of our message I think it is important that we use this election to put to bed the myth that the Green Party is a single issue party and assert are credentials as a party of the left fighting for social justice.

While it is our responsibility to keep climate change on the agenda now that all other parties have abandoned it in the midst of the economic crisis, we must address the people’s concerns about job insecurity and show how Green Party policies really will help improve their lives.


CadoganEnright[i-CadoganEnright]Cadogan Enright: I had fond hopes during the 1990’s that the need for a Green Party would disappear during my political lifetime and felt fairly sure up until five years ago that our policies would be subsumed by the other parties in countries across Europe and that, in particular, the influence of the EU would steam-roller resistance.

I now feel that the maxim “think global act local” is the way for the long haul, trying to win dozens of small victories locally which others can use as a precedent. E.G. beach by-laws minerstown, Greens announce victory at tyrella beach, Greens welcome news on strangford seals, massive fish kill quoile, Annalong river scandal, Lough

I feel the policy we developed in 2005 in NI of attracting independents, and adding our vote to them to get elected was a waste of time and 20:20 vision. We were never able to integrate the independents and are now paying the price of not developing our own candidates and local parties properly on NI, something I have been trying to ensure we do in my own area where we have a slate of political virgins stepping up to the plate next May who have been campaigning actively for several years as you can see from my website.

Following our election success in 2007, I argued strongly that our priority needed to be the building up of the party around the province. I felt that an over-concentration of our resources in staff at our Stormont-financed offices would mean nothing if we came to the next elections and found ourselves with no organization in the vast majority of constituencies around the province. Sadly, this is the situation where we now find ourselves in today. Employing even a part-time organizer could have transformed the party over these last few years.


Could you outline what lessons Greens should learn internationally from the experience of the Irish Greens in government?

StevenAgnew[i-StevenAgnew]Steven Agnew: I am proud of the achievements of the Irish Greens in government. There is no doubt that the current Irish government is unpopular, but we knew our vote when we went into government with Fianna Fail, a party whose policies we had opposed for many years.

We were a party with six TDs in government with a party with over seventy yet we managed to secure the Civil Partnership Act despite much opposition. We increased investment in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and we extended the broadband network to many rural communities. One of our major achievements was the reform of the planning system which had allowed the building of what are now ghost villages during the housing boom. The Green Party has ensured that the type of irresponsible rezoning that was one of the major causes of Ireland’s economic crash will not happen again. We get very little credit for this as few recognise its importance.

But there are lessons to be learned. In the first year we were seen as too cosy in our relationship with Fianna Fail. I remember when Bertie Ahern announced his resignation; Green Party Leader John Gormley was at his side. This literal closeness suggested that the Greens were all too comfortable in government with Fianna Fail. I think Nick Clegg is making the same mistake, although in his case I believe that his and Cameron’s ideologies are not that dissimilar. We changed tact somewhat after the first year and Dan Boyle, the Party’s Chair, became the voice of protest at the senior Party level.

Any party going into government as a junior partner will find it difficult. The question every member has to ask themselves is “is it more important that the Party stick to its principles or is it worth making compromises if we can make a real difference to people’s lives?”. I believe the compromises were worth it, though no member is happy with the ECB/IMF imposed budget that has just been announced.


CadoganEnright[i-CadoganEnright]Cadogan Enright: On the positive side, making a clear list of the deliverables and making program-managers responsible for their delivery during the course of the government was a good idea.

However it is clear that our Fianna Fail partners managed to long-finger a lot of our important legislation and we should not have let them. EG Incineration Aarhus convention, Party Political Funding Reform. We are still awaiting the publication Climate Change Bill and it will be pretty scandalous if it does not get passed before the Government falls in February or March. FF have allowed us to get issues that they see as “damaging” – only damaging to their supporters though – not to ours! Hunting, animal welfare and Lesbian and Gay Partnerships being legally recognised.

I also feel that there was a long list of “no-cost” items in our programme for Government that could have been delivered given the lack of interest in FF is such items – competition between Mobile Phone companies North and South – feasibility studies for reactivating railways severed by the partition of Ireland, failure of the banks in the RoI and NI to compete effectively driving up costs and other regulatory style issues. Even simple issues like making Irish Language TV available in NI as per the peace agreement took way too long – and even now is only promised when digital takes over from Terrestrial TV.

The purchase of the NI Grid by the RoI was a big gain, enabling the Grid to be re-engineered to accommodate much higher levels of renewables and greater links to Britain and the rest of Europe.

Clearly as a member of the NEC during I carry collective responsibility here, and I particularly regret the vote to support the rescue of the Irish Banks. Even if we had left Anglo Irish bank out on the basis that it borrowed abroad, lent abroad and had no infrastructural benefit to the Irish Economy the IMF rescue and the damage to the economy in the Republic would have occurred.

The terms agreed with the EU central bank clearly favour big German bond-holders who lent to Anglo. An average borrowing rate of 5.8 to 6% was an insult given that Ireland is paying it to the very German banks that lent to Anglo. Clearly with the EU central bank rate at 1% Ireland's borrowing rate should have been no more that 3%. That being said the manufacturing and exporting base of the Irish Economy is hale and hearty so all is not lost.

I also regret our inability in Government to throw our weight about on issues that cropped up after we went into Government. For instance the Irish Government is clearly either breaking or about to break the Bern Convention on the Badger Cull issue. Our Minister could quite simply rule the application for a new cull licence out or order based on International Law – there are some things you don’t need to tip-toe around the civil service on. See here.

5 comments Labels: Green Party, hustings, Ireland, Leadership

In the last two days there have been two community riots provoked by outrage at reactionary movements.

bell512ready[i-bell512ready]Yesterday in Belfast three police officers were shot and around two hundred people took part in throwing missiles and petrol bombs at the police. A total of twenty seven police officers were injured during the disturbances, although the press seems to think that none of these injuries is life threatening.

Facing water cannon and baton rounds residents were opposing the loyalist twelfth of July parades that commemorate the killing of Catholics by the forces of William of Orange and the 'traditional' bonfires held on the night of the eleventh.

Over the years these marches have resulted in civil disturbances, violence and an escalation of community tensions. It's understandable that many residents see these celebrations as a deliberate provocation and are consistently frustrated that they seem to have no say about whether they are allowed to take place in their neighbourhoods.

It's no surprise that when people feel they have no democratic option available to them some resort to undemocratic and violent actions. Last night's events really should be a sign that the state's attitudes towards the Orange marches has to change for facilitating their celebrations to regarding them as inciting violence.

link[i-link]However on Friday, in Oakland, California, the rioting was in response to far clearer state complicity in racist violence. Police officer Johannes Mehserle found himself acquitted of murder after he shot an unarmed black man dead.

The court accepted that Oscar Grant was unarmed, and lying face down at the feet of Officer Johannes Mehserle while surrounded by a ring of police officers when Mehserle took out his service revolver and fired a fatal round into his back. The court accepted that because they had no choice, it was all filmed by a by-stander, and yet it still found that the officer had not committed murder, nor had he intended to kill Oscar Grant.

I mean who would expect a man to die after being cold-bloodedly shot in the back at point blank range? And just because grant was unarmed and prone there's no reason to think that this white officer was safe from this extremely black man at his feet. I'm surprised they haven't given Mehserle a medal frankly.

A demonstration of over a thousand people marched after the verdict of non-guilty was announced bearing signs saying "Oakland says guilty". The demo turned into a riot with shops smashed and police lines attacked.

You can watch video here that shows locals speaking for themselves about what they feel about the verdict. The video goes on to show the police response to the peaceful protest although it cuts short before the riot begins.

I'm tempted to say I don't welcome the riots, but frankly I think it's far more important to say that I far from welcome the institution bigotry that allows the Orangemen to dominate Catholic areas with their hate, or the courts that allow police officers to shoot unarmed men in the back just because they're poor and black.

3 comments Labels: Ireland, Law and order, Racism, USA

Norman Tebbit, his wife (pictured) were victims of the 1984 IRA Brighton bombing of the Tory Party conference, an event which, no doubt, has had a profound personal impact on their lives. It is understandable that he feels aggrieved at having been blown up, who wouldn't.

link[i-link]However, he is wrong to say that if there is an inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings then there should also be an inquiry into the Brighton bombing, and indeed every other death at the hands of the Republican movement.

He says that "The victims of Brighton are no less important than those of Londonderry. They should not be treated as second-class victims... Some victims, the peace process seems to imply, have superior rights to others."

This is interesting because he spent most of his career treating the people of "Londonderry" as second class citizens and has rarely, if ever, expressed sympathy for the victims of Bloody Sunday. More to the point though I'm not sure it follows that giving justice to those shot dead by British soldiers that day does, somehow, downgrade the status of other victims of the troubles.

It does however say quite a bit that Tebbit is unable to hear these victims get sympathy without somehow implying that this sympathy is an insult to others. It never works the other way round does it?

When the Brighton bombings come up does he feel obliged to say "We must also remember that there were victims on the other side too who must feel terrible." Not a bit of it. You're more likely to hear the Generals and officers who are currently busy muddying the bloody waters to point out when some media sycophant points out that many soldiers were professional and restrained in their job that "we should not forget that others were murderous psychopaths just looking for any excuse to bully, victimise, torture or even murder someone if they could get away with it."

However, there is a very good reason why Bloody Sunday needed an inquiry and the Brighton bombing does not - and it has nothing to do with how "worthy" the victims of the two events are.

Patrick Magee, who was released under the Good Friday Agreement, was personally responsible for the Brighton bombing. He admits this, and it is uncontested. He did this under the instructions of the Provisional IRA who, at the time, said "Mrs Thatcher will now realise that Britain cannot occupy our country and torture our prisoners and shoot our people in their own streets and get away with it. Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always. Give Ireland peace and there will be no more war."

All the key facts around the Brighton bombing are uncontested and the political reasons for the bombing are clear and open. We can argue about whether the bombing was "a good thing" or not, although I doubt there are many these days who'd be willing to defend it, but there is no cloak of secrecy around the events.

Unlike the IRA the British State was never clear and unequivocal about what had happened or why. The victims were lied about. It was said they were armed, that they were rioters, that they had petrol bombs, that the British soldiers were returning fire. None of this was true, but all of it was repeated as truth in the British press while dissenting voices, who knew the truth, were silenced.

That is why the events of Bloody Sunday required an inquiry - the uncover the truth that had been denied in all the official accounts. The victims of the Brighton bombings know the truth. It does not make them second class victims as Tebbit claims just because the state never took the trouble to smear and denigrate those who'd been killed.

1 comments Labels: Ireland

Something I never thought I'd ever hear a Tory, or Labour, Prime Minister say; "What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong." He went on to make clear that every person who was shot and killed by the paras that day was innocent, unarmed and a victim of injustice.

derry[i-derry]Cameron then apologised for the killings and seemed to accept the report's finding that some serving soldiers had lied under oath about their actions on that day. The victims have been exonerated of all the slanders that were told about them after their deaths. The government has taken responsibility for the actions of its armed forces. Extraordinary. The PM's full statement.

The reaction of the families was extremely moving. There seemed to be a real feeling that some kind of healing had taken place, and whatever happens next I'd like to thank Cameron for being so clear and unequivicol in his statement on the findings. Kate Nash said "My brother William. We know he was innocent, we've always known. Now the world knows." Some of families reactions.

This has been a victory for the victims and their families, even if it's a victory that took decades to long to come.

Eamonn McCann, who was there on the day, has been a long and active campaigner for justice. He said that “The responsibility for Bloody Sunday doesn’t simply rest with those on the ground, it rests with the senior officers who sent the paras into the Bogside in full knowledge of what was likely to happen. When people talk about prosecutions I think it would be unfair if they were made to carry the entire burden of guilt. There are people more culpable than them.”

Bernadette Devlin, who was also a leading light in the civil rights movement and witnessed the events said that "As a member of parliament at the time, I was denied the right to give parliament an eyewitness account. The home secretary, Reginald Maudling, lied to the House and the media willingly collaborated in uncritically repeating the government misrepresentation. In what was considered gross overreaction and disgracefully violent behaviour, I crossed the floor of the House and hit him.

"I did not call for a public inquiry, did not welcome the Saville inquiry and only testified to respect the wishes of the bereaved families. I regret none of those things, but challenge the view that it was an expensive waste of time, energy and money. Had Bloody Sunday been no more than a violent and disgraceful overreaction or unlawful behaviour on the part of a few "squaddies" or overzealous commanders, it would not have required the British government and its military to create the complicated labyrinth of lies and deceit which has taken hundreds of testimonies, thousands of pages, millions of pounds and 38 years to unravel."

The Irish Independent has a useful key facts piece on the report. You can read the entire report here.

3 comments Labels: Ireland

Just to follow up on that last post I thought I'd just flag up what happened in the region that is officially described as Northern Ireland.

n-ireland[i-n-ireland]So we can see that even in a relatively small region the system acts to favour some parties at the expense of others.

The DUP get the most MPs but did not get the most votes. the Ulster Conservatives and Unionists get more than 100,000 votes yet get no representation at all, while the SDLP who got a little more than them gain three MPs and the Alliance who won less than half their votes do win representation.

This just isn't working for me I'm afraid.

0 comments Labels: General Election 2010, Ireland

Specifically the bit in the north of the island. Watching Question Time last night I realised I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the way the 'peace process' in Ireland is being used as a way of avoiding political questions and ends up being simply code for maintaining the status quo.

iris_titty_26275t[i-iris_titty_26275t]All the politicians lined up to say how the question of a corrupt MP who broke her marital vows must not be allowed to 'derail the peace process' as if attempting to resolve any contentious political issue might suddenly see the region erupt into petrol bombs and internment without trial.

It's as if we are being asked to simply accept political wrong doing for the sake of the children. The problem is that if any public row might see a return of the darkest days of the troubles (and there's no evidence at all that this is likely) it means that politics in the north of Ireland is over. If politicians can't have a good old barny in the six counties then the British government ends up making all the decisions by default.

That's a very comfortable position for Peter Hain to advocate. Slanging matches between the parties in England is all very well because we are a mature and stable democracy populated by exemplary, grown up statesmen like Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, but these childlike Irish can't be allowed to disagree because who knows where it will lead.

I have a few simple questions about the Iris Robinson affair. If we can't deal with financial misconduct in a politically confident way does that make the institutions in the north of Ireland more or less robust? In the long run are people going to have more or less confidence in those institutions if every scandal gets fudged and every difficult question avoided?

If every political question, no matter how unrelated, comes down to the peace process how are we ever to return to 'normal politics'? Why are heated rows in one part of the UK seen as normal but they are forbidden in another part of the UK?

Is every disagreement or crisis really a herald to a new dawn of violence in Ireland's north when they are the political norms in both the south of the country and in the rest of the UK?

Where is the evidence that we are on the brink of a renewal of sectarian violence in earnest? Or is it simply the cack handed structural set-up of the institutions that mean that even the bread and butter of politics (a leader stepping down) supposedly threatens the stability of the entire government?

4 comments Labels: Ireland

I noticed this little bit of footage from the Irish Dail of how Green TDs conduct their business in the House.

Here Paul Gogarty TD outlines his considered response to his critics.

[Loband: Object Removed -]

According to the Irish Times Gogarty seems to be a little touchy about his support for the Social Welfare Bill which appears to involve cuts in benefits.

That aside, how do I rate the swearing. Well the "fuck you" itself was delivered with a superb plosive cadence by Gogarty made all the delicious by signaling its approach. However, the apology saddened me because it was clearly a technical apology made to get out of trouble which undermines the sincerity of the initial ruddy oath.

Whilst the swearing itself was delightful it's a shame Gogarty dulled its effect with apologies and technicalities. It's more of a shame though that the Greens are backing a right wing bill designed to cut welfare costs.

(h/t Harry's Place)

2 comments Labels: Economics, Fun, Ireland

Mark McCormick from the Irish Green Party has very kindly written me a guest post on the silent protests in response to the recent killings by dissident republicans in the north of Ireland.

belfast[i-belfast]The killings of two British Soldiers, no older than I, and the killing of a PSNI Officer who left behind a wife children and grandchildren has cast a dark mood throughout our small province of Northern Ireland.

I was actually at the Irish Green Party conference in a small B&B on Sunday morning when I faintly heard the radio broadcast say two soldiers have been shot in Antrim. I thought I must have misheard assuming it must have been an attack in Iraq or Afghanistan... returning to my room I turned on the TV to see the news report and my stomach turned in knots.

I grew up coming out of the troubles thankfully. The Peace Process was what I grew up through and I have lived a very peaceful life so far in Northern Ireland. The thought that some people wish a return to the violence of the past sickens me and so many people young and old throughout our society.

For the first time we seen Peter Robinson of the DUP, Martin McGuiness of Sinn Fein and Hugh Orde of the PSNI stand side by side and condemn this violence. This was one shining beacon coming out of all this. Staunch Unionists and Staunch Republicans coming together to condemn the violence.

belfast2[i-belfast2]Today Silent Protests where organised throughout Northern Ireland with the largest rally in Belfast City Centre. Thousands of people from all faiths, backgrounds and political persuasions stood side by side in silence. It was such a moving moment to stand there and see just how many people were standing with me. It became clear, no one wants a return to the old days of blood and tears. I held a banner which I believe summed up the mood of all people there "Dear Dissidents, Hear our Plea - Please end the Killing Spree."

I don't think the Dissidents will heed our plea. When the two soldiers were shot two pizza delivery men were also shot. At first everyone thought they were caught in the cross fire. To our horror when the Real IRA released a statement they said they purposely shot the pizza delivery men for collaborating with the British Army - collaborating by delivering them pizza. This sort of act shows the mindset of these people. They are trapped in the past, they will never move on.

For this conflict to end we need strong political leadership that will unite the people against those who wish to destroy the peace process that we have worked so hard to achieve so that our children will not have to see the violence we have witnessed the past few days.

10 comments Labels: Guest Post, Ireland

Oh dear God let it happen! Next month the Irish Green Party conference will discuss whether to call an all members meeting on staying in the right wing coalition government. This decision is not one that only effects Ireland but the reputation of Greens all over the world is at stake.

greenshite[i-greenshite]Some favour trying to form a "government of national unity" with lefter forces, like Sein Fein, whilst it looks like others (although I fear a minority) just want shot of the lot of them in order to get back to fighting for what they believe in.

The whole process of going into the coalition in the first place was pretty sickening as the party leader at the time of the election, Trevor Sargent, had said he would not lead the Greens into a coalition. Voters will have been under the impression that this meant the Greens weren't going to be coalition partners with the right.

Nope, Sargent resigned the party leadership in order to allow the party to take a child's seat at the table. I suspect many of those who'd voted for the Party would have felt utterly betrayed by the move, or at least bewildered. That kind of approach is frankly unimpressive.

Of course, with the Euro elections coming up we'll be able to see exactly how much these decisions have cost the Greens in support in Eire. From my perspective however, the performance of the party in government has been weak to say the least. Partly because they are constrained by their senior partners they have not exactly covered themselves in glory (eg roads, bus fiasco, GM crops) this despite holding the Minister for the Environment post.

A number of high profile resignations from the party were made all the worse by the dismissive attitude of the Party itself and it appears that activists have dropped out of the party orbit - either into inactivity or simply more direct forms of democracy.

I suspect a large number of Greens around the world will be watching to see what happens in Ireland both at the conference and in the Euro-elections. Personally I can't see the point of having a principled party if it's principles are for sale. Whilst I don't hold with any form of purism it really does seem that the Irish Greens have been a tragic example of how successes can be built on sand.

7 comments Labels: Green Party, Ireland

It's true, the dinosaurs are not yet extinct and it appears that Sammy Wilson is their elected representative in the northern bit of Ireland. Mr Wilson is the environment minister who has refused to broadcast a series of ads which he describes as “insidious New Labour propaganda” because they suggest ways people can cut their electricity bills - which also helps the fight against climate change.

wilsonpaisley[i-wilsonpaisley]He also appears to believe he can ban anyone else from discussing the issues when he said "that future ecological messages could only be promoted in Northern Ireland with his permission". That sounds like a challenge and I notice that students at his old university via the Queens Student Radio Station are playing the offending ads on the hour every hour. Good stuff.

He has been accused by the Ulster Unionists of "effectively [making] a Unilateral Declaration of Independence against Her Majesty's Government", interesting that a DUP politician should do so, don't you think? Maybe he's not guilty of climate denial (although he is), perhaps his sin is Republicanism?

Stormont Assembly members have voted no confidence in the erstwhile Minister. "Tommy Gallagher, SDLP, accused Mr Wilson of "political sabotage of an important public awareness campaign"." However, it's hardly the first time he's got on the wrong side of the green movement as he's in favour of Heathrow expansion, in favour of nuclear power, opposes the creation of an environmental protection agency, in fact he seems an all round odd choice to be an environmental Minister at all.

Irish left blogger Splintered Sunrise notes that even(?) page three models seem to have a better understanding than the minister with her tips on having an eco-friendly valentine's day (which manly consist of staying in bed). Unfortunately Wilson is not so unusual nor unpredictable that some people can't play climate deniers bingo.

You can sign the petition to give him the boot here.
You can watch the “insidious New Labour propaganda” that attempts to help people cut their fuel bills here. Scary stuff.
Further reading: Marcus Brigstocke - brilliant stuff.

3 comments Labels: Environment, Ireland

Curious, there are a number of interesting stories abound about how distant historical figures still play some part in modern politics. Take this row in Florence over the poet Dante, a man who died around seven hundred years ago.

dante_in_exile[i-dante_in_exile]As I understand it Dante supported the Guelfi Bianchi who wanted to see more political autonomy (for Florence) from the Catholic Church. Dante's high profile and active support for this group found him exiled from the city with all his assets seized by his enemies.

Later, when the city changed hands he was offered the right of return if he submit to a public penance - he refused, after all what had he done? Hold political views supporting one section of the ruling elite who happened to lose their struggle. So instead he was sentenced to be burned at the stake but remained in exile and died of natural causes.

All very interesting I'm sure you'll agree but it was a while back so why bring it up now? Well, the official edicts against this vile Guelfi Bianchi still hold. Two city councillors put forward a motion to "rehabilitate" Dante and award him the Golden Florin (which I'm told is a high honour). The motion passed but there is a vocal minority who less than impressed with the scheme.

Dante's direct descendant Count Pieralvise Serego Alighieri has refused to attend the ceremony because of "petty polemics" by those who oppose the decision. He says he'll accept nothing less than unanimity on the decision that his ancestor did nothing wrong.

"My heart sank when I read certain remarks from the Communist and Green councillors who voted against the motion. One argued that the event should be used to celebrate all the political exiles all over the world as well as immigrants and the power of their ideas against dictatorial regimes.

''Another said the whole thing was just a publicity stunt, another said the Florin should also be awarded to (witch-hunting monk Girolamo) Savanarola, and another said Dante's heirs didn't deserve to be called Alighieri,''

In fact whilst you'd have thought there wouldn't be much problem in lifting a seven hundred year old conviction the motion passed by just one vote in the council chamber. It's seems that even old issues that seem to have been resolved years ago still hold the power to create real ripples.

My other example is of William of Orange, who I was surprised to hear was a renowned homosexual.

billy[i-billy]One Peter Tatchell, for it is he, is off to the North of Ireland to... well... annoy unionists frankly. Those who adore the Orange but hate a selected range of Biblical sins.

I can't help but think this may have been provoked by the way that leading members of the DUP have been getting on their high white horse about homosexuality over recent months. If they will keep poking the beehive (this is not a euphemism but rather a metaphor) they must expect to get a little stung.

Their reaction could probably be summed up best as "Most visitors to loyalist areas will have seen images of King Billy on horseback - have you ever seen one of him riding side saddle? No - so get to fuck you fenian bastard".

Tatchell's commendable and informative wheeze is actually part of Belfast's week long Pride celebrations. I think the man himself sums it up best when he says "It is particularly hypocritical for unionist politicians to play the homophobic card when their hero, William of Orange, had male lovers."

0 comments Labels: Europe, History, Homophobia, Ireland

I make no claims to know anything about this subject, but the results of the Irish elections are now in and look interesting;

Party	FF......	FG......	Lab.....	PD......	Green...	SF......	Ind.....	SP.....
2007	78	51	20	2	6	4	5	0
2002	81	31	20	8	6	5	13	1
Difference (See note)	-3	+20	+0	-6	+0	-1	-8	-1

So although the control of Fianna Fail as a minority government looks set to continue there have been some interesting shifts elsewhere. It seems that Fine Gael (who are members of the European People's Party along with Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, and Forza Italia among others) have mopped up most of the independent seats radically reducing the smaller voices in the Dail (Parliament) of both the left and right including independents, the Socialist Party, Sein Fein and the Progresive Democrats.

The Greens are the only one of the small parties to have withstood this squeeze and have managed to retain six seats, although third placed Labour, who have had close ties with Fine Gael in recent years, have also kept to 20.

The more mathematically astute will already have noticed that Fianna Fail are just six short of 84 seats (half of 166) and so one possible coalition partner, on paper, would be the Greens. However I have been told that "the party leader, Trevor Sargent, is on record as stating that the Greens would never enter a coalition with Fianna Fail, and this would require a special party congress to agree. I think it more likely that they will cobble together a deal with the Progressive Democrats and Independents."

Note: It may appear that there is one extra seat in the Dail - that's because of the Speakers seat... no need to panic.

6 comments Labels: Democracy, Ireland