Tomás Ó Flatharta

The electoral action proposed here is :

How To Vote on November 29? Oppose Any Coalition with FFFGGG – Stop the Far Right : Vote Left, Transfer Left

FFFGGG Equals ; Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Greens, Gombeens.

The 2020-2024 coalition government was composed of three parties : FF, FG, and the Greens – and was regularly supported by Right-to-Racist Gombeens (Independents) in the last Dáil.

In this context it is important to know the identity of left-wing and right-wing independent candidates.

A Cedar Lounge Blog writer has done a great job identifying credible candidates on the left who are often categorised as independent. Link :
Possible Left Independents in the next Dáil

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Here is the excellent article :

As noted in comments here a number of left Independents of one stripe or another are running, either to hold their seats or to return to the Dáil. Irish Election Literature has material from a huge number of candidates here on a special page on the 2024 election and it’s an essential read to get a sense of matters. One thing that was perhaps under considered in 2020 was the winnowing of left Independents (or those who were with small groups). It really took the wind out of the left side of the Independent equation with barely a handful left and some who barely were left at all (who left for Europe at the last election).

Here’s a selection of possible Left Independents. What of others who are potential, possible or likely to arrive in the Dáil?

Joan Collins in Dublin South Central. Four seats. Irish Times suggests: Collins’s organisation is based in Dublin 12 and she will need to increase her first-preference vote to double digits in order to survive.

RTÉ suggests: ‘Bríd Smith is working hard to broaden Cllr De Nortúin’s profile across the constituency. Yet she will be up against the sitting TD Joan Collins, also a socialist candidate with Right to Change. First elected back in 2011, Collins is very well known in the constituency and well regarded. The incumbent would seem to have the edge over Cllr De Nortúin at this early stage..’ And: ‘Sitting TDs Joan Collins and Patrick Costello have a slim advantage over the other candidates but are by no means guaranteed to be returned to Leinster House.’

Clare Daly in Dublin Central. A four seater. The Irish Times has her in serious contention. – “Last time Gannon proved more transfer-friendly to the votes of smaller left-wing candidates, which allowed him to edge out Fitzpatrick. But Sherlock and Daly will be stiff competition. Like many Green candidates, Hourigan will be up against it, but the Greens were not wiped out here in the locals.” RTÉ argues: While Gary Gannon is well known in the constituency and Neasa Hourigan also has a high profile the arrival of Clare Daly on the scene may take votes from either or both. Therefore it’s likely to be a battle here for the third and fourth seats between Gannon, Hourigan, Daly, Sherlock and Fitzpatrick.” A lot of evident support on the ground for Daly – posters in windows and gardens etc.

Seamus Healy in Tipperary. A three seater, The Irish Times is pessimistic, given Mattie McGrath’s position in the constituency – “just like Lowry hoovered up traditional Fine Gael votes in Tipp North, McGrath gets lots of previously Fianna Fáil votes in the South. Goldsboro topped the poll in the Carrick-on-Suir area in the local elections but to get ahead of Browne she will need to pull votes out of Clonmel too, where former independent TD Seamus Healy is also running again. Healy used to take much of the old Labour Party vote in the town, but Labour is in better shape in the constituency than it was before with Killenaule councillor Michael “Chicken” Brennan running for the party.” RTÉ argues: “Michael Murphy (Fine Gael), Mattie McGrath (Independent) and a seat for Sinn Féin’s Martin Browne although any major drop in support for Sinn Féin could put Séamus Healy right in the mix.”

John Lyons Dublin Bay North. Five seats. The Irish Times argues: “If Denise Mitchell’s running mate, Mícheál Mac Donncha, acts as an effective sweeper, it will boost her chances, but of the Sinn Féin 2020 poll-toppers, she is seen as a potential surprise loss. After a good local election, it looks like Cian O’Callaghan should hold and escape the battle for the last seat, which could end up going to an Independent in the form of John Lyons or Barry Heneghan, who steps into the old Finian McGrath vote. Don’t rule out a second Fine Gael seat either. Labour’s Shane Folan may struggle to hold the former Aodhán Ó Ríordáin seat.” RTÉ says: “Independent John Lyons has been a councillor since 2014. First elected for People Before Profit, he has unsuccessfully contested two previous general elections, including once for People Before Profit and once for the grouping Independent Left. Mr Lyons, from Santry, has been vocal on issues such as the affordability of housing at the Oscar Traynor Woods development and the recent Coolock riots. He topped the poll for Artane-Whitehall in June’s local elections and is regarded by many as in the race for the final seat in this constituency.”

Catherine Connolly in Galway West. A five seater. The Irish Times also has her in serious contention to retain her seat. “At present, there are two Independents, one Fianna Fáil, one Fine Gael and one Sinn Féin TD. The ultra local Noel Grealish from Carnmore has held a seat for 22 years. The other Independent, Catherine Connolly, has a high national profile and is seen as the candidate of the political space once held by Michael D Higgins.” RTÉ argues: – “Independent Catherine Connolly is a regular contributor to Dáil debates and has built a respectable base since she was first elected in 2016. While not your typical “parish pump” politician, she is expected to command a strong chunk of support across the city and county.” and “Sitting independents to get re-elected along with Hildegarde Naughton, and one from Fianna Fáil, with a battle for the final place, likely to involve a range of candidates.”

Diarmuis Dougie Mac Dubhghlais in Dublin North-West. Three seats. RTÉ suggests: ‘Diarmuid ‘Dougie’ Mac Dubhghlais, a long time housing and homeless campaigner and community activist is also running in the constituency. He stood in the local elections but did not get elected.’

Thomas Pringle is hoping to retain his seat in Donegal. Five seats. The Irish Times says: “Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue and Independent Thomas Pringle were both elected on the ninth count on healthy numbers in 2020, and McConalogue has enjoyed a high profile as Minister for Agriculture. Pat “The Cope” Gallagher lost out previously for Fianna Fáil to that Sinn Féin tsunami. Will he reclaim the ground? Or will that Sinn Féin tsunami become an Independent tsunami in 2024? In this case, a transfer-friendly Thomas Pringle could fancy his chances, too.” RTÉ argues: “Independent Thomas Pringle, from Killybegs, has succeeded in three general elections. He is viewed as transfer friendly and would expect to be in the mix again. He took the third seat in 2020 and has been vocal on the concrete block issue, fishing, healthcare and the Middle East conflict.” and “Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin), Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Féin), Thomas Pringle (Ind). At least one Fianna Fáil (Charlie McConalogue or Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher) with Charles Ward (Redress 100%), Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the mix for the last seat.”

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The above article is extremely thorough; we can add some extra important details.

Three Independent TD’s Who Left Sinn Féin

Three Deputies left Sinn Féin during the last Dáil and now are independent candidates. Will Brian Stanley, (Laois) Patricia Ryan (Kildare South) and Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare) be TD’s on Saturday? More important from a left-wing angle : Are they dog-whistling to the racists? Are they opposing the arsonist-racist scum? The form book is awful. Two TD’s left Sinn Féin before the 2020 general election : Peadar Tóibín (Meath) and Carol Nolan (Offaly). Both Tóibín (Leader of Aontú) and Nolan rapidly moved into racist-right and anti-abortion territory, and kept their seats in 2020.

Natalie Treacy – Left-Wing Independent who left Sinn Féin

A welcome counter-example is provided by the former Sinn Féin member Natalie Treacy, an independent candidate in Dublin West :
Dublin West – Natalie Treacy

Treacy has a much better anti-coalition policy compared with her former party, Sinn Féin

While Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are performing well in the polls, there is another large number of voters – including those for Treacy’s former party Sinn Féin – who want to see their duopoly ended after over 100 years of being in government. Would she be willing to join a coalition government with either of these parties? “Look, I’m a left-align. That’s my policies. I just can’t see any way forward for me and Fine Gael to be sitting in a room and work it out.

Another Left-Wing Independent in Dublin West, Tania Doyle

Another prominent left independent running in Dublin West is Councillor Tania Doyle :
Dublin West – Tania Doyle

Councillor Doyle stands on the left :

Only recently, we had a childcare facility close down in one of our community centers because they couldn’t compete with the private childcare system. So we need public and affordable child care. Again, where do we start? We need to start giving more support services to the public childcare system, and the existing childcare system that’s in our communities at the moment.”

Ruth Coppinger (Solidarity/People Before Profit) has a chance in Dublin West

The above information leads me to suggest that, if Vote Left – Transfer Left operates in Dublin West

• Councillor Ruth Coppinger (Solidarity / People Before Profit) has an excellent chance of regaining the Dáil seat she lost narrowly in 2020
• Green party leader and government minister Roderick O’Gorman is very likely to lose his seat
• A left independent (Tania Doyle or Natalie Treacy) might also be one of the 5 Dublin West deputies next Saturday

Information about the Ruth Coppinger campaign :

Dublin West – Ruth Coppinger

Cllr Coppinger is officially standing for the Solidarity Party which has formed an electoral alliance with People Before Profit for the past number of years. “I don’t see a conflict between the two. I’m standing as part of the Solidarity-People Before Profit group in the Dáil, to try to provide a united socialist left alternative point of view, and people want to see unity. So, you know, we’ve come together in the last few elections.”

Gombeen Independents in the last two Dáils

Gombeens in the last Dáil were part of the right-wing government spectrum : from the Healy-Raes in Kerry, to Marian Harkin in Sligo, to Verona Murphy in Wexford.

Dublin Gombeens were prominent in the 2016-2020 Dáil : Finian McGrath, Katherine Zappone and Shane Ross got mega-perks : a government ministry in the Enda Kenny/Leo Varadkar Fine Gael minority governments propped up by Fianna Fáil.

Finian McGrath’s contribution to the current campaign is

Simon Harris is one of few people who gets disability issue’ – former independent minister says Taoiseach has been treated harshly 🙄 – Source Irish Independent

Which brings us to the treacherous idea that being “Independent” is good enough – it is not. Clare Daly is associating herself with Finian McGrath : a pro-coalitionist careerist, a colleague of the ultra-right Shane Ross – both of them ministers in the 2016-20 Fine Gael government.

Check your ‘Independents’! Make sure you don’t vote for so-called ‘Independents’ that are just playing the game, and are going to put FF&FG back in power. A MAJORITY of them did NOT vote against Varadkar or Martin becoming Taoiseach…

https://twitter.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1861555443165692242

This time around the vast majority of “independents” listed in the opinion polls are on the right, within an increasingly dangerous right to far-right racist spectrum. It is possible that right-wing racist scum, who emerged from the margins in the June 2024 Locals and European elections, will be a significant presence in the next Dáil.

Confront Racism – No to Dog-Whistling

Lots of the “left” in a broader sense are trying to be careful not to alienate voters. They bend in the wind to far right shite. This means that days ahead are likely to be very difficult.

Much better anti-racist approaches are available.

To her eternal credit the Labour party leader Ivana Bacik TD (Dublin Bay South) put forward a very good anti-racist policy on the RTÉ Radio 1 Morning Ireland show earlier today. Genuine left-wing candidates would do us all a favour by repeating that formula word-for-word in the next few days.

Principled socialist anti-racists can adopt Bacik’s excellent anti-racist formula, while also opposing Labour’s policy of aiming to be a coalition partner of FFFG.

Link to Audio Interview with Ivana Bacik TD
Ivana Bacik – Embrace new arrivals to Ireland

Highlights :

• Open new state run facilities to provide accommodation to migrants
• Provide Information, Bring People Together, Host Welcome Meetings, Tangible Services and Community Gain
• Shameful – 3000 people on the streets without accommodation
• Bringing people together – actively supporting the Dublin4All network : Cabra4All, Dublin4ForAll, Dublin6ForAll and so on
• Reject Sinn Féin policy opposing migrant accommodation in one location and moving them to “affluent” areas – unsustainable – Across the country in affluent and not-so-affluent areas we are seeing success stories of integration

Cabra For All is distributing this leaflet as widely as possible in the Dublin Central Constituency

John Meehan November 27 2024

NB Thanks to many friends and comrades who helped gathering information and advice for this article

A PDF of the Cabra For All General Election Leaflet, November 29 2024