Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Archive for the ‘Six County State’ Category

The Border Partitioning Ireland – Credible opinion polls, Brexit, and Perfidious Albion

with one comment

A new credible opinion poll in the six county bit of Ireland states the following :

This matters, because under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA), if a six county (Northern Ireland) referendum results in a pro United Ireland majority, partition will be dead.

There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of this survey – it is consistent with many other recent opinion polls.

Under the GFA, the NI Secretary of State (currently Chris Heaton-Harris) has the power to call a referendum. This Westminster minister is not obliged to call a referendum unless a series of surveys indicate that a majority of voters in the six county statelet (NI) will vote for a change in the constitutional status.

This was a perfect arrangement for the Dublin and London governments in 1998 – a big majority of the people living in Ireland (on both sides of the border) voted to accept a Unionist Veto. No real prospect of a shift in attitudes seemed possible. But something big happened in 2016 which is having long-term results : Brexit.

Read the rest of this entry »

“IF YOU CAN’T SAY NO TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GENOCIDE – THEN YOU’D NEVER BE ABLE TO STAND UP – NOT EVEN FOR IRELAND.”  Poster, Belfast Pro-Palestine Demonstration

leave a comment »

An interesting political coalition is assembling in Ireland, the USA, and elsewhere calling on public representatives to boycott USA President Joe Biden’s annual White House Patrick’s Day celebration in 2024. As Bernadette McAliskey says :

Colum Eastwood’s decision to absent himself and SDLP from ‘rocking the sham’ in the White House is very welcome.
The Irish government parties and Sinn Féin might want to reconsider their positions.

Bernadette McAliskey, Impartial Reporter, February 9 2024

A Pro-Palestine activist, Art Ó Laoghaire, has sent the following message to several Irish public representatives :

Do you believe that Israel is justified in its military campaign in Gaza, and that the US should continue to supply weapons to them?
The last four months has seen more than 27,000 people killed in Gaza, including 10,000 children, and more than 60,000 wounded.
South Africa believes Israel is guilty of genocide.
Amnesty says today that Israel is committing war crimes.
And António Guterres said that the people of there don’t have enough to eat, while Israel continues to block food supplies.

Yet today Joe Biden has asked Congress for billions of dollars to continue to supply arms.

How can you in all honesty go to Washington for St Patrick’s Day to enjoy Biden’s hospitality, while he continues to facilitate this carnage?
Some may claim that face-to-face conversation gives them an opportunity to express Ireland’s views on the situation.
But this is absurd. Biden knows our views. It would say much more to him if his celebrations were boycotted.
It would also be a message to the Irish American voters he is trying to canvas.

If you have any moral principles you will stand by the Palestinians and refuse to join in Biden’s re-election party.

Art Ó Laoghaire

Bernadette McAliskey’s Article :

Sharing thoughts on Northern Ireland politics and American policy

Bernadette McAliskey, Impartial Reporter, February 9 2024

Thank You, Mr. Eastwood.

Colum Eastwood’s decision to absent himself and SDLP from ‘rocking the sham’ in the White House is very welcome.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ultra-loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson live-tweeting “secret” DUP meeting

leave a comment »

Ultra-loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson is live-tweeting the “secret” DUP
meeting where Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is trying to persuade his party to return to
Stormont.

Could you make it up?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-politics-68031910

Our friends at the Cedar Lounge Revolution are also enjoying the DUP carnage :

Perhaps this is the best highlight :

Suggested now in meeting turn of electronics; someone mutters “but JD needs it for his power point”. Chaos

Irish Support for a Patrick’s Day 2024 Boycott of Joe Biden’s White House Shamrock-Drowning Grows

with one comment

We wish to thank Joe Brolly for posting this image on his twitter feed :

Joe Brolly is tirelessly promoting the cause of the Palestinian people.

Readers familiar with political parties based in the six county state in the north of Ireland may be rubbing their eyes in disbelief – is it really possible that the SDLP is taking a stand on this issue, agreeing with most people on the Irish left, and against the Sinn Féin party? The answer is Yes.

The article below puts a remarkable story in context :

Read the rest of this entry »

“Are there two international courts?!!” – Post published by the Cedar Lounge Revolution Blog

leave a comment »

A very welcome post by Des Derwin, first published on the Cedar Lounge Revolution blog. Source : https://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2024/01/16/are-there-two-international-courts/

Last week the left – alongside all decent people – was blaring a fanfare for the referral of Israel by South Africa to the International Court of Justice. And rightly so, of course. It is to be welcomed and it should be supported by the Irish government. All platforms and publications of the left are buzzing with it. South Africa is being commended effusively for their initiative and congratulated wholeheartedly for their solidarity with the people of Gaza. The left has, obliviously, great respect and faith in the International Court of Justice. The left sees it as very significant that a state should be brought to the International Court of Justice to answer for its crimes. 

The BBC reported: ‘evidence submitted by South Africa claims “acts and omissions” by Israel “are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”’. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67922346

The Irish government and many other governments are being accused, not least by the Irish radical left, of double standards, inconsistency and hypocrisy in their attitudes and responses to Russian crimes in Ukraine and Israeli crimes in Palestine. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Roscrea Co. Tipperary : “Mob shouting at tiny children as they cling terrified to their mothers”; “it is pure cruel hateful racism. no more excuses.”

leave a comment »

January 15 2024 in Roscrea Co. Tipperary – Irish police protect Ukrainian immigrants entering accommodation as a racist mob howls abuse and threats of physical violence

Just so everyone is clear. the scenes from Roscrea show a mob shouting at tiny children as they cling terrified to their mothers. it is not about local services, it is not about resources, it is not about information. It is pure cruel hateful racism. no more excuses.

Rose Fleming on Twitter (X)

Paul Murphy TD (Dublin South-West, PBP) shows leadership :

These scenes are just the same as racist attacks on schoolchildren at the Belfast HolyCross School school in 2001 and 2002 :

For weeks, hundreds of loyalist protesters tried to stop the schoolchildren and their parents from walking to school through their area. Hundreds of riot police, backed up by British soldiers, escorted the children and parents through the protest each day. Some protesters shouted sectarian abuse and threw stones, bricks, fireworks, blast bombs and urine-filled balloons at the schoolchildren, their parents and the RUC. The “scenes of frightened Catholic schoolgirls running a gauntlet of abuse from loyalist protesters as they walked to school captured world headlines”


Belfast HolyCross Dispute

Many media reports state that Sinn Féin Tipperary TD Martin Browne and county council party colleagues are associating with the racists.

Enough is enough –

Activity like this has no place in any left-wing or anti-racist political party, full stop.

See reports here :

Roscrea Racket Hall Racist Mob – Cedar Lounge Revolution Reports

On Monday January 15 Gardaí defend immigrants entering accommodation in Roscrea, protecting them from a racist crowd. One Twitter (X) correspondent observes : “Roscrea.
Hang your heads in shame.
Thanks to Michael (Criminal) Lowry, Mattie (everything is a Conspiracy) McGrath and the two SF reps for emboldening this.” Racket Hall- John Madden

Horrific scenes this afternoon in Roscrea as terrified women and children are forced to run the gauntlet through a baying mob of anti-asylum seeking bigots. Gardaí and the Public Order Unit were in attendance in mass numbers. Gardaí remain at the scene. Racket Hall- Irish Rebel1965

The Irish Examiner report below gives us an example of Rosrea racist propaganda. The newspaper quotes a “Sinn Féin councillor” Michael Donovan. However, another SF councilor says Donovan is not a Sinn Féin councillor.

Read the rest of this entry »

Far-Right Protest at Family Home of Paul Murphy TD

leave a comment »

Message from Paul Murphy TD about a January 6 Far-Right Protest :

Far right protesters outside our home on Sat night while we’re putting our baby in bath. They have a sign about Irish homeless but I bet none have helped anyone fight their eviction. They don’t care about children or homeless. They just want to spread hate and division.

https://x.com/paulmurphy_TD/status/1743722455867249087?s=20

Solidarity with Paul Murphy and Jess Spear.


Context :

Source : People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy Condemns protest Outside His House January 6 2024

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has condemned a protest outside his house on Saturday evening.

Murphy posted on Twitter that “far-right protesters” gathered outside his house as he was putting his child into the bath.

The protesters could be seen holding signs that read “illegal male immigrants are housed before Irish homeless”, “why are military aged men fleeing war?” and “Ireland says no.”

Murphy condemned the protest, saying the protesters “don’t care about children or homeless, they just want to spread hate and division.”

“They have a sign about Irish homeless, but I bet none have helped anyone fight their eviction,” he remarked.

Murphy has repeatedly had protesters outside his home, with protesters gathering outside his home last April.

Last summer, the family home of Independent Councillor Hugh Lewis was targeted by demonstrators, with a brick thrown in through the window.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael Minister Simon Harris have also had their homes targeted by protesters in recent years.

Varadkar condemned the attack on Lewis’ home, saying at the time “whatever views people may have, there is no excuse for attacking any individual or attacking their property.”

“That’s absolutely wrong and should be condemned by everyone unreservedly.”

Former Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu, who has been vocal about intimidation and harassment she has faced in office, said “whether you agree with Paul’s politics it’s one thing, but harrassing him, his wife and their baby by standing outside their home holding signs that trumpet false narratives is quite another thing altogether.”

Fellow elected representatives condemned the protest, with Green Councillor Michael Pidgeon dubbing the protesters “utter losers,” Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan saying the behaviour is “totally unacceptable,” and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy calling it “unacceptable harassment.”

Last week, graffiti targeting An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar which claims “he sold out the Irish people” appeared in Drimnagh.

The first day of the Dáil sitting after summer recess last September was overshadowed by protesters depicting TDs hanging from mock gallows, forcing Leinster House to go into lockdown.

In September 2023, it was announced that Councillors would be able to avail of a security allowance in response to the level of threat against elected representatives in Ireland.

Announcing the allowance, Minister Kirean O’Donnell stated “this allowance has been introduced in light of increased security and safety incidents experienced by Councillors.  I would hope that this allowance will support and ensure that current and future serving councillors can continue to carry out the excellent and vital work they do locally for their communities.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik stated before Christmas that election candidates should not have to publish their home addresses, and she said the level of intimidation faced by those running for office is being intolerable.

“Unfortunately, due to the failure of this Government to tackle the far-right and to ensure sufficient safeguards to protect the safety of those who wish to put themselves forward for public office, we know that potential candidates for all parties are fearful of putting their home addresses into the public record. Who could blame them?”

Written by tomasoflatharta

Jan 8, 2024 at 8:07 pm

“Will Sinn Féin in 2024 still just be the “attack dog” of opposition, or will a vision of what it will look like in government be clearly articulated?” Una Mullally, Irish Times, asks a very relevant question

leave a comment »

In the early days of 2024 thoughts turn to the next general election in Ireland which will create the 34th Dáil Éireann no later than February 2025.

Before that, in May 2024, voters in the 26 county bit of Ireland elect local authority councillors and members of the European Parliament.

All reliable opinion surveys suggest Sinn Féin will be the biggest party after the next Dáil general election, and that the current FFFGGG (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Greens, Gombeens) coalition may stay in office.

The post here looks at relevant statistics :

Irish Elections Projections

Sinn Féin does not rule out coalition with the right-wing parties, and – once we ignore silly point-scoring – we can see that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens do not rule out coalition with Sinn Féin. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is explicit on this point :

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin opens the door to coalition with Sinn Féin

The prospect of such a government should send shivers down the spine of any self-respecting supporter of the radical left in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil (FF) and Fine Gael (FG), two tweedledum and tweedledee capitalist parties, have controlled every government running the southern 26 county bit of partitioned Ireland since a 1921 Treaty was signed with the former occupying power, Britain. A carnival of reaction followed on both sides of the Irish border.

Faced with a false choice between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the only rational policy for the left was and is: no coalition, on principle, with any right-wing party. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin opens the door to coalition with Sinn Féin

with one comment

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said there would be “huge difficulties” with his party going into government with Sinn Féin, but did not rule out the possibility of such a coalition after the next election.

Irish Times December 26 2023

Fianna Fáil (FF) and Fine Gael (FG), two tweedledum and tweedledee capitalist parties, have controlled every government running the southern 26 county bit of partitioned Ireland since a 1921 Treaty was signed with the former occupying power, Britain. A carnival of reaction followed on both sides of the Irish border.

Faced with a false choice between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the only rational policy for the left was and is : no coalition, on principle, with any right-wing party. 

The need for this policy is explained in this interview with Paul Murphy TD (People Before Profit, Dublin South-West) : To all of them we say: rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – interview with Paul Murphy TD after the February 2020 Irish General Election

Read the rest of this entry »

The comments of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD on Ukrainian refugees in Ireland are a mistake

with one comment

I note the statement by Mary Lou Mc Donald TD,leader of Sinn Fein with regards to her view that the position to grant special status to Ukrainians following the Russian invasion in 2022 was a mistake.

At the time her party supported the government position.  While party banners were not present, Mary Lou Mc Donald was present for protest outside the Russian Embassy in July to mark 18 months since the invasion. 

I think it unfortunate that the Sinn Fein leader has now expressed a sense of regret at the level  of support for Ukraine in Ireland. Sinn Féin and others have been loud in the support for Palestine rightly, but like so many have left their attention drift with regards to Ukraine.

Rather than reacting to the menacing activity of far right activity and call for a more robust policing and courts response to the fire attack at a hotel in Galway, the Sinn Fein leader’s comments will embolden the nativist elements.

Read the rest of this entry »