Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Archive for the ‘Social Democrats (Ireland)’ Category

Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR) Publishes an anti-Ukrainian Statement – People fled war against Ukraine – they did not come because Ireland had the most generous benefits

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Garrett Mullan discusses an Anti-Ukrainian statement published by Dublin Communities Against Racism.

Irish Left With Ukraine activists were shocked to see anti-Ukrainian content in a post published online by Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR). The post by DCAR was meant to be a left position in response to the Dublin riots following the stabbing outside a primary school in Dublin’s Parnell Square on November 23 2023.

Garrett Mullan is on the right of this photo, demonstrating outside the Dublin Embassy of Russia; two elected representatives are also holding the ILWU banner : Mary Lou McDonald TD (President, Sinn Féin); John Lyons (Councillor, Dublin City, Independent Left)

Some anti racists commented on the post, but the contents were deleted, and the posters were blocked from the site. I was surprised myself to find that I could no longer view the post of the DCAR page on facebook, as I too have been blocked. However, at the time of writing, I could still view the post on Twitter (1) Dublin Communities Against Racism on X: “1/20 Government asylum policy continues to be a hopeless shambles! For some decades prior to 2022 eligible asylum seekers were absorbed into Irish society without any great hue and cry.” / X (twitter.com)

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“When did EU leaders lose their humanity?” – Holly Cairns TD (Social Democrats) Advocates Expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador from Ireland

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On November 15 2023 Dáil Éireann (parliament of the 26 county Irish state) debated 2 opposition motions calling for immediate action against the genocidal war waged by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people living in Gaza. Holly Cairns TD (Teachta Dála [Dáil Deputy]) leader of the Social Democrats party, introduced a motion calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Ehrlich. The text of Holly Cairns’ speech is below.

The deputy from Cork South-West pulled no punches :

When did EU leaders lose their humanity? At what precise moment? Was it when Israel cut off supplies of water, food, medicine and fuel to 2.3 million people in Gaza, and no one shouted “Stop”? Was it when more than 5,000 children were slaughtered, and no one shouted “Stop”? Was it when the fuel ran out and incubators keeping premature babies alive were turned off and no one shouted “Stop”? Was it on Friday, when the death toll reached more than 11,000 and no one shouted “Stop”? Was it at the weekend, when they had to stop counting the bodies and still no one shouted “Stop”?

Holly Cairns TD, Leader, Social Democrats

The opposition motions were defeated by 85 votes to 55 (expel the Israeli ambassador from Ireland) and 80 votes to 60 (refer Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Parties supporting the Cairns motion were Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, and Solidarity-People Before Profit.

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Genocide in Gaza, Palestine; Genocide in Ukraine – Good Bad and Ugly Statements from the Left in Ireland

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Hypocrisy is shared by many political actors on the left and the right. We witness genocide against the Palestine people and genocide against the Ukrainian people. It is the job of the left to practice critical solidarity in each case. Ukraine’s political leader (Zelenskyy) is not left-wing. Palestine’s political leadership in Gaza is anti-left (Hamas). Resistance has to be enabled. Many on the left have a blind spot on this issue. In the case of Ukraine we must prevent the creation of a Palestine/Gaza in Europe by backing armed resistance against Putin’s genocidal invasion.

We present a meme and a counter-meme.

Spot the Inconsistency No.1 :

Spot the Inconsistency Number 2 :

Holly Cairns TD (Social Democrats Leader, Cork South-West) spoke in the Dáil (the Irish parliament) on this issue on October 12 2023. She got it right.

John Meehan October 13 2023

Cedar Lounge Blog Response to People Before Profit Pamphlet : “The case for a left government / Getting rid of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.”

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The Cedar Lounge Blog publishes a very good assessment of a recent People Before Profit Pamphlet. Source : https://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/left-wing-unity/

Everyone on the Irish Left needs to keep the focus on supporting left wing election candidates who rule out coalition with the right in all circumstances. On this key point, People Before Profit is correct.

Predicting a general election result almost two years from now is unwise. The current Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/ Green Party FFFGGG coalition can remain in office until February 2025. These three parties will not voluntarily cut and run unless at least one of them is sure they will benefit from a fresh general election. Could the government fall due to external pressures? That’s possible. At the moment one serious crisis follows another. The latest arises from a government decision making it easier for landlords to evict tenants.

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