Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Archive for the ‘People Before Profit’ Category

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

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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. 

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

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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.

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The Irish Government and Gombeenish Elected Representatives are igniting their own bonfire by conceding to racist protests

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We owe the headline to an excellent Justine McCarthy column in the January 12 2024 edition of the Irish Times :

Recent migrants found locked in a ship at Rosslare were Kurds and Vietnamese, people on the sharp end of global warming. This trend will only increase

This article, very commendably, gives us all stark truth. Here is a key extract :

When anti-migrant protesters set up their camps outside buildings designated – or rumoured to be designated – for asylum seekers, they drive to and fro, light fires and eat takeaway food, adding to the pollution that is making other people’s homeplaces in faraway lands uninhabitable. If they want less immigration, they should go home, switch off their clothes dryers, fix their leaking fridges, cancel their foreign holiday flights, eat less meat and, generally, reduce their carbon footprint.
But they won’t do that. Why would they, when they know the Government is willing to bow to their pressure? First, it caved in to protesters ensconced outside the former JJ Gannon’s Hotel in Ballinrobe, where 50 men seeking international protection had been due to reside in its 12 bedrooms. On Monday, it emerged that the Department of Integration has changed its plan and, now, the building is to accommodate families. Tánaiste Micheál Martin denied this represented a U-turn.
Two days later, there was a second Government change of heart with the announcement that 50 male asylum seekers – the same 50 men? – due to move into an old friary in Carlow town were, once again, being replaced by families. The news followed a protest outside the building.
These capitulations have sent a clear signal to protesters – and the unadulterated racists out there too – that the Government is for turning. With council elections approaching, politics is acutely local. Now is the time to turn the heat up on councillors and political parties looking for votes. Fifty men rendered roofless are reckoned to be a small price for a council seat or two. There are already more than 100 male asylum applicants with no place to stay in Ireland and no imminent prospect of finding a bed because political parties know there are no votes to be gained from that, either in the summer’s local and European elections or the looming general election.
The Government has lit a dynamite taper by rolling over for the protesters. Other communities have every reason now to expect that, if they shout “No”, the gates to their towns will be locked against people whom they deem undesirable to live among them.

The latest anti immigrant protest is happening in the Tipperary town of Roscrea and was the subject of a 24 minute RTÉ radio discussion on the January 12 2024 Today with Clare Byrne Show.

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Far-Right Protest at Family Home of Paul Murphy TD

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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

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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. 

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Learning to Swim – “an argument against a retreat from broad parties and electoral work” – Paul Murphy TD

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Paul Murphy TD (People Before Profit, Dublin South-West) has written an interesting article :

Learning to Swim,;Paul Murphy; December 31 2023

It is published on the ISJ site, a British website :

“International Socialism is associated with the [British] Socialist Workers Party, but articles express the opinions of individual authors unless otherwise stated. We welcome proposals for articles and reviews for International Socialism..”

Paul Murphy is replying to a Joseph Choonara article; link here Revolutionaries and Elections

Here is Paul Murphy’s core argument :

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Did British Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer say “Israel has the right” to cut off food water and electricity to 2 million people in Gaza?

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A resident of Great Britain advises these posters are appearing in an English city. The correspondent observes “Someone is sailing very close to the wind with electoral law even if it is an accurate account of what he said. This is the latest and biggest of a series of these that have popped up locally.”

Has anyone seen these posters in other parts of the British state, including the bit styled “Northern Ireland”. I am guessing the posters would be popular in Scotland and Wales. They could catch on!

A correspondent wondered “And of course it’s not what he said!” – so the blog team looked it up.

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

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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

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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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