Navan councillor Jenny McHugh at the Labour Party conference in 2010.
She can’t stand by and watch her party help make this country more unequal.
Fianna Fail it is so.
Update:
Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin with Jenny McHugh this afternoon at the Alexander Hotel, Dublin, where Fianna Fail launched a policy document on female entrepreneurship (!).
(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)
Colm Keaveney, who has resigned as chair of the Labour Party,
He writes:
It has become popular in recent times to talk of ‘hard decisions’. In my experience there are few decisions worth taking that are not reached without considerable difficulty. Politics is about decisions and taking them is just doing our job. Politics is equally about trust and convictions. It is the trust people place in us, and the courage of our convictions, that should enable us to make decisions.
I have been honoured to serve as Chair of the Labour Party. It is a role that was entrusted to me by the members who make up the organisation. I have always promised to question and debate decisions and to avoid the groupthink that destroyed our country.
I know in recent weeks many members may have been disappointed with my objections to certain provisions in the Protection of Life during Pregnancy bill. I apologise to anyone that feels that way but I hope that all can understand that my concerns are genuine. Labour is a pro-choice party and I never had a difficulty with that until it came to considering the recent legislation.
However, I believe it is right to question all legislation in order to ensure that what we deliver is just and workable. I hope that all can appreciate that my approach is honest and made with the best of intentions even if they disagree.
Economic issues and the creation of a just society were the reasons I joined the Labour Party and entered politics. These go to the core of my beliefs. While we can all agree and disagree on approaches or particular policies this should remain the central theme and aim of any Labour movement worthy of that name.
I have endeavoured at all times to listen to members views and to articulate their beliefs on such issues, sadly this has often meant that I must come into conflict with those who currently lead the party. I have found that the more I articulate the views of members, or try to facilitate a discussion of real Labour policy, I am seen as a problem, a difficulty, an inconvenience to those who believe they know more and understand more than the people they represent.
Unfortunately I can no longer go along with what is increasingly like a political charade. We promise one thing then do another and blame it on someone else. The members must accept what they are given and the leadership will tolerate no dissent.
It is now apparent that cuts to SNAs, resource hours and to the mobility allowance are not decisions taken in isolation to one another. They are a part of a consistent approach that this Government has taken, whereby those groups least able to defend themselves are targeted for decisive action, while powerful vested interests are left untouched.
The partial reverse of some of those cuts is welcome. However, this is no way to run a country – proposing cuts, distressing people and forcing them to engage in protest to secure the reversal of measures that should never have been decided on in the first place. Why not simply engage in consultation first and try to understand the issue rather than acting arrogantly in believing that you know best?
I have tried to seek change. My aim has always been to see the Labour Party hold true to the proud values on which it was established. I find, however, that I can no longer perform this task. The more I wish to represent even the most basic of Labour values the more alienated I become from those at the top. I am in no doubt that my presence is no longer welcome by them. A party cannot function on that basis. It is with a heavy heart that I am forced to reach the only decision I believe is honourable and resign as Chair of the Labour party and from the Labour party itself.
I entered politics to try and make a genuine difference. None of us expects to change the world but we do hope to have a positive impact. The only barometer we can have is if we retain the trust of those who elect us. Honesty is not a cheap commodity to be traded at the steps of government; it is something we should value. If anyone is to have self-respect and dignity then surely it is in being able to say that they stood by their beliefs and did what they thought was right.
I will continue to represent the people of my constituency and people from anywhere in this country on the same basis that they elected me. I will not breach the contract that they made with me just for the sake of staying in a position. Too many at the cabinet table are willing to trade what they held dear for one more hour in the sun.
Politics can change but only if we have the desire to make it happen. Politicians must be brave and must genuinely believe in something more than their own career. The people decide our fate and all we can do is be happy with our actions and be true to our beliefs. I will stand by the people and I will continue to question and lead when necessary until they decide otherwise.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Deirdre, my parents, family and friends for all their support throughout the years. No one can sustain themselves in a political career without the support and advice of those closest to them.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of those in Labour that I have worked and debated with during my time in the party. It has been rewarding and I have always been touched by the basic decency of the party’s grassroots membership and their commitment to improving our country and society. I wish them ever success and good fortune in their endeavours.
Colm Keaveney TD
(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)
(Patrick Nulty, Labour TD for Dublin West, centre, with Eamon Gilmore and Joan Burton last year)
Patrick Nulty writes:
“I have taken the decision to resign my membership of the Labour Party. This was difficult because I have been a member of the party for over a decade. However, it was necessary.”
“I no longer believe that membership of the party is any assistance in advancing the political ideas which form the cornerstone of my value system. These ideas are social justice, equality and the creation of full employment with quality work in our society.”
“I still have great regard for the many decent, hardworking Labour members, supporters and public representatives who share my thirst for a better Ireland. However, the leadership of the party and in particular the cabinet ministers who have sacrificed core social democratic demands for their own personal political ambitions, have brought the entire political system into disrepute.”
“Trust in our political system with citizens has been broken. This means there is a need for new ideas and social movements that are accountable to citizens not powerful interests.”
“The most recent example of the Government hitting the most vulnerable hardest is the announcement that children with special education needs will not receive the resource teaching hours they require next September.”
“The Government has imposed savage cuts to housing adaption grants specifically provided to people with disabilities who need alterations to their home. We have personal insolvency guidelines published which seek to micro manage the personal finances of hard pressed families and we have seen cuts to Child Benefit which Labour had sworn to protect.”
“These are not the actions of a party that is acting in the interests of working people and a just economic recovery. That is why I have resigned. I am optimistic about the future of our country and I will continue campaigning for the radical change that is needed.”
Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore (centre) with, from left, Emmet Stagg, Kevin Humphreys and Ruairi Quinn.
In return for one last spin on the merry-go-round for its ageing leadership, Labour would destroy itself….
..They’ve been ruthless in doing whatever it takes to keep the party on the road to its own doom: knifing Joan Burton, who was too embarrassingly right about the bank bailout to be given an economic ministry; losing the stalwart vote-getter, Willie Penrose; backing James Reilly’s clientilism over Róisín Shortall’s principles; painting the party’s chairman Colm Keaveney as a flaky traitor because he was loyal to the party’s stated policies. If voters needed examples of how to politically assassinate Labour politicians the party’s leadership has shown them the way.
Labour Leaders Keep Party On Road To Its Own Doom (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)
(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
Sunday Times Behaviour & Attitudes poll tomoro, more bad news for Labour. FG 27 (+1); FF 23 (-1); Lab 7 (-4); SF 15 (-4); Ind 25 (+7);
— Sarah McInerney (@SarahAMcInerney) March 30, 2013
@jamesdoorley Sorry James, I forgot to include Greens – 2% (-1)
— Sarah McInerney (@SarahAMcInerney) March 30, 2013
Ouch.
The transcript of the first part of yesterday’s extraordinary exchange between Pat Kenny and Ciaran Lynch (above), Labour TD, over the Cyprus deal.
During the interview Lynch quotes economist Paul Krugman.
Not sure if they’re on the same page, to be fair.
Pat Kenny: “yesterday, Minister Simon Coveney assured the Dáil yesterday that there would be no Cypriot-style raid on bank savings here. But, the question: why, if we hold the presidency of the EU at the moment that the deal ever get past the drafting stage? Well, joining me now is the chairman of the Oireachtas finance committee, Labour TD Ciaran Lynch.
Ciaran Lynch: “Good morning”
Kenny: “Ciaran, there was a bit of consternation because the statement from the Irish government at the time was, this is the original deal that was soundly rejected by the Cypriot parliament:’This is a good deal for Cyprus and a good deal for the Eurozone’.”
Lynch: “Well, what happened on Saturday morning when the Irish government made that announcement, Pat. Is that we were welcoming that an agreement appeared to have been reached and that the Cypriot parliament was sitting down to actually work out the finer detail of it, and the agreement of the Irish government was issued in that context. And I would hope, and I suppose that everyone else would hope that, over the coming days we will see a resolution…
Kenny: “Hang on. The point I’m making is that the Irish government’s statement was: “This was a positive development for Cyprus, the Eurozone as a whole and Ireland.” Now this was raiding people’s personal savings. I mean a ‘smash and grab’ of unprecedented proportions. And the Irish Government said ‘this was good for Cyprus, and good for the Eurozone, and good for Ireland’. I mean…like…shocking.”
Lynch: “The first thing to put on the record is that the suggestion and the proposal to put a levy on any deposits in the Cypriot banks is actually something that came from the Cypriot parliament itself. And that needs to be made very, very clear. The structure of what’s actually being proposed here was in two parts. There’s a €10billion package that is coming through Europe and there’s a €6.5billion package that has to be put together by the Cypriot government. Now the issue here is that the EU and the IMF are being very, very clear. They’ve been granted the €10billion to Cyprus, that if the sum was to be increased beyond that, the loan would actually become unsustainable and that would have huge…”
Kenny: “Yeah. The Cypriots had to find the balance of the money.”
Lynch: “Correct.”
Kenny: “But we have Herr Schauble saying, and the Germans are quite outspoken in certain matters and he was outspoken here. He was the one saying: ‘Hang on a second. You can’t go doing this. There was a €100,000 guarantee. This is not a good idea.’ He was the one who spotted contagion and everyone else seemed to give it the nod.
Lynch: “Well, the €100,000 guarantee remains in place and remains in place across every Euro member state, and certainly remains in place here in Ireland. But what we have to look at in the Cypriot government.”
Kenny: “No, hold on, hang on, tell me what you mean by a guarantee. A guarantee for €100,000 seems to me to be sacrosanct if it is a guarantee. Otherwise it’s not a guarantee at all.”
Lynch:“What the guarantee means is if the bank actually collapses in the morning, and the bank is there no longer, that the State will actually guarantee that’s safe or that €100,000 that they have in an account will actually…”
Kenny: “So in the meantime, hang on a second. So, you go along with this principle. Bank of Ireland are not, eh, you know, they’re trading, they don’t seem to be in any danger, AIB the same. And because they’re not insolvent, you could actually come in and take my money.”
Lynch:“What’s happening in Cyprus has…”
Kenny: “No, no, no. That’s the principle that you are espousing.”
Lynch: “No, no, no, Pat you’re confusing two completely different issues here, OK? The issue of the €100,000 guarantee, which is in place in Ireland across the European member states, is to ensure that in the event of those banks actually defaulting, which is not going to happen in Ireland, that the €100,000 is safe. What was proposed in Cyprus was a proposal that came to the Cyprian government, that a levy, on a once-off basis, would actually be applied. Now there are certain difficulties with this…”
Kenny: “No, hang on a second, hang on a second. What you are saying, therefore, this principle, and we’re talking about a principle here, where Bank of Ireland, AIB, etc are not insolvent. But the government is shook for a bit of cash, that it needs money. That because the banks are insolvent, it could go in and take money.
Byrne: “No. Pat, you’re speculating there are you’re completely wrong to put out any suggestion whatsoever that…”
Kenny: “No but if you’re approving of the principle. I mean it’s a principle that shocked everybody.”
Lynch: “What’s happening in Cyprus is a very, very, very unique situation and if you actually look at what’s at the detail of it. The banking crisis in Cyprus is eight times the Cypriot economy. To give that some measurement with regards to the Irish situation: the Irish banking crisis was four times the Irish economy. Another difficulty with the Cypriot issue is the amount of Russian monies that are actually on deposit out there. Approximately 40% of cash held on account in Cyprus is coming from foreign accounts and the vast majority of that is actually Russian. In fact, Paul Krugman over the last couple of days has indicated two specific issues with there. One, is the absence of poor regulatory controls and no laundry protocols there and secondly, he said that if Europe was not to apply some sort of haircut, the banking sector, in effect, what we’d actually be giving out is a bailout to Russian investors. Now surely you don’t want that.”
Kenny: “So, what’s wrong with the Russian investor? I’m sure if a Russian came over here with a few bob, we’d be glad to have him. I mean if you’re talking about mafia investors,say so. But if you’re talking about genuine Russian businessmen and women they’ve as much right. I mean the Morrison Hotel was bought by a Russian businesswoman. What’s wrong with her?”
More to follow
Listen here
Previously: Lest We Forget
Ciaran Lynch.
In YOUR bank right now
Listen here
Martco writes:
Pat Kenny interviewing Labour TD Ciaran Lynch this morning about the statement at the weekend from FG that the Cyprus solution proposed was a great Deal etc.
Gets interesting from approx 4.40 as PK gets ever more worried (about
his own cash as well no doubt) and the Labour eejit tries to fluster his way past PK’s attentions…
Unbelievably though Pat nails him at 09.20 and you can hear Kenny sweating as yer man basically says how he’s alright with the concept of someone with a large deposit to be raided for funds….
Transcript to follow.
(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
Labour TD for Meath East Dominic Hanigan tweetz:
“In Ashbourne with Ivana Bacik and Eoin Holmes for launch of same sex marriage bill.”
Labour’s Way?
Nein Nine.
Opinion Poll Shows Labour Party Support Dips below 10%, while Fianna Fáil Benefits (RTE)
(Photocall Ireland)
(Pat Rabbitte in shadow at the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce conference on Friday)
Pat Rabbitte, the communications minister has appointed his former constituency organiser to a state board…
Noel Ward the deputy general secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation was appointed to the board of Ordnance Survey Ireland despite not having applied for the role following a public advertisement by the department.
…The Labour Minister has placed a number of other people with party links on state boards. Last month he appointed Willie Scally, a policy adviser to former Labour Leader Dick Springto the board of An Post. James Wrynn, a former director of elections for the Labour party, to the same board.
Rabbitte Aid Put On State Board (Colin Coyle, Sunday Times)
(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)
