United Irelander

The sheep and the wolves

2009-10-03T22:23:00.003+01:00

Well the anti-democratic, dishonest, contemptible, morally bankrupt shower of government and EU ministers have finally got their way and frightened the people into voting Yes to the Lisbon Treaty. Congratulations. I won't hold my breath on there being a repeat of this referendum.

I was always of the view that democracy meant respecting the majority view, regardless of your feelings on the result, but the EU has shown you only have to respect results that back up your own narrow, insular agenda.

The Irish people have shown a staggering capacity for idiocy in giving support to the very people who have in the space of 8 years ignored two referendum results that they did not approve of. They have endorsed a government which specialises in breaking promises.

At least 1 in 3 of every voter refused to sell out on the principles of democracy and equality. Scant consolation however it must be said.

This country will rue the day they endorsed this mob mark my words. To steal a line from W.B. Yeats, all is "changed, changed utterly".

Remember October 2nd, 2009, as the day Irish people signed the death warrant on their democratic rights.

Enjoy your thirty pieces of silver, pat yourselves on the back, and rub your hands together with glee. You have successfully urinated on all the admirable principles that this country was founded upon. Once more, congratulations.

The sheep have made friends with the wolves. I wonder how that will turn out...

A bone...

2009-05-18T21:28:00.000+01:00

Been a while since I posted on the blog so I decided to give an update.

I've become very disillusioned with politics of late which is the main reason for my absence. It turns my stomach the way this country is being governed and the fact that a second Lisbon Treaty referendum is on the way.

Ireland is no longer a creditable democracy that's for sure.

I came across this article in the Independent which pretty much typifies my exasperation with things at the minute...

'Ward closure could kill my son'

This country really does have its priorities all over the place. There's an admirable campaign to save the hospital here.

I recognise the blog at this point is a bit like an old dog starved of food lying listlessly in a corner, waiting to be put out of its misery. I'd like to throw the old girl a bone and write a few posts but it's all just so depressing at the minute isn't it?

Not again...

2009-03-12T04:17:00.000Z

I haven't been about the blogosphere for a bit but I just wanted to express my revulsion at the events of the last couple of days which saw dissident republicans (I hate to call them that) murder two soldiers as well as a policeman.

The Real IRA and the Continuity IRA have claimed responsibility.

Let's be clear here, these people are not genuine republicans. They are a disgrace to the word. What do they hope to achieve exactly? Do they not realise the majority of people oppose them?

Anglo-Irish relations have never been better. While it's true in the past the people of this island did suffer at the hands of our British neighbours, those days are long gone. I'm dismayed and disgusted that people could commit these acts in 2009. They make no sense and have only served to destroy three families. Shame on those involved.

I wonder if they know that in the late eighteenth century, when the United Irishmen were addressing the issue of how Ireland and Britain should co-exist, it was stated that: "It is the union of mind which ought to bind these nations together."

What has been made clear of late is that there is a union of mind between our nations and it is a mind firmly against these kinds of atrocities. The problems of Anglo-Irish relations have tended to be when there hasn't been a union of mind and these so-called republicans are attempting to drag us back to those days. They wish to poison the mind. To turn communities against one another. To turn our nations against one another. I do not think they will succeed.

I hope anyone that knows information on the recent criminal activity comes forward and offers it to the police. Let's not go down the dark road of the past once again.

A new year dawns

2009-01-09T01:56:00.001Z

Hope those of you who still pop by this place are well. I had planned on writing over Christmas but got a bad dose of the flu which seems to be going around. Thankfully it didn't spoil my holidays.

Despite the flu season, the miserable weather and the constant bad news about the economy, let's all try to be optimistic eh?!

I wish you all a happy and productive year ahead.

On a more sombre note I'd like to express my sadness on the death of Independent TD Tony Gregory, who passed away last week aged 61 after a long battle with cancer.

Gregory started out as a member of Official Sinn Féin and was later a founder member of the breakaway Irish Republican Socialist Party before being elected to the Dáil in 1982 as an Independent.

He gained national attention that year through the so-called "Gregory Deal", in which he negotiated a deal with the now disgraced Fianna Fáil leader Charles Haughey to ensure his support for the minority Fianna Fáil Government. In return, Gregory was guaranteed a massive cash injection for his inner-city Dublin constituency.

While I didn't always agree with Mr Gregory's decisions, I did admire his dedication to his constituents and felt he had more integrity than most in the Dáil. I was also grateful when just under two years ago he agreed to take my questions for an interview on United Irelander. You can have a read of that here. I remember admiring his honesty in that interview. RIP.

Democracy is dead

2008-12-11T21:50:00.005Z

This is not a surprise to me as I predicted it would happen but I am still disgusted by the decision...

Ireland agrees to 2nd vote on EU treaty

This destroys forever the myth that the European Union is a democratic institution and, if this wretched Treaty is endorsed at the second attempt, then Irish democracy dies with it.

I voted against this Treaty in June like 53% of the electorate. We have now been dismissed in the most contemptible act of arrogance I have ever seen displayed by an Irish government.

I hear today the EU talking about issues like abortion and neutrality. These issues had no bearing whatsoever in my decision to reject this Treaty. I don't want it as I perceive it to be a threat to the sovereignty of nation-states across the EU.

My feelings are being dismissed out of hand. It is a disgrace.

If they want to push through this Treaty then they will have a fight on their hands to do it. I urge Irish people to stand up for democracy and not allow the European elite in Brussels to ignore our concerns.

As a proper European democrat once remarked, "I may not agree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

I would implore even those voters who voted Yes in June to defend our right to say No, or risk losing that right forever.

Pork recalled in massive food scare

2008-12-07T01:17:00.000Z

In news that has meat-lovers everywhere sweating and vegetarians everywhere looking rather smug, all pork products made and sold here in the Irish Republic since September have been recalled over fears they are contaminated with a toxic substance.

The dioxin, known as PCB, has been banned since 1979 and has been known to affect the immune system and reproductive system and, in certain cases, cause cancer.

Tests showed some pork products contained up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit.

The contamination first came to light last Monday, but the positive tests in the pork were only confirmed Saturday afternoon and the Irish public have been advised to destroy all pork products purchased since September.

Contaminated feed was used at a total of 47 farms, nine of which were pork producing farms, with the remaining 38 being beef farms - one of these also produced pork products.

However the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised that it is not necessary at this time to have a similar withdrawal of beef products.

Alan Reilly of the FSAI said a whole range of products, including sausages, bacon, pizza toppings, should be destroyed. He urged consumers to return Irish pork products to retailers if possible or simply put them in the bin.

The Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, have attended crisis talks at the Department of Agriculture following the discovery of the toxic substance in slaughtered pigs.

The discovery has also provoked concern in the farming community as the pork industry is the fourth biggest in the agriculture sector and is worth around €400 million per year.

Make no mistake about it this is a catastrophe for this country, and that is no exaggeration. This will really hit the farming sector hard and I know butchers who will be having a very bleak Christmas over this development.

The health question is of course the major concern though. Are we safe? I myself like pork and beef products as much as the next Irishman. I don't wolf down the stuff on a daily basis but I eat enough of it to be uneasy. What does this mean for me and people like me? What about the kids who eat ham sandwiches everyday for lunch at school? What about the elderly folks who enjoy a bacon sandwich for their supper? Are we all at risk? The government are telling us no...

"The state's Chief Medical Officer there was no need for the public to worry and that the government had taken a precautionary approach to minimise the risk to public health.

"Dr Tony Holohan said the public should simply destroy what pork products they have in their fridge and freezer. He said the dioxin is only dangerous if a person is exposed to it over a long period of time. In such circumstances, he said, it can have a range of effects on organs such as the liver and nervous system.

"But he stressed that the period in question here is much shorter, and such effects should not arise as the exposure has been identified at an early stage.

"Dr Holohan said because there is no risk from the low exposure, people do not need to seek medical help."

Yeah, SHOULD not arise. Much in the same way that situations like this SHOULD NOT ARISE. I wonder if this is simply being said in order to alleviate fears and prevent widespread panic?

Whatever the case, this is yet another sorry incident to add to this government's absolutely blunderful record in power. Have we put other countries at risk also? Well the UK's Food Standards Agency are awaiting confirmation from authorities here as to whether any of the affected products have been exported to the UK. So that's a maybe.

I have a few questions in all of this. Firstly, why isn't the beef being recalled if there are question marks hanging over it? Not that I'll be going near the stuff anyway. Secondly, how the hell was this allowed to happen? The idea that this stuff has been on sale for THREE MONTHS is frightening. And finally, if we shouldn't panic, then why are government ministers holding crisis talks, hmm?

I've disposed of my meat products anyway and have had to throw out some good ham. Like a lot of people I imagine, I'm fretting over the meat I have consumed in recent times including those tasty sausages I had on Friday night.

Anyways, to any overseas visitors who may be reading this, may I urge you to enjoy your Christmas ham this year because I'm sure there will be many Irish people giving it a miss.

This is another fine mess these clowns in office have gotten us into. You'd think they couldn't ruin anything else but they've actually made a pretty good stab at ruining Christmas. Kudos to them for that.

I would personally like to see the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith RESIGN, to see that waste of space Health Minister of ours Mary Harney RESIGN, plus, last but not least, a general election called for early next year so we can put right the mistake of last year and boot out this shower of incompetent idiots. Then we can get in some people who can actually govern the country without putting the country's citizens at risk. Only in Ireland eh?

Alas, that's about as likely right now as me tucking into a bacon cheeseburger.

Still if we aren't able to enjoy a bacon roll or a sausage roll at the present time, that doesn't mean we can't aspire for a few minister's heads to roll, isn't that right?

The Irish Govt - Heartless cretins

2008-11-05T19:18:00.001Z

Why? Well, I'll let RTE explain:

"The planned national cervical cancer vaccination programme for around 75,000 young girls, due to start next year, has been scrapped by the Health Minister Mary Harney due to Budget cuts.

"The vaccine was to be offered to all 12-year-old girls in primary schools from next September, at an estimated cost of under €10m.

"The HSE recently completed and submitted its implementation plan for the vaccination programme to the Department of Health.

"But Minister Harney has said this evening that because of scarce resources, she will not be proceeding with the programme and intends to focus on cervical screening.

"Around 90 women die from cervical cancer each year, making it the eighth most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in Ireland.

"Two vaccines are available which prevent infection with the human papilloma virus, known to cause most cervical cancers.

"In August, Minister Harney announced that she had approved the start of the vaccination programme following the advice of an expert body.

"At the time, due to budgetary constraints, the minister decided not to proceed with a recommendation also for a catch up programme for 13-15 year old girls."

So to sum up, Irish women will die in the future from an illness that could have been prevented but won't be because of budget cuts.

Absolutely disgusting. Why oh why did Irish people choose to re-elect this shower of utterly despicable, morally corrupt cowards last year? I'm aware the world is suffering economically but there is a right and a wrong way of dealing with it. This is most certainly the WRONG WAY.

Fianna Fáil, PDs, Greens, you are an absolute embarassment. Shame on you all.

Obama heads to the White House

2008-11-05T19:09:00.001Z

My hearty congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the US presidential election. The wider world seems to be very pleased at the news and while I don't believe he will bring a great deal of change to America, at least not in the near future, I think it is good to see the Democrats in power once again. If he makes a trip to Ireland he'll be very welcome. I felt he gave a very fine speech last night.

My commiserations to John McCain. I have a lot of admiration for the man and I think his concession speech was a very dignified one. I didn't like hearing the booing from the crowd but McCain was eager to silence that showing the honour and integrity he possesses. I wish him well.

My hope is that in future America becomes a source of hope in the world rather than a source of derision which is what it has been in recent times. Bush was not a likeable president and I doubt history will judge him too well. America's standing suffered with him at the helm. I do believe though that most of the world has a genuine fondness for Americans and wishes to see its government exercise its great power more responsibly. We shall look on the next four years with much interest.

Summer fun

2008-07-31T23:09:00.001+01:00

I am heading away for a few weeks so I'm going to keep the comment moderation on whilst I'm off.

Keep well, everyone!

Get lost, Sarkozy

2008-07-22T01:16:00.003+01:00

I was delighted that French president Nicolas Sarkozy was greeted with protests from Irish citizens upon his visit to Ireland on Monday. I would have liked to have been there amongst them but alas I couldn't find the time.

Mr Sarkozy had the temerity to suggest recently that we in Ireland should vote AGAIN on the Lisbon Treaty. I knew this abhorrent kite would be floated following the result and I reiterate that it's vitally important we shoot it down immediately.

I voted No. The result was No. MOVE ON. How dare this cretin suggest that my vote and the votes of other Irish people should be dismissed!

I would like to think on his visit he got the message that we in Ireland do not want a repeat referendum however I think the EU is so ignorant, and our politicians are for the most part so spineless, that I'm certain a repeat referendum is very much still in his plans.

I will continue to oppose such a flagrant disregard for democracy and I hope so too will every Irish person. I want the views of the Irish people to be upheld.

Au revoir, Nicolas. Don't come back. To me you're about as welcome as Robert Mugabe and just as democratic.

Sex lessons at age four? Madness

2008-07-04T17:33:00.001+01:00

This shocking idea is being mooted in Britain right now. Courtesy of the BBC:

"Children as young as four should be given compulsory sex education, two leading sexual health charities say.

"The Family Planning Association and Brook told BBC Newsbeat more should be done to cut abortion rates and sexually transmitted infections among teenagers.

"They argue gradual education from such a young age would help children not to rush into sex when they were older.

"The Department for Children, Schools and Family said it was reviewing the
delivery of sex education in schools.

"Children aged four might be taught about the names of body parts and basic ideas about different relationships.

"The government is not giving young people enough information about sex and relationships, the charities add.

"Brook chief executive Simon Blake said: "Many young people are having sex because they want to find out what it is, because they were drunk or because their mates were.

"That's just not good enough for young people. We've got to have high expectations for them so they've got high expectations for themselves."

"He added: "All the evidence shows that if you start sex and relationships education early - before children start puberty, before they feel sexual attraction - they start having sex later.

"They are much more likely to use contraception and practise safe sex.""

I've heard some downright stupid suggestions in my time but this takes some beating. Young people having sex "to find out what it is"...don't make me laugh! I'm sure that's what they told the researchers alright!

Sex education class was given to me around the age of twelve which I think was the right age. I knew the basics anyway thanks to the many discussions with my classmates and, to me, that's part of the fun of growing up! Those conversations with your pals. Reminds me of the scene in Stand By Me where the four kids are sitting around the fire talking about sex and the naive, silly views on it they all have. You teach kids at the age of four about sex and you introduce them to an adult world which they simply do not need to know about.

Someone needs to tell these so-called experts that it's OK for children to have childish viewpoints about certain things. Why? BECAUSE THEY'RE CHILDREN!

Which is more democratic?

2008-06-24T01:19:00.000+01:00

The following email was sent by me to Ms Monica Frassoni (pictured left), an Italian politician and Italian Green Party representative, who is also co-chair of the European Greens-European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament.

I sent the email after hearing her comments in this video (just after the two minute mark).

Dear Ms Frassoni,

I hope this email reaches you. I write to you from Ireland with regards to some comments I heard you make in the European parliament. You said and I quote:

"I respect the Irish vote. But no one is ever going to convince me that a referendum where half the population participated is more democratic than parliamentary ratification."

I must say as someone who voted No in that referendum it doesn't sound to me like you do respect the Irish vote. I hope I am very much mistaken on that. I must point out to you that it was considered quite a good turnout, certainly in comparison to previous EU treaty referendums. I would suspect too that if the result of the referendum had been different, you would have no issue whatsoever with the size of the turnout. Again, I hope I am mistaken on this.

The primary reason for my letter though Ms Frassoni is I'd like you to answer me the following question which has troubled me greatly since I heard your remarks:

How is parliamentary ratification, where none of the population participates, considered more democratic in your mind than a referendum which in fact actually allows for the population to participate?

I look forward to hearing your response.

Best wishes...etc.

Barack Obama, the US and values...

2008-06-22T00:00:00.001+01:00

I'm sure there is a feeling amongst many of you that I haven't quite covered the Lisbon Treaty in enough detail here on United Irelander. I'm sure a lot of you are baffled as to where I stand on that issue for which I apologise.

However I figured I'd turn my attention at this point in time to the United States who, as we all know, have their own election concerns to deal with. Obviously the US presidential race will be followed with great interest by many countries with Democratic candidate Barack Obama squaring off against his Republican counterpart John McCain.

In the past I haven't followed US presidential races with great interest until the eve of the election itself, but this time, like many people, I've been following the campaign closely as it's been very intriguing. I won't pretend to be an expert on American politics or claim that I know a great deal about the day-to-day worries that grip the nation at this moment in time. Admittedly I view the whole affair from an emerald prism and look upon the election with a view as to how it will affect my country and the rest of the world as a whole.

I must say however that I have found myself becoming increasingly impressed with Barack Obama and would add myself to the growing list of people who admire the innate charisma of the man.

I must say too that I wasn't terribly concerned with who would win the Democratic nomination between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. I've found Obama a likeable soul, but I also remember the good work the Clintons did for the Irish peace process and felt that the Clintons in the White House would have been good from this island's perspective. A woman running the US might have been good too for America. (then again there were some Brits who said that about Thatcher and look how that turned out!) Overall I was pretty much on the fence for that whole situation but with Obama getting the nod from Democratic supporters I've since taken the time to read up on the guy and I've been most impressed.

I've been reading a book of his that I picked up in Easons called The Audacity of Hope and the Senator certainly writes a damn good book. He essentially outlines his political philosophies and I've found many of them to be both progressive as well as profound. I've so far only read the first couple of chapters in the book although perhaps I'll write a review of it when I'm done. One quote of his that I found particularly insightful was this passage from his chapter on values. It might not be considered a revolutionary viewpoint but in the world of politics I consider it very refreshing. He writes:

"I am obligated to try to see the world through George Bush's eyes, no matter how much I may disagree with him. That's what empathy does - it calls us all to task, the conservative and the liberal, the powerful and the powerless, the oppressed and the oppressor. We are all shaken out of our complacency. We are all forced beyond our limited vision.

"No one is exempt from the call to find common ground.

"Of course, in the end a sense of mutual understanding isn't enough. After all, talk is cheap; like any value, empathy must be acted upon. When I was a community organizer back in the eighties, I would often challenge neighborhood leaders by asking them where they put their time, energy and money. Those are the true tests of what we value, I'd tell them, regardless of what we like to tell ourselves. If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, if we aren't willing to make some sacrifices in order to realize them, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all."

I'm sure this has been said about every Democratic nominee put forward over the past few decades but I honestly see a bit of JFK in the man. I'm sure there's at least a few people in Offaly who would think just as highly of him since he apparently has Irish roots there. Poor guy. (joke)

With regards to McCain, I wouldn't be too down on him. I've seen him a few times on TV and I think he's one of the good guys. I know there are many fundamentalist Christians in America who consider McCain to be too liberal-leaning for their liking which would indicate to me that McCain can't be all that bad! I have a feeling that the US in the end will endorse McCain as president as I'm not sure if certain US states are quite ready yet for a black man to run their country. It's a shame race has to be an issue but let's be honest, it will be.

Personally though I'll be looking on and wishing Senator Obama well. I feel he is an articulate, thoughtful and genial sort. If one compares the charm of Mr Obama to our own Mr Cowen, it's kind of like comparing Frank Sinatra to Frankenstein. I feel a President Obama in the White House would be a breath of fresh air for America and that he would repair much of the damage done to his nation by his predecessor.

It will be up to Americans to decide their own fate but I just hope they make up their minds based upon the issues at hand and not upon the skin colour of the respective candidates.

Why did the young people vote No?

2008-06-21T18:07:00.006+01:00

I see a lot of people have been discussing the poor campaign put forward by the Yes side for the Lisbon Treaty on the back of new research which shows a majority of voters, including a majority of those who voted in favour, found the No campaign more convincing.

RTE report that 68% of all voters, and 57% of those who voted Yes, thought the No campaign was stronger. The results were from a Eurobarometer telephone poll of 2,000 adults.

What I found particularly interesting though was the fact that the poll found 65% of young people aged 18 to 24 were more likely to have voted No.

Hmm, I wonder why that is? I mean it's hard to believe the Yes side lost considering they put forward such intelligent ads like these...

Strange that such thought-provoking advertisements didn't resonate with the young folk of the country. I mean we're being told that many No voters voted the way they did because they didn't know what the Treaty was about, and clearly these ads endeavoured to educate and inform the public in a frank, straightforward and mature manner. Where did it all go wrong then?

Anyone?

'Irish are bloody fools' - Sarkozy

2008-06-20T00:22:00.002+01:00

It just gets more unbelievable by the day. Now the EU have resorted to insulting us.

'Bloody fools' is what Nicolas Sarkozy is reported to have told his aides according to le Canard Enchaîné weekly, say The Times.

Following the result, Sarkozy fumed about the Irish:

"They are bloody fools. They have been stuffing their faces at Europe's expense for years and now they dump us in the shit."

The Times goes on to say:

"He then ordered his government to play down the 'no', proceed with their plans and find ways to save the treaty. "We have to manage the Irish 'no' with calm, with sang-froid and neither dramatise nor minimise it," he said last weekend.

"The French "hyper-president" is determined to make the Irish vote a second time on the treaty, if possible even before European Parliament elections next June.

"Mr Sarkozy, who was one of the brokers of the "mini-treaty" last June, has ruled out any rewriting of the text, which he hopes will be ratified by all 26 other states. He is asking Brian Cowen, the Prime Minister, to outline the guarantees Ireland would need to approve the treaty."

I'd like anybody who voted Yes in the referendum to justify this kind of behaviour because, to be honest, I'm amazed that my country can be faced with such bullying in this day and age. If Brian Cowen had any balls he'd tell these guys where to stick their Treaty.

The Times adds that the EU are using the British ratification of the Treaty, which was made official on Thursday morning, as justification for pushing ahead with the Lisbon Treaty. Here's what Barroso the clown, European Commission president had to say:

"I would like to thank the Government and Parliament for the constant support for the new Treaty during the negotiation and ratification process.

"The Treaty of Lisbon has now been approved by nineteen member states. I believe it is important that all member states express their position on the Treaty of Lisbon and I call on all of those that have not ratified the Treaty to continue the ratification process."

And here's our potty friend Hans-Gert Pottering, president of the European Parliament, adding his two cents:

"This shows that the Lisbon Treaty is very much alive."

This was echoed by Janez Jansa, the Slovenian Prime Minister who is chairing the summit, who said that British ratification...

"proves that it is still a living document."

So not only do the EU ignore our democratic wishes, they proceed to view us as 'fools' who 'stuff our faces' and they feel that they can push ahead with their plans by backing us into a corner.

Any attempt to foist a repeat referendum upon us must surely now be opposed by Irish people as a matter of principle. They are an utterly monstrous bunch.

How do voters kill off the Treaty?

2008-06-19T04:03:00.003+01:00

A fascinating interview here from BBC's Newsnight programme featuring European Commission Vice President Margot Wallström repeatedly avoiding the interviewer's simple question - what do voters have to do to kill off the Treaty? You can sense the interviewer's exasperation as he tries to get Ms Wallström to deal with the issue. Alas, she's just as ignorant as the rest of them.

What I particularly like though comes about forty seconds in...

Interviewer: "Presumably they (the Irish) voted No 'cos they don't like the Treaty?"

Ms Wallström: "Well you don't know that."

Just about sums everything up really.

EU must be Potty...

2008-06-18T20:45:00.001+01:00

The Lisbon Treaty rejection from last week was today debated in the European parliament in Brussels and I note that the president of the parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, wasted no time at all ignoring the result of the Irish vote and insisting that ratification MUST continue.
There is an opinion piece here from the potty Pöttering outlining his position on the Treaty and it is sorry stuff indeed. I figured I'd look at the president's comments in detail. He writes:

"On June 12, 2008 the citizens of Ireland voted "no" to the Lisbon Treaty. A detailed analysis will be needed of how this result came about and what caused the Irish, who have benefited from the European Union more than almost any other country, to vote this way."

Well Hans I suggest you speak to those from the No side then to find out the main concerns. Will you do this? I doubt it.

"At first glance it seems that the "no" vote resulted for contradictory reasons: Some business people favored a "no" because they felt their economic freedoms were under threat; others, such as some trade unionists, feared that the treaty didn't pay enough attention to the social system. Yet others even believed that abortion would be made easier by the treaty or that the Irish tax system would be put in question."

Nothing to say about the sovereignty issue, then? I reckon that played a considerable part for most people as you well know.

"As French General Charles de Gaulle once said, in a referendum answers are given to questions that were not asked. I would not go as far as that, but there is a kernel of truth in that statement. What really motivated the Irish people, why they did not believe the European Union was going into the future on the right path with this treaty, remains to be analyzed in detail."

Ah I see. So the answer we gave had nothing to do with the question asked. It all makes perfect sense now. Maybe we voted No because we didn't like the font used on the paper? Could that be it, Hans?

"The Lisbon Reform Treaty is a huge step forward and we should not give it up."

Even though French, Dutch and now Irish voters have expressed in the past three years an opposition to the ideas? The Treaty required unanimous support and you don't have that. Why on earth should you not give up? Are you democrats or not?

"Compared to the existing Treaty of Nice, the reform treaty offers many advantages that one cannot deny: Lisbon grants the EU more democracy, greater ability to act and greater transparency."

Yeah it's a lot better than Nice. Wait, wasn't that another Treaty we in Ireland rejected and then had foisted on us a second time because we were told it was so great? As for granting "more democracy", the EU's behaviour in recent days would suggest otherwise!

Thumbs up for fascism

"Lisbon allows citizens of the European Union a power of initiative in relation to the European Institutions what will make democracy on the EU level more vital. More Europe will not mean less space for decision-making on the local level."

A power of initiative? When you are effectively ignoring my vote now? Do you think they generally believe this crap or are they just taking the mickey?

"On the contrary: The Treaty of Lisbon guarantees local self-government."

Why do we need a Treaty for that?

"The Lisbon Treaty is the answer to justified criticisms that citizens have made of the European Union's shortcomings."

I would say the reaction to the Lisbon Treaty rejection answers justified criticisms that citizens have made of the EU's shortcomings.

"This treaty brings the European Union closer to its citizens."

Hardly, when you refuse to take on board the wishes of citizens!

"We must make it perfectly clear that the adoption of the reform treaty is an absolute necessity to enable the European Union to defend its values and interests in the 21st century."

In other words, it's an absolute necessity in order to make the European Union a world superpower. I have no interest in my country being a part of one. My country WAS part of a superpower, the biggest superpower on the planet at the time, and worked very hard to get out of that situation. I have no interest in going down that road again. I haven't got an inferiority complex.

"We call upon the EU summit on Thursday and Friday in Brussels to take all appropriate steps to make the reform treaty a reality."

All appropriate steps? Unbelievable how they can stick two fingers up at democracy like this, isn't it? I absolutely detest these lowlifes.

"So what comes next? First, the ratification process must continue without reservation, since 18 countries have already approved the treaty. Ratification by other countries of the European Union is just as valid and must be respected just as much as the vote in Ireland."

Yeah the ratification in the other countries is just as valid - EVEN THOUGH NONE OF THOSE COUNTRIES PUT THE PROPOSALS TO THEIR PEOPLE

The British will later on ratify the Lisbon Treaty despite opinion polls showing that most British people want a referendum, and would reject it if given the opportunity. How then can anyone view this process as 'valid'?

"We expect that at the EU summit in Brussels on June 19-20, the Irish government will give an initial assessment of the outcome of the vote in Ireland and put forward proposals as to how we can jointly progress beyond this difficult phase in European politics. The Irish government must have the first say in this matter. Not just because this is the custom but out of respect for the Irish vote. Therefore any speculation or conjecture as to possible solutions ahead of the summit would be inappropriate."

Yes possible solutions are inappropriate, but insisting that ratification must continue is apparently very appropriate. If the Irish government is genuinely committed to democracy they should inform the EU that the Treaty is dead in the water. What would the founding fathers of this state do I wonder? They wouldn't go to Brussels with their tales between their legs that's for damn sure. They had backbone though.

"The European Parliament will devote all its energies and display maximum commitment to overcoming these challenges. We expect the same of the European Commission and of the governments of all European Union member states."

So you expect the Irish government to display 'maximum commitment' towards 'overcoming these challenges'. So then, reading between the lines, you want to ignore democracy to get the result you want. Pathetic.

"We equally expect the European Parliament to be fully involved in the process. It remains our goal to see the Lisbon Treaty enter into force before the June 2009 elections to the European Parliament."

Yes, even though you knew that a rejection meant the end of the Treaty. Disgraceful.

It's abundantly clear to see that the European Union are changing their own rules in order to get their way. Their 'commitment' to democracy and their claim about respecting the Irish vote ring very hollow indeed when you read the comments from the likes of Mr Pöttering.

Without a doubt they are intent on putting another referendum to the Irish people and only by staying vigilant, and standing up for the last vestiges of our democracy, can we prevent the EU from trampling all over us and spitting on our rights.

Make no mistake about it these guys are the real enemy of the 21st century and only by acknowledging this reality, and standing up to their bullying and scaremongering, can we protect the sovereignty of the Irish people before it's too late.

Where do we go from here?

2008-06-16T20:11:00.003+01:00

"Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get."- George Bernard Shaw

As the fallout from last Friday's Lisbon Treaty rejection continues to rain down upon Brussels, our own Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin was today facing the music from cheesed-off EU ministers. Naturally enough he himself has claimed otherwise, commenting that he was afforded 'overwhelming solidarity' and that there had been no discussion of putting the Treaty to another referendum. I find that hard to believe myself but his remarks do not surprise me. It would seem that the EU and this government are closing ranks for the time being with Mr Martin stating it was "far too early" to seek a solution and making the point that there was "no quick fix" to the crisis. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel echoed this view earlier today saying that it was time for "a little bit of thinking and analysis" on the situation.

"It would be risky to say we are going to bring the treaty back to life when we are facing a blockade" he added.

However it is not hard to see the discontent and anger bubbling under the surface and there have been a few revealing comments from ministers in the past 24 hours. Take for example this comment from Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb:

"The treaty is not dead. The EU is in constant crisis management - we go from one crisis to another and finally we find a solution."

Yes indeed you certainly do 'find solutions', be they democratic or otherwise.

While Mr Martin spins us the line that everything is hunky dory, insiders are painting a very different picture. BBC reporter Mark Mardell in his excellent blog on the events surrounding the Treaty, reveals that three general viewpoints are emerging:

"People are starting to back one of three options:

Ireland votes again;
Abandon Lisbon;
Move ahead without Ireland."

OK let's take a look at these options:

1. Ireland votes again

To me this is utterly unacceptable. We were told before the referendum that the Treaty had to be endorsed by ALL 27 EU states for it to be implemented. It was not endorsed by the Irish people. So then, where is the justification for another referendum? In 2001 the Nice Treaty was rejected but it was given to the public again because, we were told, the turnout for the first vote was too low. Well the turnout for the Lisbon Treaty was higher than both of the Nice Treaty referendums and so that argument is obviously null and void. I was pleased that Eamon Gilmore of the Labour Party, who backed a Yes vote for the Treaty, set out his position on this matter quite clearly. He said:

"The situation will clearly have to be reviewed by EU Leaders at their summit in Brussels next week. However, it is not clear what action, if any, the summit can take. There can certainly be no question of putting the same Treaty back to another referendum in Ireland."

Spot on. NO QUESTION of putting the same Treaty back to another referendum in Ireland. The EU are of course entitled to renegotiate another Treaty amongst themselves but it needs to be a proper renegotiation, and not one that is 95% the same as the document rejected by the French and Dutch but with a different title.

EU Treaty - more comebacks than Madonna

There has been talk today from Luxembourg's foreign minister that Ireland could be given "assurances about defence and abortion" with a view towards having a second referendum. Well hold it, I for one did not base my decision on the Treaty upon the issue of abortion! Plus the issue of the EU's military muscle was but one concern of mine. What about our other concerns? The ones pertaining to national sovereignty, for instance? People voted no for a variety of reasons and the only fair way to press on from here is to rule out the idea of a repeat referendum.

2. Abandon Lisbon

Obviously this would be the outcome I would prefer, particularly since this was supposed to be the outcome in the event of a rejection. In fairness, there are those within the EU who have acknowledged this was the case initially. Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra has been urging Nicolas Sarkozy not to put pressure on his country, and the other eight member states who have yet to endorse the Treaty, telling Czech daily newspaper Hospodarske Noviny:

"The Lisbon treaty may be unpassable in the Czech Senate."

It would seem to me then that the rules as drawn up originally oblige the EU to abandon Lisbon now following the rejection. In fact I put this very question to Dr Diana Panke, Lecturer of European Studies at University College Dublin, when I interviewed her a month ago. I asked her, "If such a rejection occurs in June, do you believe the Irish government and the EU should respect the democratic wishes of the electorate and let the Treaty lie?" She replied:

"The Treaty as it is now formulated will definitely not be to put to another referendum just as it is."

That view was backed up today by EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy who conceded that the treaty as it was intended cannot now come into force following the Irish rejection. So then confused yet? You're not the only one. Which brings us to idea number three...

3. Move ahead without Ireland

This would be an arrangement whereby the other 26 countries ratify the Treaty (through their parliaments and not via referendums of course) and would push ahead with their plans without Ireland. This would appear to be akin to outright intimidation on the EU's part. British Foreign Minister David Miliband has said that Ireland should not be bullied but as the BBC's Mr Mardell reports:

"some MEPs are in favour of this 'coalition of the willing' and there is a suspicion that this is the French and German fallback position if Ireland doesn't vote again. Mr Miliband is clearly against. He told me that Ireland must not be bulldozed, and that it was written in 'black and white' that the treaty must be backed by 27 countries."

The comments by Mr Miliband are welcome, the attitude of the French and German ministers definitely not. Interestingly however our own Charlie McCreevy today said it was possible that what he described as 'new arrangements' could be made which would be in the best interests of Ireland and the EU.

I am totally against any intimidation or bullying from Brussels towards this country, and the Irish ministers must not allow themselves to be backed into a corner. I'm not sure what 'moving ahead' without ourselves might involve. If, as Mr McCreevy suggests, it could prove a beneficial situation for ourselves and the EU then perhaps it's an option worth considering, although it flies in the face of everything the EU is meant to represent - a union of equals. However, if issues of sovereignty can be safeguarded in such a manner then it's an option we perhaps should not be so quick to dismiss.

It's all up in the air though, isn't it? Where do we go from here? Well there are views and theories coming in from all sides but here's what I think will happen. I may end up being very wrong but I see things turning out like as follows...

There will be a quiet period, or 'period of reflection' as the EU would term it, where dialogue continues behind the scenes but little is said on the surface. Meanwhile, the countries that have yet to ratify the Treaty press ahead with ratification through parliaments until 26 out of 27 states have ratified it. The Irish government will then float their kites and their scare stories about how Ireland is in danger of being 'left behind' by these events. Following such scaremongering, the Irish government will assure the people that they will do their utmost to work with the EU to try and prevent the country from being left behind. After all this spin, the Irish government will inform the people that they have negotiated a terrific package for Ireland and that it would be madness not to accept the proposals on offer (which I suspect will merely amount to more assurances on neutrality and taxation). A repeat referendum will then be put to the people and it will be endorsed by a narrow margin.

RIP Irish democracy.

We will see what happens but I can only view matters based on how I've seen the EU treat Irish democracy in the past, and based on their comments towards Irish democracy at present.

My position though is clear. NO to a repeat referendum, NO to the idea of our opinions being ignored, and NO to intimidation and scaremongering.

Get the message - No means No!

2008-06-15T00:00:00.012+01:00

Wow, what a week! Friday was one of the most tense, dramatic and ultimately satisfying days I've ever experienced as a voter. I was so proud and relieved that the people of the country stood up for democracy and bloodied the noses of the beasts in Brussels. Whoever said Friday the 13th was an unlucky day was wrong! Friday the 13th proved to be a very fortunate day for Ireland and Europe. How close we, and the rest of the EU, came to handing over important powers to the sovereignty-grabbing EU elite! We don't really have an 'independence day' in this country like for example the United States, but to me June 13th will forever be known as Ireland's independence day from now on!

What I've found most interesting though is the speed at which the EU have come out and demanded that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty continue! Now a cynical Dub like me was not of the belief that they would let things lie. I remember all too well how they treated the first Nice Treaty vote in 2001 with utter contempt. However I must admit I did not see them dismissing our democratic vote so quickly! I expected them to resort to their spin and lies but Jose Manuel Barroso (or Barroso the clown as I call him) has dismissed the result already!

In fact, Barroso's ignorant attitude and contempt for democracy was so astounding, that he actually treated the outcome with utter disdain - and announced the EU would press ahead with their plans - BEFORE the official result had even been announced in Dublin! Can you believe these guys? Said Barroso:

"The treaty is alive, and we should continue.

"The No vote in Ireland has not solved the problems which the Lisbon treaty is designed to solve... The European Commission believes that the remaining ratifications should continue to take their course."

That attitude flies in the face of comments by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who said this a day before the result:

"If the Irish people decide to reject the treaty of Lisbon, naturally, there will be no treaty of Lisbon."

Hmm, could it be that the EU are changing the rules to suit their own agenda? I think we all know the answer to that. There is without a doubt a great deal of confusion as to where we all go from here.

According to Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus:

"The Lisbon treaty project ended today with the decision of the Irish voters and its ratification cannot be continued."

However contrast that sentiment with this one from Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos:

"Without doubt it is not good news, but Europe will not stop. I am convinced that, as has occurred at other times in the past in the EU, we will find a solution among ourselves."

Now if ever a sentence summed up the undemocratic nature of the European Union, truly that is it. "We will find a solution among ourselves". That could have been a sentence delivered by any fascist ruler throughout human history, yet it comes from a man who would claim to be a democrat and who would tell you the European Union are a democratic institution. I would like those from this country who voted Yes, and who scoffed at those of us like myself who pointed out the undemocratic nature of the EU, to please justify this kind of attitude. Because, to me at least, such an attitude is reprehensible.

The bozo Barroso!

As I've said before on United Irelander you can't be a part-time democrat. You can't claim on the one hand to support democracy and then on the other hand be willing to ignore the outcome of democratic votes because you don't like them!

Of course the idea being floated about now is a repeat of the referendum. This is an outrageous suggestion. We cannot see a repeat of the Nice Treaty situation. Had the result been a win for the Yes camp there would be NO POSSIBILITY WHATSOEVER of another referendum so any attempt to have another one imposed upon us must be resisted tenfold. If this kite is to be floated in the next few weeks then we must shoot it down quickly. This goes right to the heart of our democratic values!

That's why I was quite pleased to see Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore assert that the result needed to be respected and there should be no repeat referendum. He commented:

"What we do now is this - the people have made a decision. It's a clear decision. It's a decision we respect and it's the end of the Lisbon Treaty. The speculation that there will be a second bite at it - there won't be."

While I strongly abhor his party's decision to support the Treaty, I welcome his statement on the matter. Let's hope he sticks to this view though. What is less welcome is the comment from our Taoiseach Brian Cowen when asked on RTE about the possibility of a second referendum:

"I'm not prepared to surmise on that. I'm not ruling anything in or out or up or down."

It's hard for me to put into words the rage that swells within my soul at the idea of the EU and the Irish government ignoring the Irish referendum result and making us vote on it again but I will say this - ANY POLITICIAN WHO FEELS IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO MAKE THE IRISH PUBLIC VOTE ON THE TREATY ONE MORE TIME IS NO LONGER A DEMOCRAT. END OF STORY.

My message to the Irish people who voted No would be this - stay vigilant. Stand up for your rights. You do not deserve to be treated with contempt. My message to the Irish people who voted Yes would be this - realise what we have been saying about these people. Please take Eamon Gilmore's view on the matter and respect the will of the people.

There can be no further vote on the matter. Last year I voted for a change of government. The government was returned. Hey, that's democracy. You get what you voted for - unless you are faced with those who treat your vote with scorn.

Here in Ireland we can't influence those countries who have yet to ratify the Treaty, but we can influence our politicians and we need to make it VERY CLEAR to them that the will of the people must be adhered to. Brian Cowen can't just say that like it's a hollow phrase. When he meets up with the European council he carries with him a mandate from the Irish people who are fed up with the direction of the EU. Whether he wanted this mandate or not is besides the point. He represents the people, not his own interests, and must not be bullied by Sarkozy, Merkel, Barroso or anybody else!

Get the message Brussels. Take the hint. No means no!

Referendum reactions

2008-06-14T21:57:00.002+01:00

Here are a selection of videos on the fantastic decision by the Irish people yesterday to reject the Lisbon Treaty...

ITN news (Britain):

CNN news (USA):

RTE news (Ireland):

What I find terrific is that the overwhelming majority of comments left by Europeans are thanking Irish voters for striking a blow against the undemocratic EU. The Yes side prior to the election tried to make out that it would be unfair on the rest of Europe for the Irish people to vote No, however as I and many others argued, it was the EU who were being unfair by not giving these people a say on the Treaty. I think it's clear that most people throughout Europe are delighted with what happened on Thursday.

Victory for democracy!

2008-06-13T17:24:00.001+01:00

The votes have been counted and Ireland has voted No to the Lisbon Treaty!

The result was won by 862,415 votes to 752,451 making it a 53.4% rejection versus 46.6%. Turnout was about 45%. (Edit - actually it was 53.1% BBC now report. Even better!)

We have today sent the EU's plans into turmoil and it is truly a great day for democracy and national sovereignty, not just here in Ireland but within the EU as a whole.

Already there is talk of the proposals being implemented in some other way and that is to be expected. EU treaties are a lot like the villains from scary movies. You think you've killed them off but they keep coming back every time.

However that is an issue for another day. The battle has been won on this day and I am thrilled! I have long argued against these vile proposals and I'm glad the Irish people have agreed with me on the danger they posed.

Just to put this into perspective, all the main Irish parties, the main trade unions, farmers associations as well as large sections of the media called for a Yes vote. The fact it's been rejected is astonishing and will raise many questions. To me it highlights the intelligence and defiance of the Irish character!

Were you listening, Brussels? We have just stood up for the rights of EU citizens who, unlike ourselves, were not given a referendum! Hang your heads in shame while we hold our heads up high!

A wonderful day for Ireland and also Europe!

Do we dare to dream?

2008-06-13T14:39:00.006+01:00

The results are coming through in the Lisbon Treaty referendum and it seems that we may well see a No vote in Ireland after all. I am cautiously optimistic at this point.

RTE report currently that results are in from 21 of the 43 constituencies, with the Lisbon Treaty being beaten by a margin of 54.6% to 45.4%

They add that the margin is expected to tighten as more results are announced, but say the result is not in doubt.

The No vote was strong in many rural areas and in working class districts of cities, while middle class areas appeared to be less supportive of the treaty than had been anticipated.

In urban areas, middle class areas by and large appeared to have voted in favour of the treaty - but not by the normal large margin, and not by enough to counteract the large No in working class areas.

I will comment further as the day progresses, as I don't want to celebrate until the result is known for sure, but I am thrilled at the day's events so far. Already there is talk of the EU pressing ahead with their plans in some fashion. That is no great surprise as they are not democrats.

However if the result holds nationwide then the Irish people will have shown that they most certainly are. Fingers crossed...

Update 1: RTE says results are in for 33 of 43 constituencies. No vote still leads by 53.7% to 46.3%. They maintain the result is not in doubt. Only 6 of the constituencies declared thus far voted for the Treaty. My home constituency defeated it resoundingly which pleases me.

Update 2: 39 of 43 constituencies are in. Jose Manuel Barroso has just pre-empted the result and acknowledged the Treaty's rejection. The official announcement is expected shortly. It's currently 53.6% against with 46.4% in favour. Oh there will be egg on many faces tonight!

Ireland's date with destiny arrives

2008-06-12T01:54:00.000+01:00

As I write this there are just over five hours to go until the polls open for the Lisbon Treaty referendum. I have been following the EU constitution/Lisbon Treaty closely almost since the time I set up this blog three and a half years ago. I genuinely regard opposing the EU's proposals in this Treaty to be as important for this island as the reunification of the country.

By the time you read this the polls may indeed be open. With that being the case I would urge anyone reading now to please get down to your local polling station and have your say on this hugely important matter. We are the only country in the EU to have the opportunity to vote - which in itself is an absolute disgrace - so it is only proper to get out there and exercise your democratic right. Who knows, it might be one of the last times we are actually able to make a difference via democracy. Let us hope not.

As readers of UI will know, I am staunchly against this Treaty. I have in the past few weeks come up against those who made a good case for supporting Lisbon, namely Dr Diana Panke of UCD who I interviewed a few weeks back. Likewise I have in the past few weeks come up against those who made a shockingly poor case for supporting the Treaty, namely the campaigner who came to my door and told me this was the 'Premier League' and that a No vote would mean 'relegation'. Talk to me with facts please. I would also have to mention the fellow who suggested to me that a No vote could lead to Ireland being 'kicked out' of the EU. If you're going to lie to me at least keep your lies within reason OK?

Ultimately I feel there is no strong case for supporting this Treaty. I've heard people I have respect for, such as Labour's Joan Burton, talking about how it protects women's rights, stops the trafficking of people etc. As far as I'm concerned, these matters can be dealt with in a way that that doesn't force us to sacrifice important aspects of our sovereignty. I also resent the bashing from the Yes side such as Bertie Ahern blasting those against the Treaty as 'lunatics' and Garret Fitzgerald suggesting we are 'nitpickers of the extreme right and left'. I likewise detest the scaremongering which tries to frighten voters into voting Yes for fear of what might happen to Ireland's status within Europe. The Irish people have always been a defiant nation, and I just hope there are enough defiant voters at the polls on Thursday.

I strongly believe that a No vote is essential for the country. It accomplishes three things. It sends a message to the EU that we will not be bullied, it sends a message that we will not settle for a poor deal for Europeans and it sends a message that abusing democracy is unacceptable and that greater consultation with the peoples of nation-states is required.

Here is a brief summary of some of the reasons I have decided to oppose the Lisbon Treaty.

Ireland loses its Commissioner for five years at a time.

This could have dire implications for a small country like ourselves without anybody fighting our corner.

Tax concerns

The French don't like our low corporation tax and have long sought to do something about it. According to many commentators, there are avenues the French can explore to get their wish. I don't doubt that one bit.

Creates an unelected President and a Foreign Minister of Europe

I am utterly against such an idea and see no logic to it other than to set us further down the road to an EU Superstate.

Promotes a militarised European Union

We're supposed to be so enamoured with our 'tradition of neutrality' yet I've not heard one Irish person ask the following - why the hell does the EU need to militarise in the first place, hmm? I don't think it needs to. We have a UN peacekeeping force, which includes many brave Irish troops, and if we need to improve the UN then let's do that. An important principle behind the creation of the European Union was so that Europe would never have to go to war again. Why then are we faced with proposals that would see Europe involved in a war? What do I think the real reasoning is behind it? See above.

"RESOLVED to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

"IN VIEW of further steps to be taken in order to advance European integration."

Taken from the preamble of the Lisbon Treaty.

"Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen."

Article 10.3 of the Lisbon Treaty. A rather hollow claim since no other EU country has been entitled to a referendum on the Treaty, despite Gordon Brown promising the British people a say and despite the French and Dutch voters rejecting the EU's proposals when voting on the EU Constitution.

"There will be no treaty if we had a referendum in France."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy showing the true colours of the EU and highlighting the insincerity of the above article.

"As from 1 November 2014, a qualified majority shall be defined as at least 55 % of the members of the Council, comprising at least fifteen of them and representing Member States comprising at least 65 % of the population of the Union.

"A blocking minority must include at least four Council members, failing which the qualified majority shall be deemed attained."

Article 16.4 of the Lisbon Treaty. It is not worth giving up important national vetoes for such a flawed system.

"The Member States shall work together to enhance and develop their mutual political solidarity. They shall refrain from any action which is contrary to the interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesive force in international relations."

Article 24 of the Treaty. Ireland has friends outside the EU. Will we be forced to blindly follow the path set by France and Germany, lest we be deemed to be 'impairing' the EU's 'effectiveness' in international relations? This troubles me.

"The European Council shall identify the Union's strategic interests, determine the objectives of and define general guidelines for the common foreign and security policy, including for matters with defence implications. It shall adopt the necessary decisions."

From Article 26.1. I would rather see greater powers for the European Parliament which is the EU's only directly elected parliamentary body. I don't like that the European Council dictates the EU's foreign and security policies. Do you?

"If a member of the Council declares that, for vital and stated reasons of national policy, it intends to oppose the adoption of a decision to be taken by qualified majority, a vote shall not be taken. The High Representative will, in close consultation with the Member State involved, search for a solution acceptable to it. If he does not succeed, the Council may, acting by a qualified majority, request that the matter be referred to the European Council for a decision by unanimity."

Article 31. I have no faith whatsoever in any Irish party having the guts to stand up to the EU on an issue of importance, facing the kind of pressure that would come as outlined above.

"The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall regularly consult the European Parliament on the main aspects and the basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy and inform it of how those policies evolve. He shall ensure that the views of the European Parliament are duly taken into consideration. Special representatives may be involved in briefing the European Parliament.

"The European Parliament may ask questions of the Council or make recommendations to it and to the High Representative."

Is this a good enough role for the European Parliament in your opinion? To me this makes the E.P. a glorified version of our Seanad.

7 - the number of votes Ireland will be entitled to under the qualified majority voting system.

To put that in perspective, Bulgaria gets 10 votes, the Czech Republic gets 12 votes, Romania get 14 votes and the UK, Italy France and Germany all get 29 votes. Is that really fair on Ireland? I don't see why my country should be punished for having a small population. I was under the impression EU citizens were supposed to be equals.

"public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly".

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, another former French president and architect of the constitution spells out what most have us have known for a long time.

"The aim is to focus the campaign on overall benefits of the EU rather than the Treaty itself."

A leaked memo from a civil servant in the Department of Foreign Affairs to a Diplomat in the British Embassy outlining the Yes side's agenda.

"We need a European defence, a European army, not just on paper but a force genuinely capable of operating in the field, including beyond the European borders ... The philosophy behind all these proposals - economic, political, military - is always the same… And I am also quite clear that I am advocating a more powerful Europe, also a more closely integrated Europe ... In short I am advocating a United States of Europe."

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, speaking in March 2006. Says it all.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you are as deeply troubled by the direction the EU is taking as I am, then you can do something about it. Get out of the house, never mind what the weather's like or what football match is on the telly, and use your vote while you still can. I implore you to say No to the Lisbon Treaty.

This is probably going to be the last time I'm going to comment on the Treaty until the results come in. If we lose the battle then at least we can say we went down having done our best. You can't be a part-time democrat. You either abide by the people's views or you don't. I do, and I hope that the Irish people consign this Treaty to the dustbin. It is in the hands of the electorate now. The future direction of the EU is in our hands, and the hopes of future generations are on our shoulders.

"A common trait that can be found in all humans is a desire to be treated fairly. Countless events in history around the world have shown that when you back people into a corner, they come out fighting. It is an attribute that we call defiance and it is something that can certainly be found in the Irish character."

United Irelander, 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising celebrations.

SAY NO TO THE LISBON TREATY

It's the final countdown...

2008-06-11T01:52:00.001+01:00

Thursday will soon be upon us and, with that, the crucial Lisbon Treaty referendum. On Wednesday the broadcasting organisations will observe the traditional eve-of-vote moratorium on referendum news but there's no chance of that happening here on United Irelander. I'm sure my position is clear at this stage however!

One thing I would like to add though. I keep hearing those from the Yes side remarking that we have the fate of the EU on our shoulders and thus should vote Yes for the sake of the people of Europe. First off, it is the European Union that refuses to allow other nation-states a vote on the matter! (Which is strange in itself considering we're told how fantastic the Treaty is!)

But not only that, the foreign nationals I've spoken to about this Treaty have all told me they believe it to be a worrying document. Make no mistake about it there are lots of people across Europe who are desperate to see this Treaty rejected.

It is indeed a great shame that we are the only people allowed to have a say on the Lisbon Treaty but I say let's use that opportunity to stand up for democracy and vote No. It's wrong for Europe and, most importantly, wrong for Ireland.

President heckled by loyalist bigots

2008-06-11T01:42:00.000+01:00

I was disgusted to hear that a group of loyalists heckled President Mary McAleese whilst she was on a visit to a primary school in Derry.

The President was stopping by Millburn Primary School in Coleraine, and was greeted by a crowd of 30 or so people who held banners and shouted slogans, including 'No surrender', as she and her husband Martin arrived by car. According to news reports some of the abuse was sectarian.

The school's principal John Platt said he had been intimidated over the visit.

All I can say is what an absolute disgrace those people are. Talk about close-minded bigots. I am someone who thinks it would be a great idea if the British queen were to visit the Republic of Ireland. Now should such a thing take place, I wonder how those muppets who shouted sectarian abuse would feel if the British queen were treated in a similar fashion? I bet they'd be none too pleased.

What a right bunch of wallies they are. I guess they have to find something to keep themselves occupied whilst they wait for their Rangers matches to come back on the box. Pathetic.

'Plan B'

2008-06-10T04:49:00.002+01:00

Not long to go now until the Lisbon Treaty but I notice the Yes side keep saying there is 'no Plan B' in the event of a No vote. Surely there has to be? Or is this a subtle hint that if the vote is rejected that they will make the Irish public vote again like they did with the Nice Treaty?

Time we ignored all this scaremongering from the Yes side and voted No for Ireland's sake.

Your vote counts...vote NO

2008-06-08T01:26:00.002+01:00

As I mentioned on Friday, the Lisbon Treaty result could still go either way and recent developments have confirmed as much. Following on from Friday's poll in the Irish Times which showed the No vote in the lead, in contrast the Red C poll in tomorrow's Sunday Business Post has the Yes side in front.

Those of us against this document shouldn't lose heart just yet however. The poll in the Sunday Business Post gives the Yes vote a marginal lead - 42% versus 39% against. Another encouraging sign is that the Sunday poll, like Friday's poll, shows the No side making gains, with the latest poll showing a 6% surge.

It seems interest in the vote is spreading across Europe too and I spotted this incisive article in The Times putting across some more reasons why we in Ireland should reject this undemocratic document. What particularly caught my eye was this bit:

"Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the former French president and architect of the constitution on which the treaty is based, said “public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals that we dare not present to them directly”.

Now if that doesn't sum up the undemocratic nature of the political entity we're dealing with then I don't know what does. How can Irish people think of backing such a mindset? How can Irish people expect Brian Cowen to be able to fight for our corner under the current muddled, meandering mess of proposals we are being offered by Brussels?

I must say I am pleasantly surprised at how things have turned out thus far as I honestly did not expect things to be this close in the run-up to the final days of the vote. I think it's a great testament to the intelligence and defiant spirit of the Irish people that they have not been fooled by the EU's or the main Irish parties' attempt to pull the wool over voter's eyes.

To any undecided voters who may be reading this I would simply ask you to think long and hard about what this document could mean for us in this country. The referendum on Thursday is about giving ourselves the best possible future in Europe. Does the Lisbon Treaty offer us that? I don't believe so.

Each citizen must make his/her own mind up. I hope that the Irish people will do the right thing this Thursday and, to me at least, that means following in the footsteps of the French and Dutch voters who gave the EU's proposals a big thumbs down.

This Thursday make your vote count and vote No to the Lisbon Treaty. We can find a better way.

RTE'd do anything?

2008-06-07T00:24:00.005+01:00

This is from RTE's website regarding the line-up for Saturday Night with Miriam on RTE One...

"I'd Do Anything' runner-up Jessie Buckley will be among Miriam O'Callaghan's guests on the first episode of the new series of 'Saturday Night with Miriam' on RTÉ One this weekend.

"The Kerry teenager, who made the final of the BBC talent series last week, joins Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Red Hurley on Saturday night's show, and will sing live in studio."

I've underlined the bit that bothers me. Now while I've no issue with the talented Miss Jessie Buckley appearing on the show, could someone please explain to me why the Tánaiste is appearing on a show that will no doubt get considerable ratings just mere DAYS before the Lisbon Treaty referendum is due to take place, hmm?

I mean why the hell is a government minister appearing on an entertainment programme when there's a massively important vote on the horizon? I think you see what I'm getting at.

What are the chances that the Lisbon Treaty will be discussed on this show one wonders?

Jeez, it's almost as if the Irish state broadcaster is BENDING OVER BACKWARDS to help out the Irish state, don'tcha reckon?

What a disgraceful move this is on RTE's part. It was only a few weeks ago that RTE One conducted a Questions and Answers programme, featuring a debate on the Lisbon Treaty, in which there was NOT ONE panellist who wanted a No vote featured! It's clear to see what's going on here. RTE is doing its utmost to silence those against this Treaty, and is doing everything it can to satisfy the state fascists who are afraid to see Lisbon debated in a fair and democratic manner!

What a disgraceful abuse of the license fee!

The Irish government wants to confuse the public with their propaganda and scaremongering but I hope and pray that the Irish electorate sees through the government's sleazy scare tactics.

Sorry Jessie, but when it comes to 'doing anything', RTE and this government take the biscuit. They are doing ANYTHING to please their overlords in Brussels, and while we may not see a 'Nancy' on Miriam's show, I reckon there's a good bet we'll see at least one Nazi!

Vote No to the Lisbon Treaty!

Keep the faith

2008-06-06T15:23:00.003+01:00

This is welcome news but let's not get too carried away. The result could still go either way at this stage. I expect the government to ramp up its scaremongering tactics in the coming days.

Be vigilant, compatriots.

We will do this country - and Europe as a whole - a great deal of good by killing off this despicable treaty once and for all. Just say No!

Words on Wednesday...with Trevor Lunn MLA

2008-05-28T00:51:00.003+01:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Words on Wednesday, a concept unique to the Irish blogosphere, which sees me interview various figures from all walks of political life. Taking my questions this week is Alliance Party MLA for Lagan Valley, Trevor Lunn.

My sincere thanks to Mr Lunn for taking my questions. So then let's begin...

You are an Alliance Party MLA for Lagan Valley. Talk us through a typical day in your life.

Monday and Tuesday, plenary sessions in Stormont plus questions to ministers. Wednesday, in constituency. Thursday, public accounts committee. Friday, education committee.

I also have duties as a Lisburn councillor in terms of economic development, corporate services and planning committees and am a member of the district policing partnership. As a result I don't really have typical days they are all different.

What made you decide to get involved with the Alliance Party?

I decided to get involved in politics in 1993. None of the other parties had any appeal for me. I saw Alliance values and attitudes as the only way forward.

Many political commentators predicted you would struggle to hold on to the seat that the Alliance Party held in Lagan Valley during the Assembly election, yet you managed to do precisely that. Were you surprised by your election result?

Maybe as the sitting Mayor of Lisburn I had the benefit of extra profile, but there is a solid Alliance vote here so I was reasonably confident.

What are some of the main issues that you are dealing with at present in your Lagan Valley constituency?

Maze stadium, retention of Lagan valley hospital, John Lewis, decline of city centre.

What are your thoughts on Ian Paisley stepping down as NI's First Minister and do you think Peter Robinson will do a good job in his place?

I have a longstanding liking personally for Doctor Paisley but it is time for him to go and Peter will do an efficient job if he takes it.

On a similar note what are your thoughts on Bertie Ahern stepping down as Taoiseach and do you think Brian Cowen will prove a good successor?

Bertie was good for Ireland and for the peace process but chickens tend to come home to roost and he made a wise decision. Brian is a very capable replacement but people said that about Gordon Brown did they not? People skills help.

I read a report in the News Letter in which you accused the DUP of delaying tactics and of using the Maze stadium row as a political football. How should this matter be resolved in your opinion?

By an early decision to proceed at the maze. No amount of DUP bluster can cover the fact that some of them are terrified at the thought of the conflict transformation centre. They are totally split on the issue and it has nothing to do with cost.

You served as Mayor of Lisburn for a year from 2006-07. How would you rate that experience?

Best year of my life despite the heart attack. I hope I brought the mayorship to places and people who had never encountered it before. Great to have brought President McAleese to Lisburn even if most of the DUP didn't turn up. They missed a wonderful occasion.

There was a recent Panorama programme on BBC which suggested that sectarianism remains a major problem in many parts of NI. They cited an area of North Belfast where there are two bus stops about 100 metres apart, but one is used by Catholics and the other by Protestants. What needs to be done in your view to bring an end to this kind of segregation?

Didn't see the programme but the problems remain. It will be a slow process but hearts and minds can be changed and there is a lot of cross community work going on unpublicised.

What are your thoughts on a united Ireland and will it ever occur in your opinion?

It isn't a big issue to me but as things stand I would vote for the status quo. I don't think its inevitable but hey we are all Europeans now!

The Lisbon Treaty is a big issue for the European Union right now. Are you disappointed that UK citizens have not been given a referendum on the matter by Gordon Brown?

If he did they would reject it so he won't. That's politics.

What does the future hold in store for the Alliance Party?

We still have a major role to play and we wont go away you know. Stormont needs an opposition and NI needs centre ground, non-sectarian politics. That's us.

What does the future hold in store for you?

Not ready for going out to pasture yet. Hope to do at least a second term and stay with council if the rules allow. Things look good for NI and the Republic. I want to stay involved.

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just outline what word comes into your head when you hear the following:

Ian Paisley - history
Bertie Ahern - fly
Martin McGuinness - surprising
Peter Robinson - clever
David Ford - excellent
Sinn Féin - bearable
DUP - sanctimonious
Alliance Party - brave
Lagan Valley - home
Trevor Lunn - lucky

Thank you for your time, Mr Lunn. All the best for the future.

Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous interviews can be found here.

Concern over EC WTO proposal - Govt

2008-05-27T00:10:00.002+01:00

Oh dear, it seems the Irish government has had to admit that the EU's latest agricultural direction might prove harmful to Irish national interests. Fancy that.

From RTE:

"Ireland still has very serious concerns about the latest proposals from the European Commission tabled at the World Trade Organisation negotiations, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin.

"Speaking after Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson briefed Foreign Ministers in Brussels this morning, Mr Martin said the proposals were unbalanced and unacceptable to Ireland.

"He said 'the risk of serious damage to European agriculture from an unsatisfactory WTO deal must be of grave concern to everyone in Europe, producers and consumers alike.'"

Wow, you mean to tell me that the European Union is not taking Irish concerns to heart? Surely that can't be right? After all, the Lisbon Treaty campaign from the government has centred on how beneficial the European Union has been to Ireland, rather than the Treaty itself.

The really sad thing in all of this folks is that government ministers like Mr Martin will still call for a Yes vote, even though it's plain to see that Ireland needs more of an input in European affairs, which the Lisbon Treaty will NOT offer us.

The simple reality is if you want Irish interests to be protected, then vote No to Lisbon. I expect there will be a great many farmers who do precisely that in June.

Isn't it funny...

2008-05-25T20:55:00.000+01:00

Isn't it strange that Irish people can get so worked up about an unfair voting system in the Eurovision song contest - which became a joke years ago - and yet at the same time can actually advocate a Yes vote for the Lisbon Treaty which will leave Ireland stuck with an unfair voting system in the EU.

What a funny people we are.

Greece should have won by the way...

Weekend Words...with Klara McDonnell

2008-05-25T19:58:00.003+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posts of late but I had a bad bit of eye strain and had to give the Internet use a miss. I'm pleased however to be able to bring you this week's Weekend Words feature which sees me leaving politics to one side and interviewing individuals from Irish popular culture.

Taking my questions this week is Irish singer and actress Klara McDonnell. Apologies to Klara for the lateness of the post.

So then without further ado...

You work in the entertainment industry as a singer and an actor. Have you always had a strong desire to be a performer?

Well my mother said before that I was singing before I was talking. I remember being about seven and seeing Eternal Flame the Bangles song on TV and thinking I wish I was singing that song and seeing The Wizard of Oz and wishing I was in that film. I used to mess around with a little Dictaphone making up stories, songs and fake radio shows! I guess I was a strange child.

How does being on stage singing, compare to being on stage acting?

Well I suppose acting on stage, you can't communicate with the audience quite the same way as when you are singing. I tend not to notice the audience and am caught up in what ever part I am playing. When I am singing if the audience is quite lively I can feed off their energy. I tend to talk a lot in between songs, sometimes I almost fancy myself as doing a bit of stand up comedy in between songs. Having said that its probably the moments when I try to be serious about what a song is about that are the funny parts. I write about a lot of random subjects.

Have your family been supportive of your efforts in the industry?

Yes I have very been lucky that my family have been very supportive of me pursuing my dreams.

Where are some of the places that you've toured as a musician?

I lived in the South of Germany for nearly two years and played a lot of Irish pubs over there and busked a lot. As well as being a singer songwriter, I am also in an Irish rock band called Hidden Faces. The band are on a break at the moment but last year we had a UK tour and through that I got to play in the Cavern in Liverpool. It was great to play there as I am a big Beatles fan.

Who would be some of your musical influences?

Well as I have just mentioned I do like the Beatles! I would say I have a very varied taste in much, although I have no idea if this effects the songs I write. When I was growing up my parents would play a lot of music everything from rock such as Bruce Springsteen to old country like Patsy Cline to Motown. At 17 I discovered Tom Waits, who I think is a really versatile songwriter. I'm also into a lot of hip hop and r n' b.

Is there a song that you've written that you take particular pride in?

The R.E.M. song Everybody Hurts is a song I used to sing I always loved the way that although some people might find it to be a depressing song, it is essentially a song about hope. I always wanted to write a song with a similar theme saying that we are all the same and can feel really down at one point and not to give up. That song I wrote is called Shooting Star.

You've done a bit of busking. Any unusual stories to tell from that?

Well when I busked in Germany there were different rules for busking in different cities. Sometimes I found it hard to remember them and to obey them. One city might have a rule that one can only play in a spot for 30 minutes then you have to move 300 metres away to a new spot if you want to play more. Another city had actual official busking spots with sign posts and you could only play at those places but for no more than one hour. I once got a 50euro note off one person which really surprised me. From busking I have gotten other music work for instance singing at pubs/parties and I once sang at a wedding in Germany....in German!

I've read you mention on your blog a little over a week ago that you were going to be recording some of your songs in Ashtown Studios. How did everything go with that?

It went well. I was nervous as I hadn't recorded my own songs in long while. I recorded some vocals and guitar and am going back in later this month to finish off the arrangements. I am currently seeking a Cello player to play on a few of the tracks.

With regards to acting, you played a part in the independent Irish film Apollo Music Club, which is due for release in July according to their Myspace page. How did you find that whole experience?

The cast and crew on Apollo Music Club were great fun and I am looking forward to seeing it. I played a character called Linda who has some things in common with me as she is an ambitious singer/songwriter. I did find I could relate to her in some ways. She is more ruthless and egotistical than me though! I had blonde hair before filming and dyed it red as in the script, Linda had red hair. I've kept it this colour since as I have actually been getting more castings and more work as a red head.

Whereabouts would be people be likely to hear you performing over the next few months?

I present an online Irish radio show every Monday night on LiveIreland.com. I have been doing this the last few months and its really interactive as I'm on a webcam while I present. I do a lot of chair dancing to the music! I'm playing music gigs near the end of the May and will be updating my MySpace page with dates. I also post regular videos on to YouTube.

Where do you see yourself in ten year's time?

I would still like to be doing what I am doing now though more internationally and to finally buy a really nice house!

Finally I like to finish off with a word game. Just say what you think to the following...

Elvis or The Beatles - The Beatles
Westlife or U2 - U2
Louis Walsh or Linda Martin - Linda Martin
Dustin or Dana - Dana
Klara, the actress or Klara, the musician - Both!

My thanks to Klara for taking my questions. I wish her all the best.

This Wednesday I put some questions to the Alliance Party's Trevor Lunn. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous Weekend Words features here.

Weekend Words...with Mark Little

2008-05-10T00:00:00.001+01:00

Welcome to this week's Weekend Words feature which sees me leaving the politics to one side and interviewing individuals from Irish popular culture. Taking my questions this week is RTE's Prime Time presenter and journalist Mark Little.

My thanks to Mark for taking my questions. OK let's begin...

I understand you studied economics and politics at Trinity College. At this point in your life did you know you wanted a career in broadcast journalism?

I had been on the road to journalism for some years before I went to Trinity. I decided to become a journalist the day I realised I had no hope of playing for Liverpool. I was about 9 at the time. I do remember watching the great Brian Farrell when I was 11 or 12 and thinking his was the best job in the world.

Most Irish people know you as the presenter of RTE's Prime Time. How did you get involved with RTE?

In many ways, I am a really bad example to younger people who want a career in journalism. I was just really lucky. RTE were hiring the September I left journalism school. A screen test and interview and the rest is … blah blah blah.

When you know that you're going to be discussing a particularly important issue on the show, how do you prepare yourself?

I generally put on my headphones, block out the world and then read every possible piece of information I can get my hands on about the issue at hand. After that, I try to work out the simplest, shortest questions based on that information. Then I try them out in my head to see how an interviewee might answer. Based on all of this, I then map out the interview on a piece of paper. Then I hide the piece of paper.

What would a typical day in your life involve?

A typical Prime Time day begins with a morning conference at 10 and then research and constant liaison with the Executive Producer of the show through the day. We have an afternoon conference before writing scripts and preparing for interview. We’re in studio at 8.30 and out of RTE by 11pm.

You were named Television Journalist of the Year for your reporting in Afghanistan in 2001. I imagine that was a very proud moment for you?

Yes. For me and Eddie Doyle, the producer of the winning Prime Time report.

You've worked for RTE in some of the world's most dangerous places. Do you ever get nervous reporting from these difficult regions?

Yes. But I get even more anxious if I go too long without a trip to one of these places.

Who would you regard as your biggest inspiration?

I tend not to have any heroes. They will generally end up breaking your heart.

You are the author of two books, Turn Left at Greenland: In Search of the Real America and Zulu Time: When Ireland Went to War. Tell us a bit about them.

They were inspired by the same motivation, which was to bring a little nuance to our prevailing views of the United States, and the world in general.

Do you see yourself writing any more books in the future?

I am writing a third book right now about the transformation of the United States after George Bush. It’s due out in September.

You've worked as a Washington correspondent for RTE and I've seen you a few weeks ago reporting on the Democratic race over there. Would you find the American political scene to be more exciting than the Irish one?

Not necessarily more exciting. But American politics has a far greater scale to it.

How do you relax when you're not working? What are some of your favourite pastimes?

Making my kids laugh and sleeping. My two absolute favourite things.

What's the strangest thing that's happened to you whilst you've been a journalist?

I watched a volcano explode. I’ve seen the space shuttle lift off. I’ve seen hurricanes in action. I have felt an earthquake. I met George Bush.

What advice would you give to anyone who aspires to have a career in journalism?

Work hard. Have passion. Keep challenging your assumptions.

What are some of the projects that you've got lined up for the future?

I have ideas for more books and documentaries and TV shows and Online projects but if I told you more I would have to kill you.

Thanks once again for taking my questions, Mark.

My pleasure.

Taking my questions next weekend is Irish singer and actress Klara McDonnell. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous Weekend Words features here.

Nothing can stop unity

2008-05-09T22:08:00.002+01:00

"British-Irish relationships have never been stronger. When we have Britain, Ireland and America working together, nothing can stop us." - British PM Gordon Brown addressing participants of an investment conference for Ireland's north.

Encouraging words from the British Prime Minister for those of us who wish to see the island of Ireland become closer with a view towards reunification.

Thursday Thoughts: Meet the new boss...

2008-05-08T20:40:00.003+01:00

Well the Bertie Ahern era has come and gone and Brian Cowen is officially the new Taoiseach.

Unsurprisingly I'm not too enamoured with the new man seeing as I voted for the opposition at last year's election. I'm not quite sure what the next few years will bring under Cowen. It's interesting that much like our neighbours across the sea, a charismatic politician who survived many elections has been replaced by someone who appears quite bereft of personality but yet claims to be good with the books. Time will tell but if he matches his British counterpart's performance as Prime Minister, then Ireland's opposition will have some good times to look forward to.

It's not easy to predict how Brian Cowen will compare to Bertie Ahern in the top job, besides reviving the fortunes of the scraggly-haired look, but I figured I'd take a look at some of the main issues facing Brian Cowen and speculate as to how well he will do compared to his predecessor.

Economy

Well we're all aware of this global economic slump at the present time and it will be a difficult beginning for Cowen. Ahern walked into the job with the economy in pretty good shape which he was able to build upon. Brian Lenihan is now the Finance Minister in Cowen's cabinet and it will be a big test for him. Difficult one to judge this, but I suspect Cowen will have a tougher time than Ahern.

Health

Surely this government's greatest failing. Harney remains the Health Minister and it could be argued that this is an area for the PDs to sort out but I would say that everyone needs to take responsibility. I am inclined to think little will change with Harney at the helm. I think this will be a problem for Cowen.

Crime

Again I think this government could have done, and should do, more to combat the criminal elements in the country. Dermot Ahern has been named the new Minister for Justice and I would hope that he and Cowen together will take measures to make the country safer for people, however I worry that all we'll get from Dermot Ahern is excuses. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that improvements will be made.

Education

I thought Mary Hanafin was poor in her position of Minister for Education and Science. I was not surprised therefore to see her replaced in the role. Batt O'Keefe now takes over and I suspect he and Cowen will oversee an improved education system from previous administrations.

Foreign Affairs

With Dermot Ahern now Justice Minister, the new Minister for Foreign Affairs is Micheál Martin. I worry about this one. I'm not a fan of Mr Martin and I think he could prove a liability. Much of his work will be focused on Ireland's north and I suspect Cowen will take a very hands-on approach to NI. I don't see Cowen doing as well with NI as Ahern did, and I wonder if Cowen and Martin could effectively deal with any issues that arise for the North in the way Bertie and Dermot Ahern were able to previously.

Overall I think there is major scope for improvement for this new cabinet but the real test undoubtedly will be how Cowen and co handle the economy. The handling of the economy has pretty much kept them in power and if things go awry, it will be interesting to see how Cowen et al. cope.

Ahern managed to deal with his troubles remarkably well and his reputation as the 'Teflon Taoiseach' was well justified. It will be most interesting to see whether Cowen will duplicate this ability that Ahern possessed. My gut feeling is that he will not.

Words on Wednesday...with Dr Diana Panke

2008-05-07T00:00:00.001+01:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Words on Wednesday, a concept unique to the Irish blogosphere, which sees me interview various figures from all walks of political life. Taking my questions this week is Dr Diana Panke, a lecturer of European Studies at University College Dublin.

My thanks to Dr Panke for taking my questions on the Lisbon Treaty. So without further ado, let's begin...

You are a lecturer in European Politics at University College Dublin. Could you explain a bit about some of the subjects you deal with at the University?

I am teaching classes on European integration and European governance on the BA and the MA level as well as qualitative methods on the PhD level. The classes on the European Union introduce into or analyse into detail the basic structure of the EU, its main institutions (the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, the European Court of Justice), policy-making procedures, policy areas as well as contemporary issues, such as citizenship, European elections, or European democracy.

As you know the country is preparing for the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in a few weeks' time. I understand you are in favour of the Treaty. Why is that?

In a nutshell, the Lisbon Treaty considerably improves two shortcomings of the current European Union: Firstly, it introduces institutional reforms, allowing for effective and efficient policy-making in an enlarged Union with now 27 member states. Secondly, the Lisbon treaty brings more democracy to the European Union. For example, it increases the competencies of the European Parliament and also of national parliaments in the decision-making process.

The Lisbon Treaty is an institutional reform that adapts the European Union to the 21st century. With the end of the cold war, the EU became bigger. Today, the EU is no longer a club of six, twelve, or sixteen states, but encompasses 27 states. This increases the heterogeneity of interests at stake for every single European law. Yet, the decision-making procedures currently in place had been designed for a lower number of states than 27. In the worst case, this could lead to lengthy decision-making procedures or even to policy blockades – preventing the EU from reacting to and actively shaping of common market polices, the globalisation, environmental reforms. The Lisbon Treaty allows for smoother decision-making and ensures that the EU-27 can be as successful as the smaller EU had been for the last 50 years in fostering economic welfare, peace and democracy in Europe.

Equally important, the Lisbon Treaty democratises the European Union. It strengthens the roles of the European Parliament and national parliaments, introduces direct participation of European citizens, and strengthens the democratic ‘one man, one vote’ principle in the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

One of the worries about the Lisbon Treaty is that it is preparation for an eventual European Superstate. The Treaty itself in its preamble speaks of "reinforcing the European identity", "creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe" and resolves to "advance European integration". In view of this kind of language, would you agree that such worries are understandable?

Comparing the Lisbon Treaty with the Treaties after Amsterdam and Nice (the current EU), the EU would resemble far less a superstate model if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. The Lisbon Treaty (Art. 50) allows member states to withdraw from the European Union for the first time. Thus, the Lisbon Treaty acknowledges that the EU is closer to a confederation of states rather than a European (federal) superstate.

From the very beginning of European Integration, the preamble of the Treaties had always paid tribune to the idea of its founding fathers that European Integration is a means to foster peace, democracy and welfare on the European continent/ its member states. In order to achieve this, politicians sought from the very beginning that institutions allowing for cooperation between states as well as successful market creating and regulating policies only partially do the job of fostering peace and democracy. Successful integration should be complemented by a feeling of belongingness of the peoples of Europe, so that they seek to cooperate also in difficult times instead of acting unilaterally and eventually waging war. Thus, the statements in the preamble of the Lisbon Treaty do not invent new directions of European Integration, but follow the path, which the EU had successfully taken on for the last 50 years.

Article 10.3. states that "Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen." Is that not a pretty hollow statement however considering there is a reluctance to allow French and Dutch citizens a vote on the Treaty - when they rejected the EU Constitution - and a reluctance by Gordon Brown to give British citizens a referendum as they were promised?

Article 10 focuses on the day-to-day decision making of the European Union and has nothing to do with how Treaty reforms shall be ratified. The latter is entirely regulated by national constitutions and solely subject to domestic considerations. The European Union or its institutions cannot interfere into such essential affairs of its member states.

Transparency is important to hold politicians accountable for decisions, which is itself an important prerequisite of every democracy. The Lisbon treaty considerably increases the transparency of European policy-making, since there won’t be negotiations behind closed door anymore in the Council of Ministers. The European Union will in this respect become much more transparent than national governments, which usually negotiate with the exclusion of the public.

Probably my biggest concern about this Treaty is the qualified majority voting system. We're told that a qualified majority will be:

"55 % of the members of the Council, comprising at least fifteen of them and representing Member States comprising at least 65 % of the population of the Union. A blocking minority must include at least four Council members, failing which the qualified majority shall be deemed attained."

How could this possibly be of any benefit to the Irish people?

The Lisbon Treaty is an important step towards more democracy in the European Union. Democracy means that citizens are regarded as equal. Every citizen has the same amount of votes and all votes are weighted equally. The current Council of Ministers is not democratic since the interests of European citizens are unequally represented. Bigger member states have more votes than smaller member states. Yet, the amount of votes of each state is not proportional to its population. Smaller member states have more votes in proportion to their numbers of citizens, than bigger member states. In effect, this means that a the voice of a citizen of a small member state, such as Luxembourg or of Malta, is much more important than the same voice of a citizen of a big member states, such as Poland or France. This is not democratic, since it violates the ‘one citizen, one vote’ principle. The Lisbon Treaty does not completely solve this democratic deficit, but reduces the disproportionality between population size and votes in the Council of Ministers through the distribution of votes and the principle of double majorities. This is good for all people of Europe, because it strengthens democracy in the European Union. At the same time, the double majority principle requires that small and big states form coalitions in order to pass policies. It will not be possible for big states alone to make European laws against the will of small member states. This is good for small states, such as Ireland.

The Irish Daily Mail recently revealed a leaked memo from a civil servant in the Department of Foreign Affairs to a Diplomat in the British Embassy on the government's Yes campaign saying that the "aim is to focus the campaign on overall benefits of the EU rather than the Treaty itself." I find it quite disgraceful that there is an effort to block debate on the Treaty. What are your thoughts on the matter?

The point is that the Lisbon Treaty introduces, firstly, institutional reforms, making the EU fit for policy-making processes with 27 different states, and, secondly, democratic measures, increasing the possibilities of participation for citizens and parliaments. These reforms are of complex legal character. It takes more time and more effort to explain them to the Irish people (like to any other people) than policy reforms would, since it is much easier to communicate that the EU has competencies in policy field X, than to communicate what a double majority means. Personally, I think it is important to explain the current EU institutions to the public, explain the difficulties of policy making with 27 different cooks over the pan, and highlight than, how the Lisbon reform Treaty improves things. Yet, this takes effort on both sides: it requires that politicians are willing and have the time to explain things in detail, and also that the public is interested and willingness to invest time and energy to learn about the political system of the European Union.

I'm worried that this Treaty gives too much power to the European Council and that the European Parliament will have too little input. Article 36 states that:

"The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall regularly consult the European Parliament on the main aspects and the basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy and inform it of how those policies evolve. He shall ensure that the views of the European Parliament are duly taken into consideration. Special representatives may be involved in briefing the European Parliament. The European Parliament may ask questions of the Council or make recommendations to it and to the High Representative..."

Does this Article not concern you as much as it does me?

The Lisbon Treaty strongly increases the competencies of the European Parliament. It might not be perfect from a parliamentary democratic point of view (which would ask for an even stronger role of the EP), but compared to the Nice Treaty (the EU as it currently stands), the role of the EP is immensely strengthened. Previously, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (called "the second pillar"), was purely intergovernmental, which means that neither the European Parliament nor the European Commission or the European Court of Justice had any competencies in this policy field.

Regarding the nation-states' member votes, Ireland has been granted just 7 votes whereas countries like the UK, France, Germany and Italy get 29 votes. Even the likes of Hungary and Bulgaria have more weight than ourselves as they have 10 votes each. Does Ireland become a political irrelevance through the Lisbon Treaty?

No, see my answer to question 6.

Ireland will not become political irrelevant through the Lisbon Treaty, nor will any of the other small member states. Under the new voting system in the Council of Ministers (double majority), it is impossible that the big states, such as the UK, Germany, France and Poland, solely determine the content of European policies. Every coalition needs small states on board as well.

In addition, the usual style of decision-making in the European Union is very consensual. In less than 10 percent of all European laws, member states actually voted in the Council of Ministers. In all other instances, decisions are taken by consensus, so that no country is outvoted. This is the usual practice in the European Union and prevents that decisions are taken against the explicit interests of a member state – regardless of whether it is big or small.

Some commentators have suggested that Ireland's standing within the EU will be hurt by a No vote to Lisbon. Personally I find suggestions like this to be simply scaremongering tactics. What do you think?

Whether Ireland’s standing will be affected is difficult to say.

I interviewed Kieran Allen some weeks back, a campaigner against the Lisbon Treaty and an editor of VoteNo.ie, and when speaking of those in support of the Treaty he said they "cannot, however, name one extra, specific legal right that the people of Ireland will get, which they do not currently enjoy". Can you do so?

This is not true. For example, Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty grants member states the right to leave the Union. There are also a series of more positive rights, such as direct democratic participation of European citizens, to name but a few.

Mr Allen also remarked that "Europe has shifted from being a zone of stability within the global order to one where millions of workers are fighting to defend gains they won in the past". What are your thoughts on that?

Again, I strongly disagree. Without the European Union, the economic development of EU member states would not have achieved such high levels. Yet, we are living in a changing world. Globalisation is a fact and cannot be prevented or ignored. With the globalisation, states are more directly affected by global competition, which, produces economic gains on the one hand, but also places the risk of loosing jobs to countries that can simply produce at lower costs. The European Union helps to mediate at least some of the effects of globalisation. The European Union belongs to the three big economic powers in the world (next to the US, and China) and can much more effectively influence standards for trade, labour, the environment and human rights than any of the EU member states could do for themselves.

What would a rejection of the Treaty by the Irish electorate mean for Ireland and the EU?

It would basically mean that the Irish and all other citizens of the European Union continue to live in the European Union as we know it today. A ‘no’ to the Lisbon Treaty does not mean that Ireland will no longer be a member of the EU. Rather, a ‘no’ stops the ratification process and the Lisbon Treaty cannot be adopted in any of the EU member states. Thus, we will all end up with a European Union that is less democratic and less effective than an EU after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. An Irish ‘no’ vote will prevent all peoples of Europe from exercising more democracy on the European Union. Also, the European Union will not become more effective, although we now have 27 instead of 16 member states.

If such a rejection occurs in June, do you believe the Irish government and the EU should respect the democratic wishes of the electorate and let the Treaty lie?

The Treaty as it is now formulated will definitely not be to put to another referendum just as it is. There are basically three options. Firstly, we could kept the EU in its current shape. This would neglect the fact that EU integration was so successful in the last 50 years, because the Europeans managed to adapt the EU to all the new challenges. With the end of the East-West conflict and the new independent Eastern European states, the EU underwent a process of considerable enlargement, which stabilises these new democracies, maintains peace and increases the welfare of all. It is questionable of whether the EU will be able to perform as good in the future (e.g. globalization) as it has in the past, if we stop it from adoption to new circumstances. A second option would be to carry the Lisbon treaty to grave and develop a completely new one. Such a completely new treaty should again address questions of how to make the EU more democratic and how to reform its decision-making procedures as to accommodate the heterogeneity arising form 27 different member states. Finally, Ireland and the EU member states could negotiate concessions for Ireland, change the Lisbon Treaty accordingly and start the ratification process again. Whether this would be fair to the peoples of other EU member states is a totally different question.

What would you say to anyone reading this right now who is unsure of where they stand on the Lisbon Treaty?

I would simply ask whether they want to keep the EU just as it is right now, or whether they want to live in a more democratic European Union, in which its citizens and their parliaments have greater powers to influence the future development of the EU and its policies. If someone is fine with the state of the Union, the Lisbon Treaty is not necessary, if someone seeks to gain a greater say in EU affairs, the Lisbon Treaty is a big step towards this direction.

Thank you for taking my questions Dr Panke. All the best.

This weekend I put some questions to RTE's Prime Time presenter Mark Little. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous interviews can be found here.

Top Ten Tuesday - Superheroes

2008-05-06T00:00:00.000+01:00

I'm pleased to see that the movie based on one of my favourite superheroes as a kid, Iron Man, is doing well at the box office. I always felt Iron Man was one of the better heroes.

It took an estimated $101m (£51m) in its opening weekend in the US and Canada becoming one of only 10 films to have broken the $100m barrier in its first three days.

So then, it seems that we still remain captivated by the figures who captured our imaginations all those years ago. To celebrate the release of Iron Man I thought I'd devote this week's top ten list to my favourite superheroes. So then without further ado...

1. Superman - Yes he can be a bit squeaky clean as a character but, for me anyway, Superman remains the king of all superheroes. I also believe the first Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve remains the best superhero movie ever made.

2. Batman - It's hard for me to choose between two and three but I'll give the nod to Batman due to the early Michael Keaton movies which were top notch in my view. I must admit however I wasn't too fond of the Christian Bale effort 'Batman Begins'. Maybe it was that horrible suit. Still, Batman is a great character with many layers, and perhaps the best adversaries. Plus he has a great car to boot.

3. Spider-man - Spidey of course doesn't need a car as he's got his webs. I still have my Spider-man action figure that I had as a boy and Spider-man remains a favourite of mine. A bit of a loser as Peter Parker but a great servant to New York ciry as the red and blue web-slinger.

4. The Incredible Hulk - The alter ego of Bruce Banner in the comic books but named David Banner in the TV series (according to creator Stan Lee this was because they thought Bruce sounded too gay), The Hulk is a brilliant superhero. The bad guys didn't like it when he was angry but everyone else did. The recent movie was a disappointment.

5. Iron Man - I haven't seen the movie yet but I intend to. Iron Man is the alter ego of Tony Stark. In the comic books he suffered from an alcohol problem which was unusual for a superhero. I'm not sure if that's the case in the film though. Top hero.

6. Captain America - Cap was a superhero who played his part in cheering up the American people, and indeed their troops, during World War 2. Captain America took the fight to Adolf Hitler and you have to respect him for that. Great costume too. There was a low-budget movie made about Captain America around 15 years ago which was just diabolical. I've no idea if they are planning another movie but I think they should do one.

7. X-Men - Yes I know I'm cheating here by lumping them all in together but I'm not crazy about them as individuals. Together though I think Wolverine, Cyclops and co are excellent. Far better than the Fantastic Four in my opinion. I was never into them.

8. Wonder Woman - She's definitely the sexiest superhero and she does a twirl and everything.

9. Blade - The vampire-hunter has to make my list. Really cool hero and the movies were good too...well, the first one was.

10. The Flash - Super speed doesn't seem like an exciting ability but I was always impressed with The Flash. Love the costume too. There needs to be a movie on this hero as well.

So there you go. My top ten favourite superheroes of all time. Feel free to comment on the list or maybe come up with your own one.

WMM officially stinks

2008-05-05T22:38:00.000+01:00

Bah. I have been trying to post a movie I have been working on but Windows Movie Maker is proving a lot of hassle. I'll leave it for the time being.

Anyone know some decent alternatives to WMM?

Weekend Words...with Audrey McCoy

2008-05-03T00:00:00.003+01:00

Welcome to this week's Weekend Words feature which sees me leave the politics to one side and instead take a look at the individuals helping to shape Irish popular culture. Taking my questions this week is Irish actress and one of the stars from RTE Two's Hollywood Trials, Audrey McCoy.

My thanks to Audrey for taking my questions. So then, without further ado, let's begin...

You've been on Irish screens the past few weeks in the TV show Hollywood Trials. What prompted you to try out for the show?

When I first read about it, the series seemed to be a great opportunity to get an insight into the LA industry and to gain valuable training. I hoped that if I performed well and gave it my best shot I could help boost my career at home. I understood it can be a risk doing a documentary series, but once I had a few meetings and understood what the production company was aiming for, I had no doubts about taking part. With Margie Haber, Declan Lowney and Ros Hubbard on board I was thrilled to be chosen!

The show sees yourself and nine other actors attempting to make it in Hollywood . What was the atmosphere like with everybody?

We are all professionals, but of course it is difficult living and working with a group of people for a whole month, especially with the added pressure of feeling exposed in front of the cameras and wanting to perform well. Overall it was easier than I expected and I felt we turned to each other for support and advice.

You could be having a great day, but another person could be having a tough time and we had to learn to be sensitive to that. There was always a lot of humour and lightness, also when the pressure was on.

Competition for the final places looked tough. What goes through your mind when you're put in a competitive situation like that?

I felt quite exhausted after the three-day audition process. You never knew when you would be called to perform, so the adrenalin was constantly going. It was either fight or flight. The worst fear is letting yourself down and that fear lingers constantly. I kept telling myself to take it step by step, otherwise I would get overwhelmed, but my legs were shaking at one point! I am certain all the actors involved could deliver strong performances. The tough part was being good under pressure with time constraints and with cameras distracting you. Trying to remain focused on each task as it came to you was the key to staying relatively calm. We all have a tendency to try to compare ourselves to others and how they’re doing, but that’s just spreading energy where it won’t do you any good.

I understand that you have a twin sister who is also an actress. How did your sister react to the news you were going to LA for the show?

Sharon was absolutely ecstatic and the first person I called. Throughout the auditions she helped me prepare in the evenings. She knew how much it meant to me to go and kept leaving messages of encouragement on my mobile, including recordings of songs I love to keep my spirits up! She’s very proud.

On the first show I noticed you said you'd probably end up being the mummy of the group. Is that how things turned out?

I think Annemarie deserves that crown! But I had my moments. The guys were the best cooks, but the worst housekeepers!

On one of the episodes the actors all got cosmetic assistance and advice and you remarked that you weren't going to be a Barbie. Was that a fear held by the girls on the show? That they would be asked to alter their appearance?

I was surprised that the other girls were also anxious about meeting the stylist. I don’t particularly enjoy that aspect of it, but I was sure I’d be the only one. We all had our fears I think. There is a certain LA look that a lot of girls seem to aim for and I personally don’t feel like I fit into that or want to. We did pick up some good fashion and makeup advice though.

Looks and presentation account for so much, especially over there. As a businesswoman I have to learn to make the most of that, but as an actress I am aiming for something more organic. I tried my best to grow while staying true to myself and I think the other girls did too.

We saw examples of size zero, too much plastic surgery etc. It’s frightening when girls cross a dangerous line. It was hard, but we all had a sense of humour about it and were willing to make certain changes. We also recognised that they push the envelope there. What else can you expect from an industry where people look for ways to stand out and compete against each other? I take it with a pinch of salt. Most of the actresses I admire don’t actually conform to that look either. There’s also a lot of pressure on the men over there to look good.

I understand that you studied English and German at UCD. While you were at the college did you get involved with any of the drama societies there?

I spent most of my free time in Dramsoc, hanging out and watching plays. For the sake of my studies I only took part in a couple of shows, but wish I had had the time to do more.

What are some of the Theatre productions you've been involved in and how does that compare to being on camera?

I performed in a range of theatrical productions, mostly fringe and independent theatre. They include dramas, musicals and pantomimes, and before Hollywood Trials I performed in the chorus of Carmen at the National Concert Hall. My favourite role so far is Ermelinda in The Heiress of the Cane Fields – a Portuguese novel set in 19th Century and adapted for the stage and performed in the Greenwich Playhouse in London . I played a young girl falling in love, whose spirit is crushed by her Godmother who has extreme religious beliefs.

I love theatre. I work well in an ensemble and thoroughly enjoy the rehearsal process and the excitement of a live audience.

Film is a very different discipline, which I feel I adapt to easily. It’s great seeing the finished product, but the process feels more tedious and you have to be very patient. It has different rewards. I am probably more influenced by film than theatre overall. The Golden Age of Hollywood and its stars has left its mark on me.

I read on RTE's website that you once worked at Madame Tussauds' Chamber of Horrors in London. What are your memories of that?

That was such a fun experience! It was an ideal day-job for an actor, as flexibility to attend auditions was part of the deal. We got to dress up in crazy make-up and costumes and hang out with other actors and dancers. They actually gave us a workshop on scare techniques and the set had all sorts of hiding places, cages and effects. There were set characters you had to play. I was either a serial killer or the hag with her stick on Jack the Ripper Street . It was always dark and spooky. No one liked being down there on their own! They gave the best Halloween parties!

Ideally what kind of acting roles would you like to be involved in? Would you prefer serious roles? Or maybe something to do with comedy?

I want to try as much as I can, even if I make a fool of myself! I see myself mostly as a dramatic actress. I had my first comedy classes in LA and was surprised at how much I loved them. Comedy is very difficult, but I’m certainly going to jump on an opportunity to give it a shot. I adore musicals and love singing. I can’t dance a lick, but to do something like The Sound of Music or Guys and Dolls would be a dream.

What do you feel you've learned from your experiences over the past twelve months?

My experience of Hollywood Trials has given me a lot of personal reassurance, but also a wake up call. I feel that I won a hard battle doing the series, but I’m still fighting a war and recognize more than ever how strong and resilient I have to be. The education I received has helped me enormously.

What does the future hold in store for you?

I recently accepted a management offer, which I’m very happy about. I’d like to push forward and play roles on TV and film. I completed a documentary-feature called Dracula’s Stoker, which is set for release in the US next August, and I’m very excited about that.

When I’m not on a job I continue to work on low-budget projects to meet people and gain experience. I still have to support myself in between acting work, which is a reality of most actors.

I hope to find work that challenges and inspires me. It’s an unpredictable and an exciting career. I’m looking forward to whatever comes my way!

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association about your fellow cast from Hollywood Trials. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just sum up what comes into your head when you hear the following names:

Anne Marie - comfort
Cat - giddy
Chris - slick
Emmet - sexy
George - hilarious
Holly – Sushi
Joe - drums
Michael - dinner
Susan - grounded
And yourself... - strange

Thanks again Audrey for taking my questions. Very best of luck to you in the future.

Hollywood Trials, RTÉ Two, Thurs, 9.30pm

Taking my questions next weekend is RTE Prime Time presenter and journalist Mark Little. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous Weekend Words features here.

Friday Face-Off - Yes or No to Lisbon?

2008-05-02T21:40:00.003+01:00

I see the desperation of the Lisbon Treaty's Yes campaigners is reaching new heights. My thanks to Brian Boru for highlighting these comments from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who suggested that rejecting the Treaty would be an "act of lunacy". Classy stuff.

The comments of former Taoiseach and Treaty supporter Garret Fitzgerald were equally repugnant. He described opponents of the Lisbon Treaty as "nitpickers of the extreme right and left"and trotted out the old myth that a No vote would see Ireland lose the good-will of 26 governments. I'm an admirer of Dr Fitzgerald and I'm very disappointed in his remarks. I think I'll therefore give him the benefit of the doubt and attribute his comments to supreme stupidity on his part rather than an act of gutless subservience to Brussels.

Today is interesting however in that it sees the launch of the website 'Yes to Lisbon' (a suitably obsequious name if I may say so) from "The Irish Alliance for Europe". The alliance plans to spend €750,000 over the next six weeks "informing the public about the benefits of a Yes vote". In other words, scaremongering.

I had a visit to the site today and it's quite pitiful. It's filled with pictures of people sporting cheesy grins that make them look like sinister extras from Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Don't believe me? Well check it out yourself...

'Europe is ours'

Presumably some marketing 'expert' figured that showing images of beaming lemmings would convince Irish people that everything would be OK and a Yes vote would be the best option...

"Even old people support it!"

"Even working girls support it!"

Hey honey, I was going to vote No to Lisbon over my concerns that it wasn't a good deal for Ireland, but now that I've seen so many smiling faces endorsing the Treaty, I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't vote Yes!

I actually took the time to read the content of what the site itself is saying and I thought I'd add in some of the concerns of those advocating a No vote and combine the two for a new feature which I've named 'Friday Face-Off'. Just to reiterate that the Yes stuff below is their own argument for why people should endorse the Treaty...

Point #1

Vote Yes to Lisbon: "The vast majority of changes this Treaty brings about are relatively minor in nature but combined they will give us a much more effective EU that will make it work harder for the people of Ireland."

Vote No to Lisbon: "Some of the changes this Treaty brings about will remove Ireland's right to veto decisions by the EU and will make the EU more effective at the expense of smaller states like Ireland."

Conclusion: Well, according to even the Yes camp itself the changes from the Treaty are minor which begs the question why we in Ireland need the Treaty at all? What's the point in voting for a document that will take away many of our own national rights? I would conclude that the No campaign's position is the correct one.

Point #2

Vote Yes to Lisbon: "There are threats that we as a nation face, that we cannot deal with on our own. This Treaty will better equip us and Europe to deal with the challenges of the 21st Century; such as climate change, the trafficking of women and children, energy security, drugs and globalisation."

Vote No to Lisbon: "It is foolhardy to suggest that we as a nation cannot deal with the challenges mentioned above. Furthermore there is no reason why a Treaty is needed to deal with these issues when the European Union is equipped already to tackle these threats."

Conclusion: I find it quite insulting to hear that we as a nation cannot face threats such as climate change, trafficking, drugs etc. on our own. If our own elected politicians feel that we can't tackle these issues then it's a sad sorry state of affairs indeed. I would conclude that Ireland, with EU assistance if necessary, can tackle these challenges. I see no need for the Treaty to help us tackle these matters and even independent commentators have said that the EU has been functioning just fine without what the Treaty is set to impose upon everyone. Again I'd conclude the No position to be the correct one.

Point #3

Vote Yes to Lisbon: "The EU will be more efficient so that it can make decisions quicker and easier with less red tape."

Vote No to Lisbon: "Such 'efficiency' would be at the expense of smaller states like Ireland whose power would be greatly reduced."

Conclusion: I find talk of "efficiency", "less red tape", "smoother institutions" etc to be buzz words and a simple smokescreen designed to mask the reality that smaller states like Ireland would have reduced voting power, plus a reduced ability to object to things we don't agree with. I'm not willing to give up aspects of sovereignty to make the EU a more efficient political machine because I know it will be to our detriment. I back the 'No' stance.

Point #4

Vote Yes to Lisbon: "The EU can finally end its focus on institutional reform and concentrate on making Europe more dynamic and prosperous for citizens in all its member states."

Vote No to Lisbon: "If a loss of focus on institutional reform means ultimately that smaller powers are silenced, then it is not a fair deal."

Conclusion: This is the most baffling point of all from the 'Yes' side and proves to me that they're talking out of their backsides. The use of spin here is extraordinary. What on earth are they on about by making Europe "more dynamic and prosperous for citizens". Is that the best the marketing think-tanks could come up with? I want the EU to live up to the principles it was founded upon and that is to give every nation-state a fair voice. I don't believe the Lisbon Treaty provides for that any more and thus I am more certain than ever that I will vote No.

I really think overall the 'Yes' campaign is a poor one. It is built upon scaremongering from the likes of Dick Roche and Garret Fitzgerald about Ireland's standing being damaged by rejecting the treaty which is utter nonsense. There was no backlash against French and Dutch voters for rejecting the EU Constitution (which is what the Lisbon Treaty is) and there would be no backlash against us.

The Yes campaign has also resorted to slagging off those of us who favour a No vote calling us "extreme", "lunatics" and so forth. Well I've always believed that if you resort to personal insults then you've lost the argument. So, I'll let you make your own minds up on their behaviour.

Ultimately, as the above points from their website highlight, the Yes campaign cannot provide any good reasons whatsoever why the Irish electorate should endorse this Treaty. Every time I've watched an advocate of the Lisbon Treaty on TV all I hear about is how the EU has been good to Ireland, we have had a great run etc. Well that may be true but that is the past tense. We are now talking about the future and the future make-up of the EU is going to be very different. We in Ireland must assess things carefully. I have also heard supporters of a Yes vote amazingly urging Irish people to NOT read the Treaty and instead just trust in the political parties. Well, I would never put my name to a document without reading it and I wouldn't put blind faith into any elected official I can assure you of that.

I would urge Irish people to read up about the Treaty as much as possible and yes that includes both sides. I'll be interviewing a respected academic from UCD this Wednesday who supports the Treaty so I am very open about having a full and frank debate on the Lisbon Treaty. I am confident that a No vote is the best decision for Ireland. I would urge people to give reading the convoluted Treaty a shot on the EU's website even though it is a ridiculously heavy read.

The important thing as I've said many times is that people become aware of what is at stake. I hate the idea that people will vote for this purely on the basis that their local TD told them to. Do not be naive enough to think that it's not a big issue considering there's been little mention of it on the continent. Remember that in France and Holland the EU Constitution was a major bone of contention and was ultimately rejected - only for the national parliaments of the countries to back the Treaty in their respective parliaments under its new name of 'The Lisbon Treaty'.

We have a privilege in Ireland that no other nation-state in Europe has. We have the ability to let the EU know what we really think of their agenda. I know what message I'll be sending. I'll be telling Brussels, and the lemmings in Dublin, that this is not a good enough deal for the citizens of Ireland, and not a good deal for the citizens of Europe either.

Caption Time

2008-05-02T00:00:00.001+01:00

Well Giovanni Trappatoni is ready to get down to business as the new manager of the Irish soccer team. He spoke to a packed crowd at Dublin's RDS yesterday and impressed everyone with his grasp of English. Let's hope he can take us to the 2010 World Cup although it will be a far from easy task.

In honour of the new man from Italy how about coming up with a caption for this photo from yesterday's press conference?

My effort:

"I am excited about this group of players and I think Andy Reid has the most beautiful bosom."

Thursday Thoughts: Taoiseach's tune more like a broken record

2008-05-01T04:58:00.003+01:00

I don't know what it is about Bertie Ahern but it's as if the whole world wants us to proclaim him as the great Irish hero of modern times. If it's not RTE's Charlie Bird blathering on about him going down in the blooming history books, or the BBC going on about what a remarkable conciliator he is, it's our friends across the Atlantic getting in on the act.

Yes Wednesday saw the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern addressing a joint session of the US Congress and proclaiming that "Ireland is at peace". (Ireland might be free from the terrorism of old but check out some of Dublin's streets on a dark night and you'd see we are clearly not at peace)

The speech apparently went down well with the US Congress as Mr Ahern received a number of standing ovations. The text of it is available here. Opinions on the speech over here seem to be quite divided. For instance an RTE poll asks, "How was the Taoiseach's speech before the US Congress?" The results as I write this are...

Made me feel proud to be Irish - 42%
Kissed too much US arse - 41%
Not his best, but not his worst - 7%
Read his script too much - 10%

Personally speaking, I was less interested in whether or not he was kissing arse and more interested in this aspect of the Taoiseach's speech...

"It is profoundly encouraging that we are seeing the members of the European Union continuing to rise together as a force for development, for stability, for peace in the world.

"Soon, the Irish people will vote on a new reform treaty that aims to make the European Union work even more effectively, both internally and in the wider world. I trust in their wisdom to support and to believe in Europe, as they always have."

Unbelievable!

Need I remind you Mr Ahern that you were invited to give a speech to the US Congress in recognition of your part in the peace process, NOT to give your opinions on the hugely significant Lisbon Treaty which will determine Ireland's relationship with the EU. I think it's an absolute disgrace that he decided to use the occasion as a platform to beg for the Irish public's support. Pathetic!

I suppose it shows how nervous the Irish government are that the Irish electorate will, quite rightly, reject the Treaty due to it not being substandard.

Of course that won't be picked up by many media outlets because right now we're entering into Ahern's final days as Taoiseach and we're all supposed to lament the departure of such a fine statesman. Am I the only one still concerned about the findings of the Mahon tribunal? It's like that's been completely swept under the carpet. Has everybody forgotten that's why he's on his way?

He's not the Messiah...

On Tuesday, the 6th of May, Mr Ahern will tender his resignation to President McAleese while the following day the Dáil is expected to vote Brian Cowen in to succeed him. Mr Cowen will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to receive the seal of office before naming the new Cabinet. I'm sure that over the next week or so we'll hear about what a great job Mr Ahern has done, what a great thing it would be if Ireland endorses the Lisbon Treaty, the good times that will beckon with Brian and his buddies, and so on and so forth...

All I ask is that people put things into perspective. We have a health service that is still in dire straits. We have seen increasing incidents of serious criminal activity. We have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty coming up which the government seemingly doesn't want you to read about and which it hopes you will endorse on blind faith alone. We have had our Prime Minister embroiled in an embarrassing cash scandal since last year's election.

In other words, Mr Ahern does not depart from office leaving Ireland as some near-Utopian society the way some commentators appear to be making out. I will give the outgoing Taoiseach credit for his role in the peace process which he undoubtedly played a big part in, however I will not allow the wool to be pulled over my eyes and buy into the Fianna Fáil spin machine that everything here is hunky-dory.

Mr Ahern and his party can sing their tune about the peace process for as long as they want, but a more balanced view of the past needs to be given, and the same must apply to the issues of the present day. In the final lines of Mr Ahern's speech to the US Congress he remarked...

"In history, in politics and in life, there are no ends, only new beginnings."

Well I would be of the opinion that in politics, there are no new beginnings, only new means to an end.

The next few weeks in Irish politics are of massive importance to the future of the country, and it is of vital importance that we the Irish people see through the same old tired cliches, the agendas, the PR, and the BS, and pay close attention to the substance of the issues at hand so as to determine our destinies as best as we possibly can.

The Trials of Hollywood

2008-05-01T03:25:00.001+01:00

There's a programme on RTE Two at the minute on Thursday nights that some of you may have seen called Hollywood Trials. It's a six-part documentary that follows ten Irish actors attempting to make it in LA's dog-eat-dog world. I've seen the first few episodes of the show and I've enjoyed it. It's quite interesting to see what our actors have to go through in order to become the next Colin Farrell or Saoirse Ronan.

I'm pleased to say I've got an interview - which I'll be posting over the weekend - with one of the show's stars, the very beautiful and talented Audrey McCoy. If you've been following the show the past few weeks you should enjoy it. If you've not yet caught the programme, well you can catch it tonight on RTE Two at 9:30. It's also available online at RTE's website here, although that might just be available to those of us living in Ireland.

Words on Wednesday...with Stephen Farry MLA

2008-04-30T00:01:00.001+01:00

Welcome to this week's edition of Words on Wednesday here on United Irelander, a concept unique to the Irish blogosphere, which sees me interview various figures from all walks of political life.

Taking my questions this week is Alliance Party MLA for North Down, Dr Stephen Farry. My thanks to Dr Farry for the interview. So then let's begin...

You are an Alliance Party MLA for North Down and the party's General Secretary. Talk us through a typical day in your life.

Unfortunately, there is not typical day at the moment. When I was elected to the Assembly, I was serving as General Secretary of the Party. I served in both capacities until my successor was appointed. This was a challenge in itself. In June, I was elected to serve as Mayor of North Down for a year. I was fulfilling three major roles for a brief time. I tend to spend Monday and Tuesday in the Assembly for plenary business, and on Monday evening, I would frequently host a reception in Bangor Town Hall. On Tuesday evening, there is usually a Council meeting. On Wednesday morning, I sit on the Assembly’s Finance and Personnel Committee. The remainder of the week tends to be a mixture of Mayoral events, meetings with NGOs and constituents, including right through the weekends.

What prompted you to get involved in politics?

A concern for the world around me, and the need to turn Northern Ireland around, plus a desire to try to make a difference with one’s life.

You were elected the Mayor of North Down a year ago. What are some of the initiatives that you're involved in at the minute as Mayor?

My main focus as Mayor has been Good Relations. I have been working with local ethnic minority groups to build up their capacity, and we are working towards the creation of a local multicultural forum which should provide a stronger voice for dealing with all levels of government. I recently invited a large number of Polish and other Eastern European workers to the Town Hall. We are working to creating a local group for what is a present a very dispirit community. I also made the first invitation for our local Gay and Lesbian group to the Town Hall.

This year marks the the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and you yourself were involved in the negotiations that led to that accord. What are your feelings on that point in time as you reflect upon it?

I regard the Agreement as a huge missed opportunity. At the time, it only contained what could be agreed, but major issues were left unresolved, including decommissioning and policing. With hindsight, it is bizarre that no financial and economic package was negotiated – Blair would have almost certainly delivered here at the time.

Much time has been wasted in trying to implement the GFA. The Agreement has also witnessed considerable political polarisation. From the perspective of 1998, it was not anticipated that the DUP and Sinn Fein would be so dominant. The assumption in 1998 was that both parties would be inside the tent, but managed by the UUP and SDLP.

The paradox of the Agreement is that peace has come at the price of reconciliation. The Agreement essentially entrenched divisions and asked the political system to manage this. Ten years on, it should be clear that the economic, financial and social costs of this are unsustainable. This is not the case with the current DUP-Sinn Fein administration.

I understand you have spent some time in the US political scene and that you worked with the National Democratic Institute in Washington. Do you have an opinion on the US Presidential race? Is there a particular candidate that you feel would be more inclined to help out NI?

I have worked for NDI in the Balkans on a number of occasions. More recently, I spent a year in Washington as a Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.

I am supporting Barack Obama. I believe that he would be a breath of fresh air, both within the United States and on the international stage. I also regard John McCain to be a strong candidate for the Republicans. It is probably not going to be a Republican year, but he does stand in contrast to some of his predecessors. While I disagreed with the US invasion of Iraq at the time, I do recognise that the invasion has unleashed major sectarian tensions, something that we in Ireland can identify with. I think that there is an obligation to try to put Iraq on the course of stability, and I would be worried about a premature withdrawal. On assistance to NI, I think the challenge for us is to build a more sustainable economy.

I recall reading last year the blog by the BBC's Mark Devenport and he mentioned a debate in the Assembly involving the UUP's David McNarry about the Irish language. I remember reading the transcripts of that debate and found it amusing how you seemed to be bemused by the whole thing and of the view that it was a waste of time! Has the Irish language been too politicised north of the border in your view?

I have no problem with members of the Assembly using Irish in their comments within the chamber. This is their choice and I am happy to respect this. I thought McNarry’s motion was petty and bitter. However, I am concerned about disproportionate responsibilities being placed on public authorities to provide services in Irish. I do think that Sinn Fein is politicising the language and certain ministers play into the hands of unionists. Unionists respond in kind.

With NI seemingly becoming a more stable political environment and less reliant on extremist elements, will this bode well for the future of the Alliance Party?

Northern Ireland politics is both more moderate in the sense that tensions have been reduced and there is greater scope for co-operation, but paradoxically, it is also more polarised than every before, with the DUP and Sinn Fein in the ascendancy. Alliance does have a clear niche within the political spectrum, a strong vision and positive message. I think we are well placed in contrast to our closest political rivals who are both having somewhat of an identity crisis.

What are your thoughts on Ian Paisley stepping down as NI's First Minister?

While he was undoubtedly shafted by his own party, it was time for him to retire. While his age does not help, he is not effective as a minister and struggles with details. His performances in answering ministerial questions have been particularly telling. The big questions for historians will be whether one decision to go into government with Sinn Fein, makes up for the past four decades of political obstruction and scaremongering.

On a similar note the big news story in the Republic of late has been Bertie Ahern stepping down as Taoiseach. What is your opinion of Mr Ahern and his role in the peace process?

I rate Bertie Ahern very highly. He played a positive role and was often more straight than Blair. That said, the Irish Government institutionally did not always play as positive a role. Irish officials made a mess of the first draft of the Good Friday Agreement, meaning that the focus in the first few days of the week leading up to Good Friday 1998 were spent trying to fix problems rather than focusing on the bigger issues for the future. Also at times, the Government needed to be less a reinforcement for the nationalist parties and to make them face up to some difficult home-truths.

He also presided over what has been the most successful period in the history of Ireland. He will be missed.

What is your view of Brian Cowen and do you see him having a positive relationship with the North's political parties?

I am a little apprehensive. In my experience, he was more inflexible than Ahern in his approach to the peace process when he was Foreign Minister, but time will tell. Fianna Fail is a mirror image of the DUP.

What are your thoughts on a united Ireland? Will it ever occur in your opinion?

I have no major hang-ups about a united Ireland in principle, and will happily respect the determination of the people of Northern Ireland. My fear is that in the short-term speculation over a united Ireland will serve to further polarise the political debate and undermine political progress. A premature ‘border poll’ should be avoided. In the longer term, I do think that a united Ireland will occur during my lifetime (I am still in my 30s), but my hope is that within the context of a changing British Isles and a evolving Europe, the actual switch of formal sovereignty will be less of an issue than is often perceived. A word of caution for now is that Northern Ireland is very heavily dependent on the UK Treasury to the tune of £7bn per annum. It is much easier for a state of 60m to sustain this level of subsidy than a state of 4m people.

What are the main problems in NI that you would like to see addressed?

The biggest problems facing Northern Ireland are addressing the continued deep divisions, and problems of sectarianism and segregation. There are significant economic, financial and social costs being borne by society. These matters still remain largely unacknowledged and unaddressed. The Shared Future strategy from Direct Rule has been sidelined by the DUP and Sinn Fein, and its replacement is awaited with some apprehension.

There are also major issues relating to dealing with the relative poor performance of the NI economy, and the fiscal dependency upon the UK Treasury.

What does the future hold in store for you?

My immediate event horizon is the completion of this Assembly term and elections in 2011. I would like to complete another couple of terms in the Assembly, subject to the views of the electorate of course! In the longer term, I would like to work overseas again.

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just outline what word comes into your head when you hear the following:

Ian Paisley - Bluster
Martin McGuinness - IRA
Bertie Ahern - Pragmatist
Gordon Brown - Deceptive
David Ford – Grassroots campaigner
Sinn Féin - Stalinist
DUP - Stalinist
Alliance Party – Shared Future
Good Friday Agreement – Missed Opportunity
Stephen Farry - Commitment

Thank you once again for your time, Dr Farry. All the best.

Next week, I put my questions and concerns about the Lisbon Treaty to Dr Diana Panke, a lecturer on European Politics at University College Dublin. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous interviews can be found here.

Top Ten Tuesday - Computer games

2008-04-29T01:51:00.002+01:00

Today, Tuesday 24th of April, might seem like any old day to you, however if you are a computer game fan then you will be well aware that today is quite a special day indeed. For today marks the release of one of the most highly anticipated games ever - Grand Theft Auto IV.

I must confess I'm not as clued into computer games as I used to be, say ten years ago, but I've taken the time to read up about this game and it looks truly AMAZING. Admittedly I'm not a huge fan of the GTA series, although I've played all of the titles. I preferred GTA 3 which was a revolutionary game at the time it came out. My interest in the series waned as the years went by but this new release looks set to revive it. I thought someone put it best when they said that to gamers this was the equivalent of a new Harry Potter book. Needless to say I intend to get this game although it might not be easy. Several games stores across Ireland opened at midnight in order to cater for gamers eager to get their hands on the game. Should sell like hotcakes.

I think it will be a smash hit. I'm fine with that too. I'm not one of those people who lays all of the blame for society's ills squarely at the feet of games like Grand Theft Auto. At the end of the day violence existed before computer games and there's a reason why it says '18' on the box. If parents don't want their kids playing the game, don't let them have it! Simple.

With today being what it is, I thought I'd compile a list of my top ten favourite computer games of all time. So without further ado...

1. Metal Gear Solid - Released in the late nineties for the Playstation this has to be regarded as one of the greatest games ever. It's basically about a legendary soldier, Solid Snake, who must infiltrate a terrorist base and stop a nuclear bomb.

It has a captivating story and while the graphics are a bit dated, it's still an absorbing gaming experience. Feels like being in a movie!

2. Super Mario World - Released in 1992 in Europe, this is a really simple game that you can still enjoy to this day. Mario is a great character (way better than Sonic the Hedgehog for the record) and this is an all-time classic.

3. Tetris - Another classic, Tetris was released for the Game Boy in 1989 and is a falling blocks puzzle game. It's so simple to pick up and play that all ages can enjoy it. Super stuff.

4. Metal Gear Solid 2 - Can you tell I love the Metal Gear series? This was the sequel to Metal Gear Solid and hit the shelves in 2001. Beautiful to look at and really fun to play. The plot gets a bit stupid near the very end which is a shame but it's still one of my favourite games ever.

5. Super Mario Kart - My favourite racing game. Released in 1992, it's had several updates all of which have been superb. Get a few friends over and play some Mario Kart and you won't be disappointed.

6. Street Fighter 2 - It hit Europe in 1992 and for me is the best 'beat-em'up' title ever. Incidentally it was such a hit that a movie was made of it starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue which turned out to be absolutely APPALLING. Seriously watch that film and witness an abomination of cinema. The game thankfully is an all-time great.

7. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Released in Europe in 2005, this was a prequel to all the others and was set mainly in jungle environments where you play as the past protagonist Solid Snake's father - Big Boss. Very creative game and because it's a Metal Gear Solid game, it is a FANTASTIC game.

8. Grand Theft Auto 3 - Released in 2001, this was dramatically different to the other GTA series and allowed players a huge degree of freedom. They got into a heap of trouble due to the adult content in the game but it is remembered as one of the most revolutionary games of recent times.

9. Pro Evolution Soccer - Released in 2001, this game converted me from FIFA to PES and is probably my favourite football game. Very fluid gameplay.

10. Football Manager 2008 - This came out this year and is the only game I've bought in 2008. The idea is that you are a manager of a football team and have to make signings, create tactics and team-talks etc. It is detested by wives and girlfriends I'm sure as it forces men into their rooms where they stare at dots on a screen playing out an imaginary football match. For some reason though it's truly compelling.

So there you have it. My top ten favourite games ever, although I should point out that my interest in games is a bit like my interest in music so this list could be quite different if I compiled it a week from now. Still, most of my favourite games would be in there I'm sure. As you can see I'm a huge fan of Metal Gear Solid and can't wait until the fourth one is released later this year. I don't know what it is about the Japanese but they make bloody good computer games.

(P.S. don't worry I will shy away from further computer game-related posts in future and will resort back to my 'Lisbon bad, Irish Unity good' posts I swear!)

What to expect...

2008-04-28T21:31:00.004+01:00

I'm going to try and devote more time to United Irelander in 2008. As some of you know I had some problems in 2007 which severely curtailed the time I could devote to the site. Thankfully I've gotten through that and with 2008 set to be a big year for Ireland, with the Lisbon Treaty referendum in particular being the main topic of concern, I intend to try and post more regularly the way that I used to.

As a result I've made some updates to the site and I thought I'd fill you in on some of the things you can expect from United Irelander in the coming weeks and months. I've decided to reintroduce the daily features to UI although I've made a few changes. They are as follows...

Monday Movie: Yes United Irelander will be making the move to Youtube. I've become quite fond of making short movie clips and I'll try and put some stuff on Youtube as well as the site itself. I'll speak about this more eventually. Right now I'm looking to find some good movie making software which is more reliable than Windows Movie Maker since WMM seems to crash more often than a drunk driver on an icy road. If anyone can recommend some good programs to me and some prices I'd appreciate it.

Top Ten Tuesday: I used to enjoy doing this feature so I think it's worth bringing back.

Words on Wednesday: I'm proud of how this feature has developed and I hope to have plenty more interviews with political figures in 2008. There is an interview with Dr Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party this Wednesday and I'm pleased to say that it is another candid interview, much like last week's one with the SDLP's Carmel Hanna.

I also have an interview lined up with a very respectable academic who is in favour of a Yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon referendum. I raise several of my concerns about the Lisbon Treaty in the piece. Should prove interesting hopefully.

Thursday Thoughts: This feature sees me go into detail on a particular issue and I think these posts have probably been some of my better ones.

Friday Face-Off: A new feature this one. Will become clear what this involves in due course.

Weekend Words: I had originally intended this to be similar to my Words on Wednesday feature with it involving interviews with non-political figures from Irish culture. I didn't really devote as much effort to it as I had initially planned however and so far 2fm's Rick O'Shea has the distinction of being the only one interviewed! I intend to put this right in the coming weeks and months. I can't name any names yet but I hope to have some interesting interviews lined up in the future.

Some other features will pop up every once in a while also. That's about it really! I hope these features prove entertaining and worthwhile and encourage you to make United Irelander part of your daily reading habits.

Hope springs from Lisbon swing

2008-04-28T18:22:00.001+01:00

I was very interested over the weekend to read the results of a poll in the Sunday Business Post which shows that public opinion here in Ireland appears to be moving against the Lisbon Treaty.

According to the poll, support for the Treaty has fallen from 43 per cent in February, to 35 per cent today amongst the electorate. Those opposed to the Treaty have increased from 24 per cent to 31 per cent. The number of undecided voters remains almost unchanged, at 34 per cent. The poll was conducted last week among more than 1,000 people nationwide.

RTE reports that the change in opinion is particularly marked among farmers. Irish Farmers Association President Padraig Walshe said this was not surprising as his members are very worried about the position being taken in the World Trade talks by EU Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

Dick Roche, the Minister for European Affairs - who you'll remember has been trying to frighten people into voting Yes by saying a No vote would damage our standing in the EU - commented that it is all "very much to play for".

Let's get play underway then, Mr Roche!

I must say I take great encouragement from these results. I had been of the opinion that those campaigning for a Yes vote would succeed in keeping the Irish people in the dark about the Treaty. It seems however that this is not the case and people are actually taking the time to read up on what this document entails and are educating themselves about it. That is to be applauded.

The results indicate to me that those of us calling for for a No vote are succeeding in winning over the people to our concerns and if we can win over some more of those who have yet to decide how they will vote, then there is the possibility of victory.

I'm not going to get too carried away because anything can happen between now and June and we must remember that all the political parties are in favour of the Treaty. Nonetheless, it shows that those of us fighting the good fight can at least be proud that not all Irish people are buying into the government's spin over this massively important issue.

A vote against Lisbon is a vote in support of Irish sovereignty. Irish people it seems are recognising that.

Words on Wednesday...with Carmel Hanna MLA

2008-04-23T00:02:00.001+01:00

Welcome to another edition of Words on Wednesday here on United Irelander, a concept unique to the Irish blogosphere, which sees me interview various figures from all walks of political life.

Answering my questions this week is SDLP MLA for South Belfast Carmel Hanna. My thanks to Ms Hanna for kindly agreeing to be interviewed. So then without further ado, let's begin.

You are an SDLP MLA for South Belfast. Talk us through a typical day in your life.

There’s no such thing as a typical day. As an Assembly member, Mondays and Tuesdays are the busy days at Stormont for all members with plenary sessions, SDLP Assembly group meetings, lobbying, debates and questions to ministers on a rotational basis. Every second Wednesday there is a meeting of the Assembly Standards & Privileges Committee, which I chair. Thursday is taken up most of the day with the work of the Assembly Health Committee. As with any democracy, Health absorbs about 45% of the Executive’s budget and with a myriad of interest groups - there is infinite demand for medical services and only a limited budget available. Friday is devoted to constituency work and I make myself available to any constituent who wants to see me, or talk to academic researchers and the like.

I’m also a Belfast City Councillor, though not for much longer, and I sit on three committees there. I worked as a nurse in Africa years ago and I am the founding chair of the Assembly All Party Group on International Development (APGID). We work closely with the aid agencies and, I’m glad to say that we receive support from all the Assembly parties. Northern Ireland is a very small place and we could not have overcome our problems without outside assistance. It’s time to give something back to the rest of the world and the aim of the APGID is to mainstream international development in government programmes. Apart from all that, there are residents’ groups and party meetings to attend to and I’m out of the house two to three nights a week.

On Saturdays I’m either at party meetings canvassing or doing what I call PBWA-‘Politics by Walking About’, out on the Lisburn Road and Finaghy or elsewhere, doing normal things like shopping and talking to anybody who wants to talk to me. My SDLP branch, Balmoral, is the largest in the party, but it’s hard work keeping an organisation together and a major part of my work is ensuring a smooth succession. The fact that we’re a good branch means there are three or four very able people who can step into my shoes. Frankly, I wear too many hats - MLA, Councillor, two Chairs, Executive member, etc. and the SDLP must bring forward the next generation.

I understand that you worked as a staff nurse in the casualty department at the Mater Hospital in Belfast during the Troubles and that it left a big impression on you. That must have been a distressing time. Tell us a bit about your experiences.

I worked in Mater casualty in North Belfast for three years in the early seventies, the worst period of the troubles. The Mater is on the Crumlin Road and North Belfast was the epicentre of the troubles - a quarter of everybody killed in the troubles died within an area of a few square miles. Frankly, it was horrendous and it has left me with the conviction that violence never solves anything. I am almost, but not quite, a pacifist, but I can’t think of many occasions where violence is justified. Looking back on my work as a nurse, I was probably under stress a lot of the time. About 1971, around internment time, I went to a meeting to hear John Hume who said something like ‘If we don’t get this violence stopped soon, it’ll go on for 25 years’. People thought he was crazy, but John was right.

You were active in the Civil Rights campaign and this year is the 40th anniversary of Northern Ireland’s civil rights movement. How significant was the civil rights campaign in bringing change to the North?

I joined the Civil Rights Movement as a young nurse. I remember joining the Linenhall Street march in October 1968 (my staff nurse uniform under my coat - I would have been disciplined if Matron had caught me) and marches throughout 1969 and 1970 until the CRM was swamped by the escalating violence. Key demands of the CRM, such as fair allocation of public housing and the local government vote, were actually won peacefully quite early on. CR politicised a generation-the aims were wholly peaceful. Unfortunately a campaign for change and reform was mistaken by the unionist government as a challenge to the state itself. People who are now prominent Sinn Fein members had nothing to do with CR because they wanted to overthrow the state and didn’t want to reform it.

You have been the SDLP's Spokesperson on Health and Public Safety since 2003. You share your South Belfast constituency with the UUP's Michael McGimpsey, who now serves as Northern Ireland's Health Minister. How well do you think Mr McGimpsey has performed in his role?

I think Michael McGimpsey is a good Health minister. I worked with him when I was Minister for Employment and Learning and I get on quite well with him. I find him helpful and courteous with a very challenging brief and I think he is coping well.

What are some of the political issues that you are focusing on at this point in time in your constituency?

South Belfast is the most diverse and vibrant constituency in the North. Its MP is my colleague, Alasdair McDonnell, and I want to ensure that the SDLP keeps the seat. Large parts of the constituency are affluent, but there are pockets of deprivation such as the Markets, Village and Taughmonagh and there is quite a high transient population and a very significant representation of ethnic minorities.

Housing and planning are the main constituency issues. Many young families are unable to get on the home ownership ladder because of soaring prices, there is an acute shortage of social housing and this is distorting the demographic profile. Because the constituency is reasonably well integrated, people want to live in mixed areas, but the homes just aren’t available.

If you could change three things about Irish society, north or south, what would you change and why?

I would want all of us (myself included) to be less selfish and greedy and more outward-looking. I was one of nine children of a factory worker in Warrenpoint and the vast majority of people were at most a couple of generations away from the peasantry. There was no real class structure. In the South, burgeoning wealth has created class division and a lot of vulgar and conspicuous consumption, which I hate. Alcohol abuse is ruining the country and we must change people’s hearts, minds and behaviour in relation to dependency. In the North, many people can be parochial in their views and aren’t aware that the rest of the world have far worse problems than we ever had. I want better and equal access to health and education, people to put a value on their own dignity and, with that access to take the opportunities open to them. I feel that the North’s health and education system is more equitable than the South, but that young people in the South get a broader based education. Finally, some of us treat our wonderful environment very badly and I want that changed radically. Underpinning all this is the necessity to build a competitive economy.

What are your thoughts on Ian Paisley stepping down as NI's First Minister?

Politically, good riddance. He was a negative and malign influence for 40 years. I hope he has a long and quiet retirement. I’m sure he is a good husband, father and grandfather and I credit him for that. His intransigence and sheer bigotry helped prolong our troubles for decades. Observing him at close quarters it seems to me he has an overweening ego.

The big news story in the Republic has been Bertie Ahern stepping down as Taoiseach. What is your opinion of Mr Ahern and his role in the peace process?

Bertie was fully engaged and committed, especially at the time of the Good Friday Agreement when his beloved mother died. I don’t think he was any particular friend of the SDLP. He deserves the praise he is getting for his part in the process. I think both he and Blair were far too indulgent of the Provos and DUP after the Agreement on issues like decommissioning and policing. He is also friendly, modest and unassuming, an Everyman example for any politician in terms of making contact with people.

What is your opinion of Brian Cowen and do you see him having a positive relationship with the North's parties?

I don’t know him well but in meetings I’ve found him to be very astute.

What are your thoughts on a united Ireland?

I want it, and in many respects the groundwork is there but to quote John Hume, "the island of Ireland is united, it’s the people of Ireland who are divided"…"it’s a matter of those who believe in Irish unity persuading those who aren’t in favour of it."

I’ve lived for long periods in Dublin, Wicklow and Galway and I’m comfortable anywhere in Ireland. I think democratic Ireland generally has done a poor job of selling the benefits of a united Ireland to unionists. The driving force for partition was basically economic but that argument has been undermined by the Republic’s prosperity in recent decades. The thirty year violence was a setback for the cause of a united Ireland - the Provos and the DUP were constantly picking at the sore. The stereotype of the hard-working, blunt, honest northern Protestant has a lot of validity and those qualities married to Southern creativity would be a great combination.

I see that like myself you have much admiration for the United Irishmen and you are a founding and current member of the United Irishmen Commemoration Society. Would you agree that many of the noble Irish republican ideals of the United Irishmen have in many ways been lost by later generations on this island?

I was a founder member of the United Irishmen Commemoration Society and my husband and John Gray, Librarian of the Linenhall Library (a successor of Thomas Russell, ‘The Man from God Knows Where’) were the first two chairmen. Starting on 14 October 1991, the exact bicentenary of the founding of the United Irishmen in Crown Entry, Belfast, we organised commemorative events in the Elmwood Hall - a play/pageant by Jonathan Bardon, music, lectures etc. To our amazement, about 700 people turned up and they were by no means all northern Catholics. The United Irishmen were the first Irish democrats and had a great generosity of spirit.

I always remember a moment after one of the 1998 lectures by a former Presbyterian Moderator, a distinguished historian, who was asked a kind of revisionist question "well, wasn’t it a disaster, didn’t it all end in tears, tens of thousands dead etc?". He paused for a long time and then said very quietly "Yes, but you have to remember that the government was an oligarchy, Dublin Castle was defending privilege, they weren’t defending democracy. It would have been better if the United Irishmen had succeeded." That remark gave me a glimpse into the kind of Ireland we could have had and can still have. I think physical force Irish nationalism has tried to hi-jack, the good name of Irish republicanism and it’s up to democratic Ireland to reclaim the true meaning of republicanism.

What does the SDLP need to do in your mind to recover the ground it has lost to Sinn Féin in recent times?

Get organised! The SDLP has undervalued organisation. Some people got elected for thirty years because the SDLP was opposed to violence, supported civil rights and was wholly democratic. Once the Provos stopped killing people, the SDLP had problems in key areas. Sinn Fein brought the military discipline of the IRA across to politics. Look, there are 101 district electoral areas (ward groupings) in the North and even yet the SDLP has councillors in 70 of them, so we can build an organisation, but we have to be serious about it. Every elected representative needs an organisation behind them. Sinn Fein has broken no delph at Stormont, and there are opportunities for the SDLP if we organise ourselves to take them.

Where should Ireland be twenty years from now?

An inclusive, peaceful, tolerant society, aware of its place in the world and its responsibilities to the rest of humanity. A society where social exclusion is at a minimum, where people have values and ethics - the Christian ones are what I stand by, but I also believe in a pluralist society - and a high standard of education/training, and where family life is supported. A social democratic society where it’s recognised that everyone needs a helping hand at some time to get through life.

In Connemara they have a saying: ‘Faoi scáth a chéile a mhaireann muid’ - we all live in each other’s shadow, we’re all interdependent. For all our faults, Ireland still has a very strong sense of community.

What does the future hold in store for you?

I’m probably in my last term as an elected representative and happy that we have some great young people coming through in South Belfast. Time for the younger generation! Then, keeping healthy, spending more time with my family and friends, particularly in the West.

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just outline what word comes into your head when you hear the following:

Ian Paisley - Enormous vanity. Destructive. A wrecker.
Bertie Ahern - Charmer, street-wise. Electoral magician.
Gerry Adams - Vain. From the Irish side, second only to Paisley in responsibility for the prolonged conflict.
Mark Durkan - Very bright, but needs to show a ruthless streak.
Brian Cowen - Likeable. Shrewd.
DUP - Unprincipled. Power mad.
Sinn Féin - Formidable machine. Chancers.
SDLP - Good people, too often disorganised.
Irish Unity - Attainable. Big persuasion job needed.
Carmel Hanna - Down to earth, commonsensical. Wish I was younger and had been better prepared when I went into politics and that I had a fraction of the articulateness and fluency of my branch chair, Conall McDevitt.

Thank you for your time, Ms Hanna. All the best for the future.

Next week, Alliance Party MLA for North Down, Dr Stephen Farry, takes my questions. Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews.

Previous interviews can be found here.

All-Ireland economy emerging - Ahern

2008-04-18T19:44:00.004+01:00

I welcome the comments today from outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who spoke at an SDLP themed event in Louth on "shaping an all-Ireland economy".

The Taoiseach stated that an all-Ireland economy was emerging and that this was an important step for the island's future. Ahern commented:

"In the boardrooms of the United States, Japan and elsewhere our unity of purpose is seen as a clear signal of our shared willingness to make progress."

The meeting comes a few days after Taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowen met with DUP's Finance Minister, and First Minister-in-waiting, Peter Robinson and announced plans to allow the Irish Financial Services Centre to locate some of its operations in the North.

Ahern's presence at the event has led to speculation that Fianna Fáil and the SDLP are about to merge, an idea that has been mentioned often in the past few years. Fianna Fáil have increased their interest in the North in recent times having established youth wing branches at Queen’s University in Belfast and the University of Ulster’s Magee campus in Derry. The party has also registered its name with the electoral authorities there.

"Ya mind the odd tribunal, Mark?"

It's believed there's considerable support among the SDLP for a merger, however many in the party feel an affinity to the Irish Labour Party and as such a merger with Fianna Fáil would likely lead to a split.

So then it's hard to say what will happen but based on the Taoiseach's language, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a union. Ahern commented:

"Working together I believe that Fianna Fáil and the SDLP will dramatically enhance the economic and social wellbeing of this island.

"Building on our strong legacy of co-operation and success, the future is very bright."

"Fianna Fáil and the SDLP are two pragmatic nationalist political movements which recognised that along with the provision of improved infrastructure, we must combine and co-ordinate policies."

Regardless of what Fianna Fáil and the SDLP decide to do though, I think it is of huge importance that we concentrate on building an all-Ireland economy and integrating the two political entities north and south as much as we possibly can.

If - or should I say when - the reunification of the country occurs, we will need to have a solid foundation to build upon to avoid a troublesome experience as happened with Germany when it reunified. I don't suspect Ireland would have such problems and the more economic harmonisation we see, the better equipped we will be for the demise of Partition.

I believe Irish unity will happen through making Partition an irrelevance for everyone here and that its grip on the island, which once felt as tight as a hangman's noose, will ultimately slip off as lightly as a gentleman's tie.

In the 21st century money talks - so let's continue talking money.

EU havin' a laugh?

2008-04-17T03:06:00.000+01:00

'They cannot be serious', 'This can't be right', 'How are they getting away with this?' These are just some of the thoughts that came to my mind whilst going through the European Union's consolidated version of the Lisbon Treaty.

Yes they finally published the treaty to their website and it's an excellent opportunity for people to learn about the agenda that the suits in Brussels have in store for all of us.

The Treaty can be read here:

Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union

It is written out in several languages. Obviously I read the Gaelic version. OK that's a lie. But I did read it in full and boy is it one heck of a read. If you get through all of it in one sitting may I commend you because I couldn't manage it. It is a tome and a half and gives credence to the claims of Kieran Allen, editor of Voteno.ie, who told a Dáil committee of Yes supporting ministers last week that they were trying to "frighten and bore" people into voting Yes.

While it is true that the vast bulk of the Treaty's content is an insomniac's dream, significant portions of it should set alarm bells ringing for the electorate in Ireland. The Lisbon Treaty transfers sovereignty away from Ireland and gives a disturbing amount of power to the European Council. The Council is the highest political body in the EU and is made up of the heads of government of the EU member states. It gets significant powers if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. Forget the New World Order - this is the New European Order.

Here are some elements of the Treaty which concern me greatly. Firstly let's look at the language used in the preamble because you can tell a lot from a constitution, which this is, from its preamble...

RESOLVED to implement a common foreign and security policy including the progressive framing of a common defence policy, which might lead to a common defence in accordance with the provisions of Article 42, thereby reinforcing the European identity and its independence in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world

RESOLVED to continue the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity

IN VIEW of further steps to be taken in order to advance European integration

A common defence policy? Reinforcing the European identity and its independence? The principle of subsidiarity? Advancing European integration?

It reads like a blueprint for a European Superstate. Oh wait...IT IS. Let's begin with the serious stuff. Article 5...

Article 5.3. The institutions of the Union shall apply the principle of subsidiarity as laid down in the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. National Parliaments ensure compliance with the principle of subsidiarity in accordance with the procedure set out in that Protocol.

It sure does make it clear where the power lies. Not with the national parliaments, you know those places where the citizens of nation-states elect people to look after their affairs. No, instead national parliaments "ensure compliance with the principle of subsidiarity". More on this later.

Article 10.3. Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen.

This sure is a noble aspiration don't you think? But it begs the question - why then are the British, Dutch and French electorates being denied a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if all citizens have the right to participate in democracy? Surely that would be the case in a Union that talks about decision-making being as 'open' and 'as closely as possible' to the citizen, right? Could it be that they are talking out of their backsides? Let's cut straight to the rough stuff. Article 16...

Article 16. 1. The Council shall, jointly with the European Parliament, exercise legislative and budgetary functions. It shall carry out policy-making and coordinating functions as laid down in the Treaties.

2. The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, who may commit the government of the Member State in question and cast its vote.

3. The Council shall act by a qualified majority except where the Treaties provide otherwise.

4. As from 1 November 2014, a qualified majority shall be defined as at least 55 % of the members of the Council, comprising at least fifteen of them and representing Member States comprising at least 65 % of the population of the Union.

A blocking minority must include at least four Council members, failing which the qualified majority shall be deemed attained.

This is what I was talking about when I said that the Council attains too much authority. From 2014, the voting powers of Ireland become reduced and if we want to block something that we find to be objectionable, we must request other members of the Council to come to our aid. Supposing they don't want to? I guess it's just too damn bad for us then. This is sovereignty? Crawling on our bellies to other member-states asking them not to implement proposals that we might object to? Unbelievable.

Article 24. 3. The Member States shall support the Union's external and security policy actively and unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity and shall comply with the Union's action in this area.

That seems quite threatening to our position of neutrality. We have been told that our neutral position will not be compromised by the Lisbon Treaty and that certain articles won't apply but...well, I have my doubts. I also don't like the language or tone that is used here. It's almost Stalin-esque. I thought the paragraph immediately after that was interesting from a British point of view. It reads...

The Member States shall work together to enhance and develop their mutual political solidarity. They shall refrain from any action which is contrary to the interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesive force in international relations.

Such as the British decision to participate in the War in Iraq, perhaps? How would something like that fit into the equation? Article 26 is interesting from an Irish perspective...

Article 26. 1 The European Council shall identify the Union's strategic interests, determine the objectives of and define general guidelines for the common foreign and security policy, including for matters with defence implications. It shall adopt the necessary decisions.

This seems to suggest that Ireland's foreign and security policy powers will be significantly curtailed should the Treaty be endorsed. Article 28 continues on the issue of security and is very interesting from an Irish point of view...

Article 28. 1. 1. Where the international situation requires operational action by the Union, the Council shall adopt the necessary decisions. They shall lay down their objectives, scope, the means to be made available to the Union, if necessary their duration, and the conditions for their implementation.

If there is a change in circumstances having a substantial effect on a question subject to such a decision, the Council shall review the principles and objectives of that decision and take the necessary decisions.

2. Decisions referred to in paragraph 1 shall commit the Member States in the positions they adopt and in the conduct of their activity.

3. Whenever there is any plan to adopt a national position or take national action pursuant to a decision as referred to in paragraph 1, information shall be provided by the Member State concerned in time to allow, if necessary, for prior consultations within the Council. The obligation to provide prior information shall not apply to measures which are merely a national transposition of Council decisions.

4. In cases of imperative need arising from changes in the situation and failing a review of the Council decision as referred to in paragraph 1, Member States may take the necessary measures as a matter of urgency having regard to the general objectives of that decision. The Member State concerned shall inform the Council immediately of any such measures.

5. Should there be any major difficulties in implementing a decision as referred to in this Article, a Member State shall refer them to the Council which shall discuss them and seek appropriate solutions. Such solutions shall not run counter to the objectives of the decision referred to in paragraph 1 or impair its effectiveness.

This all seems very worrying and suggests that nation-states will be totally subservient to the whims of the European Council on matters of foreign policy and security. 'The Council shall adopt the necessary decisions'? Article 5 is the one I'm most concerned about. If there are concerns the matter is referred to the Council however we are told solutions "shall not run counter to the objectives" or "impair its effectiveness" which makes you wonder how useful any 'solution' would be...

The really alarming stuff for me concerns the power the European Council has with respect to voting and these issues are discussed in Article 31. The first Article outlines the powers nation-states have when abstaining on an issue that the Council is set to vote on. This is the real test of sovereignty...

Article 31.1 When abstaining in a vote, any member of the Council may qualify its abstention by making a formal declaration under the present subparagraph. In that case, it shall not be obliged to apply the decision, but shall accept that the decision commits the Union. In a spirit of mutual solidarity, the Member State concerned shall refrain from any action likely to conflict with or impede Union action based on that decision and the other Member States shall respect its position. If the members of the Council qualifying their abstention in this way represent at least one third of the Member States comprising at least one third of the population of the Union, the decision shall not be adopted.

What does it mean by 'In a spirit of mutual solidarity' the nation-state that has an issue with EU Council policy 'shall refrain from any action likely to conflict with or impede Union action'? Are they setting boundaries on how members states can object to policies? Reads that way to me. Articles 2 and 3 continue to be causes for concern...

2. By derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1, the Council shall act by qualified majority:

- when adopting a decision defining a Union action or position on the basis of a decision of the European Council relating to the Union's strategic interests and objectives, as referred to in Article 22(1),

- when adopting a decision defining a Union action or position, on a proposal which the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has presented following a specific request from the European Council, made on its own initiative or that of the High Representative,

- when adopting any decision implementing a decision defining a Union action or position,
when appointing a special representative in accordance with Article 33.

If a member of the Council declares that, for vital and stated reasons of national policy, it intends to oppose the adoption of a decision to be taken by qualified majority, a vote shall not be taken. The High Representative will, in close consultation with the Member State involved, search for a solution acceptable to it. If he does not succeed, the Council may, acting by a qualified majority, request that the matter be referred to the European Council for a decision by unanimity.

The wording above seems very suspect to me. If a member of the Council, i.e. Ireland, decides to oppose something, they won't take a vote on the matter. Sounds good right? Then you read on and find out that the 'High Representative' will talk it out with the member state involved, in this example Ireland, and will "search for a solution acceptable". If no solution is found, the Council will decide on the matter. So therefore a vote WILL be taken even if no solution is found. How is this acceptable to anyone who values national sovereignty? It is worth noting that Article 31. 4 states:

Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall not apply to decisions having military or defence implications.

I'm guessing this is the bit that is supposed to reassure us that our neutrality won't be threatened by the treaty? Perhaps someone can clarify this issue for me as I'm a bit perplexed by it.

Article 36 is a notable one in light of my earlier 'New European Order' comment at the beginning of the post. If you have a read of it perhaps you'll understand why I used the term. Again I've highlighted the bits I deem to be dangerous...

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy shall regularly consult the European Parliament on the main aspects and the basic choices of the common foreign and security policy and the common security and defence policy and inform it of how those policies evolve. He shall ensure that the views of the European Parliament are duly taken into consideration. Special representatives may be involved in briefing the European Parliament.

The European Parliament may ask questions of the Council or make recommendations to it and to the High Representative. Twice a year it shall hold a debate on progress in implementing the common foreign and security policy, including the common security and defence policy.

Now the European Parliament is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union and yet it seems it will be reduced to little more than a talking shop. The 'High Representative' seems to have responsibility for instructing the Parliament on the Council's plans and all the E.P. can do is 'ask questions' or 'make recommendations'. I find this troubling.

There is a special Protocol designed to apply to the UK and Ireland protecting certain rights that we as close neighbours currently enjoy. Most of it is quite heavy (quelle surprise), and tough to make out, but Article 4 caught my eye as it pertains to the Council's voting powers yet again...

Article 4a

1. The provisions of this Protocol apply for the United Kingdom and Ireland also to measures proposed or adopted pursuant to Title V of Part Three* of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union amending an existing measure by which they are bound.

2. However, in cases where the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, determines that the non-participation of the United Kingdom or Ireland in the amended version of an existing measure makes the application of that measure inoperable for other Member States or the Union, it may urge them to make a notification under Article 3 or 4. For the purposes of Article 3, a further period of two months starts to run as from the date of such determination by the Council.

If at the expiry of that period of two months from the Council's determination the United Kingdom or Ireland has not made a notification under Article 3 or Article 4, the existing measure shall no longer be binding upon or applicable to it, unless the Member State concerned has made a notification under Article 4 before the entry into force of the amending measure. This shall take effect from the date of entry into force of the amending measure or of expiry of the period of two months, whichever is the later.

For the purpose of this paragraph, the Council shall, after a full discussion of the matter, act by a qualified majority of its members representing the Member States participating or having participated in the adoption of the amending measure. A qualified majority of the Council shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

3. The Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may determine that the United Kingdom or Ireland shall bear the direct financial consequences, if any, necessarily and unavoidably incurred as a result of the cessation of its participation in the existing measure.

So it would seem to me that the Council has considerable influence over Ireland and the UK with respect to such 'measures' and the last section almost reads like a warning against taking issue with the Council's authority.

There is a section near the end of this beast of a document detailing 'Provisions Concerning the Qualified Majority'. It spells out the power of the various member's votes. Here it is...

For acts of the European Council and of the Council requiring a qualified majority, members' votes shall be weighted as follows:

Belgium 12
Bulgaria 10
Czech Republic 12
Denmark 7
Germany 29
Estonia 4
Ireland 7
Greece 12
Spain 27
France 29
Italy 29
Cyprus 4
Latvia 4
Lithuania 7
Luxembourg 4
Hungary 12
Malta 3
Netherlands 13
Austria 10
Poland 27
Portugal 12
Romania 14
Slovenia 4
Slovakia 7
Finland 7
Sweden 10
United Kingdom 29

So there you see it is abundantly clear that the power of the Council is considerable and as the above information shows, Ireland's say in the Council is minimal. If the Lisbon Treaty is endorsed it's fair to say that Irish independence, as we now know it, will become a thing of the past and we will be RELIANT UPON OTHERS to decide our own fate.

That is not what I want for my country and I suspect the majority of my compatriots feel the same. The unfortunate thing is that the Irish government and the EU are deliberately keeping people in the dark on this matter. It's hardly a surprise. The French were made very aware of the implications the EU Constitution would have. The result? Turnout was over 70% and they rejected it. Brussels doesn't want a repeat performance of that here in Ireland.

Well a repeat performance is exactly what's required. I urge people to read up on the Lisbon Treaty and come to your own conclusions. Don't be taken in by those who wish to frighten you into voting Yes for fear of 'economic ramifications' and the 'damaging of Ireland's reputation' and other such blarney nonsense.

I favour a Europe of equals but this document does not offer that. I won't pretend that I know every detail of what this treaty entails (does anyone?) but I feel I know enough about it, and about the EU itself, to know that this is not a good deal for Ireland and that it will be harmful to us in the long run. I found many admirable things in the Lisbon Treaty but the fact is they are overshadowed by the negative aspects that are also included.

The referendum on the issue in Ireland takes place in June. The British have been denied a referendum despite being promised one. The Dutch and French voters have been denied a referendum despite rejecting the EU Constitution (which is the Lisbon Treaty). How lucky we are in Ireland that we have a say on this Treaty and how bloody foolish we would be to give it the seal of approval!

I don't believe the struggle for Irish independence was about surrendering what was won to Brussels. I don't believe those brave men and women who put their lives on the line to get us out of a Union that didn't listen to us, did so in order for the current generation to sign us into a Union that likewise will not listen to us.

Make your own minds up on the matter as I have done. I shall be voting NO TO LISBON.

I welcome all opinions on this issue.

President Hillery remembered

2008-04-16T14:58:00.003+01:00

Today the people of Ireland have been paying their last respects to former President of Ireland Dr Patrick Hillery, who died this past Saturday aged 84.

Thousands lined the funeral cortege route in Dublin to remember "Paddy" Hillery who served two seven-year presidential terms from 1976 up until 1990.

He was a Minister for Education, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Minister for Labour and Minister for External Affairs. He was also Ireland's first European Commissioner and one of the main negotiators during Ireland's accession to what was then the European Economic Community and now known as the EU.

Typically the tributes for Dr Hillery have been pouring in with outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern saying he was "a man of great integrity, decency and intelligence, who contributed massively to the progress of our country and he is assured of an honoured place in Ireland’s history."

Current President Mary McAleese remarked:

"He was involved in every facet of policy-making that paved the way to a new, modern Ireland. Today, we detect his foresight and pioneering agenda everywhere - a free education system, a dynamic, well-educated people, a successful economy and a thriving membership of the European Union, one of the single most transformative events for this country."

I suppose this kind of language is to be expected on this of all days but I must say my feelings on Dr Hillery are quite different.

To my mind he was not a good President of this country. He was in with Charles Haughey, the national disgrace himself, and part of the rotten Fianna Fáil crowd of the seventies era. While Hillery was not a crooked man like Haughey was, and while he was not as bad as others in his party were, nonetheless he was still part of that ugly scene.

The sad fact of the matter is once Haughey's crowd got their claws into Fianna Fáil that was it for the once great party. It's never been quite the same. It's been riddled by a poison ever since that time. The party's decline began in 1967 and '68 and well, you see the abomination that it is today.

So then I shan't be taken in by the spin that circulates today for Dr Hillery. I offer his family my condolences of course but I won't go down the revisionist road of McAleese and Ahern by proclaiming him something that he was not.

The myth of Articles 2 and 3

2008-04-15T05:46:00.011+01:00

This year Ireland marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. It was a historic accord that allowed the island of Ireland the opportunity to move away from its troublesome history and move towards a better and brighter future.

There is one aspect of that agreement however which seems to have caused confusion. It seems to me that a lot of uncertainty and misinterpretation has arisen over alterations to Ireland's constitution, brought about by the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. I'd like to discuss the issue right now and what I like to call the myth of Articles 2 and 3.

Firstly the back story and I'll try not to get too heavy here. The Irish constitution (Bunreacht na hEireann) came into being in 1937 following the abdication crisis of 1936 in Britain and was the brainchild of Eamon de Valera, who was in government at the time. Edward VIII had abdicated in order to marry the American divorcee Wallace Simpson and this presented de Valera with a golden opportunity to replace the Constitution of the Irish Free State which had been around since 1922. The Free State's constitution was quite Anglo-Irish in its make-up which didn't sit well with Dev's staunch republicanism. He had systematically been picking apart the old constitution since coming to power and decided to bring in considerable changes via the new constitution. Among these changes included changing the name of the state to 'Eire' ('Ireland') and the acknowledgement of the 'special position' of the Catholic Church in Ireland (removed in 1973).

While the above articles did not go down very well with the unionist community in Ireland's north, there were two articles in particular which REALLY provoked bitterness and hostility. These would simply come to be known as 'Articles 2 and 3' and they certainly stayed true to de Valera's deep beliefs.

Articles 2 and 3 acknowledged the existence of the Irish nation and acknowledged it in geographical terms stating that until reunification came about, the powers of the constitution would apply only to the 26 county Irish state. Here is the text in full from the Articles in de Valera's 1937 constitution:

Article 2

'The national territory consists of the whole island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas.'

Article 3

'Pending the re-integration of the national territory, and without prejudice to the right of the parliament and government established by this constitution to exercise jurisdiction over the whole territory, the laws enacted by the parliament shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws of Saorstat Éireann and the like extra-territorial effect.'

It is not surprising that such statements aroused the ire of the unionist community although in reality all the constitution was doing was setting out standard Irish nationalist principles. That the country (or nation) is the island, and until reunification of the island takes place, Irish laws will extend purely to the Irish state. Simple really.

Unionists however did not appreciate such sentiments being openly expressed in a constitutional document and for the next sixty or so years there were repeated calls for amendments to be made to the constitution. The talks for the Good Friday Agreement allowed the Articles to be used as a bargaining chip of sorts and it was agreed that a proposal to change the Articles would be put to the electorate in the Irish Republic as part of any deal. This of course is precisely what happened and the Articles as written above were amended to the following...

Article 2

'It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation. That is also the entitlement of all persons otherwise qualified in accordance with law to be citizens of Ireland. Furthermore, the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.'

Article 3

1. It is the firm will of the Irish Nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions, recognising that a united Ireland shall be brought about only by peaceful means with the consent of a majority of the people, democratically expressed, in both jurisdictions in the island. Until then, the laws enacted by the Parliament established by this Constitution shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws enacted by the Parliament that existed immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution.

2. Institutions with executive powers and functions that are shared between those jurisdictions may be established by their respective responsible authorities for stated purposes and may exercise powers and functions in respect of all or any part of the island.

Here is where the facts become blurred and myth sets in. The common misconception surrounding these alterations suggests that the Republic removed its claim over the North and redefined its nationalist beliefs. Wrong. Let me explain why. The 1937 constitution stated that the Irish nation could be determined in geographical terms. It was, according to the document, the "island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas".

So what's different in the amended Article 2 then? Very little in truth. Article 2 now states that "It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation."

Now then notice how the Irish nation is STILL spelt out in geographical terms. In fact, almost right down to the exact wording of the 1937 version! According to the amendments, the Irish nation continues to be defined as "the island of Ireland...its islands and seas". EXACTLY like the 1937 constitution states. The only change is that it's now said that being part of the Irish nation is an "entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island". Nothing objectionable about any of that from a nationalist perspective. If anything, you'd think unionists would find it objectionable that the Irish constitution is saying that people born in the island (which would include unionists) have it as a 'birthright' to be part of the Irish nation!

Surely such a sentiment confirms that the Irish constitution still believes the island of Ireland to be the territory of the Irish nation? Wasn't that the whole problem in the first place? You see the funny thing about all this is, rather than 'removing the original Article 2' which is a myth that you often hear, if anything the Irish constitution simply clarified things in better terms!

With regards to Article 3, this was originally meant to be purely clarification of Article 2. De Valera was simply stating that until Irish Unity took place (or as he put it 'pending re-integration'), laws would only apply to the 26 counties in the south. The recent amendment of Article 3 is an updated, more long-winded version of the original article but the essence is the same. It re-affirms the aspiration for reunification but this time acknowledges that it can only come about through the principle of consent (which we've all been well aware of for some time now). In truth it's not that different to the original which it replaced. It states that the "firm will" of the Irish nation is "to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions".

So in other words the will of the Irish nation - which is the island remember - is to unite all of the people who share the island's territory. Basically, the will of the Irish nation is for an all-island State.

These articles are more like acknowledgements than 'amendments'.

The fact of the matter is that what occurred in 1998 did not 'remove claims', or 'redefine the Irish nation' or whatever myth political commentators would have you believe. Its purpose was simply to alleviate fears within the unionist community. Fears which were groundless anyway. It did not change the way Irish nationalists/republicans viewed the North, it simply clarified this view in a manner which did not antagonise the unionist community - which was the fault of the original Articles 2 and 3.

There was an interesting report on BBC NI's Politics Show programme over the weekend on Articles 2 and 3 and while watching it I heard the same old myths being spouted - which is why I decided to write this piece. You can catch the report from the recent programme here if you are interested in seeing it. One aspect of the programme which I found very interesting though was hearing from Fianna Fáil TD Martin Mansergh, who was the party's Special Advisor on NI, revealing how he was the one who had the responsibility for redrafting the amended articles. He was asked by the reporter if he had difficulty winning consent from his party colleagues for the rewritten articles. He replied:

"It was something that had to be handled very carefully, but it turned out to be almost completely successful."

I do not disagree with his assertion. It's not often that I express admiration towards Fianna Fail ministers on United Irelander, as many of you well know, but I will pay Mr Mansergh a huge compliment because I consider his redrafting of the articles to be quite masterful. In fact I would go so far as to say that it was magnificent.

Don't forget that you're talking about articles which have provoked fury and consternation for several decades, and this man had the responsibility of wording new articles that not only adhered to his party's republican principles, but which also would prove acceptable to the unionist community. No mean feat to pull that off. But he managed it. He managed it quite majestically in fact.

In the BBC piece I felt Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin summed things up best when asked to give his thoughts on the redrafted Articles. He remarked:

"This was a change in wording ; it was not a change in intent. The obligation remains constitutionally on Irish governments to pursue Irish Unity."

That is the fact of the matter. I hope my piece has shown that.

I find it quite puzzling that the myth of Articles 2 and 3 continues to be put forward by many but, I suppose when one reflects upon the matter, the fact such myths continue to be put forward are a testament to the excellent job done on rewording them in the first place.

Ireland must boycott Olympic ceremony

2008-04-10T18:53:00.007+01:00

I guess the big talking point around the world at present concerns the Olympic Games this year in China and the recent protests in London, Paris and San Francisco denouncing China's human rights record and their treatment of the people of Tibet.

I'd like to state that I fully support those who have protested and I think it is a disgrace that such a country has been chosen to host the games.

I was disappointed to hear the comments of Pat Hickey, Irish Olympic Council President, who said that the Irish team and its athletes would be taking part in the Olympic ceremonies regardless of any political or diplomatic boycott. What's worse is that he added the council had not yet received ANY inquiries from athletes on the matter:

"There is no talk about any boycott of any opening ceremony or anything."

Well there should be a boycott of the opening ceremony, Mr Hickey. I do have sympathy for the athletes involved as they have trained long and hard for their respective events and they shouldn't have been put into a situation like this in the first place. Still, you'd think they would come out and express some concerns.

I agree with Independent Senator Joe O'Toole that the Irish government ought to boycott the opening ceremony. I note that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not be in attendance - and they are hosting the next games which makes that a gutsy stance in my view. I see US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has also urged George W. Bush to join Gordon Brown in boycotting the opening ceremony.

I would personally like to see the European Union do something positive for a change and call upon all EU nations to boycott the opening ceremony. Hopefully America would follow suit as well as some other nations. It would be a wake-up call to China that western countries aren't happy with their behaviour and it would be tough to explain to their people why representatives from a huge chunk of the globe are not on parade.

Something needs to be done no doubt about it. It goes to show what a bunch of stinking hypocrites we are in this country since every Easter we pat ourselves on the back for standing up for our nationalist principles in 1916, only to ignore the plight of Tibetan nationalists - giving a hearty endorsement to the oppressive Chinese government in the process.

I visited the official website of the Beijing Olympics and shook my head in disbelief at the garbage the Chinese are coming out with. Apparently the official slogan of the games is 'One World, One Dream' (seriously) and in their own words...

"'One World, One Dream' is simple in expressions, but profound in meaning. It is of China, and also of the world. It conveys the lofty ideal of the people in Beijing as well as in China to share the global community and civilization and to create a bright future hand in hand with the people from the rest of the world. It expresses the firm belief of a great nation, with a long history of 5,000 years and on its way towards modernization, that is committed to peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness. It voices the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and bright world."

I missed the bit where it says 'Tibet not included'. I don't want my country endorsing these liars.

'Justice' Carney strikes again

2008-04-04T15:24:00.002+01:00

"The more things change, the more they stay the same" so the proverb goes.

In light of this week's news it seems a very true statement indeed, for the presiding judge of the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul Carney, has regrettably been up to his usual tricks - handing out joke sentences that make a mockery of the Irish judicial system and which heap further pain and misery upon victim's families.

Some of you might recall this piece I wrote on Carney a year ago where I highlighted his record as a judge, and boy oh boy it certainly is quite the CV. I personally wouldn't want this man judging a bikini contest let alone some of the most significant criminal cases in the land, yet it seems the people of this country are stuck with him.

I highlighted in that piece an article from the Sunday Business Post by Kieron Wood, himself a barrister, who recalled a conversation he had with a court reporter who had covered Carney's career for some time. The court reporter remarked:

"He always has one eye on the media, and, if he spots a reporter whom he doesn't recognise, he will often get his tipstaff to ask them who they are.

"He has a reputation for being grumpy, but I think it's more that he finds it difficult to relate to people socially. Basically, he is a shy person - though he loves publicity and always seems to be trying to stir things up. He enjoys being controversial and likes to provoke the Oireachtas into thinking about the law."

With Justice Carney's reputation then it came as little surprise to me today to learn that 21-year-old Limerick student Joseph (Jody) Buston had been sentenced to just SIX YEARS in prison for the 'manslaughter' of 59-year-old Liam O'Donovan in 2006. The jury heard that Mr O'Donovan had had been stabbed through the heart after Mr Buston had entered his house and confronted him.

Some sentence, huh? Six years for breaking into a man's home and stabbing him to death. What a country.

A disgrace

Mr O'Donovan's brother Vincent, speaking in a victim's impact statement outside the court, said he was devastated by the verdict:

"This intruder cruelly took our brother from us by stabbing him in the heart. Our lives are destroyed. Our lives are shattered. This sentence today is like another death, like another funeral for us. I don't know what the law is but the guards - they did their job. They brought it to the court..."

Commenting afterwards Justice Carney commented that the case was a great tragedy for both families. He said it was happening more frequently that young men of impeccable backgrounds and no previous convictions were losing control of their minds through drink and sometimes drugs.

Well then Mr Carney how about imposing a sentence that might actually prove a deterrent? Is that too much to ask?

My heart goes out to the family of Mr O'Donovan and it made my blood boil to see yet ANOTHER paltry sentence be dished out by Mr Carney for a crime which resulted in a man's life being taken.

The 'great tragedy' here Mr Carney is that you are allowed to remain in your position and permitted to continue handing out sentences that make a mockery of the courts. The people, and particularly the family of the victim, deserve to see justice being done. Is this to be deemed justice? Is this to be deemed acceptable?

Crime continues to be a cause for concern in Ireland and if the perpetrators of such disturbing crimes are given a slap on the wrist by figures like Paul Carney, then we will never get a hold on it.

The fact that we have here the victim's family saying that the sentence imposed is "like another death, like another funeral" is a sorry indictment of the justice system that we have in this country.

A fundamental tenet of a State like ours is its ability to protect its citizens. Clearly at present we are failing in that basic role. It is time we stood up for the victims of crime, it is time we acknowledged that Paul Carney is unfit for his position, and it is time we recognised that our justice system is deeply flawed.

Mugabe for Taoiseach?

2008-04-03T14:30:00.000+01:00

I notice there's been a lot of talk about Brian Cowen replacing Bertie Ahern as the next Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, but permit me to put forward another candidate. The man pictured to your left - Robert Mugabe.

Think about it. He's got tons of charisma, he might be in need of a job soon, plus he has the required personal integrity and morality that's needed to govern Fianna Fáil - none whatsoever.

You know it makes sense!

Ahern departs at last!

2008-04-02T16:32:00.003+01:00

Thank the good Lord! My prayer got through!

The only drawback is that we'll have to put up with the 'Saint Bertie' nonsense from political commentators on this joke of a Taoiseach for the next few days and weeks. It will be worth putting up with such stupidity though.

Bye bye, Bertie. This is one voter who won't miss you one jot.

We will not forget...

2008-03-24T23:47:00.000Z

"This is the beginning, our fight has saved Ireland. The soldiers of tomorrow will finish the task."

- Thomas Clarke, May 1916

First off, I hope everyone had a happy Easter. Mine was pretty good although I'm annoyed and disappointed in myself for not making it to mass on Sunday. I'll have to do my best to make it up to the man upstairs for that poor showing.

Easter of course also has significance to Irish people for historical and political reasons. It was ninety-two years ago that the Easter Rising got under way which saw many brave men and women standing up for the Irish nation by striking a blow at the British oppressor.

People like myself owe our independence to the brave Irish people who took part in that event and who reawakened the Irish quest for freedom. Let us remember their courage and sacrifice as well as the many civilians of Dublin who were cruelly murdered by British soldiers during the fighting.

Two years ago for the ninetieth anniversary celebrations I wrote in more detail about this period so if you didn't get a chance to read about that you might enjoy perusing some of the articles here.

The 1916 Rising was a pivotal moment in Irish history but there is still much to be done by the people of Ireland to make the total aspirations of the 1916 leaders become a reality. Soon I feel our island will be reunited and when that day comes, we will know that the task has been finished in full.

Taoiseach's story coming undone

2008-03-21T00:00:00.001Z

I'm pleased to see that the Mahon Tribunal is making great strides in uncovering Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's rotten financial web of deceit.

The Taoiseach's former secretary, Grainne Carruth, broke down in the witness box as she admitted to lodging more than stg£15,000 into accounts held by Mr Ahern and his daughters, Georgina and Cecelia, in the 1990s.

The Irish Independent reports that:

"Mr Ahern's lawyers said they would need more time to explain the apparent contradictions between Mr Ahern's earlier evidence and the tribunal's latest discoveries."

Wow. Utterly pathetic.

The Taoiseach has repeatedly denied receiving a series of sterling payments, however tribunal discoveries have progressively isolated numbers of large conversions of the British currency. Our joke of a Prime Minister had previously insisted that all lodgements in the accounts were from his salary and in Irish currency. Whoopsie!

Ms Carruth had previously denied ever making cash lodgements for Mr Ahern, or dealing in foreign currency for him. Yesterday, she stuck to her story, until agreeing that it was "virtually certain" the lodgements she made were linked to sterling.

The payments were made into accounts held by Mr Ahern and each of his daughters, Georgina and Cecelia. The lodgement slips were partially filled out by Ms Carruth, and signed by her. Ms Carruth, a secretary to Mr Ahern for 12 years at his St Luke's constituency office, had previously asserted that it was only she who ever made lodgements to Mr Ahern's daughters' accounts.

According to the Independent:

"She was unable to explain why those lodgements should be the proceeds of sterling conversions.

"At one point yesterday, Judge Gerald Keys told Ms Carruth's solicitor, Hugh Millar BL, following an interruption: "Mr Millar, all we want is the truth. That is what we are looking for."

"Presiding judge Alan Mahon told Ms Carruth that she should look at the building society documentation overnight and talk to her solicitor, "so that you will be quite clear in your mind as to your position in relation to your evidence".

"Earlier, Blair Hughes, manager of the building society, said he recalled Ms Carruth making sterling conversions and subsequent lodgements at his branch.

"He also said that he always understood the mysterious B/T account -- also the recipient of sterling - was a "Bertie and Tim" account." (Tim Collins is a Dublin businessman who has repeatedly denied being the joint holder of the 'BT account' from which Celia Larkin was loaned £30,000 from a special Fianna Fáil fundraising account so she could buy a house)

Deary me. It's all so sordid isn't it? Let's be blunt about this - it's high time Ahern stepped down from his position. He is dragging the office of the Taoiseach through the mud. I didn't think it could get any worse after the Haughey years but I was mistaken. Let the Taoiseach sort out this unholy mess on his own time. It's an absolute disgrace that the people of this country have to put up with a Prime Minister that's up to his neck in corruption.

Labour's Finance spokesperson Joan Burton has said it's in the best interests of the country for Bertie Ahern to resign. Damn right. Can you imagine this kind of thing happening across the water in Britain? Can you imagine the British public putting up with this crap from Gordon Brown? Of course not. They know how to handle crooks over there. Honestly, de Valera must be turning in his grave. What has become of Fianna Fáil?

It's not often I quote Oliver Cromwell, but one of his most oft-quoted lines accurately reflects my feelings on Ahern's situation right now...

"You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"

Indeed. Mr Ahern, salvage some dignity for yourself and your once-great party and move on before you both drown in a sea of shame and sleaze.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Words on Wednesday...with Kieran Allen

2008-03-19T18:56:00.001Z

I said a couple of weeks ago that in the run up to this summer's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (formerly known as the EU constitution) that I intended on drawing attention to this document which the EU and the Irish government wants to ram down our throats. I also said I hoped to interview campaigners on the issue so I'm pleased to bring back my Words on Wednesday feature here on United Irelander for an interview with author Kieran Allen, the man behind the booklet 'Reasons to VOTE NO to the Lisbon Treaty' and one of the editors of VoteNo.ie.

My thanks to Mr Allen for agreeing to take my questions. So then, let's begin...

You are the author of the booklet 'Reasons to VOTE NO to the Lisbon Treaty' and one of the editors of VoteNo.ie. What made you decide to take a stand against this treaty?

I have attended many mobilisations of the European anti-globalisation movement and have become familiar with its demand for a ‘social Europe’. Europe has shifted from being a zone of stability within the global order to one where millions of workers are fighting to defend gains they won in the past. They are concerned about how Europe is being re-shaped by a small elite of corporate executives and puppet politicians. The call for a ‘social Europe’ arises from these mobilisations and is helping transform politics on the continent. The call for a ‘social Europe’ contains some ambiguities because it is not clear whether the aspiration of workers can be met by a return to the Keynesian economic policies of the past or whether it requires a fundamental change that ushers in a European socialist society. Nevertheless I identify with the aspiration and see the Lisbon Treaty as an embodiment of all that poses a danger to it.

With a referendum expected in the coming months on the Treaty, what would a Yes vote mean for Ireland?

It would a mean a strengthening of the Right and their politics of fear. Notice the absurd way they have been conducting the debate so far. Bertie Ahern – the former accountant who pretends to be the plain man of Drumcondra – leads the charge by framing his opponents as ‘lunatics’ and ‘extremists’. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hacks develop the theme by claiming that a NO vote will frighten foreign investment into fleeing the country. (They somehow forget that foreign investment actually increased in France after they voted No to the EU constitution!) The rights always tries to reduce politics to a form of managerialism – who is better able to manage the economy- and to close down real discussions about the direction that either Ireland or Europe should take by stoking up irrational fears. They have been ably assisted by a pathetic Labour Party ( and an even more worse Green Party) who dare not challenge these absurdities but instead pretend that the Charter on Fundamental Rights will give Europe a ‘soul’ . They cannot, however, name one extra, specific legal right that the people of Ireland will get, which they do not currently enjoy. So a Yes vote will give a new confidence to neo-liberals who want to privatise everything and to the couch-potato soldiers who want the EU to engage in more colonial adventure like that in Chad.

Like yourself I imagine, I've been very disappointed with the campaign of those seeking a Yes vote as it seems to me they are engaging in pure scaremongering tactics in order to achieve the result they require, warning about how a 'No' vote would damage our standing in the EU and so on. This is pure nonsense, isn't it?

Of course it is. Do you really think that if you go on holidays to Paris, people will point at your Irish passport and fall apart in laughter because we voted No. Yet this is what EU Commissioner, Charle McCreevy, implied when he claimed that a No vote would make us the ‘laughing stock’ of Europe.

Or that the morning after a NO vote, the executives of Intel or IBM will hold emergency meetings to organise the withdrawal of investment.

One of the legacies of colonialism is that local elites insist that their population must show ‘gratitude’ to their betters at regular intervals. It is really sickening to hear Yes politicians start their speeches with the same lines – the EU has brought peace to the continent after WW2; it has given us billions in grants; and so we should not grateful and voting Yes. Don’t worry what is actually written in the Treaty, just sign a blank cheque out of gratitude.

They are doing everything to avoid a discussion about what kind of Europe its peoples want – a neo-liberal Europe where more is spent on colonial adventures or a Europe that grants more social rights to its citizens.

What are the chances of such scaremongering tactics working in your view? Is a Yes vote a foregone conclusion?

There is a chance that scaremongering can work. After all, the corporate media is run by a handful of very rich people who are intimately connected to the political elite and so the same line is repeatedly trotted out. People used to complain that the USSR was a one party state but we live in a regime where there are different glove puppets but the one dominant message. You can choose among many brands of washing powder but you still end up with the same old stuff. You can choose between Fianna Fail or Fine Gael –or Labour or the Greens- but you will still get the same old EU consensus which presides over the current economic order.

However, the politics of fear can also re-bound on our rulers. There is a lot of discontent in Ireland and I expect that the trade union march to demand a decent health service on March 29th will give some indication of its depth. If the NO campaign can relate its arguments to real concerns about privatisation and the EU’s role in the run down of public services, I think we can win.

I was disgusted that our government ignored the wishes of the people by refusing to accept the original No vote to the Nice Treaty. If the people vote 'No' to the Lisbon Treaty, do you think we will be given another referendum in order for the EU to get their way?

You have to be careful about this argument. I have heard many NO people say ‘what is the point of voting when they will only ask you again to re-ballot in order to get the right answer’.

But there is always a point to resistance. The more our rulers take off their masks and are forced to engage in undemocratic tactics, the more their legitimacy is corroded in the eyes of the population.

It will also be far harder this time for them to make us re-ballot. There is a huge, latent anger throughout Europe about the fact that the other 450 million people have been denied a right to vote. If the EU leaders refuse to recognise the vote of the only country where there was a ballot, there will be a continent wide outcry. The EU elite will, I think, calculate that the danger of pushing the Irish to vote again will outweigh the advantages they might gain from the Treaty.

You've been speaking out against this treaty along with several other campaigners. What has the general response been like from the public?

Good. A debate I did in Castlebar against Jim Higgins, MEP went really well because most people left the meeting supporting the NO position. At one point, Jim Higgins even called on people to vote yes ‘for God and for their country.’ I attended another meeting in Liberty Hall where the Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell was debating Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald. The feeling for the No side was so strong, that Mitchell claimed that the meeting was ‘packed’. In fact, there were only two members of the Socialist Workers Party present and a handful of Sinn Fein people in the 150 strong crowd. It revealed the depth of his paranoia – and but more importantly showed that the No side wins when people get a chance to hear a real discussion about what treaty contains.

Would it be fair to say that this treaty, if passed, makes a mockery of Irish history since we spent so long trying to get out of a Union that wouldn't listen to us, only to now have Irish parties trying to sweep us into another Union which again won't listen to us?

Not sure about that. I am a strong anti-imperialist and have no time for revisionist historians who attack Ireland’s history of resistance to empire. But I do not see this primarily as a nationalist issue. I am an internationalist, a citizen of Europe and the world and want a political debate that transcends national borders. So I think the focus must be on what kind of Europe do we want.

I don’t think that Pearse or Connolly focused their argument on what kind of Britain empire they wanted. And quite right too.

There used to be discussion on the Left many years ago that Ireland had moved from being a colony of Britain to a neo-colony of either the US or Europe. I never believed it. Ireland has produced it own little capitalist class who proudly taken their place in the global networks of that class. We equally have to move beyond a nationalist horizon and join with others in movements across Europe that are resisting the same capitalist elite.

What would you say to anyone reading this right now who is unsure of where they stand on the Lisbon Treaty?

Don’t be browbeaten. Get hold of the Lisbon Treaty. Ring up the EU Office in Dublin and demand that they send you out a copy. You will be given a series of amendments which will make little sense unless you see the original treaties. So also ask for them for these as well and demand that they are made freely available to you because you need to see what you are voting on. If they do not facilitate you, then vote No. You would not buy a house or a car without the seeing the contract – so why would you decide on the future of a continent without knowing what this constitution contains.

If you do succeed in getting the documentation, sit down and study it. Consult our website Voteno.ie and check out the Yes side as well. If there are any points you want cleared up, do not hesitate to contact us. Better still, you might consider getting a few friends of colleagues together for a discussion. Voteno.ie will be delighted to provide you with a speaker.

In other words, act as a good citizen and remember you are voting for the whole people of Europe. The neo-liberals who think ‘there is no such thing as society’ will be very upset – but who cares.

Anything you'd like to add in closing?

The key is to organise. We are up against a massive, well funded propaganda machine. We can only win if we get NO campaigns organised in very town in Ireland and there is no mystery about how that can be done. You need to, firstly, hold briefing meetings for activists or would-be-activists. You can do this by booking a room in a pub or a community hall and advertising it in local media or with notices in local shops.

Voteno.ie will send you a speaker who will take you through a hour and a half long power point presentation. Just e mail us on info@voteno.ie. Once you feel equipped to make an argument to your fellow citizens, you need to get leaflets and posters for distribution.

Energy and enthusiasm can beat the money merchants. But it needs a little organisation to get focus. So to paraphrase: educate and organise so that you might be free.

Thank you for your time Mr. Allen and I wish your campaign all the very best.

Happy St. Paddy's Day

2008-03-17T16:45:00.004Z

Best wishes to everyone on this St. Patrick's Day. I'm pleased to see that the weather is sunny here where I am in Dublin. I used to have this notion as a kid that if it was sunny on St. Patrick's Day then it meant a good summer ahead. Not sure how accurate that theory was since most summers I recall were miserable!

Hopefully the theory comes good this year though. Hope you enjoy the day wherever you are.

I'm going to do my liver a favour this year by going easy on the drink but if you're feeling merry tonight I wish you well!

Here's a look at how the rest of the world is celebrating the day...

Moscow, Russia:

San Francisco, USA:

Tokyo, Japan:

London, England:

Auckland, New Zealand:

And some footage of Dublin's parade:

We spare no expense!

2008-03-14T15:38:00.001Z

Well St Patrick's Day is almost upon us folks and you know what that means. Guinness? Silly hats? Public drunkenness and vomit-filled streets? Yes, yes and yes, but as well as all that there is one annual delight in particular worth mentioning - the three week Dáil break for our wonderful politicians! (3 weeks, is that all?)

Yes while most men, women and children would be lucky to get a day off work or school to celebrate our national holiday, our public representatives don't have to return to work until April 2nd. Well they work so hard throughout the year that they deserve a longer break, right? In fact they deserve lavish, expensive paid vacations and you the Irish taxpayer, yes YOU, will be delighted to learn that your taxes accomplish precisely that for the poor buggers. Huzzah!

Anthony over at the Public Enquiry site detailed how Irish politicians are not required to produce receipts for their expenses. Checks are NOT made and the whole system is operated on the basis that they are honest and won't cheat you, yes YOU, the taxpayer. Sounds good to me! Irish politicians being dishonest? Like that could ever happen.

Anthony adds:

"A caller to Liveline today tells us how Irish taxpayers paid €1,650 per night to Seamus Brennan (Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism) to stay at an apartment in Rome last year.

"The caller was puzzled as to why Brennan couldn’t have stayed at the luxurious five stars Westin Excelsior hotel in the centre of Rome for a mere €355 per night. This hotel regularly caters for statesmen from all over the world. Stayed there myself for a week once and was very impressed.

"The caller told us that taxpayers paid Junior Minister Mary Wallace €1,000 for VIP services at Dublin airport on a trip to Vienna. Just to repeat that – She collected €1,000 for VIP services at Dublin airport!!!"

Damn straight. Nothing but the finest for our politicians.

How lucky we are - and you, yes YOU the taxpayer, to live in a true republican society where all of our citizens are treated as equals.

Raise a pint to that on St Patrick's Day and marvel at the majestic, near-utopian country we live in today thanks to the great men and women of Fianna Fáil.

Photo courtesy of Hubritic Anomaly.

Oath of obedience

2008-03-11T16:10:00.000Z

I see British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's latest hair-brained scheme is to encourage children in the UK to swear an oath of allegiance to their queen and country.

I must say I think it is both a dangerous and highly stupid suggestion.

Report author, ex-attorney general Lord Goldsmith, says it would give teenagers a sense of belonging and would help improve their sense of what it means to be a British citizen.

What about people who don't support the system of monarchy though? This point was raised by Graham Smith of the group Republic, which campaigns for the abolition of the monarchy:

"It's offensive to people who do actually cherish democracy and who actually cherish the sorts of liberties we've fought for centuries."

If children refuse to take part, he added, "are they then going to be told or taught that they are somehow less British or less loyal or less patriotic?"

Good question. Obviously this idea is designed to work similar to the oath of allegiance that they have in America, but the major difference is that Americans aren't pledging allegiance to an INDIVIDUAL but rather to their COUNTRY.

Personally I don't think oaths of allegiance are necessary whatsoever. I don't need anyone telling me to show allegiance towards my nation.

On another note, I'd really love to see how they plan on introducing this into the north of Ireland! How would an Irish republican family in Belfast feel about their little child being made to swear allegiance to someone they regard as a foreigner and who leads an establishment that they find repulsive? How are people in Catholic areas of Glasgow going to feel about having to declare allegiance to a monarchy that currently still forbids a royal from marrying a Catholic? It's ridiculous really. From reading comments by British people on the BBC, the overwhelming majority are against the idea. Here's a selection of their views:

"Allegiance to the queen!!??!! - I would not allow my 4
children to do this. In this modern world there is no need for a monarchy. She/they parasites and hangers on do nothing. She & her inbred family are only there to draw tourists to the UK. I look forward to the day when Scotland is an independent Republic. England can keep her."

John McMillan, Edinburgh

"Swearing allegiance to the head of a morally bankrupt family of foreign parasites, suggested by a man from a privileged position in an institution that should have been closed down long, long ago! Is it April the first?"

Terry Reynolds, Bridport, United Kingdom

"Swearing allegiance to Queen and/or Country? What's next, letting blood under british oaks in the shine of burning torches? To me this sounds like hopelessly outdated nationalism. Worryingly reminiscent of Germany around 1933, anybody refusing the oath to the austrian painter was sidelined first, and shot few years later.To prevent alienation of the UK youth make sure that they are properly supported, and socially integrated. Distribute wealth rather than praising the fortune of the rich!"

Finn Werner, London

"What is the point of this? You either feel British or you do not & making an oath to Britain smacks of the old empire days of long ago & will serve no purpose whatsoever. You are going to alienate people, not everyone feels British, personally speaking to me Britain is the Island & not the countries. You also have to deal with all the arguments of people who feel Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English & not British what will the point of them swearing to something they don't believe in?"

Garry Fraser, Glasgow, United Kingdom

And my personal favourite:

"I would rather cut of my testicles and dip my bleeding scrotum in a bucket of lemon juice, that swear allegiance to that fat, useless, clapped out old leech in Buckingham palace. This has to be the stupidest most pointless idea Gordon Brown has ever had. Jesus wept."

Ricky

I definitely think this idea is a non-starter. The monarchy is an archaic institution. A remnant of a bygone age. The idea that people are superior to certain others due to their background is a philosophy best left in the dark ages. We might as well bring back the Pharaohs.

What would the Sex Pistols have thought if a teacher made them swear allegiance to the queen, I wonder? As they once so infamously put it...

God save the queen
She ain't no human being
There is no future
In England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want
Don't be told what you need
There's no future, no future,
No future for you

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Paisley tossed

2008-03-05T19:00:00.002Z

So DUP leader Ian Paisley is to 'step down' from his role as First Minister and leader of his party in May.

I think it's more a case that Paisley has been shafted by his power-mad minions due to the furore last month over his son Ian Jnr (who resigned as a junior minister in the NI Executive following criticism over his links to developer Seymour Sweeney).

Paisley had previously indicated he wanted to stay on for a few more years but those plans have been shelved. Coincidence? I think not. Especially when many in the DUP are said to be concerned at attitudes within the unionist community, many of whom are upset at Paisley's recent pally relationship with the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

I'm not bothered much about Paisley's departure to be honest. What bothers me is the historical revisionism that has been floating around. The idea that he has been a noble crusader for justice, a defiant champion of communities etc.

To me and many Irish nationalists he will be remembered as the man who started a riot in 1964 after he demanded police remove an Irish tricolour from a Sinn Féin office in Belfast, the man who opposed the efforts of NI Prime Minister Terence O'Neill and Taoiseach Sean Lemass to establish a cordial relationship between both sides of the island, the man who was involved in counter-demonstrations against civil rights marchers, the man who accused Pope John Paul II of being the 'Antichrist' during his speech to the European Parliament, the man who helped bring down the Sunningdale Agreement and who opposed the Anglo-Irish agreement and the Good Friday Agreement. Disgraceful activities one and all.

While I acknowledge that he has made a positive contribution towards politics in this island in the past 18 months or so - a contribution I have given him credit for - that doesn't mean we can forget the many blemishes on his character.

The reality is he showed a confrontational and aggressive attitude towards nationalists and the people of the south of Ireland for much of his life, and helped to delay the reunification of this island. For that, I don't believe history will look upon him too kindly.

Paisley yesterday remarked:

"Unionists are no longer protesting against a London/Dublin deal with which we have no truck.

"We are inside the building administering British rule over Northern Ireland."

It is nice spin but little more. In truth he is administering nationalist/unionist rule, has signed up to the concept of North/South cooperation and has accepted Dublin's undisputed right to have a say in the North's affairs - had he not done so we could well have Joint Authority in operation right now.

The agreement he reached with SF was not much different to agreements he bitterly protested against that involved the likes of Brian Faulkner, Margaret Thatcher and David Trimble. The key difference was he was the figure at centre stage.

I regard Paisley as complex personality, with a considerable ego and a very stubborn mindset. I will congratulate him nonetheless on ensuring that his life's legacy will not be simply that of an intransigent bigot whose political vocabulary revolved around the word 'No'.

I wish him well in his retirement and I hope that in his twilight years he lives a long and happy life. Long enough I hope to see the island of Ireland reunified at long last the way it ought to be.

No to the Lisbon Treaty!

2008-02-26T18:12:00.005Z

I am deeply troubled by the Lisbon Treaty and the idea of the people of this country endorsing such a wicked treaty. This document is essentially the EU Constitution under a new name, a fact that has been spelled out by our own Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The Constitution, rejected by French and Dutch voters, spells bad news for many nation-states within the EU, and certainly Ireland. Our neighbours across the water in Britain were denied a vote on this despicable document by Gordon Brown because he knows full well the British would tell the bureaucrats where they can stick their irredentist plans.

Luckily for Ireland we have a constitutional obligation to have a referendum for anything which changes or amends our own constitution. Make no mistake about it, this treaty changes our constitution in a major way.

The treaty removes Irish decision-making in around 50 policy areas, gives the EU a right to conclude treaties and agreements over the heads of member states like ourselves and, worryingly, reduces the voting strength of the Irish state.

Is this what the founding fathers of this state died for? To watch so-called 'republicans' in Fianna Fáil giving AWAY power from the Republic of Ireland?

Did we really spend all that time trying to leave a Union that didn't care about our wishes only to go and join another Union that won't care about our wishes?

Ignore the disgraceful scaremongering tactics of men like Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche talking about how a 'No' vote would affect our standing within the EU. This is baloney. Are we expected to believe the EU would get tough with us alone when France and Holland previously rejected the EU Constitution and not a peep was said against them? Don't insult us Mr Roche with your garbage warnings.

I believe, and I am not exaggerating here, that this vote is one of the most significant moments in Irish history because, if endorsed by the Irish people, it will help centralise power in Brussels and leads us down the road to a federalist European Superstate.

If, like me, you vehemently oppose such a thing, then take the time to read up on the Constitution and prepare to vote NO to the EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty.

Over the next few weeks and months I intend to write a lot about this vile treaty which threatens our sovereignty and I hope to have some interviews with campaigners. It's time to put a stop to this treaty once and for all.

You can read more about the dangers of the treaty here.

Can we banish Bertie?

2008-02-25T17:43:00.003Z

I see the Tanaiste Brian Cowen, in another lame Fianna Faíl defence of their crooked leader, has described Enda Kenny as being like Napoleon in Elba, drawing up plans for wars he lost, after Kenny criticised the Taoiseach's Mahon Tribunal evidence.

Don't make me laugh, Cowen.

If you ask me, Ahern in recent months has sounded like Napoleon in St. Helena, coming up with excuses about his life of misdeeds and becoming increasingly detached from the world around him.

Ahern recently admitted under questioning at the Mahon Tribunal that his former partner, Celia Larkin, received a loan of £30,000 pounds from a special Fianna Fáil fundraising account in order to buy a house. Following this revelation, opposition leaders urged him to resign and have rightly branded his financial affairs a national embarrassment.

In any other country this man - this political disgrace - would have no choice but to resign yet the so-called 'Republican Party' Fianna Fáil have prostituted their morals so much so that they are rallying behind this clown.

I predicted around the General Election last year that this kind of thing would happen. I wrote:

"I feel a strong sense of sadness as I see Fianna Fáil cruising to victory in this election. Just like when Haughey was in power, the Irish people are being duped. Big time. The fools who re-elected this lot will regret it when the crises mount up. They broke their promises last time and they will break them again. It's what they do best."

Now we are left with YET ANOTHER Fianna Fáil Taoiseach who is taking this country for a ride. It's Haughey all over again. Why couldn't people see this coming last year?

It's high time we said au revoir to Monsieur Ahern and banished him from public office. Just like Bonaparte, the Taoiseach needs to meet his Waterloo.

Irlande NIL POINTE!

2008-02-23T23:52:00.003Z

Ugh. Oh dear, oh dear. Anyone catch the Eurosong 2008 contest on RTE on Saturday evening? The contest was to determine who would represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Well, if you missed it, the winner is pictured to your left. That's right. A puppet turkey will represent this country before an audience of hundreds of millions of Europeans.

What a bloody farce.

Everyone knows that the Eurovision Song Contest has been bereft of actual talent for years now, but that doesn't mean we should be supporting talentless ~~pop~~ pap acts. I'd rather us withdraw from the competition altogether than have this irritating bit of plastic acting as a symbol of Irishness.

I wouldn't even mind a song that took the piss out of the Eurovision if it was actually good. Anyone who's seen the My Lovely Horse bit from Father Ted knows that's the way you do it. The monstrosity that Ireland is inflicting on Europe though is absolutely appalling.

You can hear the song here:

I'm a Dub and I can barely understand what the hell he's saying. What hope do Lithuanians and the like have?

That is one turkey that's facing a stuffing.

He's baaaaack - honest he is!

2007-12-11T23:44:00.002Z

Time: Saturday, 15th of December.

Event: The third anniversary of United Irelander.

What's promised: A whole lot of ranting and raving.

Update: Sorry I didn't get to post yet. If anyone's wondering why I didn't, my story is that I'm holding off on it so as to build tension. Nothing of course to do with me spending most of the weekend watching sports. Ahem.

G'wan Man Utd!

Update 2: Apologies for not getting back to this here blog but I've been quite busy! I went to hospital a few weeks back and had surgery which I'd been waiting on for a good few months. It wasn't major surgery, just keyhole, and thankfully everything went well and I'm feeling good. No more soreness or anything. I have to go back for the standard check-up soon but please God I'll be told I'm in good health. I feel that way anyway.

Hopefully I can rack up a few posts in the near future.

Thanks for your comments of concern. Sorry I didn't get back to them sooner but I was told to take it easy and so I gave the internet a miss.

Thanks again.

Words on Wednesday...with Daithí McKay

2007-09-05T20:16:00.000+01:00

As promised here is my interview with Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim Daithí McKay. Apologies again to Mr McKay for the delay in publishing this piece.

This will be my last post for a while. Thanks to all of you who left get well wishes in the previous post. Hopefully I'll be back in business in the near future.

So then, on to the interview...

(Note - the following piece was conducted in late June)

You are a Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim. Talk us through a typical day in your life.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical day in this job; every day is different from the last, which is a good thing of course. I’ll take you through Monday from last week: Up at 6.30am, leave home at 7am to beat the M2 traffic and get to the Assembly. Switch on the computer at work and sift through a plethora of e-mails, which range from invites to environmental functions to constituency queries regarding school-places.

After processing the above I sit down to sign 500 letters, which will be delivered by party activists in Glenravel, to give local people an update on serious road-safety issues in the area.

It's down to Assembly business after that. All Sinn Féin MLAs meet at 10am to discuss today’s business before the Assembly begins for the day. During the sitting members pose questions to the First & Deputy First Minister, the Agriculture Minister and the Minister for Culture, Arts & Leisure. It isn’t a case of sitting back and watching the day’s proceedings and many members like myself regularly bring constituency work into the chamber to work on during the sitting. One of the pressing matters for me today is the problem that some constituents are facing in regard to late Single Farm Payments.

After leaving the Assembly I touch base with the Sinn Féin advice centre in Dunloy and get caught up with constituency work. I give the local radio station a quick ring and give them an interview in regard to Sinn Féin’s call for a new Marine Bill and the benefits it would have for bio-diversity at Rathlin Island which forms part of the North Antrim constituency.

I return a number of phone-calls and set up some meetings for the next couple of weeks, including one to Cushendall Fire Station, which has been seriously underfunded for nearly 20 years and badly needs replaced by the DHSSPS.

After leaving the office I head to the gym between 8.30-9pm and arrive home after 10pm. Single life means squeezing in the washing, ironing, cooking, etc in the late hours as well as some letter-writing and press statements. I’d typically hit the sack between 1 and 2am.

You once worked as a Political Adviser to Philip McGuigan whose seat you now hold. What was that experience like and did it help to prepare you for dealing with constituency issues in North Antrim?

It was a very good experience. Philip is very much a grassroots worker and is extremely dedicated to what he does, so to work along with him certainly did me the world of good. It certainly gave me a firm grasp of the main issues in the constituency and because I was working on policy matters and working in the Assembly, being elected to the Assembly was not the steep learning curve it could have been.

You took your North Antrim seat on the first count. Were you surprised at the strength of your victory?

Well firstly it wasn’t ‘my’ victory, it was a victory for the party and its workers in the constituency, and I am under no illusion that the strength of the victory was down to hard work on the ground and the fact that many people agreed with our policies, not personality. Was I surprised? No.

What was life like growing up for you in the north of Ireland? Did you encounter much sectarianism?

I think that the older I got the more sectarianism I experienced, or perhaps became more aware of it. I’m from a mainly nationalist rural community in North Antrim but went to school and worked in Ballymena where you may not have encountered sectarianism head-on but it was always under the surface so to speak. I have to say that things have actually got worse in the town in recent years and the death of Michael McIlveen was clearly a result of that.

More recently I was stopped by PSNI Officers and questioned under the PTA Act – minor harassment that is quite common when dealing with the DMSU. When taking my name the officer asked “Is that a foreign name sir?!” at which he and his colleagues laughed. Many people refer to the ‘rotten apple’ theory when talking about bad police officers but for many nationalists and republicans it cannot be applicable until officers like the one mentioned above is taken to task by his colleagues, not congratulated.

What are your thoughts on a united Ireland? Will it be achieved in the near future?

I have no doubt that it will. The north was a state based on supremacy and discrimination. As we move to a situation where equality is enshrined and safeguarded the whole rationale for the existence of the state will be no more. I believe people will look at what makes sense, not only in terms of the economy, but in terms of tourism, in terms of managing the environment, in terms of infrastructure and so on. A United Ireland makes sense in so many ways.

Would you agree that the British government wants to be free of Ireland's north as soon as possible?

I believe that many within the British government would harbour that view, but I would also state that there are many within British intelligence, within the British Tory Party and other influential members of British society that will still continue to fight tooth and nail to hang onto their final ‘colony’.

What would you say to a unionist to convince he/she that a united Ireland would be better than the status quo?

If there was a United Ireland a party of the Unionist tradition could quite conceivably form part of a coalition government if they had the electoral strength they have now. In such a situation they would actually have more power than they have now in a devolved administration. Aside from that if the economy north and south is to prosper it must operate as a single unit with a single currency. And as both Derek Dougan and George Best said, we’d qualify for every World Cup if we had an all-Ireland soccer team.

Earlier this year Sinn Féin made the historic decision to support the PSNI. You are now one of three Sinn Féin members on the board. What has it been like so far?

I think it's too early to make a full assessment. We have only attended one full board meeting thus far but be rest assured that we are in there to challenge the status quo and we are in there to deliver real and meaningful change for the community. Delivering good policing will not come as a result of engagement with the board alone however. Much of it will rest with what happens on the ground and with the engagement of our local councillors with District Policing Partnerships. Personally speaking I will never accept bad policing in any form within my community and if I see it or experience it then I will act to make sure that those engaged in it are held accountable.

What have your experiences been like dealing with DUP MLAs in the Assembly? Has it been an amicable environment?

In certain instances, yes. There remain fundamental differences between our parties so obviously the Assembly isn’t always an ‘amicable’ environment, but certainly there seems to be an eagerness within many of the DUP Assembly members to work constructively and in the best interests of our electorate, and that means building a positive working relationship with ourselves as the largest nationalist party.

Turning to the recent election in the Republic for a moment, why did Sinn Féin fare so badly in your opinion?

I think there could be one reason why we didn’t perform better in the 26 Counties, but there could also be 100 reasons. What we need to focus on now is identifying what the reasons were for our performance, and addressing those issues. I certainly don’t agree with the SDLP Leader’s assessment that the southern electorate are ‘more mature’ than the northern electorate which is an astounding statement for any elected representative to come out with.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom however, and people will see past all the usual suspects in the media sounding the death knell for Sinn Féin (again!). After a strong performance in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan we are now the biggest party in Ulster and the third biggest party on the island.

How do you feel about Fianna Fáil achieving another term in power?

Putting Mary Harney in charge of Health? I think its dreadful. Fianna Fáil look set to continue with the hospital co-location scheme, they, along with the Greens, are going to push ahead with the M3 through Tara and accommodate US military forces involved in the Iraq war at Shannon Airport. The cabinet looks set to continue with the failed policies of the past and that is something that Sinn Féin could in no way support.

What are some of the political issues that you are focusing on at this point in time in your constituency?

Housing and Rural Planning would be the biggest issues at the moment. Aside from that the threat of a lignite mine in North Antrim, sectarianism, tourism, parades and policing are still important matters that need addressed in the eyes of many people here.

More specifically, there is still discrimination within the local Councils in Ballymena and Ballymoney that needs tackled and the proposal to build a new dual carriageway through homes and farms in Cloughmills is also causing public concern. We are beginning to make some ground in putting Social Development money into areas that need it most, such as Dunclug in Ballymena and hopefully areas like this can be regenerated with the help of such projects.

The scourge of drugs in Ballymena and beyond remains a problem that hasn’t been adequately dealt with and that is something that must be pushed up the political agenda now that the Assembly has been restored.

If you could change three things about Irish society, north or south, what would you change and why?

- I would like to see the sense of community spirit restored to the way it was previously. There are still organisations like the GAA who do tremendous work in this field but the fact that in many cases people don’t even know their own neighbours and spend much of their time working and coming home to watch TV is a step backward from the days when people ‘ceilidhed’ in each other’s houses.

- Ireland should have a world-class health system, free to everyone.

- An end to sectarianism, bigotry, racism and discrimination of all kinds.

Where should Ireland be twenty years from now?

In a United Ireland, no longer reliant on oil and leading the way in alternative and renewable energy, have a reliable public transport system and a strong policy on neutrality. The Health Service should be reliable and free for all, people should be fluent in at least two languages (like most other European countries) and the economy should be booming with a strong base of indigenous businesses, and less reliance on foreign companies.

What does the future hold in store for you?

More work I’d imagine! I’ll accept any role that I’m given in the party, full-time or otherwise. As long as I’m helping effect positive change in this society, and have a roof over my head and food on the table I’ll be happy enough.

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just outline what word comes into your head when you hear the following:

Bertie Ahern - Chancer
Ian Paisley - Never?
Gerry Adams - Sharp
Tony Blair - Iraq
Mark Durkan - Lacking
Fianna Fáil - Conservative
DUP - Unionism
Sinn Féin - Community
United Ireland - Coming
Daithí McKay – “Nothing special, nothing grand”

My thanks to Mr McKay for taking my questions. Previous interviews can be found here.

Hello, Goodbye

2007-08-26T03:07:00.000+01:00

Hello to those of you who have been popping into this place over the past few weeks and months. You will no doubt have noticed the severe lack of posts on United Irelander. I'm sad to report that my inactivity is down to some health issues I've been dealing with throughout much of the year. It's nothing too serious thank God but it is something that has caused me quite a lot of discomfort. As a result my time spent on the Internet, and thus this website, has been curtailed.

I also must apologise to Sinn Féin's Daithi McKay as I was supposed to publish an interview I did with him last month but circumstances meant I was unable to do so. I'll try and publish that either this week or the next. Sorry also to anyone who left me emails as I've not been around to check them.

Until I'm feeling 100 per cent healthy I've decided to give United Irelander a miss for the foreseeable future. A person's health is the most important thing and to be perfectly honest, writing about the absurdities of both Irish nationalism and unionism is something I don't need on my plate right now! I do hope to get back blogging soon and God willing that will be in a few short months.

So that's the situation, folks. Just thought I'd let the site's regulars know what the story is rather than leave you in limbo. I'll publish up that interview with Mr McKay soon and then put the site into a hiatus. Thank you for stopping by whatever religion, nationality or political affiliation you happen to have.

All the best and take care.

Pilots strike over northern mistreatment

2007-08-13T22:53:00.000+01:00

I see Aer Lingus pilots are set to strike over plans to pay colleagues based in the North less money than those in the Republic of Ireland.

Almost 500 pilots are to stage a strike next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The pilots' union said it would not allow Belfast based pilots to be treated as "second class citizens", according to Irish state broadcaster RTE.

I guess this dispels the oft-mentioned theory from unionists that in a united Ireland the south of Ireland wouldn't give a toss about the north!

Fair play to the pilots. I wish them well.

Good riddance

2007-07-31T02:26:00.000+01:00

It pleases me greatly that the British army's operation - or should I say occupation - of the northern part of my country officially ended at midnight this evening.

'Operation Banner' was the longest continuous campaign of the army's history spanning 38 years in total.

The head of the Army in NI, General Nick Parker, laughably claimed the operation helped create the conditions for a political solution:

"What I believe the military have done here is make a significant contribution to the security in Northern Ireland that has allowed other people to make the difference through politics, social programmes and economics."

This is revisionist bullshit. The presence of the British military exacerbated an already grim situation in NI and led to the continuation of a bloody and miserable chapter in Irish history. Irish people shall remember the British presence in NI primarily for Bloody Sunday in 1972 and for the countless other instances of mistreatment which they dished out to citizens of this land.

Speaking for the majority of Irish people may I inform these troops that they shan't be missed nor shall they be looked upon fondly by future generations. Good riddance.

Well done, Padraig!

2007-07-22T20:47:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Padraig Harrington on a superb Open victory today at Carnoustie.

Harrington manged to edge out Spain's Sergio Garcia in a four-hole play-off to clinch his first ever Major title.

A European hasn't won it in eight years and an Irishman hasn't won it since Fred Daily in 1947.

I'm not usually a golfing enthusiast but I was gripped by the events all day. Said Harrington:

"Obviously I've come a long way. When I turned pro I'd have settled for being a good journeyman golfer.

"It's been great being named as someone who could win a major but that brings its own pressure.

"I'm sure there's a hell of a party (in Ireland) now and I know I don't have anything to do for two-and-a-half days so I'm going to party on."

It capped off a fine day for Irish golf as County Down's Rory McIlroy picked up the silver medal for being best amateur.

I'm delighted for Padraig as I know he's had many doubters who wondered if he could ever land the big one. You can watch him being interviewed here following his win and you can see how much it meant to him.

Enjoy your moment, Padraig. Irish sportsman of the year? He looks a good bet to me even at this relatively early stage.

Up the Dubs!

2007-07-15T00:00:00.000+01:00

Just checking in from my break to wish Dublin the best of luck in their bid to claim a third consecutive Leinster Football title against Laois later today.

I'm confident the boys in blue will do us proud. I only wish I could be there to see it at Croke Park.

Afterwards Monaghan will take on Tyrone in the Ulster Football Final. I've friends from Monaghan so I'll be rooting for them to take their first Ulster title in 19 years. I reckon they'll have a tough time of it though.

Should be a good sporting day.

As for this blog, I haven't forgotten it. I hope to be back blogging regularly in a short while. I have comments from some of you on other threads which I will add eventually. I also have an interview with Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim, Daithí McKay, to publish.

I haven't much else to add at this point in time except to say that I was pleased the 12th of July Orange Order parades passed off peacefully and without incident. It was disappointing to see some UDA banners flying about but most people were respectful and we have to acknowledge that we're still in very much a transitional period on this island.

Anyway I hope the weather is nice wherever you are and that you're having a good summer. God bless.

Summer break

2007-06-28T23:17:00.000+01:00

I wish everyone, friend or foe, well and that is that, the end...for a few weeks at least.

Enjoy your summer.

What are the real values of unionism?

2007-06-25T01:03:00.000+01:00

I recently discovered a new blog thanks to my good friends the Young Unionists called Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness, which is written by a UUP follower called 'Chekist', who describes himself as someone "with a civic unionist flavour naturally". I've found his posts interesting and articulate so I reckon he's off to a fine start but - believe it or not - I find myself at odds with some of his views.

In a post about the role of the NI Secretary, Chekov lays into the DUP and specifically the DUP leader Ian Paisley, accusing him of neglecting the values of the Union. He writes:

"In forming an alliance of convenience with Alex Salmond he has already shown that he has no regard for the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. He is prepared to undermine the Union in order to consolidate his own personal fiefdom. For Paisley the parliament at Westminster is a golden teat to be suckled on for all he is worth, rather than an institution to which he feels any real allegiance.

"Those in the DUP who retain any pretence of being unionists and who in any way attribute an intrinsic value to the Union (rather than merely viewing it as a marriage of convenience to be exploited) should look seriously at the fissures in their own party, and the route the present leader is taking them."

Now then, as someone with a keen interest in Irish history I find Chekov's opinions, to quote Mr Spock, "highly illogical". It would seem to me that the NI First Minister Ian Paisley is simply following the path once trodden by the first Prime Minister of NI James Craig. Not many unionists seem to know this fact which I've discussed on United Irelander before, but during the Treaty talks between Lloyd George's delegation and Michael Collins' delegation, James Craig actually requested dominion status for NI. A request which outraged the British. As Professor of History Michael Laffan outlined in his book 'The Partition of Ireland: 1911-1925'...

"The British cabinet was infuriated by the proposal. Lloyd George derided the idea of the north obtaining dominion status and ascribed financial reasons for Craig's request ; he wanted 'a six bob tax as against three bob'.

"Craig's suggestion of dominion status for Northern Ireland made the unionists intensely unpopular and the British cabinet resented their sabotage of its plans for a settlement with Irish nationalists."

So you see there's nothing new about unionists viewing Westminster as a "golden teat to be suckled on". In fact, Craig was willing to go several steps further than Paisley by requesting independence from Westminster just like the Irish Free State!

So with that being said perhaps some of United Irelander's readers can explain to me what this so-called "intrinsic value to the Union" involves? Because to me, looking at it from a historical standpoint, it just makes no sense.

James Craig sought dominion status. Edward Carson meanwhile opposed the partition of Ireland. Yet we have unionists like Chekov questioning the route Paisley is taking! What route are YOU and your fellow unionists taking, hmm?

Could somebody please explain to me what the real values of unionism are in 2007? What's it all about?

EU referendum likely says Minister

2007-06-25T00:51:00.000+01:00

I see the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, has said it is likely that a referendum will be held in Ireland on the new EU Treaty.

So be it. I for one will strongly oppose this treaty as it will leave this country nothing but a little fish in a very big shark tank.

You want to sell us out to Europe? Well you're going to have a fight on your hands, you crooks.