Irish Neutrality:Neutrality: Deaddead Andand Gone?Gone? Notnot Ifif Labourlabour Hashas Anythinganything Ttoo Dodo Wwithith Itit
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LEFTLEFT TRIBUNETRIBUNE Formerly ‘LYNX’ Official Newsletter of Labour Youth Issue 10 IrishIrish Neutrality:Neutrality: DeadDead andand Gone?Gone? NotNot IfIf LabourLabour HasHas AnythingAnything TToo DoDo WWithith ItIt PP Pat Rabbitte T.D. Interview LL Why Marijuana Was Criminalised? Student Grants / Make Poverty History Debate UU Rossport and Shell SS Palestinian Football and more... Contributors Contributors Contributors Contributors This is an official publication of Labour Youth. Editor and designer Jonathan McDade All articles are written by members of Labour SubEds: Dermot Looney, Louisa Earls Youth and friends of the organisation Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents Contents National Interest Pages 3,4,5 Global Report page 6 Sporting Matters page 7 And the rest... page 7 Interview pages 8,9 Debate pages 10,11 Labour Youth Campaigns pages 12,13 Funnies page 14 Comment page 15 Join Us page 15 Burning Issue page 16 Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Labour Youth National Conference: Nov 4th - 6th NUI Galway Labour Party National Conference: Saturday April 1st, the Helix, DCU Contact Us Contact Us Contact Us Contact Us Contact Us www.LabourYouth.ie [email protected] Labour Youth, 17 Ely Place, Dublin 2. page 2 Contact Editor: [email protected] National Interest National Interest National Interest Labour Pledges to get U.S war planes out of Shannon when in Government Dermot Looney writes on Labour’s motion to protect the neutrality that the PD/FF Government destroyed While the Labour Party’s debate on electoral strategy dominated the headlines during May’s National Conference, a crucial decision by the members of the party on anti-war policy was all but missed by the press. A Labour Youth motion was passed with huge support, a move which will secure the withdrawal of the US military from Shannon Airport if the Labour Party is to form the next Irish Government. The reso- lution is testament to the part Labour at Shannon protest played by Labour activists in the anti-war movement and a clear Labour Party sold out their principles troops and hundreds of bombers and cal replacement of a ruling govern- and the majority of their members, machines of war as a strategic launch- ment who, spin aside, unequivocally rebuke to the pro-war Fianna Fáil- supporters and voters in assisting the pad for operations in Iraq and supported the war, with a government PD government who, while claim- vile enterprise, Labour in Ireland was Afghanistan. who will preserve Irish neutrality and ing to support neutrality, continue among the chief opponents; our Party truly promote human rights, peace and to provide vital strategic support President and Spokesperson on As socialists our internationalist the environment on a global scale. It to the US war machine in Iraq and Foreign Affairs, Michael D Higgins approach offers a categorical differ- was through these values and policies Afghanistan. ence to the reactionary localism of that we presented our motion to the conservative politics. But while we Labour Party National Conference, The Labour National Conference recognise that wars such as these can and with its massive endorsement the motion arose from a resolution, pro- only be halted by the power of people Labour Party is now obliged to make posed by the UCD Branch, which was all over the world, we also realise that US withdrawal from Shannon a pre- passed at the 2004 Labour Youth real change begins at local and nation- requisite to forming an alternative Conference in Dublin. Labour Youth al level. Thus our opposition to the government. Nevertheless, we also activists have played an active role in war in Iraq does not merely focus on recognise that elections alone will not opposing the war on Iraq, attending the US and UK administrations and defeat these wars and call on all meetings, organising and supporting military, but on the support offered to Labour Youth activists to continue to demonstrations and taking part in them by the Irish government. In a support and organise demonstrations non-violent direct action at Shannon war that was opposed by some 80% of Airport and elsewhere. Joining with Irish people, hundreds of thousands of other progressive groups and tens of whom took to the streets in the biggest mass movement in a thousands of other peace activists, the Michael D. Higgins Labour’s generation, the Fianna Fáil-PD coali- Labour Party stood as a proud and key anti war campaigner unapologetic opponent of a war moti- tion offered Ireland’s services and vated by strategic oil interests, the TD continues to be an erudite and support as part of the “coalition of the desire for profit and deference to the brave campaigner for the ordinary willing.” U.S war plane at Shannon military-industrial complex of a people of Iraq in the face of such United States administration who state-induced terror. Labour branches Labour Youth advocates a dual and actions in the wider anti-war would rather spend billions on and activists around the country have approach to fighting wars such as movement, a movement which contin- machines of war than on addressing been heavily active in the campaign those in Iraq and Afghanistan – firstly, ues to grow internationally as the poverty at home or abroad. against the war, most notably in Co. the mass movement of people slaughter of innocent Iraqis brings the Clare itself. Shannon Airport has now involved in protests, demonstrations deadly lies of the conservative right While a Blairite-controlled British been used by almost 1 million US and direct action; secondly the politi- home. page 3 National Interest National Interest National Interest National Interest Natioanl Interest National Interest National Interest DavidStudent Geary writes about the disgraceful Grants grants scheme in Ireland The current grant allocations are as follows; Non-adjacent Adjacent ∑ Full Grant €3,020 €1,210 ∑ 75% Grant €2,265 €905 ∑ 50% Grant €1,515 €605 ∑ 25% Grant €755 €305 ∑ Top up Grant €5,355 €2,145 The Grants system in prospect of working part – time to With grant overdrafts banks are Ireland is well known for its supplement their grant allowance. the first to cash in on this fault in the system. inadequacies. With wide- This is usually done for things such as rent and food – before a spread problems such as student can even consider a social Last year at National Conference lateness and corruption it is life. This seems to fly in the face Labour Youth voted to campaign perhaps little surprise that of the purpose of the grant scheme to centralize the entire grants sys- the majority of students are which is to facilitate a student’s tem under the Department of Social, Family and Community unhappy with the current third level study. How can the government think that by working Affairs. We hope to campaign in system. part – time a student’s studying every college branch in the coun- ability won’t be affected? try with the aim of clearing up The grant can prove to be a make some but not all of the problems or break situation for students Delays in the system mean that with the system. If you would like hopes to complete a college students face the prospect of look- to get involved email lycam- course. However even students in ing to banks for assistance and [email protected] – we’d be happy receipt of the grant face the they are only too happy to help. to hear from you. Homeless Plight in Ireland’s Celtic Tiger There are few Irish people who have yet to come across the phe- As Ireland’s economic wealth spirals into the stratosphere, many are left behind with little help from an uncaring government nomenon of homelessness in (based on ESRI assessments in 1999 Ireland, and Dublin in particular. and 2002) that the number of “home- The burning images of homeless less households” has increased from people on the Hal’ penny Bridge 1,290 to 1,470, with single people or the streets of Temple Bar, will accounting for 80% of this number remain with many of us no matter (source: Making it Home – an action how far we may travel. Which plan on homelessness in Dublin begs the question: in an age of 2004-2006). Clearly, this is a such apparent prosperity, how damning indictment of the opinion have we left behind a segment of that economic prosperity automatical- ly guarantees that everyone in society society reduced to begging in A common sight on Dublin’s streets becomes better off. There are many order to provide themselves with socio-economic factors that con- people are most at risk of homeless- to 11% in 2002 (22% in Dublin), shelter for the night? Never in tribute to homelessness, a conclusion Irish history, has there been a ness where poverty and personal cri- reaching 141,000 units in the latter reached by Homeless Agency in their sis occur.” year – 40% of whom are estimated to generation as affluent as ours, earlier report (Shaping the Future - be rent supplement tenants. and yet the numbers of people in an action plan for homelessness in One major area for discussion is the Threshold has recently highlighted poverty remain on the rise. Dublin 2001-2003). “In summary, suitability of the private rental sector the poor standards of accommodation homelessness is caused by a combi- for low-income housing. According within this sector. Given the The Homeless Agency estimates nation of structural (i.e. Social policy, to the 2002 census, the share of the Government’s confirmation that rent- housing) and personal (i.e. disability, housing stock held by the private ed accommodation will be used as page 4 behavior, family crisis) factors and rental sector grew from 7% in 1991 long-term homes for people depend- al Interest Natioanl Interest National Interest National Interest Shame on Shell Paul Dillon writes on the situation at Rossport and comments on yet another humanitarian abuse by the oil company The Shell to Sea campaign has tow- not close to local communities and to the men in jail or with anger to ered over and above any other cam- families in way that endangers life Minister Noel Dempsey, who many paign as the dominant issue requiring and livelihoods.