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LABOUR’SLABOUR’S ROLEROLE ININ 19161916 www.LabourYouth.ie

Joanne Reinstated Neil Ward wrties about the campaign which led to Joanne Delaney being reinstated as a Dunnes Stores employee

On February 25th, Joanne Delaney received a letter from Dunnes Stores management, advising her that her situation had been reviewed, and she was being offered her job back. This letter came about as a direct result of a concert- ed effort by the left in , and provides us with proof (if any were required), that direct action remains a viable tool for delivering radical change.

Back on February 2nd, Labour Youth Cllr. Eric Byrne and T.D. protesting with staged the first protest in support of Joanne, outside the George’s Street Joanne outside the Dunnes Stores where she was sacked branch of Dunnes in Dublin. Following on from that action, we proceeded to punish her, reducing her weekly hours including Ciarán McKenna. Almost as a organise further protests outside to just 15 – enough for her to earn just direct result of this single protest, the branches in Ashleaf, North Earl Street, over the amount she was receiving on police force immediately sought to con- Grafton Street, Cork and Maynooth. unemployment benefit. Her unfair dis- sult the community on how the situation Furthermore, with Dermot Looney as missals case continues at the time of could be rectified. To do so, specially- our representative to the Joanne writing, and Joanne has vowed to con- trained liaison officers, are to make Delaney Support Group, we joined tinue with that action until such time as themselves more accessible to the forces with members of other left she is recompensed for her three month community, and thereby better able to groups, Community and Workers Action period of unemployment, and returned adapt to LGBTQ-specific needs. Later Group, MANDATE and independent to the roster on a full-time basis. in 2005, the number of people who took members of the left, to protest outside to the streets in support of Irish Ferries the Ashleaf branch on a weekly basis, In the March edition of GCN, columnist workers demonstrated once again the garnering huge local support for Joanne Stephen Meyler writes: “Public protests power of direct action, as Irish Ferries and her campaign. This campaign has have had their day and it’s about time, management backed down, and came shown that, when inequality is appar- because they are ineffective at produc- to an agreement with the unions. ent, the left can readily move to work ing political change.” He goes further together on a rights based agenda. On with: “Despite the visceral appeal of a For as long as the left has been utilising top of the afore-mentioned protests direct action, in the end everyone goes direct action as a means of seeking Organise! held several protests in home and the system continues on its increased rights, members of the right Belfast. merry way.” That may be the opinion of have been dismissing it as an unneces- a magazine columnist (incidentally, one sary, ineffective tool. Through our It remains a damning indictment of who was appointed to fill a gap left by action in support of Joanne, we have Dunnes’ management behaviour, that it ), but to my mind, it couldn’t once again proven that to be a fallacy. took this level of national action, before be further from the truth. For as long as successful results can be they gave in and returned Joanne to her achieved through direct action, the left, position. They have yet to compensate On 3rd October of last year, members of and Labour Youth in particular, will con- her for the three month period which Labour LGBT and Labour Youth took to tinue to use this viable form of action to she spent unemployed and fighting for the streets alongside members of USS, its highest degree. Once again, I’d like her right to organise in the workplace. USI, BelongTo and Johnny, as well as to extend my thanks to all the members One victory which Joanne holds dear, is members of the gay community, to and supporters who made this another that she now has permission to wear protest against hate crimes committed successful Labour Youth campaign. her union badge at all times in the work- against members of the community, place. However, Dunnes continue to

Labour’s Role in 1916 Conor Tannam writes about the central role of the Labour movement in the 1916 Rising The rebellion of 1916 has too The was formed that year. was only when the Royal Dublin Fusiliers often been associated with the It was a worker’s defence force, and mem- charged the rebels that people began to pay bers drilled with hurley sticks. Described as attention. The day before Connolly had told politics of nationalist parties. the world’s first Red Guard, Connolly said the Citizen Army that they had very little However this is far removed from that “Now, with arms in their hands they pro- chance of a victory stating that “the odds reality, as it was the alliance of pose to steer their own course, to carve their against us are a thousand to one.” As the own future.” fighting raged throughout the week a young Pearse’s nationalism coupled Michael Collins confiscated alcohol from the with Connolly’s idea of a socialist With the outbreak of the World War in men inside the G.P.O. He declared that revolution that formed the loose Europe, Ireland’s yearning for Home Rule “they said we were drunk in 78.There’s no was put on the backburner of Westminster’s way they’ll say that now.” band of insurgents that were politics. Connolly advocated insurrectionary doomed from the outset. activity and was critical of the procrastinat- The actual fighting lasted almost a week. ing Volunteer leadership, describing them as 140 members of the British army were killed “would-be Wolfe Tones who were legally and 64 rebel volunteers lost their lives. A James Larkin’s Irish Transport and seditious and peacefully revolutionary.” His total of 1480 people were interned after the General Workers Union was estab- assertion that Pearse was a “blithering idiot” Rising. Prisoners being sent to internment lished in January 1909. In many ways it related to Pearse’s glorification of battle. The camps in Wales were jeered and spat upon heralded a new beginning in Irish indus- Scots-born socialist began to study guerrilla by angry Dubliners. It was only when the trial relations. The subsequent 1913 tactics and street warfare. He was all too seven signatories were shot by the British aware that any insurgency would stand little army that public opinion began to change. chance against the might of the British Army.

James Connelly Founder strike saw Larkin, aided by a young The I.R.B. made Connolly a member on the Lenin would later defend Connolly’s alliance James Connolly, take on the employers 22nd January, and elected him to its military with the bourgeois elements; he felt that led by William Martin Murphy. This was council. The rising plans were precise, and Communists would have to unite with other the century when elaborate edifices hid relied on the entire volunteer movement tak- disaffected members of society to overthrow the poverty and filth that permeated ing part. Dublin rebels were to seize key the ruling order. Towards the end of their Dublin. locations in the city while those in the political relationship Pearse had also begun provinces were to seize garrisons. Orders to accept the socialist policies of Connolly. James Connolly had tried to establish a were sent to the volunteers to take part in socialist movement in 1903.His Irish “three days of manoeuvres” over the Easter The founder of the Labour Party’s influence Republican Socialist Party had been Week period. This message was then con- on the wording of the Proclamation is obvi- described as having “more syllables than tradicted in a newspaper which led to confu- ous; seen in the ideas of equal rights for all members.” His writings often made refer- sion as to the exact status of the military its citizens and equality when calling upon ence to the sense of community in Celtic arrangement. Irish women as well as men. It is an indica- Ireland and the equality for all citizens that tor of the man that Connolly was, that 90 was fundamental to Wolfe Tone’s 1798 The Irish proclamation was read out on years after his death his writings and view- rebellion. Easter Monday 1916.It was met with much point still have an influence on Irish politics derision from the onlookers, there was a today. sense that these men had lost their minds. It

Iran’s Nuclear Question Eoin Pattison examines the unsettling issue of Iran joining the nuclear weapons club

Where does the world stand in instance, has recently asserted that it A note of caution should also be sound- the nuclear stand-off between will develop India’s nuclear technolo- ed lest we make the mistake of over- Iran and the West? It seems gies, despite the fact that India is not stating Iran’s nuclear program. The even a signatory of the Non- IAEA, while it has criticised Iran’s ‘lack that reason and peace are Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Israel and of transparency’ has also stated that it once again consigned to the Pakistan are two further examples of has not discovered "any diversion of roles of dumbstruck states which have developed nuclear nuclear material to nuclear weapons or bystanders. weaponry outside the confines of any other nuclear explosive devices.” international treaty. Furthermore, most experts state that regardless of its motives, Iran is still As the US pushes the UN Security several years away from making its own Council into military confrontation nuclear weaponry. mode, right-minded people are over- come with a sick sense of déjà vu. Iran Still, none of this analysis is intended to meanwhile, no stranger to belligerent deny that Iran is seeking its own nuclear outbursts, chooses to evoke 9-11 by weaponry capacity. The question is: can retorting that the US ‘is susceptible to anything be done to stop it? So far, harm and pain.’ So how did we get to attempts by both the EU and Russia to this position once again? And why is the engineer a diplomatic solution have age-old political art of diplomacy failing failed. The Russians thought they had us so dramatically yet again? hit on a solution when they offered to carry out the uranium enrichment for the We could situate the beginning of the Iranians. However, the Iranians decided crisis process in 2003, when the to have their cake and eat it – accepting International Atomic Energy Agency in principle the Russian offer but also ‘outed’ Iran’s secretive nuclear program. protecting their own right to enrich. All The IAEA announced in 2003 that Iran this leaves us with the terrifying vista of had hidden a uranium enrichment pro- George Bush and the Indian Prime another All-American solution in its gram for the past 18 years. In lay terms, playground, the Middle East. enriched uranium is the higher-grade Minister after signing thier nuclear material extracted from the original ore agreement The current state of play is pretty and provides fuel for a nuclear power volatile but isn’t that always the case in station. Iran has consistently declared a nuclear world? The signs are that it is that it is only enriching its uranium for its A double standard seems to be built into only getting more volatile – the Non- electricity needs, but somehow that the very fabric of the NPT. It is this dou- Proliferation Treaty is almost an object hasn’t convinced many observers. The ble-standard that undermines any of derision. It has certainly become to fact that Iran has such huge oil and gas appeal to ethical considerations by the be seen not as a neutral code, but as reserves leads us to believe mere elec- Western states. the weapon underpinning the nuclear tricity is not the goal of their nuclear pro- weaponry of the nuclear powers. Article gram. However, under the terms of the Instead, the argument advanced by the VI of the NPT commits all nuclear pow- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), US et al centres on the notion that Iran, ers (even the ‘good ones’) to bring a country has the right to enrich its own home of the ‘Mad Mullah’ hell-bent on about the cessation of the nuclear arms fuel for civil nuclear power, under IAEA the destruction of Israel, simply is not race, and indeed to total nuclear disar- inspection. Here is the crux of the issue: responsible enough to have nuclear mament. That is the pertinent point that Iran concealed its program from IAEA weaponry. A further argument is that the should not be forgotten, either now or inspection in the past, and so is seen to inherent instability of the Middle East when the next belligerent or friendly have lost its right to enrich its own fuel. immediately rules Iran’s plans out. However, we need only look at the case nation decides to go nuclear. This is certainly the way the Western of India and Pakistan – two states keen powers view the situation but the issue to test out their nuclear arsenals on of trust is two-faced, and Iran can legiti- each other – to realise that responsibili- mately claim to have ‘trust issues’ with ty is not really the acid test of a nuclear the Western powers. The US, for power.

Slaves to Fashion Donal O’Liathain writes about sweatshops in the clothing industry and the movement to combat them

Not many articles will tell you to stop reading them but that's exactly what I'm going to do now. So, stop reading for a second and consider what you're wear- ing. If you can, take off one of your shoes (I know this is strange but follow me for a second), and have a look for the label inside. On the label it should say where it was made. Guess what, most of you just found out something new about your shoes. Shoes you've probably had for quite a Sweatshops like these are still far too common place while now.

conditions. Few if any are willing to Founded by activists, No stand up and defend sweatshops as a Sweat describes itself as an ‘open good idea, because we all know that source company,’ a company that does- this is not the way things should be n't hide its production but rather is proud done. But yet it is the way things are of its working conditions. It's these con- done. ditions that are the real value of ethical consumerism. Sweatshops continue to thrive, but why? Ethical Consumerism has been growing There are two major problems in tack- over the last few years and is becoming ling sweatshops - ignorance and lack of a revolution in its own right. Whole cities choice. Many people just don't think are falling under the spell of people who about where their clothes come from want trade to be mutually beneficial and not based upon the plundering arrange- (think back to what you just found out ments of the past. With large corpora- about your shoes) and often ethical tions influencing so much of the world goods are just not available to people. we live in, many have realised that they Now these problems are not as big as must use every tool available to make they appear to be. There is a tool at our sure the world becomes a fairer place. disposal that eliminates both of them By watching what they wear and what straight away. A way that isn't that diffi- Now think about your wardrobe at they eat, they are sending a message to cult at all – in fact, you could say it's No home. How much do you really know the sweatshop owners that they will not Sweat. about the rest of your clothes? Sure, stand idly by. Multinationals like to keep you bought them in a shop, and paid a their practices secret so they can main- No Sweat is a clothing company with a fair bit of money for them I bet, but how tain 'consumer confidence.' There's difference. It's just one of many groups much do you really know about them? ample grounds to have confidence in that have been set up to offer choice to Do you know where they came from or the consumer and believe that they will those who don't want to exploit others. how they were made? Most people make the right choice when they are No Sweat can account for every article don't and that's the main reason that given the opportunity. of clothing, produced at every stage sweatshops still exist today. Nobody with fair practices and fair wages, right with half a mind or half a heart wants back to the cotton growing in the field. their clothes to be made in slave-like

SHOULD THERE BE RESTRICTIONS ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS? YES SAYS Jose Jaman

What good is a free press if it’s justice to the term ‘free speech.’ than what is written in the Koran. So to not fair and balanced? The car- even make the slightest insult is consid- toons depicting the prophet Surely our society has learned the les- ered to be blasphemous. Mohammad as a terrorist are con- sons of the deadly potential that the sidered by some to be exercising Nazis’ propaganda machine fulfilled. It’s true that in Iran there are disgraceful the right of free speech. In other Which begs the question; where do you anti-Semitic cartoons being published words, it’s making a statement for draw the line when it comes to censor- but two wrongs do not make a right. the sake of making a statement. ship? It’s simple, you must not print a Also, it’s worth noting that many of The reality however is that it’s an lie and certainly you cannot print some- these Islamic governments make no thing racist. Obviously democracy example of the abuse of free secrecy of their hatred of Jews. Yet the demands active and fearless debate, Western world says it tolerates speech. but in order to correctly facilitate such Muslims, but at the same time racially debates we must cast away the cloud of abuses them. The media’s role in society is the ignorance. It is a poor reflection on our search for the truth. It exists to society if we allow such offensive car- These cartoons aren’t just a ‘Life of inform, to give opinion and to toons to be printed especially in the Brian’ type satire. They basically stick analyse. Naturally not everyone name of free speech. Must we lower two fingers up at Muslims. The riots will agree with everything written, ourselves to defend the people who and protests that followed were but as long as the truth incite such hatred? appalling but what else forms the base of an can you expect after argument then it is wor- mocking a people who have such an absolute thy of publication or relationship with God. In broadcast. However, certain Islamic republics should the truth get sub- there is little understand- stituted for lies then it ing of a free press and has no business in the democracy. So this media. brings me back to ask- ing, why print these car- If it is legitimate to toons in the first place? Was this newspaper try- spread these lies about ing to make a point? Muslims then why not Where did they see this reopen the debate on ending? Muslims protesting whether the Holocaust actually happened? It’s the ignorance of the editors of that Danish Well, it’s not allowed. In many newspaper which blinded them to the European countries anti-Semitic The lesson that I hope Western society reaction that these cartoons would literature and Holocaust denials relearns from all this is tolerance. It’s a receive in the Muslim world. or broadcasts are outlawed. lesson which Europe learned the hard Why? Well, because the way over the 20th Century. Indeed it’s a A pure democratic society needs a free lesson that the West is trying to educate and equally fair media. A free and fair Holocaust happened and anti- the nations of the Middle East in. media will always ask questions of itself Semitism is racist. So why was it However it is hard to promote tolerance which is what a democracy is supposed okay to print a cartoon that if the West does not practice what it to do. Tolerance is essential in a free grossly misrepresents Muslims? claims to preach. society because without it our democra- These cartoons were offensive, cy is subject to abuse. Free speech is The reason why there was such a pub- the oxygen of democracy but it can ignorant and had nothing enlight- lic outcry in the Muslim world is because equally be its cancer unless the media ening to add to the debate about of the close relationship that Muslims acts responsibly. Islamic terrorists. If anything, have with God. Christians and Jews these cartoons seem to highlight have an evolving and ever changing the double standards that exist in relationship with God. Muslims’ rela- tionship with God is absolute and is not the media which doesn’t do any open to any other interpretation other

S ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS? NO SAYS Daithi MacSithigh

Sometimes, debates about funda- weighs so many other interesting and mouths of TV talking heads in the last mental rights and freedoms - relevant controversies about the role of few weeks (although, of course, I which can seem quite abstract the media in a democratic society. defend their right to be so foolish, and and philosophical, more suited to hope that they will see the light soon). an academic seminar than the Take for example the violence against ups and downs of political cam- journalists in the Ukraine, which was The very idea that speech should only paigning - enter into the popular condemned by the Council of Europe be free when it conforms to a social on numerous occasions. The ability of expectation of what is 'fair' or 'responsi- consciousness through unpleas- politicians there to use the libel laws to ble' strikes at the heart of activism and ant or unfortunate circum- inhibit free debate (something with political campaigning. The idea that stances. The recent debate that which Irish observers are most familiar!) because one group of citizens finds a we've seen about the right to free- was also found to breach the basic particular drawing offensive to their dom of expression and freedom standards of the Convention. Put sim- (honestly held) beliefs, others should of the press, triggered by the infa- ply, the European Court of Human suppress their own (non-harmful and mous Danish cartoons, has Rights, and most bodies concerned with also honestly held and expressed) involved some people and politi- human rights, accepts that the media views is a manifesto for oppression and cal views that we in the Labour deserve a special position within the orthodoxy. Rather than try and control Party and movement aren't com- framework of fundamental rights, and the content of the communications therefore any attempt to restrict this media, we should focus our efforts on fortable with. However, I argue freedom is subject to the strictest of issues like the concentration of owner- here that our belief in the ship in a number of powerful importance of a free press companies and individuals, the and of freedom of expres- importance of ensuring access sion more generally should to the broadcast spectrum for a continue, not because of wide range of voices and cul- some idiots with a different tures, protecting and promoting agenda to ours, but despite public service broadcasting, and them. above all, speaking up the free- dom to discuss and to be contro- versial. Virtually every European country has signed up to the European Where laws allow the suppres- Convention on Human Rights, sion or limitation of media and which offers protection to various expressive freedoms, powerful fundamental rights, including the Free Speech Activists corporations and their battalions right to life, to be free of torture, of lawyers are in like a shot. to a fair trial, and in article 10, to Restrictive copyright laws freedom of expression. These empower multinationals like in are real rights that affect real the case of McLibel where people, and have influence not McDonalds took two environ- just in Europe but globally, such scrutiny. Advertising and commercial mental activists to court. Our movement as the absolute ban on the death penal- speech, on the other hand, is capable of is mature enough to agree with the UK ty that is now contained within the further restrictions, without violating arti- Muslim Council head Sir Iqbal Sacranie Convention, which influences extradi- cle 10. And long may that last. over issues like Iraq and repressive tion and other issues. However, for police tactics against Muslims, while most rights guaranteed under the Pragmatically, too, it's in the interest of utterly and unreservedly condemning Convention, a balance must be struck socialists and social democrats to advo- his thirst for Salman Rushdie’s head on between this important protection and cate for the freedom to harass, to criti- a plate for the crime of free expression. other possibly conflicting rights (such as cise, to provoke, to agitate, and to be When it comes to the current controver- the reputation of others), which are set able to hold the powerful and the sy, we should hold our heads high and out in article 10(2). wealthy to account, without fear of support a free press, recognising that oppressive civil or criminal sanctions this principle is worth defending, and It's true to say that the fight for free being used to shut down dissent. And if that it is not about cartoons or prophets, expression isn't just about the decorum I'm starting to sound a little over the top but something more powerful than that. of courts and judges, but what's disap- here, perhaps it's because of some of Liberty. pointing is that the attention given to the relativist nonsense that's come out one situation in Denmark vastly out- of the pens of commentators and the

Riots in Dublin Anna Coleman writes about the disturbing events that rocked Dublin and examines why this happened On Saturday 25th February, was that those who have been silent republicans gathered at Parnell would remain silent. And as long as Square at approximately 11am. these riots are in hindsight dismissed as Some republicans laid a wreath mere ‘thuggery’, the silence remains. The participation of the previously silent at the monument marking the urban poor in these riots is symptomatic Dublin and Monaghan bombings of a systemic and continual disaffection in Talbot Street. At noon, roughly and disenfranchisement which must be 350 members of FAIR gathered acknowledged and addressed. at the square, preparing to Key figures, the government and the march. However, from noon key approach to policing was taken for media have repeatedly failed to high- onwards counter demonstrators, the event. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern light the social origins of this counter largely made up of the urban also said that Gardaí could initially have protest. Minister for Justice Michael poor from surrounding areas, been fitted with riot gear but ‘if they did McDowell referred to its cause as slowly joined the republicans and that, they’d be accused of over-react- ‘naked sectarianism’, while Irish Times columnist Kevin Myers referred to ours began to verbally abuse and ing.’ The latter statement is clearly in reference to Mayday 2004, when that is as a ‘deeply sectarian society.’ While throw missiles at the Gardaí in exactly what happened. there is no excuse for such extreme vio- attempts to disrupt the parade as lence, the causes must be examined in it prepared to move. The Garda a broader social context. These riots are Public Order Unit was subse- the most recent in a wave of urban civil violence to occur in Europe of late. quently deployed in efforts to deal with the disturbance, but The Parisian riots in 2005 highlighted came under attack by the same another case of urban poor rivalling protestors. As Gardaí were authority in a desperate attempt to injured and brought to hospital, break their silence. In the month of November 2005, firebombs, torching the Chief Superintendent of and other violent evidence of civil unrest Police decided to move the took place in Germany, Greece, march to Kildare Street. The Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Loyalist protestors complied. Spain and Switzerland. In March riots Petrol bombs were thrown during took place in Spain at protests at laws to ban young people drinking in public the disturbances and looting also The clear message from the underesti- mation of policing requirements in this squares while French youth rioted occurred. 300 protestors case is that when a political stance is in against planned laws to make it easier attempted to make their way to question, and it is guessed that there to sack young people. The origins of the Dáil, resulting in further will be those prepared to fight for that these incidences can as a whole be clashes with police. stance, they will be quelled, but when seen in light of the urban poor’s struggle there is no expectation of disturbance, against increased isolation in our capi- talist environment. Anti-police feeling The above is merely a summary of a the government will not prepare. and a distinct rejection of authority had day rife with turmoil, a day that resulted However, the point has largely been manifested itself in a violence that could in many conflicting opinions as to the missed. The government’s assumption not be ignored. reasons for the events that took place. Opposition claims were made to the On the day in question, the streets of government, stating that the riots were Dublin witnessed an alternative protest a direct result of incompetence on to that expected. The protest that behalf of the Gardaí. A briefing from the occurred was no less political than the Garda Commissioner to Minister for latter. However, its roots must not be Justice Michael McDowell outlined the seen in the light of sheer hooliganism or fact that intelligence reports from sectarianism. The events were rather Special Branch did not indicate cause symptomatic of a social divide more for great concern. Subsequently, a low- deeply felt on its less privileged side.

Joanna Tuffy Senator Joanna Tuffy is one of the Labour Party’s youngest oireachtas members. She is the Labour Party’s candidate in the Dublin Mid West con- stituency. LabourYouth asks her about the Dublin riots, ASBO’s and how young people are portrayed in the media.

1. Do you think that young people who agrees to the Anti Social More investment in education at all are portrayed quite negatively in the Behaviour Contract so that they levels and putting lifelong learning at media today? Why? meet their promises under the con- its heart will benefit young people tract. Other things that need to be but also help those who missed out I think they are and I think a lot of done more urgently than ASBO's along the way and deserve a sec- the coverage is sensationalist and include implementing and resourc- ond chance. Investment in the type as a result misleading about the ing provisions of the Children’s Act, of decent public transport system lifestyles and attitudes of today’s community policing, more communi- that other countries take for granted young people. A lot of it is to sell ty facilities and programmes aimed will greatly improve the lives of stu- papers and play on parents’ fears at young people. I think if possible, dents who currently have poor pub- about what their child could be up to ASBO's should be brought in on a lic transport options but is also when they are out socialising etc. pilot basis because as there are something that will improve fears about them because of the lifestyles generally, tackling conges- 2. Do you think that ASBOs are a criticisms of their use and effect tion and the amount of time people short term solution to what is a long from some quarters in the U.K. and spend stuck in traffic. I think in gen- term problem in our society? in Irish commentary. eral Labour is about improving the lives of everyone including young I think there are lots of other things people. that need to be done that are more urgent than bringing in ASBO's. 4. The Dublin riots was partially as That being said anti-social behav- a result of the growing number of iour means that some people literal- young people in the inner city who ly cannot leave their homes for fear have been marginalised in our soci- of being abused or having things ety. What do you feel is the best thrown at them; pensioners living way of reversing this trend and tack- alone have their windows broken iling this marginalisation from Irish and lots of other damage done to society? their property. Some people suffer so badly from anti-social behaviour I don't know if that was the cause of that they feel they have no opportu- the riots to be honest. But in terms nity but to leave their homes and of Labour tackling marginalisation move elsewhere (sometimes giving we need to continue and increase up council houses and becoming as 3. What will the Labour Party do to our presence in areas that have a result homeless!). improve the quality of life for young been neglected and in Government people around the country? we have to deliver for these commu- I have come across this type of situ- nities. ation many times, and the people When I was in Labour Youth what involved because of the nature of was important to me was getting 5. Do you think politicians today are the 'crime,' usually carry on without through my education and getting more out of touch with young peo- any fear of prosecution, etc. from A to B. So I think investment in ples issues compared to 15 years ASBO's could be a mechanism for Education and Public Transport will ago? bringing people like that to account improve young people's quality of without a criminal conviction. But life. But this type of investment and No. I think generation gaps have there must be steps taken to the philosophy of education as a narrowed and that politicians would address the problem before an right and that all people should have be as subject to that as anyone else. ASBO is made. In the UK they have access to public transport that would I think they could do better though Anti Social Behaviour Contracts that underpin such investment also and need to try and get out and are signed to avoid an ASBO being improves that quality of life of every- have contact with young people and made. In addition there would need body else too, not just young peo- not to talk down to young people. to be help provided to the person ple.

SUNDAY INDEPENDERANT Michael McDowell Interview Inside: “I cannot understand why I keep getting snubbed for the Nobel peace prize. Once I lock up all the kids with my News: pages 2 to 4 ASBO’s legislation, it will be the biggest Peace break through since Good Friday” Opinion / Analysis / Comment: pages 5 to 42

REVEALED: Republican plot to Blame for Look. We have lots of pic- Ireland’s World Cup Failure tures of pretty ladies inside

The return of the D4 Girls

These sexy n stylish writers are Word on the street is that Sources close to our sources have back to write about the important Republican socialists are been rumoured to obtain near concrete issues that affect real people with directly responsible for evidence that this was a concerted and Ireland’s world cup qualifica- organised attack by Republicans as a real problems. number of men were seen talking on tion failure. The journalists of mobile phones before the match in the “Ummmm we are like going to total- this quality rag have gathered proximity of Landsdowne Road. enough suspicions to suggest ly give you, right, some tips onto that republicans were giving Senior sources who we can never iden- how to max out your boyfriends out free tri colours during tify because we are making them up told us in the pub last week that a num- credit card.” Ireland’s crucial world cup ber of “womble” type characters who qualifying match against wear sandals were also involved in this “Does having a social conscience Switzerland last October. plot to bring shame on our proud nation. give you wrinkles? Read to find out” It seemed obvious that the Irish players These self styled womble activists tam- were intimidated by the neo republican pered with the water supply into the “Why feminism and ideas like fight- atmosphere created by the massive Irish dressing room which resulted in a ing for equal pay and equal rights is amount of tri-colours in the stands. lack of concentration on the pitch and This distracted the boys in green poor decisions made on the side lines like so last century” against their neutral hungry opponents, resulting in Gary Doherty being subbed ------Switzerland. The game finished 0-0 on as a striker. which was not enough to earn qualifica- Shock Poll Exposes tion to a world cup play-off. The play- So what is the Sindo solution to ers appeared to be over stimulated with Ireland’s world cup woes? All right Underage Drinking which national pride (shame on them) minded citizens must call for no colours An exclusive and shocking poll conduct- was uncomfortable for some players to be worn at Lansdown Road and a ed by our crack investigation team of because they are actually English. ban on an intake of liquids at half time. journalists (a transition year student on work experience in our offices texting three of her mates) shows that under- We’re Number One: age teenagers have tried a drop of alco- hol at least once. Advertisements in The Sunday Independerant is still the best selling ‘quality’ broadsheet in Ireland - newspapers, magazines, billboards and our reader ship is approximately twenty thousand million according to random sports sponsorship are however nothing research conducted by the editors aunt last Saturday in the Bingo Hall. to do with it. Read inside to find out more sensatonalist scare mongering...

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Chief Editor: Jonathan McDade The Left Tribune is the official publication Assistant Editors: Carl Fox and Anna Coleman of Labour Youth. The views expressed in Contributors: Daithi MacSithaigh, Donal O’Liathain, the Left Tribune are those of the contribu- Anna Coleman, Conor Tannam, , tors and are not necessarily shared by Labour Youth. Eoin Pattison, and Neil Ward Layout and Design: Jonathan McDade Articles and feedback are always wel- Email: [email protected] come at [email protected] www.LabourYouth.ie

SPORT It’s just not good enough Patrick Nulty examines why the FAI have let football in Ireland down at grassroots level The opening match of Steve The second area which requires Staunton's reign as Irish national development is the Eircom league. team manager may have ended The FAI has failed to publicise or in a successful 3 - 0 victory over adequately promote the national Sweden but this cannot be used league. Most clubs still operate on a shoestring, attendances are to conceal the huge problems stagnant, and in European compe- that exist within the game in tition performances continue to be Ireland. At all levels of the game moderate at best. The develop- radical restructuring, improve- ment of our national league is cru- ments and innovation are cial. Many talented young players required if Ireland is to become are forced to move to England at a successful in the long term. This young age which often leads to requires courage from our homesickness and failure. national association and political will on the part of the govern- A vibrant Eircom league would ment; both of which are sorely If Steve Staunton is to enjoy a success and allow young players to develop long era, Ireland must invest more into foot- their skills domestically and to con- lacking within both organisations. ball at a younger level tinue with education and personal development near their families. At grassroots level men and women The FAI management have failed to Both the government and the FAI across the country make an out- promote grassroots football and to share responsibility in this area standing contribution to their com- effectively lobby government for fur- too. Capital grants should be pro- munity by coaching and training ther investment. It is a great irony vided for radical stadium develop- young footballers. These volunteers that both the FAI and the govern- ment and closer ties should be give up their own time to teach chil- ment are obsessed with building a developed with the Irish League to dren to enjoy sporting activity. Such new large stadium, yet they are stimulate competition and domes- work has numerous benefits for happy to allow the grassroots game tic interest. The creation of an all- society in terms of the psychologi- to survive on a shoestring budget Ireland league would benefit both cal, physical and emotional develop- coupled with the goodwill of ordinary associations and clubs throughout ment of young people. It encour- people. the island. ages young people to work within a team, to exercise regularly and to Just imagine what could be done to Overall, it is clear that Irish football value community life. Many of these transform under-age football in needs reform. Greater investment volunteers work in marginalised and Ireland if the money ear-marked for in the grassroots game, reform of socially disadvantaged communities re-developing Lansdowne Road club football throughout the island in Ireland. Their work is critical in could be ploughed back into local and an emphasis on keeping tackling social problems like anti- football. Ireland already has a world young domestic talent at home are social behaviour. class stadium called Croke Park; we key priorities. However both the do not need another one. Now that FAI and the government are letting However both the government and the GAA has been persuaded to the sport down and a fundamental the FAI have failed to invest in the abandon its nationalist dogma both change in attitudes is required if grassroots of the game. Most local the FAI and the Irish government Irish football is to grow and flourish football clubs survive on charitable should focus available resources on into the future. donations, sponsorship and other local sport within local communities fund-raising activities. who need it, not on grandiose vanity projects.