THE FIANNA FAIL LEGACY: 12.6% Unemployment, €90Billion Toxic Debt, €300M in Tax Breaks, 3Rd Level Fees and Social Welfare Cuts En Route

RRP: €0.00 Volume 4 Issue 1 - September 2009

UNITEs Michael NAMA isnt the Why the Poor www.labouryouth.ie Taft on: Taking answer, so why cant continue www.facebook.com/ labouryouth Back the Debate arent the Gov- to Pay for this for the Left ernment listen- ing? Crisis! www.twitter.com/ labouryouth Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 www.flickr.com/ labouryouth THE FIANNA FAIL LEGACY: 12.6% Unemployment, €90billion toxic debt, €300m in Tax Breaks, 3rd Level fees and Social Welfare Cuts en route

In the last year the Irish economy and ios, an L-shape recovery, is the reality, instead society has undergone the greatest con- of a nice V-shaped bounce. The IMF and the traction in its history. Unemployment is OECD are in rare unison that the best case set to reach 16% in 2010 according to scenario for dealing with the banks is tempo- the ESRI, the IMF and OECD estimate a rary nationalization for cost, effectiveness, minimum of 14% contraction in the Irish transparency, and restructuring. Not NAMA Economy from 2008-2010, and the Irish about which they share reservations with many deficit stands at €16.4 billion with a guar- economists and even the NTMA on how it will antee to the banks of 200% GDP (or even work effectively, and the legal quagmire it €400billion). Falling Exchequer returns entails. We are set to incur €35billion losses in exacerbate the problem and cause the the banks, or all of the GDP for 2009. government to look for more cuts. Yet there is no concerted stimulus package for Taoiseach Brian Cowen sets his face firmly at news of the latest reports According to many economic and political job creation, no investment in education for the commentators this is exactly what the fabled knowledge economy, and with a Green government should not be doing . Fianna Party in coalition is fair to say that there is a Fáil’s pro-deflationary ‘do nothing, or cut void unfilled in the creation of ‘Green-Collar’ more’ approach is not simply pro-cyclical jobs. Borrowing as an option is becoming in- in returning to a ‘boom and bust’ cycle, it creasingly less attractive, as international is actually causing a economic implosion credit agencies are charging a higher interest out of the rapid expansion that was the rate because of a lack of confidence in the property asset bubble. This ‘heating-up’ of governments economic handling. Yet we are the economy is generally ’cooled-off’ by one of the lowest debt:GDP countries in the EU increasing taxation or reducing depend- and if we borrow now and invest in the me- ency on the asset bubble. Instead Fianna dium-long term we can retrain some economic Fáil’s policies intentionally and liberally and social cohesion. threw fuel on the pyre that is now our Social welfare cuts of 3%, indeed any percent, economy so they and the rest of the Gal- are not the answer. Taking more money out of way tent could warm themselves. Across the hands of those most likely to spend it fully the world that is one thing all bodies are is deflationary economics at its most basic, and agreed upon- from the International yet misunderstood by this government. Monetary Fund, to the OECD and the EU Commission, who stated the structural If we are to get serious we need to end the deficit of the country was mostly caused €300million tax breaks, nationalize the banks by Fianna Fáil’s mismanagement. and invest in the future. And for confidence at Irish Congress of Trade Unions poster at home and abroad, we need Fianna Fail out. protest in February And where is the economy going now? It seems that one of the worst case scenar- Our Children deserve better.

Also: Third Level Fees IsraelIsrael----PalestinePalestine Greens Wilting in Government LisbonLisbon!

Who are the National Youth Executive?

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Table of Contents

Dear Comrades,

2 --- Labour Youth NYE Profile What a year it has been since the last Tribune. A government on the cusp of calling a General election, massive 3 --- Table of Contents // Editorial increases in the amount of progressive and left council- 4 --- Taking Back the Debate for the Left lors in Ireland leaving the Greens with just 3, Finglas a socialist Utopia, and Labour in majority in Dublin. If only 6 --- There is a better way than NAMA... the news for the ordinary private and public workers of Ireland was as good. They have endured income levies, 8 --- The Poor Can’t Pay for this Crisis pension levies, and cuts in child benefit and supple- ments despite Ireland having one of the highest child- 10 --- Education Cutbacks = Economic Illiteracy care costs in Europe. Fianna Fáil has yet to implement a series of cuts recommended in An Board Snip Nua’s Black Bible. A 3% cut in Social Welfare rates, a cutting of 12 --- Labour Youth Campaigns ‘08 -’09 the HE Maintenance Grant, a return of 3rd Level Fees, water rates & property taxes... 13 --- Pictures from Events ’09 And still the tax loopholes remain to the tune of €300million. There is no sign of a Wealth Tax on the assets of Ireland’s most wealthy. No sign of a realistic Job 14 --- The Green Party: Wilting in Government Stimulus Package, or directed investment. No sign of increasing funding to capital infrastructural projects. 15 --- Tesco– a Change for Good, or Worse? And then there is NAMA, the ‘Great Generational Gamble’ 16 --- Israel-Palestine Conflict: Europe and Our as I like to call it. Who will end up footing the Bill; us or our grandchildren? It is rare to see many of the Right and Role the Left agree on one thing, and that is the nationalisation of the banks in Ireland. Why waste money when it is

cheaper and more efficient to nationalise them, clean 19 --- Lisbon: Not Perfect, but a good start! them up, and in 10 years or so sell them off again at a profit. 202020-20 --- Lisbon: Everything has changed.. Read on and fight with us in demanding a better future.

Keith O’ Brien 22 --- A light-hearted look back on Political Editor: Keith O’ Brien Ireland 2009 Deputy Editor: Kirsten Gordon 23 --- Some successful Labour Youth Candi- dates in the 2009 Locals Contributors: Rory Geraghty, Hazel Nolan, Pe- ter Kelleher, Dr. Mary Murphy, Michael Taft (UNITE), Holly Kilroy, Jerry Larkin, Keith O’ Brien, Kirsten Gordon & the Union of Stu- dents in Ireland. This edition is made from 50% recycled paper and 50% from sustainable forests Thanks to: Neil Ward, Youth Development Of- ficer

Interested in writing an article? Email: [email protected]

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Taking Back the Debate

have to cut spending? Therefore, omy losing money. That’s why busi- ‘painful’ as it is, we have to accept, if nesses close, people stop spending, not all the proposals, then at least and dole queues lengthen. During the premise of the McCarthy Commit- this cycle, you don’t take even more tee. money out of the economy through spending cuts and general tax in- This is wrong on so many levels its creases. Instead, you put money hard to know where to start. But let’s back in – by increasing public expen- try, starting with the McCarthy Com- diture and investment, by increasing mittee’s centre-piece proposal – lay- people’s disposable income; by pur- ing off 17,000 public servants. Never suing counter-cyclical policies. This is mind the effect on public services not some radical formula. It’s pretty (the OECD claims Ireland has one of standard fare, pursued in most other By Michael Taft the smallest public sectors in the in- industrialised economies in one form Michael is an economic researcher and dustrialised world) – the McCarthy or another. Except here. advisor for the UNITE trade union, is a Committee claimed this proposal noted commentator on the economic crisis would save €700 million. Would it? Of This leads us to the second main and has a popular blog @ http:// course not. fallacy of this debate – that there is notesonthefront.typepad.com/ no alternative to the deflationary Back in April the ESRI conducted an measures being pursued (though we We have to be honest with ourselves. economic impact assessment of re- are allowed to debate the balance The Left is losing the economic de- ducing public sector employment by between cuts and taxes). We can’t bate. Indeed, we are not even at the 17,000. They found that this would afford to pursue counter-cyclical debate. drive down the GNP by nearly 1 per- policies, the type of measures that

cent, would reduce consumer spend- other countries have adopted. Why? The Right has successfully reduced ing by half-a-percent (resulting in Because our borrowing is too high the debate over the economic crisis more businesses being pushed to the to the fiscal deficit. With the economy wall) while unemployment would in- “the McCarthy Commit- expected to continuing declining well crease by nearly 20,000. And what into next year, consumer spending tee claimed [laying off would the effect be on the borrowing collapsing, investment falling to pre- requirement? Negligible. It would be 17,000 public servants] 2000 levels, and society verging on reduced by 0.2 percent. What would proposal would save mass unemployment – all we get is be the real savings to the Exchequer € an obsession over how much public 700 million. Would it? of the McCarthy Committee’s pro- expenditure we have to cut, how may Of course not.” posal? Less than half of their head- public servants we have to lay off, line €700 million. And the Committee and therefore we can’t afford the how many public services we have to knew this and still engaged in mis- economic investment to increase close down or hobble. Never mind leading the debate. activity and get people back into that this obsession feeds into the de- work. flationary spiral we are now experi- So we have prolonged the recession, encing and makes a mockery of cut domestic demand, increased un- This is simply not the case. While bringing the fiscal deficit under con- employment (less tax revenue, more our annual deficit is high (how could trol; the Right control the debate, so social welfare spending) – all just to it not be with the fastest rising un- what they says goes. Any attempt at reduce the deficit by a fractional employment rates in the EU), Ire- an alternative analysis and prescrip- amount. The fact is that trying to land is a low-debt nation. We could tion is met with derision at best; substantially reduce the fiscal deficit borrow an additional €10 to €15 bil- mostly it is frozen out. during an economic decline is self- lion and still be below the Eurozone

defeating. When you take measures average. And this doesn’t count the There are two fundament fallacies to reduce the deficit by cutting ex- €20 billion in the National Treasury perpetrated by the Right in this de- penditure or imposing more taxes on Management Agency’s ‘rainy day’ bate – fallacies that have been raised low-average income groups, you only account. to the status of ‘consensus’. The first prolong the decline which is the root is that reduction in expenditure in the cause of the deficit. How can anyone A stimulus programme – creating Government’s budget equals an really believe this is a rational jobs through infrastructural and pub- equivalent reduction in the deficit. course? lic service investment – would di- How many times do we hear some rectly create thousands of jobs (a commentator, some economist claim- Recessions are marked by an econ- standard measurement would see ing that in order to cut the deficit we

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For the Left!

50,000 jobs created for every €10 only this approach will return the billion investment). The effect on the economy to sustainable growth and fiscal deficit would be substantial – bring the fiscal deficit under control. more so than the deflationary approach of the McCarthy Committee. Launch Job Creation Policies : La- In the process, GNP growth would bour has put forward many innovative start to rise, people would start labour market policies (retraining, spending and the dole queues would return to education, etc.). However, shorten. In other words, our econ- we need to press the case for direct omy would be in stronger shape com- job creation policies. Attempting to ing out of the recession. subsidise enterprises to create jobs during a recession will be expensive So why don’t we hear more about and ineffectual. We should show how this alternative? Why don’t we get and where the state can directly cre- more of this analysis that shows that ate jobs. One example is ICTU’s pro- deflationary approaches are self- posed Industrial Holding Company defensive, lets set up a national defeating? One of the reasons – apart which would bring together all public campaign to rally trade unions and from the fact Irish politics itself is enterprises under one holding agency social organisations involved in the dominated by right-wing parties – is with the ability to create new public fight against the cuts. that the Left has not made these ar- enterprises, increase investment and guments, neither consistently nor generate jobs. Another example is the Most importantly, Labour should trenchantly. The Left has not chal- establishment of a national early start marshalling all its resources lenged the Right on these central childhood education network – a nec- from among the membership. Our issues. In many respects, the Left has essary investment in our future which members include some of the lead- been overwhelmed by the right-wing would, in addition create thousands of ing economists in the country, trade consensus and has become timid and jobs. These state created jobs will union and social organisation activ- unsure of itself. have the knock-on effect of creating ists, workers, professionals and jobs in the private sector. This is the managerial staff in financial institu- It wasn’t always the case. Late last surest way of reducing the dole tions and small businesses. By year, Labour argued for an alterna- queues. The direct route is the best drawing upon this expertise and tive, for a stimulus programme based route. experience, we can create more on borrowing and directly creating imaginative and rigorous policies. jobs through state investment. This A National Campaign to Oppose was the correct approach and would the McCarthy Committee Report : We can still take back that this de- have allowed Labour to lead an alter- Most proposals are worthy of consid- bate. It won’t be easy – so en- native political-economic discourse. erable opposition (don’t forget, very trenched is right-wing ideology and few proposals concerned alleged pub- the fallacies they peddle. And if we What Labour must do is return to its lic sector ‘waste and ‘inefficiencies’; challenge the Right we should ex- original analysis – the economic prin- over 40% were made up in slashing pect a hell of a backlash from edito- ciples that inform social democratic social transfers to low-average income rial boards, columnists and eco- parties throughout Europe. Here are groups). However, the fundamental nomic commentators – from those some starting points to facilitate this basis of our opposition should be that who have had a free run of the pitch renewed challenge to the Right. it is a fiscally dishonest and economi- for too long. cally calamitous report. We saw how Launch an Alternative Fiscal cutting 17,000 jobs would prolong the Lets become consensus-busters. Model : Specifically, this mean devel- recession. Imagine the economic im- Let’s take on those who are deter- oping fiscal and budgetary policies pact of cutting social welfare – cutting mined to make people pay for the based on increasing public expendi- the incomes of groups with the high- mistakes and excesses of vested ture to facilitate investment into the est propensity to spend. No wonder interests. economy in order to increase jobs, the McCarthy Committee didn’t con- incomes, spending and private sector duct an economic assessment of its Our analysis will be correct and activity. Expenditure could be fi- own proposals, even though it was worth promulgating. Most impor- nanced through borrowing, taxation possible. They knew it would hold the tantly, there are people out there on wealth (the top 75,000 households report up to public ridicule – prolong- who desperately want an alterative, own over €200 billion in capital and ing the recession and driving up un- desperately need them. financial assets), reducing regressive employment with little fiscal benefit to tax reliefs, etc. And we can show how show for. So let’s put the Right on the This can be our defining moment.

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There is a Better Way Than NAMA...

Fail and the Greens are simply “Cowen and his fellows making everything worse especially in Cabinet stuck their when it comes to the decisions that they have taken towards the fingers in the ears, Irish banking sector and their new closed their eyes and ig- pet project, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). nored the elephant in the room. From the start Rather than hand out strict punish- of this crisis it has been ments to the senior management of the Irish banks our Government, clear that nationalising of Fianna Fail and The Green the banks is the only Party, guaranteed their loans. This decision in fact furthered the Sen- way forward” ior Bank Managers’ ability to en- By Rory Geraghty gage in the failed ideology of Prof- Day and night we watch helplessly not have been foreseen, we knew its before People . Several months as our incompetent Government that the policies of the last decade later, as things only got worse and attempts to do ‘something’ at fixing were not infallible. The country worse, it became apparent that the chaos into which the country is was having a party and, rather this guarantee had achieved noth- descending. From the opposition than be sensible, the leadership ing and more drastic action was benches, we in the Labour party continued to party too hard and needed. But still Cowen and his wring our hands in agitation as is- too fast, failing to prepare for the fellows in Cabinet stuck their fin- sue after issue is mishandled. As consequences: THE HANGOVER! gers in the ears, closed their eyes crisis after crisis develops, it seems You cannot expect a high standard and ignored the elephant in the that the current Government’s am- of public services on Texas taxes. room. From the start of this crisis it bition is to fail us. Bailing out bank- Over reliance on Capital Gains and has been clear that nationalising ers who played with too high stakes Property Taxes is always foolish. the banks is the only way forward. and who cared nothing about our They’re nicknamed windfall taxes Injections of capital at the expense economic security is, in itself, a simply because they have the abil- of the tax payer only continue to poor reflection on the completely ity to sweep you off your feet in a add to the power of those in con- inadequate regulation policy of the mere moment due to their unpre- trol of these institutions. If they Cowen / Ahern era. Combined, with dictability. Despite warning after have already failed once then why the large hole left in our public fi- warning, Charlie McCreevy et al should we pay to risk them failing nances, it becomes clear just how continued to persist with a slash again? As the hole in our public poorly our country was being run and burn policy on taxation. Spend finances grows and grows, calls for over the last twelve years. The suc- and cut, spend and cut, spend and further pay deductions for public cessive Governments of Bertie cut. Those in charge of our econ- servants continue. Despite this, Ahern and Brian Cowen failed to omy seemed determined to follow nothing has been done to address look beyond their blind obedience the unsinkable ship line from the the large pay packets that are still to populism and political rhetoric. It Titanic. But it wasn’t the unsink- being given to Senior Bank Man- is never the Government’s job to able ship that they thought and agement. Last January one even tell the people what they want to now we’re too close to drowning expressed a sense of dissatisfac- hear, as difficult as it often can be for our own comfort. Sadly, how- tion on national television at the for parties of Government it is al- ever, these mistakes have been fact the he would be earning ways better in the long run to tell made and we cannot go back in people what needs to be said. But time and change them. For the that didn’t happen. sake of the country an imminent clean up is necessary. But it seems Therefore, it comes as no surprise that our ineffective and unwilling to us on the Left that we are now leaders are determined to act like locked into an economic slump. lazy disobedient children whose Though the severity of such a sole goal is to defy their parents. change in economic climate could Every one of us knows that Fianna

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...but the Government Just Wont Listen!

“only” just under a million this year. Instead of penalising those who have added the most fuel to this rampant fire and making an effort to gain some control of the banking system, Fianna Fail are doing the opposite. By not nationalising these deteriorating institutions they cannot achieve the necessary reforms and clean up the problems that they themselves have more or less created through their laissez-faire attitude towards market regulation.

The problem is that Brian Cowen and his peers in Government are not willing to tackle the hard bat- Lenihan stares vacantly into the economic abyss left by Cowen and McCreevy tles. They don’t mind looking at possibilities of cutting social welfare could associate with the decisions “...the banks have been or re-introducing Third Level fees as taken by this Government. It bailed out by the taxpayer... seems that the Green Party will both seem like soft targets. How- these same institutions can ever, when it comes to taking on support Fianna Fail and between repossess the homes of peo- the challenge of reforming the Irish the two they will have the neces- Banking system they dive for cover sary 83 votes, in the Dáil, to estab- ple who have been made un- behind their new flagship proposal lish NAMA thus dooming us to take employed.” of creating a toxic bank. This is not on the risk without gaining control the way forward. Evidence from the of these businesses. cause we in the Labour Party are Sweden in the 90’s, where banks more than willing to take on this were temporarily nationalised and For generations to come we will challenge. Once NAMA is estab- reformed during an economic crisis, regret this move. In ten years, lished, there is no going back. One would suggest that nationalisation 30%, maybe even more, of our tax bank has already been national- is the best way to reform the sec- bill could be spent paying off the ised, who is to say that even after tor. Now that the banks have been debt that we will acquire. If we taking on these toxic assets that bailed out by the taxpayer it seems buy the banks at their current low Irish banks won’t need further grossly unfair that these same insti- share price levels, rather than just help. There is a huge mess to tutions can repossess the homes of hand them money, then we would clean up, and with their intention people who have had the misfor- take over not just the toxic debt of establishing NAMA, Fianna Fail tune of recently being made unem- but also the profitable areas as and the Green Party seem to want ployed. By nationalising, the state well. These acquisitions could help to sweep the problem under the would become the sole owners and us to regenerate the system and carpet rather than get out the the Government the managing di- contribute to the payment of the bucket and mop and clean down rectors, allowing for a complete bad debts. We’re taking on the risk the entire floor. If we’re ever go- overhaul of the system and an anyway, why aren’t we taking on ing to get rid of this headache eradication of the lack of transpar- the profitable areas too? NAMA is then we need real solutions not ency in these institutions. Then, not good for us, it’s not good for more problems! It’s time to stop after bringing these establishments the generation ahead of us and it’s all this NAMA nonsense and na- out of the deeply troubled water not good for the generation ahead tionalise Ireland’s failing financial that they are in we could regain the of them. Maybe nationalisation institutions. It’s time for Brian cost by selling part ownership of won’t solve everything but it is cer- Cowen and John Gormley to just them while maintaining a control- tainly a better option to the current go. ling share to ensure that the mis- proposal. If Brian Cowen and John takes of the past were never re- Gormley are too afraid to fight this It’s time for a Labour led Govern- peated. It’s logical really but then battle then they should call a gen- ment. again that isn’t a word that one eral election and step aside be-

Page 777

The Poor cant Pay for this Crisis

mendations contained in the of living is falling, the cost of many McCarthy (Bord Snip Nua) report items on which low income families launched in July of this year, which spend a high level of their income included a recommended cut of 5% is actually rising. Consumer Price in basic payments and 20% cut in Index figures for June 2009 show Child Benefit. price rises including; Electricity (4.7%) Natural Gas (6.5%) Bus We are told also that our social Fares (11%) Childcare (6.4%) Pri- welfare system is too ‘generous’, mary Education (7.6%) Secondary that our minimum wage is under- Education (7.1%) Doctor fees By Dr. Mary Murphy mining competitiveness, that the (2.2%) Dental fees (2.3%) Hospital cost of living has dropped and that services (9.1%). 'The Poor Can’t Pay' is a civil society the country can no longer afford group that seeks to bring together the bill. The implication of these Unfortunately having a job does community and voluntary organisa- arguments is that the poor should not automatically take you out of tions, trade unions and citizens who pay for the economic crisis. We poverty. 30% of all households at believe that poor must not be made don’t agree with any of these risk of poverty are headed by a to pay for the economic crisis. In points. person in employment. People are particular we have come together to The claim that our social welfare at risk of poverty is there is campaign against cuts in three key payments are generous is simply a weekly income of less than 228 areas that protect vulnerable indi- untrue. The most current compara- euro for a single person, less than viduals and families. They are as tive figures produced by the OECD 304 euro for a one-parent family follows: with one child and less than 530

“having a job does not euro for a two-parent family with 1) No reduction in basic social wel- automatically take you two children. In 2006 there were at fare payments (including Child least 116,000 employed people at Benefit) out of poverty. 30% of risk of poverty. The vast majority 2) No reduction in the minimum all households at risk of of these people would be earning wage poverty are headed by a the minimum wage, or less. 3) Pay the Christmas Payment to poor families person in employment” Any reduction in the minimum

(2007) show that an Irish single wage would have three effects. A) We all know Ireland is experiencing claimant receives the third smallest it would increase the poverty rate, an unprecedented economic crisis. payment in the EU15, while a fam- b) increase the total number of As of July 2009 government borrow- ily with two children receives just employed people at risk of poverty ing had risen to 14.7 billion euro. above the EU15 average. and c) deepen the experience of While 6 billion euro of this is being spent on shoring up the banks, the Some commentators will argue that remainder is to cover day-to-day the falling cost of living would expenditure. There is no doubt that counter balance any reduction in something must change if this defi- the minimum wage or basic social cit is to be addressed. welfare payments. Unfortunately, much of the com- mentary to date has argued that, in order to reduce the deficit, cuts to The cost of living in Ireland is sig- social welfare payments and the nificantly higher than in other EU minimum wage are required. This countries. In 2007 price levels in position has been given additional Ireland were 11% higher than the exposure by many of the recom- EU average. While the overall cost

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poverty of those already at risk. To- “45% of respondents as a ‘critical part’ of their income. day most households on social welfare or the minimum wage do not said that any reduction The cost of living for low income have enough income to sustain a in child benefit would be families does not provide scope to basic standard of living. Cutting a ‘financial disaster’” cut their incomes. Imposing cuts their income further will increase on the weekly income of the lowest poverty and hardship. Child benefit is a universal payment paid individuals and families in our that aims to fulfill a number of im- society does not make social, eco- The decision to abolish the Christ- portant policy objectives, including: nomic or moral sense. Restoring mas ‘bonus’ was universally criti- supporting families; compensating our competitiveness, saving jobs cised as one of the most punitive women who stayed out of paid em- and closing the fiscal deficit can be measures in the April 2009 mini- ployment to care for their children; achieved in ways other than forcing budget. It represented a 2% cut in combating poverty; and supporting society’s poorest families into the annual income of households on parents to pay for childcare. deeper levels of poverty. social welfare. Ireland’s support for children is low The poor did not create the eco- The Christmas payment has formed by international standards, levels of nomic crisis; they can not and must part of the household budget for child poverty are high, 76,000 chil- not be made to pay for the mis- poor families for over 25 years. The dren live in consistent poverty takes of others. loss of this critical part of family in- while 200,000 live in relative income at Christmas time will result in come poverty. Groups and Individuals can join this increasing levels of debt particularly campaign. For further information from unscrupulous moneylenders. A cut in child benefit will increase or simply to pledge your support the number of children living in for the campaign please visit As the capacity of charities and the consistent poverty, and hit the www.thepoorcantpay.ie Community Welfare Service to pro- poorest families hardest. A National vide emergency payments will be Women’s Council of Ireland survey severely limited, the impact of the in February 2009 found that 45% Dr. Mary Murphy is a lecturer in So- cut will be increasing poverty and of respondents said that any reduc- ciology at NUI Maynooth and long term debt. The case for rein- tion in child benefit would be a ciology at NUI Maynooth and stating the Christmas bonus is in- ‘financial disaster’ while 66.6% of spokesperson for “The Poor can’t controvertible. respondents described child benefit Pay” campaign.

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Education Cutbacks & Fees = Economic Illiteracy

By Keith O’ Brien repeatedly stated that the Irish Knowledge economy is the key to “Education is a right” has become arriving out of, and preparing for the the mantra of the student and the upswing of, the recession. Yet such socialist for decades now. In 1995 advice echoes hollowly in the Dept of Labour Education Minister Bhreath- Education, as Minister O’ Keeffe goes nach finished what Donogh O’ Malley to town on education. Cutting 119 started with secondary school educa- Special Needs Assistants, teaching tion; Free Education. Few of our redundancies, admitting that class- generation realise the great psycho- room sizes were to increase to 28, logical change that materialised in and less than 3 days after students society that accompanied that policy. received their 1 st round CAO offers it Confusion reigns over plans for Fees No longer was it the preserve of just emerged that he and the HEA were the wealthy to achieve a higher to inform students of 2009/2010 that the dole. In Ireland: 91,775 people standard of education, now for many they may be liable for 3 rd level fees. 18-25 are on the Dóle, average families their children grew with the household debt is €20,000 (add The Grant is woefully inadequate, expectation that their dreams of be- €8,000 for NAMA) and 1in3 students graduate jobs are scarce, family unit coming doctors, nurses and teachers receive no finance from their parents income ravaged by wage cuts or job- were goals and possibilities. Foreign (CLAN survey 2007). Who’ll be earn- losses, students are less able to find Investment flooded in on the grow- ing? What stops graduates emigrat- part-time work during the year/ ing wave of educated, literate, ing? summer. Where is the money for skilled workforce and young gradu- €32,000 in College Fees going to be A skilled and education workforce is ates. It was Celtic Tiger Ireland, and found for the average family? This own reward. Graduates pay 70% our education was its nourishment. September every student in 3 rd -level more tax on average than someone rd Today, by OECD standards (the in- payed €1500 in a Student Services who did not receive a 3 level educa- ternational benchmark), we lag be- Charge, a charge that mostly gets tion, thus are a greater tax revenue hind in all categories. Our children, clawed back from the Higher Educa- generator in the long term for a short on average, receive less teaching tional Institute that collects it by the term investment. Finland’s 6% GDP hours than our EU-15 counterparts, Government. If UCC received the full investment in education means edu- we have less teaching time in the €600 increase from €900 last year it cation is free, truly free, at all levels. th Mathematics (16 ) and Sciences would receive a further €10.8million Their 4% investment in R&D pro- th (14 ), and in fact we have dropped in revenue directly to its €17million duced Nokia (one of the largest tax 5 places since 2000. Our children are shortfall. It would, if Minister O’ revenue generators for Finland). A in overcrowded classrooms (on aver- Keeffe hadn’t reduced the amount of more educated society even has age 24.5 pupils), we have a poor funding in the Core Grant (your ‘Free lower levels of crime rates. student-computer ratio at all 3 levels Fee’ payment to your HEI) by 4% or The entire Fees debacle only exacer- and are below the EU-15 average for €250 approx. You are stealthily bates the social and economic confu- broadband penetration to house- charged twice by the government sion that is crippling consumer confi- holds. Our Universities are funded who then withholds money from the dence in preparing for the future, well below the OECD average of HEIs, meaning they demand more reducing economic activity, causing 5.2%, R&D research is 1.68% of revenue streams, i.e. they are left this short-sighted government to look GDP; well short of the target of only with the choice of charging the for more cuts, thus further deflating 2.5% GDP or the OECD average of student directly; Fees. the economy and cause job losses. 2.38%. For a country 36 years in the Depression Economics 101, but the EU and once one of the ‘richest’ in In the UK 4% of all students dropped Minister wouldn’t know; economics is the EU, it is fair to say that educa- out instantly when they were introduced (12,000 here or all of CIT), not taught in enough schools, and tion under Fianna Fáil’s reign has not won’t be if his Batty policies are im- been the priority. 1in3 students graduate with a per- sonal debt (anywhere from £10- plemented. However Brian Cowen himself has 20,000) and 39,000 graduates are on More @ Keithobrien.ie/blog

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Photos from Campaigns and Events 08 /09

Photos (Top) LL----R:R: Members of Leaders’ Tour launch- ing MEP De Rossa’s campaign on Grafton St; Dublin Anti-Fees Protest. (Middle) LL----R:R: Cork ‘No to Fees’ Protest, 5000 students. (Bottom) LL----R:R: Cork Labour LGBT @ Cork Gay Pride Parade; Big Red Bus @ Dublin Gay Pride March.

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www.flickr.com/ labouryouth

Photos (Top) LL----R:R: Labour Branches working at the Glastonbury & Leeds Festivals. (Middle) LL----R:R: Members of Labour Youth protest as part of the ‘Sack the Government’ campaign; Michael D. Higgins TD and President of the Labour Party speaking at a Rally outside the Dáil. (Bottom) LL----R:R: Michael D & Eamon Gilmore @ Tom Johnson Summer School ‘09; New Munster MEP Alan Kelly.

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The Green-ish Party: Wilting in Government?

Since the 2007 General Election, when the Greens made history by By entering Government for the first Peter time, it was a Fianna Fáil led government with backing from the defunct Kelleher Progressive Democrats (all two of them) and four independents. In Revisit the Green return, the Green Party were given General Election two Ministries, Environment, Heri- Promises: http:// tage and Local Government and www.youtube.com/ Communications, Energy and Natural watch? Resources as well as the Junior Min- v=qvtUeSjzYL0 istry of Food and Horticulture. Two years on and I think that it would Government, not only has this gone think the guy (Paul Gogarty) is daft at only be right to examine their record out the window but, due to the Gov- all. I think he is the biggest actor in in Government. ernments savage cuts, schools can this house. " In that same speech to not continue with special needs Dáil Éireann, Pat Rabbitte gave an Under the Green Party Manifesto teachers. This affects the most ven- account of how the Green Party 2007, the Greens said that they erable in our society. Their education leader, John Gormley, was fast asleep would " Prioritise the Dublin Metro and their best interests have been in bed when the Government gam- and Luas extensions, provide Luas- sacrificed so that the nation's books bled the nation's future on the blan- type lines in Cork and Galway and can be balanced. ket guarantee for the banks, which introduce commuter services on ex- Labour opposed correctly. If the isting railway lines in Limerick and a Under the Green Party Manifesto Green Party shows this kind of reck- line to Shannon ." Such projects 2007, the Greens said that they less attitude to one of the biggest would put a great deal of those in would " Provide an additional 4000 pieces of economic legislation (after the construction sector, who were beds to cut A&E queues. Introduce NAMA) of this Government's history, made unemployed by the collapse medical cards for children under 6 ." if not the State's history, how can of the building market, back to work This policy would have reduced wait- anyone have confidence, or trust, in and turn them from benefit recipi- ing lists in hospitals and help low in- them. As the Local Elections last June ents to taxpayers. Since the Greens come families with the costs of their showed, the people of the country went into Government, the Dublin children's healthcare. Since the are lying in wait of a chance to vote Metro and Luas extensions projects Greens went into Government, not them out. will probably be scrapped and there only have the under sixes not gotten hasn't been mention of Luas-type medical cards but the Government I know that the economy has suf- projects or new rail commuter ser- tried to withdraw the medical cards fered its worse hit in history, and that vices. They even agreed to cut the for the over seventies. Now funding in coalitions, each party has to meet number of bus routes, forcing more for the dispensing of medicines has halfway but in the last two years, the people off public transport. been reduced so much that pharma- Greens have jettisoned a great por- cists have shut up their shops and tion of their platform. Before the last Under the Green Party Manifesto deprived medical help to those who General Election, the Greens sup- 2007, the Greens said that they most need it. ported the Shell to Sea campaign, the would " Invest €1 billion in education campaign against the M3 motorway for the first year of the next Govern- The Green Party have been woeful through Hill of Tara and to end the ment to front-load educational priori- and, at times, hypocritical in their U.S. military use of Shannon Airport. ties. Provide 2,400 extra teachers at actions. Eamon Gilmore said in his Nothing has changed except Eamon primary and secondary levels ." This Leader's address at Party Conference Ryan oversees the Corrib Gas Project. type of investment in Education in Kilkenny in December 2008 " I wish If the Green Party are to be trusted would reduce class sizes and have we could have a General Election again, they must bring down the Gov- far reaching benefits for a child col- now but Fianna Fáil and their Green ernment or they may end up like the lege/employment prospects in the poodles are not about to grant our now defunct Progressive Democrats. future. Since the Greens went into wish " and Pat Rabbitte stated " I don't

Page 11141444 www.labouryouth.ie

Tesco- a Change for Good, or for worse?

By Jerry Larkin

Tesco recently announced a new (excuse the pun!) as it will ultimately though the workers eventually won initiative called ‘Change for Good’ in result in more lost jobs in the agri- and retained their pre-existing their Southern operation. One won- cultural and manufacturing sectors. rights, this type of bullying behav- ders what benefit to society this in- iour shows the necessity of a strong volves, but upon hearing an ad ut- The last straw for me and I’m sure union working for the rights of its tered by the lonely voice of Marty many others was the recent indus- members and their livelihood. Some Whelan it is clear how misleading trial action in a Tesco store in my may argue that Tesco does some this slogan is - their so-called hometown of Cork. Tesco have a good for society with campaigns like ‘Change for Good’ is in fact just an- proven track record in exploiting ‘Free computers for schools’ but the other marketing ploy designed to their workers (Textile workers in more cynical of us may just argue screw suppliers even more and keep Bangladesh are paid as little as five that it is a publicity stunt which an iron grip on their near monopoly pence an hour to make cheap doesn’t benefit society at all and in- of the Irish supermarket sector. clothes), and this was no different. stead just gives an unattainable tar- They opened a new shiny store in get to consumers in order to get Tesco are renowned for their Douglas and told several long- more money. Nevertheless, huge “ruthless pursuit of profit and market serving staff at the old store to ac- heartless corporations are never share” as claimed by Padraig Walsh cept new terms and conditions or good for a local economy and it is of the IFA. While the new legislation else be laid off. Despite posting a really important that we shop locally to introduce an Ombudsman for the world-wide profit of €3.2 billion only instead of giving more business to industry is welcome, much more ac- recently, it is intent on reducing the such irresponsible firms as Tesco et tion is needed. Tesco have been entitlements not just of staff in al . known to demand that growers pay Douglas, but also nationwide. Al- new fees to have their products stocked on shelves, give discounts on previously agreed prices, which are known as over-riders, and put up “Tesco have a proven increases in the time it takes to set- track record in exploit- tle invoices. They have withdrawn ing their workers; Tex- many of their Irish products and instead imported their stock from Brit- tile workers in Bangla- ain at a cheaper cost and to the det- desh are paid as little as riment of home grown producers. While some may say it is cheaper to five pence an hour to the consumer, I wonder at what cost make cheap clothes”

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The Israel Palestine Conflict

Over one thousand Palestinians human rights regardless of Israel’s were killed by the Israeli assault on opposition. 3 However, beyond the Gaza that ushered in the new year. declarative aspects, the EU has com- Over one thousand lives destroyed promised on numerous key aspects of along with the homes, livelihoods the agreements. “Not only has it re- and futures of tens of thousands frained from any conditionality on more. Israel, but it has compromised itself to the extent of bending its own At the Mullingar Labour Conference norms and rules to accommodate five of six motions proposed in the illegal Israeli practice. As such, Israel international section focused on this By Holly Kilroy has had little incentive to modify its atrocity. Four of these five came to behaviour in line with European rhe- the conclusion that most powerful opposite. It is in this context that Is- torical wishes.” 4 The EU could easily card we can play is economic and raeli leaders started their last assault hold off implementation of Israel’s called for a boycott of Israel. Clearly on Gaza: confident they would face association agreement by executing something has to be done; we all no meaningful costs. the ‘human rights clause’. In essence agree on this, the question is only Relations between the EU and Israel this clause allows for the postpone- one of tactics. have improved in recent years. In- ment of agreement terms should one The EU has been a player in the deed Israel is already heavily eco- party breach any of the conditions – Israeli-Palestinian conflict from its nomically dependent on its relation- such as respect for human rights and very conception. One may assume ship with the EU. It is a small country international law. This need not be perhaps, that it was a player of con- with exports and imports exceeding seen as a punishment but, as Senator sequence. Reality paints a different 80% of its GNP. The EU was its num- Ivana Bacik put it, “conditionality of picture. While involved in numerous ber one trading partner in imports and friendship”. diplomatic efforts the EU has consis- number two in exports in 2006 with This is a simple ‘carrot’ measure. In tently been overshadowed by the over €23.5 billion being traded between them. 1 Israel is now also a several cases of border conflicts the US and its staunch Israeli stance. EU intervened with a clear carrot and member of the European Neighbour- Moreover it compounds this problem stick approach, “holding out the hood Policy, an agreement that brings by waiting for the US to take the benefits of future membership in an lead and making no brave diplo- economic and political advantages enlarged EU in a post-conflict situa- matic moves independently. and promotes not only multilateral but tion” 5, such as Cyprus, the Balkans also, in a move welcomed by Israel, and Turkey. While it is not member- The world has tried "constructive bilateral cooperation in areas includ- ship of the EU on the line for Israel, engagement.” but in the words of ing foreign and security policy and a the economic benefits of enhanced Naomi Klein; “It has failed utterly”. resolution to the Middle East conflict. 2 EU agreements are just as attractive. Israel's new Foreign Minister, It is by attaching conflict resolutions Yet the carrot of enhanced EU agreements such as the European Avigdor Lieberman, has already de- to such attractive packages that the Neighbourhood Agreement have clared that he will not respect the EU wins its forum with Israel and po- Annapolis accord and that peace rarely been dangled in front of Israel tential for influence. in hope of a response. They have efforts with the Palestinians had If the EU does not have influence reached a "dead end". Since 2006 ...the world has tried Israel has been steadily expanding over Israel through diplomatic meas- settlements, launched an outra- ures it certainly has the power to in- "constructive engage- geous war against Lebanon and im- fluence it through economic meas- ment.” but in the words posing collective punishment on ures. In fact many of the integration Gaza through the brutal blockade. agreements it signed with Israel were of Naomi Klein; “It has The EU has never been a very drafted with asserting this influence in failed utterly”... strong political actor so we expect mind. Has the EU made up for its dip- its economic arm to bear more lomatic impotence by enforcing its simply been given to it. Talk after the weight. Yet despite Israel’s escala- economic might? In drafting of policy recent attack on Gaza at the end of tion of illegal activities it has not and bilateral agreements with Israel 2008 called for a possible suspension faced punitive measures—quite the the EU has held strong and included of the upgrade in the EU-Israel aspects related to the conflict and

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... Europes Role & Our Role in its Resolution agreement. Several Members of the “waiting for the EU to take ter] doesn't even understand how European parliament spoke in out- the operation in Gaza hurts the rage at the assault and the vote on meaningful action on Israel economy. The horror sights on tele- the issue was temporarily postponed. is like waiting for Fianna vision and the words of politicians in This at least can give us hope. Mean- Fail to become socialist. We Europe and Turkey change the be- while at the Labour Conference there havior of consumers, businessmen must [...] take action on our were calls to hold off advocating for and potential investors.” a suspension of the EU-Israel agree- own” Israeli companies are already feeling ment and invoking the human rights the impact of boycott moves in clause until an international investi- Europe following the attacks on gation into war crimes had been Gaza. The Israel Manufacturers As- completed. While this is noble in sociation reported that 21% of 90 spirit, it is wholly unnecessary and local exporters who were questioned intones that there have been no pre- had felt a drop in demand due to vious actions by the Israelis that boycotts. A report from the Israel oblige us to invoke the clause. One Export Institute reported that 10% need only skim through any of the of 400 polled exporters received or- hundreds of reports by B’Tselem director of a British telecom specializ- der cancellation notices this year, (The Israeli Human Rights Centre) to ing in voice-over-internet services, because of Israel's assault on Gaza. find a distressing wealth of material sent an email to the Israeli tech firm that has long supported such an ac- All across Europe the left are calling MobileMax. "As a result of the Israeli tion. Therefore, waiting for an inves- for suspensions of the EU-Israel government action in the last few tigation would not strengthen the Agreement and for boycotts. What days we will no longer be in a position call for a suspension of the Agree- are we waiting for? As De Rossa so to consider doing business with your- ment as has been claimed, but only aptly said to the European Parlia- self or any other Israeli company." act to delay, yet again, people ment, “ What possible excuse do we Ramsey says that his decision wasn't speaking out and action being taken. as Europeans have to continue to do political; he just didn't want to lose political and economic business as As we have seen all too often, wait- customers. "We can't afford to lose usual with Israel, while it callously ing for the EU to take meaningful any of our clients," he explains, "so it continues to slaughter innocent peo- action on Israel is like waiting for was purely commercially defensive." ple?” Now is the time we need to Fianna Fail to become socialist. We Some also argue that a boycott would take leadership and show direction. must, as individuals with conscious, sever communication when we need Labour need to stand up and say take action on our own. We need to more dialogue, not less. This point what we stand for. We do not need boycott. has no grounding. Naomi Klein notes to wait on the EU to tell us what our that in her experience, as soon as you Boycott is not a dogma; it is a tactic. policy should be in relation to the start implementing a boycott strategy, The reason the BDS (Boycott, Divest- Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We as dialogue increases dramatically. A ment and Sanctions) strategy should individuals have only one real road Labour delegation to Israel and Pales- be tried against Israel is practical: in to take if we want to make a differ- tine last summer encountered many a country so small and trade- ence: boycott. What a super highway hard working, left wing Israelis who dependent, it could actually work.Yes that is. quietly encouraged us to boycott. a boycott could have a negative fi- ¹Altunisik, 2008, p113 nancial impact on Israeli people. The threat of a consumer boycott is That is the nature, of a boycott – to already having an impact in Israel. On ²European Neighbourhood and Partner- ship Instrument: Israel urge a government to change its 3rd February, Nehemia Strassler, one policy based on the financial impact of Israel's most famous economic cor- ³Aoun, 2003, p293 that its current policy is having on its respondents, attacked the Israeli Min- 4 Tocci, 2005, p18 country’s economy. Irish companies ister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Eli 5Newman & Yacobi, 2004, p10 could be negatively impacted if they Yishai, for calling on the Israeli mili- Don’t cut ties with Israeli companies. tary to "destroy one hundred homes Holy Kilroy is a DCU International Relations Several days into Israel's Gaza as- in Gaza for every rocket that falls in Graduate and former International Officer sault, Richard Ramsey, the managing Israel." Strassler warned: "[the minis- for Labour Youth

Page 11171777

On the Bookshelves...

For understanding Depression economics and the Crisis of ‘08

In The Return of Depression Economics , the MIT professor looks at the alarming string of financial crises that plagued various economies around the globe in the 1990s, especially the Asian contagion, and sees an "eerie resemblance to the Great Depression." Instead of the "new world order" promised by the triumph of capitalism over socialism, "the world economy has turned out to be a much more dangerous place than we imagined."

Krugman uses the example of a Washington, D.C., babysitting coop to explain the dynam- ics of recession and inflation. He examines the remarkable emergence of Asia and the precursors to the Asian mess--the Tequila Effect of the mid-'90s that began in Mexico and Japan's fall in the early '90s into an economic malaise. He then analyzes the underlying reasons for the collapse of the Thai baht and other Asian currencies as well as the subse- quent actions of the IMF and the murky role of hedge funds. In the end, Krugman sees the return of depression economics, which "means that for the first time in two generations, failures on the demand side of the economy--insufficient private spending to make use of the available productive capacity--have become the clear and present limitation on prosperity for a large part of the world." It's the same problem that was at the root of the 1930s depression. And while it took a world war to solve that problem, Krugman sees solutions that are far less dramatic but that do require a willingness to chuck obsolete doctrines and think about old problems in new ways.

Over the years, Krugman has earned a well-deserved reputation for translating the jargon that economists speak into something that anyone with an interest--not necessarily a Ph.D.--can understand. The Return of Depression Economics is another timely testament to Krugman's ability to read and interpret the tea leaves of today's global economy. Highly recommended. Amazon.com

For understanding the nature of global corporatism and disaster capitalism

Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.

"At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq'' civil war, a new law is unveiled that will allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves… Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly outsources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwa- ter… After a tsunami wipes out the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts… New Orleans residents, scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be re-opened." Klein not only kicks butt, she names names, notably economist Milton Friedman and his radical Chicago School of the 1950s and 60s which she notes "produced many of the leading neo-conservative and neo-liberal thinkers whose influence is still profound in Washington today." Stand up and take a bow, Don- ald Rumsfeld.

There's little doubt Klein's book--which arrived to enormous attention and fanfare thanks to her previous missive, the best-selling No Logo , will stir the ire of the right and corporate America. It's also true that Klein's assertions are coherent, comprehensively researched and footnoted, and she makes a very credible case. Even if the world isn't going to hell in a hand-basket just yet, it's nice to know a sharp customer like Klein is bearing witness to the backroom machina- tions of government and industry in times of turmoil.

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Lisbon: Its not perfect, but it is a good start!

seriously about all the issues involved Europe. While Labour did very well in this referendum, however when in the recent elections in Europe, you go to vote- you should go to vote unfortunately this was not matched for your reasons. It would be wrong by the majority of our comrades in to vote either way based on a pre- Europe. The Party of European So- sumptive choice on what the entire cialists has returned to the European population of the EU would want you Parliament with fewer seats then it to vote. had while leaving. Across Europe there are less socialists and social Some people will also argue that it is democrats in power in government. By Hazel Nolan undemocratic to ask us to vote again. The gains that we have made nd It is only undemocratic to proceed On October 2 the Irish people will through the Lisbon Treaty would with implementing the Treaty without be asked to vote on Lisbon Treaty II, more then likely be lost if we were Irish approval. This has not hap- in light of the protocols and legally- to go back to the drawing board at pened. For example we have voted in binding guarantees made. If Lisbon this stage. is passed through a 'yes' vote then a government to serve a term of of- the guarantees will be legally en- fice until 2012, but given recent Lisbon goes a long way to address- forced through EU Law as protocols. events and the shift both in public ing any of the contributing factors to Here is a brief summary of the pro- opinion and the state of the country, the perceived democratic deficit. It tocols. we in the Labour party would not will not make the EU as purely de- hesitate to call for another general mocratic as I for one would like, I 1) Irish neutrality will not be af- election. still believe there is a lot more that fected: This means no conscription can be done to make the EU more Will ratifying Lisbon bring a so- and no common defence. democratic even were Lisbon cial Europe? 2) Ireland, and all other Member passed. What Lisbon will act as a States, will keep a Commissioner. The short answer is no. Lisbon will stepping stone towards, through not deliver a more social Europe. offering an elected face for people 3) Ireland will remain in control of However neither will it deliver a more through electing the chair of the its own tax rates. neo-liberal Europe either. In short, Council of Ministers. It will also allow 4) Ireland retains control of sensitive Lisbon is a structural readjustment time for national parliaments to re- ethical issues such as abortion. treaty that aims to improve the func- view proposed legislation before it is tioning of the EU, through addressing passed, so that they can have an 5) Workers’ Rights and public ser- many of the issues that are tied to input earlier on. It will be more de- vices are valued and protected in how people perceive the democratic mocratic through the introduction of Ireland and the EU, in particular deficit within the EU. It will mean that QMV voting, and developments such through the Charter of Fundamental the EU puts into law its commitment as the citizens imitative is a step in Rights. to human rights including protecting the right direction and better then Ireland is in the unique position in the environment, this is most notable the current status quo. through placing such an important that we are the only country to be While not delivering everything I legal emphasis on the Charter of Fun- putting the Lisbon treaty to a refer- would like to see in the EU, I believe damental Rights. endum. This has been an issue of that Lisbon brings us a step closer to debate, with many people arguing We as young democratic socialists achieving our goals, this is why I for that as not all Europeans have had and social democrats are part of a one am campaigning for a yes vote the opportunity to vote on Lisbon we campaign that goes beyond the issues on October 2 nd. More importantly, I should therefore reject it, that this is and limitations of our own political urge you to cast an informed vote. in some way anti-democratic. It is parties, and unites us with like This is a document that has been important to note that every country minded people across Europe, a cam- negotiated with 27 governments rep- has had the opportunity in which to paign to fight for social rights for all resenting a vast display of political hold a referendum, if they so the people of Europe. We want a so- ideologies, and compromise is an wished, on the Lisbon Treaty. It was cial Europe, but a social Europe is unavoidable aspect of any such en- the decision of the democratically something we have to fight for now, deavour. elected governments in each country and will be something we will con- The question you have to ask your- to decide on it as to which way they tinue to have to fight for regardless of selves, is it too much of a compro- would ratify the treaty, and not the Lisbon. EU that imposed on them to pass mise- or is it still acceptable to me? the treaty without a referendum. It We also have to be realistic about the Following a recent special conference, LY’s is important that people think very changing political landscape across official stance is for a ‘Yes’ vote on Lisbon.

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Everything has changed...

Mark Khan looks at Lisbon ‘Round 2’, date through a general election since and wonders: Why we are being asked we last voted on Lisbon, there has the very same question by the very not even been a change in the cabi- same people only a year later? net, with the same exact same faces of Cowen, Coughlan and Martin head- By Mark Khan ing up the government. That’s not all Mark Khan was former International Officer of LY, that hasn’t changed, unprecedented Member of PES Presidency during Convention on is that we are being presented with Europe, member of the General Council during the the exact same wording as last time, LabourLabour----DLDL merger, and former Mayor of Lismore there is not even a comma changed in the treaty being presented to us. There is a lot of spin and little sub- even a parallel with Nice has limited The so called concessions the Gov- stance surrounding the debate on similarities. Let’s look at the facts: ernment has ‘secured’ will not be in- Lisbon. The No Campaign got the cluded in the referendum nor in the blame for scaremongering and tell- The First Divorce Referendum was treaty itself. In most cases these ing outright lies (in some cases de- held on 26 June 1986 by the Fine guarantees are merely stating what servedly) the last time Lisbon was Gael- Labour Government, the next the Lisbon treaty was never going to voted on, but this time the Yes cam- referendum on Divorce was not held do anyway! Tax harmonization, mili- paign seems intent on lying and again until 24 November 1995 by the tary conscription and enforced abor- scaremongering. Let’s get a few Rainbow Coalition. The amendment tion were always boogeymen that things straight from the start. itself was not the same, and in the had nothing to do with Lisbon, but intervening decade Ireland had gone they seem to be the new clothes that Ireland will not be kicked out of the through 5 changes in cabinet and Emperor Cowen is draping himself in EU for voting No to Lisbon again. Taoiseach and 3 general elections. to try and fool the people- bigger fool This is not a referendum on whether him. we want to remain in Europe or not. The 1st Vote on the Nice treaty was

This is a vote on if we want to ac- held on 7 June 2001 when it was re- On 12 June 2008 there was a clear cept the Reform Treaty which we jected by a record low turnout of verdict by the Irish People on the have rejected once already, and that 34%, On the 17 May 2002 Ireland matter of the Lisbon Treaty, over in a slightly amended form the had a general election elected a new 53% of the Irish people voted on the Dutch and French have also rejected government with Fianna Fail and the referenda which unlike most previous in popular votes. Anyone spouting PDs winning enough seats not to re- referenda was a stand alone vote nonsense should be made aware of quire independent support. The Gov- (that is no other referenda or elec- the fact that currently there is no ernment had through a general elections were held at the same time to mechanism for a country to be ex- tion received a mandate to find a way drive up turnout). It is not good pelled (suspended yes) or to volun- forward, and negotiated the Seville enough to say the people who voted tary secede from the EU. In fact Declaration, which allowed an amend- no were all ignorant. The vast major- Lisbon would for the first time put in ment to the Nice treaty accepted by ity of people who voted yes were writing the legal mechanism for a all EU governments, giving Ireland the equally ignorant about the provisions country to be expelled or withdraw triple lock guarantee of separate Cabi- of the Lisbon treaty, citing positive from the EU. So Voting No for Lis- net and Dail approvals and UN Man- feelings towards Europe, or because bon carries no such threat of being dates before Irish troops can be com- their party leaders said to vote yes. ‘outside the EU’, if you hear or read mitted abroad. The amendment put Brian Cowen said to vote yes, and someone saying so they are trying by that referendum included a whole then we found out he hadn’t even to bully you through lies. new clause and was accepted by 49% read the treaty! Talk about the blind when the 2nd Vote on Nice was held leading the blind! It is also disingenuous to compare on 19 October 2002. re-running Lisbon with running the The Constitutional treaty was about Divorce referendum again, indeed Not only has there been no new man-

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...but they have changed nothing! opening up Europe to the people reaction? Now is the time for rethink- and bridging the great divide being and adjusting the Thatcherite tween the elitist centre and the ideological tenets that were laid into great unwashed, to bring democracy the EU since Maastricht. A monetary to the EU was the big mission. But policy focused solely on price stability then the French and Dutch both said and an economic policy focused no in the popular votes and all of a solely on privatized competition and sudden it was back to the ivory export led economies is to completely tower. Instead of a single treaty abdicate responsibility to the very contained in a book that every citi- citizens the EU is supposed to serve. zen could hold and understand, we Democracy cannot flourish if no mat- went back to different treaties and ter who we vote in are locked into different legal entities, creating a the same managerial role, instead of legal smokescreen that needs an being able to reform the system to army of lawyers to decipher. We deal with the new realities. also witnessed every country in Europe being denied the right to a Lisbon does not allow for that, it is popular vote on the reform treaty built on an outdated concept of eco- the will of the people, which is surely that replaced the constitutional nomics that has an inbuilt failure. A the defining principle of democracy. treaty, which is in essence the same little known provision in the Lisbon treaty bar the simplicity factor as Treaty concerns the supervision of Aside from principles, there are also explained above, and a watering the European System of Central details. Lisbon reduces small coun- down of the charter of fundamental Banks. In regard to the supervision of tries’ vetoes in a dizzying array of pol- rights, which is the single best thing credit and non-insurance financial icy areas. It also strengthens the Big about Lisbon. It was here in Ireland institutions the European Parliament’s 4 imperial countries voting and block- that we alone had a vote, we voted power is to be downgraded from ing power, with a new double major- with a high turnout, and had a clear Consent to merely Consultation. The ity voting system that requires the cross country, cross demographic ‘light touch’; of no regulation policies majority of populations on top of view of that treaty. We didn’t ap- are largely responsible for the hyper countries as a stipulation for passing prove. Now we are being told to casino gambling our financial institu- legislation, this is on top of a QMV vote on it again, that our answer tions engaged in which has led to the where votes and seats are already isn’t good enough. The Forum on worse crash since the 1930’s, and weighted in proportion to populations. Europe was closed down to stop Lisbon will make this failed policy Small countries will also miss out on reasoned informed debate on both worse by removing democratic over- chairing the EU presidency, with an- sides. Threats about Ireland step- sight in a crucial area. It is said that if other unelected president to be ping aside or being left out if we you want to know where the power foisted on us by a European elitist don’t’ vote correctly do not instil is, follow the money. We need to fol- mindset. How democratic is it that confidence in me about the health low our money, Lisbon undermines none of the 3 proposed presidents will of democracy today. that principle. We deserve a better receive their position from the direct treaty for these harsh times. Consid- mandate of the people? The Ameri- Democracy is not just a destination. ering only 6 of the 27 EU nations cans managed to directly elect their Democracy must be the journey were not dictatorships in the 20th president in the 18th century with itself. Lisbon cannot give us a more century, the EU deserves a more de- uneducated farmers, and backward democratic Europe, if it is passed mocratic treaty, that is introduced infrastructure, yet here in 21st Cen- despite the people, if we are co- more democratically than this one. tury broadband Europe we have no erced or tricked into it. The ways in plans to elect even 1 of 3? Most tell- which we have reached this point do ing of all is the huge financial crash not speak of a policy that respects Following a recent special conference, LY’s that we have experienced what is the official stance is for a ‘Yes’ vote on Lisbon.

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A light-hearted look back on Political Ireland 2009

diction to his blackberry kicked in? Grannies swooned; “ aren’t ya much But as election fever swept the na- nicer in person than on the telly?” tion, Ganley’s preoccupation with The words of the Beatles’ classic ‘ Let Ireland’s ‘political cartel’ was his best it Be’ were substituted with ‘George marketing ploy. At a time when we Lee’ and did the rounds on You- were politically vulnerable, Ganley hit tube.The ‘George Lee effect’ affected headline after headline, capturing the us all in some way. nation’s curiosity and imagination. We were searching for a political sav- In the popularity stakes, what iour, someone to take us out of our George Lee did for the Fine Gael rut, cradle us and reassure us that camp, Sen. Alan Kelly (now MEP) everything was going to be ok. But was having a similar affect on the By Kirsten Gordon Ganley wasn’t to be that saviour; his Labour camp. Blaring Mundy’s halo being a little tarnished for our ‘Galway Girl’ from the speakers of his Like the controversial scantily clad liking, particularly in the black and jeep, the Munster MEP clocked up a bikini models causing Liveline callers white politics of the West, we gravi- lot of mileage and a lot of funds, to do more than blush, the last politi- tated towards someone more affable, receiving the most political donations cal year has left little to the imagina- modest and more predictable. Little in the country (more than €35,000) tion. did we know that our saviour would for his European campaign. Even his be an economist from Dublin 14 and political rap by Cork DJ, Garry While the empty Dáil is basking in former presenter of the TV series McCarthy featured on the Irish what little heat there is amidst the ‘Moneybox’. Times website: an achievement not frequent torrents of rain, political Taking the coveted most popular to be taken for granted. “Like, whizzes in Ely Place, Upper and where’s the money, the jobs and the Lower Mount Street and Suffolk Tiger? We need a politician with a Street, are scratching their heads at mind like McGyver .” Humour in poli- the changing political landscape of tics yet again? Never. It was a suc- the last year, which has seen a foray cessful marketing strategy which of unprecedented humorous activities infected the airwaves in the South raise the temperature of our nation like propaganda. Somehow the idea (unfortunately not the climate). Nude of a rap about Brian Crowley, Sean portraits of our Taoiseach “ who is not Kelly or Toireasa Ferris seemed thought to have posed for the anony- unlikely. The rap put a smile on the mous artist ”, as Eileen Dunne poign- face of the most popular political antly reported, was one of the most leader of the election though, Eamon popular, imaginative and original Gilmore. marketing ploy’s ever to hit Fianna Fáil’s leadership. With just over a The other politicians achieved suc- whopping minute and a half of RTE cess via more traditional routes; MEP coverage, Conor Casby’s media stunt for the Socialist Party and whitty became less of a popular schoolboy politician award in the by-election in former TD, Joe Higgins springs to trick and more of a test to the Tao- Dublin South and arguably of the mind. An abundance of leaflets, door iseach’s leadership, with the nation 2009 election campaign, former Eco- -to-door canvassing and hand- waiting with bated breath for Cowen’s nomics Editor for RTE, ‘Saint George’ shakes, lots and lots of handshakes reaction. Cowen didn’t get Casby’s Lee reigned. The ‘George Lee effect’ was the auld reliable, to his success. dry humour, but the nation did. was not to be underestimated nor was the stamina of the Fine Gael ma- After the year we’ve had, we need a Self-publicist Declan Ganley set politi- chine. Even down to the wire in the laugh. Maybe the blasphemy bill cal temperatures blazing with his RDS on count day, poster pin-up Lee might provoke some humour, light- highly ambitions plans for a ‘pan- hogged the media spotlight, dragging heartedness and political popularity European party’ with Libertas, which his Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny into in 2010? were, at first, laughed at. Who knew the frame every now and then. With I hope so anyway! that the Mr No of Lisbon was Mr Yes a whopping 53% of the vote, George to blue cards of immigration, busi- Lee’s ascension into the political ness links to the US military, a love realm was ridiculously smooth, a feat Kirsten is DCU Journalism graduate and for Cuban cigars, and a 6am run in that seems so alien amidst the vola- former Press Officer for Ireland West can- the morning, before his reported ad- tility and futility of Irish politics. didate Suzanne O’ Keeffe.

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Elected Candidates from Labour Youth: Local Elections

Cllr. Cian Cllr. Derek O’ Callaghan Nolan

Elected to: Elected to:

Fingal County Council Galway City Council

Cllr. Dermot Cllr. Maria Prodi

Looney

Elected to: Elected to:

South Dublin County Dublin City Council Council

Mayor Gearóid Cllr. Rebecca Buckley Moynihan

Elected to: Elected to:

Bandon Town Council Dublin City Council

Cllr. Patrick Cllr. Darren Nulty Ryan

Elected to: Elected to:

Fingal County Council South Tipperary County Council

Cllr. Stephen Cllr. Ciara Fitzpatrick Conway

Elected to: Elected to:

Dun Laoighaire Dungarvan Town County Council Council

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