IRISH ISSN 0790-7672 October 2005 Haughey's Legacy POLITICAL Sinn Fein Speaking Rights In Dáil John Redmond vs Benedict XV

Volume 20 No 10 Irish Ferries: Choppy Waters ? REVIEW (Back page: Labour Comment) Incorporating Volume 19 Number 10 The Northern Star Workers' Weekly ISSN 0954-5891 Contents: See Page Two A Visionary A Revelation . Republican? In The Dail On the day the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning—the There is a neat little theory that our real one, set up within the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, which has acted globalisers tell us about the world: independently, as distinct from Lord Alderdyce’s ‘Independent Monitoring Commission’ protectionism is a bad thing because it nominated by the two Governments, which acts as their agent—on the day when the real inevitably leads to national conflicts and Monitoring Commission announced the completion of arms decommissioning by the war. This is now accepted as such a truism Provisional IRA, the Acting Taoiseach, Michael McDowell, made a curious statement that it would be regarded as almost lunatic in an interview on Channel 4. Asked about his response to General de Chastelain’s to deny it. However, a moment’s thought report, he said: could not but conclude that there is no “It is of significance, but it’s not the end of the road by any manner of means” logical connection whatever between Question : “What worries you most? The robbery of the Northern Bank, the 26 protectionism and war. In fact the very millions?” opposite is the only logical conclusion. McDowell : “Well, what worries me is that the Provisional movement in its entirety Why would any country committed to would seek to have the IRA remain in abeyance and apply the proceeds of criminality to looking after itself through its own its campaign to win seats North and South of the Border. That’s not acceptable to me. But, resources automatically resort to war? in the meantime, it is, as I say, an important day that the largest separatist movement in History confirms this. Ireland did not Ireland has in a way destroyed its arms and put them beyond use to-day, and that it has develop a warlike attitude to any country said to the majority community in Northern Ireland: From now on we propose to carry on our politics by entirely peaceful and democratic means” (26th September 2005). when it was implementing a protectionist policy. On the other hand, its nearest The curious thing is not the assumption that democratic means are possible in a neighbour has been and is now the greatest political entity which is not a democracy. That misuse of language is commonplace. promulgator and practitioner of free trade Northern Ireland is not itself a democratic state (or any kind of state), nor is it a and has initiated more wars than any other democratic part of the democratic state which holds it. It is something unique in the state—indeed as many as all other modern history of the world: a deliberately arranged undemocratic enclave within a democratic states combined. This basic fact in itself state which is systematically excluded from the political life of the state. Democracy is should cast doubt on the suggestion that continued on page 2 continued on page 6

1 C O N T E N T S the independence movement took off. Page After that (aside from Kevin O’Higgins’ A Visionary Republican? Editorial 1 flirtation with Imperialism in the mid- A Revelation In The Dail. Jack Lane 1 1920s) separatism was taken for granted Atom Bombs On Japan. Ted O'Sullivan (unpublished letter) 3 as the general political medium within Shorts from the Long Fellow. (Sindo Supports Vantalism Again; Land Of The which political differences developed. Brave? Who Guards The Guards? More EU Arrogance; Media Comment Inflated Egos 8 But now the Acting Taoiseach reveals Keeping It Real. John Martin 9 that Sinn Fein is the largest separatist A Question For Mr. Mansergh. Jack Lane (Report) 9 movement in the country, which can only Casement Melodramatics. Seán McGouran 10 be true if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have Irish Press Royal Honour: Food For Thought! (Report) 10 reverted to some pre-1918 position. Haughey's Legacy. John Martin 11 The Politics Of Criminality. Seán McGouran 13 Perhaps the word “separatist” is fused UCD Symposium On De Valera. 'Up Dev' 14 with the word “physical force” in his Das Kapital—A Belated Comment. Jim Dixon (Letter) 15 mind. That would be understandable on Na Creatuiri Bochta Gallda. Liam Mac I Shearcaigh (Translation) 15 the part of somebody who dwells so much Sprechen Sie Dáil? Joe Keenan 16 on the political lineage of his family, Storm In A Rubber Stamp. Joe Keenan 19 going back to the days when Britain See No, Hear No, Speak No Evil. Joe Keenan 20 governed Ireland and treated the mere Redmond And The Pope's Peace Efforts Of 1915. Pat Walsh (Part 3 of series) 22 advocacy of separatism as seditious. The Spies & Lies. Conor Lynch, Joe Keenan 26 advocacy of a separate state, let alone the Gender & Identity. Seán McGouran 26 achievement of it, could only be under- taken by people who were prepared to Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney (back page): maintain themselves as an organisation in Choppy Waters Ahead! (Irish Ferries & Redundancies) a relationship of warfare with the Govern- The End Of The Co-Op? ment. Separatists were compelled by British policy to set themselves up as a something which cannot exist in it, if the But it is not yet bigger than Fine Gael, and secret state within the State—as were word is used to mean the election of the we were not aware that Fine Gael had similar groups of people in the Tsarist Government of the state by the adult renounced the separatist ideal which led it Empire at the same time, and under the population. An actual system of demo- to withdraw the State from the British Nazi State a generation later. The separat- cracy of that kind (and there isn’t really Empire and Commonwealth and to declare ion of Ireland from the British Empire was any other in modern times) has a multitude it a Republic. However, McDowell, Fine something which the undemocratic British of effects on the general functioning of Gaeler though he is in essence, has no State declared that it would not concede to society, and brings about a situation which brief to speak for that party. But he must peaceful agitation, and would prevent by could not be caused by any other means. be taken as speaking for Fianna Fail. the use of military power. There was The condition of society in the North, Within the governing Coalition, the tail therefore a close practical association which is so piously deplored by the has been speaking for the dog since the between the Irish separatist ideal and the righteous, is proof that there is no effective beginning of the year and the dog has organisation of a physical force movement substitute for actual democracy in bringing allowed him to. So we can take it that to achieve it. And that remained the case, about the situation of which the righteous Fianna Fail gave him permission to remove even when the British State raised 200,000 approve. But the righteous—and Acting it from the ranks of the separatists. A few soldiers in Ireland to make war on the Taoiseach McDowell is the most righteous years ago it deleted “the Republican Germans and the Turks by declaring that of the righteous—are usually locked in to Party” from its title, and now it lets us its purpose was to establish democracy a kind of moral posturing which inhibits know through McDowell that it has ceased and the rights of small nations as founda- thought, and they dare not trace the deplor- to be a separatist party as well. tions of a new world order, and gave an able condition of the North to its cause— apparent sign of earnestness by democ- because it is not permissible that Britain But this use of language is quaint, ratising its own electoral franchise by the should be held responsible for it—and so antique. Separatism as a distinct political Reform Act of 1918. they ignore causes while indulging in position within nationalist Ireland became vehement denunciations of consequences. obsolete more than 80 years ago, when all But, when the Irish electorate took the And they use “democracy” as a synonym other positions ceased to exist. Until war propaganda in earnest and voted for for “pacifism”. about 1920 there were Home Rulers and the establishment of a separate Irish State, Separatists. The Home Rulers were it found that the newly-democratised Brit- The curious thing about McDowell’s dominant until the 1918 Election but, when ish Parliament took no heed of its vote and statement was his description of the Provos they lost that Election, they ceased to be that it would have to fight in order to gain as “the largest separatist movement in Home Rulers. The Local Government what it had voted for. The practical equati- Ireland”; and that there was not an immed- Elections of 1920 confirmed the 1918 on between separatism and physical force iate repudiation of it by his Government result, and in the 1921 Elections there was still maintained by Britain. But the ally, Fianna Fail, or even by Fine Gael. were no Home Rule candidates. The terms of the relationship had changed Home Rulers were only Home Rulers out within Ireland, by reason of the vote. The Sinn Fein is certainly larger than Mc of fear of what the British Empire would people had not come out in support of Dowell’s party, having about four times do to a separatist movement, and they Young Ireland in 1848, or of the Fenians the support of the Progressive Democrats. went over to separatism en masse when in 1867, but in 1919-21 they came out in 2 support of what they had voted for in 1918. Britain had gained their support for · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback its Great War in 1914 by means of a confidence trick—a spurious commitment Atom Bombs On Japan to democracy and the rights of small Editorial Note: On 26th August 2005 Michael Keary, in a letter to the Irish Times, defended nations—but the Irish refused to accept the American atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 on the grounds that “why the confidence trick as a good practical should a single American soldier lose his life to protect those of the Japanese citizens who so joke, and in 1919-21 they fought Britain maliciously and and aggressively began the war in the first place?” The following reply was for the same thing that in 1914-16 they submitted on 26th August, but not printed: thought they were fighting Germany for. And the 1921 Election showed that the Michael Keary (Aug 26th) states Imperial Japan and its people “brutally crippled the entire national community had become US navy and destroyed the harmony of the Pacific and American life in general” (at Pearl separatist and was prepared to bear the Harbour). The Japanese are condemned for not overthrowing their government during physical costs being inflicted by Britain. the four years of war. Because of these things they deserved no mercy from the US. And Irish national politics has been separ- There are a few problems with this point of view. Firstly it was only obsolete atist ever since. At least we cannot recall battleships that perished at Pearl Harbour as the aircraft carriers and newer vessels had that a party committed to restoring British already been moved to safety. Roosevelt had his “this day will live in infamy” speech rule, or even British hegemony, in Ireland prepared in advance. has ever won a seat, or even contested an The Japanese naval task force arrived on schedule to play its part in an intrigue long election. planned, to goad the neutrality minded US population into war. It was the American imposition of a complete ban on the importation of oil products to Japan that backed the Granting that there was once a practical Japanese government into a corner where the choice was between economic collapse or equation between separatism and physical war. force, and that the one word might be used The US had wanted to enter the European war for a long while, where it saw the future for the other, that still does not explain the direction of world power politics was to be decided. Japan had a treaty of mutual military Acting Taoiseach’s description of Sinn support with Germany and Italy; the tripartite pact. After Pearl Harbour Germany Fein as the largest separatist movement in declared war on the US, in accordance with the pact. Roosevelt was to concentrate the Ireland on the day when it was confirmed main war effort in the European theatre. Japan had provided the ‘back door’ to American that the IRA had disarmed, having pre- participation in the war. A great US military and naval build-up had been under way since viously made a commitment to pursue its 1940. aim by non-military means. Sinn Fein is The Japanese served mainly as pawns in a wider game. This view of the Pacific war now a separatist movement dissociated once belonged on the fringe but now resides comfortably in the mainstream. The most from physical force. It is therefore a comprehensive and most recent treatment comes from Pearl Harbour— Day of Deceit movement of the same general kind as by Robert B Stinnett (2000). Fianna Fail and Fine Gael (at least, as they Ted O’Sullivan used to be prior to McDowell’s revelation), with the difference that it operates in the There is of course a traditional undermined the historical basis of Fianna North as well as the Republic. It is also a Republican organisation which keeps alive Fail, and he has done so again in recent Northern party which has successfully the spirit of anti-Treaty Republicanism weeks in letters to The Village. Like his entered the political life of the Republic, and disputes the legitimacy of the Free father, Nicholas, he takes the Treaty to whereas the other two are 26 County parties State, even as amended by Fianna Fail in have been a democratic settlement, which which over the decades have tried without the 1930s and by Fine Gael in its revivalist raises great problems about the origins of success to influence Northern affairs for Republicanism of the late forties and early Fianna Fail. But what it is was reasonable the better from the outside. Through the fifties. And it is in the circumstances a for his father to do, as a highly-placed 1937 Constitution they asserted good thing that a Republican body of that servant of the British Empire, is not sovereignty over the North, and yet they kind continues to exist, and to act as the reasonable for Martin to do as a highly- remained substantially disengaged from conscience of the project that was launched placed member of Fianna Fail. And, since it—and there are other forms of engage- on the basis of the 1918 Election. That those statements have not been taken issue ment than military invasion. And they are body aligned itself with the Provos 35 with by other highly-placed members of now greatly disturbed by the fact that a years ago, but parted company with them Fianna Fail, we concluded that Rory party generated out of the Northern situat- a generation ago, recognising that the O’Brady had a useful function to perform ion has put down roots in the politics of Provos were something else. in the life of the State whose legitimacy he thee Republic. They do not know how to disputes. deal with a party which means the things Back in 1998 we reviewed a review by that they only say. Martin Mansergh, in the [London] Times With regard to the physical force Literary Supplement of a biography of movement (in the sense of a military One of their expedients is to declare General Maguire, the last surviving organisation not under the control of the that Provo Sinn Fein does not recognise member of the original Dail, by Rory Government in Dublin), we would say the 26 County State as legitimate, and O’Brady. Mansergh’s article brought it that it has had no real function in the considers itself to be the legitimate govern- home to us that O’Brady was performing political life of the 26 Counties since ment of all Ireland. But that is patently not a useful function in the ideological life of 1945. the case. The Provos are a highly practical the Free State/Republic by continually The Treaty was not a democratic and resourceful movement, generated out harping on fundamental matters. Though settlement in any reputable sense of the of Northern realities, and unrestricted by he is Fianna Fail’s intellectual, Mansergh term. Even Professor Foster concedes anti-Treatyite taboos. said things in that article which that it was signed under duress, in response 3 to the British ultimatum about immediate (Under the Treaty, the army of the state. But he would not say that its and terrible war. A case can be made for State, the Defence Force, had the function existence in the North was unnecessary submitting to the British ultimatum, but it of suppressing internal dissent and and should be ended. (At least that is how is not a democratic case. The Treaty enforcing British policy. It was disabled we recall it.) system was imposed by force after the from becoming an Army capable of Dev had an acute sensitivity for politi- spurious election of 1922, though not by meeting an external enemy in war, because cal realities, and therefore he would not the Parliament returned by the electorate. the only external enemy was Britain. De say that the IRA had no proper business in The anti-Treaty Party was defeated by a Valera tried to overcome this disability the North. He neither encouraged it nor Free State force authorised and supplied but was thwarted by British influence in denounced it: he simply made a realistic by Britain. The British political system the world. Churchill, who demanded that observation relevant to the political started to fall into confusion in the Autumn the Irish State should make war on Ger- condition of the North: undemocratic, of 1923, just as the Free State was becom- many, was one of those who had ensured unstable and unworkable. And that is how ing operative. This led to a return of the that Ireland should not have an army we saw it twenty years later. Having electorate to the 1918 position, from which capable of making war on anybody. enacted partition, Britain devised a it had been driven by the threat that the Insofar as there was in nationalist Ireland catastrophic mode of political existence infinite military resources of the Empire an actual capacity for waging war, it lay for the North. And there is little sense in would be deployed against it if it voted elsewhere than in the Defence Force. (And making moral judgments on the basis of wrong. The Treatyite Government spun that was a potent factor influencing deve- democratic norms, and issuing denuncia- out its existence until 1932 by authoritarian lopments in 1969-70.) tions accordingly, for a situation which is measures of its own, not dictated by The credible Emergency preparations not ordered by the powerful democratic Britain. When it lost the election in 1932, for meeting force with force (secretly structures of the state, and which is inher- the great question was whether it would reported to Churchill by his spy, Elizabeth ently catastrophic. relinquish power peacefully. It did. But Bowen) saw the State through the World the condition in which it did so was the War in safety, and there has never since We went further, and tried to get the 6 presence of a strong military force which been a function for a physical force move- Counties incorporated into the democratic it did not control and which backed Fianna ment in the 26 Counties. structures of the state which held them. Fail. Dev did not do that. But, only on the basis of an excessive rationalism, beyond the De Valera had created Fianna Fail out Fine Gael reverted to a strong Republican position during the war, and scope of practical politics, could he be of a secession from Sinn Fein in the mid- criticised for not doing so. Statesmen 1920s, but he had kept up an informal when it returned to Office in 1948, in Coalition with the Labour Party and cannot rise above the interests of the states relationship with the IRA—which had which they lead. They are tied to their met defeat in 1924 by dumping arms and recently-retired Chief of Staff of the IRA Sean MacBride, it declared that the State states, whatever altruistic postures it might ceasing to fight, but had not surrendered be fashionable for them to strike. They or disarmed. It was therefore not within was a republic and took it out of the Empire and Commonwealth (in whose either serve their states well or badly. It is the authoritarian discretion of the Treaty hardly conceivable that Dev did not see Party in 1932 whether to admit the elector- affairs it had played no part since 1932), and it launched a great Anti-Partition agit- that the 6 Counties might have been gover- ally victorious Anti-Treaty Party to the ned in a way that did not generate com- power of government or to deny it on the ation at home and around the world. That agitation helped to reinvigorate the IRA, munal antagonism as a matter of course, grounds that its objects were in breach of but it would not his business to urge that the Constitution. Denial would have and the invasion of the North followed in 1956. (That event was a formal invasion they should be integrated politically into resulted in a genuine Civil War (unlike the the British state. And, if he had done so, affair of 1922-3). And the Treatyite power from the South, with little or no element of insurrection accompanying it in the North.) his proposal would have been rejected by across the water was not in 1932 what it all parties in the 26 Country state, without had been in 1922. Those were the circum- being heeded by Britain, which had set up stances of the peaceful transition of 1932. Fianna Fail could not stand idly by while the 1948 Coalition worked up an that atrocious system in the North for an Anti-Partition agitation. It joined in the ulterior purpose, and not because it did not With the IRA in the background, know what it was doing. Dev concentrated Fianna Fail gained effective control of the agitation, and De Valera went on a speak- ing tour in Britain. At a meeting in the on the affairs of the State of which he was apparatus of state, as well as the formal leader, and he achieved its independence. offices of government, and held in check English Midlands he was asked if he thought the IRA had exhausted its the Fascist movement developed by the Primary responsibility for the condition Treatyites. historical function. He replied that he did not think so. This comment was ignored of the North rests with the British State, which set up the ‘Northern Ireland State’, The final use of the physical force by John Bowman and others when making up a sanitised version of Dev in the 1970s. which nobody in the 6 Counties had movement in the political life of the 26 demanded, instead of governing the region Counties was in the World War launched Dev did not expand or explain his within the structures of the British by Britain in 1939. Battle-hardened opinion. He did not need to do so. Not democracy. Secondary responsibility lies Republicans, who could not quite accept many years earlier he had broken, within with the Unionist Party, which settled the Free State, even in its amendment by the 26 Counties, the Republican section down to a routine of communal dominance de Valera into a “dictionary republic”, which had declared war on Britain in an within the system which it had opposed in placed their experience at the service of anti-Treaty spirit. He had dealt with the the first instance. The Catholic community the State for the duration of the War for the Treaty as much as it was necessary and bears no responsibility for failing to engage purpose of deterring, or meeting, a British practical to deal with it, and he would not in ‘normal politics’ because there was no invasion. tolerate the IRA as a rival to the official normal politics for it to engage in. Insofar 4 as a third party bears substantial responsib- true republicans’ concept of Irishness national diversity within it. But there is no ility for exploding the situation in 1969, includes the Protestant people of basis in social reality for the view that the that party is the Taoiseach of the time, Ireland—the Anglo-Irish and the Ulster Ulster Scots and the Anglo-Irish formed Jack Lynch, with his inflammatory speech Scots… Irish republicanism necessarily parts of a single Irish nationality, but were in mid-August, with its hint of invasion, implies a correlative duty of respect on alienated by the “Green and Gold” and his crude volte face under British the part of Irish republicans towards the conduct of the Provos, (McDowell does Anglo-Irish and Ulster-Scots people on pressure the following Spring. not mention that the Gold was said to the island… The central vocation of Irish republicanism today… is the project represent the Papacy), or by the precursors The cycle of events set off by Lynch in of reconciliation of Orange and Green… of the Provos who are not specified by 1969 has now come to a kind of conclusion. There was, in the past, at any rate, a McDowell. The net outcome in the 26 Counties is the curious tendency among some romantic, political demoralisation and disorientation Irish Catholic nationalists to refer to the The historic sequence is that the Irish, of the parties which were there in 1969, Tricolour as the flag of “Green, White as a political body, were broken by the and the re-appearance in a new form of the and Gold”—as if… to airbrush out of conquest of William of Orange, and that oldest party of the State, Sinn Fein, which the portrait of Irish republicanism the regime based on the conquest was not was thought to be obsolete in 1969. So, anything other than Green, Gaelic, even an apartheid system. Its purpose was like it or not, the Republic is at a point of Catholic nationalism… There is nothing the obliteration of the conquered people, republican about the project of Green new departure. And all the old parties can not their separate development on an against Orange. Nor is there anything inferior level. The Anglo-Irish were not do is denounce the new party, declaring it republican about driving forward the to be a force of evil. rejected by the Irish. They rejected the process of polarisation and segregation Irish and sought to squeeze them out of of the two communities in Northern existence, and then, having failed to do so, McDowell is Acting Taoiseach on the Ireland… Reconciliation is a vocation basis of a 4% electoral vote for his party. that calls for civic virtues that are not to they held themselves apart as a superior But he deserves the position which he has be found in the actions, words, tactics people—an attitude frankly stated by Hub- usurped. If he did not deserve it, he would and strategies of the Provisional ert Butler in an election address 36 years not be able to sustain it. What he says is movement… I believe in a united Ireland after the Declaration of Independence. incoherent, but at least he tries to say not as a means of completing the nation- something, while his colleagues in Govern- alist conquest but as the optimal outcome The Ulster Scots lived substantially for all the people of the island and for ment and Opposition cannot even rise to apart from both the Irish and the Anglo- each of the communities in Northern Irish for most of a century after the Battle the most modest level of pretentious Ireland. From the point of view of the incoherence on the basic issue regarding of the Boyne, excluded from the official Protestant, Unionist majority, I believe power-structure in Ireland by the Church the fundamentals of the State which the that a United Ireland makes sense… I of England monopoly, but left to their re-emergence of Sinn Fein has sprung on believe that the mindset of siege and them. He speaks for them all, since they being beleaguered in one’s own country own devices. Their clergy and gentry have nothing to say. is deeply destructive. It is bound to were mostly educated in Scotland where produce an ever-growing introversion… their Church was the Established Church. He speaks as a Prophet: “Even if I It must also be said that adjustment in In the 1780s they were active in the Protest- were born of different parents, I believe I the South of our concept of Irishness to ant Ascendancy movement which estab- would nonetheless hold to the same vision accommodate the Orange tradition is lished the independence of the Protestant of Irish republicanism that I have, in the also a pre-condition for any type of Ascendancy Irish Parliament, and in the course of my public life, sought to realise genuine Irish unity. And creating a 1790s they launched the United Irish for my country”. He is what he is, and he warm place in our State for those of the movement with a view to incorporating would be what he is, even if to the outward Orange tradition is not capable of being the Irish into an Irish state as part of the achieved overnight. A society which is eye he seemed to be somebody else. Some British Empire. When the Irish Parliament in denial over its Anglo-Irish and Ulster higher force, beyond the ordinary course Scots heritage and which doubts the role outlawed the movement, it became a of events, shaped his destiny. His parents of those traditions and communities as revolutionary conspiracy. But, when the had nothing to do with it. And yet he lists integral parts of its personality is moment came to enact the revolution, his earthly antecedents in all their Repub- incapable of genuine unification with most of them backed away from it, and lican rig-out: parents, grandparents, great- Northern Ireland. The project of Irish they supported the ensuing campaign for grandparents, uncles (both Treatyite and unity is too important to leave to those the Union of Parliaments, either overtly or Anti-Treatyite). And “All of them were who have betrayed the real values of an tacitly, while the Orangemen opposed it. nation-builders” (see Monochrome Vision Irish republic.” The antagonism of Orangeman and United Of Irishness Is Unhistorical, Sunday Irishman withered away in the course of Roy Foster has a liking for the term Independent, 5.9.05). He asserts that: the 19th century on the ground of a com- “visionary republicanism”, and here, for “there is a radical and fundamental mon Unionism, and a merger between the once, is a political proclamation which difference between Irish separatism on two took place in the Ulster Unionist justifies it—a piece of wild imagining the one hand and Irish republicanism on alliance to oppose, by fair means and about the “historic Irish nation” which the other” foul, the establishment of a Home Rule parts company with social reality at the although Government—not a separatist state but a “Republicans in Ireland since the time outset. devolved component of the British State of Wolfe Tone have been separatists”. and its Empire. But Republicans A realistic case can be made that Ireland “have been much more than separat- should have been dealt with as a single Separatism played no part in generating ists. They have believed passionately in political entity, as the historic territory of the antagonism between the Irish national a concept of Irishness that is not simply the Kingdom of Ireland, regardless of the Catholic, Gaelic and Nationalist. The movement of the 19th century and the 5 Ulster Scots. Insofar as any Nationalist understand it on its own ground, and to and a Unionist triumph which demonstra- leader contributed to the development of understand the dynamic of “the Northern ted the effectiveness of Paisleyite firmness that antagonism it was Daniel O’Connell, Ireland state”. as against Trimble’s equivocation. But who was neither a Separatist nor a things have happened in a very different Republican—if a meaningful distinction And, if it is under siege, the siege is way. The Provos have disarmed can be made between the two. And, after inherent in its world outlook, and has little unilaterally, outside the negotiating O’Connell, in order of responsibility, to do with the existence of a besieging process. And the two Governments, who comes John Redmond, who by the time of force. It was under siege when the IRA a short time ago were describing the IRA the great Home Rule conflict of 1912-14 was defunct in the 1960s; before the Irish as the greatest criminal organisation in had discarded Republicanism and Separat- Volunteers were formed in response to Europe, were now prepared to move for- ism and become a Home Rule Imperialist. the UVF in 1913; and before there was ward on the basis of the act of decommis- But the political complexion of the national any Irish nationalist movement worth sioning and write off the past. And there leadership really had nothing to do with it: speaking of in the mid-19th century. It was nothing in that for the DUP. Indeed, O’Connell, John Mitchel, Gavan Duffy, placed itself under siege by reverting to it would be the humiliated party if it the Fenians, Isaac Butt, Parnell, John the mentality of the conquest after more accepted the accomplished fact of non- Redmond, De Valera, Collins, Cosgrave— than century of another mode of existence; negotiated, unconditional decommission- they were all one to the Ulster Scots. by de-politicising itself in 1859; by ing and resumed negotiations. It must willingly accepting exclusion from the therefore reject de Chastelain, let a lot of That antagonism was structured into a political life of the State and accepting its time elapse, and see if it can start again pseudo-state by Westminster in 1921. And own pseudo-state as the reward of when all this has been forgotten. the pseudo-state was blown apart after it rebellion; and by ruling out a return to had aggravated the antagonism for half a British politics (in which it participated Professor Bew had said before this century and all the Queen’s men have not briefly in the mid-19th century) when its that humiliating conditions should be got it together again. The Provos are a pseudo-state was blown away in the 1970s placed on Provo decommissioning. He product of that structured antagonism. It by the insurrection it had provoked. has a Sticky outlook. And the Stickies are would therefore not be surprising if they incapable of learning by experience that were as narrow as McDowell alleges. We proposed 35 years ago that the the Provos, because they are the But, as far as we have observed, they are Orange Order should be regarded as a resourceful representatives of an actual more advanced in the matter if “civic kind of folk culture, and should be treated community, cannot be trapped by schemes virtues” than any other party in Ireland with tolerant good humour. It had sim- like that. today, and that is why they are such a mered down in the 1960s into something problem for the other parties. that might be called a ‘tradition’. Our proposal was seen as outrageous by the The Acting Taoiseach needs to go back broad spectrum of nationalist opinion. A Revelation to the drawing-board. We hope that he But establishment politicians in Dublin, does. In the country of the blind it would at their wit’s end, want to treat it as a In The Dail be of great advantage if he could get one ‘tradition’ today, even though it has clearly eye. And he might explain what is meant ceased to be such and has reverted to the continued by “completing the nationalist conquest” militancy of 1689, and has conjured up for there is a relationship between protection- by extending it to the North-East. Did the itself the realities of 1689, though without ism and wars, with a corresponding one Irish in the rest of the country conquer the saviour in the offing who will soon between free trade and peace. In fact the themselves? arrive and relieve the siege. very opposite is the case historically.

Long ago, when we were still trying to The besieging army has disarmed, and Events in the 1930s culminating in democratise the 6 Counties within the the result is consternation. World War II are cited as proof positive of British State, we tried to explain our view the relationship between war and protec- of the matter to him at a meeting in Dublin. Professor Bew was David Trimble’s tionism. Protectionism was prevalent It was obviously not acceptable to him. political adviser during the years when during the 30s, there was war at the end of He really is a one-nation man. Trimble was subverting the Good Friday the 30s, ipso facto, protectionism caused Agreement through pretended the war. But the declaration of war by His efforts to include the Ulster Protest- participation in it. Trimble warded off the Britain had nothing whatever to do with ants in a genuine Republican embrace danger that the Agreement would take economic issues. All the issues that caused seem to have consisted of attacking the root, and then made way for Paisley as an that war were clearly political. Provos at a couple of Unionist meetings, outright opponent of it. And now Professor But, if we accept for the sake of while turning a blind eye to the Orange Bew appears as apologist for the DUP. He argument that protectionisms did cause tradition of the nation which was running was on BBC Radio 4 (10 pm News) on WWII, how can we then explain World riot on the streets expressing its heartfelt 26th September to explain why the DUP’s War I, where there was no element what- feelings about Papists, attacking Catholics, rejection of de Chastelain’s report, and its ever of protectionism among the and showing general disgust at the fact refusal to contemplate negotiations for an antagonists? The pre-WWI era was one of that peace has broken out. unspecified period, was reasonable. He blissful free trade. That free trade was so said that, last December, the DUP was free that we have not yet achieved the Not many things in politics are predict- supported by the two Governments in same ‘freedom’ in the present century, able, but the present condition of Ulster setting conditions on Provo disarmament, despite the best efforts of the World Trade Unionism was entirely predictable to which would have made decommissioning Organisation. Just look at the mobility of anybody who had taken the trouble to a humiliating event for the Republicans labour alone in that era: millions traversing 6 the globe looking for work. The current generated by those selling into our logic that the alleged protectionism that migrations have nothing on that. They are markets but no redistribution of any emerged after the war was initiated and only trotting after their predecessors. significance in what are currently Third maintained by the victors in the war, i.e. Ireland is a good barometer of this. We World countries. In such circumstances, Britain. The defeated did not determine have a long way to go before as many there will be a massive reaction in Europe the outcome or the future of the 20th millions migrate here as left here in the to the point where there may well be a century, with its allegedly dreadful decades before WWI. protectionist backlash. This has protectionist policies. If protectionism was happened before in 1914. We came into the result of the war, it was the victors’ Did the behaviour of human nature the 20th century with an international policy, surely? So the Versailles Treaty undergo such a somersault whereby one currency, modern communications, new must have been a settlement based on type of behaviour, free trade, led to one technologies such as steam and motor protectionism? If this was so, it helps war and then its opposite behaviour, transport and a totally open trading confirm that nice little story we began protectionism, led to another war about 20 system. Within 14 years that open trading with because the protectionism of years later? This is not really credible. system had largely disappeared and only Versailles could then be seen as being in re-emerged to a significant extent at the conflict with, and being overthrown by, If all our economic determinists are end of the last century. Protectionism the protectionism of Nazism and, voila!, determined to be such, then they have to and the reaction to domestic political there is the cause of WW II. QED. All neat make up their minds about the economic forces have not gone away and it is vital and tidy. Take a bow, Mr. Quinn, you causes of both World Wars of the 20th that we can understand people’s fears in have squared the circle for economic century and be consistent about them. this regard. If people agree to trade away, determinism and the cause of globalisation, Why did they both arise—despite the give away or have taken from them and made protectionism the basis of the participants being engaged in two opposite certain protections, such as those enjoyed world wars of the 20th century. forms of trade relations before each war? by many rural farm producers in this country, and the consequential effects There is a difficulty in knowing where Enter Ruairi Quinn. I think he must are not those that were promised, there to start in trying to refute all this. have been struggling with this conundrum could be a serious backlash. I wish the British Government well during its There were hundreds of millions of of trying to establish an economically Presidency” (Dáil Debates, 21.6.05). people involved in these wars but where consistent argument that explains the 20th exactly are those who fought and died by century and its major wars. He revealed As this was a very curt explanation for the million for protectionist economic his conclusions to Dáil Deputies on the the history of the past century we need to policies? Where are the battalions dedica- 21st June 2005, but they do not seem to tease out the argument a bit further. Hope- ted to protectionism? Where are its have been fully appreciated by his fully Quinn will do so at some point so this propaganda, songs, slogans etc. that audience. His conclusions were unique as is to help him along. So the First World usually celebrate the causes which people far as I know; the singular intellectual War was a protectionist backlash against fight and die for? I have not come across achievement was that he established (to the free trade of the era and this led to any. Obviously there were plenty people his own satisfaction) that WWI could also about a century of war and protectionism with protectionist policies and ideas but be blamed on protectionism. It would go that we are only now emerging from. This they had them for a purpose and that without saying that he believes this is is the only logic behind the declaration by purpose was clearly more important to obvious in the case of WW II, so he only Quinn. This begs a lot of questions. What them than any particular policies such as refers to WWI. This Dail event should be sense does it make in relation to the actual protectionism. Therefore the purpose noted, at least. Even applauded, whether events of World War I? Where do the behind the policy is what matters. But all it’s right or wrong, as such a radically new various alliances come into the picture? this has to be ignored by economic idea is a rare thing to occur there. Were they alliances about different trade determinists, as it does not really matter polices? How does the conflict in the what people think about, what they believe, Quinn’s declaration came in response Balkans fit into the free trade/protectionist or what they say. People don’t really know to Bertie Ahern’s report on the Council of scenario? Why was the Ottoman Empire what they are thinking as they are the Europe meeting, which Tony Blair did his attacked? Because it was so keen on free unconscious agents of economic forces best to wreck in mid June. The scales trade that it caused a protectionist backlash and therefore totally unaware of what they appeared to fall from Ahern’s eyes about in that part of the world led by Britain! are really doing. So, if you can wipe away the British premier after he saw him That’s the logic of the argument. I have about 99% of reality (i.e., what people perform at that Council meeting. The fact never heard it claimed that these conflicts actually thought, said, planned and did), that it took a blatant attempt to wreck the were over two different trade policies. But Ruairi Quinn’s assertion might be right— EU for Ahern to see the light says a lot never mind. but on that basis so could a hundred and about him, but maybe it was a small light one other assertions about the cause of on a long road to Damascus. The farmers If the war was a backlash against the WWI. The alternative explanation can of Ireland immediately saw a blinding free trade of the pre-WWI era, it is reason- only be found after the hard work of light and hopefully they will not allow able to assume that the participant that sorting out and dealing with all those Ahern to forget Blair’s antics, even if he was most protectionist launched the damned facts of actual history. dearly wished to do so. backlash in August 1914? But does Britain fit the bill? There is the little difficulty that But just as a clue to the cause of WW Quinn said: the Great Liberal Party that launched the I in the maze of facts, how about looking “If we open up our markets as the British Empire into the war had made for the strongest Empire in the world at the neo-conservatives in the United States itself ‘Great’ over a decade earlier precisely time that wanted to be even stronger and would like us to do without any type of because it thoroughly defeated a protec- wipe out by any means possible all that quid pro quo or without any safeguards tionist policy by the Tories in England— could possibly be regarded as a challenge in regard to the income distribution effect that of Tariff Reform—and that policy to its dominance? An Empire which of that decision, in five to ten years’ time was never heard of again. declared war in August 1914. Should not we will have a totally skewed income be too difficult to find that out? distribution derived from the wealth And I think we must assume on Quinn’s Jack Lane 7 State. The Village magazine (1-7 July) market. Its IRISH net profit margin tells us that the Barron Report on the amounts to 16.9% compared to a more Shorts Dublin and Monaghan Bombings com- modest 4.7% in the UK (see Bill Murdoch, mented that the Minister and his officials The Irish Times, 5.8.05). VHI, on the from in 1974 were not fully informed about the other hand, is losing money as a result of investigation. The amount of documents carrying the burden of an older population. the Long Fellow that have gone missing relating to politically But let’s not let the facts get in the way of sensitive investigations is also disturbing. free market ideology! SINDO SUPPORTS VANDALISM AGAIN One of the reasons why the Fianna Fail The Sunday Independent has continued Government’s import of arms in 1969 MEDIA COMMENT its campaign in support of vandalism. At following the pogroms in the North was a Could the national bourgeoisie have the beginning of the year Ruth Dudley fiasco was that the Garda Siochana was finally woken up to the sheer awfulness of Edwards’s column wished “A Happy New acting independently of other institutions the Irish media? Dermot Desmond recently Year to the patriots who last week de- of the State (the Army, Minister for Def- responded aggressively to Bruce Arnold’s commissioned the statue of Sean Russell” ence, and the Minister for Finance). pompous Open Letter regarding the Abbey (2.1.05). The revelations by the Morris Tribunal Theatre. And an interesting letter was also “De-commissioned” is one word; suggest that the relationship between the published in The Irish Times (1.9.05) from “vandalised” is another word to describe State and the Garda Siochana should be Brian O’ Cathain, a former Managing the paramilitary destruction of the Russell reconfigured in the State’s favour. Director of Enterprise Energy Ireland, statue last year. It is reasonable, especially given the responding to Fintan O’ Toole’s ruminat- Last August Gene Kerrigan had this to Gardai’s track record of filing problems, ions on the Oil and Gas industry. The say about the recently erected statue of that the Minister for Justice should have letter opens: Charlie Haughey, which was financed by access to all Garda documents. The Bill “Fintan O’ Toole’s column of August fisherman from An Daingean, Co. Kerry: also requires the Gardai to account for 30th (“Giving our Resources to Nor- “There is in this country an age-old, their movements on duty when directed to way§“) is absurd. It shows no under- and rather regrettable, custom of do so. standing of the basic economics of oil vandalising public statues. The Village report says: and gas exploration and development, and a cavalier disregard for the historical “In the spirit of that custom, let me “Increased powers and a greater facts of Irish hydrocarbon exploration.” point out that there is nothing wrong involvement in Garda affairs by the O’ Cathain gets to the nub of the issue with a brass bust of Charlie Haughey Minister for Justice is the thread that that a small tin of glow-in-the-dark paint runs through the Garda Bill.” towards the end of his long letter when he won’t fix. (Sunday Independent, 7.8.05) It is difficult to know how else says: For the benefit of Sindo readers/browsers democratic accountability can be brought “The Irish State is not willing to bear with literacy problems, a cartoon accom- to bear on the Garda Siochana. the risks which the Norwegian state has panied the article depicting a man throwing by creating and funding a national oil paintballs at a statue of Haughey. company to explore for oil and gas… MORE EU ARROGANCE “To suggest, as Mr O’ Toole does, that we should implement Norwegian LAND OF THE BRAVE? It seems that that the European Com- levels of taxation, without Norwegian The most powerful country in the world mission has learned nothing from the French and Dutch rejection of its free levels of success and inward investment, has shown itself unwilling to respond is economic madness.” competently to disasters. Its response to market orientation. It has decided to inter- Hurricane Katrina has been well docume- fere in the controversy over the Risk INFLATED EGOS Equalisation Scheme (RES) applying to nted. But the dust has not settled following It seems that O’ Toole’s campaign on Irish Health insurance. The RES was the September 11th attacks. Executive pay in The Irish Times, which designed to ensure that the young and Thousands of New Yorkers contracted began with a bang, has ended with a healthy would continue to subsidise the serious illnesses following the collapse of whimper. Its letter to the Governors of treatment of the old and sick. Insurance the Twin Towers which released asbestos The Irish Times Trust Ltd, the oath-bound companies would be discouraged from and thousands of tons of toxic chemicals politburo of the newspaper, makes the cherry picking by having to compensate in its wake. The rescue workers, the heroes point that: other insurance companies (in practice of nine eleven, were told that there was no “…inflated salaries being paid to the VHI) which had older and less healthy danger. And yet months later, in April those at the top make a mockery of the 2002, fire engines were still found to be policy holders. paper’s very identity.” contaminated with asbestos (l’Humanité, A letter from the Commission, which But in a later letter to their colleagues, 10.9.05). has the full backing of Internal Market the campaign leaders suggest: Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, “…the real issue… is the dispropor- recommended: WHO GUARDS THE GARDAI? tionate distribution of bonuses to the “… that a requirement to pay under This column is a virulent opponent of executive directors compared with the the RES an amount so significant that it profit-share allocated to the rest of us” Michael McDowell and almost all his would force an operator to exit the market (Sunday Independent, 21.8.05). pomps and works. However, it is difficult would seem to discourage other operators So it’s really about how the loot should be to object to his Garda Bill even if the from entering the market and does, in shared out. But the letter just can’t leave it manner of its passing was rushed and any event, seem disproportionate” (The at that; it goes on to declare pompously: showed scant respect for the Dail and Irish Times, 17.8.05). “…the letter is not the beginning of Seanad. But the Health Insurance Agency has said the end of this campaign. Rather it is, to There is no doubt that the Garda that there is no risk of this happening. quote Winston Churchill in another Siochana has a funny relationship with the BUPA has been creaming it in the Irish context, only the end of the beginning.” 8 Four years ago The Irish Times was in to the views of the Communist the process of making a third of its International, which at that time A Question For workforce redundant. The then chairman believed in the essential unity of Mr. Mansergh Major McDowell and his daughter were communists and socialists. rumoured to be pulling over 1 million Elsewhere our position had received Editorial Note: The following letter Euros per year in total out of the company so little support that one of the leaders appeared in Village on 30th September” of the Communist International (Sunday Business Post, 18.11.01); and yet intervened to suggest to Maurice In his response to John Horan (Village, there was not a word out of O’Toole and Thorez to give up the proposals for a his comrades. 23-29 September) Martin Mansergh refers Popular Front which he had made in to the historic Irish nation in terms of Could the reason be that, unlike Nantes.” “Whatever nebulous meaning that may McDowell, Maeve Donovan (Managing “The International at this time Director) and Geraldine Kennedy (Editor) (October, 1934), was against our have today”. are ‘natives’? Their basic salaries (320,000 initiative, I would say against our This can only mean that he does not euros each) are modest in terms of the political line and this time as later we hold a one nation view of Irish history as recent Ascendancy traditions of The Irish said ‘No’. It is a fact that at the 12th I assume he sees no virtue in holding Times. Congress of the International we were nebulous concepts of any sort. He has also congratulated and shown as an example consistently rejected the two nations view by the General Secretary, Georgi of Irish history. His attitude therefore Dimitrov, who I quote from memory: appears to be that there is an Irish people Keeping It Real ““The French Communists, with the but with no obvious national identity or Popular Front, have found a new key identities. It’s not easy being the editor of to open the lock of history.” I think a person in his position is obliged l’Humanité. The excellent French Health “That is what I know from that period System means that there are plenty of old and all French communists can be proud to be clear with us on what exactly his communists still around ready to pounce of it.” view is on this matter. Does he believe that on the smallest of errors. The following In 2005 the French Communist Party that there are one, two or maybe no nation letter appeared in the edition of 24th has been trying to create a new Popular among the Irish people? Maybe we are September 2005 from a René Thoirain in Front against the ravages of Globalisation. just British provincials that need to be Paris. It achieved a spectacular success with the humoured? “The article published in defeat of the European Constitutional As all the relevant facts of the matter l’Humanité’s history page of 6th August Treaty last May, the reverberations of are as well known to him as to anyone else under the title “The inventor of the which were felt a few months later in I do hope that in any response he will not Popular Front” upset me because it Germany. be in the least nebulous about his position. contradicts the history of that time which John Martin Jack Lane I lived through. It was not Georgi Dimitrov, nor the Communist International—of which he was the Forthcoming from Aubane Historical Society: general secretary since 1933, after his trial at Leipzig and at Berlin where he showed immense courage and Brian Murphy osb: remarkable intelligence. It was the French Communist Party and itself alone The Origins and Organisation of which was the originator of the Popular Front. British Propaganda in Ireland 1920 “Although I personally know the process of the development of the United Front (French CP and Socialist Party), the signing of the unity pact on the 27th of July 1934, I prefer to support my ATHOL BOOKS views by referring to Memoires by [email protected] Jacques Duclos (Volume 1, Pages 420- P.O. Box 6589, London, N7 6SG. 421). C/O Shandon Street P.O., Cork. ““The radical party focussed P.O. Box 339, Belfast, BT12 4GQ. attention of political observers on its congress held in Nantes on 25 to 27th of October 1934. On the eve of Launch and Public Meeting this most important congress our Party unveiled its views on the Union Jackery: alliance between the working class and the middle class to combat the pre-history of Fascism in Britain fascism. It was in these conditions ISBN 0 85034 111 6 that Maurice Thorez made his speech by in Nantes on 24th October in which Brendan Clifford he proposed in the name of the Central Committee of the French Friday, 21st October 7.30 pm CP, the achievement of unity and the at creation of a Popular Front for Bread, Teachers’ Club Liberty and Peace. This creative ALL WELCOME 36 Parnell Square, Dublin initiative did not entirely correspond 9 Casement Melodramatics

In The Village (3-9 June, 2005) under She moves on to “the issue of Roger Ms Crowe writes, “She tracks the the heading Dramatics At The Birth Of Casement’s “black diaries” and the gradual defusing of the issue, to the current The State, Catríona Crowe “looks at a disquiet they have caused for many years”. situation where hardly anyone has a new book that focuses on five famous There are two problems with that formul- problem with Casement’s sexuality”, controversies at the birth of the State”. ation. Melodrama about the “black There may be evidence that some, even The book is The Irish Art Of Controversy diaries” is standard—but silly. Casement’s most of those claiming that the sexual by Lucy McDiarmid, about the period personal diaries were ordinary Letts pocket elements in the diaries were forged ‘had a from 1908 to 1916, and it deals with diaries with black covers. The “white problem with Casement’s sexuality’. “culture, religion, language, welfare, and diaries”, which he produced in Peru, were That’s why the diaries were forged. Not politics”. They include the Lane Bequest written on Consular Service-issue foolscap having a problem with Casement’s alleged (of Impressionist paintings), and the paper. The Diaries did not cause ‘disquiet’ [homo]sexuality has nothing to do with Abbey’s production of a Shaw play, for years, mainly because the UK Govern- whether or not the diaries were used to get “banned under England’s ridiculous ment disclaimed all knowledge of them. him executed (the fancy word for ritual censorship laws”. England’s censorship The question was dragged out into the State killing). And even that has nothing laws, “ridiculous” or otherwise are rarely open in 1937, when the question of whether to do with whether or not they vital bits of mentioned in the Dublin media. or not elements were forged was raised. the diaries were forged, and why they were forged. We get the dismissal of Michael Catríona Crowe encapsulates the Seán McGouran O’Hickey from his position as Professor controversy rather well: of Irish at Maynooth, because he took the “The Casement controversy is still attitude that knowledge of the language with us, a small number of people still Roger Casement: The Crime should be compulsory for entrants to the convinced that the explicit “black Against Europe. With The National University (in essence a dairies”, which provide accounts of a Crime Against Ireland Introduction by B. Clifford. university for Irish Catholics, under the large number of homosexual encounters, 184pp. Index. ISBN 0 85034 101 9. AB, thumb of the bishops). A further were forged by the British authorities to 2003. E 13, £ 9.99. controversy is “the 1913 battle between stifle the movement to seek clemency for him when he was sentenced to hang feminist socialists and the Catholic clergy” for treason in 1916.” over sending the children of “locked out The Casement Diary workers” to safety and security in England. We then get a couple of paragraphs Dogmatists Edited by Brendan Clifford. The contending parties were not that clear claiming that the authenticity of the diaries has been proven beyond peradventure, 68pp. A Belfast Magazine No 22. ISBN 1 cut, but Catríona Crowe seems to be on the 874157 09 X. October 2004. E 5, £ 4. side of the angels. which is not the case.

Report Traitor-Patriots In The Great War: Casement & Irish Press Royal Honour: Masaryk by Brendan Clifford. 56pp. Food For Thought! A Belfast Magazine No 23. ISBN 1 874157 10 3. Oct 04. E 5, £ 4. READERS' OFFER: All the above for Euro "OBE for veteran Irish journalist 10,Sterling 12, postfree (From addresses on back page) "Veteran London-based Irish journalist Aidan Hennigan is to be awarded an OBE for services to journalism. Mr Hennigan (79) has been included on the Foreign and Commonwealth list and will receive his award in the new year. "Mr Hennigan, originally from Ballina, Co Mayo, was London editor of the Irish Press between 1962 and 1995 and is now London correspondent for the Examiner newspaper. "He said he was very gratified by the award and put it down to his coverage of the IRA bombings in England and the subsequent wrongful imprisonment of suspects. “One had tried to achieve a balance between the undoubted grief caused by the bombings and the apparent innocence of the people,” he said. "Mr Henngian said he had been surrounded by excellent staff in the Irish Press and had maintained “a substantial and continuing interest” in his work." (Irish Times 21.9.05) 10 In 1969 there were pogroms against the Catholic population and thousands of refugees pouring into the South. The Irish Government did not have the military Haughey’s Legacy capability to declare war on the UK, but the least it could do was to organise the Charlie Haughey was, without doubt, John Bruton, was a very late convert to covert supply of arms to enable the the greatest Irish politician since de Valera. social partnership. Catholic population to defend itself. When From the mid 1960s he established his its plans were discovered by the British, reputation in the Justice, Agriculture and The Haughey Government of the late the Lynch Government’s response was to Finance portfolios. The Succession Act, 1980s managed to have the best of both pretend that the operation was not guaranteeing that a surviving spouse would worlds. It received money from Europe authorised. Haughey, Captain Kelly, and inherit at least a third of the deceased’s and at the same time a policy of low two others, were brought before the courts assets, tackled a problem whereby widows corporate taxation attracted American to satisfy the British. If Haughey was the were left destitute following bequests to capital undermining Continental European greatest politician in the last 40 years, the Church. The tax exemption to Artists jobs. The success of the Irish Financial Lynch was the worst. and free travel to old age pensioners were Services Centre was an example of this. other visionary measures. But he will There is little doubt that Haughey lied It could be said that Haughey’s solution probably be best remembered for being in court when he said that he knew nothing to the economic crisis was not a socialist the architect of both the Celtic Tiger and about the arms importation. However, solution. (It could also be said that there the Peace Process. there is a big difference between perjury were even more right wing options by a defendant and perjury committed by available). But he never claimed to be a a prosecution witness. Lynch and Jim THE CELTIC TIGER Even for those who lived through the socialist. Also, there was no socialist Gibbon knew about the importation. About 1980s, it is easy to take our current political solution available. The Labour five years ago a jury member was inter- prosperity for granted. Back then there Party under Dick Spring took a moralistic viewed by RTE television and he said that was a sense of despair which was reflected stance in relation to Haughey and refused all of the jury at the trial were surprised in the half serious joke suggesting that we to support him under any circumstances. that the case was brought by the Govern- should return the country to Queen The 1987-1989 Government was depend- ment in the first place. It was obvious to all Elizabeth and apologise for the way we ent on Fine Gael and the 1989-1992 concerned that the importation was had left it. “Would the last person leaving Haughey Government was a coalition with authorised by the Government. The the country please turn off the lights” was the Progressive Democrats. Government must have thought that the a common sentiment referring to rampant very fact that it was the Prosecution would There are, of course, other people who emigration and unemployment. The be enough to intimidate the jury. contributed to our prosperity, most notably National Dbt had reached over 130% of Alan Dukes who supported the 1987-1989 When all the defendants were acquit- national income and the possibility of Government and who was promptly ted, a Dail Committee was set up to invest- walking away from the debt was openly deposed from the Fine Gael leadership. igate matters relating to the Arms Trial. considered. The 1982-1987 Fine Gael/ But the key person was Haughey. One of the members of the Committee Labour Coalition collapsed with exhaust- Justin Keating resigned after the ion and a sense that the problems which THE PEACE PROCESS Committee was refused access to Army the country faced were insurmountable. I’ve heard it said that the Peace process intelligence documents. Years later Keat- ing concluded that the Committee was The Haughey-led 1987-1989 Govern- was a continuation of FitzGerald’s Anglo- designed to give the impression to the ment provided coherence and hope. The Irish Agreement. This, of course, is Public that the jury in the Arms Trial had public finances were put on a sound footing rubbish. The key difference was that Sinn got it wrong. It was, in effect, intended to and the economy started to grow. The Fein and the IRA were brought in from the overturn the verdict of the courts by Irish Government began to punch way cold. This was consistent with Haughey’s political means. above its weight in Europe. Haughey’s philosophy on Northern Ireland from the outset. Northern Ireland was a failed close relationship with Mitterand and It could be said that Haughey should political entity and therefore the British Delors helped win billions in European have used the same defence as the other were not in a moral position to exclude money. The right-wing economist Sean three defendants and said that the paramilitary groups. Albert Reynolds Barrett referred to EU subsidies to Ireland importation was authorised by the deserves a lot of credit for continuing the as the “largest foreign aid programme in Government. This would have avoided work of Haughey, but Haughey was the the world, with about 7% of GDP”. the necessity to lie, but it would also have key figure enabling the process to start. finished his political career and embar- Another factor which contributed to rassed the State. In my view the fact that THE SCANDALS the success of that Government was social the case was brought and then pursued partnership. Labour TD Liz McManus in The above are substantial achieve- ments and represent the core of Haughey’s was disgraceful. Jack Lynch bears the a recent letter to The Irish Times claims responsibility for this. that Labour was in favour of such a policy legacy. However, historians will no doubt pick over other aspects of his career. In in the 1990s. But by then its success was OTHER SCANDALS well-established. Labour Comment was my view they will be kinder to Haughey The other scandals relate to actions in in favour of this policy in the early 1980s than to many of his critics. The first and Government or his personal tax affairs. and it was a voice in the wilderness within most substantial scandal was the Arms Most of the governmental scandals relate the Labour Party. Fine Gael, particularly Trial in 1970. to the minority Government of February 11 to November 1982. And most of these Report found that there was no evidence The “Pro Life” movement was a fringe relate to his disastrous Justice Minister that any gift received influenced Haughey. campaign until one of the leaders of the Sean Doherty. When he became an enemy major parties of the State signed a of Haughey, all Doherty’s sins were purged The Report also investigated payments commitment for a constitutional amend- by the Haughey critics. received by Michael Lowry. In my view ment on abortion. But that leader was not The most substantial scandal in that the tax evasion by Lowry was much more Haughey. Haughey initially refused to era was the tapping of Geraldine Kennedy blatant since it involved evasion of income sign such a pledge. It was Garret Fitzgerald and Bruce Arnold’s phones. Nobody, not tax. McCracken also exonerates Lowry of who was pressurised into doing so even Doherty, has claimed that Haughey the charge of corruption. However, in the following a pro-abortion declaration by a authorised the taps. The most that is said case of Lowry the evidence is less clear- leading Young Fine Gaeler. Once the issue is that Haughey was aware of the tapping cut. It was found that he did try to influence had entered the realm of party politics, after it was initiated and did nothing about a Fine Gael TD in Meath to drop his Haughey felt he had no option but to it. Haughey denies this. objections to the building of a new Dunnes support the amendment to cover his Stores supermarket on the grounds that conservative flank. But it was FitzGerald That whole era has never been dealt the Dunnes were generous contributors to who opened the Pandora’s box. Fine Gael. McCracken rather generously with adequately. Sean Doherty claimed Haughey has also been criticised for that he was offered 50,000 pounds to gives Lowry a clean bill of health on the grounds that there was no evidence that his “Irish solution to an Irish problem”. overthrow Haughey (T. Ryle Dwyer, Irish This allowed contraceptives to be made Examiner, 2.7.05). According to The Boss Ben Dunne exercised any direct influence on Lowry. available for “bona fide” family planning by Peter Murtagh and Joe Joyce, reasons. When asked about this in recent Haughey’s advisor Martin Mansergh The Moriarty Tribunal found that years he replied why shouldn’t the Irish believed that MI6 had been plotting against Haughey used his influence to arrange a have Irish solutions to Irish problems? Haughey since 1979 (page 267). The other meeting between the Chairman of the After all the French have French solutions point is that the tapping of phones of Revenue Commissioners Seamus Pairceir to French problems. journalists had been done before. Vincent and the Dunne family. The Dunne family Browne and Tim Pat Coogan’s phones agreed to pay 39 million pounds in taxes One suspects that many ‘liberals’ had been tapped by Fine Gael Govern- arising from a Family Trust. Pairceir must particularly in The Irish Times would ments, but no Fine Gael minister was ever have been delighted that the business had prefer British solutions to Irish problems. called to account for such actions. In my been expedited and the trifling sum (in the view the right to privacy of journalists is circumstances) of 52 thousand pounds The 1979 Planning Act was a minimal- not absolute, particularly if they are able was written off relating to interest on the ist response to the Supreme Court to eavesdrop on Cabinet meetings in breach amount due. So, as a state official, there is judgement in the McGee case. But the of the principle of Cabinet confidentiality. no evidence that Pairceir was influenced McGee case was in 1974. The Fine Gael/ by Haughey to give the Dunnes special Labour Coalition failed to even provide Following the recent death of Doherty, treatment. All Haughey did for the Dunnes for a minimalist response before it left there was very little attention to the bugging was to facilitate access to Pairceir. office in 1977. of Martin O Donoghue by Ray McSharry. Sometime later after Pairceir retired he McSharry felt it necessary to do this CONCLUSION was able to advise the Dunnes as a private The legacy of Haughey is far more because of rumours that he would be individual how to reduce their tax liability offered a bribe. And, in fact, O Donoghue substantial than any of his contemporaries. (it was reduced to 16 million pounds), but His achievements since 1979 were in the indicated to him that, if there were anyone this had nothing to do with Haughey. who felt obligated to Haughey for financial face of virulent opposition. Any examination of his flaws will have to reasons, money would be made available Recently, Vincent Browne revealed consider the role of the media and the fact to release such a person from such obliga- (Village, 17-23 June, 1995) that in the mid that no other politician of his time or since tions. One wonders if any capital acquis- 1980s he could not gain access to Pairceir has received such close scrutiny. ition taxes would have been paid on any who was about to wind up the Sunday John Martin such donations! At the time it was sug- Tribune for tax liabilities. The Taoiseach gested that the distinction between what Garret FitzGerald intervened to facilitate Aubane Historical Society O’ Donoghue was suggesting and a straight a meeting with Pairceir. I see nothing Aubane, Millstreet,Co. Cork forward ‘bribe’ was a very fine one. wrong with either FitzGerald or Haughey’s Other scandals relate to donations actions. Stair-Sheanchas received by Haughey from wealthy Éireann/ businessmen. There is little or no evidence THE LIBERAL AGENDA Narrative History Of that any of this influenced policy decisions Haughey has been criticised for not by Haughey. The ‘scandal’ merely being a ‘liberal’. But he never particularly Ireland amounts to Haughey’s personal tax affairs. claimed to be liberal. It was not Haughey by Micheál Ó Siochfhradha It would be interesting to know how many who launched a “Constitutional Crusade” ISBN 1 903497 21 3 people would voluntarily declare a gift of in the 1980s. In this connection there has Euro 25 / Sterling 18 a million or more pounds to the Revenue been a re-writing of history, deliberate or HALF PRICE TO READERS! Commissioners. I suspect very few. Taxes otherwise, in relation to the emergence of Orders to: on gifts were introduced to ensure that the “Pro-Life” campaign. The impression [email protected] wealthy parents could not hand over their given is that Haughey facilitated this or: property to their offspring before death to campaign for purely electoral reasons. Athol Books, PO Box 6589, avoid inheritance taxes. The McCracken The facts of the matter are rather different. London, N7 6SG 12 Moreover “the IRA’s chief smuggler …the IRA Chief of Staff…” will not be put out of business “for fear of weakening Gerry Adams”. Presumably the allusion to “robberies and the like”, hardly the most The Politics Of Criminality precise phrase, refers to the Northern Bank ‘heist’. We know the PIRA did it because The Other ‘Armed Wing’ (or, Sticky [are involved] in criminal racketeering… a Big Peeler told us. There have since Amnesia?) on a scale that makes the Officials look been two money robberies in the Republic, The ‘Official’ IRA recently appeared like schoolboys.” (There is a quotation using exactly the same modus operandi, in the Irish media in the form of a letter at the foot of the page reprising the same but they were not PIRA operations (a Big from Brendan Dowling (Irish Times sentiments, in 25 point Arial.) Guard said so). Moloney’s article floun- 5.8.05). This was in response to Máirín Moloney does not make a case to go ders about in innuendo and partial De Burca of the Workers’ Party, who had with the loud headlines: it would have interpretation of facts (such as they are.) claimed that the WPI had taken “a path been useful (including to Sinn Féin) if he Cross-border smuggling will go on other than the bomb and bullet in 1969…” had been able to point to defects in their until the border is rendered meaningless and asked of the Provisional IRA what the position. (It is of no political worth to in commercial terms. Borders incite people deaths had been about (30.7.05). This was throw allegations of chicanery at Sinn to smuggle. The RUC did not excite itself a question or designed to promote the Féin, especially from the Labour side of about the odd bit of smuggling, or even ‘revisionist’ image of the PIRA as criminal the house. In the ’80s, some IPR people quite widespread smuggling. It was guns gunmen. remarked that the Provis ‘deserved to win’ and the makings of bombs that they tried The Provis by no means did all the because they were able to breast the waves to stop. The Dublin Government, when shooting and bombing, and emphatically of nonsense which engulfed them.) the Irish pound took a dip in comparison did not start the shooting and bombing. Moloney writes “…journalists who to Sterling in the 1980s and ’90s got The Ulster Volunteer Force started the persist in trying to expose [PIRA criminal- anxious about the border, which was cros- cycle of violence in 1966, and the Defence ity] will be isolated as… politically- sed by large quantities of ‘white goods’ Associations were in existence by the motivated oddballs”. He may not be ‘an without benefit of taxman. Summer of 1969—months before the IRA oddball’ but Moloney is ‘politically The “IRA’s Chief of Staff” may stop split. The IRA was under the leadership of motivated’. He was one of the cabal that his (alleged) large-scale smuggling, if the what became the ‘Official’ rump. ran the allegedly libertarian PD (People’s Army Council so orders him. His succes- Mr. Dowling writes of Ms De Burca’s Democracy) in ’68 / ’69, when it helped sors may not be as organised and claim, “This is simply not true”. He was bring down the Unionist ‘statelet’. peaceable. The crooks running such scams a member of the Official IRA “up to 1977/ He accuses “…the media in Belfast will use guns on rivals, the police, and the 78 (despite a supposed ceasefire called by and Dublin” of ignoring Sticky criminal- public, at will. The range of goods smug- the officials in 1974)”. (He has been ity, but does not explain why. The WPI gled will grow: drugs like cocaine and crudely sub-edited, or has fallen into the domination of the media was allowed heroin will cross and re-cross the border habit of mind fostered by the Dublin and because it suited a re-Anglicising to the great enrichment of people who just London Governments, to the effect that establishment. want to be rich. Mr. Moloney lives in ‘ceasefire’ equals ‘capitulation’: it Moloney had a ’60s New Left ‘ideo- inner south Belfast, and must have some doesn’t.) logical’ problem with the Brezhnevite inkling of what a free market in heavy He noes some matters unwelcome in Stickies. Now he feels “déjà vu” because ‘drugs’ would be like. A Belfast pub cold print by the WPI (or the current he envisages a repeat “on a much larger called the Waterfront was burned down leadership of the Irish Labour Party). scale of one of the most disgracefully over drug dealing in 1991. Including (post-ceasefire): “the Official dishonest episodes in the history of the Troubles…”. This was the fiction that the Social disaster will come in the train of IRA… importing AK47s… shooting and OIRA had been disbanded and that the widespread addiction to ‘hard’ drugs; bombing the UDR and British soldiers, family break up, violent theft to ‘feed the robbing banks… forging bank notes… WPI “had become entirely peaceful and constitutional”, while involved “in all habit’, physical degeneration and punishment shootings and beatings, degeneration of drug-users’ environment shooting Provos, IRSP/INLA members sorts of criminal activity”. This might —from their own living space to whole …”. He claims it is disrespectful to the shock some WPI voters; but nobody in the districts, which become unpoliceable. The OIRA’s victims, and to the Volunteers Northern Catholic community, or IPR latter may sound interestingly anarchic, who were killed or served long terms in readers anywhere. Twenty years ago Eddie but this sort of situation is appalling for prison, for Máirín De Burca to come out McGrady, SDLP MP for Down South, those unable to escape: young families, with baloney about a ‘peaceful path’. told De Rossa to “get the Official IRA off the building sites” before daring to attack the old, the halt and lame, the unemployed, and the underpaid (the working class in Officials’ ‘Criminality’ the SDLP’s credentials. This was at a Old Labour language). Another outing for the Official IRA WPI sideshow at the (British) Labour was in the Belfast Telegraph, in The Stage Party Conference. The ‘rinky-dinks’ are The IRA is not a band of angels, but it Is Set For A Squalid Re-run, by “award- still stealing money out of building has a grip on how society functions, and it winning journalist and author, Ed workers’ wages. clearly wants society to function as a Moloney”. He claims Moloney claims the IRA will not be reasonably pleasant place for the great “the Provos have ended up as a mirror disbanded, and that “those involved in majority of its components. It has taken image of their rivals, the Official IRA… lucrative cross-border smuggling, (possibly over-)drastic action in regard to [They] ended their ‘armed campaign’ counterfeiting, cigarette sales, robberies ‘drug dealers’. But small-time drug dealers against the British and, like the Officials, and the like will [not] give it up…”. only want to be big-time drug dealers. 13 There are fortunes to be made for The next accusation is that Sinn Fein comparatively little outlay, especially if piled up their vote by accusing “the UCD Symposium guns and ‘muscle’ are already available. Protestants” of bigotry—it seems that the On De Valera This analysis is not starry-eyed about the party has “seats in the London, Dublin, This extensive event in early Septem- IRA, or Sinn Féin. However, if the former Belfast and European Parliaments”—just ber was to commemorate the 30th anniver- dealt in drugs in the manner of the UDA, because the Catholic community (nowhere sary of de Valera’s death. Your reporter the vote for Sinn Féin would collapse. mentioned as such in this short article) only attended for the contributions of Peter They would be exposed as hypocrites on has, presumably recently, discovered that Hart and John Regan. Hart made some a level even lower than the Stickies. They Ulster Unionism is, in the cliché, ‘close very sensible points about the deterioration would fall that much further—the whole to’ the Orange Order. of the relationship between de Valera and Republican project would go down with In Moloney’s article Sinn Fein reflects Collins, saying amongst other things, that them. the IRA, rather than represent large de Valera’s decision not to go to London— Ed Moloney nowhere in this article numbers of the Irish electorate. And it is up to the point of the last Cabinet meeting, gives any indication that Sinn Féin or the opposed to ‘the Protestant community’ after which he said he should have gone— IRA have become cynical. That would rather than the Unionist parties. But that was perfectly reasonable. Hart seems to be the only explanation of what he asserts: does not explain why Catholics elect have set out to restore Dev’s reputation as that the IRA is a (relatively) respectable Shinners to parliamentary institutions against the anti-Dev vitriol of Tim Pat pseudo-political front for criminality. outside Northern Ireland. One of their Coogan’s Collins. Collins’s apparent (A sub-theme in this sort of writing is two MEPs sits for the Dublin Euro-seat: resentment of de Valera was based in part that the IRA is incompetent—thus stealing did she get elected because Dublin’s on what Hart called de Valera’s failure of useless local Northern Ireland plastic working classes have a chip on their leadership at the last Cabinet meeting. money from the Northern Bank. But the collective shoulder about Unionism? And However, he undid the good work by IRA would have known of the convertib- how about Dáil Éireann and Westminster? saying that Collins’s decision to sign the ility problem in relation to Northern Bank The notion is simply absurd. Moloney is Treaty was in effect made in a fit of pique. notes. The Provos are not portrayed as being too clever by half here. He ought John Regan very correctly pointed out incompetent in other fields of money- not to have mentioned Sinn Féin’s electoral that an entirely psychologically-based raising. It seems any accusation will do success. reading of the situation is inadequate, and to stop people voting for Sinn Féin.) When he gets on to “racketeering”, said that the British Government may A political problem for their detractors Moloney mentions “140 paramilitary- have been trying to create a rift between is that Sinn Féin representatives at all associated criminal gangs”, but only Collins and de Valera for several months levels have been energetic in pursuing the names the IRA. He reiterates his assertion beforehand. Hart had said that the British interests of their constituents: the way that “paramilitary racketeering” has not Fianna Fáil used to be, but with a sharper been “moved against” because Blair and knew very little about Collins before the social analysis, they are behaving like an Ahern do not want to stir up trouble in the treaty negotiations, etc., which is astonish- actual workers’ party. Republican movement, and lose Adams ing for someone who is supposed to have as its main spokesperson. (And the Sinn some knowledge of the state of British Moloney in America Fein leader is clearly the object of a jibe intelligence in Ireland. Ed Moloney’s rant was in the Belfast about “luxury vacation houses in Ireland Telegraph on 5th August, another was in …”—but the house he built in Donegal Manus O’Riordan in an intervention the International Herald Tribune (6.8.05). was with money from the sale of some his concentrated on the Civil War issue and This was headlined Purge The Thugs. books. Royalties from the first lot (four or the assumption that for or against the Free The first four paragraphs underline the five) went to Republican welfare groups.) State determined democratic credentials. fact that the declaration was “cost free”, The Official IRA does not get an outing One could not leave out Britain’s threat of in that the IRA has not exchanged shots here, nor does the alphabet soup of the “immediate and terrible war” and there- with the “British security forces” since other Unionist paramilitaries. fore one could not question Mellows’s democratic credentials when he said the mid-1997. He goes on to claim that “IRA Danny Morrison wrote an article in activity” has “pitched” the Peace Process Free State vote was not the will of the Irish Daily Ireland about the decommissioning people but the fear of the Irish people. from crisis to crisis, and that the IRA did of the IRA’s arms. It suggests that Northern not suggest it was going to disband or to He said that historians were strangely Ireland is a very dangerous place, where absolving Collins of IRB murders carried cease recruitment. The implications of Unionist armies think they can kill and what he writes is that the IRA should wind out in the consolidation of the Free State injure, and ‘evacuate’ Catholics from the (the same historians who so freely accuse itself up—the cry of an honest man, the towns and villages of east Ulster with unwary reader might think. him of so many murders during the War of impunity. It may be that the stabbing to Independence!). Thus we have Harry Bol- In the next paragraph he writes that the death of Tom Devlin, in nice, middle- IRA stole “more than $50 million from a and’s killing still presented as an accident class, leafy, Somerton Road, is a dreadful (O’Riordan’s quarrel with David Fitz- Belfast bank”, and that “IRA members swansong of raw sectarianism. It may killed Robert McCartney”. Apparently patrick), when we know it was not any also be the start of a new cycle of inexperienced soldier who shot him, but that is why they were forced to make their assassinations. statement. This is a lie, and is a disgraceful an IRB Centre. Indeed, little regard is attempt to bamboozle the American public. Ed Moloney has told a Goebbels-like being taken of the ‘Dublin City Bus Tour’ As is his assertion that “continued IRA Big Lie in his article about the sectarian that the severely wounded Boland was activity” destroyed the Peace Process for realities in Northern Ireland. He is duty taken on, first up to Portobello Barracks, the Protestant community, and “made its bound to rectify this if he is to be taken now home as well as HQ of Collins, to be political leaders reluctant to… share seriously as a journalist. viewed and inspected, before far too belat- power with Sinn Fein”. Seán McGouran edly receiving any hospital care at all. 14 Addressing Hart, he said he didn’t know if his new Collins biography still · Biteback · Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback· Biteback held to his previous absolution (Hart smiled but made no effort to reply, Na Creatuiri Bochta Gallda suggesting it does) of Collins for the killing The following is a translation of the poem which appeared last month of Sir Henry Wilson. Such absolution was not credible, because such a staunch Is e seo dan a chum me le deanaigh ar abhar athsgrudaithe staire na hEireann agus Collins man as General Joe Sweeney nosanna nua na haigne ghallda ata ag teacht in Eirinn le deanaigh. would not have been lying when he said that Collins had told him that it was done Cad a dheanfaidhmuid feasta gan oglaigh,/ What will we do in future without soldiers on his orders. Historians were not O cuireadh na gunnaigh faoi chlar?/ Since the guns were buried? accepting the implications of this particular An bhfuil tracht ar O Duibhir I gCill Manntain/ Is O’Dwyer ever mentioned in Wicklow Na’r Choilean I mBeal Atha na mBlath?/ Or Collins in Bealnablath? pursuit of an IRB strategy. First, the IRB Na laochrai a sheasuigh an la linn/ Where are the warriors who stood up with us killing of Wilson as part of its involvement Nuair a thuirling Clann Luther ar tra;/ when Luthers mob landed on our shores, in the separate Northern War; then the Thug omos a’s dilseacht do’n Phapa/ Who gave their respect and loyalty to the Pope receipt by Collins of all the British military Agus drochmheas do’n Eiriceach thall./ And nothing but contempt to the Heretic in hardware required to punish and crush the England. anti-Treatyites for Wilson’s death—the guilty Collins punishing the innocent! As Cad a dheanfaidhmuid feasta gan sagairt?/ What will we do in future without priests usual, O’Riordan had posed the most Nil fonn ar na stocaigh do’n chleir./ Teenage boys aren’t interested in the church. pertinent questions of the session. Ta call aca laithreach sa chulghort/ They have an urgent appointment in the back field ‘Up Dev!’ Le giorsaigh tointarnocht’ san fhear./ With barearsed teenage girls in the hay. Ce leighfidh an Leabhar duinn De Domhnaigh/ Who’ll read the Holy Book on Sunday ‘dTigh ‘n Aifrinn ar leitir an chnuic?/ In our Masshouse on the side of the hill? Letter To Editor Ce maithfidh sa bhocsa ar bpeacaigh?/ Who’ll forgive our sins in the confessional? Das Kapital—A “ Abair Paidir a’s Deichniur, a mhic!”/ “Say an Our Father and ten Hail Marys,my son!” Cad a dheanfaidhmuid feasta gan eigse?/ What will we do in future without poets? Belated Comment Nil rann anois sgriobhtha fiu faic./ There isn’t a verse being written worth piss. John Martin correctly highlights a cult Beowulf I reim imBeal Ath’ Aoidh/ Beowulf’s in charge in Bellaghy (Heaney’s town) A Pheist dortadh orainn cnuic caic./ His Worm pouring mountains of shite down on us. of inevitability as a weakness of many Shakespear le “Fwat ish my nation?”/ (Take) Shakespeare and his “Fwat ish my nation?” Marxists (July issue, p22). But Marx Broim Beckett, yuc Yeatsach comh maith/ Becket’s fart, Yeat’s yuck as well himself emphasised that human society is Slog siar iad sa scornach go doimhin,/ Swallow them deep in the back of your throat not pre-determined but develops from how Bronnfar Nobels anuas ort seacht saith./ You’ll be awarded your seven fills of Nobels. we perceive our economy, how we generate ideals based on these perceptions Cad a dheanfaidhmid feasta gan fiorGhaeil?/ What’ll we do without the real Irish? and organise around these beliefs (in Siol Eibhir a dibirt thar lear/ The children of Eibhir being dumped overseas classes, tribes, nations, etc.). In this sense An Glas Gort a dingeadh le bruscair/ the Green Field being stuffed with rubbish he was closer to Burrage’s ‘modern’ O Mhalainn go Conndae a’ Clar./ From Malin Head to County Clare. science (June issue p16), to Einstein’s Slan le fear bainte na mona!/ Farewell to the man who could cut turf! Relativity or Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Slan leis an fhear chuireas tuighe!/ Farewell to the man who could thatch a house! Slan le fear silte na heorna…/ Farewell to the man who could still the barley! where the observer’s point of view must A’ ‘s cead slan leatsa, Eire, a chroidhe./ And a hundred farewells to my darling Ireland. be accounted as affecting the reality Liam Mac I Shearcaigh © described. For instance capitalism generates corn law reform and then imperialism the (where exploitation is suffered) is seen as growing belief in equality by putting a ruling class just managed to find cheap negative in our Western world but shop- market price on everything (labour power, sources of food and raw materials to ping is the new delight because there the products, land, etc.). This creates social assuage workers’ demands for equality. chips are cashed in, ‘exploitation’ by the relations similar to those of poker players Again after the sideshow of two world western worker is actually realised. Con- or sportsmen: they may compete strongly wars the crisis of the 1960s developed sumerism flourishes! but they occupy a level playing field so which Thatcher finally diverted by allow- In the 2 mentioned capitalist crises they gain respect for each other (e.g. ing manufacturing to go abroad gains were won in social equality—after Apartheid Rugby and 1950s lily-white (previously of course e.g. India had to 1850 particularly in education and electoral American baseball teams instinctively send its raw cotton to Britain and buy back reform, and after the 1960s in race, knew that if black players were allowed it manufactured textiles). So the crisis was women’s children’s, gay rights—in fact would massively encourage racial defused (now a worker in the West still we must in our laws be the most egalitarian society ever! But with capitalism now equality)—Kings, women, immigrants— may sell 8 hours labour and be paid for global, can the next crisis—when Asian their custom is equally welcome in the only 4 hours—but that worker can with market place! workers demand equality with western those 4 hours pay buy a product containing workers—be solved by capitalism (a world Of course in contradiction to the dem- possibly 16 hours of technologically and for equality capitalist owners still minimum wage of 1 Euro/hour would be advanced labour in Chinese manufactured a great start to Kenna’s ideal)—and can it suck surplus value from those who must goods—see I. Kenna June p15). So this sell their labour power. That dynamite be solved before western consumerism worker winds up with a ‘profit’ of 8 hours through global warming destroys our contradiction caused for instance the labour power, and so is sort of ‘middle planet? Chartist crisis in the 1850s when through class’, exploited but also exploiting. Work Jim Dixon (Cork) 15 that the Taoiseach was correct. “He confirmed that the Taoiseach’s offer referred to addressing Dáil committees rather than the Dáil itself. Sprechen Sie Dáil “Mr Adams’s spokesman indicated the ‘confusion’ may have arisen over the A week after the officially accepted Two days later on August 7th the fact that on occasion Oireachtas announcement of the IRA’s decision to Sunday Independent was claiming in an committees meet in the Dáil chamber achieve its aims by purely political and editorial that Adams had referred in his and that Northern MPs could possibly democratic means, on 5th August 2005, article to a commitment given in a private speak at such a committee gathering. the Irish Times carried an article by Gerry meeting between himself and Ahern. It ““Perhaps Gerry wasn’t qualified Adams. That article contained an unargu- commented: enough in what he wrote or didn’t explain able statement of fact beside the expression “One of these contradictory accounts himself enough”, he said. of a legitimate aspiration. Adams wrote: must be wrong. Either Mr Ahern or Mr ““That said, we are still seeking speaking rights in the Dáil. We are happy “The Taoiseach has given a Adams left that private meeting with a enough that the offer on committees is a commitment that MPs elected in the Six completely inaccurate impression of step in the right direction but we will be Counties will be able to speak in the what was discussed and what was agreed. looking for full speaking rights”, he Dáil. As MP for West Belfast I should “This indicates either disingenuous- added”. have the same right to speak on the ness or duplicity on the part of one, the Rossport Five in Co. Mayo, or homeless- other or both of them. Whoever is to ness in Dublin, or drug problems in blame, it should not be happening. It is Next day, in response to waters that Limerick as Michael McDowell or not the way affairs of State should be had already been muddied, wells that had Dermot Ahern have to speak on issues in handled.” previously been poisoned, the Irish Times Belfast or Derry. We want to see this published a typically anti-national editorial: done with all speed.” In the same issue of the Sunday Independent , Bruce Arnold’s lapdog, John “The acknowledgment by Sinn Féin A. Murphy, rushed to condemn any con- that its president, Gerry Adams, was Adams did not claim that the Taoiseach mistaken in saying the Taoiseach, Mr cession to the northern component of the had given a commitment that he would Ahern, had given him a commitment have the right to speak in the Dáil on those nation’s right to a role, however under- that their MPs, elected in Northern internal matters, he just expressed a stated, in the political life of the nation: Ireland, would be entitled to speak in the reasonable wish that someday he should “What Gerry Adams brazenly Dáil, is to be welcomed. That clarific- be able so to do. demands is unconstitutional. Bunreacht ation will reassure unionist politicians na hEireann clearly limits its jurisdiction that the constitutional framework of the to the 26-county area. Admitting Immediately all the usual suspects went Belfast Agreement remains intact. And Northern MPs to the Oireachtas would concerns on both sides of the Border that into overdrive, conflating the statement of amount to representation without the Government entered into secret side- fact with the aspiration to produce a storm taxation. More important, such a step deals with Sinn Féin, in advance of an of misdirection and misrepresentation. would violate the spirit and the letter of IRA commitment to end all paramilitary the Belfast Agreement. In this fences- and criminal activity, will diminish. The very same issue of the Irish Times rushing move towards an embryonic all- “It is difficult to understand why Mr published an article by its Chief Political Ireland parliament, SF contemptuously Adams misrepresented the situation, last Correspondent, Mark Brennock, which flouts the basic principle of the week, in an article published in this contained Ahern’s denial that he had ever requirement of Northern majority newspaper… given any such commitment: consent for any change to the constitu- “The fact that three days were allowed tional status quo.” “…a spokesman of the Taoiseach to elapse before Mr Adams, through a indicated last night that Mr Ahern’s spokesman, acknowledged his Now the commitment to which Gerry commitment was considerably less than misunderstanding of the situation this, and that he did not envisage northern Adams referred in his article was one suggests an element of political games- MPs speaking in plenary Dáil sessions. which the Taoiseach gave publicly in the manship. Last year, when a deal appeared “While not commenting directly on Dáil, while being questioned by Sinn Féin likely, the Taoiseach told the Dáil he Mr Adams assertion, the spokesman said TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, on 13th May was prepared to recommend that Mr Ahern would seek to pursue an 2003. The exchange between Ahern and Northern MPs should be invited to attend arrangement whereby Northern Ireland Ó Caoláin will be reproduced below along committee meetings when they were discussing matters relating to Northern MPs would be invited to attend with the 2002 recommendation of the all- Ireland or the Belfast Agreement. It Oireachtas committees to discuss matters Party Oireachtas Committee on the Con- relating to Northern Ireland and the would, however, be up to the Oireachtas stitution to which their remarks were to make that decision. And there was no Belfast Agreement. substantially addressed. That should clear “Ultimately, the spokesman said, this question of MPs being given a right to up the confusion which, having originated was a matter for the Oireachtas itself to address the Dáil in plenary session. decide after discussions between the in malicious misrepresentation in the press, “This matter had been under discus- parties. The spokesman said Mr Ahern was compounded by the statement of an sion for years. And there was never any had spoken of such a system in the Dáil anonymous Sinn Féin source, claimed by hint that those Sinn Féin MPs who last December and had said it “would the Irish Times to be Gerry Adams’ “chief refused to take their seats at Westminster not involve the granting of any rights or spokesman”. The SF spokesman’s state- would be granted an automatic audience privileges, and there would be no ment appeared in the Irish Times on 9th in the Dáil. There was certainly no question—as Mr Adams had it—of their constitutional implications or question August 2005: of cutting across the architecture and being given quasi-ministerial licence to “Mr Adams is on holidays but his speak on controversial issues such as operation of the Good Friday chief spokesman yesterday confirmed agreement”. major construction projects, drug abuse 16 and social housing in this State… “ through the Dáil periodically forming recommendations of the All-Party itself into a Committee of the Whole Oireachtas Committee on the Constitu- There was in fact more than a “hint” of House for the purposes of selected tion regarding access for elected MPs in a long overdue acknowledgment of the debates’. MPs would ‘speak in periodic the Six Counties’ constituencies to the North’s right to a place in the political debates on Northern Ireland matters and Houses of the Oireachtas? I missed the assembly of that Irish nation of which it is on the operation of the Good Friday Taoiseach’s initial response to the the once and future vanguard. That is in Agreement’. questions so may I ask whether changes “At no time did Sinn Féin state that envisaged in order to accommodate these the recommendation of the All-party such a facility whould be open only to important steps require constitutional Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution Sinn Féin MPs, as your Editorial change through referenda or whether, as to which Taoiseach Ahern committed suggested. Clearly SDLP members I and others believe, such changes might himself in the Dáil on May 13th., 2003. would avail of it and while unionists, not be necessary and that what is required But of that, more later. In the meantime initially, would be unlikely to participate, is a decision by the Taoiseach and his . . . their attendance would be especially Cabinet to allow for the facilitation? welcome. Will the Taoiseach recognise the Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader, Caoimhghín “The Taoiseach has committed importance of filling the current vacuum Ó Caoláin, replied to the farrago of mis- himself and his Government to taking and allowing northern elected MPs the representation (which an anonymous Sinn forward the committee’s recommend- opportunity to have rights of attendance Féin source had foolishly appeared to ations. The Government parties and Fine and rights of participation in specific Gael voted for a Dáil motion in these debates accommodated at the earliest endorse) with a letter to the Irish Times terms in 2003, even though Fine Gael opportunity?” which was published on August 13th. It is leader Enda Kenny is now rubbishing a letter which is both polite and politic. the idea of Six-County representation in The Taoiseach:—”Some of these Ahern is thrown a bone and let down the Dáil (Michael Collins must be turning issues may ultimately require constitu- lightly to drool over it. In addition to some in his grave)… tional amendments but others do not. other matters his acquiescence, if not his “The Sinn Féin president’s original The All-Party Committee on the active goodwill, will be required by Sinn comment in the Irish Times article is as Constitution set out what could be Féin in coming weeks as the IRA attempts, correct as the Taoiseach’s follow-up done in regard to the right of audience and the right to participate in debates in the face of Unionist intransigence, comment. The Taoiseach has given a commitment for Northern MPs to speak in this House. There was an all-party finally to completely disarm. So, while agreement on that early last year. The the facts of the matter are adequately in the Dáil, albeit on Dáil Committees as opposed to plenary sessions of the Dáil. Government agreed to that. I have clarified, the politics of the matter, in a That, in anybody’s book, is still speaking since asked party leaders for their manner most politic, are understated to in the Dáil. If others wish to split hairs on views on the matter. The Government Ahern’s advantage. This magazine does the issue in pursuit of a story that doesn’t is in favour of the right of MEPS to not have any reason to be polite or politic exist, then that is a matter for them- attend and participate in committee in respect of the Taoiseach. We will not selves… “ debates on the EU and for Northern understate the politics of the matter when Ireland elected representatives to we come to the recommendation of the And so to the meat of the matters in participate in debates on the Good All-party Oireachtas Committee on the hand. Friday Agreement and other relevant debates. Some of those mechanisms Constitution to which Taoiseach Ahern can be put in place if there is agreement committed himself. But of that, more later. First, the Taoiseach’s public commit- in the House. In the meantime . . . ment to the All-Party Oireacthas Commit- “On the more long-term issue, the all- tee’s recommendation on Northern party committee raised the issue of Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin wrote: representatives having speaking rights in Seanad Éireann. That will be further Dáil Éireann. We have quoted this developed when a report is published “Your editorial of August 10th, ‘Sinn exchange before and will no doubt quote later this year on the long-term position Féin and the Dáil’, contained a string of it again in days to come. It may not be and that has my support. As soon as misrepresentations. Let me make clear politic to do so. It is political. there is agreement in the House, I am the Sinn Féin position on Six-County prepared to move on those issues.” representation in the Dáil. “We are working towards an All- At Question Time in the Dail on Tues- Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:—”Will the Ireland Dáil, representative of 32 day, 13 May 2003, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Taoiseach take ownership of this Counties and with jurisdiction over the was answering questions on among other matter?” whole island. Obviously, for that to things the “Committee on the Constitu- happen, British rule in the North will tion”. Sinn Fein TD, Caoimhghín Ó The Taoiseach:—”Yes, most have to come to an end. Does that mean Caoláin, asked the following question and certainly.” nothing should be done in the meantime? received the following reply:— The striking emphasis there is of course Certainly not. mine. And let this be emphasised again “Following the Good Friday Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin:—”Focusing (and again and as often as may be required): Agreement in 1998, Taoiseach Bertie on another area of the work of the All- Ahern asked the All-Party Oireachtas Party Oireachtas Committee on the “The Government is in favour of Committee on the Constitution to Constitution, I wish to ask the Taoiseach the right of MEPS to attend and examine the issue of Northern if he recognises that following the participate in committee debates on representation. It took the committee unilateral suspension of the Assembly the EU and for Northern Ireland until 2002 to report. It looked at a range elections by the British Government, elected representatives to participate of options. It recommended that MPs people in the Six Counties have no in debates on the Good Friday from the Six Counties would have ‘a democratic forum to which to send their Agreement and other relevant limited right of audience within the Dáil’. representatives? What steps are being debates.” This ‘might technically be effected taken by the Taoiseach to pursue the 17 In May 2003 Mr. Ahern and his Govern- that this issue and the cognate issue of members with expertise in social, ment were in favour of MEPs having the emigrant participation in our political cultural, economic and other issues”.” right to attend committee debates, specif- institutions could be dealt with most ically “committee debates on the EU”. At effectively in the context of these It was still just about possible, in 2002, Articles.” the same time there is no mention of to believe that such a future as is outlined committees in respect of Northern Ireland The issue of emigrant participation is in those paragraphs might somehow, elected representatives participating “in “cognate” only in an altogether abstract someday, come to pass. Sinn Féin was not debates on the Good Friday Agreement sense that is infinitely remote from the then and is not now, for politic rather than and other relevant debates”. What the practical political import of the Northern political reasons, prepared to state the Taoiseach committed his government to issue. The chapter in which both issues are plain fact of that future: that it is a fantasy. in that respect was the recommendation of considered, Chapter 4—Northern Ireland In consequence, the Committee’s recom- the All-Party Committee on the Constitu- and emigrant participation in national mendation on Northern participation in tion. So what did the All-Party Committee political life—is really two chapters and national political life is over-determined recommend? is in fact laid out as such with the by wishful thinking and formulated in First of all it should be noted that the consideration of Northern Representation great measure by way of understatement. Committee was at that time composed of coming first, followed by a recommend- It still recommends much more than the the following eight TDs and four senators: ation, followed by an entirely separate Taoiseach is presently willing to admit to. Yet it is still the scenario to which he has Brian Lenihan, TD (FF), chairman discussion of emigrant issues with its own Jim O’Keeffe, TD (FG), vice-chairman separate recommendation. The chapter publicly committed himself and his Brendan Daly, TD (FF) begins: Government to work towards (to put it mildly). And this is, in its entirety that Thomas Enright, TD (FG) “Immediately after the conclusion of Recommendation of the All-Party Séamus Kirk, TD (FF) the Good Friday Agreement, the Derek McDowell, TD (LAB) Taoiseach requested the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. Marian McGennis, TD (FF) Committee to consider the question of “There should be no change in the Liz McManus, TD (LAB) the participation of people from Northern franchise for Dáil elections. Senator Denis O’Donovan (FF) Ireland in national political life. The “The committee acknowledges that Senator Fergus O’Dowd (FG) committee has taken the view that the the immediate emphasis of the Sinn Féin Senator Kathleen O’Meara (LAB) issues involved cannot be considered submission, in particular, is on the Senator John Dardis (PD) fully and satisfactorily in isolation from possibility that Northern Ireland In that it was and is a typical Parliamentary its wider remit, and accordingly has Westminster MPs might have a limited Committee as these are constituted by the decided to approach them in the context right of audience within the Dáil. This of its examination of the Constitution’s Dáil. It has twelve members, four of whom would not require a constitutional provisions on the National Parliament.” amendment, and might technically be are Senators. The current Committee on effected through the Dáil periodically Agriculture and Food, chaired by Fianna forming itself into a Committee of the Fáil’s Deputy Johnny Brady has fifteen The discussion throughout is domin- Whole House for the purposes of selected members. It looks like four of them are ated by the Committee’s strongly expres- debates, most obviously for instance on Senators and are members only of the sed agreement with the SDLP’s submis- Northern Ireland matters and on the Joint Committee unlike the TDs who are sion that— operation of the Good Friday Agreement. members of both the Select and Joint The frequency and organisation of such aspects of the Committee. On Thursday, “…the “broadest possible interpreta- debates could easily be altered as no 25th March 2004, twelve of the Senators tion” should be taken of the question put constitutional amendment is required to the committee, and emphasised that and TDs of the Joint Committee had a over time, in the light of experience. “national political life” should not, meeting at which they took evidence from “We accept that any addition to the particularly in the context of the new Dáil of participants, even if temporary Mr. John Sadlier and Mr. Tim Morris beginning brought about by the Good and non-voting, other than those elected from the Department of the Environment, Friday Agreement, be defined purely as from constituencies within this state, Heritage and Local Government and Mr. occurring within Southern institutions. could be held to be inconsistent with the Michael O’Donovan and Mr. Matthew “It pointed out that “that part of Irish thrust of our approach. We also accept Sinnott from the Department of Agricul- national life which persists in Northern that any participation in the Dáil by ture and Food. That was this Dáil Commit- Ireland and over which the Assembly Northern representatives might tee behaving as a Dáil Committee, like and its Executive will exercise devolved potentially run the risk of opening up any other. Please bear that in mind. It is powers will be the responsibility of basic constitutional issues settled in the important to remember what a Dáil representatives from both ... traditions”. Good Friday Agreement. However, we “Secondly, “involvement in the wider Committee is, and how it operates. think that in this case those risks are national political life will be made a relatively mild and should be kept in reality through the North/South perspective. The expertise and The All-Party Committee on the Con- Ministerial Council”. The SDLP also experience upon which Northern MPs stitution reported on the relevant phase of underscored the potential value of two could draw could certainly enhance the its work in 2002. The foreword to the other possible institutions to which the quality of certain important Dáil debates. Report stated: Agreement requires that consideration Such an initiative would be strongly be given: a joint North/South welcomed by certain Northern represent- “Following the conclusion of the parliamentary forum which would atives and their supporters, and would Good Friday Agreement, the Taoiseach involve members of the Oireachtas and address the continuing desire of many asked the committee to examine “how members of the Assembly and an nationalists for further concrete people living in Northern Ireland might independent consultative forum expression of their Irish identity and play a more active part in national “representative of civil society, their membership of the wider national political life”. The committee considered comprising the social partners and other family. The Dáil could consider taking 18 the necessary procedural steps to allow tee on The North And How To Have According to Mr. Duffy there is no MPs elected for Northern Ireland Nothing Much To Do With It simply does need for Northern representatives to have constituencies to speak in periodic not square with the All-Party Committee’s seats and voting rights in the Dáil for them debates on Northern Ireland matters and recommendation that there is nothing to immediately acquire overwhelming on the operation of the Good Friday preventing the Dáil “periodically forming influence in that assembly: Agreement. The committee is of the itself into a Committee of the Whole House “In reality, actually holding a seat view that any such participation should for the purposes of selected debates, most and so a vote is not that important. The take place on a cross-community basis obviously for instance on Northern Ireland Dáil is rarely little more than a rubber with parity of esteem for the different matters and on the operation of the Good stamp” (Irish Times,13.8.05). communities in Northern Ireland. Friday Agreement”. That extraordinary “An alternative which is worth scenario is now the bottom line of any set Northern representatives will immediately considering is that ministers in the of proposals for realising the Taoiseach’s dominate the proceedings because of who Northern Ireland Executive, and perhaps declared aim of increasing the participation they are: also members of the Assembly, might of Northerners in the political life of the “Send the big guns of Gerry Adams be invited instead of or as well as nation. MP, Martin McGuinness MP and others Westminster MPs. However, on reflect- As a politic first step it may be enough into Leinster House and their Oireachtas ion this is a more problematic option. parliamentary party would jump from to be getting on with. As a matter of The numbers involved might be much Division Three to Premier Division greater, which would cause practical politics it begs the question: why should it overnight.” difficulties. More particularly, drawing be necessary for the Dáil to periodically upon those serving in institutions perform this extraordinary feat of forming Those northerners are pezzo novanti to be established by the Agreement, and itself into a Committee of the Whole sure, ninety calibre big-shots to beat the especially ministers, might be held more House? Why not go the extra distance, band. So keep them out for goodness sake. directly to cut across the balance within little and all as it is? And politically the Spare us our mediocrity and save the the Agreement, and lines of accountab- projected institutions of the Good Friday rubber stamp! ility and reporting, above all in relation Agreement are no longer a complicating to the North/South institutions. For that factor in the argument. reason we would prefer the involvement Oh well, as reasons for setting claus- When Sinn Féin’s reasons for maintain- of MPs from Westminster, which is also trophobic bounds to the march of a nation a sister sovereign legislature.” ing its polite stance of the moment towards go, that’s as good as any the anti-national the Taoiseach have been exhausted, and Irish Times and its stable of historians and Clearly the Committee’s recommend- its stance towards him has been repolitic- political commentators have come up with ation goes well beyond the Taoiseach’s ised, the Recommendation of the All- yet. And there’s more: currently preferred option of Northern Party Committee is one weapon it will still have very much to hand in the struggles “Giving a right to participate in the representatives addressing Dáil Commit- Irish parliament to people who hold to come. We very much look forward to tees, like the fifteen-member Dáil Com- offices not recognised in Bunreacht na mittee on Agriculture and Food. A similar that one being dropped on Dublin. hÉireann, who weren’t elected in fifteen- or even twenty-member Commit- Joe Keenan elections regulated by Irish law, and who were chosen to belong to an entirely different parliament by people not registered to vote in elections in the Republic, would be a constitutional revolution.” Actually it wouldn’t be a constitutional Storm In A Rubber Stamp revolution. The constitutional revolution is the set of proposals which will sooner In its editorial (August 10th., 2005) attacking the heretical notion, that leading rather than later be put to a constitutional attacking the heretical notion of Northern article also failed entirely to mention let referendum if the All-Party Committee’s representatives having a right to speak in alone quote the All-Party Committee recommendation is set aside. Jim Duffy Dáil Éireann debates on matters which Report. Entitled Adams In Dáil Could can’t recognise that or has to mask his concern the lives and livelihoods of their Have The Status Of A British Peer this recognition of it because he either hasn’t constituents The Irish Times failed to leading article was written by Jim Duffy read or has had to forget the All-Party mention, not even once in an off-hand of whom I know nothing whatsoever Committee’s 2002 Report. kind of way ‘for the record don’t you except that he is probably not mis- know’, let alone quote, the All-Party represented by his employer which The point is that a modest right of Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution describes him as “a historian and political audience exercised before a Dáil which whose 2002 Report is the core and context commentator”. has constituted itself into a committee of of the whole issue. the whole House is the least the Southern political establishment feels it can get Nonetheless it claimed, “It is difficult Quite what that description entails is away with; precisely because, extra- to understand why Mr Adams mis- anyone’s guess, and anyway who really represented the situation…”. In fact all cares? A historian and political comment- ordinary and all as it is, it does not require the misrepresentation was all its own (as ator who either doesn’t know about, or is a referendum to allow it to be enacted. explained in Do You Speak Dáil). careful to suppress any knowledge he And Sinn Féin will, at the moment at least, might have about the central fact of his accept it. Not too surprising then that when, subject, is probably not capable of bearing three days later, it carried a leading article much further scrutiny. If what Sinn Féin will currently accepts 19 is denied it, it will immediately up the ante The DUP and UUP will not currently There is still more, but if you want to and a constitutional amendment to allow avail themselves of speaking rights in the see how Jim Duffy figures Gerry Adams full membership for representatives of Dáil. I don’t know that the unionist will somehow follow in the footsteps of Northern constituencies will be tabled. If Alliance Party has committed itself one the late Lord Fitt by way of entering the Southern forty-five calibre droop-shots way or the other. Perhaps it would agree Leinster House you’ll have to check The didn’t think such an amendment would be with the notion and maybe that would Irish Times, It’s Website and the Archives carried, we wouldn’t be hearing about the enable it to get an MP elected one of these thereof. lesser, extraordinarily awkward, proposal. days. And the SDLP is still a party that is Face it Jim Duffy, Bertie is trying to avert not Sinn Féin and that has MPs who will Jim Duffy is a historian and political a constitutional revolution! Can you really certainly not commit political suicide by commentator. imagine him entertaining the Committee’s staying out of Leinster House. For Shame, Joe Keenan recommendation otherwise? Jim Duffy, For Shame.

But there’s more: “It would raise other practical issues…If they wish to participate in See No, debates they would need office facilities in Leinster House, and secretarial facilities, all of which would have to be Hear No, paid for by taxpayers who would find themselves paying for politicians they did not elect and could not fire.” Speak No Evil

Jim Duffy should really have added that Dermot Nesbitt is a moderate Unionist that is seemingly prepared to act both the Southern taxpayers, God Bless Them MLA for South Down, that heartland of outside international law and against its Every One, have enough to put up with the Protestant Fur Coat Brigade whose own Constitution to placate the demands paying compensation to various groups of traditional routes in the marching season of aggressive nationalism. And then we, victims of the current administration. Mac lead them to the Bahamas, the Balearics, as unionists, are supposed to act as good MickDowell’s vendetta against the to any field that’s foreign enough and far neighbours… McBreartys is going to cost a pretty penny enough away. His moderation is clearly “…Speaking rights seems an (should that be a cute cent in these evidenced by his having supported David insignificant development, but it is an Eurodays?) when all the eighty-odd cases Trimble in supporting the Belfast Agree- important litmus test. What is the Irish have been heard and the awards totted up. ment for a few months a few years ago. Government’s view of good neighbour- And then there’s the Tribunals, notorious His moderation, in respect of the death liness? I say to members of Dáil Éireann: monuments to good government that they throes of the demoralised, leaderless mass according to international law such a are. Bequeathed to future generations by of his fellow unionists, is expressed as a development would represent interfer- the holier than thou and not ashamed to post-modernist lack of drama in which ence in the domestic affairs of the UK… shout about it in bygone days PDs. nothing is seen with startling clarity, “Thirty years ago the Conference on Comment on the cost of that, why don’t nothing is heard in quadrophonic sound Security and Co-operation in Europe you, Jim? and nothing is said at all at all as the adopted proposals for promoting better Loyalists of North and West Belfast burn relations among states. Known as the And wouldn’t you know there’d be Loyalist North and West Belfast to the Helsinki Final Act, it laid down principles more: stumps. Apocalypse Non. Noh played out that subsequent international agreements “Giving speaking rights would also in Orange kimonononos. Not to put to fine have followed. Importantly, it stipulated affect the Belfast Agreement. For one a point on it, Dermot Nesbitt is a Norn that states should refrain from “any intervention, direct or indirect, individual party, for its own benefit, and to further Ironist. its own agenda, unilaterally to demand a or collective, in the affairs falling within right for some of its members to the domestic jurisdiction of another So Dermot Nesbitt is just the unionist participate in a parliament they had not state”… been elected to, would hardly embody boy for the anti-national Irish Times, which “Put simply, the Irish Government the cross-party, cross-community really likes Northern Prods as little as it would be in breach of its international consensus that is supposed to be at the likes Northern Taigs, to trot out in obligations if it unilaterally succumbed heart of the agreement. Saying that other opposition to the heretical notions of the to Sinn Féin’s pressure to allow speaking parties’ MPs could if they wish do the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the rights in the Dáil… same, when it knows on principle they Constitution (or Sinn Féin as the Irish would not want to, would be no excuse.” Times prefers to call it). Duly trotted out, “…The Irish Government said that it Unilateral is a fine word which is not in the Dermot dully performed. might establish a Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in order “to make recom- least undermined by using it in its most mendations on ways in which agreement obscure sense of multilateral. Parse those Also Sprach the sprat, in an imperative mood, under the categorical headline, SF and trust between the two traditions in two sentences and this is what you get. Ireland can be promoted and established”. Sinn Féin is demanding that it alone of all MPs Must Not Be Allowed To Speak In Dáil :— the northern parties along with all the “The forum met and commissioned studies… other northern parties should have a right “I never cease to be amazed at the of audience in Dáil Éireann. I mean really. chasm in understanding of some “…Both studies considered the Jim Duffy, you should be ashamed of nationalists towards the unionist Council of Europe’s National Minorities yourself. position. I witness an Irish Government Convention to be particularly relevant 20 to Northern Ireland… “Furthermore, the New Ireland Forum “In relation to the latter category and the Forum for Peace and Reconci- possibilities not requiring a constitutional “[According to the Minorities liation also broke suggestive new ground. amendment he suggests that “the Convention]…Individual states are While they were set up as platforms for minimum that could be expected is that responsible for implementing rights consideration of issues arising out of the the standing orders of the Dáil be altered appropriate to their minorities and are Northern Ireland conflict, and not to by that body to allow Northern accountable to the council for implem- examine a wider range of public policy Westminster MPs (18 in all) to attend entation. No other state can interfere in matters, and while they were appointed, and speak at certain debates ... Debates this implementation. The council has not elected, they did nonetheless bring on the work of the North/South already reported on both Irish and UK public representatives from throughout Ministerial Council and the all-Ireland implementation recommending, the island together in a structured fashion, implementation bodies would be obvious respectively, better provision for and facilitated serious and constructive examples...”, as would debates on Travellers and improvement of Irish debate.” international issues. language provision. It will monitor progress. “He goes on to propose that “the It was, as the Committee recognises, existing Northern presence in the Seanad “Where does this leave Irish an argument for the value of bringing should be provided for as of right and nationalists and Sinn Féin in particular? together Northern and Southern represent- through some mechanism of electoral It seeks “basic rights and entitlements”. atives in a deliberative assembly. The choice”, with “a more realistic number” It sees no reason why Northern Ireland proceedings of the Forum for Peace and of representatives. He notes that Northern MPs “should not be afforded the Reconciliation were a harbinger of the senators could participate in Oireachtas opportunity to represent” their voters in Committee’s own recommendation that joint committees and joint sessions of the Dáil. If this development occurs, it is both Houses. completely outside international law, Northern representatives should contribute against Ireland’s Constitution and makes to Dáil debates (with the whole house “Mr McGuinness also advocates that a mockery of the Irish Government’s constituted as a Committee) on Northern citizens in the North should have the commitment to the Council of Europe. Ireland and Good Friday Agreement right to vote in certain referendums, matters. Dermot, no doubt relying on the though he admits that “in the jurisdic- “Subscribing to these international Irish Times for his knowledge of cross- tional circumstances which prevail at norms is unpalatable to many. However, border matters, wouldn’t be in any position present, it is understandable that such a forsaking them is potentially disastrous to know that, since the Irish Times is right should be confined to issues which for good neighbourliness. Members of affect all citizens on the island ... it is Dáil Éireann, the choice is yours: choose doing its damnedest to suppress such dangerous knowledge. accepted ... that Irish citizens in the wisely.” North could not reasonably anticipate having a vote on something which would Well then, I can only assume that Mr. Which leaves just this of Mr exclusively impact upon those living in Nesbitt will be taking the twenty-six Nesbitt’s argument: that in allowing the twenty-six counties, eg an item to do counties and the two and a bit kingdoms Adams and the like of him to speak with taxation...”. (queendoms? realms?) to the Tribunal of in Dáil Éireann, said Dáil would be International Right Thinking over that “Mr McGuinness believes that “a going “against Ireland’s constitu- constitutional amendment to allow for hideous crime, the Anglo-Irish Agreement. tion”. He provides no evidence for votes in presidential elections would be Talk about one state interfering in another that rather stark opinion and fails more straightforward. But the same State’s implementing rights appropriate entirely to understand that the Irish urgency does not attach to this because to its very own minorities. Shocking breach establishment is drawn reluctantly there is not likely to be another election of international norms. Something should but irresistibly to the Committee’s until 2004, if even then.” He adds that be done about it. recommendation precisely because “constitutional moves may also be it can be implemented without any required to take involvement in the Dáil to the voting stage or to have northern But something was done about it. The fuss about a constitutional amend- deputies directly elected to it, depending Good Friday Agreement was done about ment. There is an altogether justi- on the exact proposals; changes in it. Which is only to say that the right of the fied concern that the measure is electoral law would undoubtedly be Irish Republic to interfere, on behalf of indispensible to preserving the Irish necessary”.” the Catholic minority living in Northern Constitution in its current form. Ireland, in the affairs of the United King- The All-Party Committee drew These constitutional waters are murky dom is enshrined in international law. The attention to the constitutional and shark infested. The All-Party Commit- Council of Europe hasn’t complained danger as follows: tee which produced the 2002 Report was about it so far. Perhaps no-one has seen fit far from being a Jacobin body; it didn’t to inform it of the irregularity. International “The committee has also noted a contain a single Sinn Féin member. Its Norm is a notoriously casual, laid back number of recent comments on the matter report is a minimalist document. Its kinda guy. by senior Sinn Féin figures, including newspaper articles by the Northern recommendation is the bottom line. All Ireland Minister for Education, Martin else is mare incognita:—here be sharks. And the Irish Government’s Forum McGuinness MP MLA (Irish News, 19 With big teeth. for Peace and Reconciliation. Oh Dermot, July 2000, and Irish Examiner, 10 August that’s not really a great precedent to be 2000). Mr McGuinness suggests that Bather Beware. “the matter might be specifically drawing attention to in just this context. Joe Keenan The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on approached in terms of what requires a the Constitution noticed just that precedent constitutional amendment and what does and had this to say about it:— not”.

21 The Irish Catholic And Benedict XV Part Three receded as the propaganda of the second great war has filled the history books and has become common understanding in Ireland, courtesy of the collapse of its Redmond and The Pope’s independent mind. Anyone looking at the Great War in the late 1930s/1940 should have a different Peace Efforts of 1915 appreciation of it than in 1914 (or indeed 2005). By this time the terrible consequen- Just before he was elected Pope, its announcement of hostilities, that the ces of it were apparent, as Europe looked Benedict wrote to a colleague: “I would Government in France, that had once forward to another round of hostilities, regret if any parish priest should take boasted it had “put out the lights of after the war to end all wars had not done sides for one or other belligerent”. But heaven”, had now returned to the old faith so. After the ‘evil’ of Prussianism had Redmondite Ireland and its parish priests with France’s participation in the blood- been destroyed, and half Europe with it, did not take this attitude. sacrifice at the front. Here is a view, what had been created were the greater written in 1940, of the France which the ‘evils’ of Bolshevism and the Nazis— Redmond had the active support of the Redmondites pretended to be Catholic for both of which now bore down on Europe. Catholic Hierarchy and the clergy at the the purposes of luring the Italians into the outset for his war on Germany. Bishop war: The introduction to Gwynn’s book is, McHugh had declared that “the sympathy “… it is no exaggeration to say that in in effect, a repudiation of Redmondism in of our people one and all is with the arms 1914 France occupied in Europe a its implicit agreement with Pope Benedict of England” and he described Germany position as the champion of militant that the prolongation of the war led to the as “a Power that would set at nought the atheism very comparable to that Soviet disasters of 1917 and 1918, “a catastrophe very foundations upon which civilisation Russia has occupied during the last for European civilisation”. Gwynn does rests” (Irish Catholic, 15 August 1914). twenty years… there can be no doubt of not say as much, but he states Benedict’s the implacable hostility of the politicians view and does not challenge it. How could who gained control of France after the In August 1914, Pastoral Letters were he, looking at Europe in 1940? read out at Masses across the country Dreyfus case. France came to symbolize the political forces of anti-religion just urging prayers for British military success. as Russia does in our own time. Even the But who was most eager for fighting The Independent ran a story on the 29th persecution of the Church by the Nazi the war to a finish, no matter what the September headlined, The Loyalty of Government in Germany in recent years consequences in 1917? Not the Germans, Ireland—Cardinal Logue And The War, has not been accompanied by such a Austrians of Turks but the British and which attributed to the head of the Irish clearly avowed attention of destroying John Redmond. Church, on his return from the Papal Christianity as was openly proclaimed Conclave held after the death of Pope Pius by successive French governments In May 1915, just as Italy entered the X, the view that “there was no more loyal during the pontificate of Pius X.” allied ranks, the war began to swing in country than Ireland”. The Independent Germany’s favour. The Entente believed That view, surprisingly, is from an also quoted the Cardinal as saying that that Germany had given its best effort in impeccable Redmondite, Denis Gwynn, “Irishmen throughout the world would the early months of the war, that in the who joined the British Army under stand by the Empire in the crisis, and were Spring of 1915 numbers would tell against Redmondite enthusiasm and fought at the prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder, her, and that she would be quickly collapse petty animosities being forgotten” (cited Western front until invalided out in 1917. in the face of the vast forces that were in Church, State and Nation in Ireland, arrayed on her borders—particularly the 1898-1921, p310). Pat Maloney drew my attention to “Russian steamroller”. But, by conduct- Gwynn’s 1940 book, The Vatican And ing of skilful defence in the West and Archbishop Walsh maintained a The War In Europe. And interesting it is transferring extra forces to the East, the diplomatic silence in the face of these indeed. In 1914 Gwynn saw the war in Germans launched a huge counter-attack statements and of the clerical war- Redmondite terms, as a war for small on the advancing Tsarist forces in Galicia, mongering of the parish priests heard on nations, for Irish Home Rule, for Catholic breaking through the centre of the Russian Redmondite recruiting platforms—as did Belgium etc. But looking at it in 1940 he lines. By the end of June practically all of Bishop O’Dwyer of Limerick. O’Dwyer, seems to have a different view—a view Galicia was liberated and German forces the Party’s strongest critic in the past, had much closer to Benedict’s—although he took Warsaw in early August. held his tongue since the Home Rule Bill does not say that explicitly. and had ceased his attacks on the Home At the same time it was becoming Rule/Liberal alliance. Books written in the late 1930s are clear that the British landings in the often the most enlightening about the Great Dardanelles had been a failure and the As we saw last month, Redmondite War. From that vantage point, after the much-heralded Italian offensive that was Ireland actively assisted in Italy’s fog of propaganda had cleared and a true supposed to make all the difference had enticement into the war by sending a strong picture of the consequences of the been stopped a few miles into Austrian delegation to Paris to put on a show of decisions of 1914 and later are clear for territory. Catholic solidarity as the Italian the European landscape, understanding is Government signed up to the allied at its fullest. Around this time the Vatican began to crusade. It did this to communicate the take the initiative in proposing peace talks impression to Catholic Italy, on the eve of But, since then, understanding has between the combatants. This was an 22 opportune time since it should have war, which is devastating the world, will counts on an overwhelming victory for become clear to both sides in the conflict be read with the sympathy and backed England. that there were no quick victories to be up by the moral support of millions of “It is time to look facts in the face, had and they would have now to sacrifice the best of the human race... But amongst whether we like them or not. There is no large amounts of men and materials to them all, none will receive this solemn use in shutting one’s eyes, and, in blind gain a result. appeal with deeper gratitude and conceit, rushing to one’s ruin... reverence than our own Irish people, “The prolongation of this war for one and for that reason I venture to address hour beyond what is absolutely necessary In August 1915 the Vatican called on you, whose responsibilities at this is a crime against God, and humanity, Irish bishops to support the Pope’s peace moment are so heavy, and beg of you to and the judgement of neutral nations, projects by requesting that the Irish Party throw the weight of your influence and still more of posterity, will be MPs bring pressure on the British Govern- strongly on the side of peace. pronounced heavily against any ment to consent to the opening up of “It is not easy to see what objection government that now refuses to entertain negotiations for peace. This led to a conflict any of the belligerents can take to the the proposals which are made in the between Redmond and the Bishop of proposal of the Pope. He does not ask name of religion, by one who is perfectly Limerick over the Pope’s plea for a any of them to make any concession, to impartial, and has no interest to serve negotiated peace. It is mentioned in H.C. undergo any humiliation, or to alter one but the well-being of all the nations. But O’Neill’s History Of The War (a Liberal jot of what it considers to be its just over and above these general claims. He simply asks them, with the considerations of religion and humanity, Imperialist account) in the context of the experience of the woe of the year that the vital interests of our own country German offers for peace which were made has just closed, to confer, either directly call clamorously for peace. after the fall of Warsaw: with one another, or through some “Therefore, we may hope that you “There were... about this time appeals neutral, and see if it is possible to find will use your influence to get a fair by the Pope and the Roman Catholic terms, or even an approach to terms, on hearing for the noble and Christ-like dignitaries. The wording of the Pope’s which they might put an end to this proposal of the Pope. In England some letter deserves to be recorded. “It is our disastrous war. people have been complaining of his firm determination to devote every “Unfortunately, one voice of passion silence. Now that he has spoken we may activity to the reconciliation of the has been raised already, without, we hope that they will show deference to his peoples now engaged in this fratricidal may hope due consideration, to make words. struggle. Today, on the sad anniversary the shocking and unquestioned statement “But, whatever they may say or do in of the outbreak of this tremendous that to talk of peace at the present moment England, we Irish Catholics have no conflict, there issues from our heart an is immoral. There was never a more excuse for disregarding the appeal of earnest prayer for the cessation of the cruel and heartless untruth... Our Holy Father. Our duty and our war. It must not be said that this conflict “Our Holy Father speaks words of highest interests are on his side in this cannot be settled without armed violence. sober truth and reason, and the impartial movement for peace, and, therefore, I Put away mutual desire for destruction judgement of neutral nations, and much should hope that you will bring your and reflect that nations do not die; if more of history, will utterly condemn great influence to bear on the English humiliated and oppressed, they prepare those who refuse to hear him. Government and press it to give his to retaliate by transmitting from “At a crisis such as this where is the proposal a fair and reasonable generation to generation hatred and the wisdom of repeating, like a parrot-cry, consideration. desire for revenge. Why should not a that no proposals for peace can be “Assuredly you have a right to be direct or indirect exchange of views be entertained until Germany is beaten to heard. You have given them help beyond initiated in an endeavour, if possible, to her knees? Delenda est Carthago is very price. We may hope that when you speak arrange aspirations so that all should be fine, if you were sure of being able to do on behalf of the Supreme Head of our contented? This is our cry for peace, and it. But is there a competent man in Church, and for the vital interests of we invite all the friends of peace to unite England at this moment who was your country, they will give heed to your with us in our desire to terminate this confident to being able to crush words. war and reestablished the empire of right, Germany? Or to crush her at a cost that “Before this disastrous war, by your resolving henceforth to solve differences would be less ruinous than defeat? It wise and upright statesmanship, you not by the sword, but by equity and may or may not be desirable to annihilate deserved well of your country, and justice”... German power; but that is not the brought her to the very threshold of question now, but is it practicable? Proud Home Rule. It may be in God’s “Uncritical observers and nervous and arrogant talk gives no help, and providence that you, a Catholic Irishman, people in the Allied and neutral nations revolts the consciences of men; and are destined to render her, and the whole were liable to realise more impressively people who set out to smash Germany world, a still greater service by leading from all these different peace suggestions should ask themselves whether the defeat the English Government to take the first the one main fact that it was the Allies of Russia, and the weakening of France, step at the word of the Pope towards the who were against peace at the moment. and the state of things at the Dardanelles, re-establishment of peace on earth. Thus, when an Irish Roman Catholic have not recently somewhat altered the “I am, yours faithfully in Xt., E.T., Bishop appealed to Mr Redmond to help conditions of the problem. Bishop of Limerick.” in furthering the cause of peace, Mr “A few months ago they counted Redmond could only reply that the with confidence on the triumphant With the fall of the Liberal Government moment was inopportune” (p441). pedigree of the Russian “steamroller”. in May 1915, and its replacement with a That machine is not now quite so A Letter From The Bishop Of Limerick Unionist-dominated coalition, Bishop efficient. Then great hopes were placed appeared in the Freeman’s Journal of 12 O’Dwyer felt justified to resume his in the accession of the Balkan States to opposition to Redmond. August 1915: the side of the Allies. The turn of events “Dear Mr Redmond—the appeal in Poland would probably show them After a mob attacked Irish emigrants which Our Holy Father the Pope has the merits of the other side, and altogether boarding ships in Liverpool O’Dwyer addressed to the belligerents in this awful he should be a sanguine man who still wrote to the Limerick Leader, posing 23 questions that were not supposed to be representing Irish interests were to be shape of the Royal Navy, had the strategic asked in Redmondite Ireland—questions heard at the Vatican: that of Redmond, ascendancy over Germany, and it was that would have been very dangerous for committed to the War and content to vital that the “war for small nations” anyone but a Bishop to ask. O’Dwyer cooperate with the English Mission; and would be won without compromise. With wrote: that of Bishop O’Dwyer, ably assisted the Entente forces stopped by strong by O’Riordain and O’Hagan, who was “What have they or their forebears German defensive positions in the west, suspicious of England’s war aims, and ever got from England that they should and the “Russian Steamroller” halted in who was totally opposed to the English die for her? Mr Redmond will say: “A Mission. The Catholic Bulletin resolutely the east, the main hope of defeating Home Rule Act is on the Statute Book. supported and endorsed the latter view” Germany fell to the British blockade. But any intelligent Irishman will say: “A (p212). simulacrum of Home Rule with an Since the very moment when England express notice that it is never to come In a real sense then Imperial Ireland was started to think about destroying Germany, into operation.” This war may be just or resisted by independent Ireland at the its main weapon was understood to be the unjust, but any fair-minded man would Vatican and in the Catholic Bulletin prior admit that it is England’s war, not blockade. Even with the British interven- to the Rising in 1916. Ireland’s” (cited in David W.Miller, tion in a Continental war, the greatest Church, State And Nation In Ireland, weapon which England’s possessed was 1898-1921, p317). Here is Mr. Redmond’s Reply to the seen to be the Royal Navy and its ability to Bishop of Limerick’s Letter to the Irish shut off Germany from its markets and its O’Dwyer’s letter was suppressed by the Leader on the Pope’s plea for a peace food supply. To suggest that the blockade Dublin papers. It was the only way it could conference, as given in the Freeman’s was a mere act of retaliation. designed to have been handled. O’Dwyer, or the papers Journal: facilitate neutral shipping, was completely printing the letter, could have been “Dear Lord Bishop—I have received false in view of the signals which emanated prosecuted under the Defence Of The your Lordship’s letter, and I need not from the British Admiralty and anti- Realm Act. But such a prosecution, of a say I have read it with the utmost care. German propagandists in the period prior Catholic Bishop, would have proved In reply, I must respectfully say that, to the Great War. disastrous. So the Bishop’s letter was to the best of my judgement, the course suppressed and, in response, distributed of action you suggest to me would not be Once the Allies stopped the Germans in leaflet form around the country. calculated to promote the cause of peace. at the battle of the Marne, four years of Nor do I think that I would be justified in trench warfare ensued. Although the Archbishop Walsh and Bishop endeavouring to bring pressure to bear Germans launched the most effective O’Dwyer were the more Vatican- upon the Government to enter into any offensives of the war, they were always orientated members of the Hierarchy. As negotiations for peace at a time when the strategically on the defensive and the such they took into account the German powers, who have been the oppressors in this war, show no sign of possibility of a negotiated settlement lay international interests of Catholicism to a any disposition to repay the wrongs they entirely with the Allies. But the British greater extent than the warmongering have inflicted upon Belgium and our Cabinet never for a moment contemplated nationalist clergy in Ireland who threw in other allies—Very Truly Yours, a negotiated settlement, despite all the their lot with Redmond. J.E.Redmond” (Freeman’s Journal, 13 losses in men and materials suffered and August, 1915). the fact that Allied forces did not seem to Brian Murphy’s recently published That must be the most discourteous reply be making any territorial progress. It coldly work; The Catholic Bulletin And calculated that the Allies could suffer Republican Ireland has described how ever made by an Irish leader to a Catholic Bishop. heavier losses than the Germans and still this Irish division took effect in Rome. win, so long as they had a better rate of Monsignors O’Riordain and O’Hagan at attrition proportionate to population than the Irish College in Rome had worked to There was nothing odd about Germany wanting peace at this of all moments—at the Germans. England believed that, in secure recognition of the separate identity the long run, the Royal Navy would do its of Irish Church interests from English the time of its greatest success in the war. It was not the aggressor in the war and had work on Germany if the line could be held political and clerical influence, which had for long enough on land. been felt to be exercised detrimentally to secured its defence by a military ability that the Entente had not bargained for. Irish interests in the past. Both had been The Royal Navy blockade of Germany Home Rulers before the war but had was the decisive factor in Germany’s become suspicious of British intentions But it knew that from here on only a long and wasteful war of attrition could defeat—after the allies had failed to get both with regard to Ireland and its wider the better of her in the field. It proved to be war aims in 1914. O’Riordain and defeat it. It wanted to secure a peace at this point to prevent further loss of life and the totally effective in cutting off Germany’s O’Hagan had to initially counter the imports of food and material, and led to influence of the new English Cardinal inevitable political and economic destruction that a fight to the finish would the policy of unrestricted submarine Gasquet, who had publicly defended warfare that brought America into the war Britain’s conduct of war on the Boers a produce across Europe. So it supported the Vatican’s efforts in getting for a and tightened the noose around the decade earlier. Then they had to deal with Germany. Sir Henry Howard, who arrived in Rome negotiated settlement. in January 1915 as Envoy Extraordinary of the British Embassy to mount a As H.C.O’Neill noted, for Redmond Most readers will be under the diplomatic assault at the Vatican. Use was “the moment was inopportune”. The impression that the Great War finished in made of the Catholic Bulletin in this Redmondites saw the Pope’s appeal for November 1918, and they will be totally resistance. Brian Murphy concludes: peace as “inopportune” because they unaware that the Allies continued the war “… two conflicting voices believed the British Empire, mainly in the against Germany for another five months. 24 There are not many history books that so great that, even if hostilities had Turkey might have been left with stable refer to the fact that there was a naval ceased, every country would have been governments and yet with enough blockade in place against Germany until crippled; if hostilities continued, they experience of modern warfare to April 1919 to secure German compliance would continue on a scale of unlimited discourage any taste for further to Allied terms. It was maintained for effort in which no reserve of strength adventures; and Italy, France and Great eight months after the official ending of would any longer be husbanded. Set free Britain—in that order—might have been on her eastern frontier, Germany must saved from insolvency. The war, if ended the war—resulting in the starvation of mass all her resources in one last effort at that time, would have ended without more than half a million civilians, mostly to break through the western line; the American help; and peace would have children, in order to turn Germany’s Allies must hold out till the attempt had been concluded without American conditional surrender at the Armistice into spent itself and then strike one last blow intervention. This last result might by an unconditional one in July 1919. at a worn enemy; Germany must in turn now be a matter for regret if thereby the prevent the allies from holding out by world had been cheated of the equitable C.J.O’Donnell, the Irishman who had cutting their sea communications. If and permanent peace, such as President served the British Empire, made the unrestricted submarine warfare ranged Wilson sought to impose on the militarist following comment about blockading in America on the side of the allies, it must party of the Versailles Conference; but it The Irish Future With The Lordship Of have been felt that either the war would would perhaps have been better for the The World: be over before any effective help could terms to be drawn by M. Clemenceau be given or else that, in the final, hopeless, and Mr. Lloyd George on Carthaginian “Infinitely the most inhuman act of death-grapple, a few million soldiers lines than for the world to be tantalized war is the blockade, which avowedly is more or less would not substantially by a glimpse of statesmanship that not aimed at soldiers or sailors, but at the change the degree or character of revealed the universal spirit and then to aged and the child, the babe and the Germany’s defeat. be fobbed off with a compromise which woman. In the Middle Ages the Catholic “Many of those who meditated on the embraced even the good faith of Church inflicted the major excommuni- war from its climax in 1916 to its end in England.” (While I Remember, pp171- cation on any general who blockaded a the Versailles conference may wonder 3). town before he had given full opportunity whether they did wisely in execrating for the withdrawal of women and and howling down anyone who shewed This was written in 1921 before the effects children. In those uncivilized days there the courage to advocate peace before the of the Great War had become clear. Who was such a thing as “the truce of God”” sphere of war underwent its last desperate can honestly disagree with this analysis— (p220). expansion. The government stood by its that if peace had been concluded in 1915, policy of a “knock-out blow”; the knock- 1916 or 1917 the world would have been But even though Pope Benedict XV out blow has been dealt. Is anyone the a much better place than it subsequently condemned the Allied “blockade which better for it? The fire-eaters who turned out to be? hems two Empires and condemns millions proclaimed that anything less than the of innocents to famine”, Redmond and his unconditional surrender of Germany Party continued to support it for as long as would entail another German war within Unlike the Vatican, Redmondite it took for Germany to be destroyed. their generation now proclaim with no Ireland did not want a negotiated peace in more doubt or qualification that Germany 1915, 1916 or 1917. It had began to see The Redmondites viewed Germany’s is preparing her revenge... The added things as the British Imperialists of the two years of war, then, have not brought various peace initiatives in 1915 as being “new Rome” saw them, and wanted to such security as Rome enjoyed at the enhance national hatreds and escalate and a sign of underlying weakness brought destruction of Carthage; the added about by Royal Navy blockade—which widen the war so that Germany could be bitterness of those two years, on the destroyed just as the original Rome had was going to ultimately starve the Germans other hand, has made more difficult any eliminated Carthage. into submission. And three more years of goodwill and any common effort to slaughter, and millions of deaths, on the substitute a sane and better system of Western front and elsewhere, did not shake International relationship. Redmond was quite prepared to oppose them in the belief that it was all worth it to “Worst of all are the worldwide the Pope and treat his Bishop in Limerick achieve Germany’s destruction. economic depression and political unrest with contempt in pursuit of this policy of for which the protraction of the war was no compromise, to fight to a finish. But It is of great historical significance responsible. Had negotiations been the consequences for Europe of this policy opened in 1916, the Russian revolution that the Pope tried to get the Great War were nothing short of catastrophic. and its consequences might well have (To be continued) called off in 1915 and that England and been averted; Germany, Austria and the Irish Redmondites, for reasons of Pat Walsh wanting to destroy Germany, Austro- Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, Tom Barry: IRA Freedom Fighter rejected his overtures. by Stephen McKenna, an English Liberal, Meda Ryan writing in 1921 honestly described the Launch of paperback edition implications of the British decision to Introduced by prolong the war in 1915: Ruan O'Donnell at Teachers’ Club “When the belligerents took stock (History Dept, UL) 36 Parnell Square, Dublin before settling down to the trench- author of FRIDAY 14th OCTOBER warfare winter campaign of 1916-17, all must have felt that the war had reached Robert Emmet & 7.45 pm its climax. The general exhaustion was The Rising Of 1803 ALL WELCOME

25 dropped in the ears of family members. We good book on this and similar matters is LETTER TO EDITOR do not know the origins of these but have John Lynch’s A Tale of Three Cities, traced them back at least to Dennis Skinner. published by Macmillan in 1997). None of this would have mattered much The editors in their high-spirited Spies & Lies up to about ten years ago; except to Harry Introduction set the agenda for the book, Newton who was already dead. In those Irish Studies is to be ‘gendered’, meaning The Summer 2005 issue of Problems days anyone in the labour movement who the disciplines of Women’s Studies are to be of Communism on George Orwell makes wished could easily meet anyone else— applied to the subject. The problem with this is that both subjects are very open- the following passing comment: from the Labour and Trade Union leaders ended. There is some discussion of “Orwell doesn’t explain how one down—at the Party Conference, at fringe patriarchical attitudes in Irish society, but could know that an apparent leftist was meetings and at numerous local gatherings nobody mentions the celibate priesthood a spy. Of course no one could know; and campaign events. Personal acquaintance which dominated Irish life for most of the characters who were regarded as genuine usually overcame any misunderstandings— twentieth century. (Ulster Protestants very leftists have turned out to be actual spies deliberately fomented or otherwise. rarely feature in such works, and this is no of traitors, including a fellow I worked New Labour put an end to all that. This exception, it rather detracts from the assertion that it is breaking new ground.) Ruth-Ann with on the Workers’ Control issue.” mostly rootless clique wasn’t about to M. Harris (Adjunct Professor of History and We assume the fellow referred to was Harry socialise with the masses. It saw itself not so much as a part of the democracy, but first as Irish Studies at Boston College) in Newton who was ‘exposed’ as an MI5 agent Negotiating Patriarchy: Irish Women And by an MI5 spy called Cathy Massiter. Harry the State-in-waiting, and then as the State The Landlord, writes “how differentiation Newton was the Treasurer of the Institute itself, for ever and ever amen. Even its was mediated by gender remains for Workers’ Control (IWC), one of its few lowliest backbenchers feel they can put the undertheorized and underanalyzed” in public faces, and one of its most active police onto neighbours they are in dispute regard to the peasant classes. But surely the members. with (and Blunkett put the police onto mirroring of the system brought in by the When the Bullock Commission children playing ‘runaway knock’ / new owning class was partly self defensive? recommended an equal position for workers ‘knockdown ginger’ on his mistress). The editors contribute essays of their own, Marilyn Cohen’s is “A Girdle Around The on the Boards of Directors of private What was once part of the kind of political abuse one had to live with and laugh off, can Globe”: Spinning Transnational Bonds companies in 1976 (and similar plans were Between Gilford, Ireland, And Greenwich, these days be a matter far more sinister. proposed for the public sector), the leader / New York, 1880-1920. It deals with proprietor of the IWC, Ken Coates, set the Care must be taken against efforts by the emigration from one town to the other. (This organisation against these plans. He was State to have us always looking over our Greenwich is a town in upstate New York, supported on ultra-leftist grounds by Neil shoulders. Many of the “ultra-leftists” who not the ‘bohemian’ area of the City.) This Kinnock and others. And for all practical opposed the workers’ control line of sort of specialised migration is a known purposes the IWC ceased to exist. development in the ’70s are now ex- factor; not all Irish emigrants were unskilled. But some of its public faces supported Communist Party and ex-Trotskyist There is a definite connection between Bullock vigorously. These included Tony government ministers and quasi-civil Belfast’s aircraft factory, and those in Seattle. (Ms Cohen is Assistant Professor of Benn, Audrey Wise, Jack Jones, and Harry servants. Joe Keenan, Conor Lynch Anthropology at Montclair State University, Newton. When Newton, after his death, was New Jersey.) ‘exposed’, it struck us as a put-up job. Others Nancy J. Curtin’s is the essay on the were also exposed: Ken Coates welcomed Book Review United Irish referred-to above, “A Nation the exposures. But Tony Benn rejected it Of Abortive Men”: Gendered Citizenship and made a robust and very public defence Gender And Identity And Early Irish Republicanism. Ms Curtin of Newton. Reclaiming Gender, Edited by Marilyn is Professor of History at Fordham University For nearly thirty years we have regularly (New York City: it’s a Jesuit foundation, Cohen and Nancy J. Curtin and set up the first Irish Studies course— explained the crucial moment for socialism Macmillan £35.00 and for Britain as a whole was the workers’ ever—in the 1920s, taught by Belfast-born poet Seosamh MacCathmhaoil / Joseph control controversy of the mid-’70s. Put Subtitled Transgressive Identities in Campbell. Boston College is also a Jesuit, simply, if the Bullock and related proposals Modern Ireland, this is not a very good, or and like Fordham, a heavily-Irish, had been embraced by the labour movement, revelatory, book about women and men in foundation). Curtin does not mention that Britain would be a true social democracy modern Ireland, partly due to the variety of the United Irish were not republican and a guiding light in Europe instead of a writers, and disciplines, and partly due to a ideologues; they were concerned about malign influence. The rejection of Bullock lack of historical imagination. The United misrule by a royal government, not by the was also a crucial moment in British history. Irish are discussed as if the women and men form of government. The United English It immediately gave us Mrs. Thatcher and of the 1790s should have behaved like those (there were also United Scots) were anti- then Tony Blair. It made Britain the of the 1990s. There is also the faint squeak republican, because they did not like the spearhead of free-market liberalism in of the barrel being scraped: Between Mater idea of “aristocratickal republics” (they were thinking of congealed oligarchies like Europe and revived its imperialist ambitions And Matter: Radical Novels By Republican Women, deals with three novelists, only one Genoa and Venice). This, along with the in the world. of whom could be described as ‘radical’. misconceived notions about gender relations For the most part we also felt we were One novel is anti-Republican. It is about a at the time, skews the essay. It is a pointer talking to the politically deaf. But if British wife and mother who opposes all this to an area of study. political society wasn’t listening maybe the romantic revolutionary nonsense indulged There are other essays of varying degrees State was. Benn and Wise have been in by her menfolk. The unromantic fact that of interest, one seems to be implying that constantly the subjects of whispering ‘Stormont’ and the UK Government and women in south Ulster in the 1830s were campaigns. And in the last year little stories Army were and are factors in the situation in literate in both Irish and English— a quite have come up in the press hinting that Jones Northern Ireland is ignored. Heather Zwicker remarkable matter—but it is simply may have had connections with the secret (Associate Professor of English at the mentioned in passing. I have not kept the best to the last: Kathryn Conrad’s essay, police. University of Alberta, Canada) seems to be endorsing this apolitical quietism as a Women Troubles, Queer Troubles: Gender, We ourselves have had it whispered about feminist response to the war. Ms Zwicker Sexuality, And The Politics Of Selfhood On us that we were working for the CIA and, also endorses an assertion that Catholics The Construction Of The Northern Irish more recently the British spooks. The never worked in Belfast’s shipyards. State, is tripe. rumours were spread so widely as to be Catholics worked in all four yards (a very Seán McGouran 26 Ferries continued “Political detractors claim that Mr. ‘boom’ times are over, whatever about the Ahern’s Dail outburst was more a move frenetic activity over the ¤50 million an to keep SIPTU and their Labour Party acre paid for the Doyle Jurys site at “That is what it is at. It is sharp allies on side—as potential coalition Ballsbridge in Dublin city. partners—rather than a threat to frustrate practice, is totally unacceptable in the The farmers have decided to circle the Irish labour context and is used on the Irish Ferries “restructuring”. wagons, remain in the embrace of the Co- basis of the flag of convenience, the “But it may also have been intended Taoiseach stated. “Perhaps many of the to keep the wider trade union movement Op principle rather than risk the vagaries workers will see the package as a good peaceful for a few stressful weeks until of the body corporate. one, but I do not know the position on the ICTU secures a mandate on October Under the deal, up to ¤64 million that issue.” 25, 2005 to enter negotiations for a would have been paid to SWS, of which Not half, Bertie doesn’t know! A climate seventh, successive social partnership ¤42.5 million would have fallen due on exists in the workplace today of “man agreement” (Sunday Independent, completion. It is worth noting that some mind thyself”, “there’s no tomorrow”, 2.10.2005). 30 managers were set to share ¤16 million grab what you can—Irish Ferries are aware if the deal went through. of this. That is the vital test for SIPTU: It all sounds so cynical. The seafarers they could find that the majority of their get their eight weeks. Mr. Rothwell gets The sell-off was opposed by Bandon members in this dispute have no interest his cheap foreign labour. Bertie and the and Barryroe Co-Ops and in recent weeks. whatever in “social dumping”, “race to Trade Union leadership get a seventh Drinagh and Lisavaird members began to the bottom”, “outsourcing”—it’s “cop it successive Social Partnership and Trade question the deal, despite the Co-Op voting and hop it” time. Union activists wonder why nobody turns for it. On Wednesday, 14th September “There is a whiff of double— up for meetings! 2005, members of Drinagh Co-Op met standards emerging in the case of the and strong opposition to the deal was 550 workers in Irish Ferries whose jobs expressed, with calls for a new vote. are to be axed. The End Of Drinagh has a shareholding of 18% in “For decades, US multinationals The Co-Op? SWS, but has 28% of the votes. The 16% coming into Ireland were given carte going to SWS managers has also been blanche to keep trade unions well away In last month’s Labour Comment (Vol. raised by opponents of the sale of the from their doors. They wanted the power 23, No. 9), we posed the query: The End to set wages and they got it. Of The Co-Op? The question was assets to One51. “Neither Bertie Ahern nor any other prompted by the decision of the 108-year In a recent alternative plan put together politician of any party seems to have had old IAWS Co-Op to change its co-op on behalf of a number of the West Cork any difficulty with that policy. status and become a body corporate, Co-Ops it was suggested management’s “It is one of the reasons Ireland has paving the way for a stock market flotation. share in the business would be cut to 10% proved an attractive location for the big The new private company, One51, was from 40%. corporations. They were able to set their to blaze its way into a ¤300 million It was Dairygold, which owns 53% of own wage terms and having one of the flotation with the ¤64 million acquisition SWS, which first made an issue of the most attractive tax rates on offer of Bandon Co-Op South Western Services 40% stake and forced management to anywhere also helped persuade them to accept a lower 25% holding in the run-up set up here. (SWS). to the anticipated deal with Lynch. Some “It is hypocritical then for the However, a reversal of decision by the Taoiseach to chastise Irish Ferries who West Cork farmer members compelled of the Co-Ops are still angry management are doing no more, in their view, than One51, “to terminate discussions with got agreement for such a generous deal in trying to protect their business future. It SWS after key shareholders in the Bandon 2000. That 40% stake entitles them to is under increasing threat from low air group reversed their previous support for 40% of the profits of the group which in a fares and the significantly lower wages the deal” (Irish Independent, 16.9.2005). few years could be in double digits. allegedly paid by competitors” (Brian “Lynch pulled out because he saw the Dairygold, which is still a Co-Op, in O’Mahony, Irish Examiner, 1.10.2005). writing on the wall. To categorise this North Cork, which supported the sale, As we go to press, Mr. Rothwell and Irish attempted deal as fraught with internal now seems to be the big loser. It has an 8% Ferries have agreed to attend a Labour difficulties is an understatement” (Irish stake in One51 and a 44% stake in SWS. Court hearing on October 3, 2005. Examiner, 21.9.2005). If they deal had gone through, it would The move is a body blow to IAWS Co- We quote Gerald Flynn, Group have got ¤18 million in new shares in the Op (One51) Chief Executive, Philip Industrial Correspondent for the Sunday merged entity and ended up with a 13% Lynch, who grew up in Bandon, where Independent: stake in the new group. SWS is headquartered. “The upshot is that the relationship “It is felt Dairygold, which was between Mr. Ahern and his friends in SWS is an agri-services company with completely behind the sale may have SIPTU is stronger than ever.” interests in natural resources, wind energy, alienated some of the others. History forestry, biomass, waste and outsourcing suggests there is no love lost between Now political observers are speculating services. The Co-Op has significant the West Cork Co-Ops and Dairygold” that the outcome of the Irish Ferries dispute potential and employs more than 400 (Irish Examiner, 21.9.2005). may even go some way towards effecting people. On 15th July 2005, Philip Lynch the formation of the next Government. stated: “Everything out there in that “Many in the trade union movement All year, ‘Grub Street’ has been sector is for sale”, adding that One51 favour a coalition with Fianna Fail—not speculating on the downturn of the could comfortably spend “a couple of withstanding the stated objection to such economy, whether we’d have a hard or a hundred million” if the right deal came along! a development by the Labour Party soft landing—but the decision by SWS The boys of West Cork didn’t think so! leader, Pat Rabbitte. shareholders is a firm indication that the

27 VOLUME 23 No. 10 CORK ISSN 0790-1712 Choppy Waters Ahead! —and fewer life belts Irish Ferries plan to make most of its On 30th September 2005, the High the cost of the scheme to the company. It 543 Irish Sea crew employees redundant Court granted SIPTU a temporary may also mean that departing workers beginning on 3rd October 2005. The injunction preventing the company from would have to pay tax on any payments strategy is to replace them with eastern laying off any staff—this means that Irish from the company and might not be entitled European agency crews on ¤3.60 an hour, Ferries will not be able to proceed with its to social welfare after they leave. about one—third of the current crew pay compulsory redundancy plan at least until An unfortunate precedent was set late rate. a further court hearing on October 5, 2005, last year when the State effectively SIPTU served notice of strike action to one day after SIPTU’s strike notice runs contributed to redundancy payments made commence on Monday, 3rd October 2005. out. when similar work practices were However, the Union represents 40% of However, this may not prevent the introduced by Irish Ferries on the French the seafarers on the route (mostly ship’s company from axing the jobs of Seamen’s routes. So too did the Trade Unions, when officers). Its action is not being supported Union of Ireland (SUI) members. the company cut 150 jobs on its Cherbourg by the rival Seaman’s Union of Ireland, and Roscoff routes and about 90% of which represents about 350 of the crew The Attorney General, Rory Brady, employees took voluntary redundancy, members and has advised them to take the has advised Irish Ferries that its staff will with the balance of members moving to exit cash payment of eight weeks’ not be entitled to State redundancy the Irish Sea routes. redundancy, including statutory and no payments if they opt for a “voluntary” cap applying to years of service. severance package. Irish Ferries say 475 of the 543 workers SIPTU president, Jack O’Connor said Mr. Brady is understood to have have indicated their “intention” to accept the dispute was “the greatest test that the suggested that a State rebate to Irish Ferries the redundancy package. social partnership process has faced” of 60 % of its statutory redundancy costs “By lunchtime, September 30, 2005, since it was introduced 18 years ago. should not apply in this particular case. 86% had signed written acceptances of “It is now incumbent on the He found that the company cannot the offer of redundancy, including a government to actually do something legally claim that the workers are being clear majority of both SIPTU and SIU members” (Eamonn Rothwell, Chief instead of standing idly by wringing its made redundant because it proposes to Exec. of Irish Continental Group owners hands,” he said replace them with new staff on less pay. If “While the union will vote next week of Irish Ferries, Mr. Rothwell is a former confirmed, such a finding would increase on whether it should enter talks on a new journalist, Irish Times, 1.10.2005). national agreement, Mr. O’Connor said Subscribers to the magazine are regularly that the position adopted by Irish Ferries offered special rates on other publications THE WORKERS’ SAVIOUR would have a significant impact on its The Taoiseach has accused Irish Ferries attitude to the talks. Irish Political Review is published of putting a gun to the head of its workers: “Some people ask if we would be by the IPR Group: write to— “You’ll know—get out or you’ll get better off outside an agreement, but if nothing—and then when they get out the employer organisations are going to PO Box 339, Belfast BT12 4GQ or PO Box 6589, London, N7 6SG. door they bring in immigrant workers the behave like this increasing numbers of following day. It’s just the wrong way to my members are asking if we are better Labour Comment, do industrial relations business in this off inside, and I am becoming inclined C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork City country. Whether the company thinks to agree with them. they’ll get away with that, well, we’ll see” “The most daunting aspect of all that Subscription by Post: (Irish Times, 1.10.05). The biggest Euro 25 / £17.50 for 12 issues is taking place is the position being problem for the Taoiseach on the eve of adopted by IBEC. Its director general, Electronic Subscription: new partnership talks is that SIPTU and Turlough O’Sullivan, has refused to rule Euro 15 / £12 for 12 issues the ICTU see the Irish Ferries move as an out similar approaches by other (or Euro 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) employers, citing competition as the “attack on social partnership”. You can also order both postal and reasons,” Jack O’Connor stated. (Irish electronic subscriptions from: Times, 30.9.2005). www.atholbooks.org continued on page 27 Athol Books Home Page

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