1 The Left Tribune NEWS New National Youth Executive Elected Volume II, Issue 4 Conor Tannam December 2006 The annual Youth Conference of the held on November 3rd and 4th elect- Left Tribune is the magazine of ed a new National Youth Executive (NYE) for in . We operate the year 2006/2007. The Executive are on the basis of a sustainable and unpaid officers of Labour Youth with respon- democratic socialist ethos. sibility for specific areas of the organisation, and are accountable to the membership As such, Left Tribune is printed on through the Labour Youth Council. paper which is 50% recycled and 50% from sustainable forests. If you 23-year old from West are finished reading, we would ask (pictured top right) was elected unopposed that you pass this issue on to some- to the position of Labour Youth Chair. Editor of Left Tribune as well as having over- one else - or recycle it. Patrick is working on a PHD in University all responsibility for the website and mes- College Dublin on "Early School Leaving and sage boards; All articles are copyleft - this means Inequality" and has been an active party that we encourage the sharing of member since 2003. - Andrew Payne from Terenure in Dublin these articles and anyone is free to (Education and Development Officer); coordi- reproduce them. However we would His role encompasses leadership and coor- nating the Tom Johnson Summer School, ask that in the interests of those who dination of Labour Youth on a national level, training events and policy development; took their time to write and edit this as well as acting as the spokesperson in the publication, that you would contact us media and Labour Youth's representative on - David Morris from Kilkenny (Equality at the details below to let us know if the National Executive Council of the overall Officer); a new position on the Executive, you are doing so. Labour Party. David's role concentrates on ensuring equal rights for groups traditionally marginalised We welcome articles and comments Meanwhile, in an election race reminiscent by politics such as migrant workers, asylum- from all readers to of many past battles between the colleges, seekers, those who are disabled, women [email protected] Enda Duffy from the UCD Branch was suc- and those in the LGBT community. cessful in his campaign for Recruitment The opinions expressed in Left Officer, defeating Gary Honer of Trinity Tribune are those of its contributors College 38-11 in the vote at Conference. Contents and are not necessarily the policies or Enda's campaign aims to recruit more NEWS SECTION views of Labour Youth or the Labour members in more colleges and make Party. Labour Youth more visible in the public eye 1: New NYE Elected by setting up stalls at shopping centres and 2: Labour Youth Conference: Here in city centres. Comes the Socialism Editorial Staff 3: 2006 in Review The other Officers are: 4: Branch Reports - Vic Duggan from Dublin, now working in Editor: Dermot Looney (LY FOCUS: SHELL HELL IN MAYO Communications Officer) Luxembourg (International Officer); Labour Youth's representative to ECOSY - the 5: Why Send Shell to Sea? Deputy Editor: Jane Horgan-Jones European Young Socialists and the 6: A Community Under Siege International Union of Socialist Youth; FEATURES News Editor: Conor Tannam 7-8: Labour’s General Election - Neil Ward, originally from Dundalk, Co Candidates by Constituency Design & Layout: Andrew Payne Louth, but now active in Dublin North Central, re-elected as Vice-Chair / 9: Labour in Rural Ireland Contributors: Paul Dillon, Carl Fox, Campaigns Officer; active in coordinating LY 10: Globalisation & the Welfare Eoghan Fox, , campaigns and acting as Chair in the State Patrick Nulty, Paul Mulville absence of Patrick; INTERNATIONAL 11-12: John McDonnell: A Great With thanks to: Cian O'Callaghan, - Eoin Moore from Dolphin's Barn in Dublin South Cenral (National Secretary); responsi- Left Hope for British Labour Jonathan McDade, the National Youth 13: Ending Violence Against Women Executive bilities include budgeting and finances, fund raising and taking minutes at meetings; / Stopping the Blockade of Cuba Printed by: Grehan Print, Brunswick LEFT BACK House, Dublin 2 - Dermot Looney from Greenhills in Dublin 14: Peter Fitzgerald Remembered South-West (Communications Officer); Back Cover: War is an Election Issue NEWS The Left Tribune 2 Here’s the Socialism: Youth Conference votes for 10 Point Plan for Govt Jane Horgan Jones University College Dublin was host to the 2006 Labour Youth conference this November, which saw activists from around the country travel to attend the two-day event. In addition to the election of a new executive and working groups focused on “Youth Conference unanimously affirmed its support for non-vio- lent direct action as a legitimate tactic in campaigns” particular campaigns, almost 50 motions submitted by individual branches were hotly officers and activists around the country to general election and to encourage transfers debated on the conference floor. Those that campaign on for inclusion in both the mani- against the government while canvassing. were passed will now form the basis of festo and in any possible programme for gov- Labour Youth's activity in the coming year, ernment. These priorities were drawn from All the campaigns and initiatives mandated and aim to build on the successes achieved all aspects of Labour Youth policy, and includ- by delegates at Youth Conference will now over the past 12 months. ed U.S. military landing in Shannon, the aboli- get under way as soon as possible, with early tion of all college fees, and the introduction of dates set for working groups in which every The mandates established at Conference set legislation guaranteeing the right of workers Labour Youth member is encouraged to par- the tone for another active, campaigning to union recognition in the workplace. ticipate. Through its active involvement in year in the organisation. Featured among the both national and international campaigns, national issues discussed were the bin tax, Labour Youth looks set to build on its reputa- child poverty, same sex marriage, Shell to “Labour Youth will be campaign- tion as the most active youth wing party in Sea, and the pro-choice campaign, while Ireland over the coming year. international affairs included motions on ing to ensure that the Labour Cuba, Belarus, and the upcoming leadership Party in government will mean a election in the British Labour Party. Crucially, return to the basic values upon Seize the Power Youth Conference also unanimously affirmed its support for non-violent direct action as a which the party is founded” Conference called on Labour in legitimate tactic in these campaigns and oth- Over the coming months in the run-up to the Government to: ers that the organisation has been involved in election, Labour Youth will be campaigning to 1. Remove the US Military from Shannon over the past year. ensure that the Labour Party in government will mean a return to the basic values upon 2. Stop Privatisation of our Public Services Policy development was also key to the tasks which the party is founded, and that these set for the organisation in the coming 12 values are represented in a manifesto for 3. Introduce Free GP Care for all months, with Conference mandating the government which sets out a real left-wing incoming Education and Development Officer alternative to the right wing parties, both 4. Introduce same sex marriage and adop- to oversee the drawing up of comprehensive those in government and those in opposition. tion rights regardless of sexual orientation policy documents on drugs, youth support structures, rural development strategy and The current pre-election pact with 5. Legislate for the X Case and hold refer- educational grants among others. also came under fire from delegates during endum for safe, free & legal abortion in the course of the Conference. The large- Ireland With the general election looming however, scale opposition that exists in LY for the party issues and electoral strategy proved a arrangement was shown clearly with the 6. Introduce legislation to give workers the particularly topical issue among delegates. resounding approval received by Dublin right to union recognition Internal party democracy was a common South West Labour Youth's motion on elec- theme, with much debate centring on how tion literature. The motion called explicitly for 7. Abolish all full and part time college fees best to ensure that Labour Youth policy is members not to participate in the distribu- transferred to the policies of the main party, tion of material that called for a transfer to 8. Remove religious ownership and control and that our priorities are included in the the Fine Gael party, and clearly reaffirmed from educational institutions Labour Party manifesto for the upcoming Labour Youth's preferred independent elec- general election. The "Seize the Power" initia- toral strategy as outlined in last year's policy 9. End public funding for private schools tive was encapsulated in the motion pro- document "Towards an Alternative Politics". posed by last year's National Youth Executive, The policy also encourages all activists to 10. Increase social housing and repeal Part which outlined ten key areas for the incoming campaign solely for the Labour Party in the 2 of the Planning & Development Act 2002 3 The Left Tribune NEWS 2006: A Campaigning Year Conor Tannam & Dermot Looney FEBRUARY Labour Youth protest against the sacking of Dunnes employee Labour Youth held protests in Dublin City, and here in Crumlin against the unfair dismissal of Joanne Delaney from the large supermarket chain. She was sacked for wearing a union badge, but re-instated after massive public pressure. Joanne received an award from LY in November for her commit- ment to rights. JUNE Inaugural Connolly Festival In light of the 90th anniversary of the death of Labour founder James Connolly Labour Youth held a weekend of debate and discus- sion in the Teacher’s Club. Topics included Same Sex Marriage, Pro Choice Activism, Boycott Killer Coke, US Military Out of Shannon and Shell to Sea. Pictured are Tracey Ryan (left) of the Rossport Solidarity Camp and a Killer Coke working group (right). ALL YEAR OCTOBER-NNOVEMBER Anti-War Activity Continues Labour Youth play their part as Labour Youth activists across Ireland have Shell to Sea Campaign is upped continued to protest against the ongoing As Shell moved in for work in the Bellanaboy invasion of Iraq by the so-called coalition of the willing in a year where over a quarter of refinery site in October, local people called a million US troops used Ireland as a for solidarity. Labour Youth activists stopover for the slaughter of thousands. responded by attending and organising pick- There were also protests against Israeli ets of Shell stations, travelling to Erris aggression in Lebanon and Palestine. This (where many members were attacked by demonstration was in Dublin City Centre in violent Gardai) and organising this picket of September. Fianna Fail’s head office in November. SEPTEMBER Rossport 5 Given Kemmy Award LY presented the Jim Kemmy Award to Vincent McGrath on behalf of the Rossport 5 at the Tom Johnson summer school in Kilkenny. The school also focussed on new ways of organising workers, rioting and the ballot box and industrial relations. Pictured are Peadar Kirby (DCU), Neil Ward (LY Vice Chair) and Maggie Roynane (Global Womens Strike) during a session on the rise of the kleft in Latin America. NOVEMBER Coke Boycott hits Croker Labour Youth have continued their leading role in the Boycott Coke campaign by helping to organise a leafleting session at the Coke- sponsored “International Rules” series at Croke Park this November. LY activists were also involved in a banner drop inside the ground. NEWS The Left Tribune 4 Around the Branches Trinity College / David Thornley Branch (http://trinitylabour.bebo.com) Another significant increase in our member- hard-won boycott of Coke products. It centrepiece of our action plan for World Aids ship has set Trinity Labour up for a success- appears that once more we shall have to put Day. ful and influential year. The Shell to Sea cam- our case to the students, but, after two victo- paign is taking root in the college, owing ries for workers' solidarity, we will do so with An open round-table discussion on the future largely to our support of the regular protests confidence. Continuing the international of Seanad Éireann with candidates from the mounted by the established UCD group, and theme, we operated a stand on Global White college will no doubt generate important the leading role we played in the recent Band Day so as to renew support for the debate on the issue, and we can we add to Labour Youth demonstration mounted out- Make Poverty History initiative. these with our yearly Dáil tour, the Living side the offices of Fianna Fail. Wage Campaign with Cllr. , and However, the rest of the academic year Same-Sex Marriage. The year has only just There has been promising engagement with promises even more. A handprint petition to begun! like-minded societies over the defence of our the South African government will form the Carl Fox (Vice-Chair) Mayo IT/ Caitlin Maude Branch (http://www.gmitlabour.tk) The main campaign of the year so far has succeeded in blocking the convoy of jeeps rades in the NUI Galway / Noël Browne been our activities in the Shell to Sea cam- and trucks for around a half an hour until we Branch of Labour Youth for the re-election of paign. We have taken part in the picket of the were violently removed from the road by Labour Party President Michael D Higgins in Westside Shell petrol station every Friday Gardaí armed with truncheons. the Galway West constituency. since the beginning of October. The good turn out in recent weeks has had a tremen- On the 7th of October we had a high turnout Finally, GMIT were the recipients of an award dous effect on the amount of people using for the first in our series of film screenings at Labour Youth Conference for Best Branch the station, with customers refusing to cross this year in GMIT, entitled "Visit Palestine", a Campaign of the year for our “Give us the picket line. documentary telling the story of Irishwoman Shelter” campaign. Special credit to Fintan Caoimhe Butterly who lived and worked with Hastings and Cian Egan for their work in We also attended the National Day of the besieged Palestinian people. achieving a bus shelter for GMIT students at Protest on November 10th called by the the main campus in Galway. local people of Bellanaboy. That morning we GMIT Labour are also working with com- Eoghan Fox (Chair) UCD / Pat Upton-Michael O’Riordan Branch (http://ucdlabour.bebo.com) The UCD branch has been active since the UCD Labour has been at the forefront of the Donnelly erected is currently under way. outset of term. Freshers' Week was a UCD Shell To Sea campaign, the most active source of great excitement and the quality of campaign in any college in Ireland. Protests It is hoped that the branch will galvanise its new recruits to the branch has impressed have been staged at a Shell garage in members in the run up to the general elec- those of us who've been around for years! Donnybrook that has had considerable sup- tion and that new members will gain invalu- port among the student body. able inexperience on the doorsteps of the In the light of the recent death of a commit- electorate in an attempt to maximise the ted socialist the branch has incorporated the A talk on Cuba was held hosted by Gary Labour vote. name Michael O'Riordan into our official Murphy of the Cuban Solidarity Campaign to Conor Tannam (Committee Member) name. His dedication to the plight of workers highlight the injustice of trade embargos on To include your own branch or constituen- and fighting injustice remains an inspiration. that country. A new drive to get a statue to cy news in future issues of Left Tribune, the Spanish Civil War veteran Charlie just email [email protected]

Members of the / Jim Kemmy Branch Members of Dublin South-West Labour Youth on a 4,000-strong with Party Leader TD & Cork South-Central election march organised by Labour to save the National Children’s candidate Cllr Ciaran Lynch at a recent meeting. The branch Hospital in Tallaght. The Govt wants to cynically move services 2 recently organised a successful petition opposing nuclear power. hours away to the Mater - in the ’s own constituency! 5 The Left Tribune NEWS FOCUS Focus: Shell to Sea and Despite the currrent controversy, Minister restricted in their terms of reference from Dempsey has recently issued more explo- looking at the location of the refinery site. The The Background ration licenses to oil and gas companies only independent inquiry that examined this The controversy surrounding the Corrib gas (including Shell), underlining clearly that this aspect of the dispute concluded that state- field in Mayo is one that has caught the atten- government is intent on auctioning off the ments by Shell and the government had tion of many people, of all political persua- people’s resources to the giant multination- “understated the risks of the onshore pro- sions and none, over the past six years. als of the industry. posal” in light of concerns about the possibil- However, the complexities of the issues at ity of a pipeline rupture. hand are often so vast that discovering the SAFETY facts proves difficult, especially when faced The starting point for the nationwide Shell to SHELL’S TRACK RECORD with the mass of spin and propaganda com- Sea campaign was the concerns of local res- The Corrib gas controversy has been charac- ing from both the government and the corpo- idents about the safety of the proposed terised by repeated assurances from Shell rations involved. Amidst the protests, pipeline and plans to build it through their officials that the pipeline is “failsafe” and that enquiries, claims and counter-claims has lands, and these issues remain at the heart the local residents should have no cause for emerged a campaign that is now a pivotal of the campaign today. worry. But given Shell’s safety and reliability focus for the left in Ireland today. record worldwide, it is far from surprising In an independent report by the Centre for that this has not convinced the residents of THE GREAT GAS GIVEAWAY Public Inquiry, details were given of a pipeline Rossport. The struggle to ensure that Irish citizens rupture in Carlsbad, New Mexico in August receive some benefit from the exploitation of 2000. The pipeline at Carlsbad exploded as The multinational company has been sub- Irish natural resources is a key focus of the the result of aggressive internal corrosion, stantially fined over the years, and was Shell to Sea campaign. Due to new fiscal and which the CPI warned could pose a similar recently ordered to pay €110 million by the licensing conditions for the oil and gas indus- danger to residents in North West Mayo. E.U. due to “persistent and ongoing infringe- tries, introduced in 1987 during the tenure Twelve people, camping approximately 206 ments in this market, despite repeated warn- of Ray Burke as Minister for Energy, the Irish metres from the ruptured pipe were killed as ings and failure to co-operate with the inquiry taxpayer will receive no royalties from the a result of the blast and exposure to thermal on this matter". Corrib gas find. radiation. In addition, the Nigerian Congress have In addition, 100% of development costs can The proposed Corrib pipeline runs within 70 ordered Shell to pay compensation for the be written off against tax. What this means, metres of dwellings in Rossport. Minister destruction wreaked by the company in the in practice, is that due to the involvement of Dempsey, however, has repeatedly stated exploitation of the Niger Delta, and the BBC Statoil as a junior partner, the citizens of that he feels a distance of 3 metres to be in England recently reported that the compa- Norway will acrue more financial benefits “safe”. This is despite the fact that the ny had “ignored warnings” that their Brent from Irish gas than the Irish citizens them- pipeline in Mayo has the potential to operate Bravo platform was unsafe prior to the selves. at a higher pressure level than the New deaths on that platform of two Scottish work- Mexican example, and that Shell have to date ers. Contrary to claims made by both Shell and failed to make any undertakings that this the government, the gas garnered from level of pressure will not be reached during It is clear that Shell’s record is far from desir- Corrib might not even be utilised by Irish citi- its operations. able, without even having to mention environ- zens, and falls far short of meeting our ener- mental disasters such as the oil spill in the gy needs. Under E.U. law, Shell are obliged to Similarly, the location of the on-shore pro- Philippines for which they were responsible. It sell the gas at or above market price to the cessing plant at Bellanaboy, the focus of is fair to assume that if the residents living highest bidder, negating any argument that recent protests, gives the local community close to that development had inquired as to the lack of royalties from the gas field will be cause for grave concern. However, both the their safety, they would have received assur- offset by the benefits in energy availability Cassells report and the Advantica report ances disturbingly similar to those the that it may bring. (commissioned by the government) were Rossport residents are receiving today.

The Shell to Sea campaign is undoubtedly one which deals with many complex and important issues, some of which are detailed above. However, perhaps what is most clear from this campaign is the extent to which our government has become intertwined with the vested interests of big business, and how the might of both establishments have con- spired to crush any campaign to expose these unhappy truths.

Clearly, those who proclaim to be on the left must continue their support for the cam- paign, not only for the people of Rossport, but for all the people of Ireland. The Rossport 5, jailed for 95 days by Shell and their friends in Government; (from left) Vincent McGrath, Willie Corduff, Mícheál Ó Seighín & Philip McGrath. Not pictured; Brendan Philbin NEWS FOCUS The Left Tribune 6

the fight for justice by Jane Horgan-Jones A Community Under Siege In Ireland, we like to think that we live in a democratic society. We also like to think that our politicians and our police force are accountable, that the government looks after the best interests of the people, and that the right to peaceful protest is upheld.

These maxims, while easy on the ear and often heard falling shrilly from the lips of the current government, no longer ring true for the people of Erris in north-west Mayo. However, while the tactics have not changed, on the community of Erris has also been the response of the state and of the Gardaí fought in other areas, not least in by a com- The recent scenes in the media of protestors has escalated to an extent that has shocked plicit majority in the mainstream media. at the Bellanaboy refinery site being literally both the community of Rossport and the Reports citing anonymous sources and beaten off the road by members of An Garda Irish people at large. making grand but baseless claims about the Siochána have unequivocally shown that campaign being hijacked by Sinn Féin have Rossport is a community under siege from GARDA COMPLICITY become characteristic of many newspaper three formidable forces; the government, the Numbers of Gardaí in Erris have skyrocketed reports, even when these publications media, and multinational corporations drunk in recent months, with close to 200 mem- unashamedly carry full-page colour adver- on their own power and greed. bers of the force now permanently stationed tisements for Shell at the same time. in Erris at an exponentially increasing cost to What is particularly disturbing, however, is the taxpayer. However, despite the substan- Suggestive phrases such as "It has emerged that all three seem to be interminably linked, tial Gardaí presence and shrieking, unfound- that.." are regularly used in order to give aiding and abetting each other at every turn, ed allegations of illegality and violence in the weight to allegations that in reality have no and all in the name of oppressing a coura- media, not a single person protesting at the basis other than the writer's own rather geous and inspiring small community that refinery site in Bellenaboy has been charged clear agenda. Even RTÉ think it prudent to has protested, undaunted, against these with any crime. broadcast footage of Gardaí beating locals forces for the past six years. off the road while glibly refusing to pass any The State has instead chosen to turn a blind comment on those scenes, preferring eye to a situation where rather than being instead to report on "violent" protests in a arrested, charged and given the chance to manner that implies fault on both sides. defend themselves against such spurious allegations in a court of law, protestors are The factors weighed against the Shell to Sea systematically physically assaulted in order campaign are astounding; a government with to deter them from challenging Shell and the a huge vested interest in ensuring that the government's authority. Comparisons to deal with Shell is not re-examined, a multina- Nigeria, where the government executed tional corporation that has attempted and nine objectors at the behest of Shell, are nei- succeeded in waging war against communi- ther hysterical nor unsuitable. ties all over the world, and a media that gen- erally refuses to report the truth when it is "Shell's Cops", as they have become known, placed in front of them. Considering these regularly engage in activities designed to obstacles, the achievements of the Rossport break both the campaign and the spirit of people thus far are all the more astonishing. local people. Protestors have been informed that no further complaints will be taken at Shell's disgraceful track record and their Belmullet Garda Station concerning police exploitation of local communities are firmly COMMUNITY ACTION violence, and public roads are regularly on the public agenda, with countless solidari- Contrary to the impression one might closed to all those not employed by Shell. ty actions being staged around the world in receive from some accounts, pickets of the support of the campaign. refinery site have been going on for consid- Peaceful marches are banned without rea- erably longer than the mainstream media son or prior warning, indicating a worrying However, while the progress of the Shell to has chosen to spend reporting them. The attack on our civil liberties. Consistent filming Sea campaign is emblematic of the strength local community has maintained a constant of protestors, even when just sitting beside that can be found in community struggle, the presence at the gates of the refinery for the the road, further assists the Gardaí in main- resistance they have encountered along the past 16 months, and have consistently taining an ominous sense of intimidation and way is similarly symptomatic of the extent to employed peaceful direct action to prevent harassment. which this government has forgotten that Shell from forcing a dangerous and experi- their responsibilities are to the people of Ireland, and not to the shareholders of Royal mental pipeline through their lands. MASS MEDIA MISINFORMATION Dutch Shell. The war waged by the government and Shell 7 The Left Tribune The Left Tribune 8 General Election ‘07: Labour’s Candidates With a general election just a few months away, Labour is standing up to 50 candidates in every one of the 43 constituencies around the Dublin North Dublin West country - the first time we have contested every constituency since 1969. When it comes to Irish politics, the cliché is that there isn't one No of seats: 4 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 GP No of seats: 3 - Currently 1 LAB, 1 FF, 1 SP national election, there are 43 local ones. Organised by each European area, Dermot Looney investigates each constituency and asks if Current TD: Sean Ryan TD (retiring). Candidate: Brendan Ryan Current TD and candidate: TD Labour can improve on its existing tally of 21 TD's. In this issue, Labour’s candidates in the Ireland North West and Dublin Euro election Sean Ryan’s retirement as a TD sees his brother Brendan represent With just 3 seats on offer Dublin West is one of the most regions are profiled. The next issue of Left Tribune will focus on Labour’s hopes in Ireland South and East. Labour’s hopes in a constituency which has been hit hard by the privati- competitive constituencies in the country. Labour Finance sation of Aer Lingus. Based in Skerries, Brendan will hope to keep the spokesperson Joan Burton will hope to repeat her success family in the Dail and has hit the ground running with a strong campaign. of 2002 in retaining her seat in this strongly working-class Ireland North-West (Co Clare, all of Connacht and the three Ulster counties in the Republic) constituency which has a burgeoning influx of new residents. Dublin North West Undoubtedly Labour’s least fruitful area, only one TD – Michael D Higgins – currently represents this electoral area, which encompasses 9 con- Dublin No of seats: 3 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF stituencies. Labour will run one-candidate strategies in all nine constituencies, with a number of young candidates such as Colm Keaveney, Hugh The last local elections Baxter and Harry Barrett seeking to add to Labour’s western contingent in . Current TD and candidate: Roisin Shortall TD saw Labour view for sta- Including major urban areas such as Finglas, Ballymun, tus as the biggest party in Donegal South West Donegal North East Santry and Whitehall, Dublin NW is another tough 3-seater. the capital, and it enjoys Roisin Shortall, Labour’s Transport spokesperson, will seek No of seats: 3 - Currently 2 FF, 1 FG, No of seats: 3 - Currently 2 FF, 1 “Independent Fianna Fail” the status of the largest to retain the seat she first won in 1992. No current Labour TD. Candidate: Seamus Rodgers No current Labour TD. Candidate: Siobhan McLaughlin party on all 4 local coun- Seamus Rodgers, who was first elected to Donegal County Council in 1960, is a Siobhan McLaughlin, a highly respected Travellers’ rights cils. There are eleven con- Dublin North East retired trade union official and a former Chairperson of Donegal County Board. He activist, will stand for the first time in this FF-dominated con- stituencies in total, with No of seats: 3 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF first stood for the Dail in 1961 and has always garnered a highly respectable vote stituency, seeking Labour’s first victory in Donegal since 1927. nine sitting TD’s. Labour Ccandidate: Tommy Broughan TD for the left through Official Sinn Fein, the Workers’ Party, Democratic Left and now will be vying for a second Labour’s spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural the Labour Party in what is generally considered a conservative stronghold. seat in at least 3 con- Resources, Tommy Broughan is respected as a hard constituency Cavan-Monaghan stituencies. worker as well as a national campaigner on issues such as fisheries, communications and Shell to Sea. He will work to see off a strong chal- No of seats: 5 - Currently 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 SF, 1 Ceann Comhairle lenge from FG and SF to retain his seat in another competitive race. No current Labour TD. Candidate: Cllr Des Cullen Cavan Town Councillor Des Cullen, a 37 year old teacher is Labour’s standard bearer Dublin North Central in a constituency which will only elect 4 TD’s due to the sitting Ceann Comhairle Rory No of seats: 3 - Reduced from 4 - currently 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 IND O’Hanlon being automatically re-elected. A former Labour Youth National Chair (1993), No current Labour TD. Candidate: Senator Derek McDowell Des is the current Deputy Mayor of Cavan Town and is heavily involved with the ASTI. The reduction of Dublin NC from 4 seats to 3 seats makes for an even harder challenge for current Senator and former TD Derek McDowell. The former Sligo - North Leitrim stronghold of Charles Haughey continues to have a strong FF presence but the New constituency, formerly Sligo-Leitrim (South Leitrim is now with Roscommon) 48-year old Labour candidate born and bred in will fight hard. No of seats in old constituency: 4 - 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 IND. Reduced to 3 seats for 2007. Dublin Central No current Labour TD. Candidate: Cllr Jim McGarry No of seats: 4 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 IND Cllr Jim McGarry is the Labour Party candidate in this constituency. A former Fine Candidate: Joe Costello TD Gael local rep, he is based in Sligo town and is one of 3 Labour reps on Sligo County Dublin Mid West Viewed as the most competitive constituency in the country, Dublin Council. Labour last won a seat here in 1992 through current Cllr Declan Bree. No of seats: Currently 3 - 1 FF, 1 PD, 1 GP. Central will see Labour’s Defence spokesperson Joe Costello seek to Mayo Increased to 4 seats for 2007. retain his seat against other political heavyweights such as Bertie No of seats: 5 - Currently 2 FF, 2 FG, 1 IND No current Labour TD. Candidate: Senator Joanna Ahern, Tony Gregory, Mary Lou McDonald & Patricia McKenna. Joe has No current Labour TD. Candidate: Harry Barrett Tuffy built a base here for many years and was elected in 1992 & 2002. Senator , a former Labour currently hold just one seat on Mayo Co Co and it has been 80 Dublin South East years since Labour won a seat in Mayo with the then party leader, Labour Youth activist, won her No of seats: 4 - Currently 1 LAB, 1 FF, 1 PD, 1 GP Thomas J O’Connell. However, the recent revival in membership in Mayo selection convention on the draw- Candidate: TD will rally around first-time candidate Harry Barrett, a 39-year old teacher ing of lots but is in a strong place Ruairi was the leader of the Labour Party from 1997-2002 and originally from Erris, and a vocal supporter of the Rossport 5. Roscommon - South Leitrim to gain a Labour seat in this rela- New constituency, formerly Longford-Roscommon tively new constituency. has built a base in this area since he first stood for election here in 1973. He is currently Labour’s spokesperson on Trade, Galway West (Longford is now with Westmeath) No of seats in old constituency: 4 - 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 PD. Dublin South Enterprise and Employment and a former Finance Minister. No of seats: 5 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 PD Reduced to 3 seats for 2007. No of seats: 5 - Currently 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 PD, 1 GP Current TD and candidate: Michael D Higgins TD Dublin South Central No current Labour TD. Candidate: Hugh Baxter No current Labour TD. Candidates: Cllr Aidan Culhane, Cllr Labour Party President and Foreign Affairs spokesper- No of seats: 5 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 SF Hughie Baxter stood as Labour’s candidate for Ireland In a seat formerly held by John Horgan and Eithne Fitzgerald, Labour son Michael D, one of the great stalwarts of the Irish Current TD and candidate: Mary Upton TD. Also, Cllr Eric Byrne North West in the 2004 European elections and is a suprisingly lost out last time around. This time Dundrum-based left, is seeking re-election. Labour’s only TD west of the Labour came desperately close to 2 seats here in 2002 but former respect member of Labour’s National Executive Council Councillor Aidan Culhane and Rathfarnham-based Cllr Alex White will be Shannon, he has held a seat here since 1987, having Democratic Left TD Eric Byrne lost out - just. Mary Upton, Labour and is particularly involved in international affairs. vying to regain the Labour seat here - and maybe even add a second. first won a seat in 1981 and first stood in 1969. spokesperson on Agriculture & Food, is seeking re-election here in a seat formerly held by her brother, Pat. A second seat is a real possibility here. Galway East Dun Laoghaire Clare Dublin South West No of seats: 4 - Currently 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 IND No of seats: 5 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 PD, 1 GP No of seats: 4 - Currently 2 FF, 1 FG, 1 IND Current TD and candidate: TD. Also, Cllr Oisin Quinn No of seats: 4 - Currently 1 LAB, 2 FF, 1 SF No current Labour TD. Candidate: Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald No current Labour TD. Candidate: Cllr Colm Keaveny Colm Keaveney, a former President of the Union of Students in Labour will be hoping to add a second Dail seat in Dun Laoghaire Current TD and candidate: Pat Rabbitte TD Pascal Fitzgerald is a Councillor on Clare County Council for with the addition of Dublin City Councillor Oisin Quinn, a nephew of Traditionally a stronghold for the left, Dublin SW elected 2 the Killaloe election, standing and winning for the first time in Ireland and a SIPTU official, is a Labour councillor on Galway County Council. Based in , Colm stood in the 1997 General Ruairi, to the ticket. Eamon Gilmore, Labour’s Environment and Labour TDs & a Democratic Left candidate in 1992, the the 2004 locals. Labour last won a seat here in 1992 with Local Government spokesperson, is one of the most respected TD’s latter the current Labour Leader, Pat Rabbitte, This time Moosajee Bhamjee, a historic feat Pascal willl look to emulate. Election, achieving a respectable 8%, but will need to improve on this to be elected this time round. in the Dail and a former candidate for Party Leader. Pat is the sole Labour candidate and hopes to top the poll. 9 The Left Tribune FEATURES Re-Aligning Politics in Rural Ireland Paul Dillon on how Labour can look to the Shell to Sea campaign and the inspirational Michael Davitt (right) in reclaiming the ground it has lost outside the major cities. With an eye on the upcoming general elec- truth is that the large farming class is thriv- tion, the Irish Farmers Journal recently ing economically. The alliance is working well undertook a survey of 406 farmers at 12 for the major farming interests, and extends locations across the country during late June beyond landowners and into what is called and early July of this year, asking them which the "agribusiness sector". Anyone who stud- party they intended to vote for. ied the outcome of the Beef Tribunal will recall the extent to which the political estab- 41.6% of those surveyed indicated they lishment in general - and Fianna Fáil in partic- would vote Fine Gael, while 34.7% said they ular - are in thrall to the dominant business would support Fianna Fail. 2.2% intend voting interests in Irish agriculture. for the PDs, 0.7% pledged support for Independents, and Sinn Fein garnered 0.2%. However, there still remains the potential for Finally, 0% of the voting farmers surveyed a re-alignment of Irish politics in rural com- plan on ticking the Labour box. munities. Small farmers and ordinary work- ers in agriculture do not share the same For those of us coming from a small farming interests as the large farmers or the domi- background, it comes as no surprise that big nant business interests in the sector. of the lowest wages being paid out to work- farmers would support the conservative con- ers. sensus from which they benefit. Similarly, Two examples immediately spring to mind - small farmers traditionally pledge support to the extent to which large farmers benefit Legislation on profit sharing, similar to that the conservatives, with Fianna Fáil consis- from EU grants, and the increasing pressure which was flagged before sinking without tently emerging as the main benefactor. Even on wages and conditions for workers in both trace during the recent partnership negotia- with this in mind, Labour's dismal showing the red & white meat sectors. Why should tions, would boost wages in the meat sector comes as a surprise. In the early days of the large farmers benefit disproportionately in that have dropped comparatively in recent party, farm labourers and their families had the distribution of EU grants, as is now the years. The repeal of anti-union laws and new formed the backbone of the Labour vote, case? Such grants should be cut off once rights to take part in trade union activity while numerous TDs have also traditionally farm income reaches a certain level and re- would also boost the position of workers in represented farmers in the past. Dan Spring distributed to boost incomes for smaller the sector. The pamphlet "Bertie's Bill" (father of Dick) was always very strongly sup- farmers. (Workers Party, 1990), produced by Pat ported by farmers in North Kerry. Rabbitte and Eamon Gilmore, provides a use- A similarly radical programme is required if ful template in this regard. While we must take into account that the there is to be a genuinely supportive relation- methodology of any poll has a big impact on ship between Labour and those working in Perhaps above all others, the campaign by the outcome, these results are nevertheless the agricultural sector. A specific Labour the rural Rossport community against Shell's very bad news for the Labour Party. The poor inspectorate should be set up to counter the dangerous plans for their community offers poll performance of Labour outside of Dublin exploitation of workers on farms and in other an opportunity for the left to expose the cor- and the other major urban centers indicates areas of the food sector. This would be an rupt relationship between big business and worryingly low levels of support from ordinary appropriate response to a number of the civil war parties that continue to domi- people working in the agricultural sector. instances of severe exploitation that have nate Irish politics. The Shell to Sea campaign emerged recently, both in private farms and deserves our full support. It offers scope not The question thus arises - what is to be done in other areas of the food sector such as the only to defeat Shells unsafe and environmen- about the relationship between Labour and mushroom farms. tally unsound plans, but also to point to an rural communities? The alliance between the alternative vision for rural Ireland that puts large farming class and the 'Podge & Rodge' Trade unions have exposed examples of the welfare of the general community over of Irish politics - Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael - is widespread exploitation in both red and white private profit for a few. likely to be maintained into the future. meat factories. In a similar way to the retail sector, the meat industry is increasingly Such a vision, incorporating a progamme to Questions of class are rarely raised when dominated by a handful of large interests, benefit small farmers and engage with ordi- farming is discussed in Irish politics, but the where massive profits are matched by some nary workers in the agricultural sector, would require bravery and courage to be articulated. But what better time than now, the year when the work of land agitator and champion of ordinary rural workers, Michael Davitt, is being celebrated?

The monumental work of Davitt with regard to Irish tenant farmers and farm labourers in the late 19th century should inspire us today, as we face up to the task of building up sup- port for ideas that collide with the interests of the powerful and the wealthy. FEATURES The Left Tribune 10 IN THEORY: Does Globalisation Mean an End to the Welfare State? In the first of a series linking the theoretical questions of modern socialism with practical issues, Labour Youth Chair Patrick Nulty examines the debate around globalisation and its impact on state services. One of the central questions within contem- model such as the governments of Tony Blair capital from the economy is grossly over porary political debate at present is the (UK) and Gerhard Schroder (Germany). stated and does not recognise that govern- impact of globalisation on our society. ment support is more not less important to Globalisation is both conceptually and empir- One of the central ideas of those who argue corporations within the contemporary eco- ically understood in different ways. However that the State is no longer in a position to nomic order. in recent years the impact of globalisation on provide social services is the contention that the welfare state has been used as a justifi- financial capital and transnational corpora- By challenging the economic dogma of neo- cation for welfare retrenchment across tions (TNCs) are able to transfer capital and liberals who argue that the Welfare State Europe. wealth across the globe with relative impuni- cannot be sustained due to the process of ty. However the validity of this assertion is globalisation. It has been shown that eco- In countries where Labour or socialist move- questionable. The reality is that far from nomic globalisation including the removal of ments have gained hard won social security, being in opposition States and corporations trade barriers, privitisation and a reduction health, education or housing provision, glob- co-operate and the expansion and invest- in funding for the Welfare State is due to the alisation is now being employed in the debate ment of multinationals is a consequence of activities and policies of neo-liberal govern- around acquiescence to market forces. In State directed policy based on liberal eco- ments or governments who have accepted fact, globalisation is in its very essence an nomic models. neo-liberal orthodoxies. The claim that global ideological justification for neo-liberal eco- capital and investment can shift across the nomics. This is in contrast to the claims of those who globe with ease is not supported by the evi- believe that the State is passive or helpless in dence which shows that corporations main- Contemporary debate on the future of the controlling corporations. Central to the neo- tain strong links with their country of origin. welfare state is often based around critiques liberal thesis is that taxation on capital or from neoliberalism regarding the nature & corporate profits will lead to even greater Furthermore, while the decisions of suprana- sustainability of State Welfare. The origins of redirection of investment by corporations tional bodies are often blamed for the dereg- neoliberal critiques of the welfare state are into developing economies. This is simply ulation of global trade these organisations found the work of economists Milton untrue. In practice, cost reduction is not the are controlled by nation states and imple- Friedman & Friedrich Hayek, whose book The key focus for corporate investment strate- ment policies in line with the interests of the Road to Serfdom' argues that the Welfare gies; the availability of workforce with rele- large western economies. This clearly State leads to totalitarianism. vant skills and infrastructure is the key. demonstrates that globalisation is not an abstract phenomena but is a consequence This perspective grew following the oil crisis It is clear that the investment strategies of of sustained political and academic project of 1973, the abolition of fixed exchange rates corporations are strongly in line with the aimed at increasing corporate profits and and the subsequent economic recession. agenda of neo-liberal governments. Contrary destroying our public services. This lead to an end of an economic order to the claims of neo-liberal economists and based on 'embedded liberalism' and the politicians many European companies are The Welfare State is under attack not from emergence of monetarist economic policies both unable and unwilling to expropriate globalisation but from neo-liberal ideologues Neo-liberal governments in the form of large scale investments from their country of committed to undermining the social protec- Thatcher and Reagan were elected in the UK origin. tion and rights of working people. Such an and USA with an agenda of privatisation, wel- attack is based on misinformation and inac- fare retrenchment and low taxation. In reality, the claim that greater investment curacies and must be resisted and ultimate- in the Welfare State funded through the tax- ly defeated. The characteristics of neo-liberal policies are ation of private firms would lead to a flight of unilateral opening of a country to foreign trade, privatisation of State enterprises, deregulation of labour markets and cuts in government social spending with an empha- sis on fiscal rectitude. While neo-liberal gov- ernments have not dismantled the Welfare State entirely due to opposition from the pub- lic, Trade Unions and community groups almost all Welfare States now have greater selectivity, lower replacement rates and there has been large-scale privatisation of public companies. The impact of Globalisation is often blamed for a decrease in working standards and This perspective has had a substantial wages. Labour Youth is active in the Living Wage Campaign to ensure all workers earn a impact on the politics of the welfare state minimum of €10 an hour. The campaign was launched by (from left) Neil Ward (Labour and has been adopted into the programmes Youth Vice-Chair), Mick O’Reilly (ATGWU), Joanne Delaney (MANDATE), Labour Party of Social Democrats advocating a 'third way' Cllr Eric Byrne, Jack O’Connor (SIPTU) and Labour Party Leader Pat Rabbitte TD. 11 The Left Tribune INTERNATIONAL Britain’s Great Left Hope This summer's announcement by left-wing MP John McDonnell that he would stand for the leadership of British Labour caused a minor stir in a popular media besotted with the personalities of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. But, as Dermot Looney writes, McDonnell's campaign is part of a historic narrative in which left and right battle it out for the hearts and minds of Britain and its troubled Labour Party. A casual observer might not think a politician ship of the party was in sharp opposition to who lists "generally fermenting the over- Marxists in the Social Democratic A remarkable feature of this government, led throw of capitalism" among his interests in Federation, an important component in the by Clem Attlee, was the attachment felt by Who's Who fits in well to a Labour Party early Labour Party. Mass membership and ordinary people to Labour; the party had dominated by Blairism for more than a mass support for the party came within a approximately half a million members when decade. But John McDonnell's bid to become few years but this did not necessarily imply they took office in 1945, and over a million the next British Labour Leader is far from an radicalism. Indeed, the first ever Labour when they left six years later. anachronism. Rather, it is a legitimate and Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, reject- vital campaign to reclaim the values, princi- ed the socialism and pacifism of his early It is perhaps during Attlee's leadership that ples, policies and politics of the left for the days in Parliament when he became leader the radical left of the party reached its zenith. party. And those scoffing how a socialist of a minority government in 1924. Nevertheless, Attlee himself was a moderate campaign is expected to thrive fall into the and his foreign policy - in particular his com- mythical trap of believing that Labour equals Any chances of re-election to Government mitments to massive spending on arms and Blairism. were halted by the infamous Zinoviev letter, a intervention in the Korean War in 1950 forged document purporting to come from were staunchly opposed by a left wing who Left-wing activists who remain 'in the pavilion' the USSR and calling for Soviet-style increasingly turned to Welsh radical Nye of Labour politics have been battered, Communism in Britain. The forgery was print- Bevan as its best hope. bruised and cast aside - but they are not yet ed in the Daily Mail - now, and then, a reac- defeated. An estimated 200,000 members tionary Tory paper with a particular distaste Bevan, the archetypal miner-cum-trade union have left the party in the last decade - some for any form of socialism (and, coincidentally, leader, overcame great odds in establishing 25 times the entire membership of the Irish the Irish). Ramsay MacDonald was opposed the NHS in 1948, a feat which remains Labour Party. But Londoner McDonnell, who Labour's proudest ever achievement in gov- has significant Irish roots, is adamant that “200,000 members have left the ernment. But he was forced out of the his campaign should be the trigger for many Cabinet after opposing the war in Korea and of them to rejoin and for new members, par- party in the last decade - some subsequent challenges to Attlee's successor, ticularly amongst Britain's disenfranchised 25 times the entire membership the centrist Hugh Gaitskell, bore little fruit. youth, to take up membership and activism. of the Irish Labour Party.” The clashes between Bevanites and His campaign is undoubtedly one seeking to Gaitskellites were substantial but the moder- "reclaim" the party for what he views as its by many on the left throughout his leader- ates maintained the upper hand while the natural place on the left. ship, particularly given his opposition to the Tories under an aged Churchill and Anthony 1926 General Strike. He was eventually Eden retained power. Far from the personality disputes of Brown expelled from the Labour Party and formed a and Blair - co-architects of the New Labour national government in coalition with the The next time Labour came to power was project - and the host of minor acolytes lining Tories and Liberals. 1964, in a slim majority led by another mod- up to "renew" New Labour, McDonnell erate, Harold Wilson. This majority was stands in the traditions of Nye Bevan and The Zinoviev letter and the subsequent con- greater in the 1966 snap election and Tony Benn; popular, radical and caring poli- troversy highlighted two parallel tendencies Labour were in government until 1970. tics rooted in the great dichotomy of left and which have always restricted the left in Although many social-democratic social poli- right. British politics - the power of an unsympa- cies were implemented, such as increasing thetic media, and 'red scare' tactics by the universalism in social welfare payments and THE EARLY BATTLES BETWEEN LEFT AND Tories. The degree of 'redness' in the party is legislation on race relations, homosexuality RIGHT a ubiquitous source of controversy; so much and abortion, the left of the party were large- so that the history of British Labour since its ly undermined. By the late 1960's there was Perhaps more than any other left-wing party foundation might best be understood as a enough optimism, however, that the com- in the world, the importance of political and conflict between left and right. mon consensus among ordinary Labour class culture has dominated the British activists was that the "seventies would be Labour Party since its formation as the POST WAR POLITICS AND THE SOCIAL socialist." Their hopes were not to be Labour Representation Committee in 1900 DEMOCRATIC CONSENSUS achieved. by Keir Hardie. The cultural ethos of the labour movement, built from the early years A number of other key left-right arguments in FROM BENN TO BLAIR AND BEYOND of the 20th century, focused on the transfor- the party have taken place over the past 60 mation of society itself by the combined years. The landslide post-War election of Wilson's successor, Jim Callaghan, was efforts of working-class people represented 1945 gave Labour a huge majority in another centrist, and opposed a left that by in their workplaces by trade unions and in Parliament, allowing the foundation of the now included ministers Barbara Castle and parliament by Labour. Welfare State and the National Health Tony Benn. In 1976 Callaghan's government Service, an institution that continues despite received an IMF loan that was "badly needed" While he is recognised as a hero to many on more than a quarter century of attacks by - the loan required the typical privatisation the left nowadays, Keir Hardie's chairman- neoliberalism under Thatcher and Blair. and free-market reforms attached to IMF INTERNATIONAL The Left Tribune 12 interventions. The left of the party increasing- From the 1983 defeat on the party initiated ly rallied around Benn and Michael Foot, a series after series of reforms which were previous editor of the left-wing Tribune news- intended to "modernise" - in practice, image paper. building, the centralisation of power, and overall a movement further and further The so-called "Winter of Discontent" in 1979 towards the capitalist consensus. Under the led to the Labour government being well- leadership of Neil Kinnock, a former left beaten by the Conservatives under Margaret winger who controversially abstained rather Thatcher. Thatcher was to dominate British than support Benn's election for Deputy politics for more than a decade - indeed, Leader, the party expelled the "Militant some would say that her ideology and style, if Tendency," a Trotskyite entrist group who not necessarily her party, continue to domi- had a number of MP's and control of nate today. Liverpool City Council. The media heralded it as a defeat for the left, even though the Tony Benn and others were massively sup- Bennites, now formed as the Socialist ported by the Labour grassroots member- Campaign Group, were not aligned to ship and pushed through democratic Militant. reforms, giving more power to the party con- ference and arguing for radical reform Kinnock's leadership should have culminated across the board. Michael Foot's election as in election victory in 1992, but the party tively little attention from a media besotted party leader in 1980 was a significant victo- were narrowly defeated. The party swung fur- with the Blair/Brown soap opera. But it has ry for the left and, while Benn was narrowly ther to the centre under Kinnock's succes- attracted support from across trade unions, defeated in a significant election for Deputy sor, John Smith, and to the right under Tony the Labour Representation Committee, the Leader in 1981, Labour's high standing in Blair, who was elected leader in 1994. Socialist Campaign Group and hosts of public polls continued to hold until the beginning of meetings. His candidature is in the historical the Falklands War in 1982. Thatcher's star The New Labour project was originally mould of Bevan and Benn but reflects up-to- then began to rise, supported by a jingoistic intended to defeat the remaining vestiges of date concerns about privatisation, the war in media and a significant split in Labour led by the left by coalescing with the Lib Dems but, Iraq, the massive military spend and top-up a right-wing opposed to democratic party given the huge unpopularity of John Major's fees for third-level students amongst other reforms and left-wing policies. Tory government, instead won a landslide issues. election in 1997. Since then, Blair's cen- The "Gang of Four" who initiated the split tralised leadership, neoliberal economics and Left and right are complex, changing words, went on to form the Social Democratic Party, neoconservative foreign policies have domi- often used to mislead or overly-simplify. But which later merged with a diminished Liberal nated and the left of the party, confined to they are far from 'dead', as the pseudo-post- Party to form today's Liberal Democrats. The the backbenches in parliament, have suf- modernists in New Labour would have us SDP were somewhat successful in taking fered with the loss of membership and the believe. John McDonnell's campaign for lead- Labour seats in the 1983 election in which "spin" against them from 10 Downing Street ership reasserts the importance of the very hysteria about Labour's manifesto con- and party HQ. basics of socialism - equality, solidarity and tributed to a significant Tory victory. The democracy - that the right have forgotten or manifesto, written by Benn and others on the McDonnell's leadership campaign takes chose to ignore. Only the history of the future left, argued for withdrawal from the EEC, place in the context of continued New Labour will tell us if he and those on the left will be nuclear disarmament, abolition of the aristo- domination and has, to date, received rela- successful in their endeavours. cratic House of Lords and nationalisation of a number of strategic industries. ABOUT JOHN McDONNELL MP

It was seized upon by the press as an excuse Born: September 8 1951 in Liverpool, son of a docker & shopworker with Irish connections. for Labour to "nationalise the corner shops" MP for: Hayes and Harlington (London) and, combined with Foot's unpopularity and hugely successful negative campaigning tac- Positions held: Former Deputy leader of the Greater London Council. Chair of the Labour tics and costly media campaigns by the Representation Committee of ordinary members and trade unionists. Chair of the Socialist Tories, led to a landslide defeat. Labour's own Campaign Group of 24 Labour MPs. Chair of the "Public Services Not Private Profit" campaign right-wingers famously termed the 50,000 opposing privatisation. Leader of a number of all-party groups in parliament on trade union word manifesto as "the longest suicide note issues, the Irish and Punjabi community in Britain and endometriosis. in history." Has rebelled against the Blair Government on: the Iraq War, support for Israel, foundation hospitals, top-up fees, trust schools, civil liberties clampdowns and "anti-terror" laws, high mili- While the Bennite left continued to argue for tary spending, nuclear weapons. radical reforms, the extreme individualism, far-right social policies and the advent of Controversy: Once claimed that the "deaths of innocent civilians in IRA attacks is a real tragedy, neoliberal economics under Thatcher were but it was as a result of British occupation in Ireland. Because of the bravery of the IRA and the backdrop for the rest of the eighties. people like Bobby Sands we now have a peace process." Where Labour was successful - in a number of radical left local government authorities, Quote: "New Labour has systematically alienated section after section of our supporters - including the Greater London Council (GLC) - teachers, health workers, students, pensioners, public service workers, trade unionists and peo- Thatcher's government simply abolished the ple committed to the environment, civil liberties and peace. Spin and allegations of sleaze are councils. Two people affected by the abolition causing decent people to lose trust in our party. This is reflected in lost votes, lost elections, of the GLC were its leader, "Red" Ken lost members and a Labour Prime Minister having to rely upon Conservative votes in Livingstone (now London Mayor) and his Parliament to force through legislation." deputy, John McDonnell. Campaign Website: http://john4leader.org.uk 13 The Left Tribune INTERNATIONAL International Sex Trade Must Stop Rebecca Moynihan country is a much grimmer. Women are lation in this area is not forthcoming. locked up against their will, allowed no con- As the world marked International Day for tact with the outside world, beaten, raped, The EU has a leading role to play in the fight the Elimination of Violence Against Women and treated as little more than a sex slaves. against trafficking within the union and world- on November 25th, thousands of women Most of the women trafficked are young wide. However, as is usually the case with were trafficked in European Union for the women and some are children. Isolation and issues that concern women and vulnerable purposes of prostitution. a lack of language skills mean that they are groups, the political will to tackle the problem does not exist. Sex sells, as the saying goes. In modern Europe the sex industry has gone main- European Justice Ministers and European stream. In every European capital, you will police forces must agree a comprehensive find neon lights advertising lap dancers, strip- strategy to tackle trafficking between mem- pers, and topless dancing. However, a much ber states. The organised criminals involved darker side to the sex industry lies beneath must be ruthlessly targeted. In addition to these bright lights. this, we need to raise awareness of the traf- ficking problem in member states and put in The trafficking of women from poorer EU place, adequately funded support structures, nations into western Europe is big business for victims of trafficking. for organised gangs. Unlike drugs or arms, women are commodities, which can be Finally, if we are to ever really eliminate traf- reused and resold. ficking we must target the demand for pros- titution. The users of trafficked women are Unscrupulous traffickers trick many women trapped by a dependency on the men who our partners, co-workers, friends and family. into leaving home with seductive stories of a are exploiting them. If we are ever to see true equality, women better life in another EU country. The promis- cannot continue to be seen as commodities es of a good job, accommodation and the Ireland is alone in the EU in having no legisla- for the titillation of men. The procurement of opportunity to earn enough money to provide tion governing the trafficking of human sex, in any form, must become socially unac- for the family they have left behind are often beings. While prostitution is illegal and the ceptable. It is not an argument about or too alluring to resist. women can be jailed, there is no mechanism against liberalism, but an argument about for targeting the traffickers. Promised legis- respect for all human beings. The reality when they arrive in their host End the Cuban Blockade Paul Mulville the world. The measure that has drawn criti- cism from all corners of the world since its Labour Youth passed its first policy motion introduction, and continues to do so today. on Cuba in recent memory at November's Youth Conference, calling for the immediate The embargo has been widely attacked, and lifting of the 44-year old US-imposed block- was originally opposed by Pope John Paul II ade on the Caribbean island. as far back as 1978 during a visit to Mexico. More recently, the former called for the end In recent times, the embargo has been of the embargo during his historical visit to strengthened by George W Bush, following Cuba in January 1998, saying "Nowadays, no the shameful passing of the Helms-Burton nation can live in isolation. Therefore, the Act by the Clinton administration. The US Cuban people cannot be deprived of their ties bases the embargo on the claim that Cuba with other people, ties which are necessary has systematically denied the human, eco- Closer to home, Labour Party President and for economic, social and cultural develop- nomic, labour & political rights of its people. Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Michael D. ment, particularly when imposed isolation Higgins has come out strongly against the indiscriminately affects the people, worsen- Ironically however, as a direct result of the embargo on several occasions. Speaking in ing difficulties for the weakest in basic American embargo, working people in Cuba February 2005 he said "there is an illegal aspects, such as food, health and education. undergo needless suffering, and the social blockade of Cuba; there is an attempt to dis- Everyone can and should take specific steps development of the people and the nation lodge the Cuban economy and to, I believe, to bring about change in this regard." has been cruelly hampered. Perhaps one of infiltrate Cuban society. The question of the the most poignant examples of this is the dislodging of a neighbouring country; interfer- Most recently, in November this year, the UN ensuing shortage of many basic medical sup- ence in its judicial system; its economy, its General Assembly approved another resolu- plies, vital procedures such as the treatment society is a matter for international politics & tion denouncing the US embargo against of breast cancer, HIV and leukaemia have several international conventions." Cuba. This is the 15th time it has done so. A been hindered. In addition, the embargo con- record 183 nations supported the resolu- tradicts the principle of the promotion and Labour Youth must build on the motion tion, with 4 against and 1 abstention. The protection of human rights and freedom, passed at conference this year condemning four against were the US, Israel, Palau and which US citizens want for themselves and the blockade and continue to stand firmly in the Marshall Islands. Another Coalition of the which the US claims to want for the rest of solidarity with the people of Cuba. Stop Al Willing! Bloqueo! Viva Cuba libre! LEFT BACK The Left Tribune 14 Get Involved! JOIN US! Have you been inspired by any of the topics covered in this Think Labour? Why not join Labour? issue? If so make sure to get in contact with the relevant Joining Labour Youth is as simple as filling in the form below and organisations: posting to Labour Youth, 17 Ely Place, Dublin 2 - or emailing the details to [email protected] Shell to Sea: Name: ______www.corribsos.com John McDonnell: Address: ______www.john4leader.org.uk ______Stop Violence Against ______Women: ______http://web.amnesty.org/ actforwomen/index-eng

Phone: ______Other websites of note: Labour Youth Homepage: Email: ______www.labouryouth.ie Labour Youth Bebo: College: ______http://labouryouth.bebo.com ECOSY - Young European Socialists: www.ecosy.org IUSY - International Union of Socialist Youth: www.iusy.org Anti-War Ireland: www.antiwarireland.org Residents Against Racism www.residentsagainstracism.org Indymedia: www.indymedia.ie Obituary: Peter Fitzgerald Patrick Nulty Within the Labour Party nationally he served On a personal note, Peter was one of the first Peter was a member of the Labour Youth as Secretary of the Dublin South-East people I encountered when I joined the National Council from 1997-2000 in which Constituency between 1997 and 2001. He Labour Party in 2002. He was always very time he ran Labour Youth's first two national was also a successful Director of elections supportive of young members and consis- recruitment campaigns. He also established for Cllr. Kevin Humphreys in the local elec- tently offered sensible and practical advice in Labour Youth college which was a series of tions of 1999 and 2004. Elected to the how best to achieve progressive social training seminars and policy discussions run National Executive of the Labour Party in change. He was someone who personified by and for Labour Youth members. Peter 2003 and subsequently re-elected in 2005 the very best qualities of our party. Proud to was a principled left wing student activist and Peter was a staunch advocate of party be left. Proud to be Labour. served as President of Trinity College democracy and the rights of rank and file Students' Union 1993-94. Labour members. May he rest in peace. US Military - Out of Shannon Labour has called for the immediate end to ing depleted uranium shells and torture vic- Labour Youth, making the immediate with- the use of Shannon Airport as a staging point tims, but the PD-FF govt and the Gardai drawal of US military from Shannon Airport for US troops on their way to Iraq. refuse even to investigate the mounting evi- an essential part of any programme for gov- dence of their illegal transit through Irish air- ernment in which Labour would be involved. It is both the policy and intention of the party space and Irish airports. to remove the US troops from Shannon with- Deputy Tommy Broughan recently comment- in weeks of entering any government. The Along with tens of thousands of others on ed; “In early November the American people Shannon stopover has been a key strategic the left, Labour have led the charge against voted decisively to bring their young men and resource for the US in their invasion, which this most heinous breach of international law women home from the tragic Iraqi morass. by now has resulted in something approach- and humanity. Labour Youth have been to the Minister Dermot Ahern must now respond ing 600,000 deaths. forefront, helping to organise the broad by opting to end the Shannon stopover.” movement against the war, engaging in The continued use of Shannon has been per- protest and direct action in Shannon and A vote for Labour in the upcoming elections mitted by the PD-FF government despite elsewhere, and offering support to groups will send a powerful message to the world unprecedented protests and activism across such as the Pitstop Ploughshares & that Ireland does not stand as part of Bush’s Ireland in opposition to the war on Iraq. Raytheon 9 who been charged by the courts “coalition of the willing.” In the meantime, Chillingly, the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs due to their actions for peace. Labour Youth will continue its involvement in Minister Dermot Ahern have continued to the broad anti-war campaign and the organi- insist on the use of Shannon despite revela- In the Dail and the press, Labour Party sation of actions against the invasion of Iraq. tions of its use as a conduit for grossly illegal President Michael D Higgins TD, along with We will also continue to campaign against torture flights. other TD’s such as Tommy Broughan, Jan the continuing nightmare waged on Palestine O’Sullivan and Joe Costello, have been partic- by Israel and the complicity of the US in these In 2005 approximately 330,000 US troops ularly vocal in putting forward Labour’s policy outrageous breaches of human rights and travelled through Shannon on the way to of removing the use of Shannon for US international law. Iraq. It has been estimated that in total more troops and war machines. than half a million US military personnel have For more information on getting involved, been through Shannon. They are likely to The last Labour Party national conference please see inside. have been accompanied by weapons, includ- unanimously passed motion 119 from Dermot Looney