Ethnicity Vs. Nationalism Industrial Policy Needed Craft Guilds Undermined Editorial Philip O'Connor Labour Comment

page 8 page 14 back page IRISH POLITICAL REVIEW December 2012 Vol.27, No.12 ISSN 0790-7672 and Northern Star incorporating Workers' Weekly Vol.26 No.12 ISSN 954-5891

Therapeutic Abortion Just what would we The death of Mrs. Savita Halappanavar as a result of medical shortcomings in do if UK left EU? connection with complications in a miscarriage is likely to bring about a much-needed reform of arrangements in such situations. This was the question posed by David McWilliams in a recent piece in the Irish The only statute law governing abortion is the 19th century British-made Offences Independent (22 November). However, Against The Person Act. That is modified by the clause in the Irish Constitution that there he did not answer his own question. And is an equal right to life between an unborn and its mother, enacted by referendum. This while his logic leads to us leaving the provision came about as a result of a legal case, brought by an underage statutory rape Euro and joining Sterling that's a position victim. Her family was appealing an injunction brought by Attorney General Harold that dare not speak its name for him. With Whelehan to prevent the girl from leaving the country to obtain an abortion. Whelehan this approach he becomes very eclectic as was over-ruled by the Supreme Court and the person concerned travelled to England for regards the country's options and it's an abortion. Subsequently, referendums confirmed the Right to Information about difficult to see the worth of what he says. Abortion to be made available in Ireland and the Right to Travel for Abortion. For example he says that, if Britain left The X-Case ruling was not overturned by referendum. It established that, where a the EU, "Ireland would be a total outlier conflict of interest existed between the two, the life of the mother was to take priority over in terms of economic integration, while that of the unborn. However, no legislation has been passed, to give effect to and culturally we would be in a club with elaborate this judge-made law. This has meant that individual doctors have been unsure which we share practically nothing". This of how to proceed in difficult cases. It has been left to the Medical Council to draw up is weird reasoning. The economic regulations to govern medical practice. Irish Political Review has been given to integration on offer is with the Eurozone understand that these are drawn up sufficiently loosely to allow medical practitioners of which Britain is not part and obviously considerable leeway. The effect of that has been that there is considerable variation in hostile to. It is the plans for this very the approach to problem pregnancies around the country. In a small number of hospitals integration that is forcing it to consider there has been a very restrictive approach to medical intervention indeed, as was the case leaving the EU. So its exit from the scene at Galway University Hospital. Judging by press reports of the Halappanavar Case, the will not hinder the development of what it doctors in question denied the mother her rights to a legal termination under X-Case is being trying to prevent. judge-made law. In the Dublin area, on the other hand, we understand that doctors Ireland on the other hand shows every routinely intervene to save the life of the mother where this is required. It is a pity that sign of wanting to be part of this the variable medical practice in such situations has not come to light before this case, as integration. The fundamental choice was such knowledge could have been of assistance to women with problem pregnancies. made in the referendum on the Fiscal What the Halappanavar Case has made abundantly clear is that it can no longer be left Pact. It will inevitably be physically an continued on page 2 continued on page 4

discussion. Up to this point there was only around the Ottoman Empire. However, it Gaza a tiny Jewish population in Palestine, and was contented to stay where it was. The At the conclusion of Zion's latest it was initially not considered. Zionist project had no support there. An bloodbath in Gaza, an RTE commentator Zionism set out to find a "national approach by the Zionists to the Ottoman wearily referred to "this conflict that has homeland" for "the Jews" under the rulers to consider a European Jewish been going on for thousands of years". protection of an Imperialist power, and colonisation project in Palestine was This is nonsense. Zionism was just always favoured Britain for this latter rejected out of hand as only likely to another late 19th century European role. The initial site discussed for the produce dislocation and havoc far in excess nationalist movement which gained Homeland was Uganda, where there was of any economic benefits it might produce. ground among East European Jews in plenty of fertile land and a people that The Zionists then proposed the Pales- response to the official brutal anti- could be easily dispensed with by imperial tine notion to Britain, and presented Semitism of Britain's greatest ally, Tsarist gunpowder. However, that fell through. themselves to the masters of the British Russia. Where the national movement Palestine came under consideration. Empire as a potential classic white colonist would locate itself was a matter for There was a large Jewish populations continued on page 4 ownership of his wife's medical records in an effort to thwart them. C O N T E N T S Michael Farrell has written that, Page "Irrespective of the views, opinion Therapeutic Abortion. Editorial 1 or wishes of the Minister for Health, Just What Would We Do If UK Left EU? Jack Lane 1 the HSE [Health Services Executive], Gaza. Philip O'Connor 1 its chief executive or members, very Children's Referendum. Report 3 shortly there will be an inquiry into the Readers' Letters: Who Is In Control? Ivor Kenna 5 circumstances surrounding the death Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel And Gaza's Palestinians. Report 5 of the late Savita Halappanavar which Northern Ireland: Subversive Government. Editorial 6 will be open to the public, sworn, P.A. Mag Louchlainn: An Obituary. Seán McGouran 7 independent, with leave to appeal and Ethnicity Vs. Nationalism. Editorial (Prying Out Sectarianism, Part 2) 8 which will neither seek to blame nor Dunmanway: A Reply To Jeffrey Dudgeon. Barry Keane (Letter) 11 seek to exonerate and which will be Poems: A Prayer For Gaza; Caught In The Act. Wilson John Haire 12 presided over by a member of one of Debt Crisis: Unemployment And Industrial Policy. Philip O'Connor the most caring and sympathetic groups (Austerity Report 1) 11§113 in Irish society—it's called an inquest" Shorts from the Long Fellow (The Public Finances; Consumption Boom; (Letter, Irish Times 24.11.12). Gambling Debts; Cost Of Banking Crisis) 16 Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Trocaire & Israeli Boycott; Irish Affairs; Alastair These observations seem very much to Campbell; USA And The GAA; Monignor Hugh O'Flaherty) 18 the point. For whatever reason, the An Irish Anti-Fascist RAF Volunteer And Some Other Soldiers. Government—and the media—appear to Manus O'Riordan (Part 4) 19 have neglected this most basic of demo- Index To Irish Political Review, 2012. 23 cratic institutions—the Coroner's Court. Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Abortion Law; Public Interest Directors; There may be a problem with any Children's/Adoption Referendum; Terence McSwiney 24 inquiry that is held: Mrs. Halappanavar's body has been cremated. An autopsy was Labour Comment, edited by Pat Maloney: carried out two days after she died and it Craft Guilds And The Government must be assumed that there are relevant (back page) medical samples stored to enable forensic evidence to be presented. Trade Union Notes (Pay; Tax; Membership) The European Court of Human Rights (page 26) recently ruled, in a case brought by a woman with a problem pregnancy, that the State was remiss in not providing procedures to establish a woman's entitle- ment in such situations. The Government abortions are now set in place expeditiously. to Medical Council guidelines and medical set up an expert group, chaired by Justice discretion to ensure a proper outcome in Strictly speaking, a statute law should Sean Ryan, after that ruling. The Sunday difficult pregnancies. not be required to allow therapeutic Independent reports that the findings of abortions where there is a real and this group favour the establishment of Politicians have shied away from giving substantial risk to the life of the mother as "effective and accessible" procedures to statutory effect to judicial rulings in the X legal authority for this already exists as a enable women to have an abortion in Case. Undoubtedly the fear has been that result of the X Case. In fact, if and when Ireland where there is a "legitimate any liberalisation would bring about a legislation is passed on the matter, it could entitlement" (See State Is Told: 'Select liberal abortion regime, such as exists in still fall to the courts to flesh it out by Sites For Abortion', 25.11.12). Great Britain (but not in Northern Ireland). interpretation. There can be little doubt that there is That fear is misplaced. Attitudes towards As there is already legal authority for over-whelming public support for abortion are socially determined to a abortion in these circumstances, the only legislation providing for a generous considerable extent. All around Europe reason for introducing a statute law on the approach to medical intervention where restrictive abortion regimes are in place. matter is that doctors are at present not the life of the mother is at risk. Such Terminations are provided for on a limited fulfilling their obligations under the law, legislation is in keeping with the judicial basis. There is little controversy or attempt either because of pusillanimity or on ruling in the X-Case and is long over-due. to widen the criteria under which they are misguided ethical grounds. It appears permitted Where women feel the need to that, in such situations, the State may have go beyond what is allowed for in their own to order medical interventions. Children's Rights: jurisdiction, they travel to obtain a termin- ation and it is often to London that they go. A Political Agenda? Praveen Halappanavar, the bereaved It might be said that Britain has become husband, has demanded a sworn, public It is a fact that Mrs. Halappanavar died the abortion centre for Europe. enquiry into the death of his wife. There on 28th October, seventeen days before The only way that Ireland could bounce are two enquiries pending, both private the fact was publicised in a front-page from a total ban to total liberalisation is if and unsworn. These have been rejected lead story by the Irish Times on no proper provisions for therapeutic by Mr. Halappanavar, who is seeking Wednesday, 14th November. 2 It is also a fact that voters went to the In the event there was a low turn-out for one-sided information about the issues polls in the Children's Rights Referendum the vote, and a less than expected majority involved. on Saturday, 10th November, two weeks for the Constitutional amendment. after she died. A legal challenge to the Referendum The Supreme Court has continually The effect of the Constitutional amend- result has been brought to the Courts by enlarged its political prerogatives since ment was to enshrine "the natural and Joanna Jordan and Nancy Kennelly, with the 1960s. Up to now, legal power has impresriptible rights of all children". It the assistance of journalist and campaigner been increased at the expense of that of the might be asked, what is wrong with that? John Waters. One of the grounds for the elected Legislature and Executive. Will But the Constitution already lays down challenge is that those who cast postal the Supreme Court now over-rule the that the Family is "the natural and votes did so before the result became Democracy too? Certainly the way that fundamental unit group of Society", with known of the Supreme Court decision, the Irish Establishment has acted has given "inalienable and imprescriptible rights". censuring the Government for putting out it grounds to do so. Regrettably, one right can only be estab- lished at the expense of another. Up to the Report present, children formed part of the Family Children's prejudicially affected, the State as guard- and were protected as part of it. However, ian of the common good shall, by propor- under the old provisions, the Constitution Referendum tionate means as provided by law, endea- laid down that State was permitted to Voting vour to supply the place of the parents, intervene only when the Family was failing The result of the Referendum held on but always with due regard for the natural Saturday, 10th November was as follows: to vindicate the rights of its child-members and imprescriptible rights of the child. Now Children are protected in their own Yes: 615,731 58.01% 2.2 Provision shall be made by law for right. This can only diminish the Family No: 445,863 41.99% the adoption of any child where the as the basic building block of social life. It Valid votes 1,061,594, 99.57% parents have failed for such a period of will fall to the Supreme Court eventually Invalid or blank votes 4,645, 0.43% time as may be prescribed by law in their to decide how much the Family is to be Total votes: 1,066,239 duty towards the child and where the best interests of the child so require. undermined by the new provision. Only 33.5% of those eligible to vote 3Provision shall be made by law for Every political party, the Irish Hier- yesterday did so, which was the lowest turnout since the referendum on bail in 1996. the voluntary placement for adoption archy, and the media supported these Three constituencies voted No: Donegal and the adoption of any child. proposals. North East by 60%, Donegal South West by 4.1 Provision shall be made by law that The basic issues were not made clear to 56%, and Dublin North West by 50.4%, a in the resolution of all proceedings - the electorate, which was very uncertain margin of just 137 votes. i brought by the State, as guardian of The margin in Cork North Central was even as how to vote. And the Supreme Court the common good, for the purpose of tighter, it voted Yes by just 47 votes. ruling, made public a couple of days before The highest Yes vote was in Dublin South, preventing the safety and welfare of any the voting, that the Government had acted with 73%, closely followed by Dublin South child from being prejudicially affected, improperly in using public money to put a East and Dún Laoghaire. or ii concerning the adoption, guard- one-sided case to the public about its ianship or custody of, or access to, any Constitution proposed Constitutional amendments child, the best interests of the child shall added to public uncertainty as how to Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution be the paramount consideration. vote. The ruling undoubtedly reduced [The fifth subsection of the following Article 4.2 Provision shall be made by law for support for the proposed change. has been deleted by the Referendum:] securing, as far as practicable, that in all In these circumstances, did the Irish proceedings referred to in subsection 1° "Education. Article 42 Times and others decide to hold back the of this section in respect of any child … Halappanavar story until after the referen- 5. In exceptional cases, where the parents who is capable of forming his or her own dum which they were so anxious to pass for physical or moral reasons fail in their views, the views of the child shall be and which it was clear the public was duty towards their children, the State as ascertained and given due weight having uncertain about? guardian of the common good, by regard to the age and maturity of the There are indications that this happened. appropriate means shall endeavour to child. It has been reported that pro-Choice groups supply the place of the parents, but were aware that a story about a maternal always with due regard for the natural [Article 41 deals with the family and death was about to break several days has not been amended. The relevant sub- and impresciptible rights of the child." before it did. The Sunday Independent section is:] reported that "Members of the Indian [It is to be replaced by the following:] community got in touch with pro-choice "The Family. Article 41 groups following Savita's death" (Pro- NEW ARTICLE 42A 1.1 The State recognises the Family as Choice Activists Got Tip-Off On Tragic 1.1 The State recognises and affirms the natural primary and fundamental Death, 18.11.12). We do not know exactly the natural and imprescriptible rights of unit group of Society, and as a moral when this was, but the paper went on to all children and shall, as far as practic- institution possessing inalienable and suggest that some groups knew of the case able, by its laws protect and vindicate imprescriptible rights, antecedent and "at least" three days before the story broke. those rights. superior to all positive law. The same issue of the paper stated, "The 2.1In exceptional cases, where the 1.2 The State, therefore, guarantees to Irish Times had been working on the story parents, regardless of their marital status, protect the Family in its constitution and for several days before it finally hit the fail in their duty towards their children authority, as the necessary basis of social front page on Wednesday morning" (From to such extent that the safety or welfare order and as indispensable to the welfare Pure Joy To Absolute Tragedy…). of any of their children is likely to be of the Nation and the State.…" 3 If Britain Left The EU their contribution. In contrast, the EU 'Moderate' and 'left-wing' Zionists are institutions, backed by the politicians of Israeli nationalists who baulk at the human continued other EU member states, want a 5% costs of implementing the full programme, increase in the EU's institutions' budget. and are therefore prepared to settle for outlying member but that is almost immat- So what the Brits are actually looking for is austerity for the EU itself. What's so less. Within Zionism this is a morally (and erial to the essentials of an economically wrong with this? After all isn't the EU the currently also politically) very weak -integrated entity. There will be several main cheerleader for austerity as a policy? position. The State of Israel has never outlying members but such an entity will What is good for the goose is clearly not accepted the 1967 peace-line as its border. be more than the sum of its parts. so good for the gander. It seems like a It is the only UN member state whose His concept of culture is clearly very reasonable position to take and one in borders are not defined. When questioned which it is supported by Germany, Finland shallow. He says Britain "…is a neighbour a few years ago at the Joint Oireachtas and the Netherlands." with whom we share so much that it would Committee on Foreign Affairs, current be almost inconceivable to think of daily Justice Minister (and former FG children's life without Britain, from the perspective This assumes that Britain is arguing the case on its sheer economic merits alone, rights spokesman), Alan Shatter, an of TV, newspapers, popular culture and unrelenting supporter of the Zionist sport". However, if these elements did when in fact it is simply the latest stick to beat the EU with—and this is not the project, refused to divulge what the border constituted Irish culture, it would be a of Israel should be. Zionist realpolitik is to pretty meaningless affair and of little position that Germany, Finland and the Netherlands take. They argue their case achieve as much of the full programme as significance to anything. possible within the constraints of But it as plain as a pikestaff that Ireland on the merits of the budget itself. If McWilliams does not appreciate this international politics. Hence the massive joined the EEC with glee 40 years ago and Settlements project in the West Bank. its consistent commitment ever since, distinction, he is naive and fit only for despite all the difficulties involved, shows undergraduate debating. Jack Lane Gaza is different. A textual analysis of that a fundamental part of its culture wants the Old Testament apparently produces identification with Europe—while the the result that it is not part of "Biblical same 40 years has shown conclusively Israel". Hence the removal by Israel of the that English culture is at odds with all Gaza deviant Jewish settlements there a number things European. This difference betrays continued of years ago under the guise of a a much deeper cultural alternative than "concession" to the Palestinians. Gaza is a anything that can be bridged by pop culture project to settle, civilise and secure the tiny area smaller than Co. Louth in which and its celebrities. And it will never be territory for them. "A land without people a population of 1.7m—mostly expelled understood by them. for a people without land!" people from the colonised territory—lives in the most congested urban space on the McWilliams, being an economist, sees At a time when Britain was contemplat- planet. For Israel this is a nuisance. So, trade flows and such things as the things ing the destruction of the Ottoman Empire what to do? that really matter and he quotes them for its own strategic ends, the notion of Eight years ago, the left-wing Israeli profusely. But there would be no EEC or creating a "loyal little Jewish Ulster in a intellectual Tanya Reinhart produced a EU or United Germany if the existing sea of hostile Arabism" (Sir Andrew book in which she explained the "Gaza trade flows were accepted as the arbiter of Storrs) rapidly gained traction in the halls first" option in Zionist thinking. This people's lives. No doubt he would have of Whitehall. The fact that it would entail involved the total separation of Gaza from been opposed to the break with sterling as the deportation of the existing population the West Bank with the aim of the gradual a hopeless attempt at the impossible—but was taken in its stride (At the time Britain depletion (depopulation) of the former. it worked. Irish political independence was also contemplating the replacement These two areas, together with East itself went contrary to all existing trade of the people of Mesopotamia with Indian Jerusalem are, according to the UN, flows—but it worked. It always made as settlers.) Churchill, a convinced anti- supposed to form the Palestinian State of much economic sense for Britain to be in Semite, became a leading champion of the the famous "Two State Solution". In 1988 the Euro as out of it, but economics never idea, seeing it (in 1922) as killing two the PLO signed up to this proposal thus, in determined the matter and never will as birds with one stone—it would both wean an extraordinary act of generosity, any five minutes watching the House of "international Jewry" from its "evil" agreeing to peacefully settle for 22% of Commons on anything European would internationalist revolutionary predilect- their historic homeland. Israel even signed demonstrate. Man does not live by bread ions by giving it a national purpose, and up to agreements allowing for extensive alone. simultaneously create a loyal white colony communication and transport links He shows his eclecticism and naivety in the Middle East "in harmony with the between Gaza and the West Bank (e.g. the when explaining Britain's case against the truest interests of the British Empire". Oslo Accords and the Agreement on EU budget increase. Bear in mind that Mr. Movement and Access). But it has ensured Now secure with the patronage of the McWilliams is one of the great fulminators these agreements were never implemented greatest Empire the world had ever seen, against 'austerity', and he would normally and over the last decade has hermetically and the then greatest military power in the be all for Governments expanding their sealed the two areas from each other and world, Zionism honed its colonisation budgets and thereby putting more money encouraged the development of divergent project on the basis of textual analysis of into their economies. But the argument polities in the two entities, one of whom it the Old Testament. The land to be settled disappears when it comes to Britain and conveniently does not have to deal with (and emptied of its savages) ran from East the EU: (Hamas) because of its "terrorist" character. "Let's think about the latest row the of the Jordan River to the Mediterranean— Brits are having with the EU. The British coincidentally encompassing all the fertile Hermetically-sealed Gaza has since want to freeze the EU budget, or at least land and water resources of the region. then been subjected to a blockade almost 4 mediaeval in conception—or perhaps worse. A report has emerged indicating LETTERS TO THE EDITOR · LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· LETTERS TO THE EDITOR· that Israel measured the minimum amount of calories the Gaza people required for survival and then ensured that considerably less passed through its blockade. Who Is In Control? I buy all your publications regularly at Housmans Bookshop, 5 Caledonian Road, Essentially daily life is made miserable London N1 (www.radicalbooksellers.co.uk). and unbearable for the inhabitants through I was very interested to read in the Long Fellow's column for November that "just 13 economic deprivation on such a scale as to men" transferred from the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Garda Síochána. This was bring society near to the point of collapse. indeed a revolutionary change in personnel. Gazan society is further tormented by What I should like to learn from the Irish Political Review or its other readers is periodic massacres and massive destruct- whether such a revolutionary change took place in the Civil Service and the Army and ion of property and infrastructure. A white who decided on the money supply for the Irish Free State. secularised western people would have This has implications for Scotland, Wales, the 6 Counties, Cornwall and other places caved in long ago. Israel takes a particular seeking independence inside or outside the United Kingdom in the future. perverse satisfaction in preventing the con- Ivor Kenna struction of sewage treatment facilities, and bombs those that begin to be built. Let them die in their dirt as we did in Warsaw! The latest ceasefire agreement is a major Gaza (controlled by whomsoever) will be The aim is quite simply for the population victory for Hamas. It is novel in that it is sufficient pretext for the next massacre, to be driven by sheer desperation to 'leak' in actual written form. It is also a victory which is only a matter of time. As Zion out and drain into Egypt. for Hamas in that its brief terms exclude Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, said in Israeli "incursions and targeting of response to the publishing of the text of Israel encourages misguided left- individuals" (i.e. targeted assassinations) the agreement by the Egyptian Presidency: wingers in the West who berate Egypt for and includes the opening of crossings and "The right to self-defense trumps any piece not opening its border with Gaza at the the ending of Israeli enforcement of a no- of paper" (Reuters, 22nd Nov.). Raffah crossing to allow in "humanitarian go zone on the Gaza side of the border. Nevertheless, to date the Muslim nature aid" to deal with the devastation it itself Israel has negotiated, and signed an of Gazan society has prevented it from has caused. George Galloway dutifully agreement, with the "terrorist" Hamas. disintegrating into the savage and desper- led a convoy across the desert to expose After this, how can the US-EU maintain ate rabble the Jewish policy has been the Egyptian treachery, cheered on by their despicable exclusion of Hamas from aimed at achieving, with the purpose of assorted far left Palestine support groups, political engagement? precipitating its mass flight into Egypt, while Israel keeps its own border crossings However, what force will enforce Israeli leaving a nice piece of unpopulated land with Gaza closed. On the other hand Israel compliance? After all, the least bit of for use by the Zionist state. This too is the condemns Egypt for not "policing" the rocket fire by some dissident element in achievement of Hamas. tiny border, thus facilitating the smuggling of arms to the Hamas. It is never mentioned that the Sadat "peace agreement" with Israel restricts the number of security REUTERS 21ST NOV, 2012: people Egypt can station in the Sinai to a tiny figure. TEXT: Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza's Palestinians Following is the verbatim English text of the ceasefire agreement between Israel The periodic massacres casually and the Palestinians in Gaza that was reached on Wednesday with Egyptian mediation. inflicted by Israel on Gaza (with 85% The text was distributed by the Egyptian presidency. public support for the latest one) always require a 'legal' pretext. This cover is 1. (no title given for this section) needed by President Obama's Secretary of a. Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air including State Hillary Clinton—who is responsible incursions and targeting of individuals. for marshalling the US Jewish vote for the b. All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel Democratic Party (or vice versa)—for her including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border. set pieces for the fools of the UN. And the c. Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of pretext is always the same—the "resump- goods and refraining from restricting residents' free movements and targeting tion" by Hamas of rocket fire into Israel. residents in border areas and procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after And those "resumptions" are invariably 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire. triggered by Israel collapsing ceasefire agreements previously entered into with 2. Implementation mechanisms: Hamas by carrying out "targeted assassin- ations". Israel has always "reserved the a. Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into right" to carry out the murder of people it effect. b. Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was claims are "planning acts of violence agreed upon. against Israel". In the latest episode, the c. Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this "targeted assassination" was of the Hamas understanding. In case of any observations Egypt as the sponsor of this understanding defence force leader, Ahmed al-Jaabari, shall be informed to follow up. with whom Israel was actually in negoti- ation about a long-term ceasefire. 5 the dynamic of communal antagonism, can Courts upheld the demand, but legal Northern Ireland: ingrained in them by the Northern Ireland challenges are ongoing. And in Belfast system, always stifled the thought of McIntyre and Ed Moloney (an anti-Provo Subversive Coalition before it ever gave rise to the journalist from the Left who is heavily Government slightest action towards its realisation. implicated in the affair) are trying by legal These two 'moderate' parties of the action in Belfast to stop the PSNI demand. British Government policy on the centre were quickly relegated to the Northern Ireland region of the British extremes by the working out of the Then there is the subversion of the state has, for the past couple of years, been Agreement, and they began sniping at the Patton changes in policing, which were to subvert the local arrangements made "extremist" parties, the Provos and the intended to introduce a new culture into under the Good Friday Agreement and to Paisleyites, which replaced them at the policing. Under these provisions large restore "normal" politics. In this project it centre, and which made accommodations numbers of RUC personnel took golden has been actively supported by Fianna to each other—a thing which the moderates handshakes, with half a billion pounds Fail leader Micheál Martin. The recent had not be able to do. being disbursed. Disquiet arose, however, change of Secretary of State may indicate The dysfunctional 'moderates' began when it began to become apparent that the an end of that policy, but it is too soon to carping at the pragmatic 'extremists' and same people were being rehired under judge. trying to unsettle them. But this was a civilian contracts. Finally, a report of the Owen Paterson, Secretary of State until mere expression of resentment at the loss Comptroller and Auditor General 4th September, said that a political system of electoral support. They still could not published in early October revealed that which was not an adversarial conflict bring themselves to act together. But more than 1,000 former RUC personnel between Government and Opposition was Whitehall probably thought that something were rehired in a police service of just democratically abnormal. But it was the could be made of these resentments of the over 5,500. normality of of adversarial politics in the incompetent moderates to damage Sinn One effect of this rehiring policy is the extremely artificial system set up in the Fein. undermining of the Patten provision for a Six Counties in 1921—entirely subordin- temporary 50/50 recruitment policy to ate to the British State but excluded from The war is over but particular incidents correct the Protestant imbalance in the its political system—that gave rise to a in it are being raked over by an unholy police force. war that lasted for almost 30 years, which alliance of Whitehall, the Unionist Parties, Another effect is that the RUC civilian the British Army was unable to win. The the SDLP, Fianna Fail and Republican contractors are not subject to civilian war was brought to an end by a political dissidents of various kinds. At the time of overview: even the Police Ombudsman settlement under which every party of any the Agreement the idea was floated of a cannot regulate their activities. substance is in government as of right and Truth And Reconciliation Commission Jim Gibney, a Sinn Feiner very there is no role for an Opposition. on South African lines to consolidate it supportive of the Peace Process who has a It goes against the grain for Britain not socially. That idea was shot down column in the Irish News, assesses the to win, or at least appear to win. In 1998 immediately in Westminster by Michael situation as follows: it admitted its inability to win. And, by the Mates on behalf of the British Establish- "A 'fifth column RUC mentality' bent settlement it agreed to it conceded, de ment. There was no way the British State on frustrating the implementation of facto at least, that the war waged against it was going to make a good confession of Patten's recommendations for reform was by the Provos was legitimate. But the what it had been up to during the War. The active inside the PSNI, pursuing a game only sense that can be made of its policies raking over was therefore a sneaky, one- plan of 'hollowing out' and undermining Patten. in recent years is that it hoped to free itself sided affair designed to pin something on from the concessions it had to make in "At no stage during this retiring and Gerry Adams. Central to it was the Boston rehiring practice has the PSNI explained order to end the war and restore a slightly College tapes, arranged, it is said, by why it was started beyond claims that in modified version of the system it set up in Professor the Lord Bew from the Official the changeover from the RUC to the 1921. In this project it has been supported IRA, whom it is realistic to regard as a PSNI valuable skills were lost and that a verbally, not only by the Fianna Fail leader Whitehall agent. A leading participant violent threat from armed republicans in the South, but by every party in the was Anthony McIntyre, a one-time Provo existed. "It has to be remembered that the North except Sinn Fein. All of them—the who condemned Adams for having got Unionist Parties of course, but also the context… was one of peace—republicans the War stopped before Ireland was united, and loyalists were on ceasefire… SDLP and Alliance—have made noises and demanded that the Provos should admit "The violent threat claim was a pretext about the need for democratic opposition, they had lost. (McIntyre appears to have …" (IN 11.10.12). and for the replacing of the 1998 system been given his "ideological formation" by by some kind of voluntary opposition. Lord Bew.) Gibney might also have mentioned that, Many former Provos, who were unable since the GFA was signed, MI5 (respon- There was a time—in 1998 and for to keep pace with the effective realpolitik sible for some of the worst outrages of the some years after—when the SDLP and of Adams and McGuinness, agreed to Troubles) has established its headquarters the Ulster Unionist Party had the numbers spill the beans to a tape-recorder, the tapes in Northern Ireland. It may be assumed to form a Coalition with a substantial being held in Boston College until their that it took on retiring RUC officers, majority of elected representatives They death—not the death of all concerned, particularly from Special Branch. These refused to do so. They can plead that their only their own death. The project was activities would not be regulated by the constituents would have rejected them at therefore political, not historical. GFA. the next Election if they did so. But that was not a certainty. And in any case it was Whitehall (in the form of the PSNI) Meanwhile the Secretary of State began only a debating point. The reason they demanded access to the tapes—as if it did to intern with one hand the Republican made no effort to form a Coalition is that not know what was on them! The Ameri- dissidents whom he was manipulating 6 against Sinn Fein with the other hand, Another issue arose in connection with waged in a medium of ideological fantasy, presenting Sinn Fein with a dilemma, the appointment of official Advisers to Marxist-Leninist leader of the Stickies which it has dealt with effectively so far. Ministers A Republican Minister appoint- when they came close to superseding the Then Padraic Wilson was arrested ed somebody with a conviction for Repub- Communist Party in Moscow's favour, because of IRA activities not covered by lican activities. Jim Allister, leader of the adviser to Lord Trimble when he was the 1998 Agreement because they hap- Traditional Unionist Voice, put down a leader of the Unionist Party, writer of pened after it. It took some time to find out motion in the Assembly that people with Trimble's Oslo speech accepting the Nobel what those activities were. It turned out convictions should be disqualified from Peace Prize for the Agreement which he that Wilson's offence was that he investi- advising Ministers (many of whom had had done his bet to prevent, scourge of the gated the circumstances surrounding the convictions of the same kind). The SDLP Provos in the Peace Process, etc. etc. He killing of Robert McCartney —a thing signed that motion. The Assembly has appears to have persuaded the Editor of which at the time it was widely demanded little power over the members of the the Sunday Independent (his ex-wife and that the Republicans should do. Executive. If this matter is pressed it a defender of Official IRA terrorism) to Wilson was being held without being would be subject to community voting— stop supporting the anti-Provo Repub- granted bail—which is the current form of that is, it will be subject to two separate licans who are collaborating with the internment in a very slow-moving legal votes, Unionist and Nationalist, and must British Establishment in their efforts to jurisdiction indeed. This went on until have a majority in each to be of any damage Adams. When the Leninist system Sinn Fein leader Gerry Kelly led a street consequence at all. It could not be passed fell apart, Conor Cruise O'Brien became demonstration which was widely by the Nationalist bloc unless Sinn Fein his guiding star. O'Brien, when his political supported in the nationalist community, votes against itself. So the whole affair is career collapsed under Haughey's and Wilson was released on bail. just a way of keeping bad feeling alive influence in 1977, fell into the grip of a Others remain in jail, however. over an appointment system that would liberal-fascist obsession that took him Jim Gibney commented as follows on seem to be in accordance with the Agreement. beyond the reach of commonsense-based the State's unofficial internment policy: reason. But it begins to seem that "…Padraic Wilson's arrest is a cal- And then there is Eoghan Harris— something in Harris survived the O'Brien culated strike at the leadership of Sinn hounder of Poppy sellers in the late 1960s, cult—even if it is only the ability to see Fein with the express intention of causing Godfather of the Official IRA in its war which way the weather-vane is pointing. internal difficulties… "His arrest raises very fundamental questions abut the failure of the leadership Obituary very likeable man. He was also a physically of the PSNI to tackle those it knows in its brave man, I have seen him surrounded by ranks that are using the police and the prosecution service as a battleground to P.A. Mag Lochlainn large, surly young men and facing them block further change to PSNI and the down. That knack had partly to do with the justice system. I first encountered PA Mag Lochlainn fact that he had been a secondary school "…The question has to be asked has at the door of Cathedral Building (opposite teacher for nearly a quarter of a century. Matt Baggott lost his leadership of the Belfast’s St. Ann's Cathedral). He asked He was a founder-member (in Northern PSNI? me if it was where “N. I. G. R. A.” held its Ireland) of NAS/UWT (the National …The treatment of Mr. Wilson can meetings. After momentary puzzlement Association of Schoolmasters / Union of only be understood in the context of the at the set of initials, and the idea that securocrats' strategy of attacking the Women Teachers), on non-sectarian anybody would actually want to attend, I peace process. Of equal concern is the grounds. His first teaching job was in pursuit of Marian Price—a sick and bed- said “Yes”. PA (as he was known to all County Down, in a State school. The bound patent in a Belfast hospital. and sundry) was then a chunky man. He people he lodged with, and some of his "A magistrate in a Derry court had had a ‘near death’ experience while colleagues, objected to the spelling of his dismissed charges against Ms Price yet yachting during the Summer. He was part name. He found a job in Omagh, a the prosecution service reinstated the of the crew on a racing yacht: some relatively short distance from his home dropped charges. There is also growing malicious people implied it was a Russian concern that a miscarriage of justice has town, Dungiven, with the Christian oligarch-type vessel. occurred in the case of Brendan Brothers. (He didn’t really like the Brothers). McConville and John Paul Wootton I don’t know if he was disappointed at sentenced to life imprisonment earlier the smallness of the event, but he returned He was trained to teach French, but this year for the killing of police officer on a regular weekly basis. As he was taught 'Art'; his minor obsession with Stephen Carroll. retired, due to the kidney infection that heraldry was useful in this capacity. PA "It is believed the conviction is was to kill him at 67; a relatively early age was a genealogist, and very knowledgeable unsafe…" (IN 8.11.12; Baggott is the for a man who had been a yachtsman and about Irish families, British aristos, and fundamentalist Christian Chief Constable hill walker in his earlier days, PA was the Royal Houses of Europe—something brought in from England to head the PSNI. Gibney did not elaborate the de available for callers (journalists and other that flew straight over the heads of most of facto internment issue further in this piece, gay people) who needed help, or a ‘quote’. the company he kept for the last twenty- but there are many republicans who have PA (a garrulous man—with interesting odd years of his life. PA did not really take been in jail for years, awaiting trial; it things to say, I thought) proved to have a a holiday for most of his stay in Belfast should be added that the stance of the distinct knack for pithy sound-bites. He (1991 to 2012) but he was knowledgeable recently-appointed DPP, Barra McGrory, was a good interviewee too, able to turn about France, its cuisine, and its wine. He is puzzling; his father, Paddy, was things around, without making it obvious. approached both with considerable gusto prominent in the Catholic response to the 1969 pogrom, defended Gerry Adams, As PA was the spokesman, it was until his illness made it impossible. and represented the families of the decided to make him President of the He was rather modest about his linguis- 'Gibraltar Three', killed by the SAS in Association, which pleased him, and gave tic capabilities. He said that he was 'trying' 1988). it an attractive public image. He was a to learn Polish, but I heard him in 7 conversation with a Polish couple. And it Prying Out Sectarianism, Part 2 wasn’t a ‘How d’you do?’ chat—they were discussing Pan Tadeusz, the national epic novel. Ethnicity Vs. Nationalism PA (and his contemporary Éamonn McCann, of the Derry Labour Party, then Ulster Unionism was once a component One of those means was the sacrifice by of the SWP) went to St Columb’s College. of the great Unionist Party—a conquering the Unionist Party of Ulster Unionism for PA, the son of a well-off farmer may have and reforming party that gave the coup de the purpose of creating divisions in Sinn been there because his family could afford grace to the historic ruling class in Ireland Fein. the fees, but he may have been a under the regime of the Glorious Revolu- The Ulster Unionists were told they scholarship boy. He didn’t like the place tion of 1688 (the Protestant Ascendancy) must have a little Home Rule set-up of and rarely talked about it. Dungiven is a by collaborating with the land agitator, their own so that a deal could be made short bus journey from Derry, but he was William O'Brien, to abolish the landlord with elements in Sinn Fein. These Sinn a boarder. system, and that brought Britain to the Feiners would accept the Crown, having brink of world dominance by the Boer been assured that if they did so the Ulster Due to his loyalty to the SDLP (which War. In those times to be an Ulster Unionist set-up would be made unviable. So Ulster he always insisted was ‘socialist’ despite was to be a participant in something grand. Unionism made "the supreme sacrifice" all the evidence to the contrary), PA was What is it to be an Ulster Unionist of accepting semi-detachment from Britain the object of some prejudice: the rise and today? It is to be a miserable hole-and- and the Empire so that gullible elements rise of Sinn Féin put paid to that. But his corner "ethnicist". in Sinn Fein might be bamboozled. 'Ulster' amiable disposition meant that In the days of the great Irish land reform remained partly British; the Free State maintaining prejudice was hard work. to be a Unionist was something like being waited in vain for the promised unity and an ancient Roman. The Unionist was a there was a resurgence of Republicanism; He was a good musician, and played citizen of the world of which he was in and the Unionist Party changed its name big parts in Omagh’s annual pantomimes: large part the creator. Today the Ulster to the Conservative/Tory Party, leaving his sonorous voice was probably due to Unionist is not even a citizen of Britain, Ulster Unionism as a stranded fragment. such efforts. He could do wicked except in a Platonic sense. In its better days Protestant Ulster did impersonations of people who rubbed him not aspire to be a state. It was an active up the wrong way. But—apart from the In 1914 the Liberal Party—having participant in the greatest state the world Brothers—he was not a malicious man. become aggressively Imperialist on Free had ever seen, and what could be better He was a kind, and level-headed person, Trade grounds—launched the Empire into than that? The Ulster Protestants were and gave people who asked for it sound a World War through which it was one of the foremost peoples of Greater advice. He gave good advice on other expanded in the short-term but its Britain. Greater Britain, a term in regular matters, too, when US-financed foundations were undermined. In the use before the Great War, was the Empire fundamentalists organised a Stop the midst of this War, which was siphoning and its powerful offspring, the USA. In Parade Committee (they were too off Irishmen by the tens of thousands for effect the world was Greater Britain. But prejudiced to use the phrase ‘LGBT’ or the battlefields, the nationalist Irish made Britain undermined Greater Britain in the ‘Gay’), he suggested to the Pride war on Britain for the purpose of attempt to clinch its status by waging a Committee that they take up their challenge disengaging from the Empire. They were war of destruction on Germany and to go before the Parades Committee. The defeated in the first instance, but the Turkey. The process of unravelling began latter deals with contentious parades and national will that gave rise to the Insur- even while the expansion of the Empire demonstrations. He suggested the Pride rection then activated the populace for an was still going on. Extensive territories committee play along with any suggestions electoral assertion of independence. were added to the Empire in 1918, but the the Parades Committee suggested. The The Liberal Party shattered itself in its rot had set in with the Irish Insurrection in upshot was that the (cheerful, and popular) war effort. The Unionist Party took over 1916 and the absolute dependence on Pride demonstration’s route was slightly the conduct of the War. In the aftermath America that began to be felt acutely the curtailed. But the bigots had to come to of the War—a War that the United States same year. terms with the fact that they too had to had won for it—it was faced with the In 1919, as the waters receded after the obey the law. They were (and still are) shameful prospect of the loss of Ireland. Deluge, Churchill saw "the dreary steeples confined to a static protest immediately of Tyrone and Fermanagh" rising up again. outside the City Hall. Thereby they annoy Britain was no longer a free agent in It was a strange expectation that they the public because a large part of the world affairs. It would have been might have been washed away by an event footpath is closed for several hours, even bankrupted if America had called in its that had really had nothing to do with though the demo they are protesting takes war debts, and the Irish, sacrificed by the them. about twenty minutes to pass. And the million by the British strategic policy kids who mingle there every Saturday carried out by economic means—called The nationalist people of Tyrone and afternoon are irritated at being moved-on the Irish Famine—had become a serious Fermanagh were held against their will on to make room for them. element in American opinion. The the British side of the Partition, but their Americans would not have stood for the will was not broken, or disconcerted. They It is fitting that PA’s most obvious putting down of the Irish by the customary continued to live vigorously in their own legacy to Belfast is the fact that Ulster’s method of genocide—even though ideals. There was no other political life sour-faced fundies can no longer call the America itself was of course a state that might have distracted them. In British shots ‘morally’ or legally. founded on genocide. So Britain had to Ulster they were far beyond the range of Sean McGouran try to hang onto Ireland by other means. British politics. 8 It was on Protestant Ulster that Partition right to do what it had done. But they had relationship with Europe ever since has (in the actual way it was constructed) had chosen not to support those who were, been manipulative. From the British a destructive influence. British Ulster not just constitutionally but emotionally viewpoint becoming European means and politically, their fellow Brits. My was saved from the clutches of Papish surrendering. sense of Britishness underwent a subtle Bolshevism on the condition that in the mutation. The Union Jack would continue Is it possible that Ramsay is in transi- political dimension of life it should cease to be my flag, but from now on it would tion to a condition of loyalty to Heimat? to be British. The rest followed almost as be, metaphorically, more a flag of Difficult to translate, this German cultural a matter of course. convenience…" (Ramsay, Ringside phenomenon describes a strong feeling of Ulster Unionism became a stranded Seats: An Insider's View Of The Crisis In loyalty and belonging to a physical locality fragment, and began to have notions of Northern Ireland, Irish Academic Press, and its people. 2009, p16). itself as a kind of state. Lords Craigavon and Brookeborough knew better but Ramsay goes on: The Government of the state, whose illusions grew in the middle classes. It sovereign authority in the Northern Ireland "My feeling of betrayal that night, was understandable, in the No-man's-land region of the state was never in doubt, had vague as it was, would have been that was Northern Ireland, that those who extremely acute had I known that on "experimented" with devolution in a region were in command should mistake the board beside me was a colleague who, that was entirely unsuitable for it, and had situation. Northern Ireland was an behind backs, over three months done so by means which distanced the instrument of British policy excluded from previously, had secretly urged the British area politically from the state. The government to take the step they had just British politics. It would exist as long as experiment led to a war against the state taken…" British Governments found it useful. It is which was supported by the 40% minority not surprising that those who had the The colleague was Ken Bloomfield, in the region. The war, though waged business of running it took it to be more who later became head of the Civil Service. against the state in the name of Anti- than that. Thirty-one years after that Downing St. Partitionism, was caused by the function- meeting, Ramsay read in the Sunday ing of the devolved system. It was fuelled Ulster Unionism agreed to make the Tribune of 2nd February 2003 that in mid- by the antagonisms of devolved politics. supreme sacrifice (i.e., accept 6 County December 1971 Bloomfield had visited The democratic politics of the rest of the Home Rule) so that Michael Collins and the British Liaison office in Belfast (in state were not operative in the devolved Arthur Griffith could be sold a pup. The Cultra) with the advice that Faulkner would region. John Hume, the leader of Boundary Commission might have made not succeed and that London should find 'Constitutional nationalism', declared early changes to the Border that would transfer a way of involving Dublin in the North. in 1972 that it was now "United Ireland or territory to the Free State that actually According to the report of the Liaison nothing!" But that declaration was would have made Northern Ireland more man (Howard Smith of the Foreign Office, realistically understood to mean "Stormont secure. Newry might have gone to the later head of MI5), Bloomfield thought must go!". A few weeks later Stormont South, and a stretch of South Armagh. this— went. The Government of the state became (Derry could not be divided at the river "might lead in the end to the final the Government of the Northern Ireland because the gates that were closed against question of unification; to reveal this region of it. 'Ulster' had never been so King James were on the wrong side!) But intention fully at the outset would be to British. The Nationalists were jubilant. produce strong Protestant opposition, the Unionists said Not An Inch, and insisted The Unionists were despondent. And but… the proposals would eventually be on retaining South Armagh which became Ramsay, a sophisticated Ulster civil accepted by Protestants if they were an impenetrable Republican base area in servant with experience of European imposed without consultation…" the war to which Northern Ireland was politics, was disconcerted. Britishness bound to give rise to sooner or later. Ramsay phoned Bloomfield who said somehow meant to him political separation Incompatible certainties cannot co-exist he had almost forgotten it, but also that it from Britain in a devolved regime, whose indefinitely in a small space with no was true. political life had become alien to the mediating medium. Crossmaglen always political life of the state. knew what it was. North Down seemed to Ramsay tells this in a chapter titled 'The The de facto meaning of "Ulster is do so but it's certainly crumbled. Fall Of Stormont: et la Trahison d'un British" was "Ulster is a British Robert Ramsay was a senior civil Clerc'. (The French bit echoes a book Protectorate". When Britain dismissed servant in the old Stormont system. He about the failure of the intelligentsia by the internal regime of the Protectorate in was in Brian Faulkner's inner circle when Jules Benda, Le Trahison des Clercs, the interest of the state Ramsay felt less Faulkner was the most competent Minister 1927). And he makes some bitterly British. in the Unionist Government, and was its extravagant comments. Bloomfield's— The memoir continues: last Prime Minister. He was with Faulkner "only tearful defence was that it was when Whitehall abolished elected "I was to suffer no parallel loss of such a long time ago he had almost identity as my European cultural and government in Northern Ireland in 1972. forgotten about it; and that at the time he educational background more than had thought he was acting for the best Flying back to Belfast after a meeting in adequately filled the gap. I am an (Shades of the classic 'Eichmann Downing St. at which that event was Ulsterman and a European. I simply no defence'… but unlike him, Bloomfield confirmed, he was overcome with longer need another layer of identity" could scarcely plead that he had only "emotions of sadness and a strange feeling been obeying orders; au contraire)…" of betrayal". As he wrote: —That is a thoroughly un-British sentiment. A proper Brit does not find it He suggests that Bloomfield was Capt- "It is hard to describe what I mean by a feeling of betrayal. It goes without enough to be European. England broke ain O'Neill's man; that he had always saying that I recognised that Her Majesty's with Europe to set itself up as an absolutely resented Faulkner and had "taken an Government, as the sovereign govern- sovereign Empire in the political event opportunity to bring him down". And that ment, my national government, had every known as the religious Reformation. Its it was a shrewd career move which got 9 Bloomfield made head of the Civil Service sacrificed the vital part of its Britishness by placing a Catholic secret society, the a few years later. He asks: "What would in 1921 to facilitate Imperial handling of AOH, at the heart of its organisation, there become of our public service if every the nationalist Irish, who against all was a strong response against it which administrator took it into his head that he reasonable expectations from precedent instantly lost Redmond a tenth of his MPs had the right to behave in such a way?" were taking their democratic decisions in and set the party on the slippery slope. (It Bloomfield had— earnest. The Ulster Unionists ceased to be does not suit the purposes of the revisionist "usurped the authority of his political a participant in British politics by agreeing historians, who idolise Redmond for a masters, and promoted a counter-policy to be an instrument of British policy against political object, to record this indisputable to that of his government. That was the Irish. fact.) administrative hubris on a grand scale…" (p107). Ramsay's memoir ends with resigned In his protest published last month Was it? Hubris brings disaster. acceptance of the probability of Irish unity, Dudgeon wrote: Bloomfield's action in giving a realistic with Ulster Unionism declining into "The fact that the Two Nations Theory opinion about Northern Ireland to the Ulster-Scot ethnicity. became so popular in Belfast amongst sovereign authority in the state brought young radicals from both Catholic and him promotion. And the abolition of Jeffrey Dudgeon MBE, who once Protestant backgrounds—perhaps a third Stormont brought a feeling of positive aspired to overcome Ulster Unionism by of the People's Democracy adherents relief to about half the population. bringing the Six Counties within the adopted the position—was hugely significant… It was, as stated, but rarely politics of Britain—or at least went along grasped, still a theory. The Ulster At a previous meeting in Downing with people who were trying to do that— Protestants had the potential to be a Street, the real Prime Minister (Edward has also gone ethnic. At the same time he separate Irish nation, it was argued, but Heath) had assured Faulkner, Prime worries about the loss of Ulster Protestants/ had not then chosen to so become. They Minister of the Northern Ireland facade, Unionists to nationalist Ireland—a small- remained British…" that Whitehall would see the thing through scale but steady loss ever since the political with him—"that direct rule would not be lines were drawn between Irish The Two Nations view, as stated by introduced". But the duplicitous Heath nationalism and Ulster Unionism by the BICO, carried no implication of Ulster went on to use Bloody Sunday as a "public first Home Rule Bill in 1886. The loss has separatism. When Ulster federalism, or rationale for the imposition of direct rule". never been on a scale that could tilt the separatism, asserted itself it was opposed In fact Heath proposed to remove control balance between Nationalists and Union- by BICO. of security from Stormont. Faulkner would ists in the North, but Dudgeon MBE sees The practical meaning of the description not accept that diminution of power, so menace in the fact that Nationalism in of the Ulster Protestant community as a Direct Rule resulted. But Ramsay thinks Ireland has never been without a compon- nation was that it was fundamentalist in its Whitehall would have abolished Stormont, ent of Protestants, both Northern and rejection of Irish nationalism. It was even if Faulkner had agreed to relinquish Southern, while Ulster Unionism had no hoped that the Dublin Establishment would control of security. component of Catholics (and in fact did accept this fact and recognise the distinct The Foreign Office man, Smith, was "a not want one). nationality of Protestant Ulster as a cold fish", who "could suddenly become An obvious explanation of this is that preliminary to establishing a new the life and soul of the party" for a political ethnicism is narrowing in politics, while relationship with it. When that did not purpose. "I had always privately thought nationalism is expansive. Irish nationalism happen, BICO proposed the political that he bore more than a passing sought to embrace all the ethnic strains on integration of the 6 Counties into the British resemblance the late unlamented Adolf" the island while the purpose of Ulster political system. Britain was a multi- (p85). Unionism has been to reject that embrace. national state with a party organisation Ulster was British, but with diabolical Forty years ago an Ulster Catholic, which transcended nationality. The duplicity Britain imposed British rule on Louis Boyle, tried to demonstrate that exclusion of the 6 Counties from this was it as a war measure, thereby diminishing Catholics could be Unionist too. What he a major cause of the pretty well absolute its Britishness! demonstrated was that Unionism wouldn't political separation of Protestants and allow it. Ulster Unionism was Protestant Catholics. Ulster Unionism rejected that Of course the responsibility for Bloody and it did not want the matter confused by proposal, and Dudgeon MBE, having gone Sunday lay directly with Whitehall. admitting Catholics who wanted to make along with it for a while, was active in the Stormont did not control the Army. The it something else. sectarian disruption of it. probability is that Bloody Sunday was an "administrative massacre" to test the will One can find flourishes by nationalist To describe this as Ulster Protestants of the Nationalist community. As Britain orators which can be presented as assert- "choosing to remain British" is mind- is a well-conducted democracy, proof of ions of ethnicist fundamentalism, but the boggling. By following this course of that is not to be expected. When the moving spirit of the nationalist movement action Ulster Unionism has become massacre did not cow the Nationalist will, has always been multi-ethnic. It became systematically less British every year. but strengthened it, Stormont was so in its origins in the Confederation of British politics is not a combination of sacrificed to alleviate the situation. Kilkenny in the 1640s and in the Jacobite ethnic components. People of all ethnic Stormont had made "the supreme movement forty years later. Norman descriptions have been flooding into sacrifice" in 1921 by agreeing to exist in English and Irish were fused in Jacobitism. Britain during the last forty years and semi-detachment from Britain, and the And many Cromwellian settlers who lost have been absorbed into the durable party- sacrifice made of it in 1972 was welcomed out in the turn of events in England became political structure of the British state, from by those who had suffered from it. Irish. When the Home Rule Party under which Northern Ireland is excluded, and Self-sacrifice is not a sensible practice John Redmond's leadership made itself a which Ulster Unionism does not want to in affairs of state. Ulster Unionism mirror image of the Ulster Unionist Party be part of. 10 Dudgeon quotes Wolfe tone about "the not representative of the elite that produced anti-Treaty Republicans. Perhaps it is common name of Irishman" and com- them. And they were disowned by that rightly ignored as it doesn't make political ments: "if the Ulster Protestants are not elite when they began to play a part in the sense in its time and place, and it is hardly part of the Irish nation, Republicanism for national democracy. credible that the Free Staters should have them has to be sectarian and is in fact Dudgeon comments on this: failed to throw it at the Republicans a Hibernianism, recognisable or not". "The problem always was that only a couple of months later when Whitehall very few could afford to be simply made them start the 'Civil War'. When Tone wrote, Official Ireland was Protestants and those who could showed The killings might have been the work a Protestant State. His project was to a remarkable propensity to convert to of unknown people with unknown lists, as consolidate the State based on the William- Roman Catholicism, for whatever reason, John Borgonovo argues—in fact they or had a minority radical and Anglophobic ite conquest by extending its hegemonic outlook like F.J. Bigger, Bulmer Hobson, almost certainly were, but that makes us influence over the Catholic majority. It Casement and Douglas Hyde…" no wiser until the unknown becomes was scarcely imaginable then (except to known. They might have been the parting Mrs. M'Tier observing the wide horizons To act outside the sectarian consensus short of a British special unit, which would o the powerless Catholics in Chapel Lane, of your own community is certainly account for them being entirely unknown. Belfast), that the powerful Protestant radical. But is it only a mind diseased by They might have been the work of a Ascendancy should dissolve, the Empire Anglophobia that could see Ireland as 'maverick' IRA man, who was somehow decline, and the natives come into their having been governed extraordinarily able to remain unknown in an area where own again. If those whom Wolfe Tone badly by Britain after it conceived the pretty well everything else was known. addressed had heeded him, it is very passion of Imperial Protestantism in its They might have been the work of a unlikely that Ireland would today be politically opportunistic Reformation? collaboration between all Republican anything like it is. That Protestants who stepped out of tendencies, in which all were sworn to line politically and joined the National secrecy for evermore, which would But Tone was not heeded. The movement tended to become Catholics account for why no accusations were made Ascendancy preferred monopoly power was something we didn't know. We still in the Civil War, but that would be to hegemonic influence. It pressed the don't. Of those listed by Dudgeon, only something uncharacteristic and unpreced- situation to catastrophe. England Casement did. But that was not for the ented in Irish nationalist affairs: in which abolished it and the Protestant ruling class purpose of making a career in nationalist things have a habit of coming out. The was eroded by the growth of Catholic politics as it was done on the eve of British might have negligently left behind democracy under the Union. If Catholic execution. a list of their spies when withdrawing conduct is to be described as sectarian, it It was certainly possible for Protestants from the region, and somebody might was a sectarianism imposed by the to play a part in nationalist public life and once have seen it, but until it is presented Protestant state and the Protestant ruling "to be simply Protestant". Many of them that cannot be taken account of. class. And, if Protestants were led by a did so. But Dudgeon comes close to sense of human affinity to align themselves making Unionism part of Protestantism. with the populace during the 19th And, if Protestantism is held to include Note century—which had the imposed Famine Unionism, then we must admit that Irish Political Review is publishing at its centre—that had nothing to do with Protestants cannot be nationalist. But another letter on the Dunmanway issue anything Tone said in a bygone era. these are strange notions to be discussing below. It does not provide any evidence The Protestant State in Ireland in the with a representative of Liberal Unionism and is loosely written. It is the last letter 18th century, and the Protestant ruling who aspired to be an Irish Senator. It is we will publish on the matter unless class under the British State in the 19th, Liberal Unionism at the end of its tether. somebody discovers something that can frittered away their power because they be called evidence. acted in an attitude of frozen sectarianism Having retreated into ethnicism as a which they took to be civilised because it Unionist, Dudgeon is desperate to find was based on military conquest and that nationalist Ireland is ethnicist too. Dunmanway: A Reply continuing military dominance. In their Unfortunately for Unionism, it isn't. era of dominance they could not bring If it was conceded that the War of To Jeffrey Dudgeon themselves to do what was necessary to Independence was an ethnic conflict Mr. Jeffrey Dudgeon's response to exercise hegemonic influence over the between Catholics and Protestants, and Michael O'Donoghue's Bureau of Military Irish, and in their decline they rejected that Catholics in Dunmanway killed a History statement merits comment. It is pleas from the national movement that number of Protestants in a fit of ethnic clear that he is one of the few people who they should take part in it. They could not passion, it seems that that would satisfy understand the significance of this new take part in it because it was Catholic. But Dudgeon. It would put Unionism and information. However, I cannot decide what had made it assertively Catholic Nationalism on a par. whether his is a rushed initial reaction, or except the way Protestant power had The Irish Political Review has given a an ill-considered attempt to question the governed it for two centuries? lot of space to discussion of the Dunman- value of O'Donoghue's evidence. All Protestants did not persist in that way killings but nobody has come up with If it is the second, I would not be able to attitude to the bitter end, supporting anything that could be called evidence. decide whether I should laugh, cry, or be military action against the Irish State until We ourselves drew attention to the Inquest enraged at his pathetic distortion of my it eventually got established, and then evidence that in one case the killer views published in Protestant Cork retreating into a privileged cocoon within condemned the victim as a Free Stater, but Decline 1911-1926 Murders, Mistakes, it. And in Dudgeon's eyes they were lost. all who think they know who the killers Myths and Misinformation. Any reason- And in a sense they were lost. They were were ignore that evidence, which points to able person would know that I view the 11 debate about Peter Hart's work as sterile 5. O'Donoghue claims that "These and pointless as he deliberately distorted people were done to death as a savage, A PRAYER FOR GAZA his evidence to support his theory about wholesale, murderous reprisal for the the Dunmanway murders. In my opinion murder of Mick O'Neill". By calling them Give them F16 fighter-bombers, drones. Mr. Dudgeon's suggestion that I want murders O'Donoghue understands that the Give them warships, artillery and tanks discussion about the Dunmanway murders members of the Bandon IRA who most then they will face Israel with equal rank. to end without getting to the truth is simply likely committed them were utterly wrong. Give the kids rifles then they won't need ignorant. As life is too short for anger I As a result they join the men who attached stones. choose to laugh. nine Anti-treaty prisoners to a mine at Give them Goebbels then they'll learn However, just in case Mr. Dudgeon's Ballyseedy in 1923, the men who shot 13 how to lie. letter is in fact a rushed reaction I may civilians in Derry in 1972 and the men Give them US support as a solution offer him the following advice and who detonated a bomb at the Cenotaph in then they can ignore UN resolutions observations Enniskillen in 1987 in being bereft of any and world opposition to their tricks defy. 1. Read all of Michael O Donoghue's moral compass. If there was any justific- Give them friends like remorseful Statement from his arrival in Bandon to ation for these events- if they were not Germany his capture by Free State forces in Decem- murder- then the men who carried them who has a history of killing Jews ber 1922. Pay particular attention to his out would have admitted them. They did and now kills Muslims via simony. return to West Cork in May 1922 and his not do so because they would have been Or that UK even-handedness ruse journey back to Donegal on 12th June. tried by the Irish Government as murderers. between this Third World Strip and 2. Mr. Dudgeon might like to explain That they did not have the courage to hegemony. why he thinks O'Donoghue's evidence stand over their actions tells any reasonable Above all make petro-dollars their muse. removes the validity of Dr. John Regan's person all they need to know. Macroom Intelligence Officer theory and Wilson John Haire Jack Lane's Agent Provocateurs theory If Mr. Dudgeon's response was simply 17th November, 2012 [Jack will no doubt violently disagree] but rushed then he deserves forbearance. leaves Peter Hart's claim that 'In the end, If it is an attempt to cling to Hart's however, the fact of the victims' religion is theory that these were random sectarian CAUGHT IN THE ACT inescapable. These men were shot because murders in the face O'Donoghue's blunt they were Protestant' intact. admission of IRA guilt and the reason for Who was that lady I saw you with last 3. In relation to systematic ethnic the victims targeting then in my opinion night, cleansing in Northern Ireland read Mr. Dudgeon would be very foolish I ask as your president. LAWLOR, P. (2009), The burnings 1920, indeed. Even if it is shown that the Bandon That was no lady that was someone's wife, Cork, Mercier. The book is meticulously IRA were entirely wrong in their suspi- it should be self-evident. researched and a detailed analysis of what cions-and there is enough evidence to I relieve you of your post on the happened in Banbridge, Dromore and suggest they were in fact wrong in some grounds Lisburn. House of Commons evidence cases- it does not change the fact that these of immorality, from the time states that Catholic casualties men were targeted. though your CIA job being more one of were double those of Protestants. The Given what I regard as his misrepresent- amorality source is Winston Churchill. ation of my work I fear this may be the is the reality. 4. Mr. Dudgeon asks case. Basically you disagree with me on "But why is the accusation of sectar- withdrawal ianism so strenuously resisted by O'Dono- In the light of what I have said it is from Afghanistan. ghue, the Irish Political Review and most possible that Mr. Dudgeon might decide But I do agree about that young girl shot Irish nationalist writers in relation to these to change his views about what happened by the and other events? It would be remarkable in Dunmanway and leave his increasingly Pakistan Taliban, if an ethnic or national war like that in difficult defence of Peter Hart behind. that she be given the Nobel peace Prize, Ireland over the last century did not like you have, involve a high degree of sectarianism." May I apologise if the tone of this response may appear snide, but it is a little and Henry Kissinger. I suggest O'Donoghue is attempting to difficult not to be when I suspect that Mr. How many of her sisters have died in our correct the statements by nationalists in Dudgeon is not really engaging with the drone attacks 1922 that there was a link to what was evidence. Beyond this I do not wish to when caught happening in Belfast. No leading partici- comment. in the terrorist lair. pant in the West Cork IRA would deny Finally, may I note that among the I don't have the figures on me right now that there was an element of sectarianism media only the West Cork News and the for we never in the struggle. Neither, as far as I have Irish Political Review appear to have go there. read, do any of the 'nationalist' com- understood the significance of the O' You shall confess through the media mentators. They are not stupid. What is Donoghue statement and they deserve that you not accepted is that there was neither a credit for this? © did wrong. high degree of sectarianism nor an effort Barry Keane I sang with that lady you saw me with to exterminate and drive away Protestants 11 November 2012 11 am last night, by reason of their religion alone. Incident- we sang Barry Keane is a Fine Gael Area Rep- ally, most people in Cork at the time could resentative in Cork City and a Geography and my swansong. tell the difference between someone's History teacher. His great-grandfather was a religion and their politics: the distinction Fenian. The views expressed here are his own. Wilson John Haire was a fine but real one. [Note supplied by Barry Keane.] 11th November, 2012 12 Austerity Report 1: for himself as a professional Irish whinger, the notion that any of the 6,000 banks across Europe be excluded from its Debt Crisis: largesse is ludicrous, and a further example unemployment and industrial policy of German tight-fistedness. To be fair to McWilliams, this is understandable from George Soros announced in June that French idea of shifting some European an Irish perspective, where every bank Germany must save or leave the euro, and Union funds towards 'targeted invest- globalised itself and engaged in global had three months to do it. Three months ments' in key countries to produce growth, borrowing (apart from the Credit Unions, as well as pumping up the European later, in September, he found that Germany which have come through the crisis Investment Bank and exploring 'project had decided to save it, through the initiative bonds' for private investment to create unscathed). But for Germans—and indeed for a banking and monetary union, with a jobs…" emphasis( added—PO'C). many other euro states—there is a distinct common regulator. The euro crisis is line to be drawn between banks involved effectively over, and only the fine details Recently the Irish Times headed a report solely as business or social/savings banks of that solution now need working out. on a speech by Bundesbank President on the domestic market and global lending/ Apart from the rules for monetary and Jens Weidmann Bailout urged to tackle borrowing institutions. They are reluctant budgetary controls, the most important bank debt. The headline, which implied to see purely domestic business and aspects of the new Eurozone architecture that Germany was insisting that states savings banks being drawn into liability from the 'Social Europe' perspective will such as Ireland would need to seek another for international banking debts. The Ger- be progress with growth/stimulus and "bail-out" deal to fund the covering of its man position—as repeated by Weidmann social measures to be 'bolted on' to the bank debts, is again at odds with what —is for national state responsibility to monetary union agreement. In other words, Weidmann actually said and which the remain in place "for banks without cross- the 'social compact' sought by European report actually quotes: border risks" with the Europe-wide Trade Unions. "In his speech the Bundesbank Presi- regulator responsible for banks trading dent recalled how, initially, Europe was across borders only. MONETARY AND BANKING UNION unequipped to deal with systemic dangers Weidmann—as quoted by the Irish One of the regular complaints about the at that time, forcing banking risk to Times—also favours the proposal from moves towards monetary union is the become state risk… Once agreed this the German Social Democrats for a bank- alleged refusal of Germany to countenance {monetary and banking} union would financed rescue fund for banks in trouble, open the door to financial solidarity, he to do away with the need for state sharing or mutualisation of debt—i.e. a said, but also to Brussels intervention in simple takeover of local bank debts by the national budgets that breached agreed recapitalisation: "This could cover in large European Central Bank or monetary rules. This would reduce the danger {that} part the cost of a wind-up or restructuring", structures. But this is untrue. As this journal problems in {one country's} budget are he said. "The taxpayers would only be pointed out last February, soon after the passed on to taxpayers elsewhere. It would drawn on if the fund risks being over- agreement on the Fiscal Compact in do the common currency a disservice if whelmed." December 2011, German Finance Minister all a banking union did was to introduce joint liability by the back door and give Wolfgang Schäuble stated that all such states more opportunities to run up debt" FISCAL UNION issues could be "on the table" once the (Irish Times, 20th November, emphasis Fiscal union is sometimes caricatured disciplines of monetary union were in added—PO'C). as the imposition of a single tax regime place. We also reported on Merkel's press across the participating states. There is no conference following the abortive mini- So, the German leadership has repeat- reason that this should be the case and summit with the UK's George Osborne at edly stated loud and clear that debt mutual- neither is there any evidence that this is the start of June 2012 where, as reported isation will follow monetary/banking what Germany, France or other 'strong' by the International Herald Tribune (8th union, in a context of budgetary super- euro states are looking for—it is more June 2012): vision by Brussels, and that it is also in about an agreed framework and "common "Merkel clarified the other “measures” favour of growth and investment stimulus assessment basis". The assumption by she envisaged in a “step by step” move to programmes at European level. many Irish commentators that the Irish full “fiscal and political union”... It makes sense for the Irish State to bid Corporation Tax rate must remain sacro- implying, down the road—once the hard for the best deal it can get within this sanct and that a Financial Transaction Tax work of fiscal discipline and structural framework and to keep pushing on the (FTT) would injure Ireland's interests reform was well under way— a willing- because of the special position of the ness to collectivize some debt and even to bank debt issue. But it did itself no favours provide more German money to the by its clamour since June that gave the IFSC [Irish Financial Services Centre] poorer countries of Europe's periphery Irish public the impression that there could has been used as a lever to align Irish … The package of measures the Union is be a "deal" on bank debt separate from interests with those of Britain (i.e. the City working on for its summit meeting at the sovereign debt, and without reference to of London). This is mistaken, and even end of June are important but incremental, the budgetary and other controls which the Irish Times has seen fit to repeatedly having mostly to do with more unified would be involved. It should embrace the warn against the excessive influence of regulation of Europe's banks and a the IFSC lobby over Irish policy. The European wide system of bank deposit comprehensive package of monetary union guarantees… The Germans are also and seek its best options within that. ICTU [Irish Congress of Trade Unions] for its part has firmly supported the working on a package of 'growth Another detail of the solution about proposals for FTT. measures'—structural reforms to promote which there is conflict is exactly which economic activity but without incurring new debt—to go along with the fiscal banks should be covered under the new But one thing is clear, and that is that discipline embodied in the fiscal treaty… common banking regulator. For Mc Germany regards fiscal union as a corollary And Berlin supports the Commission and Williams, who is making a lucrative career of monetary union and essential to it 13 working. Weidmann in his speech expres- static from 2009 to 2011 and has actually its turnover) on goods and services in the sed his frustration at the political deadlock fallen in 2012, i.e. during the high point domestic economy each year. The FDII on this: "The crisis has expanded common of the "austerity" programme. In other spokesman concluded: liability considerably, distancing itself words, contrary to what McWilliams "... an increased focus on food will from the Maastricht framework… Simul- bases his whole argument on, high drive growth in the wider economy as well as in the sector itself. If we increase taneously, there is little readiness to give unemployment is not a consequence of exports to €12 billion, the sector will up core competencies and the currency what he calls "austerity" policies, but potentially deliver in the region of 30,000 union is coming no closer to fiscal union." precedes them, has stabilised and even jobs across the whole economy due to the Merkel, however, is determined to aim fallen since. proportionate increase in spend by the sector" (Irish Times, 30th July 2012)n precisely in such a direction, and made it 3. The two biggest categories among clear at the mini-summit with Osborne the unemployed are 1.) people from the Another area of industrial policy— that she saw the Fiscal Compact as only construction and retail trades who lost which the ICTU report also highlights—is one piece of the jigsaw of monetary/ their jobs in the crash and have not fund the great potential which an ambitious political union. Buoyed by the success of re-employment (50%) and 2.) very long apprenticeship training programme could the Fiscal Compact process, Germany now term unemployed who were unemployed produce. Recently the Restaurants Assoc- seems prepared to resolve other issues even during the boom (25%). iation of Ireland (RAI) announced that, through the EU-26 grouping, by-passing 4. Nearly 20% of all people on the while the number of restaurants in rural the UK veto, and giving the Eurozone Live Register are actually engaged in towns had fallen by 20-25% in the reces- grouping even more feet outside the part-time or casual employment. sion, the trade had actually created 10,000 moribund EU structures. A test case will new jobs. But to fill skilled positions— 5. Not on the Live Register or in full- be the EU budget negotiations which are such as the shortfall of 400 chefs—the time jobs are 73,447 people on the greatly underway this month. industry had had to look abroad due to the expanded—and very popular—labour There can be no doubt that Merkel is lack of skilled personnel at home. In a market "activation" programmes, such determined to face the German electorate move unusual for an Irish industrial group- as Community Employment, JobsBridge next September as the "Saviour of Europe". ing it called for a workplace-based etc., many of whom are successfully in Let us hope she does, and that her position apprenticeship training programme to be transition to full time jobs or self wins. introduced to create 1,000 apprenticeship employment, often in new sectors. positions in the industry (www.rai.ie/news). 6. Approximately 200,000 people— UNEMPLOYMENT The European Economic and Social David Begg, General Secretary of the mostly from the former construction/ Committee (EESC)—the EU level Social ICTU, said in a statement on 21st property/retail trades need to be the target Partnership body—unanimously adopted November: "We are five years into self- of specific employment/stimulus a position at its meeting in mid-November defeating austerity that has cost us 360,000 measures. which recognised that, while "employment jobs so far" (www.ictu.ie). One of the key 7. Tackling unemployment is within policy cannot compensate for mis- arguments of David McWilliams, repeated our means—once it is recognised that management of macroeconomic policy, it ad nauseum in his columns in the Irish unemployment is not a factor of can make a real contribution to boosting Independent, Sunday Business Post and monetary policy about which little can competitiveness in knowledge-based elsewhere (mostly available at www.david be done, but of industrial policy. societies, by strengthening innovation mcwilliams.ie), and assumed to be correct capacity, and achieving a better balance by very large numbers of people, is that INDUSTRIAL POLICY between demand for, and supply of, skills". "austerity" has led to large-scale and The ICTU, in its pre-budget document It further called for the State to act as increasing levels of unemployment, and Shifting to Growth and Jobs (www.ictu.ie), employer of last resort by greatly expand- that the answer is to be found in default or argues for a Government capital invest- ing the "intermediate labour market" (i.e. write-off on public, private and every ment programme and the boosting of activation programmes) for long-term other type of debt, the burning of bond domestic consumption to solve the unemployed people, as well as growth holders and possibly leaving the euro. In employment crisis. It has, however, little and public investment programmes at state other words, he claims that "rising un- to say about industrial policy. But, as and EU levels to create employment. employment" proves that "austerity is not shown above, while creating economic working" and that radical monetary policy activity beneficial to the construction and CONCLUSION action of the type advocated is the answer retail trades can help meet the needs of the If the diagnosis is wrong, then so too to unemployment. Is he right? main group of unemployed people, must be the cure. McWilliams blames What an examination of the Irish industrial policy is what holds the key to large scale unemployment on the so-called unemployment figures (see box opposite current and future growth and wellbeing. "austerity" programmes, i.e. he claims page) in fact shows us is that: that its source is monetary policy and that Over the last year there have been good therefore a radically different monetary 1. Unemployment returned on a large signs of a renewed growth in key sectors, policy is its cure. But the current high rate scale as a direct result of the crash of notably manufacturing, traded services and of unemployment is not a consequence of agrifood business. The agrifood industry is construction and property employment the fiscal consolidation measures, but in 2008-9. This was accompanied by a a key to the future. According to the business lobby 'Food and Drink Industry Ireland' rather of the crash that preceded it. Indeed, contraction in employment in the retail unemployment since the Troika prog- trades. All of this was well before the (FDII), the right Government policies would ensure the sector will deliver exports ramme has been declining, and industrial first Troika programme of November of €12 billion within the next eight years. —not monetary—policy is already demon- 2010, or even the first FF-Green One in eight jobs in Ireland—a total of strably reducing it further. The answer is "austerity" budget of 2008, took effect. 230,000—are currently linked to the sector, more Industrial Policy. 2. The numbers unemployed remained which spends almost €8 billion (or 76% of Philip O'Connor 14 IRISH UNEMPLOYMENT— ional Recovery (agreed with employers and The people classified as 'sales' represents the WHAT THE FIGURES SAY Unions) and ancillary initiatives saw an shrinking of the retail trade following the crash The official figures for the numbers claiming unprecedented growth of this figure—in the (and the ending of the excessive retail con- unemployment benefits and assistance from order of 110%—to nearly 2.2 million at the sumption that characterised the boom). 2007 to 2011 are as follows (CSO, Live Register height of the boom (2006). The bulk of the Contrary to popular belief, the live register October 2012, www.cso.ie): increase came from women entering the is not dominated by young people, though this Dec. 2007 — 4.8% workforce in the 1990s, the subsequent influx should be considered against the proportion of Dec. 2008 — 8.9% of migrant workers, particularly from Eastern young people among those emigrating. Dec. 2009 — 12.8% Europe (though also from the UK and else- Nevertheless, the total proportion of those on Dec. 2010 — 14.4% where), and the absorption—from 2001—of the Live Register under 25 is just 16.6%, and Dec. 2011 — 14.5% most previously long-term unemployed people. falling (this 2012 figure represents a drop of But, since the crash of late 2008, according to 2% over 2011). Nevertheless, this represents On the face of it, McWilliams would seem to the CSO, this labour force has declined by 29% of 20-24 year olds on the labour market. have a point with his claims that "austerity is causing 360,000. Since then there has also been con- Finally, not all people who left the Live rising unemployment". siderable outward migration, reaching a peak Register secured jobs on the open labour But the large rise in the unemployment rate of 87,000 in 2011. Of this, according to Mc market. Places on Government-sponsored from 4.8% to 13% occurred in 2008-2010, i.e. Williams himself (Sunday Business Post of 1st employment schemes ("intermediate labour before the "austerity" programme agreed with October), 50% were short-term immigrant market") have increased threefold since the the Troika in November 2010 was even begun to workers moving to other labour markets. Also, crash, to a total of 73,447 formerly long term be implemented. It also transpires that, due to the 36,000 of all emigrants were 25 years old or unemployed people. These are engaged as decline in the size of the overall labour force (= younger. Many of those emigrating were not follows: those in work plus those registered as unemployed. In 2011, the number of Irish Back to Work Enterprise Scheme unemployed), the number unemployed in nationals who emigrated was just about double (self-employment) 21,974 December 2011 (14.5%)—about 430,000—is no the number who had been emigrating anyway Community Employment 21,243 higher than the number unemployed two years even at the height of the boom. Back to Work Allowance 12,142 earlier, in December 2009 (12.8%)—430,000. It is often forgotten that "full employment" FÁS training 8,346 So, the actual numbers unemployed stopped (2.5% in 2005) was a feature of the property JobBridge placements 4,892 increasing even before the start of the first bubble years. In 1998 unemployment still stood Tús C&V sector job placement 4,432 "austerity" programme of 2009, and remained at nearly 9%, of which half were long-term Jobs Initiative 190 static to the end of 2011. In other words, the great unemployed. Nearly 120,000 people remained Some on the left decry these initiatives (apart leap in the numbers of unemployed was a result long-term unemployed throughout the peak from Community Employment and Jobs not of austerity measures, but of the crash in the years of the boom, and tended to be concentrated Initiative) as "workfare", or pointless activity construction and retail industries, and this number in particular areas. This was about 0.8% of the designed to terrorise the unemployed or to has not increased since. workforce. This shows both that most long- "massage" the unemployment figures. Actual It also emerges from the latest CSO figures term unemployed people who want to—and experience would cast doubt on this. According that the numbers unemployed has actually were able to—get back to work when it was to the Minister for Social Protection, Joan fallen in the last year, from 430,432 in October available did so, but also that a sizeable group Burton, over 50% of those finishing JobsBridge 2011 to 420,172 in October 2012. When a could remain unemployed even as the economy (where a full-time placement is accompanied person becomes unemployed, they draw Job- was crying out for labour of all kinds. The by a Benefit-equivalent payment) moved to seeker's Benefit for twelve months at a fixed numbers of long-term unemployed now, at the full-time work and 66% of those who left the rate of €188 plus allowances for dependents height of the crisis, is 188,117, which is just scheme early did so to take up full time jobs and entitlement to secondary benefits (e.g. rent 50,000 above the figure that persisted (www.joanburton.ie/speeches/4921). In add- allowance, mortgage interest allowance etc.). throughout the boom years. ition, as the current writer knows, there is huge They then move to means-tested Jobseeker's It should be noted that of the 420,000 people demand for places under all of these schemes Assistance of the same rate though adjusted on the Live Register, 85,663 (=20.4%) are not and a consequent backlog of people trying to downwards on the basis of other means. This actually unemployed, but have part-time or avail of them. Mostly these schemes involve a can, theoretically, then be paid in perpetuity. casual employment. In addition, there is ring-fenced Benefit-equivalent payment, plus What the Live Register figures show is a sub- considerable turnover on the live register with some, and in some cases for a work placement stantial drop in short-term payments (-17%) people leaving it at a rate of 35,000 every month of just 20 hours per week, with the right to and a small increase in long-term payments and new people signing on. This indicates a secure other earnings in the other 20 hours (CE (+1.4%). Of the 420,172 people on the Live substantial level of job creation, with and Tús). Register, there are now 232,055 on short term simultaneous job losses and the effects of people There are some obvious conclusions from benefit, a drop of 7.4% over 2011. What these emigrating. But mainly it shows that many all of this. First and foremost, theories that figures mean is that the numbers of people people becoming unemployed after 2009 rem- claim that "austerity" has caused mass and becoming unemployed has fallen sharply and ained unemployed for relatively short periods. rising unemployment are demonstrably wrong. that of those who became unemployed in the It should also be remembered that 10,000 people Large-scale unemployment was caused by the last two years, only a small proportion became are leaving the public services every year to crash in the property market, with resultant job long term unemployed (i.e. remained unem- voluntary retirement or voluntary redundancy losses in the construction, conveyance and ployed for over a year). The vast majority of under the terms of Croke Park, thus contri- retail trades, and with unemployment remaining those unemployed (73%) have been unemploy- buting to the decline in the numbers working. static since, or actually falling—under the so- ed for a year or more. In other words, most The CSO figures also show that specific called "austerity" allegedly imposed by the people unemployed have been unemployed professional categories predominate among the Troika programme. The important issue is since the crash and have not become so since unemployed: 23.2% 'craft and related', 17% then to establish where the thousands of new (the present writer excepted), or those becoming 'machine operatives' and 13% 'sales'. As the jobs people are taking up monthly come from. unemployed are being cancelled out statistically numbers employed in non-construction related In the article opposite we establish that this is by those securing new employment. manufacturing have contracted only marginally from growth areas being "stimulated" by State There is, of course, an overall fall in the since the crash, it can be taken that the first two industrial policy, and that it is more of this that labour force. From less than 1 million at the groups are overwhelmingly people from the we need rather than the Armageddon monetary end of the 1980s, the boom generated by the collapsed construction/property industry who "solutions" being proposed by some. Haughey Government's Programme for Nat- have not been able to transfer to other sectors. Philip O'Connor

15 winning the Pools. When asked where the THE COST OF THE BANKING CRISIS money went he replied that he spent most The economist Pat McArdle had an Shorts of it on women, drink and horses . . . and interesting article on who has borne the from the rest was squandered. Years after the cost of the banking crisis (Irish Inde- event it might seem that the consumption pendent, 1.11.12). He estimates that the the Long Fellow was a waste, but at the time it was very total cost of the banking crisis is about 135 enjoyable. billion. The taxpayer will bear less than But it wasn't all about consumption: half of this. during the much maligned Celtic Tiger THE PUBLIC FINANCES Here is the breakdown of the costs in era we achieved full employment. Many The inauguration of the Euro facilitated Euros: people from a very modest background the free movement of finance capital and could aspire and obtain jobs that their a) Shareholders in British banks and resulted—through the banking system— parents could only dream of acquiring. British Taxpayer: 42bn in a massive stimulus to the economy The infrastructure of the country improved b) Shareholders in Irish banks and Irish from 2001 to 2007. The British Banks, dramatically, although sadly the metro Taxpayer: 93bn such as Ulster Bank and Bank of Scotland, north project was postponed. attempted to buy market share by dispens- The British banks lost disproportion- ing cheap credit and the Irish banks ately more (in terms of loans given) responded. At the time financial journalists GAMBLING DEBTS because they were the most aggressive in in this country welcomed this as a long The economic crisis consists in the fact seeking market share. overdue shake up of the Irish market. The that loans that the society received largely It is not easy to calculate the break- expansion of credit caused a property from abroad (through banking inter- down of the 42 billion British loss between bubble which in turn led to a consumption mediaries) could not be repaid. The shareholders and British taxpayer because boom. People felt that they were wealthy productive income generated from such the distressed loans from Irish operations because of the market value of their funds was less than their initial value. were consolidated with distressed British property. This encouraged them to spend That is what "living beyond our means" loans. However, since the British banks at levels that were unsustainable. means. had a greater capacity to absorb losses, it The inflated property values and inflated The populists declare indignantly that is likely that most of the losses were borne salaries dramatically increased tax the tax payer should not pay for the by shareholders. revenue. In retrospect the massive increase gambling debts of the banks. But if the tax McArdle says that 30 billion of the total in tax revenue should have been seen as a payer is not to pay, who should? The losses in the Irish banks was borne by windfall gain. Some of the money was put Senior Bondholders did not gamble. shareholders while the remaining 64 aside in the form of the National Pension Indeed they thought they were avoiding billion was incurred by the taxpayer. Reserve Fund, but the Government with risk by buying the Senior Bonds of banks It should be said that the total bill to the the active encouragement of the Oppos- as distinct from shares. Irish taxpayer may not amount to this 64 ition used most of the windfall to reduce The gamblers (i.e. the property develop- billion. Latest estimates of the cost of the general level of taxation. When the ers) are in many instances not able to pay: IBRC (Anglo Irish Bank and Irish crisis struck the public finances were trans- they are bankrupt. However, the people Nationwide) suggest that the original formed into a severe annual deficit who sold the land to the developers made estimate of 34 billion may be overstated amounting to 20 billion euro. The crisis in massive profits. No serious attempt has by 9 billion. the public finances was exacerbated by been made to levy taxes on this group. Of the banking crisis. But even if there were course, there are constitutional impedi- Secondly, the financial costs of the 64 no banking crisis there would have been a ments to imposing retrospective taxation, billion were relatively low. 21 billion came crisis in the public finances. but constitutional impediments were from the National Pension Reserve. 31 overcome by referendum in the relatively billion relating to the IBRC was in the trivial matter of judges' pay. form of Promissory Notes. The exchequer CONSUMPTION BOOM It is said that bankers and then the EU is obliged to raise 3.1 billion a year every The Banks do not exist in isolation bounced Brian Lenihan into a decision on year. The financial costs to the State of the from the rest of society. Credit is not underwriting the banks' liabilities. But if Promissory Notes are only incurred when created out of thin air. Our banks accessed Lenihan had more time to consider the the 3 billion is raised. Only 12 billion of funds from abroad (German savers) and matter, would he have acted differently? the 64 billion had to be raised from the dispensed them to borrowers in this The evidence suggests otherwise. Un- exchequer immediately. country. The funds from abroad were not guaranteed Senior debt was repaid under Thirdly, some of the 64bn is recover- speculative. The holders of Senior Bonds both the Fianna Fáil led Government and able. McArdle estimates 16 billion of the received a low rate of interest and their the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition. 64 billion can be salvaged from the loans had the same legal status as deposit The judgement was that the con- investment in the banks. holders. sequences (in terms of the stability of the Finally, it should be noted that all of the As well as generating tax revenue for financial system and the wider economy) State-financed bank debt of 43 billion (64 the State, these foreign funds gave a of not paying would have been worse than billion less the 21 billion from the NPRF) massive stimulus to the Irish economy. that of paying. At present, the Government is included in the National Debt. This is a Was it all wasted? Perhaps some of it was. is attempting to obtain concessions from very conservative way of accounting for But in what sense can it be said that an Europe on the debt, arguing that the national debt since some of the liability is increase in consumption is a waste? There payment policy pursued by the current offset by assets; and not all of it is incurred is an old joke about an Irishman who was and previous Irish Government was also immediately (i.e. the Promissory Notes). left penniless only a few years after in the interests of the Euro zone economies. 16 The Guardian has also published these for his wife lay in the changing of our laws details, so these abuses are widely known and that he had the backing of the two but our State seems to bury its head in the hundred strong Indian community in Gal- es ahora * sand rather than engage with what is really way. Then it was reported that our happening. I suppose asking the Fine Gael Ambassador to India was called in for a TRÓCAIRE AND ISRAELI BOYCOTT Party Chairman and TD, Charlie Flanagan, dressing down by the New Delhi Govern- Justin Kilcullen, Director of aid agency to go on a fact-finding mission to Gaza ment. I was gobsmacked by this (I still Trócaire, responded to an attack by Fine and stay there for a week and acquaint don't know if it is true) but the media are Gael TD and party Chairman Charlie himself with the reality on the ground in full hunt mode. Well I would like to Flanagan who declared that its actions in would be too much to ask before he wades remind the Indian Government that their treatment of our Catholics/Christians is Israel and the West Bank are "biased and in to rather sinisterly censure Trócaire getting worse every year. The Hindu perse- partisan" and that people should be aware again! But then he follows the like of cution of the former is up by 400% in the of this when putting money into Trócaire's Tony Blair, who shiftily as ever stood by last ten years. There has been bombing boxes for Lent. Mr. Kilcullen dismissed Israeli President Simon Peres while the and looting of Christian homes and the accusation and insisted the body will latter labelled the militants in Gaza as Churches culminating with the murder of "continue its work to promote a just peace starting the war. Maybe the old warmonger Protestant Pastor Michael Nayak in 2011. that supports the God-given human dignity for Bush would be able to persuade the There also has been a huge increase in of the people of that region". He added Flanagans of this world that 'black is white' forced conversions, and beatings and that— and recognise internally that "truth is the stonings when this is resisted. So I would "Israeli settlements are illegal under first casualty of war". And "power is urge the Indian community in Galway not international law and violate the human might" and therefore also "right" in the to get too carried away in their demands. rights of Palestinians living in the West light of these buckaroos. I would also urge the solicitors acting Bank. The continued expansion of these for Mr. Halappanavar to tread carefully settlements is making life a misery for IRISH AFFAIRS because it seems to me that they are upping ordinary Palestinians. Violations such as Now that there is going to be a challenge house demolitions, land confiscation and the ante to sue all concerned—which restrictions on movement are wrong and to the Children's Rights Constitutional would include the obstetrician, the hosp- should not be tolerated. The EU labels Amendment—and this magazine was to ital, the HSE and the State. It goes without the settlements as illegal and if the EU the fore in arguing that the wording as saying that such an outcome would not be believes the settlements are illegal it drafted was so bad that inevitably it would in the common good. As the Irish Daily should not trade with them." be challenged—and this was before the Mail, 3rd November 2012, recently McCrystal Supreme Court judgement—it reported, 'Explaining Differences in Mr. Kilcullen further pointed out that, now looks extremely unlikely that, with Hospital Expenditure Across OECD since its foundation, Trócaire had cam- the tiny turnout and the huge "no" vote, Countries: The Role of Price and Volume paigned and raised awareness about human the Amendment will be enacted at all. All Measures' contained alarming statistics rights issues in the developing world. Of the polls were so wide of what actually for Ireland. "Irish Hospitals have the course since then Israel has gone to war on transpired that it does rather beg the highest cost level across the developed the Gaza settlement and killed well over a question what really was happening behind world". We are more expensive than the hundred people with a savagery that has all the headlines etc? As any political US, Switzerland or even Norway. And shocked many people. Yet RTE, the canvasser will know, one of the worst more than double the UK level. Irish national broadcaster, on its nightly broad- responses to knocking on doors looking specialist physicians earn 131% more than casts insists on a parity of strength between for votes was not the profane language or the developed world average while our Gaza militants and the State of Israel. anger towards one's political party but the nurses earn 39% more." All thanks to the This outright Israeli propaganda is repli- equally angry refrain that there would be Croke Park Agreement—the gift that keeps cated not only here but in the UK and no-one voting in the house because "ye on giving to the public sector. France 24 news bulletins as well and the are all the same". print media is equally complicit. It takes I see that the papers attribute the low Alive, a Dominican paper, to disclose how ALASTAIR CAMPBELL turn-out to apathy but I would caution I was recently enquiring about what Israel behaves. It quotes a booklet called about adopting this answer. There is a lot Breaking The Silence, which is from an had become of Blair's foremost spin- of anger in this country against the master. I had been given a gift of a box-set organisation of former Israeli soldiers of Government and, while we are not given the same name. These are— of 'The Thick of It', a political satire based to marching in the streets, we are quite on the Campbell/Blair era by the brilliant "seeking to publicise the ill-treatment capable of striking through the ballot box Armando Iannucci. Peter Capaldi plays of people, including children in the West by our absence just as sure as we are by Bank occupied territories. It describes the Campbell character and I have been how children caught throwing stones are our presence. hugely entertained by the BBC-made subject to beatings, intimidation, humil- At the moment there seems to be show. First I had to get over the absolutely iation, verbal abuse, night-time arrests widespread agitation over the terrible death obscene language but it undoubtedly is and injury. One soldier told how a nine of the Indian woman Savita Halappanavar the best satirical political programme ever. year old kid, had a loaded gun pointed at in Galway. But, as no-one yet has the full I had bought the Campbell Diaries, but him and had to plead for mercy. Some of facts and won't until the enquiry is held, they were so heavily sanitised that I gave the children soil or wet their pants but the the best thing to do is wait and see what up quite quickly on reading them but truly Israeli military are not bothered by this. actually happened. I have problems about this programme was Campbell with "the In fact, human rights organisations such the way that the tragic death is already lid off", as Elizabeth Bowen might say. as 'Defence for Children International' being used by those in favour of abortion, Then a friend gave me the Sunday claim that children are routinely arrested but that will always be the way of some Independent 'Life' magazine of the 28th at night, handcuffed, blindfolded, mis- people. I also thought that interviewing October 2012. It featured Alastair Camp- treated and denied access to their parents the bereaved husband again and again bell (in full colour) looking so thin and or a lawyer…" was tasteless. But to my amazement—he worn that I thought him to be ill. But the It Is Time very quickly started to demand that justice article was all about how he had tackled 17 the demon drink. He spoke about his refreshing to see such a positive story Taoiseach said he hoped alcoholism and depression but is sober coming out of such a disaster. One "the State recognition would happen and has been for a long time. He was in Irishman who is speeding up the process by 2014, the 75th anniversary of the Ireland as he is an ambassador for the UK- is Kerry native Donal O'Sullivan—whose outbreak of the Second World War. “It is based Time to Change campaign, "which company, Navillus Construction, is play- time we recognise and honour our Irish aims to bring an end to the stigma of ing a leading role in the clean-up of the World War 11 heroes and I hope that by mental illness". He came here he said, "at Belle Harbour neighbourhood in the badly- 2014, this will be in place. What the the invitation of healthcare company hit Rockaways region, which is heavily Monsignor and people like him displayed Lundbeck Ireland" (which meant they populated by Irish-Americans. Mr. O' is that it is possible and very important to were picking up the tab), "to talk to interest Sullivan recruited more than 150 volun- care beyond ourselves”…" groups including the Royal College of teers within 24 hours and has put— That last sentence has a ring to it that is Physicians about alcoholism and mental- according to the Irish Daily Mail—his becoming increasingly familiar. Does it health issues". I have never heard of Lund- own crews into the area, clearing up to not suggest that those of our people who beck Ireland but Campbell wants the Irish 200 houses in the process, while also stayed at home to defend ourselves against as well as the British Governments "to get setting up an emergency resource centre the stated predatory nature of the British serious about policies that will lead to outside the local Church. "We really State that we were—well how shall I put sensible drinking patterns and to the appreciate how supportive the Irish it—selfish? Verily did the revisionists do provision of effective mental-health community has been to us", said Belle their work and now the words spoken by programmes". Harbour resident Brendan Armstrong. The our leader trip off his tongue, contributing Then on the 9th November 2012 he was editorial of that same day in the Irish to negating all a small nation's valiant in Dublin again as reported by The Irish Daily Mail had a heading: Our Best struggle to maintain our neutrality? No Times. This time it was the Institute of Ambassadors , and underneath was written: wonder the British Ambassador smiled— Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI) "No other organisation better reflects indeed well he may—but he should per- who were paying him. There was some the ancient Irish concept of the 'meitheal' haps pause and look at who was the guff about him being "not everybody's —of neighbour helping out neighbour, recipient of the Hugh O'Flaherty Inter- favourite media personality but he man- of community working for community national Award, which each year is confer- aged to sweet talk his way into the affect- than the GAA. red on a recipient whose dedication to ions of Dublin's advertising community "It is this generosity of spirit that has alleviating the plight of the less fortunate made the GAA such an integral part of last night", according to the report in The or persecuted merits recognition. the social fabric of every parish and makes Irish Times. It was reported that Tony This year's winner was Sr. Agnes Hunt, Blair's former spin doctor told nominees it unique in sport. This weekend, America too got a taste of that special magic—and who was nominated by the Irish Council at the Advertising Effectiveness (AsFx) for Prisoners Overseas and was chosen for awards that "some of the best people" he of that traditional Irish generosity of spirit the GAA exemplifies. her commitment towards Irish Prisoners had worked with in his political life had Overseas and families. Sr. Agnes was the been advertisers. "You only need to look at "Some of the current crop of All-Stars took time out from their US tour to join first woman to be appointed to a chaplaincy the eye-watering spend in the US elections thousands of other volunteers in the clean- in a male prison in the UK, when she began to know that advertising really matters in up of Superstorm Sandy. In a world in a placement at Wormwood Scrubs where campaigns", he observed. "Part of the which so many sporting heroes sadly she remained for 16 years. Joanne Joyce answer for the economic recovery is going turn out to have feet of clay, our GAA of the ICPO accepted the award from to come from the creative industries, and stars have once again set an example we Mayor of Killarney, Séan O'Grady on her advertising is at the heart of that". can all be proud of." behalf. She informed the gathering that The happiest faces in the Mansion It is such a pity that more of our media Sr. Agnes could not be present to person- House included those behind campaigns could not reflect on this heart-warming ally collect her award as she was unwell. for SuperValue, Cadbury, the ISPCC and story rather than the never-ending sup- But thirty-four years after her first day in the HSE. The agency DDFH&B was posed shame for which we are to cower Wormwood Scrubs, Sr. Agnes remains awarded the Grand Prix for its work on the over a very tragic outcome in one of our committed to supporting prisoners. "Say Hallo to the new SuperValue Range" hospitals. Every week, Joanne said, she still comes campaign. Tania Banotti (whose mother into our Maynooth office to write to is Mary Banotti of Fine Gael) is the chief MONSIGNOR HUGH O'FLAHERTY prisoners serving life sentences in the UK, executive of IAPI which organised the The Irish Independent, 12th November many of whom she has known from her biennial awards, said "all of the shortlisted 2012, ran a small article on this year's time at Wormwood Scrubs. For many of campaigns reflected the creative strength Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Weekend, "the them the only contact they will have with of the Irish industry. The ¤300 million fifth annual celebration of the heroic the outside world will be the letter they Irish advertising sector directly employs cleric's life". It is doubtful that they would receive from Sr. Agnes each week. 4,500 people". have bothered but for an exceptional guest The Bishop of Kerry, Bill Murphy was USA AND THE GAA who was also present—the British Ambas- present as was the Papal Nuncio Archbishop The Irish Daily Mail, 19th November sador Dominick Chilcott with the red Charles Brown. Monsignor O'Flaherty's 2012 had a delightful picture of a local poppy blazing on his chest. What was he remarkable selfless acts in Nazi-occupied resident, John Kelly of the Irish-American doing there? It seems no body really knows Rome saved the lives of almost 7,000 community in New York's Breezy Point, but perhaps it is all part of the agenda of persecuted people, including Jews and Allied holding up the Sam Maguire Cup (GAA 'combining' our past with theirs into a POWs. Killarney Town Council erected a All Ireland Football Final) in the fore- shared whole, providing it is positive of plaque some time ago on his former Plunkett ground and in the background the awful the British part in it. It was The Kerryman, Street residence. Hugh O'Flaherty was born devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy. 14th November 2012, which provided a in Kiskeam, Co, Cork, but was raised in The GAA players took time out of their lot more news on the story. Under the Killarney. Former Supreme Court judge, All-Stars tour of the USA to help the heading: Church and State united for Mr. Justice Hugh O' Flaherty, a nephew of locals with the clean-up. Likewise the heroic cleric's tribute, we were told that the Monsignor's, said he never spoke about Irish Examiner, 19th November 2012 also Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD told those his exploits during the war. "He was a contained a set of pictures with the head- gathered that "it is time we honoured genuinely very modest man". line: The GAA's Helping Hands. It was Hugh O'Flaherty". In his address the Julianne Herlihy © 18 Part Four objectionable aspects of the Treaty by abolishing the oath, introducing a new constitution, replacing the governor An Irish Anti-Fascist RAF Volunteer general with a popularly elected presi- dent, and securing both the handover of And Some Other Soldiers the Treaty ports and the abrogation of July 2012 saw the publication of T. other contiguous areas such as the city of Britain's rights to Irish defence facilities Ryle Dwyer's latest book, Michael Collins Derry, and the southern portions of in time of war. This paved the way for And The Civil War. Page 152 contains the Armagh and Down… The boundary Ireland to stay out of the Second World War, which was the ultimate proof of outrageous statement: "Sectarian murders commission would likely transfer Ferm- anagh and Tyrone to the Irish Free State, independence" (pp289-292; my were no longer confined to Belfast. While emphasis, MO'R). Collins was arguing about the Irish Times' Lloyd George told the House of Com- mons. 'There is no doubt, certainly since biased coverage of the events in Belfast, the Act of 1920, that the majority of the The Saor Uladh leadership would have thirteen Protestants were killed at the people of the two counties prefer being concurred with much of this narrative: full other end of the island in the Dunmanway with their Southern neighbours to being recognition of the sovereignty achieved area of west Cork." Poor Peter Hart! Not in the Northern parliament', he said. 'What by de Valera for the 26 County Republic, only has his sectarian thesis been torn to does that mean? If Ulster is to remain a with the running sore of Northern Ireland shreds by an array of writers from Jack separate community, you can only by remaining to be resolved but—while its means of coercion keep them there, and Lane to John M Regan, but now the military actions were focused on the although I am against the coercion of inventor is no longer credited with his nationalist majority areas of Fermanagh, own creation. For Dwyer gives as his Ulster, I do not believe in Ulster coercing other units.'" Tyrone and Derry City—it did not concede source, not Peter Hart himself, but Eoghan the right of any County to opt out in the Harris in the Sindo funnies! But this is not Dwyer's book continues: UK direction. In that respect, the only a review of Dwyer, and so I will give difference of opinion that would have credit where credit is due when his nar- "When the boundary commission finally met in 1925, Lloyd George was ever existed between the nationalism of rative provides some useful territorial Republican Communists Kevin Neville scene-setting before proceeding to an long gone from power. The commission essentially decided on only minimal and my late father, Micheál O'Riordan, examination of the politics of Saor Uladh changes to the boundary… Since such would have centred on the effectiveness (Free Ulster) and its Co. Tyrone and Derry changes would add insult to the outrage of armed struggle in achieving their City leadership (augmented by a Cork that was likely to be provoked by the common objective of a sovereign united 'interloper', the Republican Communist surprise failure to transfer Counties 32 County Republic. Yet on the first page RAF veteran of World War Two, Kevin Fermanagh and Tyrone to the Free State, of his 2005 apologia pro vitam suam— Neville). Yet in one respect Dwyer's book the London, Dublin and Belfast online at www.irishlabour.com and governments all agreed to scrap the find- is less informative than its Irish Examiner entitled Miscellaneous Note on preview, for the references to de Valera's ings. As a sweetener the British agreed to absolve the Free State from any responsib- Republicanism and Socialism in Cork City Dáil statement on 22nd August 1921 (p35) 1954-69—Jim Lane wrote: and Lloyd George's House of Commons ility to contribute towards the British national debt. De Valera was later able to statement on 14th December 1921 (p36) "Michael 'Screwback' O'Riordan never claim that this absolved the Free State forgot to pay attention to his native city of are severely curtailed in the book itself. So from having to pay land annuities to Cork for meetings with old comrades and it is from the Irish Examiner of July 2 that Britain, but the Cosgrave government potential recruits for either the IWL/IWP I will first quote Dwyer: did not realise this at the time… Fianna or CPI… At most of these meetings, "In January 1922, the partition issue Fáil won more seats than any other party attended by … Gerry Higgins in the early began to figure more prominently as a in the general election of 1932, with the days … Gerry Higgins believed they did political issue. This was ironic because it result that de Valera was able to form a not have any policy on the national had been very much in the background minority government with the help of the question, they just wished it would go throughout the 26 counties ever since the Labour Party… But Fine Gael tried to away in the goodness of time." previous August when President Éamon frustrate de Valera's efforts to dismantle de Valera warned members of the Dáil the 1921 Treaty by using the stepping- None of this squares with my own that they would have to accept a form of stone approach to full freedom advocated experience. I found the CPI to be obsessed partition. 'The minority in Ulster had a by Collins. It was largely at the secret by the national question. When I joined right to have their sentiments considered instigation of Cosgrave and his party that the B&ICO in 1971, a year after my father the British instigated the Economic War to the utmost limit', de Valera told a had gone from being General Secretary of private session of the Dáil on August 22, against the Irish Free State in 1932 over 1921. If the Republic was recognised he de Valera's refusal to pay land annuities a 26 County IWP to becoming General would be in favour of giving each county to Britain. De Valera contended that the Secretary of a reunited 32 County CPI, the power to vote itself out of the Republic if Free State did not owe the money. most heated bone of political contention it so wished. He wanted counties Ferm- Chancellor of the Exchequer Neville between us centred on the national question anagh and Tyrone—which had Catholic Chamberlain admitted in March 1932 and my espousal of the B&ICO's 'two nationalist majorities—to have the right that de Valera had 'an arguable point', nations' analysis. In direct contradiction to opt out of Northern Ireland. Attempting because the wording of the boundary of the Gerry Higgins caricature of my to force the majority in the rest of Northern commission agreement absolved the father's politics, one of the polemical Ireland into a united Ireland would, he Dublin government 'from liability for the salvoes that my father fired at me in that service of the Public Debt of the United warned, be the same mistake that the year was that "You can't get away from the British had made with the Irish people as Kingdom, and that the Irish annuities national question because it won't get a whole… The 1921 Treaty had the form part of the Public Debt'. The Irish potential of being even more favourable people endorsed de Valera's stand in a away from you!" This remark, of course, than the county option advocated by de snap general election in 1933 by returning was itself a caricature of the B&ICO Valera the previous August, because in Fianna Fáil with the first overall majority position which, on the contrary, sought to addition to Fermanagh and Tyrone, the since the Treaty split. His government grasp the nettle of the full complexity of boundary commission could also transfer then systematically dismantled the the national question. This is why the 19 B&ICO's first policy statement, Connolly love her by force. And so we are anxious that it would be, which indeed it was, and And Partition, had challenged the ideo- to start where England left off and are in full. logical cul-de-sac of James Connolly's going to compel Antrim and Down to My father knew full well that the 'one nation' dogmatism, a political myopia love us by force… If anyone wishes to underlying assumption of what I had that affected Micheál O'Riordan and Jim know another's nationality, the answer quoted as the basis for a peace process was is: Ask him… The only sense in which I Lane alike. O'Flanagan's 'two nations' analysis, even am a partitionist is that I claim the right of if I had left such explicit language un- A fundamental difference between the the people of East Ulster to decide whether spoken on this occasion. But, given the two, however, was that, when a critical they are to throw in their lot with the Irish agreement between us on essentials, any Nation or not" (They Have Fooled You repetition of my 'two nations' point-scoring juncture came, my father could break free Again—Michael O'Flanagan, Priest, would have been gratuitous and self- from such ideological shackles—at least Republican, Social Critic, pp44-50). in practice if not quite fully in theory. His indulgent pedantry on my part. And, reading of Connolly had been unduly On that occasion in 1993 I would have eighteen years later, Sinn Féin's Martin influenced by the Connolly Association's briefly made a point-scoring remark to McGuinness—Northern Ireland's Deputy Desmond Greaves. Besides Connolly, my my father about O'Flanagan being a 'two First Minister, a former IRA Chief-of- father's other great hero was Father nationist' and—getting no response—I left Staff and also that Party's former Vice- Michael O'Flanagan, a Vice-President of it at that. Which is why what next hap- President—addressed its most recent Ard- Fheis this past May in language that was Sinn Féin during the War of Independence, pened, less than a year later, came as a indeed reminiscent of what I had quoted who would become its President in 1933. great but pleasant surprise to me. January 1994 marked the 75th anniversary of that from Father O'Flanagan in my Derry Because of his political activities, O'Flan- First Dáil of 1919, which had been opened Journal letter. McGuinness declared: agan was frequently 'silenced' as a priest by O'Flanagan. I decided to mark the "I recognise there are one million by the Catholic Hierarchy. He nonetheless occasion by sending to the press an open people on this island who are British and had been given the honour of reciting the letter in which I appealed to the leadership let me state here and now that as a proud invocation at the very first meeting of Dáil of the Republican Movement to seize the Irish Republican I not only recognise the Éireann in January 1919, and was des- new opportunities that had been opened Unionist and British identity, I respect it cribed by Cathal Brugha as "the staunchest up by what had been secured by Taoiseach and in return all I seek is for my Irish priest who ever lived in Ireland". (See Albert Reynolds in the Downing Street identity and tradition to be respected as http://free-magazines.athol books.org/ to Declaration; arguing that such an achieve- well. People who think that a new Ireland, download the July 2006 issue of Irish ment should lead the IRA to call a ceasefire a united Ireland, can be built without Political Review for my refutation of an and enable Sinn Féin to pursue Tone's Unionist participation, involvement and academically ham-fisted slander of objective of uniting Protestants, Catholics leadership are deluded." O'Flanagan by University College Dublin and Dissenters by peaceful means. I then Martin McGuinness had come a long History Professor Diarmaid Ferriter). quoted some of what Father O'Flanagan way. Yet a war had to be fought for over Moreover—and uniquely among Irish had to say about the North in 1916, pointing a quarter of a century, followed by a Catholic priests—O'Flanagan had sup- out how he would become both a Vice- further decade and a half of intense political ported the Spanish Republic, and in 1938 President and President of Sinn Féin. Since struggle, in order to achieve all that he had he came out in the midst of a Dublin my purpose was to persuade rather than achieved. As he also told that same Sinn downpour to both publicly and personally dispute with Sinn Féin, I refrained from Féin Ard-Fheis: welcome my father and other Connolly quoting O'Flanagan's more explicit 'two "It was acceptable (for Irish govern- Column International Brigade volunteers nations' language in his unity-by-consent ments) to abandon nationalists in the back to Ireland in the aftermath of Republican analysis which I shared. But I north to the whims of a unionist regime did quote the following statement from surviving the horrendous battle of the and the reality of second class citizenship. O'Flanagan's 1916 polemic against Ebro. A cherished possession of my That was a political reality that I could Redmondite Hibernianism: never accept as normal. Through forty father's, therefore, was Desmond Greaves's "We have to come to an agreement years of struggle and our involvement in 1954 pamphlet, Father Michael O' with the Ulster Covenanters, even though peace negotiations we have managed to Flanagan, Republican Priest—the Story it be only an agreement to differ. We dismantle one party rule in the north and of his Life, with Extracts from his Speeches. have to begin to treat them as fellow men. brought second class citizenship to an But Greaves was being too clever by half If we go a little further along the road, we end. We have replaced this with equality, when he suppressed making the slightest may find that after time they will be partnership and power sharing." reference at all to the intense controversy willing to treat us as fellow countrymen." on the Ulster question that had raged for But partition was not the cause of that Every single 'national' daily newspaper months—from June to October 1916, to war; and a war could never end partition, in the Republic—the Irish Times, Irish which is why for Martin McGuinness "the be precise—between O'Flanagan and Independent, Irish Examiner and the not- war is over". The cause of the war was not Redmondism. A 1993 biography by Denis yet-dead Irish Press—refused to publish partition as such, but the territorial extent Carroll, however, was to quote O'Flan- my letter. Both the Unionist Belfast News- of it, compounded by the character of the agan's 'two nations' analysis quite exten- letter and the Hibernian Irish News also devolved Stormont regime imposed by sively, as exemplified by the following refused to do so. The Derry Journal—in the British State on that Six County entity. statements: Martin McGuinness's home town—was The latter issue has been incisively ana- "The island of Ireland and the national the honourable exception that proved the lysed by Brendan Clifford in Northern unit of Ireland simply do not coincide… rule, in being the sole newspaper prepared Ireland: What Is It? (July 2011), and I Geography has worked hard to make one to let it see the light of day. I passed on a fully agree with the following statement nation out of Ireland; history has worked copy to my father for his own information, of his: against it… The Unionists of Ulster have and thought no more of it. But, a few days "I did not encourage the resort to force never transferred their love and allegiance later, he was to surprise me with the in 1969. I did what I could to discourage to Ireland… We claim the right to decide question: Would I not consider also it by advocating a different course of what is to be our nation. We refuse them submitting my letter to the CPI's Belfast action—democratisation of the mode of the same right… After 300 years, England weekly, Unity? Would it be published?— government in the political life of the has begun to despair of compelling us to was my sceptical response. He assured me State, meaning Britain… The war was 20 fought. It had the pragmatic sanction of political arguments with my father over not belong to the Volk—the special people being a fact; and of succeeding in terms the course of the next two years, she of the State—left the State in large of what I took to be its cause and therefore continued to champion the good name of numbers. The spokesmen of the special its substantive object—which was to do Imre Nagy, the Hungarian National people frequently referred to the non- away with the intolerable provocation of Communist Prime Minister, who had Volkish elements as inferior types. There the 'Unionist state'. Its success was to defied the Red Army and who would be was a civilised conviction that inferior establish parity between Unionism and executed at Khrushchev's behest in 1958 types bred faster than the higher forms of Nationalism as two distinct body politics (See also "In Remembrance of Two Fools", humanity, and that it was therefore in a transitional arrangement" (pp 268- as a free download in the previously necessary to find ways of ensuring that 9). the higher breeding rates of lower types mentioned July 2006 issue of Irish did not swamp the Volk" (p242). Brendan Clifford refers to his own Political Review). Since Northern Ireland was not a State pioneering role "as the original 'two- In 1971 my mother could only contem- at all, we must accept that for that reason nationist' of modern times (post-Pogrom plate the actual reality of the oppression of alone it was not a Fascist State. During the times)" (p208), and he adds: "The only half a million Ulster Catholics, rather than Irish Army deserters controversy, a 'two-nations' view in circulation was the speculate about the potential oppression Seamus Breslin wrote (Irish Independent. one I put in circulation" (p215). That was of a million Ulster Protestants in the hypo- February 18): unquestionably the case, for it was thetical event of being forced into a united Brendan's articles in the Irish Communist Ireland. If in 1956 the central political "Two men went to school in Derry city during 1970 that had convinced me of the reality for her was that the Hungarian together. At the outbreak of World War Two, one joined the British army and the validity of that analysis and persuaded me people were not guilty of oppressing a to join the British & Irish Communist other headed south and joined the Irish. single Soviet citizen, the central political After being demobbed, they both returned Organisation myself in early 1971 in order reality for her in 1971 was that neither was to add my own voice to its espousal. But home. The ex- British soldier got a new Nationalist Ireland guilty of oppressing a public house and a job in customs, both there was another political objection to single Ulster Unionist subject, and that, as such espousal that was very different from due to his service. The ex-Irish soldier far as she was concerned, was that! But if lived in squalor with his family in a my father's 1971 outright denial of the fact hers was the best negative argument disused US navy hut, unemployed and on of two nations. One evening, shortly after against the B&ICO espousal of the 'two benefits. There was no special treatment I had joined the B&ICO, the late Pat nations' analysis, it remained a cul-de-sac for service this side of the border. Maybe Murphy called to our family home in in its own right. Politics cannot make everyone should have joined the British order to have a preliminary pow-wow with progress on the basis of a suppression of forces and left Ireland defenceless?" me before we proceeded to some other other undeniable facts, no more than by meeting. My late mother, Kay Keohane But Breslin was being far too kind to self-deluding denial itself. At the end of the (London)Derry Orange junta. Catholic O'Riordan, insisted on coming into the the day, Martin McGuinness had to declare front room in order to give Pat a piece of British Army ex-servicemen and their the war over with a de facto recognition of families were also treated with contempt, her mind. "You've given them a theory!" the reality of two nations. And yet, as were the words she used as her punch line as the decorated Derry World War Two Brendan Clifford has argued, the regime hero Connie Green was to experience. I in lambasting Pat and the B&ICO's "two- that Britain had imposed on Northern nationist works and pomps". When we had previously assumed from a blog Ireland made a war to undo that particular reference that the Royal Inniskilling Fusi- left the house, Pat said: "That's the best construction inevitable—even if that war political argument I've heard against our liers was Green's regiment. I can no longer only ended up being successful after state with certainty which regiment it was 'two nations' line". For it had not at all learning some lessons from the failed been based on a denial of such a fact, but that he belonged to. Brian Hanley and Border campaign of the late 1950s. Scott Millar have written: "In November was centred on the political expediency of Foolhardy or not, Connie Green had been publicly acknowledging that fact. As far 1955 Saor Uladh attacked Roslea RUC willing to sacrifice his life in that previous Barracks … and Connie Green, a former as my mother was concerned, 'two campaign. This decorated anti-fascist war nationism' was dignifying the pogromist Royal Marine, was killed" (The Lost hero had returned to his native Derry to Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA powers-that-be in Ulster in a manner that find—well, what? Brendan Clifford would give "Croppies Lie Down!" the and the Workers' Party, 2009, p11). But concludes: "I do not see Northern Ireland Barry Flynn has written: respectability of a National Anthem, rather as having been a Fascist State, because it "The attack was thwarted and resulted than have it forever recognised as the was not a State, but an undemocratic Orange sectarian Horst Wessel Lied that it in the death of Connie Green from Derry, device of the democratic British State who was shot dead by an RUC officer. undoubtedly was. serving an ulterior purpose." (p 247). My mother always responded to the Green had been a former member of the And yet, but for the fact that Northern British Parachute Regiment and had actuality of those who were being oppres- Ireland was not a "State" in its own right, sed there and then, rather than indulge served throughout the Second World War he has also argued: "If Northern Ireland in various capacities and locations. On those who hypothetically might find was a State, or if it is to be taken to have his return to Derry, he joined Saor Uladh themselves oppressed under a different been a State, I do not think the description and used his experience to train local set of circumstances. It had also been the of it as Fascist would be unreasonable." volunteers." (Soldiers Of Folly: The IRA case that, although a member of the Irish His argument continues: Border Campaign, 2009, p43). Workers' League/Party and the Commun- ist Party of Ireland, she never bought into "It would be a de facto One-Party State, though this status was achieved without If the latter is the more accurate account, the CP 'justification' of the Soviet suppres- the legal prohibition of other parties of course, it is all the more bitterly ironic, sion of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. She {except, of course, the banning of Sinn in view of the Bloody Sunday massacre could never agree to a denial of the fact Féin itself!—MO'R}. The State would carried out in Derry by the British Para- that Hungarian workers had risen up be the mobilised Volk, constituting two- chute Regiment in January 1972. against their oppression, on the CP grounds thirds of the population. Elections would Connie Green could only respond to that "real socialism" was in danger of be assertions of the Volkish will organised how he experienced the Derry to which he been overthrown throughout Eastern by the State, free of party disputes about had returned home after being demobbed Europe if the Hungarian revolutionaries policy… Measures were taken to ensure at the end of the Second World War. To had been allowed to succeed. So, in that elements of the population that did him it bore many more similarities to the 21 fascism he had been told he was fighting the Ardoyne district of Belfast, was course, also a police officer, when shot in against than the democracy he was arrested by the British Army in the early the back by IRA gunmen in a provincial supposed to be fighting for when decorated hours of Monday, November 22nd, the hostelry shortly after chatting with the for bravery by the British Army during the Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association, charming hostess behind the bar. The Italian campaign. And, in his sick-bed of which Lynch is a leading member, local IRA General who had ordered that conversations with my mother, the Cork issued an ultimatum to the security 1920 Halloween killing, also saw to the anti-fascist RAF war veteran Kevin authorities… Jimmy Lynch was set free execution of two young Protestants, Neville had ample opportunity to relate to on Wednesday afternoon… 'Jimmy Lynch named Elliot and Chartres, on charges of her his motivation for joining forces with was arrested by the Green Howards', identifying and informing on Kelleher's said Phil Curran, General Organiser of killers. The charming Longford hostess Connie Green in that November 1955 the CESA, 'on the orders of Stormont's had been Kitty Kiernan, fiancée of RUC barracks attack, and how it came Premier, Brian Faulkner, a man who Michael Collins, while the local IRA about that it was these two British ex- himself did not volunteer to serve his General was Seán Mac Eoin who, in his servicemen who had fired the first shots in King and Country during the Second memoirs entitled With the IRA in the the first post-war military campaign World War. Yet Faulkner, who was of full Fight for Freedom, went on to dismiss against that regime. military age during the war, now Kelleher as "a young ex-army officer So, what of Connie Green's Derry City proclaims himself a loyalist and can order who was given orders to take action which, despite having a two-thirds the British Army to arrest British ex- against the IRA and clean up the area". Nationalist majority, had for over half a servicemen.' … Lynch served in the Royal Fine Gael, also styling itself the United century been gerrymandered under the Engineers from the outbreak of war in Ireland Party, was so proud of General heel of a local Orange junta? A quarter of 1939 until he was demobbed in 1946. He Seán Mac Eoin's 'exotic background', a century further on, as he campaigned for saw action in France, Italy and Germany. that it deemed him a most appropriate the Good Friday Agreement, the Ulster He returned to civilian life to become a person to become President of Ireland, Unionist Party leader David Trimble docker in Belfast. Until the Paisleyite running him as the Fine Gael candidate in showed his ongoing contempt for the attack on Bombay Street in August 1969, both 1945 and 1959. I would appeal to Nationalist majority in Derry City. He Lynch was not even remotely interested the Republican-spirited among Fine Gael was reported as follows by Déaglán de in politics… August '69 brought him into voters, who like myself believe in unity- Bréadún in the Irish Times on May 19, political activity and changed his whole by-consent, to recognise the heroic work 1998: way of life completely. When Ardoyne undertaken by Martin McGuinness over "Mr Trimble posed with his two friends was attacked on August 14th and 15th the past decade in working for a New on Derry's Walls, with the Bogside in the there was no one to defend the Catholic Republic, based on consent and by background. Under this agreement, he population. So Jimmy Lynch and twelve exclusively peaceful methods, and claimed, even the Bogside was 'as British other ex-soldiers of the British Army conclude that there is no more appropriate as Bangor or Bournemouth'. That won't volunteered to act as a defence force… candidate to now become President of win any republican or nationalist votes, Throughout the night of the Paisleyite Ireland." especially since this was the site of the attacks the ex-servicemen dodged from Since, as a two-nationist, I welcome time-honoured custom of Apprentice one position to another, thus giving the impression that Ardoyne was being McGuinness's recognition of the rights of Boys throwing pennies down at their the one million British in Northern Ireland, nationalist neighbours." defended by an adequate force. This defence force was really the beginning of it would, accordingly, be hypocritical on Five months later, in October 1998, the CESA… The CESA is now under my part to have any quarrel with him David Trimble was awarded the Nobel attack from the Stormont Government. shaking the British Queen's hand as Peace Prize. Eoghan Harris was script- No fewer than 22 members of the Associ- Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister. writer for Trimble's acceptance speech ation have been interned, on Faulkner's But in one joint action with Unionism he that December 10th, as Harris never tires orders, in the Long Kesh concentration has taken a step too far. At the close of my of reminding us, most recently in the camp. They include war veterans like Joe August article in this series I wrote of "the Sunday Independent this past June 24th: Parker, who served 23 years in the British pathetic roles played to date by both Army." "(Sinn Féin Vice-President) Mary Lou Éamon Gilmore and Martin McGuinness McDonald, on 'Morning Ireland', coolly Those pogroms lit the fire that led to the in respect of this year's controversy con- steals the line I wrote for David Trimble cerning the Irish Army deserters". Given about Northern Ireland being 'a cold house Provisional IRA becoming an effective for Catholics'…" army. Although I was opposed to the my otherwise profound respect for Mc Provo war throughout, I cannot withhold Guinness, perhaps I should not have The Harris words actually spoken by my admiration for the political acumen of mentioned him in the same breath as Trimble were: "Ulster Unionists, fearful Martin McGuinness in recognising the Gilmore. Nonetheless, on this particular of being isolated on the island, built a difference between what he had won by issue, his action still remains pathetic. The solid house, but it was a cold house for war and what he could never win by war, Irish Times reported on June 13: Catholics. And northern nationalists, and for in turn forging an effective peace although they had a roof over their heads, "Almost 5,000 members of the Defence process in conjunction with the Paisleyites. Forces who deserted their posts during seemed to us as if they meant to burn the That is why I spoke out as follows in a house down". What a reprehensible piece the Second World War and joined the letter published by the Irish Times on 26 British army are to be offered an amnesty of rhetoric for Harris to be proud of! In September 2011: 1969 Catholic houses were not cold, but and pardoned. The Government has also formally apologised to them for the way very hot indeed, as Unionist mobs pro- "I am somewhat bemused at the they were treated at the time. In making ceeded to burn them down. And once statements by Fine Gael Ministers Shatter and Hogan, respectively, that Martin the apology yesterday and announcing again there were British ex-servicemen McGuinness is an inappropriate person the pardon and amnesty, Minister for who felt compelled to take up arms on to become President of Ireland, because Justice and Defence Alan Shatter said the behalf of Northern Ireland's Nationalist of 'his exotic background' and for Government recognised the importance minority. In the Irish Times of 1st Decem- 'carrying too much baggage from his of the deserters' contribution to the Allied ber 1971 Andrew Boyd reported on one past'. At the time of his death at 23, Phil victory." particular response to the Unionist anti- Kelleher had been a top class rugby player, Catholic pogroms of August 1969: scheduled to wear the green jersey in the Not just a pardon, but an apology! Yet, "When James Lynch, a local leader in next International match. He was, of as the Irish Times previously reported on 22 January 25th, Shatter specifically high- Index To Irish Political Review, 2011. Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Is Oil Well In Cork?; lighted the fact that McGuinness had given Antiquum Documentum. Ruairî Ó Domhnaill Fracking For Oil And Gas; The Sunday Independent; Inside The Spider's Parlour. Wilson John Haire Household Charge; Titanic; The Mahon Tribunal; the green light for such action: "On Distributists Occupy Wall Street. Mondragon, Part 3. NAMA; The Economy; Defence Forces) Monday (January 23) the Northern Ireland Labour Comment Guilds And The Town, Mondragon, (6). Lab. Com. Assembly unanimously backed the cam- February May paign for pardons for the servicemen The Right To Desert. Editorial A New Treaty With 'Our Gallant Allies. Jack Lane The Euro: Realities And Abstractions. Jack Lane Syria. Editorial involved." It is indeed bitterly ironic that Deserters: Ireland A Fascist State? Report Some Thoughts On Last-Detich Unionism And 'Norn Martin McGuinness led the way for such Readers' Letters: Views Of Sinn Fein. Stephen Richards Irn'. Pat Walsh Iran Not Trying To Develop A Nuclear Weapon—US The Irish Times Regrets. Editorial interference by a British regional assembly Defence Secretary Panetta. David Morrison Promissory Note Deal. John Martin in the internal affairs of this sovereign Not Sufficient To Be Sour. Jack Lane responds to Mahon's Star Witness. Editorial Republic. Sinn Féin has rallied to the Desmond Fennell Anne Harris. Editorial Shorts from the Long Fellow (Pensioners; Failed States; Poem: A Source Said. Wilson John Haire cause of those who betrayed this Republic When Was Independence?; The Media And Change; Shorts from the Long Fellow (Denis O'Brien; Elaine during the Second World War by deserting Mary Raftery; 'Unexpected' Death) Byrne; Eoghan Harris; Corporation Tax; Property Taxes) Raymond Crotty's Appeal To England: Elizabeth Bowen And Her Admirers. Julianne Herlihy from the Irish Army in order, instead, to Introduction. Brendan Clifford (Part 2) join the British Army. Sinn Féin's action Eire: A Land Where Emigrants Are Born. Raymond Items From The Irish Bulletin: 10. April 1920 Crotty Harris And Dunmanway. Jack Lane (Report) would have been anathema to Saor Uladh, Some Comments On Raymond Crotty's Article. John The North And Dunmanway. Wilson John Haire given the latter's unequivocal championing Martin The Dunmanway Killings, Curiouser And Curiouser. of 26 County sovereignty. For the Saor Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Elizabeth Bowen, Lies, Jack Lane (Part 3) Spies & Academics—Qui Bono?; CUP & Einbhear Naval Warfare. Pat Walsh (Part 19, Final) Uladh attack on Roslea RUC barracks had Walshe) An Irish Anti-Fascist RAF Volunteer, and some other been of even greater political significance Deserters And Their Champions Equally Unworthy Of soldiers. Manus O'Riordan (Part 1) Trust. Donal Kennedy (Unpublished Letter) Biteback: Which Portraits Should Be Removed? Tom than the fact that the two casualties in its 'The Further One Gets From Belfast'. Niall Meehan Cooper (Report) ranks were both British ex-servicemen. replies to Jeff Dudgeon Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Party Annual The 1934 Larkin Affidavit: A Comment. Jeff Dudgeon Conference; Dingle—Dangle; Governance; The Titanic) The more noteworthy fact is that this replies to Manus O'Riordan The Protestant Reformation And The Guilds, military offensive had been commanded Crozier Antidotes For Hart Maladies. Manus O'Riordan Mondragon, (7). Lab. Com. Items From The Irish Bulletin, 1919. Number 7 by its Chief-of-Staff, a sitting member of Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Inside Job; Corporation June Seanad Éireann who had been elected to Tax; Fee-Paying And Public Schools; Ultra-Privileged Happy Anniversary! Editorial that House of the 26 County Oireachtas at Schools) Austerity Report: Mystery Of Greek Minimum Wage. Needs Sectioned? Wilson John Haire (Poem) Philip O'Connor the behest of the Fine Gael/Labour The Guilds And Capitalism. Mondragon, (4). Lab. Com. Readers' Letters: Anne Harris: A Comment. Jack Lane Coalition Government. Fine Gael and The Stability Treaty Referendum: The Case For A 'No' March Vote. Eamon Dyas Labour also need to be reminded of some The Trouble With Demcracy. Editorial An Away Day For UCC History Department. Jack aspects of their own party histories! Europe: Spinning Like A Top. Jack Lane Lane (Report Of John Regan meeting held in Cork) Readers' Letters: "Leave Those Kids Alone". Cathy Shorts from the Long Fellow (Godwin's Law'; Harris's (to be continued) Winch Retreat; Martin Corry; Austerity & Growth; Irish Debt) Manus O'Riordan Poems. Wilson John Haire: Needs Sectioned? Open Another Known Unknown. Jack Lane (Gerard Murphy The Door, It's Me & Dunmanway) Shorts from the Long Fellow (The State And The People; Correction. Jack Lane responds to Barry Keane Erratum: "Not all" is close to meaning the Money; The State And Money; Plus Ca Change . . .; QUB Tangles With Irish History. Seán McGouran very opposite of "not at all". A typographical Promissory Notes) Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Dis-Establishment; Sins error on my part, by omitting the critical word Germany And The Eurozone. Mark Langhammer Of Our Age; Abdication; Banville) The Sovereign People & The Administraitors. Nick Folley Mahon's Star Witness. Editorial Series (Part 2) "at" from a sentence about the Curragh Camp A Tribute To Conor Lynch. Jack Lane Views Of Sinn Fein. Brendan Clifford (reply to Communist leader Neil Goold in part three of Conor. Malachi Lawless Stephen Richards) this series (October issue), would have seriously The Ceremony. Report In Memory Of Jim Hurley. Manus O'Riordan, Tom misled readers as to what I had intended to say. The Septic Tank. Feargus O Raghallaigh Barry Elizabeth Bowen In The Limelight. Julianne Herlihy Ireland To Call For EU Ban On Israeli Settlement The phrase in question should in fact have The 1934 Larkin Affidavit. Comment by Jeff Dudgeon Goods. David Morrison read: "As for Goold himself, his own agitational and a Response by Brendan Clifford The Unquiet Man. Seán McGouran activities after his release were not at all "Taking It Out On The Protestants". Jack Lane on Biteback: Eamon Ó Cuív (Report: letter, David Alvey) concerned with Britain’s war effort but became Dunmanway and other events Items From The Irish Bulletin. May 1920 (Part 11) Deserters, The Holocaust And Neutrality. Philip Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Constitutional decidedly more Republican than ever before". O'Connor (Unpublished letter) Amendment; Public Service Pay; Statute Law MO'R Naval Warfare. Pat Walsh (Part 18) Repeals) Biteback: Cavalier With Archives. Soldiers. Eamon Irish Labour Party In Denial But Not In Clonmel. Dyas (Two Unpublished Letters) (Reports: John Cunningham, and The Nationalist) Index To Irish Political Review Items From The Irish Bulletin. No. 8. Feb. 1920 Labour Becomes A Commodity, Mondragon, (8). Lab. Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Ireland First; Tourist Com. 2012 Industry; Recent Legislation) 27 Labour Comment is edited by Pat Maloney, From Guild To Trade Union. Mondragon, (5). Lab. Com. July "Shaken, Not Stirred" ? Editorial who is the author, unless otherwise stated April January YES Vote Vindicated, Ireland's Treaty Referendum. Fianna Fáil: on the road to nowhere? Editorial Editorial The European Union vs. The Eurozone. Has Micheál A Tale Of Two Taoiseachs. Jack Lane Readers' Letters: Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi. Martin Lost The Plot? Jack Lane Readers' Letters: Federalism The Way Forward For The Philip O'Connor. Deserters For Empire? Donal The Coalition's First Budget. John Martin UK. James Annett Kennedy ECB Acts As Political Europe Consolidates. Philip Keynesianism—cause or cure? Jack Lane Micheal Martin on Sinn Fein. Report O'Connor (report of letter) More Translation Needed. Chris Winch Poems by Wilson John Haire: Get On Your Coat Of Thoughts On Northern Ireland. Wilson John Haire Promissory Note Architecture. John Martin Dual Colours. Who Wears The Pants? Priory Hall And The Irish News. Report 'Save The Tele' Rally. Mark Langhammer (Speech) Visions And Realities—Trotsky, Stalin and the Fiscal Shorts from the Long Fellow (Promissory Notes; An Septic Thoughts. Jack Lane Treaty. Jack Lane Embarrassing Climbdown?; Solvency And Liquidity; Gerry Lawless. Brendan Clifford (Obituary) Referendum Result. Report Nonsense; Fianna Fáil; The Budget) Shorts from the Long Fellow (Happy Paddies; RTE; The Austerity, Growth And The Fiscal Compact Treaty. Items From The Irish Bulletin. 1919: Part 6 Sunday Independent; Trade Surplus; Fiscal Pact) Jenny O'Connor Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (History And Irish Academia; Elizabeth Bowen And Her Admirers. Julianne Herlihy Ordo-Liberal Austerity? John Martin (Reply to E. Dyas) John A. Murphy; Elma Collins) Republicanism—some thoughts for Stephen Richards. Bon Nuit! Report The Dunmanway Killings, curiouser & curiouser. J. Lane Pat Walsh Shorts from the Long Fellow (Census; Ireland v Iceland; William Sheehan And Britain's Militarism. B. Clifford Comments On Desmond Fennell's Picture Of Ireland. Devaluation For Ireland; Then And Now; Stimulus Biteback: Gallipoli, Two German Officers And The Fog John Minahane Package; Sinn Féin; Royal Bank Of Scotland) Of Military History. Donal Kennedy (unpub. letter) A West Cork Protestant Testament. Manus O'Riordan Bowen Again...... Jack Lane Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (More Semi-State Heroes. Wilson John Haire (Poem) Elizabeth Bowen And Ambassador Dulanty. Jack Bodies; Cost Of Dying; Household Charge; Secret Biteback: Corporation Tax. Philip O'Connor Lane (Report) Service; Documentary Of 2010) (Unpublished Letter) Mahon's Star Witness. Editorial Series (Part 3) It's Not Sufficient To Be Sour. Desmond Fennell Irish Merchant Navy? Report: letter, Dermot C. Clarke The Dunmanway Killings. Jack Lane (Report) St. Fintan's Widgery Hit By Well-Deserved Belt Of A Items From The Irish Bulletin. March 1920 (No. 9) Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Summer Holidays; State Crozier. Manus O'Riordan Euro In The Ring. Philip O'Connor Abuse) Naval Warfare. Pat Walsh (part 17) To p25 23 care for four days until she died on the (which is why it does not meet much), 28th October 2012. Praveen now tells the other than the problem that Minister Reilly Does media that he is convinced that an abortion has not enacted into law the existing It would have saved his wife's life but he is guidelines of the Medical Council. Fine Stack not a medical doctor or a nurse. We do not Gael promised to do it before it was elected. Up know any medical facts from the medical It is a vital issue and so why was it not ? people who treated Savita or even indeed done? Is it because of the massive financial at this late stage know who those people lobbying of the Abortion Industry? One ABORTION LAW were. hopes not but it doesn't simply stack up. No sooner had the results of the Child- All of the media comment—well most We need this legislation now. A good ren's Referendum been declared on Sunday of it—is just journalists generating column drafting lawyer could do it in a day or two 11th November 2012 than the citizenry of inches and sound bites for their own and the Dáil and Seanad could pass it in a Ireland were verbally and visually ideological purposes. It seems that the day or two, like they pass the laws on their distracted from the Referendum results by political establishment has been ambushed own remuneration and expenses. If Taoi- a nationwide organised and concerted pro- while trying to get to grips with the situat- seach Enda Kenny and Minister Reilly are abortion campaign centred around the ion. Dr. Reilly, Minister for Health, has decent, honest representatives we will see death in Galway University Hospital of an now two inquiries ongoing and no doubt this legislation enacted within a week. If Indian woman Savita Halappanavar. The the truth of what occurred will be reported they kick for touch again on it, the country unfortunate woman died on Sunday 28th in due course. In the meantime we have will know what they are at and who is October 2012 which was two full weeks the pro-abortion elements in the media likely to be behind them. before the Referendum results were commentariat howling and baying for announced. The media was silent for a abortion legislation now. fortnight and then and only then started PUBLIC INTEREST DIRECTORS What the Government must do now winding up Savita's story. Day by day the very urgently is to legislate for what is in Public Interest Directors were appointed level of hysteria in the media was ramped accordance with the Constitution of Ireland by Minister Brian Lenihan in 2008 into up—everybody was being told how to Article 40.3.3 which states: banks receiving public money. He said at feel about this sad event. "The State acknowledges the right to the time that these Directors—two in each bank—were to defend the taxpayers' stake Most of the pressure was being created life of the unborn and with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, in the Banks. But he and his Civil Service by the media led by The Irish Times, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as did not tie down the function to be perform- which promoted an anti-Catholic line far as practicable, by its laws to defend ed with the result that the appointees have throughout. TV3 put on several balanced and vindicate that right." 'gone native' and they are now Bankers programmes. RTE tried to ignore the instead of Watchdogs and the reason is matter at first and then made it the last The Constitution is quite clear. But very simple. When the bankers were on item on the Late Late Show. It was not at where are the laws? No where! Fianna their knees looking for help from the all a fit subject for a light entertainment Fail, Labour and Fine Gael have utterly taxpayers, Minister Lenihan handed over programme but by then the Station's News failed us on this and so has our Civil our money (easy!) and our bank guarantees was running it as a first item and seemed Service. No law. They have hidden behind to have all its reporters working on it the guidelines issued by the Medical (€440 billion—no problem!) without passing a law that the Public Interest around the clock. Council for the guidance of Obstetricians and the principal guideline is: Directors, in addition to their duties under the Companies Acts, should also have the But it was the social media—that "In current obstetrical practice, rare power and the duty to report, say monthly, misnomer—that picked up the story or complications can arise where therapeutic to the Minister for Finance and that the rather the Irish media version of it, which intervention (including termination of a pregnancy) is required at a stage when, Banks should have a duty to give the quite rapidly gained international attention due to extreme immaturity of the baby, Public Interest Directors all the data they sending women from New Delhi to there may be little or no hope of the baby needed to do their work. This was not Washington, Cork to London and Dublin surviving. In these exceptional circum- done with the result that Minister Noonan, to New York out protesting Ireland's stances, it may be necessary to intervene Department of Finance, has to recently backward ways with mawkish images of to terminate the pregnancy to protect the state in the Dáil that he does not talk to the flickering candles, pictures of the dead life of the mother, while making every Public Interest Directors nor do they talk woman and outrageous claims that Ms effort to preserve the life of the baby." to him! This is a ridiculous situation and Halappanavar was literally killed by the That is commonsense. It is easy to entirely unnecessary in view of the fact Irish Catholic Church. All this and no one understand although not so easy in indivi- that the Government is in charge on our knew the real story except what was dual circumstances to apply. But it is as behalf. All the Government has to do is to attested to by a husband who was bereaved. near as we are likely to get in terms of pass a law to enable action by the Minister Mr. Halappanavar claimed that his wife moral fairness to both mother and baby. It and the Public Interest Directors. If a went into Galway Hospital not for an is also in accordance with Article 40.3.3 Constitutional Amendment is needed, I abortion but because she felt ill. Later it of the Constitution. So why does not think the citizens would have no problem seems the baby girl started to miscarry Minister Reilly enact a law immediately with it to control the banks. The existing and, from what her husband Praveen stated, embodying the Medical Council's guide- situation just does not stack up at all. the baby was ill from E Coli ESBL and lines? Why indeed? Why has Minister septicaemia. The baby died on Wednesday Reilly established a Commission loaded 24th October 2012 and Savita who was with pro-abortionists when the Constitu- CHILDREN'S/ADOPTION REFERENDUM seriously ill from the same strain of bacteria tion does not allow abortion? There is no This referendum does not stack up at all was treated by antibiotics in intensive problem for the Commission to examine no matter how sanguinely you look at it: 24 - The Explanatory Memorandum with Desmond Bell's Frank Ryan. Brendan Clifford (Film the Bill lied and misled the TDs and Review) TRADE UNION NOTES Biteback: That Handshake! Donal Kennedy (Report) Senators who voted for it; Items From The Irish Bulletin. 11th June 1920 (12) "Immediate And Terrible War"—Some British Army LESS TAX—Irish people are still paying - The Fine Gael party's canvassing Plans. Philip O'Connor far less tax than people in most other Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Auditors & industrialised countries, says a new report literature lied to the voters about it; Reporting) Primitive Communism And Private Property, by the Organisation for Economic Co- -Minister Frances Fitzgerald misrep- Mondragon, (9). Lab. Com. operation and Development. resented the terms of the Referendum August The OECD's annual report on the tax when she spoke in public and to the Euro Crisis: Politics of Recovery vs Politics of Illusion. wedge, the amount paid by employee and Editorial employers minus welfare payments, shows media about it; and to cap it all The Past Was Orange. Editorial The Moriarty Tribunal. Editorial than an Irish couple with one person -I and every other voter who had a vote Biteback: Inviting 'Our Gallant Allies'. Jack Lane earning and two children paid just 7.1% of (Report). Corry 'Terrorism' Claim Challenged. their income in taxes last year, compared to cast in two polling stations in Cork James Fitzgerald North Central were directed to the wrong The Mystery Of The Dunmanway Killings. Jack Lane with an OECD average of 25%. (Irish Britannia's Children. Wilson John Haire (Poem) Independent, 27.10.2012) place to vote. We were directed to vote Austerity, Aspiration And The Treaty. Eamon Dyas at "Concert Hall, City Hall Booth 1, Mitbestimmung. John Minahane ***************************** Europe Subverted. Editorial (Riverside Entrance) Cork". Sinn Fein's Political DNA. Seán McGouran reports on U.K.Trade Union membership—has a meeting A Literary Fantasy. Jack Lane fallen below six million for the first time But there were no polling booths at that Shorts from the Long Fellow (Sinn Fein & Fine Gael; since the 1940s. address. A small inconspicuous notice on 'Modern' And 'Historic' Sinn Fein; Fine Gael; The There are now 5.98 million members of Labour Party; The Irish Economy; The Bank paper attached to the railings directed us Guarantee ...Again; Spanish Banking Crisis; British TUC-affiliated unions, which is fewer to another building in another street inside Benevolence; Science In Ireland) than half the number just 30 years ago. Views Of Sinn Fein. Stephen Richards, Brendan The TUC blames the fall on job cuts in of which there were two Polling Stations Clifford (Letter Dispute) with two Polling Clerks at each. How Northern Ireland: Threat Of Regional Pay. Michael the public sector. many voters for these two polling Stations Robinson Trade Union ranks soared in the post- An Irish Anti-Fascist Volunteer And Some Other war years. By the end of the 1970s—a did not get to vote? The number is critical Soldiers. Manus O'Riordan (Part 2) Items From The Irish Bulletin. 8th July 1920 ( 13) decade of widespread industrial unrest— because the Yes exceeded the No in Cork Cork Employment Resource Centre, 1988 to 2012. more than 12 million workers were paying North Central by 47 votes. Were there John Holford (Part 1) Aquinas & Private Property. Mondragon, (10). Lab. Com. their subs. misdirections for other Polling Stations Summer Floods & Water Privatisation. Michael According to TUC figures, union also? The Polling Clark was quite insistent Robinson (Report) membership peaked in 1980 at 12.2 in demanding that I hand over my Voting September million. BBC( online, 7.9.2012) Information Card with the address on it Northern Ireland: Proconsul Politics. Editorial Feeding The Sectarian Thesis. Jack Lane but I insisted the card was my property Editorial Digest. (Normal Politics?; SF & Prisoners; and she was not entitled to it. (What were Challenges to SF; BICO) A Land War Leader, The Bard. Jack Lane Bill Sharkey. Keith Sharkey (Report of Appreciation) Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (British Embassy Party; they doing with people's seized cards?) I Dunmanway: Some New Information. Barry Keane Summer Book Launch Party; Irish Studies Journal; kept it, but there was a general air of (Press Release) The TCD Connection; The Marriage Foundation; Shorts from the Long Fellow (Battle Station; Bill Colm Tóibín, Vargas Llosa And Roger Casement) disapproval around me which was O'Herlihy; Charles Haughey; Journalistic An Irish Anti-Fascist RAF Volunteer And Some Other certainly not pleasant! Independence; Olympic Games; All That Glitters; Soldiers. Manus O'Riordan (Part 3) London 2012; Olympics & Politics) Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Children's Rights Referendum;Abortion Legislation; Constitutional Law Only 19.2% of the electorate voted The Fiscal Treaty. John Martin (Reply to Eamon Dyas) And Children Yes. That is 58% of the 33.49% who Friends Of The RIC? Tom Cooper (Letter) Items From Irish Bulletin, September 1920. Part 14 Team GB—The Anglo-Saxon Is A Sport! Philip O'Connor turned out. The Amendment was approved On Certain Immutable Economic Laws. Joe Keenan (Reply to August Editorial on the Economic Crisis) The Captains And The Kings, poem by Brendan Behan by 19.2% only of the electorate! The Road To Recovery Is Through A New Social Labour Comment: Fanfani And The Guilds. Mondragon, Compact. John Martin and Philip O'Connor (Reply Part 12 to Joe Keenan) Trade Union Notes: Accidents; Earnings; Trade Surplus; Jobs Market; Tax on Workers TERENCE MACSWINEY How To Make Enemies And Appal People. Wilson John Haire (Poem) November Terence MacSwiney is the honoured Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Phoenix Park Concert; Some Home Truths. Editorial name of the Lord Mayor of Cork who was Diplomatic Errors; Marriage Foundation UK; The Academics; Abuse Memorial) A Pointless Presidency? J. Lane on Ireland And Europe arrested by the British Army, court- Views Of Sinn Fein. Pat Walsh (Reply to Stephen Readers' Letters: Uncritical Of Germany. Kells Reader Stefan Lehne. Joe Keenan martialled by its officers, and locked up in Richards) Items From The Irish Bulletin. 10th August 1920 The Spirit Of Capitalism? Giorgio Francesconi Brixton Prison, London where he died on (Part 14) Dublin Fascists And British Legion Remembrance. Peadar O'Donnell hunger strike in 1920. It took ninety years Biteback: Orange-Green Common Ground. Roy Johnston (Unpublished Letter) North Waziristan . . . not many dead. Wilson John Haire for his memory to be honoured by naming Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Public Service (Poem) Shorts from the Long Fellow (The RIC Commemoration; the shortest Quay in Cork after him— Ethic; Pensions; TDs' Liabilities) Guilds And Communes. Mondragon, (11). Lab. Com. GUBU; British Intelligence; Brady Bluster) Terence MacSwiney Quay. That is the Trade Union Notes How Capitalism Works In Blarney. Jack Lane Political Engagement Or Utopianism? John Martin correct address of the City Hall and not Obituary, Cork Employment Resource Centre, 1988- 2012. John Holford continues the Economic Debate "Concert Hall" and "Riverside Entrance". Es Ahora. Julianne Herlihy (Travels To Nordic Neigh- October bours; Stockholm; Oslo) Who was responsible for this messing? Political Resolution Of The Euro, "Step By Step". Pat Murphy And The IWG. Brendan Clifford No name was given for the official Editorial Dunmanway Debate: Prying Out Sectarianism. Editorial Introduction responsible on the Voting Information Future Referendums On 'Europe'. Jack Lane Armistice Day. Donal Kennedy Bureau Of Military History & The Dunmanway Card. Only "Cork City Council Register Readers' Letters: A Question Of Finance. Ivor Kenna Controversy. Jeff Dudgeon (Letter) Dunmanway: Some Comments. Editorial Comment. of Electors". Maybe those in City Hall Socialism: Utopian Or Incoherent. Joe Keenan Shorts from the Long Fellow (Bank Guarantee .... A Race Through Sectarianism. Wilson John Haire don't know where they are either? Of Again; The Irish Times And Germany; Germany Does It Stack Up? Michael Stack (Children's Rights Referendum; Fourth course, the people have not spoken in this And Greece; Queen Of Supermax. Wilson John Haire (poem) Estate; The Bankers; USA Presidential Election) referendum. Statement From John Young. Report on Eve Morrison Items From Irish Bulletin, October 1920. (15) Guilds And The Law. Mondragon, (13). Lab. Com. Michael Stack © and Kilmichael Ambush Gush Shalom (A Palestinian Poem, contributed by Finian McGrath Press Releases: Resigns As Chairperson Of Dail Technical Group; Fuel Costs David Morrison) 25 GUILDS continued GOVERNMENT NOT HOSTILE TO GUILDS? overshadowed that of the gilds even as "I am therefore unable to agree with regulating agents. The essence of the old gild system was that the crafts were which, like all great pieces of English Miss Kramer when she considers that the municipal institutions, and Miss Kramer legislation, only purports to make clear series of statutes of the sixteenth century has brought out in a very interesting man- something that has been already done. left the gilds unaffected. At each step the Government assumed more and more ner how far they were, after all, dependent CAPITALIST SYSTEM responsibility for industrial conditions. on the municipality. But because no sudden "The tendency of national control to The cumulative effect of such statutes no upheaval can be traced, it seems an dwarf municipal or local effort has scarcely doubt tended to accelerate the decline of exaggeration to say that the statutes were been sufficiently allowed for in Miss the gilds, which were suffering at the a dead letter. They were the expression of Kramer's book. It can be traced very clearly same time from the competition of the the subordination of the municipal to the in the Poor Law and in the educational capitalistic system. The Government national, which was bound to so alter the question of to-day. Although one may not certainly was not hostile to the gilds, character of the merely municipal that it be able to say that any specific statute although Henry VIII found it convenient becomes a totally different thing. The made any radical change, the tendency of to appropriate some of their money. It was Statute of Artificers professes to make no a whole series of statutes against the gilds far too useful a thing to have men grouped change, only to make former statutes clear. is undoubtedly to weaken the position of together in some form where they could But clearness make for efficient applic- institutions which were before all concern- be effectively regulated, and could carry ation, and in the hands of a vigorous ed with town economy, local matters, and out the Government's instructions. But administration like that of Elizabeth I, the local trade. That the gilds were equally the statutes altered the position of the Government and not the gilds became dwarfed by the capitalistic system arising crafts. They had become in the sixteenth finally responsible for the regulation of up alongside of them is perfectly true, but, century national institutions and national the industrial life of the nation." never-the-less, the reiterated declaration instruments as they never had been before. of the Government that certain proceedings Alongside, and far more important, were (Lilian Knowles, The Economic Journal, were unlawful must also have materially the justices of the peace, whose prestige Vol. 15, No. 60 (Dec., 1905), pp.543-548.) weakened the prestige of the gilds, and made men regard the Government as the controlling power over the local monopolies. earnings for jobs in information and "Miss Kramer differs from Professor TRADE UNION NOTES communications was €49,768. Ashley as to the effect of the Act of 1563 In public administration and defence, on the gild system. He looks upon the AVERAGE PAY— The economic down- turn has taken a big chunk out of the the average gross salary worked out at statute as marking the final superseding of €47,060 last year. the gild powers by the Crown. She con- average worker's pay packet since 2008. Average annual earnings across all Average earnings fell in all but five siders that the system was in no way sectors last year—wholesale and retail, affected. She brings out very clearly that sectors were €35,900 last year, a fall of close to €900 in just three years. transportation and storage, information wages in towns had been settled hitherto Earnings fell by 0.6% last year and by and communication, administrative and by the municipalities acting in conjunction 2.4% over the previous three years, the support services and education. with the crafts, and she maintains that they Central Statistics Office said. Along with pay cuts, workers have also still continue to do so. Bankers and those in insurance and been hit with a range of income tax changes "But the Act was not wholly without other parts of the finance industry are the and the introduction of the universal social effect. We see this from an instance give highest earners of 13 different sectors charge. by Mr. Unwin (Industrial Organisation, looked at by the CSO. These changes were not included in the p.119). After the passing of the Statute of The average gross wage for bankers gross earnings figures put out by the CSO Artificers, the Lord Mayor of London and insurance staff works out at almost yesterday. (Irish Independent, 8.11.2012) ***************************** caused the clothworkers to inquire into €51,000 a year -- but it is still a fall of 4.5% the wages of the journeymen. Some since 2008. EATING YOUR CAKE AND HAVING received £4, some £5, some £6 by the The lowest earners are in the catering IT —Hospital consultants have voted in year, but 'in respect of the Act of Parliament industry, where the average gross pay is favour of work practice changes by a slim just short of €17,000. lately provided they have agreed to give majority—but no doctor is bound by the Earnings in the accommodation and every journeyman for his wages by the food services sector fell almost 7% since decision. year £7 if the Lord Mayor would so allow 2008. A survey by the Irish Hospital it'. The result of the statute was to move Of the 13 different employment sectors Consultants' Association (IHCA) has the Lord Mayor to take action; the Lord studied by the CSO, there was a fall in resulted in 57% of its members saying Mayor stirred up the City companies, who average earnings in all but the industry yes. determined the rate of wages, and the category. The changes include working evenings result was a more uniform, and in many Experts said this reflected pay levels in and weekends, giving more power to cases a higher, rate of wages. From that multinationals in the pharmaceutical areas. clinical directors and speeding up the time onwards, in London at least, the The biggest drop in the past three years signing of forms to collect private health rating of wages was fairly constant, as was in the arts and entertainment sector, insurance bills for public hospitals. where earnings fell by 10% to €23,400. reports had to be made to the Privy Council, However, the IHCA leaves it to each In construction, there was a 9% fall in the gilds would be subject to a much more the last three years with earnings now individual member to decide if they want thorough supervision than before, and in averaging €35,611. to accept changes. (Irish Examiner, so far their standing as industrial entities High pay was also to be found in IT and 2.11.2012) would be weakened. in the public sector. The average gross ************************To page 25 26 nationalising of industrial organisation. sidered that the gilds had the power to fix GUILDS continued prices, for it directly accuses them in the JUDGES TAKE OVER preamble of making 'unlawful and unreas- statute was probably not wholly without "The effect of the Act can be judged onable ordinances as well in prices of effect, though, of course, they might have better when we come to the Act of 1503, wares and other thing'. It may have been done the same if there had been no statute. which Professor Ashley has termed 'a unlawful for them to do this, but they The importance of the statute lies in the significant departure'. This gave the super- obviously did it, for it forms the chief fact that it constitutes a precedent for vision of the gild ordinances over to the specific indictment against them. The Government interference with the gilds. judges. One can again argue that there was preamble, by the way, purports to be The thin end of the wedge is always the little change here. The justices of the quoting from the earlier statute of 1437, important thing in English law. We only peace, whether town of country, were and seems to assume, therefore, that the progress by proving a precedent. It is only judicial functionaries representing the gilds had the power of arranging prices natural that the significance of a precedent Crown. It is merely an administrative when the earlier Act was passed. should not strike an American who is not change transferring the oversight from "Although Miss Kramer considers that steeped in the historical-mindedness of one branch of the judicature to another. 'no important modification' follows this the English temperament. It is this But the new authorities were not local Act, she herself admits that it formed part tendency to assume that what is in reality men, and therefore were probably more the whole industrial policy of the English a change is nominally no alteration of independent, and the alteration, in intention Government, and as such, therefore, it what has gone before that makes it so at least, signifies a tightening of the royal clearly points to an overshadowing of difficult to trace craft history. authority over the gilds. That this Act was gilds by the increasing authority of the ******************************************************************************** not a dead letter is shown by the fact that central Government. It was an attempt to "That English ruling class, forged the London companies obtained the proper fit them into the national scheme of well- through the chaos of the 17th century, legal endorsement, and if the great and ordered life, in which the crafts were which took command in the 18th century, wealthy City companies had to come into bound to lose initiative and the control of came close in the 19th century and early line, it is not probable that lesser corpor- industrial life, and become mere instru- 20th to achieving its ambition to rule the ations escaped. Indeed, there are many ments of the Government. The statutes world, is one of the wonders of political history. instances of such authorisation, although point, not in the destruction of the gilds, "But what is a wonder to me is how it in some cases, such as Exeter and Bristol, but to their subordination. We notice the elicited such deferential submission from no record of such a proceeding seems to same thing happening directly the Poor the social layers beneath it, because it have survived. Miss Kramer seems to Law gets fairly under way. It is first of all was not a traditional aristocracy but an consider that the new Act must have failed largely an affair of charity and the upstart elite. But it did generate in effect, since she has been unable to municipality. The State interferes with a deference. discover any disapproval of craft ordinan- few general directions in 1536, making, "This is the genesis of Imperialist England as far as I have been able to ces. This does not necessarily mean that so it would seem, little or no visible change. figure it out." the judges failed in their duty. It might From that time onwards we trace the (Brendan Clifford Appendix, equally be interpreted to mean that when progressive intensification of control until The Genesis of National Socialism the gilds presented their ordinances they we get the system completely nationalised by T. Desmond Williams, 2012.) eliminated those rules which they knew and codified by 1601. The same tendency ******************************************************************************** would not pass, and that the Act, therefore, may be traced again in the nineteenth "Mr. Unwin, whose excellent book on had the required effect. Even if the judges century in educational matters and in the Industrial Organisation Miss Kramer does ruled out certain ordinances, it is not likely factory laws. English history is composed not seem to know, has stated this very that this would be recorded. They would of small experiments which accumulate forcibly. 'A love of compromise which pass those they approved of—no judge into great schemes. Miss Kramer considers prevents the latent issue from taking visible could condemn everything—and the the re-enactment of an Act as an evidence shape, a disposition to ignore transition general result would be a registered of its previous futility. This seems to me and to disguise change—these are political authorisation of the rules. The statute of scarcely an accurate interpretation. Almost virtues of the first order, but they are apt 1503 had complained of the action of the every statute verbally strengthens its pre- to obscure the significance of history by craft gilds in regard to 'prices of wares'. decessor a little, makes some small change, concealing the working of those ideal Miss Kramer brings forward some inter- and the aggregate is large. The Act of forces, by reference to which alone a esting evidence to show that prices were 1503, which dealt with prices, is followed progressive development becomes intellig- in many instances fixed by municipal up by the Acts of 1531 and 1537, which ible.' It was no novelty for the Government authorities, and not by the gilds, and she dealt with apprentices, till the whole is to interfere in civic affairs. As Miss Kramer argues that the crafts did not 'claim the codified in the great Statute of Artificers*, herself points out, it had already regulated power to determine the price of an article the prices of bread and ale, and decreed on gild authority alone', and that, since • The Statute of Artificers was a group of uniform weights and measures. Here was they never had the power of determining English laws (1558-63) which regulated the supply and conduct of labour. In particular it the precedent which could be extended to prices, they could not be deprived of it. set wages of certain classes of worker, it industrial affairs, and in England, when Professor Ashley, she considers, is wrong once an interference has taken place, it is regulated the quality of people entering certain when he maintains that the Act of 1503 professions by laying down rules for apprentice- the groundwork of future action. Hence it was a great blow at gild authority in the ships and it restricted the free movement of seems to me that Miss Kramer has matter of prices. workers. Effectively, it transferred to the newly underrated the significance of the Act of forming English state the functions previously 1437, and that Dr. Cunningham is right GILDS FIX PRICES held by the feudal craft guilds. The Statute was abolished in 1814. when he sees in it the precedent of the "But the Government evidently con- continued on page 26 27 VOLUME 30 No. 12 CORK ISSN 0790-1712

Mondragon, Part 14

"Two conclusions previously reached by Dr. Kramer and other authorities are reinforced; namely, that conflict was an important force not only in the institution and progress of the English gilds, but also in their amalgamation and subsequent decline; and that governmental hostility and repression had relatively little to do with their final fate" (Alfred Plummer, Ruskin College, Oxford, 1927, Labour Comment, November 2012.) Craft Guilds and the Government

"…anyone who has the temerity to Government in England. The craft gilds weight of available evidence shows the follow in her steps will have an unprofit- were the dominating feature of English State encouraging the old craft companies able task" was the summary of T.H. industrial life between the fourteenth and to the last.' (Thomas Humphrey) Marshall, the British sixteenth centuries; by the time of Eliza- sociologist, referring to The English Craft beth I they change in character and become NATIONALISING THE GILDS Gilds: Studies in their Progress and something essentially different from the "She begins by criticising Dr. Cunning- Decline, published 1927 by US sociologist old craft gilds of mediaeval England. They ham's view of the Act of 1437. In the Dr. Stella Kramer. have become associations of capitalists preamble the gilds were accused of making Twenty-two years previously, in a acting under the orders of the central 'unlawful and unreasonable ordinances', review of Dr. Kramer's The English Craft Government. In attempting to account for and were ordered in future to submit their Guilds And The Government (1905), this transformation much stress has been rules to the justices of the peace or the Professor Lilian Knowles (1870-1926) of laid on a series of statutes purporting to chief governors of the cities. This was a the School of Economics, London, had regulate the gilds and the conditions of direct interference from above with a the 'temerity' to challenge a core principle labour generally, the general effect of municipal institution, and Dr. Cunningham of Kramer's writings, namely that the role which was to accelerate the decline of the considers it to be an important step towards of "governmental hostility and repression gilds as arbiters of trade in their localities. nationalising these institutions (I., 445). had relatively little to do with their final Miss Kramer's point is to prove that to "According to Miss Kramer, this Act fate" whatever cause this decline may have had no real effect and denoted no change, Professor Knowles (1870-1926) enter- been due, it certainly was not due to and cannot, therefore, be reckoned as a ed the School of Economics as a research legislation. 'That the English Government, factor in the decline of the gilds. She student in 1896. She remained connected thoroughly conservative in its industrial brings out very clearly that, nominally at with the School for the rest of her life; she policy, was responsible by legislative least, the municipalities had control of the was the second person of either sex to hold enactments for the decline of the gild craft ordinances for more than a century, a Chair of Economic History. "She had no system is altogether unlikely. All the and that the statute only reiterated the taste for re-setting old tales." It was 1921 usual custom when it ordered the gilds to before she published her first book: The Subscribers to the magazine are regularly submit their rules to the chief governors of Industrial and Commercial Revolution in offered special rates on other publications the city. Great Britain during the Nineteenth "The novelty, however, seems to lie in Century . Irish Political Review is published by the fact that the Government should The London School of Economics and the IPR Group: write to— interfere at all, and should back up the Political Science (informally the London 1 Sutton Villas, Lower Dargle Road legitimate authorities. The statute itself Bray, Co. Wicklow or School of Economics or LSE) was founded seems to prove that the conduct of the in 1895 by Fabian Society members Sidney 33 Athol Street, Belfast BT12 4GX or gilds had become definitely a national Webb, Beatrice Webb and George Bernard 2 Newington Green Mansions, London N16 9BT affair, and though under so weak a Shaw. or Labour Comment, TEL: 021-4676029 Government as that of Henry VI, the Act C/O Shandon St. P.O., Cork possibly amounted to little more than a Below we reproduce Subscription by Post: pious opinion as to what ought to be done, Mrs. Knowles review in full: 12 issues: Euro-zone & World Surface: €40; still, it formed the groundwork of the Act Sterling-zone: £25 "The main purpose of this book is to of 1503. Moreover, Miss Kramer adduces Electronic Subscription: instances (p.53) to prove that the gilds did formulate a destructive criticism of views € 15 / £12 for 12 issues which have been hitherto held by eminent present their ordinances for approbation (or € 1.30 / £1.10 per issue) to the municipalities, and therefore the economic historians as to the relations You can also order from: between the craft gilds and the central https://www.atholbooks-sales.org continued on page 27