A safe ship in stormy waters?
With internal turmoil and flagging performance in the opinion polls, why would anyone want to join Fianna Fáil? Ciarán Fitzgerald explains why he chose to abandon Sinn Féin and to become a Soldier of Destiny
Sinn Féin will always have a place in my heart, and I have many comrades there, but it is now obvious they are completely out of touch with the people on the ground in the Republic of Ireland. This has become more evident in the wake of the 2007 General and 2009 Local Elections, where Sinn Féin lost seats but managed to retain its percentage share of around 7 percent. SF is the only opposition party not to have made electoral gains during the recession.
During the last local elections I became disillusioned with the party and the leadership. In the last few weeks of campaigning, party activists were instructed to abandon their own constituencies and assist Dublin-based sitting councillor Daithí Doolan in one last gasp at keeping his seat. Not one single person was from Dublin; not one person was from Doolan’s constituency, or even lived there. The alarm bells were ringing loud.
There is an increasing Northern-biased leadership within Sinn Féin, who are more focussed on the Northern Assembly than on politics in Dublin or anywhere in the South. The average 26-county voter sadly doesn’t care about the stop-go peace process in the North.
Sinn Féin do not address the bread-and-butter issues that affect people in the South. It has zero concrete economic policies, just idealism. At the 2008 Árd Fheis, a motion was put asking the party to clarify its economic, and specifically taxation, policies after the leadership had been embarrassed on television by Michael McDowell. The reply was shocking: “This party will make specific economic and tax policies when the time comes to go into government.” But how can Sinn Féin expect people to vote for them without stated ideas and policies on something as important as economics and taxation!?
It is for these particular reasons that Sinn Féin is losing its activist base in the South, and Dublin in particular. The party is bleeding members and elected officials – Cllr Christy Burke being a recent high-profile defection. Bad policies and organisation has cost the party dearly: the party has been decimated in North Dublin, where there have been six motions of no confidence in the last two years. I had certainly lost all confidence in Sinn Féin and so decided to leave the party, I would not go down with the ship.
I thought about looking into membership of Fianna Fáil, as they appealed far more to me than Labour, and Fine Gael was an absolute non-runner. Paddy Conroy, the chair of the famous Kevin Barry Cumann (KBC), the UCD branch of FF, invited me to some meetings. Some brilliant politicians have passed through since my time in UCD; including Senator James Carroll and current Ógra National Organiser, Brian Doyle. I can honestly say I was welcomed with open arms. I was struck by their honesty and passion for politics.
The KBC has massively increased its active membership reflecting that Ireland’s youngest and brightest are ignoring the media’s populist attack on the party and believe that FF is the only party who will bring Ireland back to prosperity, economic growth and social equality. Not the Greens, not Fine Gael, not Labour – and certainly not Sinn Féin!
The popularity and consistent growth of FF nationally at youth level sends a clear message to the other political parties. Fianna Fáil have the policies, the talent, the determination, and 71 years of government experience to prove it. The electorate is never wrong.
I believe that the government are making tough but absolutely necessary decisions at present to get Ireland back on track and back to work. This country was hit very badly by the global recession and ordinary people are suffering because of the construction bubble. Many people are now in negative equity, struggling to meet mortgage payments. The sad reality is that nobody saw the recession coming to the extent and speed in which it came in 2008.
The government requested an independent investigation of a possible bubble in the construction sector in 2006 and 2007, and were advised that there was “no bubble” and that the economy would continue to grow until 2011 – a statement endorsed by IBEC. Let’s face facts: Ireland was borrowing €450m a week at 5.5 per cent interest rates – a billion a fortnight! Revenue was at 2003 levels, while state expenditure remained at 2009 levels! Any budget had to be harsh, but at present Fianna Fáil seem to be blamed even when it rains.
The ERSI recently predicted that the recession is nearly over, specifically because the government has made the recommended €4bn in cuts. The ERSI also states that higher earners have been hit the hardest in the last three budgets, contrary to claims by Labour et al suggesting the government was “protecting the rich”. Workers earning the most were cut the harshest.
No government is ever popular in a recession, but I am backing Fianna Fáil because it is putting the welfare of the state and its citizens above its own. Popularity and opportunism are luxuries that only the opposition can afford. Good governments make the right choices and take unpopular tough decisions. I believe in the current government’s ability to steer us through these stormy waters.
Fianna Fáil is committed to eventually contesting elections up North. As a Republican this is something close to my heart. The Ógra cumainn in the North passionately believe that Fianna Fáil can offer a real alternative to the politics of failure. FF has made the brave and right decision to sign up to the UK Electoral Commission, and represent passport holders and citizens of the Republic in the North who cannot even vote for their own president (including the President herself).
See you at the next Kevin Barry Cumann meeting. The future of Ireland is in safe hands.
I would just like to point out that Ciarán is not being honest about the local elections. I was the candidate who he canvassed for so I have a good knowledge of the situation.
I ran in Pembroke Rathmines, a very weak area for Sinn Féin being honest. We had a small team and limited but generally sufficient resources. It was decided by the team on my suggestion, that we had done all we could in the run up to the election to get out any republican vote in our area and so to use our team to aid in mobilising the vote in neighbouring Dublin South East. Ciarán was annoyed by this as he completely illogically felt we could win a seat in Pembroke Rathmines if we went out that day. At one point deciding to throw down leaflets and walk off, taking up considerable time to convince he him back to knocking on doors. This being said I am grateful for his help through the campaign but the claim of some leadership order is nonsense as it was we the activists who decided to join Daithí Doolan’s team for the day. It is also a nonsense that there was noone from Dublin on the campaign trail, Ciarán would not know many activists outside of UCD being honest so that comment isnt suprising.
I would also like to dispute the claim Ciarán has comrades in the republican movement. He has abandoned the aims of Sinn Féin and socialist republicanism by taking up the mantle of those who stood idly by and watched bankers and developers destroy our future and now only seek to protect them in the treason of NAMA. If that is something you could even consider supporting then you made the right decision leaving my party.
To my “former” comrades,
I would firstly like to respond to Mick Reynolds’ facebook claims (which i cant read and debate there as he blocked me)that i did not mention the McDonagh/ Farrell cumann. I had a full 200 word paragraph about the annecdotes from the cumann and some good work being done alas editing made sure it was cut by the paper. i stated that under poor management at both local level and from a senior party level that the cumann has now collapsed. An issue which i foresaw during my time as a member and brought up SEVERAL occasions with the sinn fein structures.
Secondly Mr. Dolan,
i would also like to say that again because of editing i had to shorten the piece about your election campaign. Apologies. 3 or 4 people and a candidate is hardly a team. I disagree about “sufficient resources” considering we had to use a barstool to erect posters and 4 students had to use their own money to rent a ladder for several days to just erect half of our posters. I myself paid several expenses including rent for the campaign and never recieved a refund from the “sufficient resources” from headquarters. I put my heart and soul into that election campaign and like many party activists and elected councillors felt strongly let down by the party and its structures. 300 or so votes is an absolute disgrace and i felt as a good candidate like you deserved more. The “republican vote” in the area was still well below par compared to 2004 figures however and i felt everything was certainly NOT done to get out that vote. i was dismayed at the fact that we asked voters and supporters to endorse a team and candidate that had consigned themselves to a loss so early in the campaign and also to helping out in a completely different constituency. Like many Sinn Fein candidates i believed opinion polls and the media that sinn fein would gain where Fianna fail lost out. Certainly this was not the case, i agree with you there, i apologise for my optimism. This was an insult to those 300 voters. i felt we should have at least tried till the last especially considering Daithi Doolan did NOT retain the seat even with our help.
Your Comrade forever,
Ciaran D. FitzGerald
Kevin Barry Cumann
Again former comrades,
i am also disheartend that several of you have chosen to argue with me over petty details and comments from a disasterous election campaign.
I would have hoped rather that you would at least debate the core reasons why i left SF and eventually joined Fianna Fail!
Yours etc.
Ciaran D. FitzGerald
”If that is something you could even consider supporting then you made the right decision leaving my party”
Firstly Oisin, How deplorable do you sound. IT IS NOT YOUR PARTY.
”I would also like to dispute the claim Ciarán has comrades in the republican movement. He has abandoned the aims of Sinn Féin”
Secondly, Ciaran made claims he has many comrades in the republican movement. Your are implying that Sinn Fein is the only republican party. I dispute this. Sinn Fein has no ownership of the term republicanism. Would this be the same Sinn Fein, who were founded under a system of belief that related to Dual Monarchy? Meaning remaining as loyal subjects to the King/Queen of the British Island
Where in Sinn Feins founding did Griffith mention republicanism…Thats right.. He didnt. Fianna Fail has done more to rid this island of partition than ”your party” has. Lets have a look at history, Shall we. When De Valera was writing a constitution, and dismantling the agreement.. Where were Sinn Fein and their republicanism? When the position of our own president was created, ridding the country of a theoretical British head of state, Where were Sinn Fein?… When a republic was declared, where was sinn fein?.. Thats correct, they were not even part of the political process.
Lets face facts, the ideals of the Anglo-Iirsh agreements contain pretty much what is included in the Good Friday, That the title of the 6 counties will only transfer to the Republic of Ireland when it is the wish of the majoity to do so. So in future, Please refrain from considering that one is only a republican if they vote or are active in Sinn Fein. This is complete nonsense.
More republicans throughout Ireland vote Fianna Fáil, Remember that going forward……
A Concerned Republican.
As Director of Elections in Pembroke Rathmines for Sinn Fein Candidate Oisin O Dubhlain in the last local elections, I can categorically state that party activists were not asked en masse to abandon their constituencies in order to canvass for Daithi Doolan in the Dublin Inner City Constituency. This was a decision made by the activists themselves, and as Oisin eluded too, Mr. Fitzgerald’s reaction was to storm off. As for the notion that no one from Daithi Doolan’s own constituency out for Daithi Doolan, this is similiarly untrue.
I would imagine that Mr.Fitzgerald would be slightly more grateful to the Sinn Fein Cumann in UCD given the fact that it propped up his UCDSU Election campaign last year, despite his sometimes politically insensitive comments during last year’s Fees protests and UCDSU Council. As Chairperson of the UCD McDonagh/Farrell Cumann last year, I would like to put on the record by immense displeasure in both the disrespect shown by Mr. Fitzgerald in this article and to the Cumann in general during last year. It is now my opinion that he cynically used the support base of the Sinn Fein Cumann and the Free Education for Everyone movement of which it was a part to support his bid for UCDSU Elections. As Chairperson of the McDonagh/Farrell Cumann last year and a member of the Free Education for Everyone movement, I realise that this was a major mistake to support this and I apologise to people whose time was wasted during the campaign.
As for why people aren’t debating with Mr. Fitzgerald as to why he left Sinn Fein and join Fianna Fail I can only assume is because the party are glad to see the back of you. Writing as someone who left the party also recently but didn’t feel the need to air his grievances in public.
If I may say so it’s endemic of the recently appaling standard of the University Observer that this article was published. From printing an entirely bogus story about Paul Gogarty attempting to bring students to court to supposing that a candidate in the elections wouldn’t be able to represent Irish students properly because he was a (sic) Briton, this paper is nothing more than a sensationalist piece of tattle that deserves to have it’s overly proportioned funding halved at least…
Mick,
Just to address some of your closing points (I’ll leave the former ones to those addressed within them) – Ciaran was asked to submit the piece based on his fairly unique circumstances; as you’ll no doubt agree it’s not exactly a prime time for many people to defect to FF from other parties, especially with FF continually falling adrift in opinion polls. The piece wasn’t commissioned based on any need to attack SF in itself.
Your allegation that The University Observer prints any material that isn’t truthful and factual or is in any way manufactured or unsubstantiated is rejected out of hand – your own opinion of the DPP’s private matters is one thing and this newspaper’s verified reports are obviously quite another. Also, I don’t understand your need to put a ‘(sic)’ after the word Briton so if you’d care to elaborate on that, you’re more than welcome.
Harry, spare me the supposed history lesson. I never said people outside of Sinn Féin can not be considered republicans. One thing which is patently obvious today is that to call yourself a republican and be in FF is either to be a liar or a moron.
Ciarán let be real here. I believed at first we could get a similar vote to what had been achieved in 2004. it became quite obvious this would not be the case over the course of the campaign. We never expected to romp home. At times we got carried away and thought maybe we could do better than was ever possible but we knew really it couldnt. We discussed it every day. I appreciate the hard work you gave me but I do not appreciate the distortion of this article. You say the day we spent was a waste as Daithí lost his seat with that attitude, why would you every compete an election. I know this was your first involvement in an real election but you have to accept as a left candidate, that you will lose and lose before you win, such is the sacrifice we must make for what was the very just and worthy cause we both at one time strove for.
To Harry again. It is “my” party, and every other persons who works hard day in day out to advance the cause of Irish unity and socialist republicanism. It does not belong to the bankers and the developers as does the party Ciarán has left SF for.
I have to say this:
Ciarán you played your fair part in the poor showing of McDonagh Farrell in recent times. The freshers before you left you spent all of 5 minutes helping at the stall, which I and others manned all week. I’m not even a UCD student.
You were assigned the job of getting the ladder which you failed to do forcing us to use the aforementioned barstool.
You verbally assaulted two members of the public on the canvass.
When I heard you had left for FF I was with a few comrades. We laughed. When I called you about it, you denied it. You also told people I had left the party which was completely untrue.
They really and truly can have you.
Most people who have been around long enough in UCD know what he’s like. As for verbally assaulting a member on the canvass, that does not surprise me. I have it on very good authority he physically assautled a class rep in their class rep training in October. Interesting to see how it was swept under the carpet and what reflection does that have on Fianna Fáil in this university?
As for his motives for leaving Sinn Féin, ajbect careerism. Consider his own disasterous SU sabbat election in 2009, he bullied and alienated everyone on his team and this culminated with a landslide victory for Paddy Ryan as everyone knows. Combine this with the fact that he claimed he’d “rather die” than join Fianna Fáil prior to this election. You can draw your own conclusions. Unfortunately for Ciaran he just jumped from sinking ship to another.
This article just epitomises the cesspool of journalistic integrity. An article full of downright lies is printed by someone with a history of abusive and violent conduct. Well done UCD observer.
while i understand that changing political allegiances is not uncommon for people. I would like to raise doubts about Mr Fitzgeralds integrety. Not even Eoghan Harris would change his political tune as quickly as Mr Fitzgerald. Some of the political statments he made less than 12 months ago are totally inconsistent with the opinions expressed by him in this article.
In March 2009 Ciaran expressed his support for the shooting of two innocent people at Masserene Barracks by the Real IRA and Continuity IRA, one of the biggest attacks on the Peace Process by dissident Republicans since the Omagh Bombing. He also vehemently denounced the Policing Service of Northern Ireland as ”being worse than the RUC” He said that he no longer supported the good Friday Agreement and even stated that he was contemplating leaving Sinn Fein to join Republican Sinn Fein or the 32 County Soverignty movement the political wings of the Continuity IRA and Real IRA.
This is a sign of somebody who is considering leaving Sinn Fein but certaintly not a sign of someone even contemplating Fianna Fail as their destination.
It is clear that many of my former collegues are upset with the article but the truth had to come out. I had no option but to whistleblow.
Mick,
Again i would like to thank the McDonagh/ Farrell cumann for my SU election campaign. ALL four of you. Particularly the ONE member who actually helped out on the days.
Firstly this move to FF was NEVER a careerist move. I promise you all that… if anything being a member of SF lost me votes in my election especially considering the negative campaign ran against me by my opponents.
Secondly as a founding member of FEE i thank them for all their support and friendship. However i strongly disagreed with the candidate pact to run 3 together with 1 team and 1 design. Regardless of policies this was a disastor. My campaign manager tried to convince me otherwise. Not my mistake. But the issues were larger than my own gain for the position.
Oisin,
Thank you for your comments, it was a privledge to help you with your election. As regards freshers week etc. il be honest i had lost much hope in the party and had decided to leave. I helped lawsoc as i was high up in the comittee and i didnt want to be associated with SF anymore. You yourself on many occasions convinced me to stay on. I stayed for as long as i could for my comrades I wasnt going to get into nitty gritty but i feel i have now no option.
The “storm out” (or the main one anyway) was actually about the fact that you commented to me WHILE canvassing a person for Daithi not to bother and dont listin to him etc. IF I verbally abused ANYBODY it was in self defense, and IM 100% sure NOT by myself. Im sorry IF i told someone to F-off or whatever your’e accusing me of! What excuse do you have here? Here i was doing my best for a DIFFERENT candidate and i was TOTALLY disrespected. You yourself AGAIN had to convince me to come back. Thank you though, im glad i stayed the course.
I just told one or two people what you yourself told me – a “break” from the party for acedemic reasons. Perfectally acceptable. Dont mind chinese whispers.
Asking me to “source” a ladder sevral weeks before a local election when i wasnt even from the area is rediculous. Take some responisbility for gods sake. AGAIN we eventually had to RENT a ladder wth OUR OWN MONEY.
Alan.
Use your real name if youre going to make serious accusations. I was also phisically assaulted in class rep training and was not the only one involved in an altercation which i STRONGLY regret and have publically apologised for my part in that. Kept under the carpet? Dont think so. I NEVER bullied anybody or alienated anyone on my campaign team. People who promised me support never showed up, But i COMPLETELY reject your claim that i was beaten by a “landslide”!? Seriously. I did far better than this years loosing C&C candidate attaining 1760 votes (no offence maguire- i love you man). If ANYTHING my alignment to FEE and SF cost me the election. Many collegues are constantly telling me that they saw these facts and voted for Ryan even though they didnt know him. again as i said in my loosing speech – “the issues were larger than my own gain for the position.” “never a failure, allways a lesson”
Chris,
Seriously i NEVER said most of that. What i do remember saying was that i didnt think an armed British soldier could be fully classified as fully innocent however i re-iterated your other comments. Dont blow mine totally out of proportion!! Jesus i never ever said i would join RSF or 32 CSM unless i was being sarcastic. sorry Chris, seriously? Again i also told Mick on several occasions that if i wasnt in SF id join FF, im sure he’l deny it but at least this time i have a whitness who heard me say id one day join FF years ago as i was so disallusioned with SF
Again no offence comrades but the best thing i ever did was join FF
Fitz
The fact that I’m leaving the seventh negative comment about Ciaran speaks volumes. Yes I can confirm I was assaulted by Ciaran Fitzgerald on the Saturday night of class rep training in Blessington in late 2009. This can be corrobarated by the incoming SU president Paul Lynam who unsucessfully tried to restrain Ciaran moments before he ran up and punched me, along with countless staff from the hotel who had to restrain Ciaran immediately after he assaulted me. As for sweeping it under the carpet, Ciaran is right, that wasn’t the case. I decided not to press ahead with any complaint and resigned my MA class rep position with the objective being to putting the whole incident behind me. However after Ciaran came up to me in D2 about two months ago and belittled me over the incident I wish I had taken the matter further and nailed Ciaran to the wall, but hindsight is always a great thing. However I can take great comfort in the fact that this year has been just as much if not more so a failure for Ciaran than last year.
ps. as for claiming he was assaulted that night also, how dare Ciaran make such a fictitous claim to muddy the waters. This, along with points in his article, amounts to pure fantasy, no-one laid a finger on him. Fair enough there was someone else involved but their only assciation was the fact that Ciaran attempted to assault him along with me earlier on in the night which Scott Ahearn can corrobarate the story as he led us outside after Ciaran was thrown out of the hotel.
Phil
Yeah that’s very true, i can confirm that Mr. Fitzgerald did say he would join FF if he ever left SF. I have absolutely no problem with Mr. Fitzgerald joining FF, i think it’s his business and the party suits him well. The point about the election pact is an interesting one, you say that “the issues were larger than my own gain for the position”, yet you seem largely hung up on the fact that you didn’t get the position yourself. As far as i’m concerned, the FEE Election campaign, given that Ben and Julian did far better than anyone expected and not forgetting the One Day Strike of UCD was also voted in,was in retrospect quite successful, and no other candidates saw fit to complain about it. I resent the complaint that only one member of an Cumann McDonagh/Farrell came out to help,given the relativelty small resources of an organisation that unlike other college political societies doesn’t give out lollipops and offer drinking sessions for First Years. As Mr.Fitzgerald was last year’s Recruitment Officer for an Cumann/McDonagh Farrell it is a quite strange complaint to have. Even with that, there were at least three members of last year’s McDonagh/Farrell Cumann offering practical support to Mr. Fitzgerlad during the election campaign. If Mr. Fitzgerald is searching for reasons why his election campaign was a failure, he may want to look at the following factors –
1) Not turning up to leaflet in lecture theatres on any of the mornings prior to the election campaign, which is useful not only for getting the message of the manifesto out but also fostering good links with fellow candidates and your own canvassing team.
2) A perceived arrogance that came across in lecture addresses and canvassing (not my opinion, it’s been said to me frequently since the election campaign).
3) Overestimating your resources and not appreciating the efforts of those who canvassed for him (including having a stand up row with a canvasser outside the Ag Science building on the day of the vote).
And as for the suggestion that canvassers were lost by the fact that Mr. Fitzgerald was attached to the FEE Campaign, i can refute this by the fact that many people came up to me and told me that they had refused to canvass for Mr. Fitzgerald because of his arrogance and immaturity, not some abstract political notion.
And as a further point Ciaran never publicly or personally apologised, on the contrary he seemed to glorify the fact he did it in a very snide way. He also harassed me for the first two months that I came back to college culminating in what happened at class rep training.
Phil,
Yes i did apologise. Several times, even though the apologies seem to have gone on deaf ears. I will do it here again. My apologies for the altercation. However i too have “corroborations” about the forementioned altercations which transpired. Mixing up “harrassing” with attempted apologies is a serious accusation. I will not lower myself to the standard of bashing them out here in public AGAIN.
I am finished with these matters.
The year has been brilliant for me. Joining FF has been hugely succesful and i have had an excellent year in the KBC. I have continued my job as class-rep to the best of my abilities and am proud to represent my class. They come first- petty personal disputes dont stop me from being a class-rep.
I will NOT have my good name dragged through the mud here by the same old same old. Comment on the piece and not personal events. These comments have now started becoming a personal attack on my person and i will not have it. Again apologies for disputes and altercations, sadly i would not expect the same courtesy from the other side.
Mick,
Of course i was slighty agrieved at not getting the position. If i wasnt then i didnt deserve to be running in the race. as i said in my election speech “i gave it my best, i learned a lot, no regrets” Were you even listening? There were no crocodile tears on my behalf. You and your colleagues are convinced still that it is a sore spot for me. it isnt, im very proud of the job i did and the race i ran- winning debates etc. I have come back completely from that election and unlike most others continued to be involved in the SU and was re-selected by my class as class-rep.
i also have many people who will refute these facts. we will agree to disagree.
Wishing someone would actually comment on the article, but not holding out with this lot
Fitz.
Phil,
Yes i did apologise. Several times, even though the apologies seem to have gone on deaf ears. I will do it here again. My apologies for the altercation. However i too have “corroborations” about the forementioned altercations which transpired. Mixing up “harrassing” with attempted apologies is a serious accusation. I will not lower myself to the standard of bashing them out here in public AGAIN.
I am finished with these matters.
The year has been brilliant for me. Joining FF has been hugely succesful and i have had an excellent year in the KBC. I have continued my job as class-rep to the best of my abilities and am proud to represent my class. They come first- petty personal disputes dont stop me from being a class-rep.
I will NOT have my good name dragged through the mud here by the same old same old. Comment on the piece and not personal events. These comments have now started becoming an attack on my person and i will not have it. Again apologies for disputes and altercations, sadly i would not expect the same courtesy from the other side.
Mick,
Of course i was slighty agrieved at not getting the position. If i wasnt then i didnt deserve to be running in the race. as i said in my election speech “i gave it my best, i learned a lot, no regrets” Were you even listening? There were no crocodile tears on my behalf. You and your colleagues are convinced still that it is a sore spot for me. it isnt, im very proud of the job i did and the race i ran- winning debates etc. I have come back completely from that election and unlike most others continued to be involved in the SU and was re-selected by my class as class-rep.
i also have many people who will refute these facts. we will agree to disagree.
Wishing someone would actually comment on the article, but not holding out with this lot
Fitz.
”However i strongly disagreed with the candidate pact to run 3 together with 1 team and 1 design”
I take great umbrage with that Statement Ciaran, prior to the 2009 SU election you spent half an hour talking to me trying to justify running on the FEE ticket, you went on as if it was the greatest thing since sliced bread and dismissed my claims (that have since been vindicated) that it wouldn’t wash with UCD Students. That was the main reaon why many of my canvassers who were also initially supportive of you didnt want to touch your campaign with a barge poll. Come polling day you decide to stab your running mates Ben and in particular Julian in the back when you realised it just wasn’t working out for you. I don’t really want to speak for him, but i know that Julian Brophy and his canvassers put a lot of effort into helping you, and you repay him by switching allegiances to the eventual winner of the presidential election come polling day , and i say that as one of Julian’s former opponents.
I’ll finish by commenting on the article, the party you have switched allegiance to not only squandered the boom, they caused the recession. According the OECD domestic demand (spending power) has fallen greater than in most European Countries leading to a decline in activity and as a consequence employment in the service industries. 1/3rd of people in the 20-24 age group are out of work. our unemployment rate is now at over 12% This Government have jacked up the reg fee to €1500, meaning that Ireland now has higher upfront costs associated with third level education than most of our Fee charging European Counterparts, for the first time ever the student grant has been cut and future BTEA holders will loose their grant entitlement. Lack of investment in Jobs, skills and Research and Development means that levels of unemployment will continue as long as this government is in office. Fianna Fail are not a safe ship in stormy warmers, they are a titanic and no attempt to rearrange the deck chairs will stop them from sinking, lets hope they wont take the country with them.
When you’re Neighbour’s out of the job its a recession.
When you’re out of the job its a depression
When Cowen is out of the Job its recovery
Not hung up on the election defeat? You consistently bang on about how many votes you got and compare your results to other people that ever ran in an election, regardless of context. Your Class Rep page – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=18944834963&ref=search&sid=1149587374.973105645 qoutes the number of votes you got against a Fianna Fail TD running in a general election and you compare it to local election constituencies! What this has to do with serving your needs of your constituents is beyond me.
Also i resent the implication that i didn’t work hard (“Were you even listening? There were no crocodile tears on my behalf.”) or that I made serious errors during your election campaign (“Regardless of policies this was a disastor*(disaster I think was the intended meaning). My campaign manager tried to convince me otherwise. Not my mistake.”) I think anyone who has worked with or against me in UCDSU and in elections in particular will testify that I put my heart and soul into election campaigns (i know i’ve been on enough of them anyway:)As misguided as it was, I genuinely put my all into the Election Campaign for Ben, Julian, Ciaran, and the strike, and I refute any accusations to the contrary.
Not hung up on the election defeat? You consistently bang on about how many votes you got and compare your results to other people that ever ran in an election, regardless of context. Your Class Rep page – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=18944834963&ref=search&sid=1149587374.973105645 qoutes the number of votes you got against a Fianna Fail TD running in a general election and you compare it to local election constituencies! What this has to do with serving your needs of your constituents is beyond me.
Also i resent the implication that i didn’t work hard (“Were you even listening? There were no crocodile tears on my behalf.”) or that I made serious errors during your election campaign (“Regardless of policies this was a disastor*(disaster I think was the intended meaning). My campaign manager tried to convince me otherwise. Not my mistake.”) I think anyone who has worked with or against me in UCDSU and in elections in particular will testify that I put my heart and soul into election campaigns (i know i’ve been on enough of them anyway:)I genuinely put my all into the Election Campaign for Ben, Julian, Ciaran, and the strike, and I refute any accusations to the contrary, and am glad to count most of the people on those election campaigns as dear friends.
Chris,
One of the hardest decissions i ever had to make was not leaving FEE when you left. NOT because i was concerned about my own election at that stage but because you were my friend and i was disgusted at the treatment you, a founding member of FEE was being given and accused of using them for election support. I had comitted myself along with SF to helping the FEE cause and it was hard for me to see you leave. I do NOT regret being a FEE candidate but I do regret not being there for your campaign. Honestly. I had been involved in enough election campaigns to know that the ticket would loose us votes and indeed alluded to that fact. there are other smaller issues like the common poster and manifesto design and my dark colour which didnt help. however i did not “stab” anyone in the back… i stayed the course and waved the fee flag till the end.
Also thanks for the comment on the article. The Construction buble and over-reliance on the property sector was the main contribution to the economic downturn and sharp increase in unemployment. 200,000 constuction workers make up a large precent of the unemployed.. My area was hit particularly hard. The service sector is being reinvigorated particularly Tourism since the cabnit re-shuffle. Ogra FF is again this year engaging in a “holiday at home” campaign to help boost the industry particularly in the west of Ireland where it has been hit hardest.
I too am angry at the raise in the reg fee as i have campained and lobbyied against it, particualry where the money is going.. it should be used to fund student services.
However the country does not run on fresh air and the 450,000 unemployed no longer paying tax must mean a cut in services and spending in the public sector.
The headline yesterday in the Irish Times was that there will be a return to economic growth in 2011 because of the right decissions in cuts and finacial stimulus by the government.
The government is rolling out Graduate work placement schemes to keep graduates and the unemployed busy and in training (see John Regans policy doc on youth unemployment also) .. as Sean Gallagher of Dragons den said- “we must prepare ourselves for the upturn by keeping in training and keeping active”.
Mick,
I apologise, i did not mean to belittle your input into my campaign for which i am entirely greatful for. Thank you.. I know you put your heart and soul into it.. “crocodile tears” reffered to other candidates in elections, not yourself.
Mick i am extremely proud of my election campaign as should you be. 1800 votes is a massive amount and a great endorsement of myself and team. I “constantly bang on about it” because there are people, as you know, who wouldnt have the bottle to run in a sabbatical campaign like we did.
My facebook page is just my election page from the campaign!!! I changed titles for subsequent elections and hae turned the page into class rep page subsequently. There are some figures left over from last years campaign but im extremely proud of them and have moved on.
“never a failure, allways a lesson”
Fitz
News »
Otwo »
Film Review: The Muppets
Title: The Muppets
Director: James Bobin
Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones
Release Date: February 10th
After a twelve-year absence from the big screen, the overblown Muppet style is a shock, and as Jason Segal throws …
Features »
What’s in a Name?
Following mooted plans to upgrade the status of Institutes of Technology, Sally Hayden explores the ramifications for Ireland’s Higher Education system.
Amidst the cut-backs and funding crisis throughout third level education, the government’s proposal to upgrade …
Science & Health »
A tale of two squirrels
A deadly virus has reached our shores and is set to devastate our already ailing red squirrel population. Alison Lee writes about the dangers posed and the efforts being made to save the creatures.
Cast your …
Sport »
Sports Digest
Basketball
UCD Marian were beaten by UL Eagles at the University Arena in Limerick on Saturday 21 January with a final score line of 75-68 in the Men’s Superleague.
UCD started well and led at the end …
Editorial »
Op-ed: Kasandra O’Connell, Head of the IFI Film Archive, on our Cinematic Heritage
To mark the launch of the IFI’s campaign to protect our national film archive, Kasandra O’Connell, Head of the IFI Film Archive, writes exclusively for the University Observer about the importance of the Irish …
Blogs »
The Full Irish #3
For our belated return, the Full Irish is bringing the goods. In this instalment, Daniel Moriarity and Eimear McGovern speak to two of Ireland’s fastest rising bands, The Minutes and Fox Avenue, while Ciara Andrews …
Opinion »
Declaration of Independence
With renewed calls for Scottish independence dominating UK parliamentary debate, Evan O’Quigley discusses the issues facing both sides of the argument.
There has been much discussion recently of the possibility of Scotland becoming independent from the …
Recent Comments >>>
About the Observer >>>
The University Observer is Ireland's most widely-read student newspaper, with a fortnightly circulation of 10,000. The Observer is published by UCD Students' Union but holds full editorial independence.
Read more about us, contact us, or sign up to write for Ireland's award-winning student newspaper.
This website is powered by Wordpress, was created by Gavan Reilly, and is designed and maintained by Killian Woods.
All content (c) The University Observer 2008-2010.
Admin