Disability Campaigner Elected.

by Jim Monaghan Mon Jun 14, 2004 16:25

What are Ms Sinnotts politics. Brendan Ryan alleged that she was "pro Life". In an election where all the posters in Dublinfrom the mainstream parties were non political it is important that we know. I am not in Munster and would appreciate a full review of her political stance. I worry that we have another Dana
Jim Monaghan

by +1+1+1+1 Mon Jun 14, 2004 16:51

has boosted her friends stock in Elan the baby US/irl biocorp. by saying nice things.
She will milk the end of her career.
She's smart. Watch her exit strategy.
she'll be able to make billions of Danas.

by John Mon Jun 14, 2004 17:06

I hope the Left is not going to be claiming this as a victory. She is pro-life and anti-divorce and less than enthusiastic about contraception. If she ever runs for the Dail as a member of a political party, it will most likely be for the PD's. In fact, most of her support in this election has come from supporters of Pat Cox. Time to face facts. These elections have been a disaster for the Left. The Labour Party and the Green Party have polled almost identical shares of votes to what they did in 2002. The various socialist parties have polled the usual derisory percentages. The only solace for the Left has been the 'triumph' of Sinn Fein. But, this is a lot less than appears. The SF vote should be compared with what they got in 2002, as it was only then that they emerged as a serious force. I've been looking at figures. In 2002 SF got 6.51% of the votes. In the 2002 local elections they got 7.99%, hardly an earth-shattering advance. But, its even worse. In 2002 they didn't field candidates in 8 constituencies. In the constituencies where they stood they got 7.86% of the votes. In 2004 they put up candidates in all constituencies, and got 7.99% of the votes. So, that's the sum total of their advance, from 7.86% to 7.99%. Bear in mind, local elections are more favourable to 'protest' parties such as SF than general elections. In addition, SF can't get transfers from other parties, so the number of seats they win is always lower than their percentage vote. At the last check I made on the Irish Times web site, they had just 53 out of 857 seats filled, or 6.2%, hardly enough to have the capitalist system shaking in its shoes. Most of the votes lost by FF in these elections went to FG, whose vote is up 5% compared with 2002. Its now clear that after the next election there will either be an FF/PD government or an FG/Lab/Green government with FG the dominant partner by far. That is certain, although which of the two it will be is all to play for. Those who hope for a Left government are living in fantasy land. Those who hope for a Lab/FG government with Labour as the largest party are also in living in fantasy land. The only hope centre-left parties such as Labour and the Greens have of getting a sniff of power for a few years is by hanging on to the coattails of FG, the most conservative pro-business party in Ireland and which (to its credit) wants Ireland to abandon neutrality. If they do form a pact with FG they might get a few ministries in the next government. If they don't FF/PD will be returned. That's the state the Left in Ireland is in in 2004. For myself, I'd prefer an FF/PD government to an FG/Lab/Green one, but the latter wouldn't be disastrous for a few years at any rate. Its actually quite a good thing for Ireland to have two alternative centre-right governments. Its probably the main reason the Left has never developed as a serious force in Ireland, and consequently the reason why Ireland has such a fantastic economy - no loony left government coming in every few years or so to wreck it. At any rate, it should be an exciting contest to see which of these two alternative centre-right governments is returned to power in 2007. In the local elections FF/PD got 35.71%, while the FG/Lab/Green combination got 42.44%, so the latter have a lead now of 6.73%. However, sitting governments usually poll much better at general elections than in mid-term elections. Blair, Chirac and Schroder would all love to have been only 6.73% behind the alternative government coalitions in elections just now. Of course, the bad news for the Left doesn't end there. I won't even mention the referendum result as its too painful for most readers of this site. Or the fact that anti-Nice Treaty Dana has lost to pro-Nice Treaty Marion Harkin. In fact, there is only one (possibly two depending on
the result in the North-West constituency) anti-EU candidate likely to be returned to Brussels from Ireland, the SF candidate in Dublin. However, she took the seat from the anti-EU Green candidate in that constituency, so it was no gain. All this means that the referendum on the EU Constitution when it comes will be passed by a massive majority, thus opening up the way to further liberalisation of the Irish economy. Its really time the Left in Ireland packed it in and did something useful with their lives. Accept that Ireland is a conservative property-owning pro-business pro-American pro-EU country and will never elect a Left government. It may be difficult to do at first, but you'll soon get used to that fact and learn to enjoy it.

by the merovignan. Mon Jun 14, 2004 19:49

MEP Sinnott ought be told that the majority of people suffering from serious physical disability have a higher than usual rate of relationship break down, and much less children than the average due to higher than usual rates of foetal termination due to increased risk to expectant mothers. (can I write foetal termination on irish internet?)

by Mick - * Mon Jun 14, 2004 21:23 * *

She is anti-abortion, and I think that is great, it is about time munster had someone with the courage to stand up for this cause. She is also against the EU taking control over our affairs, I thought at least this view would be supported on this site. All I read here is about the death of children at the hands of Bush and rightly so what he is doing is wrong, but how can anyone sane and on the anti-war platform, take the view that it is ok to kill an unborn child?

by Sean Flannerry Tue Jun 15, 2004 04:07

Over 60% of the Irish electorate voted for F.F, F.G, P.Ds_ a triumph for the right . The racist referendum passed overwhelmingly. The U.S.A. is so much more progressive than Ireland: anyone lucky enough to be born in the U.S.A. is automatically a citizen. And one of the progressive highlights of the presidency of that gallant son of Ballyporeen, Ronald Reagan, was when he amnestied about 2 million illegal aliens. Ireland has a lot of catching up to do in the area of human rights.

by Canteen Kevin Tue Jun 15, 2004 13:55

Your beloved right wing tory parties have ALL lost seats in the local elections.

FF 277 seats, -lost 105,
FG 271 -lost 6
PD -17 lost 8

As for the "left";
Labour 95, gain 12
Greens 16, gain 8
SF 52 gain 31
Independents up by 12.

The important thing about this election was the mobilisation of first time voters and the collapse of the FF vote. The turnout in working class areas, for example "red" Ballyfermot, ensured a complete left sweep of seats. These new voters will stay with the left.

"These elections have been a disaster for the Left. "

-You fuc*ing wish.