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After 30yr wait Bree is unanimously elected mayor of Sligo

category sligo | politics / elections | news report author Wednesday June 23, 2004 16:25author by allen - lp Report this post to the editors

Councillor Declan Bree the longest-serving member of Sligo Corporation, having been elected back in 1974 aged 22, then a member of the Connolly Youth Movement, was unanimously elected mayor of City yesterday.

He is the first socialist councillor elected Mayor since Tommy Higgins 20 years ago, who was in the council chamber to witness Councillor Bree take the Mayoral Chain from SF Councillor Sean MacManus, the outgoing mayor.

author by Sly Gopublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 16:41author address author phone Report this post to the editors

McGarry's a Labour councillor now. Ever rightwards!!!

author by Canteen Kevinpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 16:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Congrats to Irelands shittiest centre right party on their latest success. The fat cats are truly trembling.

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 16:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Our resident crank CK gets his oar in. Do tell us, how many votes did Kevins party get in the recenr elections?

author by OJpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 16:58author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Its apparent to me that sinn fein done very well in this election because they fought a hard campain put the work in, i mean its easy to listen and agree about everything the gov is doing wrong. But think about this sinn feins members come from the ranks of the IRA not all of them but they fund each other. They want their own police force and army. Remember 96 and the "raid" in adare. They shot Gardai killing one. Funny that it was called a raid when no attempt was make on the post office, they just rammed the garda car and jumped out opening fire. Sinn fein said it was nothing to do with republicans and then had to admit it later under huge evidence.

I would consider myself a republican but these guys are a different breed most of the people in the election are half criminals if not full criminals. They have no idea how to run a country. The green book the organiation ran on stated that the gov of ireland was an illegal gov, and they had the moral right to a "war" they want a socialist state. In which case this country would desent into the depths of hell if they got into power. I could never see a garda or a member of the defence forces saluting any member of sinn fein.

Remember this SF will not say sorry for any action taken like the murder of Gda McCabe they try to free these murders against the will of the irish people. They run protection rackets and extort money from hard working people. Of course they are to smart to get linked to this so they send their thugs in

I could list out so many thinks about them but i'd be here all day. I would be interested to hear comment for or against what i said. I don't mind a critic because unlike some if you disagree with me i would sent out a punishment mob.

author by Larry Flahertypublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 17:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You are an almost literate cabog whose views on Irish politics seem to be derived from the Irish Independent.

author by fpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 17:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Will he and his colleagues now abolish bin tax and reverse council privitisations?

author by averypublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 17:56author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Congratulations to Declan Bree, an independent minded republican socialist who got his finger out years ago and worked hard on the ground for ordinary people, all leftists and republicans in Sligo Leitrim should put their differences aside and get him back into the dail at the next election.

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Poor f hes still sore because the SP didnt make their expected gains in Fingal. Wake up f, the SP still have only 2 seats in Fingal , 1 in Dublin South, none in Dublin City and none in Dun Laoire. 1 SP in Cork. The people gave their opinion on the Bin Tax and they overwhelmingly backed the LP strategy against that of the SP.

Now lets hear f try and pretend that Labour isnt the biggest party on Dublin City Council. Come on f tell us why the SP didnt make gains in Fingal.

author by Cranky Canteen Kevinpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Our resident gobshite from the sidelines sticks it's gold tipped pen in.

"how many votes did Kevins party get in the recenr elections?"

OOOh -trying to compare sizes are we?

author by Not a SP memberpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:07author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"The people gave their opinion on the Bin Tax and they overwhelmingly backed the LP strategy against that of the SP. "

What is your strategy watcher? Pretend in your literature to be against it, then do a deal with parties who are for it in Dublin City and no doubt throughout the rest of the country? Will the Labour Party support the implementation of non-collection in Dublin City?

author by leitrimpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

will be voting for Sinn Féin in the next general election

author by Sly Gopublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Congratulations to Declan Bree, an independent minded republican socialist who got his finger out years ago and worked hard on the ground for ordinary people, all leftists and republicans in Sligo Leitrim should put their differences aside and get him back into the dail at the next election."

So that excludes McGarry then?

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

So you have a problem with the way people voted? Poor Kevin. He cant face the fact that voters backed the anti bin tax strategy of Labour and SF rather than the Anti Bin Tax campaign. Even Joan Collins opposed the majority strategy of the campaign.

Kevin, as Brecht put it, why dont you elect a new people?

author by Buck Mulliganpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Declan Bree voted for Albert Renolds for Taoiseach in a coalition deal with FF. Bree did not vote against him. Bree also voted for a tax amnesty while he was a TD. Thankfully the people of Sligo and Leitrim removed him at the next available opportunity. Bree supports the Nice Treaty and partnership agreements. Bree ain't no socialist.

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:14author address author phone Report this post to the editors

As you well know the Bin Charges can only be defeated in the Dail now. Councils cannot abolish it. No amount of raving will change that. Nor will it change the vote secured by Labour in Dublin. The Anti Bin Tax Campaign didnt represent so many people after all.

author by Interestedpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:17author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What is the LP strategy on the bin tax?
Will you be supporting the implementation of non-collection?

author by Trotwatchpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Yeah Bree voted. When Militant were in Labour it was in Coalition 3 times. No matter what policies Labour supported - Hospital Closures, sacking Irish Shipping workers - Militant still stayed there. Dont throw stones when you are in a glasshouse Buck.

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Go read the Labour manifesto. Thats what the people voted for rather than the Anti Bin Tax Campaign manifesto. If you have a problem with how people voted then take it up with the electorate. You really hate elections dont you? They show how little support you people have.

author by fpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Actually, I'm very happy with the SP results in Fingal and throughout the country. In Mulhuddart and Swords the SP is the largest party, in Howth and Balbriggan Town council the SP just missed out on a seat. The vote in Castleknock was tripled.

To interpret the fact that Labour (with its huge resources and candidates in every ward) got a bigger number of candidates elected than the SP as an endorsement of Labour's position on bin tax is insane. Bin Tax was not the only issue in these elections but it was a key issue in many wards. For example in Tallaght Central, Bin Tax was an issue and in that area and the SP took a seat off Labour. Likewise in many parts of the Dundrum ward, particularly the working class estates the bin tax was an issue for many people, in these areas the SP hammered the Labour candidate.

The fact is that the Labour Party don't really have much of a coherent strategy on bin tax, in some areas they support it (ie Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) in some they at least nominally oppose it. People who vote for Labour don't really do it because they support their 'strategy' on bin tax they do it for a wide variety of reasons.

I presume that the Labour Party had in it's manifesto in Sligo the abolition of bin charges? If this is the case then will Labour now use their position in Sligo to abolish the bin tax and pressurise central government for proper funding of Local government.

author by Mercs and percs watchpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Not only do you manage to show the unprincipled nature of the trots, you also succeed in showing that you couldn't give a fuck yourself. Well done!!

author by fpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Someone above said councils can't abolish bin tax now, that only the Dail could do it. This is rubbish. We got the reverse said to us at the time of the Dail election! The fact is that it is councils that impose the charge and administer it. It si council staff that send the bills and implement the non collection. It is not beyond the powers of the councils to simply instruct its staff not to impose the bin tax.

author by Canteen Kevinpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Getting a bit carried away there -just like in 1993 .You reckon you have a mandate from the people, -a mandate to look after yourselves and do f*ck all for anyone but yourselves.

YOU brought up the bin tax not me;

"voters backed the anti bin tax strategy of Labour and SF "

What Labour anti bin tax strategy? I presume you mean to watch and sneer as people got jailed and wash your hands of it because your hands are tied by central government? (how convenient) Your anti-bin tax strategy was no different in reality from the PDs/FF/FG for all the good it did, worse in fact as Labour postures as a social(ish) party.

Remember Labours shameful antics during the Hepatitis C debate?. Only 3 hours scheduled and Labour (Liz MacManus)disgustingly wasted half the time whinging about the right to reply first ahead of the new technical SF/Green/Inds grouping.

You think Labour are any different from the gangsters? Your vote only (barely) picked up because of hatred of FF, the usual pattern of Irish politics is that FF decline, blueshirts/labour pick up, collaborate and proceed to piss everybody off again. Labour gains will always prove transient until they stop licking up to the right in this country, some hope, watch as they proceed to give the blueshirts the kiss of life when they should be putting the boot in.

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

No.

In Swords Labour have 2 Councillors, the SP have 1, FF 1, FG 1. The SP have 1 out of 5 seats.

In Mulhuddart Labour have 1, SP 1, FF 1, SP 1. The SP have 1 out of 4 seats.

In Malahide the SP didnt stand.

In Howth the SP got less than a third of qouta on the first count. The Greens gained a seat here.

In Castleknock the SP got a quarter of a qouta.

In Balbriggan the SP got one seventh of a qouta. The Greens gained a seat.

Only a fantasist would speak of the SP hammering the Labour Party. It is Labour that made the gains in Dublin. Oh and dont forget Joan Collins!

author by Watcherpublication date Wed Jun 23, 2004 18:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Council staff take their instructions from the County Manager NOT from the Council. Surely you must know that. No Council can order the Council staff to block the Bin Tax.

author by patcpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 00:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It is worth noting that Bree was elected firstly as a member of the CYM (West of the Shannon at that in 1974!).

As director of elections for Mary Robinson in 1990 plus a lot of work by people like Stagg and D. Higgins, persuaded him to join the LP. Like most TDs in 92 i'd say he regrets the FF/LP govn. and its policies.

as a far as i know the LP in Sligo opposed both Nice Treaties openly. And ran vigorous campaigns against the War and against the recent referendum. I think Sligo had one of the Largest anti-war demo outside of Cork and Dublin, spearheaded by the LP. While Sligo had the highest no vote in the citizenship referendum 27% again thanks to the work of the LP.

This excludes the new FG convert, McGarry.Who actually voted against a LP motion passed at Sligo Corporation last march.

author by allen - lppublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 00:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

to Leitrim -Well not after they voted to increase service charges on Sligo Borough Council 3 years ago! Just so they could avail of the Mayoral Chain.

What about SF stance on the big liberal debates in the 80's and early 90's - re: di vorce abortion, contraception,
Bet they weren't activley campaigning in Sligo-Leitrim! Unilke the current Labour Mayor.

They pretend to be left when it suits them or in what areas it suits them to win seats.

author by pat cpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 11:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

just to clarify. i didnt post the above comment by "patc".

author by Insiderpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 15:43author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Just to clarify an earlier posting, the elected members on county and city councils cannot abolish the bin tax. They can refuse to adopt an estimate that contains the charge or proposes an increase in the charge. But faced with abolition, will they? In this day and age with so much wrong in society is the bin tax the only theme the parties of the left can get excited about?

author by Outsiderpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 16:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Will they support the implementation of non-collection? They have got control over this.

author by Watcherpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 16:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Councils do not have control of the implementation of non-collection. This is a power reserved for the County/City Manager. Councils cannot instruct staff to carryout / not carryout any duties. The only exception to this is the section wherby they can force a manager to grant planning permission. Labour was quite clear that they opposed the Bin Tax but did not call for non-payment as this would result in legal problems for individuals. People were aware of this when they voted for Labour.

The Anti Bin tax campaign in Dublin is now in bits due to its mistaken policies. Policies which were rejected by the electorate in the vast majority of cases. Remember, Labour and SF who did go along with the campaign made the gains in this election. Only the self deluded argue otherwise.

author by Watcherpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 16:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Councils do not have control of the implementation of non-collection. This is a power reserved for the County/City Manager. Councils cannot instruct staff to carryout / not carryout any duties. The only exception to this is the section wherby they can force a manager to grant planning permission. Labour was quite clear that they opposed the Bin Tax but did not call for non-payment as this would result in legal problems for individuals. People were aware of this when they voted for Labour.

The Anti Bin tax campaign in Dublin is now in bits due to its mistaken policies. Policies which were rejected by the electorate in the vast majority of cases. Remember, Labour and SF who did go along with the campaign made the gains in this election. Only the self deluded argue otherwise.

author by Watcherpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 16:58author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I meant to write that Labour and SF who did not go along with the Campaign edicts made the gains. As did Joan Collins.

author by Outsiderpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 17:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Now watcher either you are a member of a right wing party deliberately trying to stir shit or you are a member of the Labour party who finds the hoi polloi more disgusting than the filthy rich.

Fact: The Labour Party fought the election on the demand for reclaiming more democracy for councillors - You are now saying that the LP has given up this fight, less than a fortnight after the election. "ah we can't do anything - blame the city manager"

Fact: The Labour Party fought the election on the obscure notion of reforming the bin tax ( a sup to keep the Pembroke seat and win a second in Rathmines) - Do you honestly believe that when it comes to non-collection that the people of Dublin won't be aware of which party is in control of the council and fails to stand by them. What does reform the bin tax mean. This question has now been asked at least ten times in the past few days and not one Socialite Labour Party member has been able to give an answer. I wonder why? It will hard to reconcile Dermot Lacey's position with Montagues or Murphys. Eh?

You are the vote builders for Sinn Fein.
I salute you!!!

author by Peterpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 17:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Labour was quite clear that they opposed the Bin Tax but did not call for non-payment as this would result in legal problems for individuals. People were aware of this when they voted for Labour."

Sinn Fein called for non-payment and didn't do too badly. In a lot of places better than Labour. Those places being, working class areas.

author by Watcherpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 17:40author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Labour Party stood on its program and made gains in Dublin in particular. As I have said before if you dont like the way the people voted then its tough.

No amount of raving or abuse is going to change the facts. If you are not happy with the way the people voted then go and elect a new people. In the Noth Inner City which must be the most working class area, Labour won 2 seats, SF won one seat, an Independent not involved in the campaign got a seat. The 2 anti bin tax campaign candidates got 800 votes between them.

In Cabra Labour and SF won a seat each, the anti bin tax campaign candidate did not win a seat. This was repeated in Ballymun, Ballyfermot, Finglas. Hardly upper class areas.

author by Interestedpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 17:56author address author phone Report this post to the editors

In the Sth Inner City, when Nassens of the SP was eliminated 37% of his votes went to Labour and 24% went to Sinn Fein.

author by Outsiderpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 17:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Fact: The Labour programme included a bit on redemocratising the council - already you have admitted that this is nonsense and there is nothing that you can or will attempt to do.
Fact: Labour won a two seats in NIC. Now would this be the area where the sitting TD made a point of saying he wasn't paying his bin tax. Wouldn't be his wife who got elected, would it?
Fact: Labour won a seat in Artaine. What is position of the sitting TD in this area. Wouldn't advocate non-payment, would he?
Fact: Labour won one seat in Ballymun. Which Labour councillor didn't get elected in Ballymun - wouldn't be the one who voted for the bin tax, would it?
Fact - The Labour candidate in Finglas said on the doors that she was against the bin tax.

Stop conflating the bin tax campaign with what Labour or the independents stand for. Time has moved on. Members of the bin tax campaign voted for Labour/SF/independents throughout Dublin. They voted for the Labour and/or Sinn Fein candidates because of old allegiances or because if what they seemed to be saying about their opposition to the bin tax. You seem to be saying that the Labour Party is against the bin tax but 'hey guys, there's fuck all we are going to do about it.' Some position that.
What is the Labour Party going to do about it now. What does reform the bin tax mean? Can you answer this simple question?

author by Canteen Kevinpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 18:24author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You really love that "elect a new people" soundbite don't you? Repeated parroting of cliches is no substitute for coherent argument, but I doubt you are capable of it you ignorant waste of space.

"In Cabra Labour and SF won a seat each, the anti bin tax campaign candidate did not win a seat. "

You neglected to point out that the independent candidate there, running for the first time without any party branding, won 1753 first preference votes, came within less than 100 votes of being elected, and almost ran Bertie junior out of office.

You are probably a right wing troll as the sum of your knowledge of the Labour party seems to amount to half-witted smart arseisms and quoting figures. You cannot even do that properly i.e "In the Noth Inner City which must be the most working class area.....The 2 anti bin tax campaign candidates got 800 votes between them."
Rafferty campaigned as "the Gregory candidate" and got 1097 votes, so Gregory is pro-bin tax then?

author by MGpublication date Thu Jun 24, 2004 18:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Watcher blows on with considerable shite about the great victory of Labour in the NIC, getting 2 seats. Then he mocks the Independent Community Candidate in Cabra (opposing the bin tax along with other policies too) who did not get elected while Labour did. However he fails to mention that Cllr Brendan Carr of Labour, from what I know of him, does genuinely oppose the bin tax. And 'Watcher' craftily overlooks the fact that a second Labour candidate came nowhere in the ward.

Here we have the first count:

* KEHOE, NICKY (S.F.) 3,609
* CARR, BRENDAN (LAB.) 2,019
* FITZPATRICK, MARY (F.F.) 1,848
Perry, Cieran (Non-P) 1,753
* AHERN, MAURICE (F.F.) 1,742
DONOHOE, PASCHAL (F.G.) 1,703
Stephens, John (F.F.) 1,615
* Giblin, Chris (F.G.) 1,391
Simpson, Tom (G.P.) 1,122
Gibney, Fintan (Lab.) 658
Ni Ghabhann, Aine (S.F.) 397
Talbot, Pat 300

The Labour transfers to Perry were dismal (+37), going instead to FG(+205) and even FF (+82). If Labour hadn't resorted to the old forelock tugging to the Blueshirts and transferred to an anti-bin tax independent then Ahern (Maurice) would have been ousted. Perry was only overtaken by 2 FFers on the final count and Ahern beat him by just 93 votes.

But truth would hardly suit 'Watcher' at all, who prefers to construct nonsense about great Labour 'victories' regardless of how many FFers also win.

author by labour loverpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

It's not "blowing shite" to point out that LP is the biggest party in the city, it's just a fact.

The simple point being made is that LP chooses to oppose the charges in a different way and the people seemed happy with this. The SP choose another way and got 0 seats in the city and really just held what they had in Fingal and made 1 gain in s. dublin. This seems incontrevertible.

author by labour loverpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 10:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Culhane 2216 (topped poll)
Maher 1287 (eliminated)

Comiserations to Aidan on the terrible "hammering"

author by Dundrum Voterpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Correction to "labour lover". Lisa Maher was not eliminated. Maher picked up transfers from candidates below her at a higher rate than Culhane. She ended up with 1991 votes, slightly behind an FGer.

Culhane did not even mention he was a councillor in his literature. I know many who voted for SP, SF or the Independents who did vote Labour before and never will again. I reckon that his votes shifted, ie his voters in 99 ain't backing him anymore and his 04 votes are probably ex FGers. Culhane did not even vote against bin tax. He advocated a transfer to FG in the elections. What a great workers' leader!

author by Labour lover - Labour Party hater.publication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 11:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The LP seem to be engaging here in the politics of 'look how big my dick is' (Politics much loved by the DUP and SF). So you polled well, so what. Remember 1992 - it doesn't last, if you don't do anything with it.

So once more, probably in vain. To the LP people engaged in the style of politics mentioned above - can you please state what your party now intends to do about the bin tax? Stand idly by, when it goes to the implementation of non-collection? I suppose with water rates just around the corner, it will give you good practice.

author by labour loverpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Of course you quite wrong. The question in democratic politics is what commitment was given. I don't know where anybody got the idea that the Labour Party proposed or advocated non payment or collection. They are sticking to the policy of opposing the charges but not the infantile policy of blockading or non payment which the party has always made it clear it opposes.

The public seem to agree with this approach based on the results. That's got nothing to do with the size of dicks but just how much support the public give a party in a democracy...I think it has some relevance to determining issues.

As for "I know somebody who told me they voted this way or that" I prefer to go on the figures...somebody said culhane was "hammered" I was just illustrating the nonesense of that argument. She came 7th he came first.

author by Labour lover - Labour Party haterpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:39author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Joe Costello and Tommy Broughan both advocate non-payment. Your party leader says he supports service charges and we know where Dermot Lacey stands on the issue. Once again the LP speaks from both sides of its mouth.
So if you oppose the charges, I can take it that the LP will vote against their inclusion in the estimates, can't I?

author by labour loverpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 13:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Costelloe and Broughan are not the leaders of the party so who's wrong on that. Costelloe stood for deputy leader and got a derisory vote. Broughan was disciplined for his stance on non payment. I never heard Rabbite supporting charges.

Once more you're missing the point I'm making which is the party never promised the things you are looking for. I think parties should keep their promises to the electorate. As the SP got 0 seats it's not an issue they have to grapple with.

I don't know what the group will do on the estimates, they all voted against last year Personally I'd push for a combination of pay by weight and link with income.

author by Canteen Kevinpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 13:48author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Changing your alias from "Watcher" is a bit obvious. Labour may not have "promised the things you are looking for." but if you are referring to the bin tax, they have definitely been speaking from both corners of their mouths on this issue.

Your relentless crowing of "we've got the biggest vote in Dublin now" suggests you've learned nothing from the past, i.e the plebs have voted for you and you can do what you like, mainly sitting on your flabby arses and rescusitating the blueshirts again. You will piss all your illusory gains away again if you continue posturing as if you are the people's party while at the same time licking up to the FF/FG/PD shit to prove you are a "credible" party of government.

We've seen it all before and it looks like we're seeing it again.

author by labour loverpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 16:22author address author phone Report this post to the editors

" Your relentless crowing of "we've got the biggest vote in Dublin now" suggests you've learned nothing from the past, i.e the plebs have voted for you and you can do what you like, mainly sitting on your flabby arses and rescusitating the blueshirts again. You will piss all your illusory gains away again if you continue posturing as if you are the people's party while at the same time licking up to the FF/FG/PD shit to prove you are a "credible" party of government"

and this shows your contempt for democracy and why all your radical posturing will never win any support from what you call "the plebs"

author by Jack Hackettpublication date Fri Jun 25, 2004 16:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Lacey, Quinn et al represent the plebs - me arse!

author by Sligo Republican Socialist - Nonepublication date Fri Jan 14, 2005 22:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Back to the issue of Bree being Mayor of Sligo and the issue of whether he is left wing or socialist.

(1) Bree was elected Mayor as part of a pact with Fianna Fail on Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council. He rejected proposals to have the Mayor elected on the basis of each party getting their turn at being Mayor according to their electoral strength.

(2) Bree and his FF and Labour colleagues then proceeded to dish out the plum positions all for themselves.

(3) Unlike what one of the postings said - Labour did not Publicly oppose the Nice Treaty in Sligo. Cllrs Veronica Cawley and Jim MCGarry both publicly supported the Treaty. No Comment could be got out of Comrade Bree at any stage of the referenda campaigns. When a radio debate took place on a local radio station, Labour had to wheel in Ruairi Quinn cos they couldn't get Mr Bree to speak on the issue.

Cllr McGarry supported the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and opposed preserving Irish Neutrality. Despite this, Cllr Bree and co have now welcomed him into the heart of the Labour organization despite what they were implying before the election when they were afraid it might damage them electorally. Indeed, what they were saying before the election wasn’t that he should not be let join Labour before the election, but they were not ruling it out afterwards.

(4) As a TD between 1992 and 1997 he voted willingly for the Tax Amnesty and supported the Service Charges regime been imposed by the Fianna Fail/Labour Govt and then the Fine Gael/Labour Coalition (By the way, Service Charges were introduced by Labours Dick Spring and when water and Sewage charges were abolished in 97 without increasing funding for local authoriites, it was labours Brendan Howlin that retained Refuse Charges when he also could have abolished them.)

(5) Its not too long back that Bree wanted to get his arse into a Senate Seat despite the senate being an undemocratic and elite retirement home for failed politicians to line their pockets at tax-payers expense. He ran for Labour in a Senate by-election back then.

(6) He supported the Labour/Fine Gael Governments decision to give permission to mobile phone companies to erect their masts without planning permission on Garda Stations and their failure to protect the health and safety of residents by banning masts within a certain distance of houses, school or health centres.

(7) He has consistently opposed motions on Sligo Borough Council seeking more accountability of Councillors, seeking clampdowns on Slum landlords and other similar issues.
That’s the record of a man that some have the neck to call a socialist or left wing. Sure he may have been one time. But that is one hell of a long time ago. I think that was a time called the ‘70’s.

author by Jimmy McGpublication date Sat Jan 15, 2005 01:16author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Hey, are Labour not part of the Socialist International Movement that includes the British Labour party that sent British troops to invade Iraq?

author by Moonerpublication date Sat Jan 15, 2005 03:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Bree's day is finished. His vote decreased once again at this election. Anyway it wont be him, but Jim McGarry that will be running in the general Election for Labour.

The only socialist on Sligo Corporation now is Arthur Gibbons.

author by oul grey whistle testpublication date Sat Jan 15, 2005 03:59author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ah, shure I remember the days when Declan Bree was the local 'red menace', running a 'communist' bookshop which was constantly under threat of being burned down by the more rabid of the local catholic fundies.
How times change. He is now part of the establishment, and the party he is a member of, Labour, is now so indistinguisable from Fine Gael that a Fine Gaeler can float over to Labour and nobody bats an eyelid.
Its sad.

author by Liampublication date Sat Jan 15, 2005 13:54author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Thats Right. Bree has never been as happy. He is like a pig in s**t surrounded by his new Fianna Fail buddies.

author by Decksiepublication date Sun Jan 16, 2005 03:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Gibbons is way better than Bree. Bree sold his supporters out a long time ago.

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