Labour Councillor attacks protest at Fianna Fáil clinic

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday May 07, 2009 16:33

by andyet

protests at clinics not “legitimate political protest” he says.

A Labour party councillor has attacked a group for picketing the clinic of a Fianna Fail TD.

Cllr Aodhan Ó Riordain said that in his view, pickets held outside the clinics of Fianna Fail public representatives are not a legitimate form of protest. Cllr O Riordain uses a picture of himself at a protest at the Store Street Garda station on his blog at www.aodhanoriordain.blogspot.com

Cllr Ó Riordáin engaging in “legitimate political protest”.

He is shown on the steps of the Garda station, where protesters had gathered blocking the entrance.

In an article on the very same blog, he very strongly criticised the People Before Profit group who organised a protest at Cyprian Brady’s clinic in North Strand.

Cllr O Riordain, who regularly used to take part in a Labour Party picket at the Mater Hospital, believes that democratically elected representatives are entitled to meet those who wish to discuss matters of concern to them.

Cllr Aodhan Ó Riordain is calling on the People Before Profit Alliance to desist from targeting clinics and engage solely in “legitimate political protest” from now on. Presumably, picketing hospitals and Garda stations is “legitimate political protest”.

“The clinic of Cyprian Brady TD in the local community centre on the North Strand was picketed by members of the People Before Profit group in protest against the recent budget. Pickets that are being placed at clinics held by Fianna Fáil public representatives are not a legitimate form of protest,” he says.

“If a constituent has a concern about housing, social welfare entitlements or any other issue, they are entitled to attend the clinic of the politician of their choosing,” he added.

The People Before Profits group told a local newspaper that Aodhan's stance was ridiculous.

“Nobody, not even Deputy Brady, made a complaint to us at the time or since. We also explained to staff at the Larkin Centre that we were not protesting at them. They informed us that they had no problem with the picket.”

It has been confirmed that Cyprian Brady TD made no complaint about the protest.

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Comments (8 of 8)

Northside people story

by PBPA - People Before Profit Alliance

Thu May 07, 2009 16:52

Full story appears in the Northside People:
http://www.dublinpeople.com/content/view/1886/55/

Also Press statement from PBPA:
http://www.peoplebeforeprofit.ie/node/80

Picketing Clinics is Democratic Local Activity.

by Margaret O'Regan. - SWP.

Thu May 07, 2009 17:50

Is the Labour Party losing it?

In Cork, we have recently picketed Dan Boyle's Constituency Office in relation to the Greens' role in government, and, in particular, protesting at the levies imposed on public workers, and also the lack of a pension fund for the rest of us, and at their silence about Ireland's natural resources. Even Dan Boyle himself didn't object, and he was inside the office at the time.

These protests are democratic demonstrations by people in the local community where the clinic is situated. I live in Dan Boyle's constituency, and I have a duty to my community to be visible in my opposition to the bail-out of the banks, while leaving home-owners with mortgages liable to be evicted. By handing out leaflets to our neighbours in the street during the protest, it both informs and invites community participation. It is empowering.

Defend the Right to Protest Anywhere and Fight for Genuine Socialists and Socialism.

by Ken Lee

Thu May 07, 2009 20:49

The Labour Party lost it long ago, O'Riordán hasn't realised that yet. What has he got to say about the legitimacy of him and his parties claims to call themselves socialists? Connolly would run them out of Ireland if he were alive. Hypocrites!

Dont trust ''People Before Profit''

by Silas Marner - Gentlemens Club of St Stephens Green

Fri May 08, 2009 00:40

People before Profit are organising ''meetings '' in the Greater Dublin Area , the front will tell you its in connection with problems in your locality
when in reality its a mere smokescreen in order to get themselves elected by hook or by crook

hopeless

by Analyst

Fri May 08, 2009 09:44

Left groups spend so much energy criticising one another that their chances of influencing 'straight' society are severely reduced. Left Unity is an oxymoron. I hope a lot of independent and politically radical candidates will get elected in the coming locals and wish every candidate with talent and commitment the best of luck (but I'm too shy to say who/what exactly I'll vote for).

A bad workman always blames his tools

by Idle Hands - Army of Unemployable

Fri May 08, 2009 11:43

Bad enough going through this man made fiscal crisis with Herr Cowen at the Helm scratching and scraping off Icebergs along his merry way
we may say, But look at the amount of Independents propping up the Colander Ship full of holes along with the Greens , Wonder how the same
said Independents will ''fare '' when they face the electorate (who put them there ) , my my hav'nt the independents remained as quiet as mice
while the ship sails through the icebergs North South East And West . Aye Aye Cap'n Blithe . Roll on The 5th June 09 .

They cant blame the Ship's Compass on all thats bad thus far , who will they blame this time round ? .................The Weather ?

He Aint Heavy ...He's My Brother .

by jonah - Sea of Love

Sat May 09, 2009 00:41

The Man From The Labourious Party holding the picket outside Fianna Fail may be trying to give us a clue .

Could it really mean that Labour Might Just Want to Back the Horse Each way and would give their Eye Teeth to form the next Government
with Their ''colleagues '' in Fianna Fail , no matter what they say to the difference ,Remember Dick Spring could'nt wait to taste the Good Life either
and ran a sham election campaign of the day only to end up under the King Size Duvet after all he said in a negative manner then ?

pick 'n mix

Mon May 11, 2009 06:33

After a general election (47 local constituency elections really) the parliamentary bosses count the numbers and put out feelers about cobbling coalitions together. Labour is always in a quandry. Its leaders 'can't go too far' in their declared fiscal policies before an election as this might frighten the economically timid floaters into the dreaded FG camp. As Labour has to be a junior partner it needs to compromise on fiscal and macro economic policies. Although it has criticised the lenient attitude of Cowen Co towards banks and well-rewarded bank officials, it can't, pre-election, declare an intention to punish the bank top brass more. If it goes into coalition with FG it finds itself up against an extreme textbook cautiousness among FG backbenchers, who historically have been more belt-tightening than FF administrations. FF have often been pragmatically spendthrift in attempts to wean voters (this cynicism can be classified as Political Economy) but at times they have gone through phases of Mack the Knife as with Ray MacShh... towards the end of the depressed 1980s. So it is possible, if numbers crunch in a hung Dail way, that after the next general election Labour could be drawn into a coalition with FF and whoever remains from a Greens wipeout.

Where will The Left figure in all this? It depends on Dail numbers.

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Labour Councillor attacks protest at Fianna Fáil clinic

Comments (8 of 8)