Sir, – The Labour Party’s 2011 election manifesto was headed “Jobs, reform, fairness”. It unfortunately forgot to insert the prefix “Absence of”.
It is difficult to identify instances where Labour-specific policies listed in the manifesto have been implemented by the Coalition Government. Indeed, the opposite is true, with pledges and promises being cast aside with gay abandon whenever they are at odds with Fine Gael policies, which inevitably have tended to shelter the better-off in society and the political elite.
Yes, the country’s finances are in a mess and need sorting out, and the electorate recognises this. It expects, however, measures taken to be fair and proportionate, not biased and distorted, and the job of a minority party in a coalition should be to act as the coalition’s conscience in order to ensure that this is the case. Labour, regrettably, is failing in this regard, with its leadership succumbing to the trappings of power.
And would Eamon Gilmore and his cohorts please stop trying to seek public sympathy by talking about how hard it was for them to decide on the Budget measures; it was nowhere near as hard for them as it will be for families already living on the breadline to cope with the consequences of their actions. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Surely Colm Keaveney’s voting against budget measures has nothing to do with the fact that Galway East is being reduced to a three-seater in the next election with the loss of over 20,000 votes from his bailiwick. Surely not? – Is mise,
Sir,– To the remaining members of the somewhat depleted Parliamentary Labour Party I say this: Nil desperandum! Spes oritur aeternum! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – There is an aphorism in this country that Ireland thinks and talks left, but votes right. Perhaps this can be the only explanation for the baffling analysis of the commentariat in respect of recent Budget cuts. The notion that Labour was out-boxed by Fine Gael in these negotiations almost wilfully appears to ignore the following.
First, that basic social welfare rates have been left unchanged, likely against Fine Gael’s will. Second, the nod also appears to have been given that the re-negotiation of the Croke Park agreement will not reduce pay and pension levels.
Labour should be trumpeting the latter point especially from the highest tower. But perhaps this would expose an important chink in the party’s identity: that many of Labour’s core voters are upper-middle income public sector workers, a relatively privileged section of society whose protection Labour views as vital, without wanting to shout it from the rooftops.
So despite Labour winning the battle on these two crucial areas, the perception is they have been done down. Just which member of the Coalition won (comfortably) the most seats again? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – A serious flaw in Ireland’s parliamentary system is the mandate for a TD to adhere to his or her party’s position in a Dáil vote even if such a vote would be against the TD’s position of conscience.
Deputy Colm Keaveney, who also held the position of Labour Party chairman, must now deal with the consequences of choosing conscience over political expediency. Political parties are one of the segments in the process of getting elected to the Dáil. The prime purpose of getting elected should be to represent the voters, and not to simply be a rote adherent of party diktat. Democracy has been described as government for the people. It is not meant to be government for the Government. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Will the Labour Party defectors soon be a sufficient number to form a technical group? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – It is so reassuring to see that there is one TD in the Dáil who puts his social conscience before the inevitable loss of his Labour seat in the reduced Galway East constituency! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – “Acta non verba” is the motto of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, rendering its use by the Labour Party chairman Colm Keaveney all the more apposite, given that he is, after all, leaving a sinking ship. – Yours, etc,