The title of a recent article in the Sunday Times Magazine (3rd May 2009) was that ‘Every Government Should Carry a Health Warning.’ I’d fully agree.
Politics is something that people seem to become addicted to, especially in Ireland, where we have an innate desire to complain about whichever political party is in power at the time. The opposition don’t get away scot-free from the scrutiny, neither; while some may complain about Fianna Fáil, others will claim that Fine Gael couldn’t do a better (or worse) job. I’ve even heard my boyfriend say that Fine Gael is just a carbon copy of Fianna Fáil. Even if this was not originally the case, I’d tend to agree with that statement.
But are all political parties in Ireland equally useless? In previous years, I would have voted for Green Party representatives in my constituency, as I felt that they had a certain amount of credibility, and could have changed the country for the better. With the Greens currently in bed with Fianna Fáil, however, I haven’t seen much improvement in Ireland, environmentally speaking. For example, the Green Party did nothing to oppose the construction of the proposed M3 motorway that is to cut through the historic Hill of Tara. With this decision, my faith in politics was totally destroyed. Modern efficiency and cutting costs were more important to the Green TD than the welfare of what could be regarded as Ireland’s most important site.
I have to admit, however, that politics rarely catches my attention. It may be selfish, but because I’m not old, I wasn’t that concerned about the issue with medical cards and senior citizens last year, although I thought it was great that so many took to the streets to protest, whether they needed Zimmer-frames or not. Because I don’t smoke and rarely drink, I don’t care if price of cigarettes or alcohol rises of falls. There are two issues, however, that do concern me; language rights and gay rights. As a Gaeilgeoir, I feel that I should be entitled to use the first language of this State in any day-to-day affairs. As a member of the gay community, I feel that every citizen should be entitled to marry the one they love and to be entitled to raise a family, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Labour – to me – have always had the image of being West British. I’ve never heard of Labour advocating for the promotion of the Irish language, while the party’s Irish name, An Lucht Oibre, is very rarely seen on any kind of party publication. Having said that, however, Fine Gael’s current Spokesperson for Gaeltacht Affairs cannot speak Irish, which is shameful. When it comes to language rights, the party that truly I admire is the Plaid Cymru party in Wales. Sadly, there is no Irish equivalent.
With this in mind, few political parties seem to have my back. Labour has claimed that they want a civil partnership bill for gay and lesbian couples in Ireland that would be akin to that of the UK, if not full civil marriage. Fianna Fáil don’t seem to keen on the idea; therefore if Fianna Fáil (or any other party) aren’t prepared to support me, then I won’t be prepared to support them. Sinn Féin, despite the expectations that one may have about them, have come out (no pun intended) to say that they would support civil partnership. Their support is most evident within the gay community as an advertisement for Sinn Féin regularly appears in the Gay Community News (a.k.a. GCN) magazine around the time of Dublin Gay Pride, with a picture of Gerry Adams and message of good wishes to all taking part in the event.
Labour - the only logical option?
With the European elections, I know who to vote for, but I’m basing my decision on my respect for her as an individual, and not of her party. But for the by-elections, is this who I’m left with; a decision between the Labour Party and Sinn Féin? Not a great choice, you must admit, as neither party would ever be in the majority in a government.
Maybe the best bet is to go with independent candidates, but do independents really have any power against the big boys?
Filed under: Ireland, Politics | 3 Comments
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Scott,
While I completely disagree that FG is a carbon copy of FF, mianly as Im in one and can’t stand the other. Fine Gael were the first Irish Party with a policy on Civil Partnerships.
I agree with you on the Greens as I would have always transferred Green, not anymore though! Fair point on the lack of an Irish Language party, maybe an opening there for the future?
Independents only have power when Gov’t are dependent on them and if the loose Dublin South (which they will to FG) they will be very dependent on Independents. So they could have a bit of a sway.
Anyway good luck with your choices and nice new blog!
Steve
Steve,
From what I had heard, Fine Gael’s policy severly fell short. While I still need to do my own research into it all, my perspective is that Labour seem to be the most active, regardless of who got there first.
I’ve always thought why there was no Irish equivalent of Plaid Cymru, but then I remembered that not enough people in Ireland care about the language – harsh but true. While many have ‘respect’ in some form for the language and its ’symbolic’ status in the State, I feel that the majority of the Irish don’t feel it important enough to be included in political matters.
Feicfidh muid.