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Cuisle The voice of the members

Edition 3 : Spring / Summer 2013



Spancil HillThere’s a line in the folk song Spancil Hill thattalks of “the young, the old, the brave and thebold” coming together “their journey to full”.It’s an apt line to describe the process that hashappened within Fianna Fáil this past year ortwo.

For the rst year of that process we rightlyconcentrated on the internals, getting the housein order from inside out. Many features of thattime were fundamental though perhaps evadedmedia analysis or public attention. Firstly wesaw the phenomena of re-joining members.Rather than the mass exodus predicted insome quarters, every constituency across thecountry saw growth or at least changed facesas returning members, many of whom had lostfaith in the past, now reengaged. Driven by thedesire to renew the party of old, they now put

their hand up to join the renewal and seize theopportunity to put the party back on the rightroad once more. Those re-kindled members joined party stalwarts in organising renewalmeetings and taking those rst tentative stepsforward.

Coupled with that, the activity and energydisplayed by the new, emerging, youngermembers of the party has given everyoneinspiration for the future and condence in thenext generation of leaders to drive the partyforward. Involved at every level, this new cadreof Local Area Reps, Ógra Activists, and newOfce Holders across the country are winningnew support, and winning back old support,everywhere they knock on doors, and at a levelstill missed by the media but not by the people.

The local elections of 2014 could be the mostcritical in our party’s history. People are lookingaround for inspiration. Looking for leadership.Looking to be challenged and looking to beimpressed. There is much talk on the doorsabout a new party. However our core valuesof republicanism, social justice and equality ofopportunity remain as valid today as they werewhen this party was founded, also at a time ofturmoil and uncertainty. With new membersin the ranks, new candidates on the tickets,

and new proposals to meet the problems oftoday there is every opportunity for Fianna Fáilto be that ‘new party’. With a reafrmation ofrepublican values, energetic new activists anda remodelled party “t for purpose”, like Parnellwe know that “no man can set a boundary tothe march of a nation”. We love our party, welove our nation, now together let’s make themgreat.

RenewalThe renewal project must surely be regardedas a success. Great credit is due to both theleadership and the membership in this regard.While many hurdles remain, and there is muchroad still to travel, those rst faltering stepstaken in Spring 2011 have turned into stridesand many more runners have taken up thebaton as the race has moved forward. But howdo we measure renewal?

By many metricsthe party hasperformed verywell. Rising10+ percentagepoints over thepast year toa level whereopinion polls now place us routinely in the mid20s and back vying for 1st place.

In real votes, an extremely credible 2nd placein two by-elections in a row, testament to thelocal organisations in Meath East and DublinWest and the national members that travelledto them.

Is success to be measured in membershipgures? Again, if it is, we fare well. Over 15,000

members signed up to the new OMOV systemat time of going to print and another 40,000associates on our books. We remain the largestparty in Ireland in national membership andin the third level colleges. All good, all highlyencouraging that those that want to drive theproject forward remain committed.

But renewal must rst and foremost be aboutachieving our goals. Seeing our policiesimplemented. Advancing our vision for all onthis island to enjoy a better future. And withinthe party all those reforms adopted in the lastyear must be bedded down and continue. A democratic party. One that values its membersand facilitates their input. One that derivespolicy from its core principles and memberconferences over and above polling samplesor populist appeal. We are well on the way tobeing that party. We have the talent within ourranks. We have the committed membership.We have an organisation in every constituencyin this state. Let us drive it on and be true toour ideals.

Cuisle 3Welcome to this third edition of Cuisle. Ihope that you enjoy it and nd it informative,entertaining and thought provoking at times.With OMOV now up and running, regular

editions of this magazine are one of the waysthe party can offer its members a forum fordiscussion. It is the magazine of you themembers and your submissions will alwaystake priority over our own in editorial selections.Not long after this Ard Fheis, the planning willbegin again for Edition 4. Remember to keepsending in contents, be it letters, articles,photos, anything you feel will be of interest toother members.

d i t o r i a l

Contents2 “The Government Backbencher”

3 Contents, Editorial

4 Fianna Fáil Treasure Trove

5 Chasing the Dublin Vote

6 Membership “Renewed”Votes for the Diaspora

7 “Last Man Standing” – Interviewwith Shane P. O’Reilly

8 Political Scorecard

11 Dublin Fingal – Rallying the Troops

12 “The Lone Ranger” : Dara CallearyTD

13 Fostering a Living Language

14 Modernising Electoral Strategy:Towards 2014

16 Social Media – Friend or Foe?

17 One Year In; A New Member’sJourney

18 The Civil War; 90 Years On

19 New Politics Must EmpowerCommunities / Renewing theRepublican Party

20 Ending Compulsory Retirement

21 The Scandal of Slavery

22 Photos

24 Brian Lenihan – An Appreciation

25 Back From the Brink

26 Book Reviews

28 Letters

29 In Focus: An Taisce

30 National Draw Report

31 The Wild Geese; Brussels Calling

32 “Our Party, Our Future” - Ógra’sKate Feeney

Comment

Looking at them, you’re remindedof that classic 1950s sciencection movie “Invasion of the

Body Snatchers”, where alienssecretly start replacing humans withexact duplicates who start doing theopposite of what they used to do. It’slike they arrived in Leinster House onthe rst day, strolled into their ofcesand said “Hey, that thing in the podlooks exactly like me! What are youdoing with that ray gun…noooooo!”

There they are, two years in, with that glassylook in their eyes when talking to supporters.They remember her on the doorsteps, full ofpassion and integrity. She was THEIR woman,who was going to go to Dail Eireann and shakeup the place and bring in A New Politics and allthat stuff. Now, as she brings them into the Dailbar, she can barely look them in the eye.

The saddest thing is that she hasn’t cheatedthem. When she now votes for cuts a nd againstthings she campaigned for in the constituency,she’s mortied. She knows she’s letting themdown, and they know she knows too. They cansee how tired she looks, the bags under hereyes, the fact that when someone walks upto her in the constituency and berates her, analmost daily event, she just stands there andtakes it like a scolded dog, ashamed.

She’s not even sure what happened. I mean,when they made those promises about burningthe bondholders and Labour’s way and notone more cent for the banks, they did mean it,didn’t they? What other excuse is there? Or isit that they didn’t actually know, that they hadprepared for government with the assistance ofover 70 taxpayer-funded researchers and theyactually did not check if they could actuallyimplement their policies? Surely someone in

the party was thinking about the day AFTERthe election? Is it possible? That they didn’tknow, for example, that when they made a

promise to reduce the Dail by 20 seats thatthere was this thing called “the constitution”?

It would be better if they actually had beentaken over by aliens. At least the aliens wouldhave a plan.

What’s worse of course is that in the age shelives in, all the promises she and her partymade are all on Youtube and Facebook andTwitter and all that stuff. It’s not fair that peoplekeep playing back speeches you made beforepolling day. That’s what you do in elections, asa great man once said. RTE in particular, whohad done such a good job before the election,have now shown terrible bias by running

speeches made by her party leader before theelection. Surely that shows bias against theparty, broadcasting her party leader in his ownwords?

In the back of her head a tiny voice asks“why are you doing this?” She was never onthe radical wing of the party, just a pragmaticproblem-solver, and so the idea of rebellinggoes completely against her nature. But thelittle voice tells her to look at the polls andrecognise that she and dozens of other silentobedient backbenchers are slowly marchingtowards a humiliating ejection at the nextelection, and for what? So that the time-serversget to be ministers and save their seats andget pensions? Whilst she gets humiliated at thecount? Whilst she gets talked about for yearslater by her friends and neighbours as “Wasn’tshe a TD once? Yeah, but she wasn’t verygood. Went up to Dublin and we never heardfrom her again.” She is actually willing to tradeher dignity for the careers of her party betters,which is a certain form of seless nobility, ina way, and almost certainly the rst time inhistory a human took a bullet for a Rabitte.

Jason O’Mahony is an independent commentator and holds all parties “in equal disregard”! He blogs about politics, books and other things that

excite and irritate him at www.jasonomahony.ie

A Slightly JaundicedLook At: The GovernmentBackbencher.

H E L P

W A N T E DHELP WANTED!Have you a strong opinion on a Fianna Fáil related issue? Would like to see aparticular current affairs or political matter covered? Have you some photosinvolving Fianna Fáil members or would like to highlight a recent membershipevent?

If so please get in touch with Cuisle. We are constantly looking for morepeople to write articles, more photos and most importantly your ideas. Thisis your magazine. So if you want to make a suggestion for how the magazineshould be put together or you’d like to become a contributor please email usat [email protected]

CreditsEditor: James Lawless

Editorial Team: James Lawless, JoanGeraghty, Henry O’Reilly, Tim Lavery,Emer Brennan, Sharon Byrne.

Graphic Designer: Darragh Kelly,ClickAndRush.com

Online Admin: Mark Power

Thanks also to Kevin Byrne, GaibhinMcGranagan, Lisa Chambers, ChrisFlood, Kevin Judd, Stephen McKee,Sean Dorgan, Darragh McShea, DonalKitt, Annie Keegan, David Burke, ConorMcGarry, Ken Curtin, Malachaí Duddy,Shane Burke, Pat Monks, John Brody,Sean Broe, Stephen Quinlan, DerekMooney, Declan Harmon, Kate Feeney,Sinead Lucey, Ciaran Bolger, JasonO’Mahony, Stephen O’Brien, FiachKelly, Gary Murphy, Eoin O’Malley,Mary MacDonald, Sheila MacDonald,Margaret Conlon, Mark Power, CathalCrowe, Feidhlim Mac Róibín, MaryWhite, Laurence McCormack, PatHynes, Michael McGreevey, PadraicMartin, Ailish Lawless, Clara La Combre,

Adam Ledwith, Dara Calleary, EamonO’Cuiv, John Mullen, Shane P O’Reilly,Sarah Ryan, David Lohan, Lorcan Price,Darragh Kelly, Oliver Golden, Joe O’Neill,Eimhin Boland, Christopher McInerney,Russell Bryce, Shane Cassells, NicholasSheridan, Aileen Duggan, Mina Kerr,Cian Guckian, Patrick Higgins, LauraReal, Oonagh Grace, Adrian O’Higgins,Catherine Whelan, Pat McPartland & Kathyrn Byrne.

A special thanks to Jane Dignam andDamien Blake who served on theeditorial teams for Editions One and Twoand credit in particular to Jimmy Healywho was the driving force behind thoserst two Editions and who brought thewhole concept into being.

James Lawless , Cuisle editor

Cover Illustration by ClickandRush.com



Cuisle – The voice of the members 4 5The voice of the members – Cuisle

It should be now be accepted thatthe Structural Re-organisation ofThe Fianna Fáil Party in Dublin has

been completed. All constituencieshave held Annual or Special GeneralMeetings. New ofcer boards arenow in position. The nal push isunderway to have all willing memberssign up by the March 31st deadline.Members now understand thesignicance of the One Member One

Vote rule as it applies to voting at the Ard Fheis, voting at Constituency Annual General Meetings, voting atforthcoming Candidate SelectionConventions in preparation for theLocal Elections due to take place inJune next year.

Candidate Selection Conventions arescheduled to convene from mid-June 2013onwards. Therefore, it is of vital importancethe Fianna Fáil Party in Dublin moves on toits next phase of political activity, namely thedevelopment of a massive, sincere and genuinere-engagement with all local communities.It should be noted that during the Re-organisation Consultation Process throughoutDublin, the growing disconnect between alllevels of the Party and local communities washighlighted repeatedly by Party members. Thiswas one of the reasons advanced as to whylocal community activists do not join FiannaFáil in order to become Election Candidates.

Members demanded this must change andthat the required change can be achieved if theParty re-engages with local communities andlocal organisations.

What does re-engagement with localcommunities and local organisations reallymean and how can it be achieved by theFianna Fáil organisation in Dublin?

It is essential that all Fianna Fáil Councillorsbe extremely active on behalf of all localcommunities and organisations within theirelectoral area. Where at all possible theyshould attend all council meetings raising localissues and reporting back to their electorate.Councillors should ensure that the facility forutilising council agenda to highlight local,regional and where appropriate, Nationalissues should be availed of to the maximumpossible extent.

Importantly they should nd ways tocommunicate the results of their effortsback to their electorate by using moderncommunication methods and also by leaetdrops, door knocking, telephone calls,letters,emails, personal home visits etc.

It is hugely important that where publicmeetings are called by local communities ororganisations, these should be attended bylocal public representatives and/or local arearepresentatives where they are in place. C.D.C

members should also attend and support ourrepresentatives.

This level of visible local Fianna Fáil activitywill help to ensure that when canvassing for

the next local elections, voters will not havecause to state they have not heard from FiannaFáil in a long time. In support of the forgoing,the Dublin Organisational Steering Group atits meeting on March 13th last, called for theholding of a Dublin Policy Convention. Sucha policy convention will enable all members inthe Dublin area to discuss the development ofa range of suitable policies appropriate to theNations Capital.

The challenge now confronting the Dublin

Organisation across all constituenciesand local electoral areas is to dramaticallyincrease the level of visable political activity. All C.D.C members and party supportersmust provide practical support to Councillors, Area Representatives and Local ElectionCandidates when chosen. You call them – donot wait for them to call you. Practical supportcan be provided through, distributing leaets,knocking on doors, attending public meetings,writing to or emailing local media, directlyparticipating in community, local, sporting orsocial organisations. “Fly the Fianna Fáil Flagat all times”.

There is a very important duty resting on C.D.Corganisations to be ready to ght the ne xt localelections under headings such as:• Availability of sufcient activists to support

the election campaign and all electioncandidates for which it has responsibility.

• The continuous recruitment of new membersto the party.

• The development of a ghting fund to supportits local election campaign.

A successful outcome to the local electionsof 2014 in Dublin will ensure the Fianna Fáilorganisation can turn its attention to the nextgeneral election from a position of strength in

the greater Dublin area.

Chris Flood, ChairmanDublin Organisation Committee

CHASING THE DUBLIN VOTE:WHAT WE MUST DO

ONE MAN’S HOARD ISANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE...

Cllr. Cathal Crowe (Clare) talksabout his collection of oldpolitical memorbillia.

My interest in collecting started as a youngster- my father collected coins and once or twicea year I would pour the collection out onto thesitting room oor and imagine all the pocketsand hands in far ung countries that had onceheld this currency.

In my teenage years I started collecting match

programmes. I’ve a stack of old GAA, rugbyand soccer programmes at home that I like torummage through and reminisce over every sooften.

My interest in collecting went a completelydifferent direction when I signed up as amember of Ógra Fianna Fáil during my rstyear at the University of Limerick. I studiedpolitical science & history so a lot of my coursematerial centred on the history and origins ofIreland’s various politics parties. I found thisto be fascinating! A few neighbours at homepassed some old Fianna Fáil paraphernalia myway and it wasn’t long before I was hooked!

That was 13 years ago and since then I’veamassed a large collection of what some mightconsider to be a heap of old political junk - tome it’s treasure. Some of this treasure has beenpassed on to me by Fianna Fáil members inmy home CDC, other items by family membersand friends but I have also bought someinteresting items on eBay auctions and theDonedeal website.

Some of my prized items include an originalelection poster and canvas card for Dan Breen,National Collection posters dating back tothe 1930s, an original copy of the Free StateConstitution and signatures of former Taoisighincluding Eamon De Valera & Jack Lynch. I alsohave two old posters which were published bythe opposing sides on the Ango-Irish Treatydebate.

The Clare County Museum currently have alarge portion of my collection on display and

the remainder is either hanging on the wallsof my ofce or in storage boxes on shelves.During the last Seanad campaign I had manycandidates calling to my door and took greatpleasure in showing them them my items.

As a young councillor I thinks it’s important tohave a sense of place and history but equallyI feel that our party should not be shackledto the past. I have a healthy respect for otherpolitical parties and opponents and sincerelyhope that Irish politics has moved well beyondthe old Civil War divide.

My collection is continuing to grow - my soon-to-be wife Maeve is obviously a very patientwoman.. The posters and pamphlets usedby Fianna Fáil candidates in recent electionwill soon become artefacts and historicalephemera in their own right.

Ar aghaidh le Fianna Fáil!

NOTE: If anybody would like to donate itemsto Cathal’s collection please contact him on0871368883 or [email protected]

INTERESTED IN FIANNA FÁIL’S HISTORY AND HERITAGE?

Cuisle is looking for people interested in researching Fianna Fáil’s rich past. If you’d like to help please drop us an email marked ‘History’ [email protected] or write to us at Cuisle PO Box, c/o Fianna Fáil Headquarters, 65/66 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN CUISLE?For future issues Cuisle intends to include advertisements. If you’d be interested in

taking an ad which will be seen by practically all the members of Fianna Fáil pleasecontact us – [email protected]

It is of vital importancethe Fianna Fáil Party

in Dublin moves onto its next phase of

political activity, namely the development of

a massive, sincere

and genuine re-engagement with all

local communities.




Prior to last year’s Ard Fheismeetings were held throughoutthe length and breadth of Ireland

where the One Member One Voteinitiative was explained by membersof the Parliamentary Party and theArd Comhairle.

The new party structure proposed a changewhereby fully paid up members would enjoymany benets:

• Members may vote at candidate selectionconventions.

• Speak and vote at the Árd Fheis.

• Attend and speak at Policy Conferences.

• Receive invitations to make their views heardand to interact with public representatives.

• Receive regular issues of Cuisle and theweekly emailed Fianna Fáil Bulletin newsletter.

• Receive text notications about importantFianna Fáil events.

• The opportunity to avail of special members’offers and discounts.

• Automatic membership of Ógra Fianna Fáil ifthe member is under 30 years of age.

At the Árd Fheis the proposal was debated andmembers voted unanimously to implement thenew system. Cumann meetings were held andmembership lists were updated and forwardedto Headquarters by 30th June 2013.

Since the process began the party haswitnessed very positive response. Membersare engaging with party headquarters on arange of issues and the current membership isin excess of 15,000 and increasing. Many view

this new initiative as an opportunity to refocus,rebrand and rebuild our party.

The Árd Comhairle is committed to continuingthis great work. Our next step followingregistration of existing members is to plana major recruitment drive to source andencourage new members to join this greatmovement. We have more than 1500 membersin our colleges, the biggest youth political partyin the country and we need to build on that.

Registration and Recruitment have allowed

us to go back to our roots and give greaterdemocracy and a voice to party members. Wehave improved communication at every leveland even though our funding has been reduceddue to a reduction in the Leader’s Allowancepersonnel in party headquarters have lookedat innovative ways to engage with members.We have embraced the technology that isthe internet and social media and membersreceive a weekly bulletin by email. Recently theparty purchased printing equipment and thiswill enable us to communicate our message ina more cost effective way.

We have fundamentally changed how ourparty operates by increasing participation andmaking our party more democratic. The OMOVinitiative has been exciting and reinvigorating.We look forward to the next steps in theprocess. Please feel free to contact partyheadquarters if you would like to assist us inthis work.

Margaret Conlon is from Cavan / Monaghan and is chair of the membership committee and honorary secretary of Fianna Fáil

ORGANISATIONAL UPDATES -MEMBERSHIP RENEWED

A fter 9 busy years at the toptable, Cllr. Shane P. O’Reillysteps down from the Ard

Chomhairle at this Ard Fheis. Alwayscolourful and often controversial,Cuisle’s Tim Lavery caught up withShane to hear his thoughts

Shane P. O’Reilly has been a Member of CavanCounty Council since 2004 and hails fromvillage of Mullagh in the southeast of Cavan.

He is married to Elisha and has four childrenunder 8. Shane has a broad experience withinFianna Fáil from the grass roots to poll-toppingcounty council candidate and member of the Árd Chomhairle. In this short interview Shanegives us his personal perspective on his careerin politics to date.

How, in your opinion has Fianna Fáil helpedshape the Cavan we see today?Fianna Fáil has absolutely had a massive,positive impact on Cavan and one of the mainreasons for it is the fact that we have had suchamazing representatives in Dáil Éireann whohave provided support to every corner, everyparish in the county and the constituency ofCavan-Monaghan.

Take for example Paddy Smith, the longestserving TD in the history of the state (almost 54years) who served as Minister for Agricultureand several other senior portfolios. Paddy wasa rural Cavan man and he believed in lookingafter his county and the agricultural roots thatheld the community together.

As for tangible examples of how Fianna Fáil hashad a positive and lasting impact on Cavan,look no further than the National Schools,for when the late, great John P. Wilson was

Minister for Education he did so much forPrimary Education in this county.

Then, moving on to the current Dáil Deputy,Brendan Smith, a former Minister for Agricultureand also serving as Minister of State forChildren; there is no doubt that at the timewhen the Department of Health and Childrenwere providing funding for Playgrounds andother such facilities, Brendan Smith was to theforefront of ensuring that his own county was“rst up, best dressed”. This is something thatFianna Fáil must be acknowledged for, we haveleft a positive mark on every corner of Cavan asfar as I am concerned.

I said in my Vice-Presidential campaign (forthe Árd Comhairle) that we are “the partyof the crossroads” not “at the crossroads”.Sometimes there can be a lot of emphasis onDublin and increasing party performance there.

Fair enough, it is the nation’s capital and weneed to represent the people of the capital butit must be remembered that Fianna Fáil hasdone so much for rural Ireland. It galls me tosee Fine Gael and Labour and the attacks thatthey are making on rural communities now,trying to undo the positive achievements ofFianna Fáil.

What makes a good County Councillor?The Ability to listen. You have to listen toall sides and when you are dealing withcommunity groups there are persons therewith their own agendas and there are persons

representing different political parties.Sometimes as political representatives wecan go in to meetings and we can see forexample the chairman of the local Fine Gaelor Sinn Féin branch and it could colour ourview immediately, that this is a politically run orcontrolled organisation.

As a Councillor you just can’t approach thingsthis way. I am a person who believes thatif you come to me for help, whatever yourviewpoint, political afliation, religion or race,it is incumbent on me to look after you and tosee if I can nd a resolution to the problem youhave come to me with.

I have never turned anyone away from my door,remember I was not elected to look after onlyFianna Fáil supporters, I was elected to lookafter everyone. This is how Fianna Fáil willmake their comeback.

Who is your political hero and why?I have such time for this man, he is a man fromrural Ireland, a worker and understood whatmade us tick. He has never been given thepraise and accolades that he deserves for hisrole in the Good Friday Agreement, my hero is Albert Reynolds.

I always found it wrong how people tried todiminish his legacy by referring to the “Country& Western” Taoiseach. Albert Reynolds was nocowboy, he was a genius that was looked upto like a god in Longford, Roscommon, Cavanand Monaghan. The simple fact of the matter

was that Albert was a man who put his moneywhere his mouth was. He was a “nuts andbolts” type of politician, an entrepreneur whohad come up from nothing and reached thehighest ofce in the Government.

Thomas Byrne’s excellent campaign in theMeath East bi-election shows signicantsupport for FF, what lessons have been lear nedfrom the campaign that can be applied to thelocal elections in 2014.

Engagement and listening. Door to door,back to the tea in the ask, the egg and onionsandwiches! It is time to go back to drinkingthe mugs of tea with Mary and John in theirkitchen.

We can all talk about the advantages andimportance of social media, Facebook, Twitterand the like but Mary and John with three

“THE LAST MAN TO LET YOU DOWN”

Cllr. Shane P. O’Reilly is to step down from the Ard Cho mhairle.

(cont’d on page 10)...

Fianna Fáil is undergoing aprocess of renewal as weattempt to clarify what we stand

for and what it means to be a memberof Fianna Fáil, while consolidating ourrelationship with the Irish people.

In terms of policy and party structure, wehave introduced OMOV, banned corporatedonations, lobbied on behalf of introducing gay

marriage, along with other measures to ensureour path to recovery. However, more can bedone.

In order to drive Fianna Fáil forward as Ireland’smain political force once more, we must look toour biggest asset, our members, who embodywhat Fianna Fáil is about. We are a party thatsupports Republicanism, nationalism and thatpromotes our unique Irish cultural identity.Other dening factors include our promotionof equality of opportunity, support forhardworking people and a sense of commonpurpose towards enhancing society andcreating a national identity as part of developingour links with Britain and the European Union.

This last year has been a pivotal one in therenewal of Fianna Fáil thanks to the vital roleplayed by members - and not just in Ireland.For instance, in 2012, grassroot Fianna Fáil

members launched two new cumainn - onein London and another in Brussels, that willensure that our party faithful living overseascan maintain their strong links with Ireland.

Both London and Brussels have strongconnections with Ireland, given that the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed in London whileBrussels is the hub of European Union activity. Already our new cumainn are serving, not justas political networks, but as social networks

for members who have secured employmentin both cities. As they grow more establishedthese new cumainn can also play a signicantrole in shaping party policy and giving a voiceto our diaspora, while highlighting a sense ofIrish identity overseas.

Irish diaspora vote amounts to 2.6 millionOver 2.6 million Irish people live abroad yetthey do not have a mandate. The vote of theIrish diaspora is a critical issue and one thatFianna Fáil must consider. Ireland howevercontinues to disenfranchise emigrants abroadand is one of four of 33 members of the Councilof Europe to do so.

The cumainn abroad have represented FiannaFáil and the Irish diaspora at many Irish interestevents, integrating with other Irish groupsinvited by host nations and in so doing, havebeen strengthening Anglo-Irish relations

in London and Irish-European relations inBrussels. This highlights the signicant role thatIrish people can play in terms of developing ourrelationship with Europe.

As Irish citizens it is our democratic right tovote Although we live abroad, I would argue thatit is our democratic right, as Irish citizens, tohave a say in how some aspects of our countryare run. We would welcome, for instance, the

opportunity to vote for some panels of theSeanad as well as a vote in the Irish Presidentialelections.

The cumainn members and the Irish abroadhave an important role to play as they witnessrst-hand new practices and policies beingimplemented in other countries which may beof relevance and that could be implemented inIreland to serve the greater interest in areas suchas health, education, and local government.Their voice must be acknowledged in order tobring real change to Irish society.

It is the members of Fianna Fáil, in Ireland andaround the world, who have the ability to returnour party to centre stage in Irish politics.

Sinéad Lucey is a founder member andsecretary of the London Fianna Fáil cumann.By Sinead Lucey

FIANNA FÁIL MEMBERS AND THE IRISH DIASPORA MUST BE GIVEN A VOICE IN ELECTIONS



9The voice of the members – Cuisle

“The recent polls showing thatFianna Fáil’s support is in themid-20s will be a relief for those in

the party who may have felt that theparty was in terminal decline. That itmanaged to get 17 percent of the votein 2011, in fact, could be regarded asremarkable given the context of theelection. So we might have assumedthen that the only likely directionwas up. And if it is up, the party willobviously have a much better returnon its vote as it’ll be much moretransfer f riendly.

If we are to point to what Fianna Fáil has donewell in the last two years to bring about arecovery it’s hard to point to highlights. The Irishpolitical system makes it hard for oppositionparties make an impact. The party isn’t asexcitable as some of the others in oppositionand some members, such Michael McGrath,have given competent performances. Butmany others are just treading water.

But I’d be reluctant to think that Fianna Fáil ison its way to a full recovery. These are mid-term polls which normally overegg governmentparty losses. What the polls really reveal isa general disaffection with all the parties.Many are still undecided or plumping forindependents, which usually happens whennone of the parties are making an impact.

The good news is that this includes Sinn Féin,which should be doing much better than it is,given that it’s the only party that can really

oppose the government. It has its own legacyissues, which turns off an electorate whichis essentially quite conservative. And comethe next election the party with incumbentministers will look like a safe pair of hands.

But no party is going grow dramatically byoffering opposition alone. There are a numberof groups that see little hope in their future.One is the group probably aged between 35and 45 who bought houses at the top of themarket, and spend most of their income ontheir mortgages. The other group is younger,don’t have a house, but feel also they’ve no

prospect for a job. In other European countriesnew parties, such as Beppe Grillo’s Five StarMovement are emerging to represent thesegroups.

In Ireland it is more difcult for new parties toemerge. Any party that offers these groupssolutions could lead the next government.If none are offered, assuming no accidentshappen, Fine Gael will be the biggest partyat the next election. Fianna Fáil should bethinking of being the party that comes up withthese solutions.”

“WHen Micheál Martin becamethe eighth leader of Fianna Fáilon 26 January 2011 he faced

a gargantuan task. The eight daysbetween Brian Cowen on 18 Januaryplacing a motion of condence inhimself before a meeting of theparty’s TDs to the time of Martin’selection had been among the mostmomentous in modern Irish history.

Thrust immediately into a general electioncampaign Martin faced an electorate who tobe frank were sick of Fianna Fáil. How sick wasonly discovered once the votes were counted.There can be no doubt that the scale of the2011 general election defeat shocked FiannaFáil to the core. Notwithstanding the party’sdismal showing in the polls prior to the electionthere continued to be a belief held withinFianna Fáil that the quirks of the Irish electoralsystem would lessen the inevitable seat lossesand that local factors would save a decentnumber of TDs.

While the eventual losses were staggering thefact that Fianna Fáil could gain over 380,000rst preference votes on the back of presidingover the worst economic crisis in the history ofthe state, and that it could attract such supportdespite its negative reputation on issues oftrust and competency says something aboutits resilience. Two years on from the generalelection and with Fianna Fáil support increasingin the opinion polls it is time to take stock ofwhere the party stands now.

Fianna Fáil has a long and proud historyand a lot of achievements to its credit. Fromde Valera’s 1937 Constitution to Lemass’sopening up of the economy, and entry intothe EEC under Jack Lynch it has embracedan outward looking Ireland that has stoodthe country in good stead. Its commitmentto social partnership also provided the statewith macroeconomic stability in the yearsfrom 1987 to 2007. It is unthinkable to look atthe ending of the troubles in Northern Irelandwithout marvelling at the role that Bertie Ahernplayed in bringing such a situation about.The bailout and subsequent general electionrouting should not take away from these factsor this proud history.

Micheal Martin has claimed that the party lostits way in recent years by forgetting its radical

roots and that it can recover both its zeal andpurpose by returning to the original progressivepolicies of Eamon de Valera and Seán Lemass,although he does not really tell us what theseare in the Ireland of 2013. He should do so. Takeproperty tax for instance. Fianna Fáil signed

up to it as a prerequisite of the bailout deal. Itnow opposes it on the seemingly reasonablegrounds that people cannot afford it. But there alot of other taxes that people also cannot affordbut yet have to pay. The Irish people deservea statement from Fianna Fáil on whetherproperty tax in and of itself is an appropriatetax for a modern functioning democracy. Byits current opposition to the clearly unpopulartax Fianna Fáil is running perilously close to atype of populism that while popular in the shortterm has grave long term implications and hasgot the party into trouble before. A retreat topopulism would be a terribly pity as Fianna Fáilhas performed admirably since the trauma ofthe general election.

There is a ne line to be drawn when inopposition. The temptation is of course to

just give the gover nment a good kicking andpretty much oppose everything but that isthe opposition of the lazy and the damned.Fianna Fáil to its credit has produced a numberof detailed policy studies and legislativeproposals including extremely valuableapproaches to such diverse but crucial topicsas personal insolvency, debt settlement, andsuicide prevention. It has also acted in thepublic interest through its forceful campaigning

for a yes vote during the scal compact treatyreferendum.

So where stands Fianna Fáil now? Its recentsurge in a variety of opinion polls is hearteningfor the party and has made it a credible force inIrish politics again. There was no guarantee ofthat after the 2011 general election. The partyneeds to continue to produce well developedand costed proposals and provide anopposition that is constructive in its criticism.Facing into the local elections next year FiannaFáil needs to present a team that is vigorousin its approach to the campaign and can servetheir communities on election. If it can achievethat it will be well on its way to presenting acase for a return to government at the nextgeneral election.”

Micheál Martin in Queens University Belfast (© Joe ÓNéill)

Thrust immediately into a general election campaignMartin faced an electorate who to be frank were sick of Fianna Fáil

8 Cuisle – The voice of the members

Political Scorecard Political Scorecard

“You aren’t whooping like youwould be if Thomas Byrne hadwon the recent by-election in

Meath East.

But neither are you pondering the very survivalof your party as you were at last year’s ArdFheis. It may be a bittersweet place you nd

yourself at the RDS this year, dear Fianna Fáildelegate.

It shouldn’t be. As a party, Fianna Fáil shouldstill be pinching itself. It is in possibly the bestplace it could wish to be right now.

Getting there on the road to recovery, butnot there yet. Enough done to reassure thetroops, but enough left to do to guard againstcomplacency.

So, even though Thomas Byrne didn’t win, hisrelatively narrow defeat is possibly the bestthing that could have happened the party.

A win so soon into the party’s recovery processwould have led to an assumption success wasassured which, incidentally, is a view shared bymany in the parliamentary party.

With Mr Byrne taking just under 33pc of therst preference vote, around 6pc behindeventual winner Helen McEntee, it proved therecent opinion poll trends and conrmed theimprovement since the doldrums of the lastgeneral election.

It will spur on next year’s candidates in thelocal and European elections and, the party

would hope, lay the foundation stone fora steady momentum leading into the nextgeneral election.

Sinn Fein’s march seems to have been haltedtoo, with the collapsed Labour vote dispersingwidely. Even some public sector votes arereturning to the FF fold.

But challenges remain for Fianna Fáil. It maysound tiring to hear the Government repeat adnauseum that your party wrecked the country,but they aren’t going to stop saying it anytimesoon.

And the more successful Fianna Fáil becomes,the more they’ll keep at it. People haven’tentirely forgotten or forgiven Fianna Fáil forwhere they brought the country in November2010.

Another problem relates more to the here andnow. Micheal Martin has done a good job inbringing the party from its knees and restoringit to a ghting force.

Responsible opposition seems to be workingas voters shy away from the shrill socialismof Sinn Fein, although they apparently remainunmoved by the theatrics on the Independentbenches.

But a couple of decisions have been ducked,most notably taking a position on abortion.Fianna Fáil spokespeople have twisted andturned without taking a position on this andother issues.

They will only get away with this so long, andthe heat of heavy examination is never too faraway.”

DR. EOIN O’MALLEY, Lectures Irish Politics At Dublin City University.

The recent opinion poll trends and conrmed the improvement sincethe doldrums of the last general election.

FIACH KELLY, Political Correspondent, Irish Independent

Cuisle asked key commentators for their take on what the party has got right and wrongover the past 12 months. The jury’s in and here are the results:

If we are to point to what Fianna Fáil has done well to bring about a recovery it’s hard to point to highlights.The Irish system makes it hard for opposition parties make an impact.

GARY MURPHY, Associate Professor of Politics, Head of the School of Law & Govt at DCU




Incoming Chairman of Dublin FingalCDC, Paul Moreland, delivered a‘rousing speech’ to members at

the recent AGM. Rallying the troopsfor some busy political times ahead,Mr Moreland stressed that the 2014local elections will prove a major testfor the party. An edited version of MrMoreland’s speech follows here:

“The rst test of any political party is itswillingness to work. The outgoing OfcerBoard has been working closely with our PublicRepresentatives and Area Representative,canvassing and leaet dropping for thepast few months in a number of areas in theconstituency. Surprisingly, we are getting avery positive reaction from the public. We arenot the toxic brand some in the media rant onabout. In fact it is the very opposite. Peoplewant to talk to us. They are in fact shockedwhen we explain to them the impact someGovernment decisions are having on the localcommunity.“In particular, I refer to the ludicrous situationregarding the local HSE ambulance cover andthe devastating effect the cuts to this vitalservice may have on our families.

“The main focus of our work as Comhairle inrecent months is, and must remain, for thenext two years, the Local Elections 2014 andensuring our sitting Councillors get re-elected

and increasing our representation on FingalCounty Council.

“Let me put our potential local electioncandidates on alert. You must leave no stoneunturned to achieve our goal of increasingFianna Fáil seats on Fingal County Council.Remember, winning demands self-discipline,focus and accountability. Let’s leave thepolitics of resentment and division to others.

“For our renewal to be complete we must beprepared to change the way we operate bothlocally and nationally as a political party. Weneed to put aside the scoring and the sniping.We must be constructive, not destructive,remaining rmly focused on our goal, successfor our candidates in 2014.

“The candidates cannot do this alone however;we the people in this room must be preparedto put our shoulder to the wheel to assist them.We must focus on the party’s interests and

not on the interests of individual candidates.We may all have to make sacrices to ensurethat we are out and about selling the party’smessage to the electorate if we are to fullyembrace the spirit of renewal.

“So my message to this AGM is to leave heretonight thinking positive, looking forward. Letus again strive to make our Fianna Fáil teamof Candidates in the local elections a winningFianna Fáil Team.

“The task of the incoming Ofcer Board is tolook ahead, learn from the mistakes of the pastand acknowledge that we did make errors.

“The introduction of One Member One Voteis the mechanism through which we themembers can have our voices heard at bothlocal and national level. The renewal of thelocal organisation is an inclusive journey withevery member taking part.

“We have a lot of work to do, and little timeto do it. I appeal to all members to leave thedivisions of the past where they belong in thepast, think positive, look forward to success in2014. Let us again become a party of Winners.

“To conclude, permit me to quote some simplewords from our late friend Brian Lenihan, whoaddressed us here on so many occasions inthe past

“Onwards and upwards”.

By Paul Moreland Thanks to Clara La Combre, secretary of DublinFingal CDC, for supplying copy of the above‘rousing speech’ by incoming Chairman, Paul Moreland, ‘as an example of how a ComhairleChairman can rally his troops.’

FIANNA FÁIL BRANDNO LONGER TOXIC IN FINGAL

Surprisingly, we are getting a very positive reaction from the public.We are not the toxic brand some in the media rant on

about. In fact it is the very opposite

For our renewal to be complete we must be prepared tochange the way we operate both locally and nationally as a political party. We need to put aside the scoring and the sniping.

Political Scorecard

“The most recent Behaviour & Attitudes poll for The SundayTimes, shows Fianna Fáil down

one point to 23%. That is not anumber that places the party on thethreshold of government; but it is sixpoints higher than the 17% Election2011 result and nine points clear ofthe 14% low water mark in October2011 in the B&A/ST series (adjustedgures).

Both party and leader have enjoyed signicantmomentum in the opinion polls since the darkdays of 2011 and, indeed, much of 2012.

The recovery in the polls can be tracked backto the autumn of last year, when Fianna Fáiladopted a notably more aggressive stancetoward the government in the Dail.

The party bounced up and down in the mid- tolate-teens in terms of support through most of2011 and 2012, then suddenly shot from 16%last September just before the Dail reconvenedto 22% in November and 24% in January.

No-one invited Fianna Fáil out of politicalpurgatory last September; the party leadershipclearly decided to abandon the penitentialrobes and return to more familiar battle-dress.

The decision to attack James Reilly, the healthminister, with a condence motion in Octoberseemed rash at rst but Billy Kelleher and hisfront bench colleagues got lucky. The move

brought to the surface the serious tensionsbetween Dr Reilly and his junior minister RoisinShortall.

She resigned her post citing lack of supportfrom her own leader, Eamon Gilmore, amongher reasons for departing. FF got a politicalscalp, though not the one it had gone lookingfor.

In a new and effective parliamentary tactic,the party has used Freedom of Information

legislation effectively to keep the pressure onDr Reilly both in the media and in the Dail.

Micheál Martin, as leader, has had good daysand not so good in taking on Enda Kennyacross the oor of the Dail, but he has showna deft touch on a number of key internal partymatters.

His decision not to appoint a deputy leader fornow, and to rotate the leaders’ questions sloton a Thursday among his front bench has beensuccessful in keeping everybody on their toes.

Demanding the resignation of Éamon Ó Cuívfrom the front bench over his stance on thescal treaty allowed Mr Martin to exercisehis authority in defence of a position that hasbecome one of the party’s core values - ÓCuív’s scepticism not withstanding.

Re-apppointing the former minister asagriculture spokesman four months later wasan olive branch gesture that saw Ó Cuív toa more appropriate portfolio, where he hasrun a strict rule over Simon Coveney on his

stewardship of the horsemeat controversy andthe renegotiation of CAP.

But the party needs to balance the strategyof robust opposition against the perception ofcynical opposition. Ireland is in crisis, and aparty playing politics with the national interestrisks the wrath of a volatile electorate.

Fianna Fáil voted for the emergency legislationto liquidate IBRC, and played an effective partin the scal treaty debate with Mr Martin and

Tim Dooley to the fore.

A low prole in the subsequent children’sreferendum did the party little credit, however,its opposition to property tax – “now isthe wrong time for a new tax” - has lackedcredibility.

And the party has appeared cautious andcalculating in the debate over the impendingX case legislation. Any hint of politicalopportunism on this issue could be verydamaging for a party seeking to rebuild thetrust of the Irish electorate.

Fianna Fáil has been visibly happier in its ownskin over the past six months of favourable pollnumbers. But if the by-election result in DublinWest gave the organisation a shot of optimism,the outcome in Meath East delivers, perhaps, adose of realism.

The road back from the brink will have severaltwists and turns. Hard work, challenging policyand political honesty could be the virtues mostrewarded in the long term.”

children who are nding it hard to put breadand milk on the table, they want to talk to you.

They want to hear what you have to say, theywant to be assured, that before they giveyou their votes that your are the candidate,representing your political party that is going toensure that when you get elected that you willnot forget about them.

We have to become the party of the peopleagain, by sitting and listening to the concernsof people and one thing about Michael Martin’sleadership of Fianna Fáil is that he has alistening ear, there is no doubt a bout that.

You have experienced the party from theheady days of Bertie Ahern’s tenure to thenew leadership of Michael Martin. Does FFneed to re-invent itself or can we still holdtrue to the founding Córú?

We do not need to re-invent ourselves in mypersonal opinion, Fianna Fáil, the RepublicanParty is something we should be proud of, wehave done more good for this country than bad,and a few apples can not rot the entire cartload.We need to be proud of ourselves, and reminddissenters of what we have achieved.

What is the most unusual thing you haveencountered on a canvass?I pulled a calf once canvassing. I went into afarmer’s yard, “there’s not much point standingthere with your shirt and tie”, the farmer said, “if you want me vote, you’ll pull the calf”, and Idid, I got the vote and a ne Belgian Blue heiferas well!

You have said that you owe sincere gratitudeto your family, your wife and parents, inparticular your father for supporting your political career. What made you decide to

follow the particular path you have travelled?

Jude Daly was the long serving Chairpersonof the Cumann in Mullagh. Jude brought me into the fold at the age of 11 to put up electionposters because none of them were nimbleenough to go up a ladder, that was my baptisminto Fianna Fáil! Jude was the local councillorin all but name, he passed away in 1999 and itwas a pity that he never got to see me electedbut I don’t think I would have ever gone intopolitics if it were not for Jude Daly. I can onlyhope to be half the man that he was.

What one piece of advice would you give anyaspiring Ógra members who are interested ina political career?Just listen and remember that you won’tchange the world on your own.

By Tim Lavery

...(cont’d from page 7) “THE LAST MAN TO LET Y OU DOWN”

Saturday, 5th October 2013

Burlington Hotel, Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4

Informal Dress

Enquiries to [email protected]

01-6761551

Cairde Fáil presents

The President's Dinner Guest of Honour: Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil, Micheál Martin TD

STEPHEN O’BRIEN, Political Editor With The Sunday Times



Cuisle – The voice of the members 12

Whatever about the hugeworkload, one of the pluspoints for our 19 TDs

working so hard to represent theparty in Dail Eireann every week isthe fact that most are now readilyrecognisable by the Irish public.Michael McGrath, Sean O Fearghaill,Niall Collins, Timmy Dooley andBilly Kelleher are some of the star

turns among this grouping who givewinning performances for Fianna Fáilon TV and radio stations on a regularbasis and whose personal popularityhas grown as a result.

Their consistent on-message qualitycontributions over the past two years havebeen instrumental in changing the fortunes ofthe party while simultaneously turning our frontbench representatives into quick-thinking,seasoned politicians. For this, party membersmust be extremely appreciative, although atthe same time, slightly trepidatious. Can our 19TDs keep up the good work in promoting FiannaFáil until the next general election without theirenergies agging? Will our deputies surviveanother two years of intense political dealingswithout encountering some major setback?

One of the ‘Golden 19’ who knows all about thehectic work schedule is Fianna Fáil TD, DaraCalleary, sole Dail representative for the partyin Mayo, a constituency of over 130,000 peoplesplit across a county 100 miles in diameter. Likeother rural TDs, Deputy Calleary travels to andfro between Dublin and his hometown (Ballina)each week, on top of driving hundreds of milesfrom one end of the county to the other to

attend meetings and hold constituent clinics.Interestingly, Deputy Calleary did manage to tin a special wedding in Summer 2012 (his own!- to Siobhan). Given the job spec however, it isunlikely he will be ‘settling down’ to full-timemarried life anytime soon.

Cuisle’s Joan Geraghty caught up with DeputyCalleary twixt meetings one busy Mondaynight recently to check out how exactly life inopposition can be worked around our 24-hournews and politics culture. Despite a heavyworkload, Deputy Calleary remains decidedlyupbeat.

“Yes it’s busy, for sure. Last week for instance, Ileft Dublin on Thursday, getting home from theDail at 11pm. On Friday morning I had to be inBallina, then in Crossmolina for 11am and backinto Ballina for a clinic; then at 6pm I was inBelmullet for another meeting, a one hour driveaway and from there I had to be in Ballyhaunis,

two hours away, for 9pm. I got home at 11pm.

“On Saturday morning I had a clinic in Westport,then one in Castlebar and then I had a monthlymeeting of the School Board of Managementin Bonniconlon. I went on then to a ComhairleCeantair meeting in Crossmolina that night. Ialso had to go to Foxford on Saturday. Sunday,I was off. We had a walk on the beach inEnniscrone!”

Dara Calleary has been working the circuitsin this manner ever since he rst got electedas a TD in 2007. However, the intensity hasdenitely increased since election 2011.

“Mainly, it’s the geography of it that eats in totime. It’s 45 miles from Ballina to Belmullet on

one side and 45 miles Ballina to Ballyhaunisthe other way, so you’re spending hours on theroad.

“But this is a nice constituency. It’s both ruraland urban and it is an honour to serve as a TDhere. I don’t play football. I never did sports, soit’s great to be able to wear the green jersey forthe sport of politics.”

Geographically, Mayo ranks as the biggestconstituency in Ireland and boasts somemajor towns - Ballina, Castlebar, Westport,Claremorris - as well as a number of highlysuccessful commercial stories. Some of themulti-nationals in the county include CocaCola, Baxter and Allergan Pharmaceuticalswhile Ireland West Airport Knock provides amassive piece of infrastructure.

“The jewel in the crown is Knock Airport, whichhad 700,000 passengers last year. We are keen

to grow and protect it, particularly consideringwhat may be an unfair advantage conferredon Shannon by the government recently. Wewould like to see some investment now inIreland West Knock and this is an issue we willbe lobbying strongly on.”

Other issues“Unemployment is of course the biggest issuefor Mayo. We are a county that has been blightedby emigration over the years but this time thedistances are much further. It is appalling whenyou see people who have scrimped and savedto put their kids through college and then,have to wave them off at airports as they leavefor New Zealand, Australia and Canada. It isheartbreaking for parents. We have to do ourbest to create employment in the county and

one way forward I see is our renewable energyresources which have tremendous potential ifwe can develop our wind and wave power.”

Tourism boostTourism provides a major boost for thoseinvolved in enterprise in Mayo and thephenomenal success of the Achill-Westport42km long greenway is something Dara hopesto see extended right through the county.

“The success of the Greenway has shown whatcan be done with very little investment andthe community coming together. Landownersalong the way willingly gave of their land anddeserve enormous credit. I don’t think anyoneexpected it to be as big as it is. Fianna Fáilsupported the Greenway from its infancy butthen it was hijacked by other parties.

“We are hopeful now it will be extended rightaround the county, to include the North West

People don’t often feel relievedwhen they see electionpromises being broken,

but that was certainly the casewhen Fine Gael went back on itspromise to remove Irish from thecore Leaving Cert curriculum. Thiscynical, populist move was met withunprecedented levels of oppositionfrom the outset, and possibly toFine Gael’s surprise, the vast bulkof this came from young people.Standing on a cold January morningin protest outside Fine Gael HQ, justone of thousands, most of them

still in the education system, unitedby a deep commitment to the Irishlanguage, was my rst introductionto political activism.

While we can happily add this to the unendinglist of broken election promises, it is not aclosed matter. There is broad agreementon the necessity of reforms on how Irish istaught. Fianna Fáil initiated Straitéis 20 Bliainna Gaeilge, a strategy for the Irish languagewith the radical aim of increasing the numberof daily Irish speakers to 250,000 in twentyyears. It recommended dividing Irish into twosubjects, one based on learning to speak,read and write Irish, and the other whichwould be open to those with a high standardof Irish which would focus around the wealthof Irish literature, poetry and folklore, muchlike the English course. Since Fianna Fáil leftofce there has been no indication of theimplementation of its innovative proposals.The present government’s record in terms ofthe Irish language is shabby; Last summerthe government refused to allow properdebate on the Gaeltacht Bill, which abolishedelections to Údarás na Gaeltachta, promptingFianna Fáil to lead opposition deputies outof the chamber in protest. When Dónal Ó

Cnáimhsí, a gardener in Glenveagh NationalPark, spoke out against the bill on behalfof Guth na Gaeltachta, he received a letterfrom the Department of Arts, Heritage andthe Gaeltacht threatening to terminate hisemployment.

As a party, our history represents a deepcommitment to the Irish language. “Torestore and promote Irish as a living languageof the people” is a central aim of Fianna Fáilas a movement. Fianna Fáil in 2011 was theonly party to put forward credible policiesregarding the teaching of Irish. Fianna Fáilhas also actively supported TG4, Raidió naGaeltachta, Radió na Life and Raidió Fáiltein Belfast. The presence of Irish in diversemedia outlets has revolutionised its image.Irish is now driven by this vibrant, youthfulcommunity of people who, through someway or another, have discovered somethingthat’s worth holding on to. The notion that

young people hate the Irish language, or failto see its value, is a hangover from the past,and it is fundamentally untrue. Fianna Fáilalso secured Irish as a working EU language,improving employment prospects hugely forthose with a qualication in Irish.

The Irish language should not be a politicallydivisive issue. The Gaelic League onits foundation received strong supportfrom several unionist politicians who sawthemselves just as culturally Irish as theirCatholic nationalist neighbours. As we know,the concept of Irishness as a shared identityhas all but evaporated in the North, howeverthere is still hope for us, as republicans, thatIrish cultural identity will not be determinedby creed or political views; this August, for

the rst time ever, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireannwill be held north of the border in Derry.Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Director, SenatorLabhrás Ó Murchú, was instrumental insecuring this bid. Ten years ago, who wouldhave imagined that Peter Robinson andMartin McGuinness would co-sign a letterin support of Derry’s bid to host the largesttraditional Irish music and dance festivalin the world? The Irish language is not themonopoly of any group, and should neverbe seen as such. Every man, woman andchild on this island has an equal stake in thefuture of this language, and every opportunityshould be given to them to help them claim it.

While some Leaving Cert students might failto see the value in learning Irish, anybody whohas learnt it themselves, including myself,will be adamant that it is something whichwill open up countless doors of opportunity.It is never a waste of time learning a newlanguage, least of all the language of yourown country. Generally, one of the largestobstacles is that people are afraid of speakingIrish in case they make mistakes. Fianna Fáil,as the republican party, has a huge role toplay, both internally and externally, in givingeverybody the opportunity to discover theirnational language and traditions; Cumainn

can arrange Irish conversation groups, wheremembers who wish to improve their Irish canhelp each other learn. Irish can play a greaterrole in party business, and assert itself as aliving language of the party. The party couldeven produce a simple handbook withuseful, day-to-day phrases which could bedistributed to the public to promote Seachtainna Gaeilge. Fianna Fáil’s commitment to theIrish language is a genuine one, rather thanan appeal to a particular section of society. As a party, it remains a core belief that all Irishpeople should be enabled to claim their ownpiece of the cultural identity which binds ustogether as a nation.

Feidhlim Mac Roibin is a member of the partyin Blessington, Wicklow and is also an activemember of the Kilteel Ceomhltas Group.

by Feidhlim Mac Róibín

THE NEXT 18 MONTHS ARE KEY -DARA CALLEARY, MAYO FIANNA FÁIL TD

FOSTERING A LIVING LANGUAGE

road and the Ceide elds, and provide accessto some undiscovered gems such as theMoyne Abbey monastery just outside Killalaand the spectacular Rosserk Abbey on theMoy Estuary.”

Doorstep reaction to Fianna FáilOn the face of it, Fianna Fáil is doing well inthe polls right now, but on the doorsteps, arepublic representatives meeting faces just aswelcoming?

“The reaction we are getting now is verydifferent to what it was two years ago”, saysDara. “It was so bad during the election I haveto ask myself now, did that really happen?Thankfully, the hostility is gone - substantiallyso. It hasn’t changed in regard to what supportwe are getting but people want to hear from usnow and they are very questioning of us. Theyare looking for us to be part of the debate andto hear our solutions. We had a lot of feedbackon our budget submission for instance.

“We have spent two years looking in atourselves and now we must go out knockingon doors again and working with people ontheir issues. I am not saying people have brassbands waiting for us; they’re not rolling out thered carpet either, but they do want to see us

and so we have to get out there.”

2013Dara sees 2013 as an important year for theparty and 2014 as even more important. “This isa big year for us. We are starting the process ofselecting candidates for 2014 and are initiatingthe One Member One vote system, whichshould prove really interesting at the upcomingconventions and the Ard Fheis. There is hugepolicy demand on us also because we haveto give people things we believe in. I am reallyenthused about it all and look forward todeveloping policy in my own special area ofenterprise and job creation.”

Mayo politicsThe big issue in Mayo politics at the moment isthe abolishment of Town Councils, accordingto Dara. “This is a disaster, when you considerthe great work local councillors have done over


“Unemployment is of course the biggest issuefor Mayo. We are a county that has been blighted by emigration over the years but this time the distances are much further.”

Westport Cumann.

(cont’d on page 21)...




Stephen Quinlan and ConorMcGarry examine some of thekey tactical issues the party

needs to address to ensure electoralsuccess in 2014 and beyond.

In mid-May 2014, voters will go to the polls inthe local and European elections, in what willbe Fianna Fáil’s rst nationwide electoral battlesince the historic landslide defeat of February2011. Twelve months out from these contests

provides a golden opportunity to members,candidates, and strategists to reect on theparty’s current position and to consider theelectoral strategy Fianna Fáil should adoptgoing forward.

Undoubtedly the party’s position has beenimproving in recent months, with Figure 1illustrating an upward trend in popular support.The gure tracks the level of support for partiessince the 2011 general election, illustratingthe trend using three period averages, withdata from the series of RedC monthly polls.At the time of writing, Fianna Fáil is currentlyaveraging a score in the low to mid 20s, aconsiderable improvement on the 17.4% ofthe vote won by the party in the 2011 generalelection. But while this recent movementupwards in popular support may provide somesolace to party members, it is important to keepit in perspective. If this performance was borneout in a general election, it would still representthe party’s second poorest election result. Anadditional concern is that support in the crucialelectoral region of Dublin remains signicantlylower than the party’s national rating. And interms of the forthcoming elections, Fianna Fáilis averaging just below the level of support theparty achieved in the elections of 2009 (24%),an electoral drubbing, which foreshadowed the

party’s 2011 landslide defeat. In sum, with thelevels of support at the time of writing, FiannaFáil has a battle on its hands to maintain andincrease its current levels of representation.And while the party’s task at local level hasbeen helped by the government’s decisionto allocate a greater number of seats to eachelectoral ward, seat gains on the current levelsof support, particularly in urban areas, will be amonumental challenge for the party.

Fianna Fáil would also be well advised tolearn from the experiences of other partiescross-nationally in terms of legacy. Take therecent US Presidential election. When votersin 2012 were asked who they held responsiblefor the economic difculties that the US wasfacing, a majority blamed George W. Bush,and not the incumbent Barack Obama.This was in spite of Bush having left ofcein 2009. This feeling among the electorate

undoubtedly handicapped Republicans in2012 and demonstrates that voters’ have longmemories and don’t easily forget a party’s pastperformance. In sum, the pre-2011 legacy isstill likely to be a factor come 2014 for FiannaFáil, notwithstanding voter disappointmentwith the current government. Considering theabove circumstances, we outline below threepropositions that the party needs to adopt toensure long-term electoral success.

The rst proposition, and perhaps the mostdifcult one for some party members to acceptis the need for campaign professionalizationat all levels of the organisation. By campaignprofessionalisation, we mean a greater

involvement by professional strategists andconsultants in decision-making, ranging fromhow many candidates should contest to whothe candidates should be. In practical terms,this means Party Headquarters having moreinvolvement in all elements of elec tion strategy.While campaign professionalization is nothingnew, it has not been embraced by all FiannaFáil members, and has in many cases led toserious divisions emerging between localactivists and Party HQ, and the developmentof an “us” versus “them” mentality with respectto Mount Street.

We maintain however, that it is essential to lookat the reasons why elections and campaigns

need to embrace professionalisation. Politicsin the 21st century has evolved: today’selectorate is particularly volatile, with Figure2 illustrating that just over 1 in 5 voters todayidentify with a political party, a big shift fromthe past, where more voters were anchored toparties. Consequently, there are more swingvoters than ever before and there is a needto embrace modern methods such as pollingand focus groups to understand the needs,concerns, and wants of today’s electorate.Professionalisation aids this.

Party activism has also changed: memberstoday are unlikely to be as reective of thegeneral electorate as they once were. Thisdevelopment is not unique to Fianna Fáil butthe key point from a strategic standpoint isthat party members’ judgements with respectto electoral strategy, however noble and wellintentioned, may not actually reect the optimalstrategy for Fianna Fáil to take given today’selectoral dynamic. This is not to suggest thatprofessional politicos call decisions right allof the time. Merely, we argue that all levelsof the organisation need to be cognisantof the reasons behind the adoption of aprofessionalisation and to resist the temptationto disengage and oppose all suggestions fromMount Street. Instead, local organisations needto be open to adopting new means of ghtingelections and to work in conjunction with PartyHQ to devise the optimal strategy for the party.This strategic approach is likely to produce thegreatest dividend for Fianna Fáil in 2014 andbeyond.

Our second proposition is that Fianna Fáil needsto ensure that its current internal structures arepre-eminent to ght elections. We argue thecreation of a Party Chairperson, who would beresponsible for party organisational matters,particularly all dimensions of electoral strategy

would aid this. There are two key advantages tothis idea. Firstly, it would allow the Party Leaderand parliamentary party to focus on devisingpolicy and ghting elections, rather than beingpreoccupied with internal strategic matters.Secondly, it would ensure that the party hasan identiable and qualied individual in placeall year round whose sole responsibility andthinking would be geared towards electionplanning and strategy.

This proposition may at rst appear radical tosome members. But many European partieshave similar structures in place where theParty Chair, as distinct from the Party Leader,is responsible for intra-party matters. There aremany models Fianna Fáil could adopt, rangingfrom our sister party the FDP in Germany tothe Democratic Party’s leadership structure inthe United States. And while space permits usfrom evaluating each of these systems, they

key point is that we maintain Fianna Fáil’scapacity to ght elections cohesively would bestrengthened by the creation of this position.

Our third proposition, and perhaps the mostcontroversial is the pressing need for theparty to adopt appropriate candidate selectionstrategies. There are two dimensions to this:how many and who? These two questionsare related but the “how many” is perhapsthe most vexing facing the party nationwide.Returning to Figure 2 above illustrates why. Wehave already drawn readers’ attention to thefact that Fianna Fáil and other parties todaycannot rely on the wealth of diehard supportersit once had, as the number of citizensexpressing a solid preference for one partyover another has declined and now stands at just 21%. Consequently, today’s electorate ismore volatile and the party needs to be morestrategic to take account of this. Runningtoo many candidates has perils attachedto it: the party vote has potential to splitunfavourably and result in votes being wasted.Consequently, candidates are less competitiveon the rst count. Research has shown thatit is crucial for candidates to be successfulthat they occupy a winning position after therst count. Running too many candidatescan put this into jeopardy. Running too many

candidates also can result in a resource drain,with canvassers and nance being wasted onnon competitive candidates. Add to this, Figure2 reveals that the level of transfers betweenFianna Fáil candidates in national elections hasbeen on steadily declining, reaching an all-timelow of 58% in 2011. Linking this to candidateselection is that votes for Fianna Fáil do notalways come back to Fianna Fáil. Taking allof the above observations together brings theissue of the number of candidates Fianna Fáilshould run into sharp focus. In 2009 and 2011,the party ran too many candidates and it needsto avoid making this mistake again.

After extensive research examining theparty’s candidate selection strategy in 2011conducted in conjunction with fellow partymembers Patrick Hynes and Pat Joyce, weargue that the crucial criteria in determiningthe number of candidates in elections should

be the expected rst preference vote in theward/constituency/region and the numberof seats available in the ward/constituency. All other considerations such as geographyand transfers are secondary and should onlycome into play if there is convincing evidenceto support them. We contend by applyingthese indicators offers Fianna Fáil the bestoptions in terms of determining the numbers ofcandidates it runs.

Many members will challenge our model,arguing that geography in certain cases will

necessitate the addition of an additionalcandidate on the ticket in order to “hooverup votes”, even if the party’s expectedvote share does not justify it. We maintainthat empirical evidence demonstrating thatgeography matters in determining the numberof candidates is slim and that if this factor isto come into play, compelling evidence willbe necessary to justify it. This is not to saythat geography is unimportant in candidateselection: rather it is more important indetermining the who, rather than how many.

We contend that there must be soundevidential basis for including multiplecandidates on a ticket. We also challengethe idea that incumbency alone dictates thenecessity of a multiple candidate strategy andthat the number of candidates to run in a ward/ constituency should be on the basis of solidevidence and that two metrics, the expectedrst preference vote in the ward/constituency/ region and the number of seats available inthe ward/constituency provide the soundeststrategy for the party to adopt.

Campaign 2014 represents a crucial contestfor Fianna Fáil as it offers the rst nationwidetest of the party’s popularity since the 2011landslide defeat. While recent opinion polls

suggest a swing towards the party, we arguethat the Party has much to do to experience areturn to electoral triumphs of the past. Here,we have advocated a modernist approachneeds to be taken by the party to ensure thebest electoral return and have put forwardthree propositions with respect to electoralstrategy that the party should consider namely:an embrace of campaign professionalizationat all levels of the organisation, the creationof a Party Chair to oversee electoral strategy,and the adoption of appropriate candidateselection strategies. Taking on board thesesuggestions will greatly enhance the party’spotential of electoral success going forward.

Dr. Stephen Quinlan is a Research Fellow at theUniversity of Strathclyde’s School of Government.Conor McGarry works in online business

marketing in Dublin and is also Chairperson of Sallins Fianna Fáil.

MODERNISING THE PARTY’S APPROACHTO ELECTORAL STRATEGY:FIANNA FÁIL AND CAMPAIGN 2014

Figure 1

Figure 2

Today’s electorate is more volatile and the party needs to be morestrategic to take account of this. Running too many candidates has perils

attached to it:




There has been a lot of discussionlately about Social Media. Mostof the tone of the discussion has

been to demonise this form of media.It would seem that the people whoare on the negative side of this debateare also part of the demographic thatengage least with social media. It isapparent that most of the concernsthat emanate from the negativeattitude towards Social Media stem

from a fear of the unknown, notto mention a lack of engagementbacked up by an unwillingness toeducate themselves about the prosand cons of this medium.

The two Social Media sites that are mostused by our members are Twitter andFacebook. Both sites are very valuable tools ofcommunication for party members to engagewith. On facebook there are over seventypages now by local units as well as numerousindividual member pages. These pages are agreat way of keeping members informed ofthe local activities of local Reps, Cllrs and theissues being dealt with on the ground.

As the local elections come ever closer, the

use of these sites will be an addition to thetraditional campaign methods. If any local unitwishes to establish a presence on Facebookthey could contact D.J. Moore who gave anexcellent presentation to the Naas Cumman onengagement with facebook.

Cyber bullying has become a huge topic in thedebate on the benets of Social Media andhas been linked with causing severe stress onthose involved in politics, both in high prolepositions and in local organisations. While thisis obviously a subject that needs to be pursuedand dealt with accordingly, it is technicallymisleading to suggest that Social Media is acause of bullying. People intent on causingharm will nd any avenue to do so. SocialMedia doesn’t bully people, people bullypeople.

It is the responsibility of everyone who writes on

any Social Media site to do so in a constructive,non-abusive manner. By all means peopleshould be encouraged to debate and back uptheir positions with facts and links.

While engaging always remember eventhough you have a personal account you arerepresenting the party as a party member sorefrain from posting anything that could bringyou or the party into conict .

In regards to the anonymity of a Twitteror Facebook account, no one is totally

anonymous. Your I.P. address can be trackedas opposed to the more traditional methods ofwritten word and telephone, which were totallyanonymous.

Another way of protecting yourself on facebookis to set up a business page instead of apersonal page. The advantages of these pagesare that you can have administrators who haveaccess to posts on a page, whereas a visitormay only be able to visit the page and like thelinks.

The Fianna Fáil discussion group on Facebookis a great example of how a group pagecan work properly. It has over nine hundredmembers and debates issues regularly. Thegroup is managed by a team of administratorswho oversee the running of the page. There isa list of rules on the page that members areencouraged to read and abide by, in turn,

a member can only be added by an existingmember thus maintaining the security of thepage.

Twitter has become very popular over its lasttwo years and there are numerous memberson twitter. Recently more of our electedrepresentatives have joined Twitter, includingour leader Micheál Martin. Like Facebook,Twitter is a good communication tool and hasto be utilised to its full potential. Many of ourelected reps use it to update people of clinicsand vital issues in their area.

When someone posts a tweet it can thenbe retweeted and, in a matter of minutes, amessage can be seen by thousands. The samebasic principles as discussed above; regardinghow users of Facebook should conductthemselves, apply when using Twitter. Likeany form of engaging with the public, SocialMedia comes with its dangers but its potentialand its positives far outway its dangers. It ishere to stay so the best way of ensuring it as asafe medium is to engage and understand itsworkings.

By Mark Power

Mark Power is an administrator of the FiannaFáil FaceBook group and also of the CuisleFaceBook page as well as being a stalwart of the

local organization in Meath West and in NavanComhairle Ceantair.

It may sound politically incorrect, ina sense, but from my point of viewas someone who has worked in the

media for the past 20 years, I havenever had more fun than that I haveenjoyed since joining Fianna Fáil.

This happened in September 2011, followingendless deliberation, added to by mountingdesperation, following the near annihilation ofthe party in the February 2011 General Election.

While ‘coming out’, so to speak, initiallytriggered a certain anxiety (brought on byconcern for having ceded my neutral statusthat had acted as a safeguard for so long),soon afterwards I felt free in a way I had neverfelt before. Becoming a member of the partyprovided me with a concrete connection tosomething I had long identied with, but neverdared publicly acknowledge.

Over a year on from having nailed my coloursto the mast I have capitalised on the privilegesthat go with being a paid-up member of FiannaFáil. This has included attendances at regularWestport Fianna Fáil Cumann meetings,Westport Comhairle Ceantair/Mayo ComhairleDail Ceantair meetings, the powerful FiannaFáil Education Conference in Galway duringsummer 2012, the Fianna Fáil national churchgate collection, the President’s Ball in theplush surroundings of the Burlington Hotel andof course, top of the bill, the 73rd Ard Fheisstaged with such panache in the RDS duringlast March.

My very rst Fianna Fáil meeting had partyleader Micheal Martin as guest speaker, aspart of his countrywide ‘reconnecting with thegrassroots’ tour. Our Comhairle Dail Ceantair

meeting in Mayo was well attended, with over300 delegates travelling from all around thecounty. Along with many others on the night,I took the microphone at one stage to makemy own small contribution to the renewaldiscussion.

I suppose I was both starstruck and nervouschipping in my tuppence worth in such a publicforum but it was part of a pact I made withmyself to say something at every meeting. A few months later it had become second natureto just speak up when it seemed relevant tomake a point. Consequently, I feel it is veryimportant that all members are encouraged tocontribute as much as possible at meetings,both to help generate healthy debate but alsoto enhance members’ self-condence andpublic speaking abilities.

Back to the fun part - probably what turned my

early fears to quite quickly feeling ‘at home’in Fianna Fáil, were the people in the party.Members of our local cumann - certain elderlyones in particular - kindly took me under theirwings and welcomed me into the fold. It meantthe world to be readily accepted in this way.Over time these relationships continue to growand have helped enormously in widening mycircle of new friends and colleagues withinFianna Fáil.

Being a journalist and now secretary of theWestport Cumann means I sometimes can’tresist taking down most every word said atmeetings. Reading these verbatim ‘minutes’aloud makes for some interesting times atsubsequent meetings and is fodder for someof the ‘fun’ element that prevails afterwards.The various little spats and confrontations thatnaturally arise between genuine members forwhom Fianna Fáil is their true cause, also makefor some terric moments, high on emotion.

This new experience has taught me a whole lotabout Fianna Fáil that I could never have learnedon the outside. It has taught me that instead ofFianna Fáil now being deemed ‘a party peoplelove to hate’, there remains tremendous loveand loyalty for Fianna Fáil. Past mistakes maysadly have disillusioned some good peopleto the point of walking away, but those who

have stayed, the burgeoning Ógra element andnew people like myself who have signed upto Fianna Fáil, only see solidity and re-growthtaking shape.

Fianna Fáil therefore deserves congratulationsfor the contained manner in which it ismanaging its fall from grace and gradual returnto public acceptance. Most of all it deserves tobe reminded of what is so great about the party

in the rst place and the privileges it confers ona member.

Fianna Fáil remains a strong political force butis also a ne family with a future to protect,whose richest resource lies in the wisdom,loyalty and continuing support of the oldergrassroot members in the party.

Joan Geraghty is author of ‘Anyone Can Run’and ‘Fit For Success’ and is currently studyingfor a diploma in Social Gerontology, examiningpublic policy on ageing in Ireland, at NUIGalway. Joan is secretary of Westport FiannaFáil Cumann, joint PRO of Mayo ComhairleDail Ceantair and newly appointed Local AreaRepresentative for Westport.

Written by Joan Geraghty

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD, Dara Calleary, pictured with Joan Geraghty at the launch of her book, ‘Fit ForSuccess’. Photo: Michael McLaughlin.

Social media websites are changing politics.

FIANNA FÁIL ONE YEAR ON STILLFEELS LIKE THE RIGHT DECISIONSOCIAL MEDIA: FRIEND OR FOE?

When someone postsa tweet it can then beretweeted and, in a matter of minutes, a messagecan be seen by thousands



Cuisle – The voice of the members 18

NEW POLITICSMUST EMPOWERCOMMUNITIES

This year has seen some goodprogress in the renewal ofour republican movement.

However, there remains - toparaphrase our leader, Micheal

Martin - a hard, and long roadahead.

To rebuild trust with our fellow citizens andconstruct a robust and relevant politicalparty, we must focus on developing asociety based on communities of citizensempowered to direct their own affairs.

While recent opinion polls show somewelcome improvement in our party’sstanding, they also point to some worryingtrends.

For instance, over a third of the electoratepolled offered no preference for any politicalparty or Independent candidate, whichsuggests a general deep despair with currentpolitics and its power to change lives for thebetter.

At Fianna Fáil’s core lies a belief that politicalpower must reside in a people who aretruly free to decide their own future. Truerepublicanism represents a people notimprisoned or divided by simplistic ideologiesof left and right; exaggerated divides ofreligion, class, gender, sexual preference orthe latest media-fuelled social divide such as

public sector versus private sector.

Our goal should not be to exploit differencesfor narrow political gain, but to create apublic space for dialogue to occur, allowingall of our people to engage on an equal basisto achieve mutually acceptable solutions.

Fianna Fáil members are diverse but unitedOne of the key characteristics of the FiannaFáil party is the diversity of viewpoints heldby members. Some regard themselves asright, left, conservative, liberal, while othersare moderate and centrist. However, allshare one common view – which is - thattogether, we are stronger; that no problemis beyond resolution once honest dialogue,compromise and varying arguments areallowed a hearing.

The economic crisis has resulted in many

western nations feeling increasinglypowerless amidst global markets andbureaucracy. It is sad to note thereforethat this Government seems determined tocentralise political power and governance inour republic.

The local government reform programmeentitled “Putting People First” - proposesthe abolishment of the Seanad and all TownCouncils and the merging of some CountyCouncils. It is promoted as bold reform forthe purpose of reducing the high costs of abloated public service, but instead representsa new low in politics.

While there is general agreement that ourpublic services need to be delivered moreefciently, these short-sighted proposals

to abolish local government bodies aredestined to centralise political power in thehands of a few, highly paid civil servantsand the political parties that control councilchambers.

Our communities and the citizens in themwill be excluded even further from the publicpolicy process as a result of these measures. At a time when over a third of our c itizensare expressing despair about our politicalprocess, it is dangerous in the extreme toover-centralise power. Anyone who caresabout our republic must oppose thesemeasures, tooth and nail. Republicanismempowers all citizens and all communities– unlike this government which seems intenton empowering only the elite.

John Mullen is Chair of South Wicklow FiannaFáil Comhairle Ceantair

A s Fianna Fáil – The RepublicanParty meet under UachtaránFhianna Fáil Micheál Martin,

the leader of Irish Republicanism, forour 74ú Ard Fheis it is appropriate toconsider the tragedy of the Civil Warand its causes on its 90th anniversary.

Origins of Fianna Fáil are in the Civil WarThe signicance of the Civil War must be ofparticular importance for Fianna Fáil, as it is

from opposition to the Treaty settlement andthe Civil War that Fianna Fáil came. Apart fromthe origins of Fianna Fáil, many cumainn arenamed for participants in the Civil War. Thefact that Irish politics is not divided between‘Left’ and ‘Right’ but by the divisions of the CivilWar; that Fianna Fáil has never countenancedcoalition with Fine Gael, nor them with us: areexamples of the enduring legacy of Civil Warpolitics. The Civil War is the dening epoch ofIrish politics even to this day.

Catastrophe of Civil War & Division of IrishRepublicanismThe Civil War was a tragic period for IrishRepublicans and must rank amongst thesaddest episodes in the history of the Irishnation. Existing divisions within the united SinnFéin Party of 1917-1921 were opened to bloodyconsequence, dividing Irish Republicans assuccessfully as the nation had already beendivided through partition. The result on bothcounts was a weaker Ireland: geopolitically andeconomically. For Ireland, the Civil War mustbe seen as a catastrophe: one not caused byRepublicans, nor whole heartedly entered intoby our Fianna Fáil forbearers.

Republican Perspective on Origins of theCivil War

To many the cause of the Civil War was theTreaty settlement negotiated and signed underthe duress of the British threat of ‘terrible andimmediate war’ in London on 6th December1921, in breach of the Irish governmentinstruction that no agreement should be madewithout rst seeking the consent of the Cabinetin Dublin. It should be noted that the openingshots were not red until 28th June, 1922,with the Pro-Treaty Provisional Governmentbombardment of the Four Courts.

Civil War was the culmination of a number ofevents and not just the signing of the Treaty.With the passing of the Treaty, the ProvisionalGovernment was established as an instrumentfor drafting a Free State constitution andexpatiating the delegation of limited Britishauthority to the proposed Free State, withBritish troops vacating barracks, withdrawingback to the Treaty Ports bases and to theNortheast.

The British threat of terrible and immediatewar did not end with the signing of the Treatybut persisted through 1922. Despite theirdifferences, by mid-May, 1922 Éamon deValera and Michael Collins agreed a pact toght united the June, 1922 election, in whathistorians call the Pact Election, and form aunited Sinn Féin government following theelection, should they win a majority. The panelof united Sinn Féin candidates to contest theJune 16th general election was based on theexisting pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty Dáil Éireann

ratio of representation with less anti-Treatycandidates standing as against more pro-Treaty candidates.

The British response was to suspendthe evacuation of British troops from the26-counties and stop further supplies,including arms, to the Provisional Government.Just two days before voting MichaelCollins repudiated the pact. The Free StateConstitution, now an embarrassment to thenew Provisional Government, had been muchredrafted by British ofcials to expunge anyrepublican elements, appeared in newspaperson the morning of the polls, with most of theelectorate outside Dublin not having sight of itprior to voting. In the Pact general election ofJune 16th, 1922 the turnout was dramaticallyreduced at 45.5% from the 71.2% in theDecember, 1918 general election, or 61.2% inthe August, 1923 general election. The electoralturnout did not return to the high levels of 1918until the February, 1932 general election when76.5% of the electorate turned out or January,1933 when the electorate turnout reached thehigh of 81.30%. Of the 124 united Sinn Féinpanel candidates the Pro-Treaty Sinn Féin won58 seats and the Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin won only36 seats.

The result of the Pact general election canbe interpreted in a number of ways, the mostcommon being that the electorate votedoverwhelmingly for the Treaty settlement.Other interpretations include John A. Murphy’sconclusion that “in the midst of the politicalcrisis the electorate was expressing its interestin social and economic issues” or that asthe election was fought substantially on thebasis of the united Sinn Féin pact, the betterinterpretation would be to interpret the voteas a vote for the united Sinn Féin pact andthe envisaged coalition government of Proand Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin, so not as a straightvote for or against the Treaty. With a lowturnout of 45.5% it is clear that the electoratewas perplexed and certainly the anti-TreatySinn Féin failed to get its vote out. With thebenet of hindsight: was it the future Cumannna nGaedheal electorate of the conservativeestablishment that came out to vote; with thegreater sway of working class voters either

being split between the Labour Party, whichemphasised class interests such as social andeconomic issues, and Anti-Treaty Sinn Féin,with a majority of the electorate abstaining alltogether? It is of signicance that from 1922the electoral fortunes of anti-Treaty republicansimproved at the expense of the Labour Partyand with an ever increasing turnout.

In the intervening months since the Treatyvote, Pro and Anti-Treaty forces had a complexrelationship. They had been involved in a series

of stand offs, notably at Limerick in February/ March; Sligo in April and the occupation ofthe Four Courts from the 13th April, 1922;but also during the second and third weeksof June, 1922 arms were exchanged betweenthe Provisional Government forces and the Anti-Treaty Four Courts garrison so as to equipIRA Divisions in the North with untraceableweapons.

The renouncing of the electoral pact within SinnFéin by Michael Collins, and the consequentialrejection of coalition government, together withthe monarchical Free State constitution brokeany possibility of common ground being madebetween the principal Pro and Anti-Treatypolitical factions and allowed the militarists oneach side to take the initiative in leadership.

Malachaí Duddy BA (Hon) (Dubl.)Chumann FF Seán Lemass, Brí Chualann, Co.Chill Mhantáin

90th Anniversary of the Murder ofCaptain Noel Lemass Ó. na hÉ.

1916 GPO veteran, War of Independencecombatant, brother to Taoiseach Seán Lemass.

The murder of Noel Lemass took place outsidethe rule of law and outside the hostilities of theCivil War. Abducted from Drury Street, Dublinin July, 1923, two months after the ending ofthe Civil War, his dismembered remains werefound at the Featherbed Mountains on theDublin-Wicklow border near Glencree on the13th October, 1923. Captain Lemass could onlybe identied by his clothing and spectacles,being in an advanced state of decomposition,his head was found decapitated from his bodywith evidence that his ngernails had beenpulled out, having suffered torture.

At Fianna Fáil’s core lies a belief that political power must reside in a people

who are truly free todecide their own future...Our goal should not beto exploit differences for narrow political gain

THE CIVIL WAR CONSIDERED


The centenary of the 1916 Risingis fast approaching. In thiscontext as part of the party’s

on-going renewal process we needto reafrm our nationalist origins.For decades Fianna Fáil was theundisputed voice of Irish nationalism,however in recent years others havetried to steal our clothes. Likewise therevisionist versions of history beingput forward by some, as seen in therecent TV3 documentary is trying tosully the good name of those whoprovided the catalyst for our party’sfoundation.

It is now more important than ever for FiannaFáil to honour our fallen heroes from the Warof Independence, Easter Rising and the manyrebellions that preceded those along withmarking the anniversaries of our great battleson the road to freedom like Crossbarry andKilmichael.

I’m writing this piece having just returned homefrom the Crossbarry Ambush commemorationwhere the oration was expertly delivered bySenator Mark Daly. Over the last while very fewof those who gave the oration at Crossbarrywere from the Fianna Fáil family (a similarpattern has occurred in other places) so it wasgreat to see one of our own. Outside of havingan FF man give the oration there was a strongFF presence in attendance from throughoutMunster outnumbering those from those allother parties. The fact that the crowd hadbraved atrocious weather conditions showedhow much commemorating our fallen heroesand great nationalist victories means to theFianna Fáil grassroots members unlike thesunshine nationalists of other parties.

Elsewhere today the oration at the GeneralLiam Lynch Commemoration in Newcastle,Co. Tipperary was given by our party leader,Micheál Martin where he spoke on the topicof modern republicanism. This modernrepublicanism is something that should beclose to all our hearts and central to ourphilosophy as a national movement. Therst aim of the party as outlined in the coru is“to secure in peace and agreement the unityof Ireland and its people” While pursuing ourother priorities as a renewed party we needto keep this constitutional republicanism frontand centre.

It’s vital as a party we celebrate our history andembrace it fully. Men like Tom Barry whoseying column were victorious at Crossbarryand General Liam Lynch are the giants onwhose shoulders our party stands. At everyavailable opportunity we need to mark thisproud history and never again should we letothers try to claim a place that continues torightly belong to the one true republican partyin Ireland – Fianna Fáil.

by Ken Curtin, secretary of the Cobh Cumann

THE REPUBLICANPARTY 90 years on




A s a Republican party whichplaces citizenship at itsheart, I believe that slavery is

anathema to citizenship and thus toFianna Fáil.

American President Barack Obama andUS Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, haverepeatedly stated that human trafcking ismodern-day slavery. Unfortunately, slaveryis a reality in Ireland. The publicly accessible

US Department of State Trafcking in PersonsReport 2012 states that “Ireland is a destination,source, and transit country for women, men,and children subjected to sex trafcking”.

The report goes on to name ‘Kilkenny, Cork,and Dublin’ as places where children areexploited for prostitution. Indeed guresfrom the Department of Justice, Defence andEquality reveal that of the 129 victims of slaveryidentied in Ireland over the past two years,some are indeed children, among them, Irishchildren.

What is human trafcking?

In simple terms human trafcking is the use offorce, deception or coercion to make personsavailable for exploitation. While violence isat the heart of human trafcking, the varioustools trafckers employ include deception,indebtedness, psychological abuse, physicalabuse, substance abuse, threats against theperson and/or the person’s family and rape.When one looks past these individual actsof violence, true, cold-hearted manipulationbecomes apparent. This is the process bywhich slaves are made.

Many myths surround slavery. The image of avictim who has been kidnapped and shackled

to a bed in a darkened room anxiously

anticipating some impending exploitation isa potent and compelling one. This need nothowever reect reality. Such is the level ofcontrol maintained by trafckers over theirvictims that those who are trafcked are nothidden from sight, but rather hidden in plainsight.

This point is signicant, for it illustrates thenancial impetus that motivates most humantrafcking activities. If a trafcker is going tosell his or her wares, then he or she also needs

to advertise them to as wide an audience aspossible. Once victims of trafckers movefrom citizen to slave, from human being tocommodity, their transition is in hand and theprocess can then be completed.

In the Western World this form of exploitationand slavery commonly manifests in the formof forced commercial sexual exploitation,catering to customers looking to buy sex.Pimps and trafckers realise that as victimsof human trafcking are paid little, if anythingat all, the prot derived from their use as sexslaves or ‘prostitutes’, makes the practiceextremely lucrative.

A national campaign, entitled ‘Turn Off TheRed Light‘, is now focused on criminalising thepurchase of sex. Formed through an allianceof more than 60 civil society organisations,the campaign has to date enjoyed immensesupport and considerable success. Already,the initial phase of a review of prostitutionlegislation by the Joint Oireachtas Committeeon Justice, Defence and Equality, hasconcluded. The second phase will commenceshortly and in the coming months, the report ofthe committee will be issued.

Turn Off the Red Light

As citizens we all have a voice and we can

choose to use our voice to denounce slavery.The ‘Take Action’ section of the ‘Turn Off TheRed Light’ campaign website, for example,allows each and every one of us to add ourvoice to calls for legislative change.

I am profoundly grateful to Uachtarán FhiannaFáil Micheál Martin TD for the support hehas given to this matter, especially for hisassistance in unravelling, for the very rst time,details of how Irish persons have themselvesbeen exploited abroad.

I am also grateful for Fianna Fáil’s submissionto the consultative process of the JointCommittee, which arose from our party leader’ssupport.

I hope that in the coming months we will, asa party, strengthen our resolve to eradicateslavery from our society; that anti-slaverymeasures will be a strong policy item for ourparty, and that as part of our commitment torepublican citizenship, we shall all offer ourvoices to the cause of campaigning for thosewho have none.

David Lohan is Secretary of the Fianna FáilCharles Daly Cumann and co-author of a bookon human trafcking: Open Secrets: An IrishPerspective on Trafcking & Witchcraft. Hehas recently completed a Masters in Politicsat University College Cork and works, in avoluntary capacity, with Cois Tine, a charitableorganisation which provides outreach servicesto African migrants living in Ireland.

More information on human trafckingis available from his website: www.PalermoProtocol.com.

By David Lohan

SLAVERY AND HUMANTRAFFICKING MUST BE STOPPED

Fianna Fáil has undertaken a longterm commitment to protectionof the elderly which is currently

an important component of partypolicy.

As a spokesperson for older people, FiannaFáil Senator Mary White has taken the lead onending compulsory retirement in the workplacegiving older people choice and exibility inrespect of when they should retire.

The Senator has been an advocate for equalityand fairness in our society towards the growingolder population for many years and believescompulsory retirement is one of the single mostimportant issues facing older people today.

“Why should able bodied people who have fullmental and physical capacity be required toface compulsory retirement at the age of 65?Many people in their 60’s 70’s and even olderare now well able to continue working if theywish to do so as it has been proven that peopleare living longer and their long term health isimproving,” says Senator White.

With the encouragement of Uachtarán FhiannaFáil, Micheal Martin TD, Senator White draftedthe policy document “Active Ageing andQuality Caring” which was approved by FiannaFáil and published in June of 2012 as an ofcialparty policy document.

Through this document Senator Whiteproposed the introduction of the EmploymentEquality (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2012 to ensurethat people cannot be discriminated against inthe workplace on grounds of age.

These strong words were swiftly followed

by action as Senator White introduced theEmployment Equality (Amendment) (No 2)Bill 2012 in Seanad Éireann on the 21st ofNovember 2012.

“We have legislation in place to ensure peopleare not discriminated against in the workplacewith regards to ethnicity, religion and sexualorientation so why are we discriminatingagainst older age? I rmly believe that peoplemust be given choice and exibility whenmaking the decision to enter retirement or not.

The law should facilitate those people byprohibiting discrimination based on age. If aproposal was advanced prohibiting any personfrom being a member of the Houses of theOireachtas if they were over 65 years of age itwould be rejected by both houses.”

The second stage of the Employment Equality(Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2012 was debatedin the Seanad chamber for over 2 hours onthe night of the 21st of November 2012 andreceived widespread support from members ofall parties.

The Bill was seconded by Senator John Crownwho described Senator White’s ‘visionaryproposal’ as ‘critically important legislation’.

“The time has come to examine mandatoryretirement in public service. It is unfair thatsomebody who is still contributing and hasnot reached a milestone of inrmity or failed atest of ability is denied the right to work. It isinequitable,” explained Senator Crown.

A strong argument against the abolition ofmandatory retirement is that it may preventyounger people from gaining employment.

Senator White has unequivocally rejectedthat argument believing that it is unfoundedmaintaining that a similar argument was putforward in the 1930’s when the marriage banfor women was introduced.

“Women were told when they got married that‘you can’t have your jobs back because you

are taking jobs from men’. It was a nonsenseargument then and it is a nonsense argumentnow,” says Senator White.

Fianna Fáil Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú agreedby stating in the chamber, “It is interesting tonote that people of an older age encourageyoung people to do things, whether inorganisations or communities. How often doessomebody stand up and say a young personis needed? We must hear that from the otherside as well”.

Senator White has long argued that forcingpeople to retire at the age of 65 creates a “braindrain” of experience, judgement and expertisefrom public and private organisations.

This stance was strongly backed bySenator Fergal Quinn on the night of theBill’s introduction, “There is a huge value inappreciating the skills, ability and talent ofolder people, as well as in the way they canpass on these qualities to the next generation.

It is a win not only for the person who hasreached the age of 65 but also the employer,be it the state or an entrepreneurial business.”

The Bill was taken on behalf of the Government

by Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan ShatterTD who shared Senator White’s concern “thatwe facilitate the active participation of olderworkers in the labour market that benetssociety as a whole.

Many in their 60’s and 70’s have the alacrityand mental capacity to make a continuing andsubstantial contribution to their lives and thoseof others and to remain in the workforce and beinnovative,” concluded Minister Shatter.

Senator White did not seek a vote on the Bill atthis stage so that it remains on the legislativeagenda of Seanad Éireann.

by Laurence McCormack, parliamentary assistant to Senator Mary White

ENDING COMPULSORY RETIREMENT

the years in towns like Ballina, Castlebar andWestport. We are now going to lose all of thatenergy and effort and in Mayo we will be talkingabout a much broader council area, down fromsix electoral areas and three town councils, to just four electoral areas. There is a ll sorts ofspeculation about how towns will fare on this.I am a great believer in dealing with it when ithappens. I think there is a case for councils likeWestport of Kinsale to be saved. Why throwthe baby out with the bathwater? Why not justbring councils up to date instead?”

Political lifeDara has no regrets or doubts about followinghis Dad, former Fianna Fáil TD, Sean Calleary,into politics and is in it for the long haul.

“I love being able to help people around thecounty through my party. It’s wonderful tobe able to represent the country abroad andwork on issues that affect us. The best part ishelping people work through the maze that isthe system. You shouldn’t have to do it but thatis life. People need help guring out how thingswork and we are there to help them do so.”

Aspiring politiciansFor aspiring politicians, Dara has the followingwords of advice: “Throw yourself at it. Don’thold back. Don’t listen to people who sayyou can’t do it or who talk you down. If youthink it is for you, go for it. “To young people Iwould say, get involved in Ógra. Sign up for theorganisation and go for some ofcer positions.

Put your head over the parapet. I have madesome of my best friends through the party over20 years and my involvement with Ógra.“Most of all, enjoy it. It’s not all research anddebates. It’s fun as well.

I think we are in a really interesting time. Thereare so many opportunities in the party now thatweren’t there before. The day of ‘ them and us’ -headquarters and us, is gone. We are getting achance to recast the party for the 21st century.Everybody gets a stake in it. It’s not going to beabout a top down effort, but a collective effort.Here’s to the next 18 months!”

by Joan Geraghty

...(cont’d from page 13) THE NEXT 18 MONTHS ARE KEY - DARA CALLEARY, MAYO FIANNA FÁIL

“Why should able bodied people who have full

mental and physical capacity be required

to face compulsory retirement at the age of

65? Many people in their

60’s 70’s and even older are now well able to

continue working if they

wish to do so

Senator Mary White and Senator Hilary Clinton




PHOTOS




Back in April 2011 the possibilityof Fianna Fáil seeing its pollratings even just break through

the 20% barrier seemed like a pipedream. But more than that, it was onethat you dared not talk about in publicin case people might question 1: Yourpolitical judgement or 2: Your grip onreality.

Yet, barely two years on, our party’s support

heading into the mid 20s and we haveconfounded the pundits with two better thananticipated by-election performances in DublinWest and Meath East.

Back in 2011 things looked a lot darker. Therehad been a number of occasions between late2008 and early 2011, as support plummeted,where we thought: it cannot fall any further. Yetit did.

Two years on from what I described in anEvening Herald column as our electoral“punishment beating” our main achievement isnot the increase in the polls, but rather the haltin the party’s decline achieved in the monthsfollowing the February 2011 defeat.

That was the critical point. It was when theparty’s future was most at risk. Rememberthose political pundits who advised that theonly future lay in lurching to the right or tryingto outank the Shinners on euro-scepticism?

That was when we faced the key test for avenerable and established political party: itsability to adapt and respond effectively tochange. The alternative was stark: descendinto factionalism and fade slowly into oblivion.

The General Election 1966 wasthe rst time I had the pleasureof meeting the late Brian

Lenihan’s father Brian – Brian with theblack wavy hair.

Brian was then T.D. for Roscommon and hewas canvassing in the Cootehall Parish. I canstill remember him walking up the avenue andinto the hayeld where Dad and I were makinghay. Needless to say I had no vote and Brian

was 100% certain of No. 1 from Dad.

In the 1973 general election Brian lost his seatin Roscommon but I renewed my acquaintancewith him again a few years later, when we bothfound ourselves in the constituency of DublinWest which then ran from Castleknock toClane. Brian was the lead man on the FiannaFáil ticket and I had the joy of being totallyinvolved in that Election campaign.

It was during that Election I rst met Brian Óg –he stood out from the crowd - he was a leader.We fought many other General Elections withsuccess, up to and including the GeneralElection 1989, when Brian (senior) was in theU.S. for his transplant operation and Brian Ógtook over the running of the campaign – herehe showed his brilliance, his vision, his abilityand his skill as a politician. The meetings in thefront room in Castleknock every morning werea joy to attend – where Brian Óg’s leadershipshone like a beacon from on high.

Sadly Brian (senior) died in 1995 but Brian Ógwas the unanimous choice for the Bye-Election1996 – which he then won with ying colours.

Suddenly Brian Óg became Brian Lenihan – theleader.

Days in Athlone.Brian was brought up in Dublin and Athlonewhere his extended family were involved inthe Hodson Bay Hotel. Brian and the Lenihanfamily are highly respected in the town todayand will be for a long time to come.

Brian attended the local national school. MaryO’Rourke, his aunt, conrms that she taughthim Latin and his grandmother taught himFrench – even at that early age Brian showedhe was always a step ahead.

After he nished his Leaving Certicate inBelvedere College, Brian qualied with rstclass honours in Law from Trinity College, andhe then qualied with distinction, as a Barristerfrom Kings Inns, in 1984.

He married Ms. Patricia Ryan in 1986, a fellowbarrister and a lady of immense quality andcharacter. Patricia and Brian set up home inthe constituency and were blessed with twobeautiful children.

Brian’s political career moved swiftly, fromChairman of the Constitutional Committeeto Minister for Children and in 2007 he was

appointed Minister of Justice, where he servedwith distinction. In 2008 he took over asMinister of Finance, where he had to deal withwhat was the worst national and internationalnancial crisis since the Great Depression.

Brian was a wonderful person.Brian was a very humble person.Brian was a great husband and father.Brian was a dedicated Fianna Fáil man whoalways put the country rst.Brian would have been a wonderful leader and

Taoiseach.

To his wife, Patricia, son, daughter andextended family, we express our sincerecondolences.

Ta mo chara imithe. Ar Dheis de go raibh a hanam dilis.

Michael McGreevy Leixlip & Roscommon

BRIAN LENIHAN – AN APPRECIATION

Brian Lenihan, 1959 - 2011.

BACK FROM THE BRINK

By the time of last year’s Árd Fheis the partyhad determined that its future lay in change:real change. The decision to invite Prof TimBale to address the Árd Fheis was bothtimely and inspired. His presentation, basedon his research into the Tories 13 years in thewilderness, listed the 12 key lessons points aparty in our position needs to learn. The rsttwo are:

1: Fully understand the scale of the defeat and2: Not to underestimate your opponents.

Yet they are two lessons large establishedparties nd it hardest to grasp. Havingrepresented the political centre of gravity for solong it is hard to grasp that it has moved awayand that you need to regain its trust.

This was not just true of the Tories, but ofother big political parties who have lost andrecovered: from the British Labour Party to theJapanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The temptation is to believe that your rejectionis just a temporary phenomenon: that yourformer voters have just been misled by sirenvoices from the opposition and will return tothe fold when the weaknesses and failings ofthe other crowd are exposed.

This was the mistake the Tories made aboutNew Labour under Tony Blair and, converselythe mistake that Old Labour made aboutThatcher. Both seriously underestimated theiropposition and considerably overestimatedtheir apparent entitlement to govern.

But there is another point on Prof Bale’s list. Itis number 12: Political parties with respectedtraditions rarely disappear

While the SPD still languishes behind itsrival CDU some nine years after GerhardSchröder lost the Chancellorship to Merkel, itis still a major force in German politics. WhileSchröder’s resignation and the formation ofthe left wing Die Linke hurt Germany’s oldestpolitical party, it focussed on the future;reformed and changed.

The same can be said for the SwedishSocial Democrats – once Fianna Fáil’s mainchallenger for the title of Europe’s moresuccessful political party. While its support hasbeen falling steadily since the early 1990s, itstill remains a major force in Swedish politics,though in opposition since 2006.

While these parties suffered successive defeats,they were not on the scale of Feb 2011. To ndan example of a party that came back from

an electoral mauling of similar magnitude youneed to look to Japan’s LDP. Sometimes hailedas the world’s most successful democraticparty, the LDP held power in Japan almostcontinuously from 1955 to September 2009.

The seeds of its 2009 defeat (where it wentfrom 296 seats to 119) were sown in the mid90s where there were a number of majorpolitical reforms.

While the LDP continued to win elections,

other parties were adapting better. It could stillboast a popular leader in Junichiro Koizumibut, behind the scenes, the LDP was losingits advantage. It went from winning the 2005election with one of the largest majorities everto losing 60% of its seats in 2009.

The loss provided an initial shock to the systemwith some MPs jumping ship, but the LDP is abig and long established beast. It soon adaptedto the 1994 reforms and worked at providing avery effective opposition. After just three years

it completely reversed the 2009 defeat winning294 seats at the December 2012 election.

Clearly there were other factors at play, but itdoes show what a political party that is deeplyrooted in its communities and has a wide anddiverse membership can achieve when it facesup to realities.

By Derek Mooney

Derek is a former government special advisor and now specialises in communications and public policy consultancy. Derek is a member of the party in Dublin Bay South. Contact Derek at:www.derekmooney.ie / Twitter: @dsmooney

Two years on from what

I described in an Evening

Herald column as our electoral

“punishment beating” our

main achievement i s not the

increase in the polls, but rather

the halt in the party’s decline achieved in the months

following the February 2011

defeat.

The temptation is to believe

that your rejection is just a

temporary phenomenon: that

your former voters have just

been misled by siren voices

from the opposition and will

return to the fold when the

weaknesses and failings of

the other crowd are exposed.

After he nished his Leaving

Certicate in Belvedere

College, Brian qualied with

rst class honours in Law

from Trinity College, and he

then qualied with distinction,

as a Barrister from Kings Inns,

in 1984.




Don’t LookBack in Anger- Detoxing TheTories

Tim Bale’s seminarat Árd Fheis 2012was one of the many‘full-house’ eventsof that gathering. Hepresented a 12-pointprogramme of post-

traumatic therapy for a large and long-servingpolitical organisation like Fianna Fáil, looking torecover from a defeat on the traumatic scalewe endured together in 2011. It became oneof the most eagerly discussed and debatedsessions among members attending that ÁrdFheis.

Dr Bale’s prescription, in a nutshell, was asfollows:1. Realise and face-up to how ‘toxic’ theperception of your Party has become.2. Do not underestimate your opponents –don’t simply believe that any faltering on theirpart will bring about your Party’s recovery.3. Place a high value on external research –talking amongst ourselves will not teach usabout broader public sentiment.4. Accept that people are not interested in whatyour Party got right previously – so don’t wastetime trying to rescue or defend your Party’srecord.5. Do not obsess about organisational reformsat the cost of spending time listening andcampaigning among the public.6. Demonstrate to the electorate that yourParty is a ‘changed’ entity – ring the changeswith fresh faces and new ideas.7. Adopt positions in Opposition that expressyour Party’s vision and priorities, rather than

ones that are very painstakingly crafted for thene detail of ready implementation.8. Oppose the Government ‘tooth-and-nail’ –be constructive – certainly - but be aggressive.9. Don’t lay too much store by good results inbye-elections or local elections.10. Your leader must be the driver of yourcomeback – not your members.11. Your comeback may take 2 to 3parliamentary terms – so, you must do what isright and proper over time rather than what isexpedient – put ‘strategy’ ahead of ‘tactics’.12. Remember that parties with venerabletraditions rarely disappear.

Dr Bale’s list for Fianna Fáil is a distillation oflessons the Conservatives learned only aftermany years at the back of the class - mostremarkably their nine-year search for anelectable leader, commencing with WilliamHague, (1997-2001), then Iain Duncan Smith

(2001-2003) before reaching even further intotheir past to select Michael Howard, (of theformer Thatcher Cabinets), from 2003.

Fianna Fáil has always been the Party ofequality of opportunity and access in educationand health services – as can be witnessedin the reforming work of occupants of theseportfolios as far back as James Ryan, PaddyHillery and Donogh O’Malley to, more recently,our present leader. We need to preserve thesepriorities while continuing to adhere to the Bale

principals elsewhere.

Micheál Martin has forthrightly acknowledgedthat politics in general have fallen to a placeof low-cynicism in the public-esteem andthat Fianna Fáil is not immune to it. He hasput radical, genuine political reform at theheight of the Fianna Fáil agenda. Our Leader’sprogramme of appointment of Local Area Repshas promoted a cadre of people who representa balanced mix of gender and background. Inmost cases they are the previously unheardvoices of our Party - demonstrating thechanged and renewed Fianna Fáil. Moreover,the campaigning deployment of that cadre, aslocal activists, demonstrates our will to engagewith communities and opinions across thepublic

It is acknowledged from the highest ofcesin the Party that a failure to keep touch withthe concerns and desires of grassroots playedits part in the Party’s difculties over recentyears. The trend is being reversed: SuccessfulPolicy Conferences on Education, (Galway,June 2012), Health and Finance, (Clondalkin,November 2012), have established a healthyprincipal and precedent of listening andengagement with party members underMicheál Martin’s leadership.

Perhaps many Fianna Fáil members feel verylittle common-cause with UK Conservatives.We should nevertheless learn from the mistakesof their recent history that kept them in Britain’spolitical wilderness for over a decade. TimBale’s assessment of our current position andhis exploration of the Conservative’s decade ofwoe can help us to do that.

Review by Garrett Greene, a member of the Ard Chomhairle “Committee of 20” and an activist of the Ennis CC.

Just Mary - A Memoir - by Mary O Rourke

As the new year2013 rolled in, thismuch anticipatedpolitical and personalmemoir of formerFianna Fáil DeputyLeader, governmentTD, Minister for

Education, Senator and Leader of the Seanad,Mary O Rourke, achieved top position on thehardback best-seller list of 2012.

Released by Gill & McMillan just in time forChristmas 2012, ‘Just Mary - A Memoir’makes for a tremendous read providingresonating memories of love, loss, ambition,disappointments and triumphs throughout acareer that Ms O Rourke maintains she has stillnot retired from.

Characteristically frank like its author, the storyin ‘Just Mary’ makes public a more detailedMary O Rourke - the woman, alongside thewell-known Mary O Rourke - the politician.Relayed in her typical chatty style, it outlinesa hugely successful political career against thebackdrop of a love story with her late husband,Enda O Rourke, a van wholesaler who she fellfor at age 18. The couple married when shewas just 22, he 24 and following her immersionin national politics in later years, Enda becameher ‘ballast throughout the years’, encouragingher political career and managing home andfamily in her absence.

Ms O Rourke also divulges with raw honestywanting to become a mother, fertility issues,the birth of their rst son Fergal, undiagnosed

postnatal depression and the adoption of theirsecond son, Aenghus.

Later Ms O Rourke outlines the developmentof Enda’s illness and the subsequent hugeloss she suffered following his death in 2001.She also laments the passing of her brotherBrian Lenihan Snr and in 2011 that of his son,Finance Minister Brian Lenihan Jnr, while atvarious stages paying thoughtful tributes tothem on their political prowess.

Pitted against a background that saw Ms ORourke move from working in the Hudson Bayfamily hotel in Athlone on to teaching, throughmotherhood and deep into the world of politics,the story also provides insights into FiannaFáil’s handling of the 1997 Presidential election;the Eircom private share sale controversy;getting trapped in New York following theterrorist attack on the Twin Towers; recession,

reckonings and ‘the bailout’ and containscomments on previous Fianna Fáil Taoisaigh,

Charles Haughey and Bertie Ahern.

PoliticsBorn Mary Lenihan in 1937, the youngest of fourchildren, Ms O Rourke’s family was steepedin politics. Her Dad was PJ Lenihan, fromKilfenora, Co Clare, a pro-Treaty and MichaelCollins supporter who went on to become aFianna Fáil TD. Her mother, Annie Scanlan, ateacher, hailed from a strong Republican anti-Treaty family in Drumcliff, Co Sligo.

The family settled in Athlone in 1936 after thethen Minister for Industry and Commerce inthe Fianna Fáil government, Sean Lemass,appointed her father to set up the GeneralTextiles factory (Gentex) there.

Mary O Rourke’s own political career was a richand powerful one, that saw her initially becomea member of Athlone Town Council, laterserving as Chair. She was elected a Westmeathcounty councillor in 1979 before becominga Senator in 1981 and then Leader of theSeanad. Her rst bid for the Dail in March 1982failed but six months later after the Fine Gael/ Labour coalition broke down, she became a TDfor the rst time.

She admits to being ‘bold’ and ‘audacious’ in

turning down leader Charles J Haughey’s offerto become ‘Minister for Women’s Affairs’, laterhappily accepting his offer of Shadow Ministerfor Education.

She went on to become Minister for Education,at a challenging time of huge spending cutsunder ‘Mac the knife’ Ray Mac Sharry.

She also served as Minister for Health fora three-month stint; Junior Minister in theDepartment of Enterprise and Commerce;Minister of State for Labour with responsibilityfor Consumer Affairs; Minister for PublicEnterprise (1997) and served as Deputy Leaderand Shadow Minister for Enterprise in 1995before subsequently returning to Cabinet asMinister for Public Enterprise.

Ms O Rourke attributes much of her politicalsuccess to her rm belief in the mantra, ‘Carpe

Diem’ ie seize the day - advice she followed onher rst day as a TD in Dail Eireann, when shedelivered an inaugaral speech so powerful yetdeceptively simple (quoted in full in the book),it marked her out as a woman of huge ambitionfrom the start.

Ms O Rourke was one of the many Fianna Fáilcasualties to lose her seat in the February 2011election and indeed, opens the book settingthe scene of this loss. She also discloseshowever a plan not to retire, stating:

“I nd myself in 2012, age 75, still wanting toknow all that is happening in political life andlife in general too.”

The story continues to unfold …

Review - Joan Geraghty

Thomas Jefferson- The Art ofPower

In this captivatingand quick read JonMeacham managesto unmask ThomasJefferson in a way thatprevious biographieshave failed to do.Meacham presentsan altogether more

knowable version of the man, enabling usbear witness to a pragmatic, intelligent andprogressive leader.

A recipient of the coveted Pulitzer Prize for hisbook American Lion: Andrew Jackson in theWhitehouse, Meacham has perfected a style of

writing history that avoids the usual onslaughtof dates, names and facts. Instead the authorfocuses on the personalities of his subjects. Indoing so he takes the reader on a journey thatis hard to step away from.

The book gives us Jefferson the politician andpresident, the thinker and man of action. Hehated confrontation, and was adept at learningfrom his past mistakes in order to prevail.Jefferson had many passions, but above allhe strove time and time again against erceopposition to ensure that popular governmentin America prevailed. He led his nation througheconomic change, bitter partisanship, culturalwarfare and threats both external and internal.Jefferson judged political life in the contextof the threat posed by the British threat todemocratic republicanism, a preoccupation heshared in common with many political guresthroughout Irish history.

The godfather of the ideal o f individual liberty, ofthe Lewis and Clark expedition, the LouisianaPurchase and the settling of the West,Jefferson was well aware that the possibility ofprogress lay in the genius of humanity and inthe genius of the new nation. Jefferson was acentral gure in an age of discovery, ingenuityand learning. It is no small achievement that“for thirty-six of the forty years between 1800and 1840, either Jefferson or a self-describedadherent of his served as president of theUnited States: James Madison, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren. (JohnQuincy Adams, a one-term president, wasthe single exception.) This unofcial and little-noted Jeffersonian dynasty is unmatched in American history.”

Throughout the pages of this biographyMeacham stylishly probes Jefferson’s love ofprogress and thirst for power. This terric pieceof work serves as an excellent portrait of one ofthe original philosopher-politicians. It allows usto see the political brilliance of Jefferson betterthan ever before. ‘Thomas Jefferson: The Art ofPower’ is a must for history and political buffs,and is a fantastic addition to the literature.

Review - Pádraig Martin

BOOK REVIEWS

Dr Bale’s list for Fianna Fáil is a distillation of lessons theConservatives learned only

after many years at the back of the class

Characteristically frank like its author, the story in ‘Just Mary’ makes public a more detailed Mary O Rourke - the woman,

alongside the well-knownMary O Rourke - the politician

he strove time and time again against erce oppositionto ensure that popular

government in America prevailed. He led his nationthrough economic change,

bitter partisanship, cultural warfare and threats both

external and internal.

Cuisle

Are you interested in developing the Cuisle web presence? In addition to our existingsocial media presence we are interested in

creating new channels for Cuisle. Drop us aline marked ‘web’to [email protected] you

would like to get involved.




Social media is putting pressure on politics andpoliticians. People pick up information onlineand ofine they spread that information aroundlike wildre. There is no hiding place today forthose who want to treat the electorate as fools,the politician who thinks he/she is being cleveror devious is surely making a big mistake.

Two years now in ofce and this governmenthas been arrogant and cynical to levels I havenever witnessed. Election 2011 appeared to bea turning point with the micro and macro detail

of politics in action open to serious reform andpermanent scrutiny. This government have madea mockery of reforms in political behaviour. I askmyself am I just a “dyed in the wool” FF memberlooking for an angle to attack those opposedto FF. I don’t think so, to me people want to betreated with respect and spoken to as adults.They want straight talking and despise endlessfalse promises made in pursuit of a pointlesspolitical agenda.

Based on Michael Martin’s leadership over lasttwo years I rmly believe FF can be the upfrontand honest party the country needs. If somehowI met my friend Tommy today it wo uld be nice tosay those devious people we joked about haveno place in FF these days.

Patrick Monks,ChairmanCon Colbert CumannPalmerstownDublin 20

A chara,I came late to Fianna Fáil when, like a great manyothers, I married, settled down and wanted thebest for my children. There really was no credible

alternative back then. Due to circumstances,I’ve had to rethink my allegiance in recent yearsand will readily admit I took satisfaction in FiannaFáil wearing sackcloth and ashes after the lastelection. It was required and it was needed - andI will also say I welcomed Micheal Martin’s braveapology at last year’s Ard Fheis.

While great strides have been taken - theimplementation of OMOV in particular - it is withthe current state of the ‘Renewal’ drive that Itake issue with, and challenge the Party itself on.I applaud your own good work in producing this

magazine but could we see articles by electednational executive members outlining what theyachieved during their year in ofce? Agendas,minutes and records of votes and attendancesof their meetings should be published . Theordinary member, now able to directly electtheir national ofcers via OMOV, demands andexpects more accountability especially in thisage of multi- and social-media.

We have some good strong performers electedand volunteers working nationally with limited

resources - and I include some members of thecurrent ‘Committee of 20’ in this - but we will beundone by anachronistic, unwieldy and outdatedstructures, unless we change them. There ismuch work being carried out on the policy side -and there is some evidence of success in policyformulation judging from increasing attendancesat meetings - but we need to revamp ourstructures. OMOV was a necessary step in theright direction but it was only a step - we needto address our structures so that those electedto committees, whether to Ofcer Boards ofComhairle Ceanntair or Comhairle Dáil, to the‘Committee of 20’ or to the Ard Chomhairle, sothat they have individually properly dened andvisible duties and responsibilities; and that thereis clear reporting against those goals ; it is onlythen that they can be properly held accountable.

Without accountability, we will continue to havethe status-quo and Fianna Fáil will remain aparty of the 20th Century party in 21st CenturyIreland. And ‘Renewal’ grinds to a halt. None ofus want to see that happen.

Is mise

Seán Broe,Cathaoirleach, Roger Casement Cumann

Robert Lloyd Praeger, one of AnTaisce’s founders, stated in1948

“In all but the most backward countriesorganisations exist which have for their objectthe protection and preservation of things ofnatural beauty or of human interest within theirboundaries. These need protection againstdilapidation, against injury, whether causedby carelessness, ignorance or ruthlessness,against sequestration for private ends, and

in respect in recent times often against theaction of public bodies.”

The need for An Taisce The National Trust forIreland, a non Governmental Charity, is asstrong now as it was then. The natural andbuilt environment belongs to the people ofIreland and still needs the same protection.

An Taisce aims to do this by:

Advocacy An Taisce ghts for a sustainable future forthe people of Ireland and their children withinan environment that is protected as far aspossible from harm.

An Taisce works with other National andInternational bodies to bring the latestenvironmental thinking to the people andGovernment. In doing so An Taisce always

tries to provide solutions.

Sustainability Economic, Social and EnvironmentalSustainability are interlinked. Our societylives within the environment and our economyworks within our society. However theenvironment is under stress both from overextraction of resources and over pollution ofour air (climate change) and water and the lossof bio-diversity. These environmental stresseswill in turn inict huge stresses on society andthe economy. Society and the economy aregoing to have to decarbonise, move from aconstant growth in resource usage and protecthabitats and bio-diversity.

Protection through PlanningPlanning is meant to ensure that developmentis carried out in a fair way that should allow,as far as possible, services to be provided to

all the people at a reasonable cost and shouldallow them reasonable access to work, social,

leisure and health opportunities. Urban sprawland high commute distances are examplesof where this has failed. Some planning andassociated licensing are in place to directlyprotect the environment.

Once plans have been approved byGovernment and other relevant Local Authorities, An Taisce acts, as far as possible,as a watch-dog to ensure that those plansand guidelines are being followed and nobodyis trying to get around them for excessivepersonal gain or at the detrimental expense ofthe environment

Education An Taisce has always understood therequirement for education in the environmentalsphere and has provided a range of seminars,outings and meeting for its members, throughthe network of Local Associations it hasthroughout the country.

15 years ago, An Taisce realised theimportance of environmental education inschools, and began the ‘Green SchoolsProgramme’ as part of the InternationalFederation for Environmental Education (FEE). An Taisce runs the most successful Green/EcoSchools programme in the world with 90% of

schools signed up. As well as the educationalsuccess, the programmes have recognisedcost savings in schools through savings inenergy, water, and transport costs.

An Taisce also r uns the Green Home, GreenCampus, Greening Communities, NationalSpring Clean, Clean Coast and Blue Flagprogrammes.

Preservation An Taisce preserves examples of the Country’sBuilt and Natural Heritage, through ownershipon behalf of the people of Ireland. An Taiscemaintains a small number of properties suchas Tailors’ Hall and Howth Courthouse as wellas several thousand acres of preserved bogsthat are part of various National Parks.

For further details and to join seewww.antaisce.ie

In Focus: An Taisce

ear sirooking back now at Fianna Fáil’s decision not

run a candidate in the presidential election, itan be safe to say that the sky did not fall downn us.

hat the party has traditionally done is notprecedent for the future. Party members,

nd especially the parliamentary party, shouldways be encouraged to think outside the box.

ours etc.

at Hynes,ublin South CDC

ear Cuisle magazine,the run-up to General Election 2011, rural

eland was promised the sun, moon, and starsy many Fine Gael candidates. However sincerming a coalition government with Labour,ese promises seem to have been longrgotten.

he coalition does not give a damn aboutral Ireland, which must carry the cross of

xtortionate taxes and charges. For example, forral people the car is a vital tool in every daye, in order to reach urban centres and avoidolation. However, instead of assisting in theosts associated with travel, the coalition hasstead increased motor tax for all bands of

ehicle as well as engine size in budget 2013.his could very well make it impossible for somerural Ireland to afford the use of a car, in turn,ducing their chances of obtaining gainful

mployment in urban centres.

ven community employment schemes thatovided some jobs to local in rural areas, have

een hit with cuts.

any large families live in rural areas meaningat children must travel to access schools and

olleges. The government however does noteem to recognise the importance of education

such families, in light of the increase imposedn the cost of school transport for primaryudents from 50 Euro to 100 Euro per head.

ever in the history of the Republic haveeams been trodden upon so heavily by

n administration. If you are not angry yetmember it was the coalition of Fine Gael and

Labour that increased the Capital AcquisitionsTax (CAT) on gifts and inheritances from 25 to30 %, and to 33% in budget 2013. That is whatyour family and friends worked for not them.This government has even had the nerve to taxyou on your own property.

It is time we fought back and stopped beingdefecated upon by this government.

It is time we say to Fine Gael/Labour - no moresmash, and grab budgets.

Yours,Shane Burke,Laois Ógra PRO

A chara,Tommy was a neighbour and friend but diedabout 15 years ago aged 50. Both of us joinedFF back in 1976 in Noel Lemass Cumann, DSC.We attended CDC meetings and being close tocity centre these were packed houses with TDsfrom outside Dublin staying overnight attending. Tommy was a gentle cynic with great humourand we joked about all the devious peopleworking the crowd, no need to go into detailsof that but it was amusing to watch them inaction. When tommy and I met outside of FF therst thing we said to each other “hey, meet anydevious people lately ? “

Politics is permanently in trouble with accusationsof croneyism, gombeenism and any insult onecares to mention ung at politicians from alldirections. When it comes to FF the party hasreceived by far more abuse than other partiesand a lot of it deserved. However, since the 2011election we can say without fear of contradictionFF behaviour has been impeccable. The party

still gets dung from the past thrown at it but inthe last two years I cannot recall one incidentwhen any member of the Oireachtas or generalparty member stepped out of line and becamethe target of sustained abuse.

The future of the party depends on many thingsbut a party free of scandal must be a priority. Any hint of a problem should be dealt withinstantly and conclusively. The days of treatingthe public with scorn and indifference are gone.The general public is now far more educated andshrewder at spotting chancers than ever before.

YOUR LETTERS very issue Cuisle publishes a selection of members’ letters. Here is the latest batch...

WRITE TO CUISLE: Cuisle would like to hear your views. If you have any though ts on Fianna Fáil, politics in general or any of the issues raised in this issue please write to us. Letters can be emailed to [email protected] (please use the subject line ‘Letters’) or posted to Cuisle PO Box, c/o FiannaFáil Headquarters, 65/ 66 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.

THESE LETTERS REFLECT THE

OPINIONS OF THE LETTER WRITERS

CONCERNED. THEY DO NOT REFLECT

THE VIEWS OF THE FIANNA FÁIL

PARTY LEADERSHIP, FIANNA FÁIL

HEADQUARTERS OR CUISLE.

An Taisce runs the most successful Green/EcoSchools programme inthe world with 90% of schools signed up.

An Taisce preservesexamples of the Country’sBuilt and Natural Heritage,through ownership on behalf of the people of Ireland

In a new series Cuisle hears from different groups within society to gain a better understanding of their aims, objectives and approaches. If your group would like to be featured please let us know.




Fianna Fáil has been instrumentalin shaping the architecture of theEuropean project and inuencing

key policy decisions, exemplifying theLemass view that “we can’t opt out ofthe future”.

The EU is now at a cross roads, moving fromausterity policies towards growth and stabilityand determining how to do more with less with

regard to the EU budget are the key challengesfacing EU policy makers at present. As theEU moves into the next budget cycle thereare many questions which must be addressedabout the future direction of the project, itsnancing, aims and objectives.

This is an opportune time for Fianna Fáil tocontinue to build upon its strong reputation forleadership in Europe and to capitalise on itstradition of strong and effective engagementwith the European Union. In advance of theEuropean Parliament elections in 2014, it istimely to re-engage the public in a positiveway with the European project and to provide aplatform for discussion on shaping the directionthe EU must take, whilst building upon thestrong position and tradition of Fianna Fáil atthe heart of the European Union.

In 1972 Fianna Fáil concluded the nalnegotiations on Irish membership of theEuropean Economic Community. Building onthe work of Sean Lemass, Jack Lynch andthe rst Fianna Fáil European Commissioner,Dr. Patrick Hillery, Fianna Fáil MEPs andCommissioners have continued the strongFianna Fáil tradition of positive and effectiveengagement with Europe over the past40 years. Over this time Fianna Fáil has

consecutively employed an outward lookingvision at the EU level which has shaped bothEuropean Union policy and modern Ireland.

Patrick Hillery served as Fianna Fáil’s rstEuropean Commissioner in the portfolio ofSocial Affairs and since then Fianna FáilCommissioners have held key portfolios in Agriculture and Rural Development, Personnel Administration, Social Affairs and Employment,Health and Consumer Protection and theInternal Market. The current CommissionerMáire Geoghegan Quinn holds the inuentialportfolio of Research, Innovation and Science,

which is one of the key sectors tasked withstimulating economic growth in Europe.

Building on Patrick Hillery’s example, FiannaFáil Commissioners have been instrumentalin implementing dynamic and forward lookingpolices at the heart of the European project.From the Directive on Equal Pay prohibitingdiscrimination on the grounds of sex in relationto pay, giving employees the right to judicialprocess when discriminated against, reformingthe Common Agriculture Policy to includeincreased focus on Rural Development andrural communities and introducing social policyto European competences. Fianna Fáil wasalso at the heart of developing a new EU HealthStrategy, leading the way in banning misleadingadvertising in relation to cigarettes, introducingthe EU Services Directive in order to achievefull competition in the services sectors acrossEurope and implementing the InnovationUnion and Horizon 2020, key programmes forresearch and innovation in the EU.

Fianna Fáil MEPs representing theirconstituencies in the European Parliamenthave upheld the tradition of effective andforward looking engagement on a wide

range of policy issues. Fianna Fáil MEPshave been instrumental in inuencing andshaping policy in relation to the reform of the

Common Agriculture Policy, EU Sports Policy,the Common Fisheries Policy, implementingtrade sanctions to protect Irish shermen inthe sheries sector, copyright legislation, dataprotection, EU Drugs policy and the recognitionof the Irish language as an ofcial EU language,among others.

While much of the focus on Europe in recentyears has been negative, there are many

positives for Irish citizens brought about dueto the vision of the Fianna Fáil government inplacing Ireland at the heart of the EU. Irishcitizens have the right to move, work and residefreely in the member states of the EuropeanUnion; Irish businesses have unhinderedaccess to a market of 500 million people andthe pay gap between women and men hasbeen narrowed.

In rural Ireland, Irish agriculture has received

over €46 billion in European funds to date, localcommunities and businesses have benetedfrom support under the LEADER programmeand the transport infrastructure across Irelandhas improved signicantly due to EU structuralfunds. Over 28,000 Irish students have had theopportunity to study or work abroad under theErasmus programme, increasing their mobilityand employability. The inclusion of Irish asan ofcial working language in the EU helpsto assist promotion of the language and itspreservation for future generations.

As the legislative role of the EuropeanParliament grows so does the importance ofengaging with the issues and keeping partymembers fully informed. In this regard, the

Patrick Hillery Cumann Brussels, the rstFianna Fáil Cumann established outside ofIreland, will add another link betwee n the party,its members and the European policy makingprocess. The Cumann’s members, drawnfrom across the EU institutions, Europeanpublic affairs organisations, think tanks and theprivate sector, have a wealth of experience andknowledge and are committed to the renewalof the party and look forward to furtheringthe positive image and work of Fianna Fáil inEurope.

The Patrick Hillery Cumann Brussels can becontacted at: [email protected]

Ciaran Bolger, Chairperson.

I would like to thank Laura Real and OonaghGrace who wrote this article on behalf of thePatrick Hillery Cumann Brussels.

PATRICK HILLERY CUMANN BRUSSELS - BUILDINGON THE STRONG FIANNA FÁIL TRADITION IN EUROPE

THE WILD GEESENATIONAL DRAW REPORT

As the EU moves into the next budget cycle there are many questions which must be addressed about the future direction of the

project, its nancing, aims and objectives.

Building on Patrick Hillery’s example, Fianna Fáil Commissioners have been instrumental in implementingdynamic and forward looking polices at the heart of the European project

As the legislative role of the European Parliament grows so does the importance of engagingwith the issues and keeping party membersfully informed

Constituency 2011 2012

Return € Return €

ROSCOMMON 31,750 32,750

CLARE 27,150 31,250

CORK SC 24,150 27,650

WEXFORD 23,450 26,550

LIMERICK COUNTY 20,150 24,250

DONEGAL 23,800 22,650

GALWAY WEST 16,100 21,350

GALWAY EAST 18,100 19,650

CAVAN 19,050 18,750

CORK NW 17,350 17,550

LOUTH 21,550 16,900KERRY 19,050 16,750

TIPPERARY 15,000 16,750

WESTMEATH 12,300 16,550

MAYO 15,750 15,250

WATERFORD 4,550 15,100

CORK SW 12,200 14,750

OFFALY 13,650 14,350

MEATH EAST 12,450 13,250

DUBLIN FINGAL 7,900 11,850

DUBLIN RATHDOWN 9,100 10,600

DUBLIN SC 6,550 10,350

LAOIS 6,150 10,250

D UB LI N B AY S OU TH 1 1, 25 0 1 0, 15 0

SLIGO 10,600 10,100

KILKENNY 9,650 9,900

MEATH WEST 9,200 9,850

CORK EAST 9,900 9,400

KILDARE SOUTH 7,100 8,350

KILDARE NORTH 6,150 8,150

LEITRIM 7,800 7,950

MONAGHAN 6,400 7,950

DUBLIN SW 2,000 7,950

DUBLIN BAY NORTH 8,200 7,750

CORK NC 8,600 7,550

DUN LAOGHAIRE 6,850 6,900

DUBLIN WEST 5,800 6,750

LONGFORD 5,550 6,150

WICKLOW 8,750 5,300

DUBLIN MWEST 6,050 5,300

LIMERICK CITY 3,650 4,850

DUBLIN CENTRAL 4,200 3,950

DUBLIN NW 2,750 3,650

CARLOW 1,250 1,750

- -

VARIOUS 12,800 0

Total 531,750 574,750

Thanks to all members who supported our national draw. Along with the national collection, this is of vital importance to running the party and ghting elections. A report by constituency is contained below.



OUR PARTY, OUR FUTURE.

When I joined Fianna Fáil asan undergraduate in NUIG,Ireland was booming. The

year was 2003 and jobs were aplenty for anyone who wanted one.The Fianna Fáil led government ofthe day had laid the foundations tohelp attract international businessto these shores and it is thesefoundations that are today helpingIreland recover from the recession ofrecent years. The situation however isnot improving at a pace fast enoughto stop the brain drain. We all havefriends and family members whohave been forced abroad in search of

better opportunities.

Ireland needs a party of solutions and thatparty is Fianna Fáil. Ógra is the platform foryoung people to express their ideas about

our nation’s future. Ógra must be central inchallenging how we do our politics and whatwe stand for.

Since the election of the new CentralOfcer Board in February at the NationalYouth Conference in Sligo, I have set aboutimplementing a ‘Roadmap for Ógra’. Thisroadmap sets out a 12 month strategy onhow Ógra can foster and develop our party’syoung members to be effective and productive

contributors.

Through the soon to be launched ‘Leader’s Academy’, young members will have easyaccess to professional training in skills such asdebating, fundraising, campaigning, and media

skills. In politics, people are the asset and wecannot expect members to deliver to theirmaximum potential if they have not yet beenequipped with the necessary skills.

We will also be launching an OireachtasInternship Programme. This offers anopportunity to our members to gain experienceof the life of a public representative andexposes them to how politics works on theground, but it also offers our ParliamentaryParty access to the ideas these young people

have to put forward.

First and foremost, Ógra is a campaigningorganisation. As the only credible Republican

Party on the island we must advocate on behalfof those who are most vulnerable. Ógra must bea voice for Ireland’s youth. One of the reasonsI joined Ógra was because of strong andpositive message they delivered on campusthrough campaigns. I want to see Ógra returnto this, and to become the most vocal andmost visible youth organisation in the country.Since the National Youth Conference we havetravelled, both as individual members and en

masse to Meath East to canvass for SenatorThomas Byrne.

We have launched our Organ Donor Policywhich called on the Government to amongother things introduce a National OrganDonor Registry and increase education andawareness regarding organ donation. TheSeanad Reform Policy which was passed atthe National Youth Conference will soon be putto the Árd Fheis for approval.

The quality of these policy documents makesit clear to me that Ógra can be and will be ahighly active campaigning organisation over

the next twelve months and in the run up toLocal Elections 2014. These policies arestrong, relevant and clear and our memberscan be proud to stand over them.

Over the next twelve months Ógra will beworking with all members of the Party and withother interest groups, both from inside andoutside our peer groups, to ensure that ourcontribution to Irish life is one which is relevantand is one which gives a voice to those whoare most vulnerable in our society.

It is rmly my belief that Ógra’s role is central tothe continued revival of our Party. Through the

recruitment of new members and the initiativeshown through campaigns and policies likethose mentioned above we will hold claim toour Party’s title as the only truly republicanparty on this island.

by Kate Feeney

Ógra must be central inchallenging how we do

our politics and what westand for.

Kate Feeney, newly elected Uachtarán of Ógra Fianna Fáil.

cuisle edition 03

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