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| 23/04/26 4:23pm | [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3] ] |
| Subject: Irish Elections Useless? | |
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Author: Sean |
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Date Posted: 13:07:48 01/30/03 Thu Fine Gael dumped John Bruton, then Michael Noonan, and now wonders if Enda Kenny is fit to lead the party. The success of Sinn Fein, the Greens and the independents in the last election was expected to give a new vitality to the Opposition. It failed to do so. The "post-Ruari Quinn" choice of Pat Rabbitte as leader was to give Labour a new edge. It didn't. But the failure here goes deeper than personalities. Fundamentally, the Opposition no longer has a real role in Dail Eireann, even if Daniuel O'Connell were to lead it.This is because the role of the Dail itself has changed radically. Perhaps as much as 80% of Irish legislation now comes from Brussels. That leaves the Government with two principal functions; to implement the EU decisions, and to maintain the appearance of democracy. The Opposition knows the Coalition is only doing what it's told, that it is legally powerless to resist the EU dictats. In the same position, the other parties could act no differently. That leaves the Opposition with just one function; to co-operate in sustaining the illusion of Irish democracy. It has the same role as an assistant to magician Paul Daniels. RTE and the national newspapers having compromised themselves on the whole EU issue, help to cover up the political hoax. In this scenario, elections also have a different function. They are now held simply to involve voters in the political illusion. For what difference does it make whom we put "in power" when the real power lies elsewhere? Can anything be done? Perhaps. If we become aware of our enslavement we may begin to demand change. Our new masters, however, will resist fiercely. The fishermen and farmers created a flicker of real opposition. But they achieved little.Only the appearance of opposition will be tolerated. (With acknowledgements to Alive! the free Irish Catholic newspaper distributed to 260,00 homes in Ireland.) Comment: Volunteers are badly needed to get this great newspaper into more Irish homes. Contact email: alivepaper@hotmail.com It is not enough now to call for a British withdrawal from Ireland - we need to call for an Irish withdrawal from the EU. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |