Irelands Silence

[Barry]

Well since the latestt general elction in which the left done well Ireland as usually turns out to be the black sheep of the "liberal" (laugh) west, with our new cosy right wing fine Gael and politically confused labour Ireland once gain enters the realms of total deprevity and ignoring of the people's wish's. With key parts of corruption from the 90's and then the banking crisis being bad but not too bad once again.
The first fasinating piece of news is the Inpendant member of parlaiment Micheal lowry from a Fine Gael/Labour caolition in the 1990's being shown as currupt in Ireland's 2nd mobile phone deal which he intervened as minister to award to a business man who happened to give money to a lawyer that then gave it to Lowry, just all coincidence. As well as a large portion of the current cabinet members served at the time on the cabinet with him.
Secondly the banking crisis which capitalism in Ireland has been totally unable to deal with has become worse yet again(suprise, suprise) with the last of the Irish banks looking like it will have to be nationalised as it needs 4 billion in capital invested.
Overall the new government's honeymoon spells disaster for the future of the Irish people, with draconian cuts and privitisation on the horizon.
It is now time for all those on the left to gather the struggle in Ireland has been low but the left must seize the opurtunity to fight against a new government with a huge majority and a constintaly silent trade union leadership. The struggle has already started but the left must organise to re-launch this.

[IndependentCitizen]

The Irish economy has been wrecked by the capitalist class, and they're now looking for more money. I bet the EU and other global loansharks will demand harsher austerity, and further brutalisation of public services.

The ULA atleast got 5 seats in the House of Commons, let's hope those comrades have an onslaught of attacks on capitalist parties which ignites the Irish working class!

[MapOfYourHead]

The ULA atleast got 5 seats in the House of Commons, let's hope those comrades have an onslaught of attacks on capitalist parties which ignites the Irish working class!

The 14 seats of Sinn Fein, although reformist, will cause more of a fuss than the ULA could ever manage to do.

[Barry]

well the ULA's gains were more than Sinn Feins, previous to the elections the were no left wing representatives, although Sinn Fein hold more seats the gains for the left were considerable. Sinn Fein and Labour benefitted from the left vote so there will possible be more gains for the true left after the bluff's of the reformist parties have been shown

[Gorilla]

Do ULA and the Provos talk to one another at all? If they can get behind a common strategic line in the Dail it could be amazing.

[Barry]

As far as I know on the ground they do work together but i oger scope no, mainly due to the North of Ireland were Sinn Fein are introducing draconian cuts while in government. The socialist party in Ireland which is 32 county party campaigned against the cuts and pointed out the contridictions of introducing things like water charges in the North while opposing them in the South. Sinn Fein didnt take it too well:crying:

[Barry]

they probably would work together on certain issues but there are the grounds for conflict between the ULA and Sinn Fein

[Magdalen]

Have the ULA been working with groups like Éirígí or the IRSP at all?

[Barry]

Again as far as i know, they do not. They protest on similar issue's however I beleive that the past of these groups as well as certain ideological/practical issue's stand in the way. Although on ground level there would be some co-operation.
I think that in Ireland there is a split due to the republican issue in the North, while a 32 county party the socialist party believes that unionist rights are as valid as those who wish to join the republic, therefore one cannot force the population to bend one way or the other. This seems to be a main difference that cannot really be overcome.
There are however grounds to work together on issue's in the South but so far this hasn't happened, apart from certain protest's.
This is all in my own expieriance

[Barry]

Overall though the support for these the republican left and the left in general is on the rise and alliances are possible. with the quick pace of politics at the moment, the ULA was only in the making 2 years before this, so there are alot of possibilities