Declan Ganley VS Micheal O'Leary: what they were really thinking

By Paul Kennedy


A probe into the minds of the Declan Ganley, Micheal O'Leary and Miriam O'Callaghan during the debate on RTÉ Primetime.

For the original video see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbuyGJKxp9I
Or watch the full show at: http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1056151





Embedded video can also be found here.

The political paradoxes created by politicians agreeing

By Paul Kennedy

The hand that feeds us needs do up its menu somewhat

By Paul Kennedy

So. Lisbon. It has nothing to do with the Government.

We’ve been told to not take our locally fuelled anger out on them. That would be foolish. On our parts of course. After all, this has NOTHING to do with how our Government is running things now, so why would they be foolish? Why would they have anything to do with it? This is about Europe. Not Ireland. If the Government is doing things which we don’t like, that’s not Europe’s fault. The Government’s view that a lot of our problems where caused by ‘problems overseas’?
I guess we're supposed to ignore that for a while.
Or something.

For example, NAMA (the ones who take all those foolish loans from the foolish bankers for the good of us all) and McCarthy (Bord Snip, the one the non-fools, IE, the Government, is putting off), they are just a few things that have nothing to do with this. We know this. They’ve told us.
And they’re cleverer then us. We voted for them didn’t we? We don’t elect fools, do we?

And who are we to know? We can’t even make the HARD decisions.

Anyway, so if, like we’ve been told, that whatever we think about the government (which is probably wrong, because they know better), should have NO BEARING on how we vote in Lisbon, how can we take our anger (the anger that runs in the bile of ever-foolish livers) out?

To vote No would be merely slapping the hand that feeds us with?
Well, after it feeds all the Mahon Lawyers with Spar sandwiches and coffee first of course.

The problem is, things have changed. Drastically. The train that is Ireland hasn’t so much gone off the rails as careered into the Broadmeadow estuary, broken viaduct below it, 4.4 million people screaming all the way. We all can’t ignore anymore the excess that the current Government has wasted. Most voters know that Lisbon and our own mess shouldn’t be throw together in the same soufflé, but like it or spit it out, that’s the way our current meal is being served.

And the Government should adapt. Add a new course.

You see, an election is going to happen. Whether it’s good/bad/apocalyptic for Ireland, it will happen. Eventually. And us Irish people, well, we don’t deal in 'eventuallys', not anymore. And, at the moment, all we have is Lisbon. If the Government is so serious about a Yes to Lisbon, the best way to do it is guarantee an election in the near future. Maybe not tomorrow, or even next month, the Irish can wait, and honestly, I don’t think at the moment the newspapers could afford the extra pull out supplements an election would mean.

Revenge, after all, is a dish best served cold.

But two and half years would be mouldy revenge.
But a promise of some sandwiches around January could be nice.

Spar could cater.

Alan Kelly to just make it, with Brian Crowley and Seán Kelly topping the poll down South!

By Séamus Mac Suibhne

The best approach to predicting an election is to probably adopt an age old exam tip, something that young people everywhere will have heard countless times. Answer what you know first, tackle the difficult subjects later. So one prediction I can safely make is that Brian Crowley will once again be elected as an MEP for the South. The anti-Fianna Fáil sentiment that’s sweeping through the country at present seems to have had no effect whatsoever on his popularity as he’s been constantly polling well above all other candidates down South. This is nothing new of course. Since first being elected in 1994 he has been re-elected twice since, with a very high percentage of the vote on both occasions. Not only is he leader of the Fianna Fail delegation in the European Parliament, he is also president of the European Party UEN (Union of Europe of the Nations). He is arguably Ireland’s preeminent and most experienced member of the European Parliament, with a prolific political career in Europe behind him. Barring a complete catastrophe, he will definitely be the first to be elected.

Another safe answer I can give is that Fine Gael will definitely have a candidate elected. The only question is who. Based on polling data to date, and with a much greater profile amongst the ordinary public, I’d have to go for Seán Kelly to get elected next. Having served as president of the GAA, even those with little or no interest in politics will at least recognise the face and name come June 5th. He will certainly appeal to a wider audience as a result of this, and may be seen more as an “honest daycent fella” as opposed to “wan of those politicians”. This should be enough to see off sitting MEP Colm Burke for the Fine Gael seat.

The final safe answer I can give is to tell you who I think definitely won’t get elected. Firstly, neither Maurice Sexton nor Dr. Alexander Stafford has any chance of getting elected, although Dr. Stafford has run an impressive campaign to date. Ned O’Keeffe TD has no realistic chance of being elected either, with any votes for Brian Crowley unlikely to contain transfers to himself, as the majority of voters will be voting for Brian Crowley personally as opposed to voting for Fianna Fail this time around.

Senator Dan Boyle of the Green Party will have to contend with some of the “collateral damage” of an unpopular government, as he put it himself, and will have no chance of being elected either. Cllr Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Féin should ultimately come up short, as Sinn Fein would hardly be expected to profit from any transfers of votes from either of the main parties. Their staunch anti-Lisbon sentiments may just come back to haunt them in these European elections.

Now this is just like those difficult final parts of questions in an exam. You really wish you could be sure of your answer, but you’re just going to have to give it your best shot and see how it goes! One of Kathy Sinott MEP (Independent), Senator Alan Kelly (Labour) or Colm Burke MEP (Fine Gael) will take the final seat, and I’m going to go for Alan Kelly. I doubt that Colm Burke has the profile outside of Cork to get elected, as he was only appointed to the Parliament in 2007 following Simon Coveney being elected to the Dáil in the general election. So I predict it will be a very close race between Alan Kelly and Kathy Sinott. Riding on the crest of the current Labour wave, I have a gut feeling that Alan Kelly will just make it however. He’s had a very clever and media savvy campaign to date, with everything from rap songs on YouTube to endorsements from ex-Ireland rugby stars, and it should be enough to get the young Senator over the line this weekend.

Sinn Fein will secure seat in the South

By Catherine Moore

There are ten candidates vying for the three seats in the South Constituency.

The candidates are: Dan Boyle of the Green Party, Colm Burke of Fine Gael, Sean Kelly of Fine Gael, Brian Crowley of Fianna Fail, Ned O’Keeffe of Fianna Fail, Kathy Sinnott Independent, Alexander Stafford Independent, Maurice Sexton Independent, Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Féin and Alan Kelly of Labour.

The current seats are held by Brian Crowley Fianna Fail, Kathy Sinnott, Independent and Colm Burke, Fine Gael.

The following are my predictions for the election:

With the current economic situation, and scandals such as the Anglo Irish Bank situation, I do not think Fianna Fail will retain their seat. The feeling on the ground in the South is that people are very unhappy with the current government. Whether the government is the cause or the scapegoat of the recession is debatable. However, what is not debatable is that people are angry at the government and I do not think Brian Crowley will retain his seat.

Crowley will loose his seat to Alan Kelly, Labour. Aside from the recent Irish Times opinion poll showing Labour coming in second to Fine Gael, Alan Kelly has a good solid campaign behind him. Voters are inclined to back this Tipperary man. He is a young fresh candidate which will work in his favour in this time when the country is seeking change. His by now infamous rap song has ensured that younger voters know his name.

Colm Burke of Fine Gael will retain his seat. The Irish Times opinion poll shows Fine Gael topping the poll. There will be a good fight between Burke and Sean Kelly, the other Fine Gael candidate, but I think that Burke, an ex Lord Mayor of Cork, will not be short of support.

Kathy Sinnott, Independent, will lose her seat to Toireasa Ferris, Sinn Fein. Ferris has been very visible and audible throughout the elections. She also has the advantage of being quite easy on the eye and this had definitely caught attention. I saw a conversation on Facebook between two male friends today, saying they were defiantly voting for her because of her "hotness".

On a more serious note though, North Kerry and West and Southern Limerick are traditionally areas where Sinn Fein enjoys much support. Toireasa is young, well educated, opinionated and like Alan Kelly, I think she will benefit from voters wanting change.

Summary of my predictions
1. Colm Burke, Fine Gael
2. Alan Kelly, Labour
3. Toireasa Ferris, Sinn Féin

Who will win the European Elections in the South?

By Owen Gleeson

We were asked by our charges in Youth Media for Europe who in our opinion would win in our constituency. While I could make a decent stab at it; I thought to myself who would I trust more? Automatically, I thought of the bookies. They rarely get it wrong. Here are all the prices from Paddy Power.

Brian Crowley (Fianna Fail) 1/100

Toireasa Ferris (Sinn Fein) 5/1

Dan Boyle (Green) 33/1

Seán Kelly (Fine Gael) 1/100

Colm Burke (Fine Gael) 10/1

Alexander Stafford (Independent) 66/1

Alan Kelly (Labour) 8/15

Ned O'Keeffe (Fianna Fail) 25/1

Maurice Sexton (Independent) 200/1

Kathy Sinnott (Independent) 4/6

So the first two positions are pretty much a dead cert. If you consider that Kerry is 8/15 to win the Munster title then you’re pretty much guaranteed that Crowley and ex GAA man Sean Kelly are in.

But it is the battle for third that offers much better value. I would fancy Kathy Sinnot’s price of 4/6 over Alan Kelly’s 8/15 because she is a current MEP and form is important in any event. However, more importantly an independent has always gotten elected in the South Constituency since the elections have started. Anyone in the gambling world knows consistency is vital.

My tip for the future is Toireasa Ferris who has run a gallant race but will ultimately end outside a place position. She has age on her side which is very important but she is also from a stable outside of the big 3, whose form has been very poor of late. Another important factor in her prospective future chances is that her father has a history of big upsets. He famously beat Dick Spring into fourth place for the much coveted TD spot in the North Kerry elections. I can see his daughter doing well in the future North Kerry elections probably repeating her father’s success there.

The other lads in the race are a bit of gamble. Colm Burke’s preparation hasn’t gone as well as planned. Ned O’Keeffe on the other hand never really got into contention.

Calling the South constituency

By Paul Kennedy

Saturday
The people have decided. They have made their intentions clear. They have made their etchings on the paper, that old-school, irreplaceable piece of paper, placed in a box, and now removed, spread out on the table with all its fellow papers sleeves, before the undaunted counters.

Down South way, Munster robbed of fair Clare, the story is the same. We read the papers, we watch the endless Primetime specials, we look as Dobson and Miriam guide us through the blue, red and green bars which detail the scenario as it is at the time. We wait for the occasional 5 minutes of airtime that we have earned, dotted occasionally amid the fevered discussion about Dublin and the Aherns. Our news drips out mostly unnoticed, spare change from the holed pocket, meaningful, but insubstantial when compared to the walleted back pocket of our fair capital.

Three people to be picked. The classic rock trio. 3 blind mice, the Three Stooges. The Beegees. But who are they? Who's our Alvin, Simon and Theodore? We should know come Saturday, unless we come into a Florida situation, and the pieces of paper become tattered and frayed from overuse, the counter's hands bloody and raw, suffering from a similar ailment.

Odds point towards Brian Cowley getting in again. It seems that the tactic of making the Fianna Fáil Logo on the election posters so small that to make it any smaller would suck the poster into a black hole of its own physics-defying creation seems to have payed off.

I think its a bit of a toss-up between Colm Burke and Sean Kelly of Fine Gael getting it, but, if some strange person with a penchant for forced betting put a gun to my head, I would say Sean Kelly will get in. He's a well recognized man, and if you have that and aren't in prison, that's enough. Plus, Burke will be relying on preferences, whereas Sean Kelly will get enough firsts to amble in, beard in full flow.

The last seat is tough to call, but I'm gonna go out on a precariously wobbly limb here and go for Toireasa Ferris. She seems intelligent, she's polling surprisingly well, and a pretty face gets you far these days. Also, there's enough anti-Lisbon talk still going around to edge her over the finish line past Kathy Sinnott and Alan Kelly. Like 'em or loath them, you can't argue that Sinn Féin aren't at least different.

Poor Dan Boyle is just another casualty of thee Fianna Fail 'Lets lump it on the coalition party' syndrome that killed the PDs a couple of years back. Ever notice how the party with just two ministerial posts are always giving us the bad news? Michael McDowell suffered from a similar experience.

Recession hits election campaigns hard

By Catherine Moore

The European elections campaigns have been hit hard by the recession. The current economic crisis means that candidates have less money to spend on their campaigns, as they canvass around the country looking for votes.
Candidates have had to cut costs on posters, leaflets, advertising and transport costs.

Sinn Féin South candidate Toireasa Ferris said that the recession means she had a tighter budget of €35,000, which is funded by the Sinn Fein office. “There is very little money available on the ground...,” she said. “Munster is a huge area and if the press doesn’t cover me for whatever reason, don’t like what I am saying, do not have space etc., and then it is hard to speak to everyone,” she added.

Ferris does however think there are positive aspects to having a smaller budget: “…having a tight budget has made campaigning on the ground even more important and I have found this exhilarating and rewarding. Meeting people and getting such a good response feeds back into the campaign and energises us all. The recession may hit people’s ability to contribute financially but they sure have plenty to say,” she said.

Independent candidate Kathy Sinnott said that she has found it “difficult to fund the election this year, but people have been generous even though it has been difficult for them”.

Toireasa Ferris is currently the only candidate from the South to have a breakdown of her election expenses on her website. Green Party South candidate, Dan Boyle predicts expenses of €60,000. Kathy Sinnott said she will publish her expenses once the election is over. Other candidates contacted had not given a response by time of publication.

Pimp my election campaign: MEP or MC?

By Catherine Moore

When we think of rap music we think of bling bling, mean streets and fast beats. But one man is changing the face of rap music as we know it: step up Irish MEP candidate Alan Kelly.

Kelly looks like he spends his free time eating fruit cake while watching gardening programmes, but don’t be fooled.

Dropping some beats on the daycent choon “Don’t make the wrong choice” GMC featuring the State of Jay, show its clear that Kelly has his finger on the pulse.

He knows from the bad-ass streets of Nenagh just how to entice young people into shaking tackie and voting for him in the elections.

And what is the rap about? Is it full of the usual rap material of drugs, violence, sex and money? Hell no, this man puts his manifesto into a wicked choon. Kelly shows us that rap music transcends class, colour and country. In an ingenious move, Kelly has so far racked up 5,064 YouTube hits and generated much publicity for his campaign.

Check it out on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Z1E_-2EmY
Nice wan kid.

Oh God have the elections come to this?

By Owen Gleeson

Eminem isn’t the only rapper releasing a much anticipated single this month. Yes it’s finally happened: Irish politicians have embraced the American street culture of ‘Hip Hop’. While Fine Gael is embracing celebrity politicians Labour it seems are embracing rapping politicians.


‘Don’t make the wrong choice – Vote Alan Kelly’ was written and recorded by Garry McCarthy (aka GMC), in support of the Labour campaign.


One of Ireland’s first ever political rap songs will be revealed by Labour MEP candidate Alan Kelly. Wednesday, 27 May 10am outside Clarion Hotel, Lapps Quay, Cork City

The video on YouTube starts off with Alan Kelly and his ‘posse’ at what seems to be a march or demonstration of some kind. It continues on as a montage to Alan and all his buddies from the providence of Munster, with Mr. Kelly often seen in his native red colours. The video ends with Alan hanging with a quite scary looking man.

Off course the song has a serious message. Speaking ahead of the launch, Senator Kelly said: “It is a very entertaining, humorous song but with a very serious message portraying the anger that many people are feeling but also looking at using Europe as a mechanism to create jobs, so that we can get ourselves out of this recession."

After listening to the song a few times it reminded me of Nelly’s 2001 song ‘Ride Wit Me’ taken from his Country Grammar album both in terms of lyric content and theme. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmGSmygesok). Nelly’s song also deals with a person’s conflict in making money that might not necessarily agree with them

if you wanna go and take a ride wit me
we're 3-wheelin in the 4 with the gold d's
oh why do i live this way
(hey) (must be the money)
if you wanna go and get high wit me
smoke an L in the back of the benzie
oh why must i feel this way
(hey) (must be the money)

‘Don’t make the wrong choice – Vote Alan Kelly’ could also be interpreted as one of these ‘diss’ songs that rappers so frequently partake in. The target in the song is often the current government.

‘Their incompetent,
It’s obvious,
See their name
Fianna Fáil no fada,
Spells Fianna Fail’

‘Fianna Fail play games,
like there on a soccer field,
making things disappear
like David Copperfield.’

The conflict between Fianna Fáil and Labour has been going on as long as the East coast West coast feud over in the States, except it’s been bloodier . While we wait in anticipation for Fianna Fail's ‘diss back' performed by Brian ‘Double D’ Cowen featuring Bertie 'Quickfire’ Ahern, I wonder if the two heavyweights of Irish politics and rap world might not put their differences aside for the sake of the Irish economy and come up with sensible solution to fix it instead of this continuous negativity that is levelled at each other.

As I write this now there has only been one comment on YouTube about the video and the song, surprisingly it comes from IRISH LABOUR PARTY "Absolutely brilliant stuff!" Perhaps they might be a little biased.

While the song is amusing I don’t think Eminem or Jay-Z will be too worried... yet.
Here is the song and video if you’re interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Z1E_-2EmY

Think global not local

By Catherine Moore

Ending world hunger? Solving global warming? Having world peace? Sound a bit far fetched?

Well electing the best candidate for the upcoming European Union elections has a much bigger impact then what may first appear.

So far through interviewing my peers for other articles about the European elections, I have found that the majority of them have no interest in the elections. They know neither the candidates nor the issues involved. Others won’t even bother voting. Yet, these same people raise concerns about the environment, about wars and conflicts and about famine and global hunger.

Recently, I went to Africa Day, which was on in Limerick city this year. Ever the eager journo, I spotted a potential story at Trocaire’s stand at the African cultural event.

Trocaire are trying to get the future MEPs that will be elected on June 5th to start thinking globally. They are trying to get MEPs to tackle issues like fair trade, aid, peace, and climate control. All too often with the elections, when we think of who to vote for, we ask ourselves which candidate can do the most for us. But maybe it is time to ask a little less of what the candidates can do for us and maybe think a bit more of what the candidates can do for others.

In these dark economic times, people are thinking less about foreign aid and more about how to pay the ESB bill, and understandably so. However, that does not mean to say that it should be forgotten about. There are those out there that are far less fortunate and while we might be tightening our belts and shopping less in Superquinn and more in Lidl, there are those that do not have any food.

This may sound a bit too 'lets all hold hands and be hippies', but there is a bigger picture here. We need to make sure that the candidates we elect can stand up on their European platform and fight for justice. Fight for justice for those that may not be able to fight for themselves. Will the candidates commit to doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Will the candidate ensure the rights of developing countries are respected when it comes to trade? Will the candidate push for agricultural policies to aid small farmers in developing countries?

The EU is big, politically and economically. It can make a difference. Lets help make that difference by choosing the right candidate for the job. Get informed. Get voting.

Ferris Goes To War on Drug Gangs

By Owen Gleeson

Rural Ireland is being engrossed by the swell of heroin that has never before been seen outside of Dublin. Local gardaí are predicting it will reach epidemic proportions as the world supply of the drug reaches record level, twinned with an almost total lack of treatment centres outside Dublin and a few major towns.

The cause of this influx of cheap heroin can be largely attributed to the failure to create a stable government in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is the largest producer of heroin in the world. Under the Taliban, poppy production was restricted and this was rigorously enforced. This has changed dramatically since the US invasion of 2001.

EU candidate, Cllr Toireasa Ferris, speaking while attending the rally against criminal gangs in Limerick, called for concerted government action against drugs crime. Toireasa Ferris said: “Problems arising from drug use are not confined to Limerick. Drug use can now be found in all the major urban centres across Munster and in smaller communities.”

Heroin is the drug of economic recession, gardai say. It wiped out whole communities in inner city Dublin during the 80s accentuating the social problems associated with unemployment, poor housing and poverty. Toireassa Ferris reiterated this point forcefully “Cutting programmes aimed at preventing drug abuse may appear a soft option for Ministers, but these cuts could have dire long term consequences for a whole generation across Munster. The last heroin epidemic coincided with the economic recession of the 1980’s.”

Mrs Ferris pointed out the damage that drugs cause to communities and individuals. She also put special emphasis on the scale of the problem “While that epidemic was largely confined to inner city Dublin, drugs are now widely available in all large towns and many smaller ones across Munster. In particular heroin use has moved outside the Dublin area and can be obtained in many towns and cities from Waterford to Limerick. Two thousand five hundred people died from drug use in the eight years prior to 2005 - that is almost one person a day.”
In Mrs Ferris’s own county of Kerry, new crime figures published by the Central Statistics Office indicate a huge increase in the use of heroin and other hard drugs in Kerry. Crime statistics recorded by gardaí in Kerry show arrests for possession of drugs for sale or supply rose from 63 cases in 2006 to 86 the following year. The garda crime figures for 2006 and 2007 in Kerry show 636 arrests for possession of drugs intended for personal use. (Kerry Man February 11 2009)

Mrs Ferris’s father Martin Ferris TD for North Kerry was heavily involved in the outing of drug dealers in his campaign for government in the last election. A campaign that was ultimately successful. Although there were accusations of vigilantism levelled at Sein Féin, Mr. Ferris himself was not charged with any crime. It is likely that a tough stance by Toireassa Ferris regarding drugs will be welcomed in areas that have been blighted by heroin and drugs in recent years.

Irish Politicians; we have the beasts, but where are the beauties?

By Catherine Moore

Irish politics needs sexing up. Young people are quickly losing interest in politics. This was never seen so clearly as with the Lisbon Treaty with 7/10 young people abstaining from using their votes, with many admitting they did not even know what it was about.

So what does grab young people’s attention if it is not politics? Sport? Entertainment? Socialising? Fashion? Glamorous tv shows like The Hills and car shows like Top Gear have never been so popular amongst our age group. Why are so many young people switching off from politics and turning on Hollywood?

Italian Prime Minister may have come up inadvertently with a solution to this problem: Silvio Berlusconi recently hit headlines for his decision to sex up the European Elections by putting glamorous women forward as candidates.

Berlusconi may have taken the decision to put forward the beautiful women (whose background include being reality tv stars and showgirls) for elections for a publicity stunt or because of his well publicised libido, or perhaps, because he thought it would be a way to get people interested in politics again. Whatever the reason, the man had a point. (One of this candidates Eleonora Gaggioli in photo)

Glamour and Irish politicians do not necessarily go hand in hand. Glitz and glam are not as prominent in Irish culture as say or French or Italian neighbours. We are more famed for leprechauns, pints of Guinness and ceili’s then tall, tanned, toned, beach bodies.

I hear you screaming at the computer screen that politics isn’t mean to be glamorous, it isn’t mean to sexy. After all, no one would put Jordan in charge of running the country (we might become more famous for being the pink and sparkly isle instead of the emerald one) but that’s not the point I’m trying to make.

I like politics. I studied it in college and I continue to follow it. But when I sit down of an evening, I am more inclined to automatically put on a tv show with a bit of glitz and glam, then I am to watch Vincent Brown.

Toireasa Ferris was recently voted the 7th most beautiful woman in politics by a Spanish magazine. Toireasa makes a bit of an effort and it shows and you know what? It makes politics that bit more glamorous, that bit more interesting for those that normally would have no interest in it.

Famous Hats to Round up the Lazy Vote

By Paul Kennedy

Down South, things are a brewing. Rain mostly, but also items of a political nature.

Doesn’t Fine Gael know how to pick them? Mere hours after a certain political poem was seen on this very website, it comes to my attention that another ‘celebrity’ is throwing their hat into the crazy hat pile that is Irish politics. Honestly, this country is so up its eyeballs in celebrity hats it’s a wonder that we haven’t stumbled across some kind of insanity filled political wedding. You’d swear that it was royal occasion coming up, not what we are being told is the most important election in decades.

Anyway, I digress into nonsensical hat-based metaphors. Sinead Sheppard is running for the local counsel in Cobh. She’s perhaps better known as “your one from Six who isn’t the one from the Den but the one who was on that Ireland talent show or whatever it was called that was on a few months ago.”

Now you all recognize her don't you?

Right, so lets count them. Mairead McGuinness, Sean Kelly, George Lee, and now Sinead, all for Fine Gael, and encompassing the Locals, Europeans and the by elections. Mairead McGuinness has been here before at least, and George knows his economics, time will judge his skill at the benches.

But recent polls seem to say that Sean Kelly will take a seat over his Fine Gael rival Colm Burke. Colm Burke has last term's experience and was a Mayor of Cork on his side, but Sean Kelly will always be the guy that opened the gates of Croke Park. Has Sinead any experience in politics before? My research says no, but at least she’s starting at ground level, Sean Kelly is being thrown in, feet first, into Europe.

Honestly, it was George Lee that got people interested in this election, and not just in Dublin. We’re all having great conversations about Mr. Gloom down South too, and I imagine it similar in the other constituencies. Possibly because he doesn’t seem to have any direct family links to politics, possibly because he is a man with a firm grasp of economics against a cabinet of teachers and lawyers, but mostly because he is an "as seen on TV’ celebrity. The Stira factor. The same reaction would definitely not have happened had Fine Gael went to their local recruitment agency and picked an economics graduate with 20 years of experience. Applauded for the good sense yes, but your mates wouldn’t have paid much heed.

What I’d love to know, is how much is the Party looking at the candidates credentials, how much is the it looking at the candidates ‘fame’ rating for easy votes, and how much is it the celebrity looking to maintain his or hers celebrity scout badges?

Cynical? Yes. But a point worth considering. Of course these people may well be the best people for the job, but if they are, that’s why they should get our votes. Don’t just vote because you recognize them. That’s what got us into this mess, voting for the old familiars two years ago.

Want the young people’s vote? Then ANSWER THE QUESTION!

By Séamus Mac Suibhne

To all young people out there who ever pondered over possibly attending a political debate in the hope of hearing some thought provoking solutions to the many dilemmas of our time, please take my advice. Don’t bother. Go on Facebook. Listen to your ipod. Chat on msn. It’s clear that politicians think that we have been intellectually anaesthetised by 21st century technology if they think they can inspire young voters with the pathetic political drivel that I witnessed firsthand yesterday.

Having attended a public debate on global justice and development in Cork which was organised by Trócaire and Dóchas, I think I finally get it. I think I now understand why young people are disinterested in politics, or at least why I personally have become completely disillusioned with it all. It is because politicians never, EVER, answer the simple questions they’re asked. At the beginning of the debate, four prospective MEPs for the South constituency were asked the simple question of what they would do to promote tackling climate change, promote fair trade, tackle global hunger…etc. Here are excerpts from the beginning of their two minute answers to this simple question.

Kathy Sinnott MEP (Independent): “The best indicator of what someone will do is what someone has done……I’ve been a member of the human rights committee, the climate change committee….I hope to tell you a bit about what I’ve done…”

The question was what would you do, not what have you done. Not once was reference made to things she would actually do if elected.

Toireasa Ferris (Sinn Féin): “When we look at the European Parliament, the world will judge the conscience of the European people by how our parliament responds to the needs of those who are most vulnerable in the world…If elected I hope to continue the good work that has been carried out by MEPs in this region...”

Now this is my own personal favourite. It’s beautifully eloquent isn’t it? Judging the conscience of the European people? This in no way even attempts to answer the question asked. It’s stating the obvious! She also stated how she was committed to the goal of having the EU spend 0.7% of GNP on aid by 2015. Well that’s great but I’m sure every single one of the 44 European candidates would say the same thing. Not one mention of concrete actions she would personally take if she was a MEP for the South.

Colm Burke MEP (Fine Gael): “When I was Lord Mayor of Cork, one of the things I did was go to Kenya. My sister has been working out there with the last 18 years. We went into the slum areas where…..”

That’s a really interesting story, but yet again completely avoids the simple question asked. Full of wonderfully glowing anecdotes of trips he has been on while serving in the European Parliament. No reference whatsoever to any definite actions he would take if elected though.

Senator Dan Boyle (Green Party): Spoke of how “economic partnership agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries are good in theory……but need to be reformed, be more effective”

Senator Boyle failed to mention a single thing he would do in reforming these or making them more effective.

When the floor was subsequently opened up to questions, the phrasing of them was interesting. A number of people specifically requested that the candidates refrain from talking about how bad the problem was and tell people what they would actually do. Did any of them actually pay heed to that? Nope, just cue meaningless party political broadcasts recited verbatim.

My message to any candidate out there is simple. If you want my vote, just answer the question. It’s as simple as that.

All this account needs is a video game spin-off

By Paul Kennedy

And so the four sat, waiting, anticipation. The debate to end all debates. Politics argued, issues dissected, points thrown out into the air like confetti for the poor church stewards to pluck from grass. How would it all pan out? How could one's young mind, putty for sculpting, be ready to hold all the waiting information? How could a pen, this mere object created by mere mortal hands, mere mortal, trembling, hands, be able to pluck this information from the air, this sticky, carpet heavy air? How could the page, held in wait, be able to hold all this information? This vast, waiting cavalcade of data, on the lips of Gods, the lips of the chosen few, the ready few. The few who are willing to stand up and ask for our votes?

Trocaire, that lofty ideal, lays it on the table for them. I hold my breath. Surely this will be the metaphorical boxing match to end all metaphorical boxing matches? Six million children, kids, dying a year they inform us. Aid declining by 22% in Ireland. The political will is gone we hear. How will these four souls give answer to such claims? I closed my eyes for fear of complete mind implosion. Optic nerves were not created to deconstruct such cataclysmic political scenes.

Kathy Sinnott, Independent, born in Chicago, has the floor. This carpeted floor, this floor that may or may not be able to hold the combined weight of such minds. I try to maintain calm. It would do no good to think of plunging to our deaths now.

She maintains to focus on “what one has done’, and throws, tosses, flings out an anecdote about a maternity hospital she visited in Sierra Leone, paid for, funded by the EU, but in disuse due to poor management and next to no consultation with the locals. Dan Boyle fiddles with his PDA, Toireasa Ferris fiddles with her pen.

Kathy has her left hook anecdotes; do they have right hooked ideals?
The crowd inhales.

Toireasa storms in, Sinn Féin views in effect, Kerry voice a lilt: “We will be judged on our actions.” “Social justice”, “Fairness”, “Equality”. Words to put fire in our veins, words to incite us to action. I look for my pitchfork among my bag of pens and paper. I am ill-equipped, I fear. Debt must be canceled for these countries she feels. She knows.

The air is positively damp with politics.

Luckily, before the mob rules, Colm Burke, Fine Gael, opens with a joke that jolts us like static electricity, which is no doubt in abundance enough here to power this city of Cork. He speaks as a former mayor of this city, and casually drops in his experiences in Kenya and Gaza. 50% of aid is European, and he wants to keep it that way. His yellow tie shines like aid relief. This man understands politics.

Ireland is one of only three countries that cut foreign aid this year. Terrifying. A veiled attack at the current government? Fianna Fail has no man present to answer. The jab goes unblocked.

Dan Boyle sits forward and speaks, microphone a whistle, like a wine glass musician rendered senseless by too much damnation over his charity records. “Ireland will continue to remain one of the prosperous countries.” This Green party candidate knows we will survive. But will the poorer nations be able to pull a Gloria Gaynor? Not without aid is the consensus.

Thanks are given, the creaking floor is open to us. Questions waiting, questions given, questions answered. I fear these keys need a break from my politically charged fingers…

Why Irish youth said no to Lisbon

By Catherine Moore

Young people in Ireland explain why they have rejected the Lisbon Treaty.

According to EU statistics, young people are the mot euro skeptic of all, with over 69% voting no to the Lisbon Treaty. European Union membership has benefited Ireland since it first joined in 1973. These include economic benefits and improvement to infrastructure. Young people can freely move between Member States to study or work and students benefit from grants. Yet, young people, according to the way they voted for Lisbon, are anti-Europe. Graham Daly is a master’s student, who believes that the strong no vote among young people was due to lack of information.

“Too little information [was] given to [the] public and the published official leaflet was not informative, nor gaged to the "ordinary" reader who wants quick-fire information, instead of long text,” he said.

However, he thinks that this was done on purpose by the government in order to get a yes vote. “[The]…Government…they tend to swoop things upon us with the aim that we’ll confusingly say yes,” he said.

Ciara Ni Nuallain, a European Studies graduate said that she voted no on many grounds including a fear of losing of neutrality, a concern that Ireland would lose loosing its voice with it by not having a Commissioner for five out of every 15 years, fear of the number of Irish Members of Parliament being capped and a fear of a loss of Ireland’s sovereignty and identity: “There are many reasons why I voted no, and due to no change in the treaty, I will continue to vote no. However I think the yes campaign will have their day as the government will use scare tactics pertaining to our economy to entice people to vote yes,” she added.

Helena Ryan, a young professional is angry about the re-hashing of the EU Treaty as the Lisbon Treaty. She feels that the no vote was ignored and the government will keep re-hashing the treaty until it is voted in. “The government will keep holding the election until people eventually vote yes. Why did they bother letting people vote for it so,” she said.

The resounding opinion among those that were interviewed was that of fear. There is a fear of this new globalised world that we live in, and young people in Ireland fear Europeanisation. Lack of information about the treaty has only helped to contribute to young people’s fear. The booklets that the government circulated were not read by the young people interviewed. They found them too long winded and did not research the treaty any further.

Its not about the issues, it's all in the face

By Paul Kennedy

So, the news these days ring a similar tune,
Politicians born with a silver spoon.
Cousins, relations, friends in need,
All Irish Politics follows a similar creed.

But what do I hear from across the airwaves,
A new day may dawn for whose mere uncles were knaves?
Champions found for us plebs and the peasants,
For us, fine celebrities prove anti-depressant.

And so here I place young George Lee,
A likely face we ever did see,
Economist, well skilled, known to you and me,
Rhymes for this stanza a little easy you'd agree.

But not the first face clapped eyes upon that have asked for our votes,
Mairead McGuinness soon stopped reporting on goats.
Late Late Researcher with an Ear to the Ground,
but I imagine her face helped find some votes, nay, found.

And of course down South, of county oft hard to bear,
If without Sir Sean Kelly - Munster beaten elsewhere?
How could the Common not vote for this man?
Who opened the gates of the finest stadium that stands?

A common tread seen sewn through this garment
of Fine Gael, finely stitched, plans far from dormant
A tactic, a coup, a strange coincidence?
A well known face gets a vote, so whats the difference?

Politically talented, whose to say?
Who really cares come election day?
Issues and politics fall down the ladder with welly,
Under who did the what with the thing on the telly