Monday, September 17, 2007
Ahern confirms Fianna Fail to organise in NI…
BERTIE Ahern has confirmed that Fianna Fail will organise in Northern Ireland, following speculation. According to PA, the Taoiseach today told a party meeting in Co Wicklow: “I am announcing that Fianna Fail the Republican Party, will now move to develop a strategy for organising on a 32 county basis. This moves reflects the dramatic changes we have seen across the island.” Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern is leading the charge north, which seems to indicate FF is taking this seriously. While potential partners the SDLP appear nonchalant - with a spokesperson saying that “the SDLP will be ready for the challenge or opportunity of such a future adjustment when it ripens” - you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be some seriously concerned members of that party right now. The deputy leader, for example, is (or was) strongly opposed to partnership with FF.
Belfast Gonzo @ 02:53 PM
Excellent news - the all-island momentum continues apace.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 04:44 PMGonzo-
Here’s a link to the SDLP’s full statement: http://elblogador.blogspot.com/2007/09/sdlp-comments-on-fianna-fils-designs-on.html
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 04:50 PMAbout time! hope all the other parties follow suit. And that none of them sit in THAT foreign HOUSE. Shame on SDLP.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 04:50 PMThat speech, if verified, is astonishing.
Durkan (making his first speech of note in how long?), is basically acknowledging that the game is up for the SDLP.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 04:54 PMDisappointed they wont stand for Westminster but I understand the obvious politically expedient reason for not doing so in terms of breaking quickly into the republican constituencies in Northern Ireland.
The only problem I can see is that if ethno-national antagonism were to raise its head strongly FF could be embroiled in ugly ethnic politics which regardless of an Irish base can still reduce seemingly meaningful endeavours to sectarian bile.
Interesting developments, only a shame they didn’t consider being more conscious of Protestants who may happen to want a united Ireland by thinking about the bigger picture in that Northern Ireland is still part of the UK and Westminster.
To abstain plays into the realm of fantasy politics which given the fact that FF is in a working government working with economics linked to British trade seems somewhat childish.
This will likely increase the pressure of an SDLP merger and indeed UUP and DUP merger, I imagine.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:06 PMThis is excellent news.
Gonzo: “The deputy leader, for example, is (or was) strongly opposed to partnership with FF”
Where is this coming from? My understanding of McDonnell is that he would be very amenable to it. But could be wrong.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:06 PMThe Taoiseachs speechs today will have to go down as one of the most important in te recent history of republicanism.
......Only now, with the Northern Executive and Assembly in place. Only now, that we have convinced all but the dissident fringe of nationalism to embrace peace. Only now, that the two great traditions on this island are reconciled, can we take this historic move.To that end, today I am announcing that Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party, will now move to develop a strategy for organising on a thirty two county basis.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:13 PMWell, he may have changed his mind, but he was virulently against the merger when I spoke to him about it a few years ago.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:17 PMLooks like the wolf might actually appear at some point. The statement on not fighting Westminster elections would seem to put a merger with the SDLP off the cards. Could be real issues coming up for them in the future.
Though for me and others FF would just represent yet another party in the running I have no interest in supporting. None of the above, some more than others.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:22 PMI wouldn’t disagree with you on that Ronan; two-fold why:
1) FF is a dominant Irish party and currently the main player in Irish government.
2) High-level officials appear to be taking the lead on the matter, which depending on amount of both monies and energies divested could, ultimately, re-shape politics in Northern Ireland at a pace never previously thought possible.
The northern tail was never going to wag the southern dog re any potential unification and everybody with a moral conscience holds concerns with SF thus limiting chance of a peaceful immediate unification deal.
Alas the thought of no longer paying the BBC for Newsline and Radio Ulster is quite sweet.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:23 PMGreat news.
Standing in Westminster would a bit ‘weird’. What would happen in the event of a hung parliament in the UK, where the probable government of one state may hold the balance of government in another?
DC, Fianna Fáil are too slick for the “ethno-national antagonism.” They haven’t had to deal with it and have a whip and machinery south of the border that concentrated on other matters. A ‘south of the border’ party might be good all-round for Northern Ireland as a lot of that crap simply doesn’t touch a nerve deep enough anymore.
All-in-all though, it would be a positive thing to have Fianna Fáil follow the Greens and Sinn Féin in 32-county ventures. Sinn Féin are never going to score well south of the border. The Greens are always marginal. Fianna Fáil are the only ones who can score high both north and south. (Don’t know what an 32-county Fine Gael would do, I think maybe they would be better concentrating on their current turf before venturing into new worlds.)
Just wonder what northern unionists would make of “The Republican Party” name? Would a fews years of a southern party in the assembly coax some unionist bodies south for the Seanad?
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:26 PM“Standing in Westminster would a bit ‘weird’. What would happen in the event of a hung parliament in the UK, where the probable government of one state may hold the balance of government in another?”
Then the British democrats would have to come to terms with the Good Friday Agreement arrangements and face up to democracy in action regardless of a situation which may feel like diminishing sovereignty.
On the whole could dilute strong opposition to Europe given the visible appearance of representatives of Europe’s biggest champion within the very precious House of Commons.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:34 PMFianna Fail has clearly understood that the best way to kill off Sinn Fein once and for all is to take it on in its own territory. However, will it succeed if it does not fight Westminster elections?
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:36 PMFF wont run in westminister elections because that opens up an appaling vista - piss of unionism by being abstentionist or else show themselves to be faux republicans and sit in the UK parlaiment. I also think FF expanding into the north has nothing to do with a desire to make real gains there. FF is a 26 county party and always will be. Their focus will never be fully on the north and hence they will never succeed in revitalising the SDLP vote. This is simply anattempt to shore up their appeal to republican voters in the south. I think the SDLP only have the voters to fear, not Fianna Fail.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:54 PMBring it on! Another nationalist party is just what the body politic needs. I look forward to the NI FF campaigning for more jobs to move to their constituencies at the expense of their Irish ones a la Aer Lingus.
BTW what elections do the Republican Party plan to fight in this part of the UK?
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 05:56 PMThis is certainly going to shake up the political landscape. Initially I had felt SF would destroy FF but the Westminister angle is an interesting one.
The way I see it, with the single transferable vote in local elections, nationalists will be able to vote FF, SDLP or SF and as a candidate gets eliminated the vote can transfer to another nationalist. So there will not be much harm done to the nationalist vote by this move. And for legislation to be passed it must have cross party support in the Assembly so their position remains strong there too (as does the unionist position).
Where the problem would have come was with the “First Past the Post” Westminister elections. Specifically places like South Belfast, Fermanagh South Tyrone and South Down where a split nationalist vote would have returned a “post pact” unionist. But not standing in Westminister elections avoids this “spoiler” role which would not have won FF any friends and could have set northern nationalism back significantly.
Obviously this is an amazing flanking move if successful as it beats SF to the punch by potentially bringing FF into government in both jursidictions. Bertie could outflank SF and the unionists in one foul swoop.
Will be interesting to see how unionists react to this. Perhaps they would find dealing with FF more palatable than dealing with SF - after all Bertie can bring a lot of money and influence to the table.
” A Cute Hoor” indeed.Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:08 PMRe FF not standing in Westminster…
On one hand a merged FF/SDLP couldn’t leave SF a free run at Westminster, yet FF setting up in the North separate to the SDLP would only split the nationalist vote. And strong and all as the FF electoral machine is it would take years to get going if started from Scratch. Therefore…
I see a FF/SDLP merger, with FF standing in local and MLA elections and “SDLP” standing in Westminster. An Irish solution to a British problem?
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:10 PM“Bring it on! Another nationalist party is just what the body politic needs. I look forward to the NI FF campaigning for more jobs to move to their constituencies at the expense of their Irish ones a la Aer Lingus”
Mark Durkan’s response indicates that the SDLP want to avoid another party competing with them:
“We all need to approach these issues with the aim of maximising the opportunities of the new political alignments for the people of Ireland and not just increasing the number of parties contesting elections in the North”
He welcomed the initiative:
“Today, An Taoiseach indicated that Fianna Fáil is approaching the questions of island-wide politics. For our part, the SDLP has also been considering this in the context of a review of party development. Indeed, members of the review team recently met Dermot Ahern TD as well as members of other parties in the South.”“We welcome today’s announcement and look forward to continuing our engagement with Fianna Fáil through Dermot Ahern’s new working group, where we will set out our vision of the future development of national politics. As a true republican party, we believe that the social and economic interests of the people of the entire island are best served by ever-deepening cooperation between North and South. “
He also used the adjective “Republican” rather than “Social Democrat” to describe the SDLP
I’m afraid Bonar Law you won’t get another nationalist party but a larger all Ireland one to coalesce with (Irish Labour doesn’t count as they are post nationalist Stickies). Will the Unionists be merging with any UK parties?
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:11 PMMain worry is that this party has a very high level of financial corruption.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:11 PMStewart
FF are contesting within the Nationalist electorate (or will they designate as Unionist if they get round to being elected to Stormont?). Therefore it will be just another nationalist party at a time when the momentum within Unionism is towards fewer parties.
I genuinely look foward to the electoral scrap within pan nationalism now that the dust has settled on the pan unionist fight. After all, politics should be entertaining.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:24 PM‘I genuinely look foward to the electoral scrap within pan nationalism now that the dust has settled on the pan unionist fight.’
Don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re not an optimist!
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:28 PMsmcgiff
so there’s not going to be a three way scrap within nationalism? If you’re predicting a tripple alliance I would suggest the optimism is all yours!
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:30 PM‘Main worry is that this party has a very high level of financial corruption.’
Worried they’ll want in on the DUP’s action? Don’t worry, there’s no chance they’ll grow quick enough to be able to influence the Giant’s Causeway development.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:31 PM‘so there’s not going to be a three way scrap within nationalism? If you’re predicting a tripple alliance I would suggest the optimism is all yours!’
Go again, there’s another possibility (probability).
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:32 PMsmgiff
put your money where your mouth is- specify your allegation against the DUP. I’m interested in what you are suggesting individuals have done either in a ministerial or personal capacity.
Posted by on Sep 17, 2007 @ 06:37 PM
