[Darragh]

I met Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party earlier today to ask him the questions put to him and other campaigners in this thread.

Though up the walls busy, Joe was polite, courteous, answered every question put to him and gave me a full 35 minutes for all the questions I could ask.

I'm converting and uploading at the moment - because the interview is so long, I've had to cut it into 4 parts for You Tube. I hope it all makes sense.

Part 1:



part 2:



part 3:



part 4:

[prinz]

Thanks Darragh, good job again. These interviews should be a regular feature if you ask me.

[PopeBuckfastXVI]

Joe says he was elected to the EP on the back of his opposition to the Lisbon treaty.

Does that mean that everyone else was elected on the back of their support for it!?

[Darragh]

Originally Posted by prinz

Thanks Darragh, good job again. These interviews should be a regular feature if you ask me.

If only it was part of the day job

Seriously though, I'm only a guy with a camera. Anyone can do these. I'd back you all the way from the "official Boards.ie Ltd" viewpoint if you let me know.

I'd love to see one of these a week or a fortnight.

[My name is URL]

The man does a good interview, he comes across as alot more level-headed and honest compared to other politicians.

[PopeBuckfastXVI]

He doesn't believe giving countries a voting weight according to their population is 'in the interests of democracy'...

[PopeBuckfastXVI]

EP has no legitimacy because we elect a majority of 'right wing' politicians to it...

[amacachi]

Finished the first video and he has yet to mention a single thing in the Treaty. Thanks for these.

[spadder]

Good interview Daragh, I'd say we'll hear you on the airwaves soon enough?

[bnev]

Originally Posted by My name is URL

The man does a good interview, he comes across as alot more level-headed and honest compared to other politicians.

Yeah he seems a lot more level-headed. I am prepared to take his overall points on board a lot faster than a lot of the other No campaigners.

Doesn't mean we can't disagree with his fundamental beliefs :-)

[My name is URL]

Originally Posted by amacachi

Finished the first video and he has yet to mention a single thing in the Treaty. Thanks for these.

Does every single matter that people have concerns about need to be something that's "in the Treaty"?

You have to understand that alot of people believe that handing power to the people is more important than handing it to a central union. There is no denying that big business is a driving force in politics, and big business does not usually have the interests of the people at heart.

Whatever is contained in the Treaty is not going to blatantly mention a shift in power that disenfranchises Joe Soap. The idea of taking a stance against a bigger long term agenda is not one that should be dismissed as moot, at least not for those that believe they'll have limited opportunity to air their views again any time soon.

/ opinion

[Darragh]

Originally Posted by spadder

Good interview Daragh, I'd say we'll hear you on the airwaves soon enough?

--off topic--

Erm. I dunno. In fairness, I do get asked from time to time but I don't feel I have that much to contribute. It's great being able to talk about Boards.ie and that sort of stuff.

There are those who'd consider me a media whore (was on Morning Ireland this morning talking Google Wave) but I never chase, only accept invites.

Have to get rid of me culchie accent before you hear me more

--off topic--

[Voltwad]

What a load of nonsense about the privitising health and education

[Soldie]

He has said little to nothing about the treaty itself - he just keeps droning on and on and on about multi-national corporations, workers, neo-liberalism and right-wing politics. His cheap rhetoric is bemusing, given the fact that actual neo-liberal economists were fiercely critical of pre-financial crisis macroeconomics (and remain fiercely critical of governments' subsequent handling of said crisis). His answers just smack of political oppurtunism. He doesn't oppose the treaty, he's just disgruntled that nobody takes his absurd views seriously - but why would they? I'm inclined to suggest that this thread would be better suited to the 'Conspiracy Theories' forum.

[prinz]

Originally Posted by PopeBuckfastXVI

EP has no legitimacy because we elect a majority of 'right wing' politicians to it...

Yeah, that was a bit of a laugh out loud moment alright....

Originally Posted by bnev

Yeah he seems a lot more level-headed.

Originally Posted by My name is URL

The man does a good interview, he comes across as alot more level-headed and honest compared to other politicians.

+1, I don't agree with his politics but I give him a lot of respect as a politician and speaker. He says his bit and that's it, none of the hysterics of most politicians ( of all sides and political beliefs ) plus he really used to enliven the Dáil from time to time with his wit. Sorely lacking now.

Off topic bit now, but I think interviews like these are what's really needed. It is so refreshing to have a question asked and time for the interviewee to respond in full, without being cut across, having another question asked while they are answering the previous one, being rushed because the ad break is coming, or having three or four people just talking over each other. RTÉ's political coverage for the last couple of years has gone rapidly downhill IMO. Even Prime Time is done on a stopwatch basis it seems to me, everything is "in one sentence sum up..." or "in 30 seconds tell us.." it really seems to me that mainstream media, tv and radio, really fear losing the attention of viewers and listeners when it comes to politics these days, perhaps they have a point. But I for one would much rather watch these interviews. Major coup for boards.ie in my book. Heard more about Joe's thoughts on the EU etc., there than I think I ever have before.


"The next phase.." sounds a bit ominous though

Edit:- I like how he completely avoided the figure of €1.84, he wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

p.s. Funny that the very posters hopping up and down yesterday about the lack of a 'no' side interview seem largely to be ignoring this thread... hmmmm. Interesting.