jm08 wrote: » You blame Sinn Fein for hijacking St. Patrick's Day - the truth of the matter is that if anyone hijacked it, it is Failte Ireland.
recedite wrote: » Maybe in RoI, but you can't blame Failte Ireland for turning the day into a shinnerfest in NI.
jm08 wrote: » I've looked at some images of the Parade in Belfast and it isn't any different to the one in Dublin (except on scale maybe).
recedite wrote: » Even if its the same, its different. A band of pipers marching under a tricolour means something different up there.
blanch152 wrote: » https://www.independent.ie/videos/irish-news/video-gerry-adams-and-mary-lou-mcdonald-give-taoiseach-standing-ovation-36703724.html#play The things one has to do for one's country. I would guess that Gerry and Mary-Lou found this the hardest thing they have ever had to do in politics.
Mr Brolly said he was in contact with MLAs and had previously written to them requesting their support for a free vote in Sinn Féin on abortion. He achieved a “lot of support, although they are not going to be upfront and vocal” and claimed it was “fundamentally wrong” and “fascist” not to allow a free vote. Sinn Féin has rejected motions calling for free votes at a number of ardfheisheanna.
Jawgap wrote: » potentially an even greater own goal......Sinn Féin MLAs ‘very uneasy’ about abortion policy I guess the last thing SF want is people voting their conscience who knows where radical ideas like free votes might lead........
FrancieBrady wrote: » More of an own goal than facilitating the defection of a number of high profile TD's and the establishment of a new competing political party? I think all parties are struggling on this issue tbh and fair.
Jawgap wrote: » .......and what happened to those TDs and what happened to the party they left? .....I think most parties, like most people, recognise the nature of the issue and therefore opted for free votes - but I guess SF are not most parties and, as I posted, allowing free votes is just not in their DNA - sure people might get a bit of a taste for that kind of party democracy.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Ignorance of the events tripping you up again. The party had a free vote on it's position. Allowing individual members a 'free vote' after that democratic party decision flies in the face of being in a party in the first place. Those with a problem should be like me, don't be in a political party if you cannot accept that you are going to have to toe the party line when that party wants to change legislation/the constitution etc.
Jawgap wrote: » Love it - Spin Fein at it's best :D:DThey had a free vote to bind members in to an absolute party position - a free vote to deny a future free vote - honestly, if George Orwell came up with some of the stuff that came out of SF he'd never have been published for excess of such ridiculousness in his writings. ......and do tell, when this 'free vote' was held, was the idea of "Repeal and Replace' along with abortion without restriction up to 12 weeks being touted as future government policy? I'm sure you can post evidence to show it was
FrancieBrady wrote: » First of all could you explain what you mean by the bolded bit? They had a vote at an Ard Fheis on what the party position would be on the 8th Amendment. Is this the delegates where either 'drugged, intimidated, hypontised into following the directions of old beardy RA men from the hills of South Armagh' slant again? Coz I'm out if it is this nonsense.
Mr Brolly...... claimed it was “fundamentally wrong” and “fascist” not to allow a free vote. Sinn Féin has rejected motions calling for free votes at a number of ardfheisheanna.
Jawgap wrote: » Well I think it's self-explanatory so feel free to take the words at their ordinary meeting...... ......kind of curious that if, as you suggest, the party position is so settled and everyone is so comfortable with it why should such an article appear? Indeed, why would an apparent party loyalist be moved to use the word "fascist" when describing the party of which he is a member..... ......but per your mantra - nothing to see here?
FrancieBrady wrote: » Maybe Brolly should join Renua and see how he gets on> The party, it seems to me, decided democratically at an Ard Fheis what it's 'party' position would be. And, as is right, may need to convene another Ard Fheis to refine their position. Like all parties, there are some who are struggling with it, as most people do struggle with this issue. Of course, as is usual, there is a media waiting with open arms (and Boardsies) to portray this as being unique to SF. If you are in a political party only as long as it represents your private views, then I am sorry, that isn't how it works. It is why I could never be a member of any party.
Jawgap wrote: » Well that's not how SF works, but plenty of political parties - including those that are the most successful in the Republic at getting into and staying in power - manage to accommodate a plurality of views. Indeed, it's more than arguable that the competition of ideas that such plurality fosters, is to the betterment of the party........as LBJ said "better to have them inside the tent......etc etc etc"The idea that if you disagree you should leave is very SF and one of the reasons why their ideas lack imagination and are driven by populism. Should the TDs and councillors who marched with Brolly (per the article) also leave SF?
Johnny Dogs wrote: » What's Lucinda at these days?
Jawgap wrote: » Which kind of proves the point - no one forced her to leave (FG are not SF), and FG went on to stay in power and allow their reps a free vote and to campaign in a way that sits comfortably with their conscience. I would've thought SF would simply do the same - but their again they may regard such freedoms as dangerous.
FrancieBrady wrote: » Who was forced to leave SF? Peadar Tobin is in there fighting for his views. Allowing a free vote when you are paying lipservice to legislative change is contrary to the point of a 'political party' and is a form of cowardice too. All political parties use the whip when it suits them. Why not just all be independents? Cheap shot again Jawgap.
Jawgap wrote: » Have SF not expelled people for 'uncomradely behaviour'?
FrancieBrady wrote: » Have they expelled anyone over their 8th position? All parties have to expel members for 'uncomradely behaviour'. Do we need to go into the lists again? :rolleyes:
Jawgap wrote: » Did I say they had - I just pointed out that SF, more than most, has a bit of a track record of expelling people for uncomradely behaviour.
The idea that if you disagree you should leave is very SF and one of the reasons why their ideas lack imagination and are driven by populism
What's Lucinda at these days?
no one forced her to leave
She was automatically expelled from the party, and she is on record of stating that Enda personally asked her to resign
Johnny Dogs wrote: » That's not true. She was automatically expelled from the party, and she is on record of stating that Enda personally asked her to resign.
Jawgap wrote: » She was dumped from the PP for defying the whip and resigned as an MoS...... ......however, she's pretty clear that she left FG - she wasn't expelled from the party.
Paschal Donohoe has been appointed Minister of State for European Affairs after Lucinda Creighton voted against the Government in a vote on the abortion legislation. Ms Creighton has been automatically expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party as a result.
Johnny Dogs wrote: » Really?
Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton has insisted she has no regrets about leaving Fine Gael, claiming it is an undemocratic party.
Ms Creighton has been automatically expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party as a result.
