February 2011

• Jesse’s 50 years of struggle 8/9 • Fine Gael gets sums wrong 6 • Ross hedges his bets 12

Vol. 10 No.2ISSN 0791-458X

CAREFULWHATYOUVOTE FOR MINIMUMWAGE

HOTEL BATTLEPAGE 2

WORKING people should supportthose parties that will protect incomesand public services and generate jobsand economic recovery, SIPTU GeneralPresident, Jack O’Connor, has said.The election on Friday, 25th

February provides a choice betweencontinued austerity for workers, theirfamilies and those who depend onpublic services and the prospect ofeconomic growth and recovery, he said.“We are facing a key moment in our

country’s history. If we make the wrongchoice, we could face years of highunemployment, emigration, increasedinequality and poverty.”“A balanced government which pro-

tects the interests of working peopleas well as the business communityand other sectors of society is the onlypolitical option that can help recov-ery,” he said. A single party govern-ment of the Right will only continue to

divide the country between public andprivate sector workers, and urban andrural communities when unity isessential to get us out of the crisis,Jack O’Connor said.He advocated that voters should

support the Labour Party and continuetheir preferences for parties supportingthe principles of social solidarity.“With just days to go to the elec-

tion, it is clear the political and finan-cial establishment favours a Fine Gaelmajority government or a minority onesupported by right-wing independentswith the complete exclusion of Labourand other left-minded parties,” JackO’Connor said.“However, a balanced government

with a strong Labour input will help toprotect and create jobs, social welfarelevels and public services. During thelast Labour-Fine Gael coalition 1,000jobs were being created each week,

university fees were abolished andchild benefit was increased to its high-est ever level.”“Now 1,000 young people are leav-

ing the country each week and yetmore austerity instead of a strategy forinvestment, jobs and growth is beingproposed by the right-wing parties.“Fine Gael is planning an assault on

the low paid, on those who work inand depend on public services, andwants to sell off precious stateassets.”“We have seen what austerity poli-

cies have done to the country over thepast three years. They have meanthundreds of thousands losing theirjobs, mass emigration, cuts in pay andliving standards and the prospect ofmany thousands losing their homes.“In this election people should be

very wary of electing people that arepromising more of the same.”

THE Labour Party has said that no repossessionsshould be permitted for at least two years wherea person makes a genuine attempt to pay theirmortgage on a home of modest size.

LABOUR’S MORTGAGE VOW

ELECTION 2011O’Connor: ‘Key moment in our history’

NEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

2

THE battle to defend the minimum wagehas begun.Five SIPTU women members at the

Davenport Hotel in Dublin mounted pick-ets last Thursday (17th Feb) after beingtaken off the roster for refusing to signnew contracts reducing their national min-imum wage rate by almost €1 an hour.When the legislation was being passed,

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan gaveassurances that existing employees of com-panies on €8.65 an hour could not have therate reduced without their consent.However, the workers concerned – all

women from Eastern Europe – have beenbrought into three meetings over the pastthree weeks and repeatedly told they mustsign the new contracts, of which they weregiven no copies in English or in their ownlanguages, or face being taken off the roster.The women, four from Lithuania and

one from Poland, have worked at theDavenport Hotel for between four and sixyears as accommodation staff, cleaningrooms and corridors and changing linen.They refused to sign the new contracts

agreeing to their wages being cut for thelast time on 1st February, when the newlegislation came into force and have sincebeen removed from the payroll.

SIPTU served strike notice on the hotelon 9th February over the move which theunion regards as an effective lockout.Grazyma Liemen, from Poland, said: “It

was a very big shock being told our wageswere being cut. It is really hard work andafter I pay rent, childcare and food, thereis nothing left.”Like the other women, she was nervous

going on strike, but two years ago two ofher colleagues – Regina Balciuniene andJolita Nalusiene – joined SIPTU and wona case at the Labour Court after theirhours were cut and that gave them moreconfidence to stand up for their rights.Although the current dispute involves

only five people, it has implications formore than 300,000 workers affected bythe new National Minimum Wage legisla-tion and related rates of pay in the hotels,contract cleaning, security and other lowpay sectors.SIPTU Vice President Patricia King

said: “These workers were brought to a

series of meetings where they were toldthey must agree to accept a reduction inpay from €8.65 an hour to €7.79 to ‘sup-port the Government’. If they refused todo so they would be taken off the roster.“The other workers, the vast majority of

whom are migrant workers, signed thenew contracts. Like the five women, theywere not given translations of the docu-ment or copies.“I think it showed incredible courage by

these women to take the stand theydid.“As far as I am aware, this is the

first occasion on which the new lawhas been tested in the industrialrelations arena.”Patricia King warned the

“stakes are very high” onthe issue and that everyemployer in the low wageeconomy would be keep-ing a close eye on the dis-pute.

Sheadded:“If theseworkersare effec-tivelylocked outof their

jobs and penalised for seeking to defendtheir right to the €8.65 rate, it will signala new race to the bottom.”SIPTU Sectoral Organiser Pat Ward

said: “This is bad for workers, bad fordecent employers, including many hote-liers who treat their workers decently andnegotiate change with us, as well as forthe wider society because it will suckeven more money out of the economy andreduce living standards across the board.“It means that the assurances given by

Brian Lenihan last November that existingemployees would not be forced to signnew low pay contracts were meaningless,as SIPTU and other unions predicted atthe time.“If Fine Gael is elected on its own in

this election, it is threatening even moredraconian measures to undermine mini-mum rates of pay set by EmploymentRegulation Orders in other low paidindustries.”The Davenport Hotel is part of the

O’Callaghan Hotel Group owned byPersian Properties and propertydeveloper Noel O’Callaghan,who has been a regular con-tributor to the Fianna Fáiland Fine Gael warchests over the years.Itowns three other hotelsin Dublin, the AlexanderHotel, the Mont Clareand O’CallaghanStephen’s Green. TheGroup received huge tax

subsidies from Fianna Fáilled Governments writing offvirtually all capital costsagainst tax.It also has hotelsin Gibraltar and the US.

HOTEL WORKERS TAKEMINIMUMWAGE STAND

ByPADRAIGYEATES

More broken promises: Brian Lenihan

Employees taken off workroster over refusal to signcontracts that cut their pay

Picture: Tommy Clancy‘Incredible courage’: On the picket line outside Davenport Hotel, Dublin. SIPTU has warned that other bosses are keeping a close eye on the outcome of the dispute

On Thursday, 9th December, 2010 during the Dáil Debate on Financial Emergency Measures in the PublicInterest (No. 2) Bill 2010: Second Stage, Brian Lenihan said:“I want to challenge the idea that persons already employed on the minimum wage will see their

income drop automatically. Anyone already working under a contract of employment that setswages at or above the national minimum wage is entitled to continue to be paid those wages unlessotherwise agreed between both the employer and the employee concerned.”

NEWS LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

3

REVEREND Jesse Jackson has signed a pledge onbehalf of the Coalition to Protect the Lowest Paid – agroup representing a range of trade unions and civilsociety organisations.The veteran civil rights activist, who was in Dublin on

a speaking engagement last week, also met with a dele-gation of contract cleaning workers.The campaign – endorsed by Rev. Jackson – calls on

all election candidates, regardless of political affiliation,to sign the pledge committing them to reverse the cutto the minimum wage and protect the existing

Employment Regulation Orders (ERO’s) currently underreview.The ERO’s set rates for a range of low paid employ-

ment sectors such as contract cleaning, retail, security,hairdressing, hotels and restaurants.He asked all voters to cast their election ballot based

on passion rather than anger, and challenged voters toembrace “the courage of collectivism”.Speaking before a public interview with RTE presenter

Myles Dungan at Liberty Hall on 14th February, theRev. Jackson said: “If you stand alone, you stand in

fear.” He encouraged the electorate to “vote for yourhopes, not your fears!” The Coalition, members of whichinclude SIPTU, Mandate and Unite trade unions alongwith civil society organisations such as the NationalWomen’s Council of Ireland, the Poor Can’t Pay, theMigrant Rights Centre of Ireland, and the CommunityPlatform, has written to more than 500 candidatesstanding in the general election asking them to sign thesame pledge.They have also promised to name and shame those

candidates who refuse to support the campaign.

Picture:TommyClanc

y

It’s a civil write, Jesse!

Make the pledge or take the plunge page 10 Jesse Jackson in Liberty Hall page 8

The pen is mightier... Rev. Jesse Jackson signs Coaltion pledge while SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor and SIPTU Organisers Ethel Buckley, Paul Gavan and Gerry Flanagan (right) look on

FINE Gael has attracted financial sup-port from some of the country’s Namacontrolled property developers, includingTreasury Holdings.A war chest of some €3 million has

been raised from a series of golf classicsinvolving the construction company,CRH, EBS building society and tax exileand financier JP McManus.The golfing fundraisers at the luxury K

Club in Kildare in Adare, Co Limerick,and at the Moor Park Golf Club inLondon have each raised up to €60,000.Corporate donors do not have to reveal

their contributions if they are kept under€5,078, while personal donations under€634 do not have to be disclosed to theStandards in Public Office Commission(SIPO).

Neither Fine Gael nor Fianna Fáildeclared any donations for 2009 eventhough local elections and a by-electiontook place during the year.According to the Irish Mail on Sunday

(6th February) Fine Gael has refused toconfirm how much it has raised in its

pre-election fundraising activities.SIPO has called for a change to the

current legislation which it states is notachieving promised transparency andopenness in political funding.“It should be possible for each citizen

to have a clear picture of election spend-ing by each candidate and party and alsoa clear indication of the sources for suchfunding,” SIPO said in a recent report.Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin,recently told RTE radio that many of itsformer donors appear to have deserted tothe Fine Gael camp.Former Fine Gael leader Michael

Noonan banned corporate donations in2001, arguing that such gifts alwayscome ‘with an expectation of somethingin return.’

Banks and developersditch Micheál for Enda

Micheál Martin: Losing grip on corporate donors

Stable mates: JP McManus & Enda KennyPictures: Photocall

HEALTHLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

4

WILL a Fine Gael or Fine Gael/LabourGovernment make any difference to the typeof health system we have? The answer quitesimply is yes.Is there any difference between what will

emerge from a Fine Gael single party govern-ment (possibly with some right-wing independ-ents) or a Fine Gael/Labour coalition? Theanswer to this question is also yes.For the first time in the history of the State,

all political parties, except for Fianna Fáil, arecampaigning for a one-tiered, universal healthsystem where access is based solely on med-ical need not ability to pay.Sinn Fein, the United Left Alliance and

other left/health independents are campaign-ing for a NHS-style, tax-based, universal pub-lic health system. The Greens, who previouslysupported a universal health insurance model,have dropped any mention of an insurance-based system in their current manifesto.Fianna Fáil remains committed to maintainingthe status quo.On 7th February, their health spokesperson,

Barry Andrews, said: “We think the currentmix of public and private health serves the

country well.”Fianna Fáil is alone in this position – of con-

tinuing the unequal, two-tiered, apartheidnature of Irish health care.Both Fine Gael and Labour are proposing

universal health insurance models wherebyevery citizen would be covered and entitled tothe same package of care, without any dis-crimination based on ability to pay. Despitethe title, both models are actually a combina-tion of tax and insurance contributions.Fine Gael launched its ‘FairCare’ policy in

April 2009. FairCare proposed a compulsoryprivate health insurance system with compet-ing profitable insurance companies coveringall citizens. In Labour’s ‘Fair Health Care’ pro-posals published two weeks ago, there wouldbe a public primary care insurance plan tocover the whole population and two publichospital insurance companies which wouldcompete with private insurers to cover hospitalcare. Fine Gael’s health policy relies on the

market driving down costs. While this is truein theory, it is not the experience in practice –with the US being the ‘best’ example of howprivate, competing insurers have driven uphealthcare costs – not down.Fine Gael’s proposals draw heavily on the

Dutch system, which has highly regulatedcompetition, took 16 years to introduce andprovides care for 16 million people with multi-ple insurers in the market. How that modelcould apply here, given the systemic differ-ences and our track record on regulation inIreland, is hard to tell.Under both proposals, those who currently

have medical cards insurance cover will bepaid for by the State and those who can affordto pay for insurance privately will continue todo so (but will get more for it).Under Fine Gael, the middle group, made

up of low-income workers, will pay €200 -€300 per year, per person for coverage.Under Labour, this middle group will not pay

any more as their coverage will be funded byprogressive taxes paid by those on higherincome. However, neither party gives exactbreakdowns as to how much total coverage willcost each person or the State.Fine Gael does not give a detailed, costed,

timetabled breakdown of their plan whereasLabour’s document has more than 90 pages ofdetail on these matters.Labour plans to introduce GP care without

charge for all by 2014 and universal hospitalcoverage by 2016. Fine Gael does not plan tointroduce free GP care until 2016 and healthinsurance for all on a phased basis in theyears that follow.There is a difference in how this additional

coverage across the population will be funded.Fine Gael says that “maximising what wehave”, “money follows the patient” and sav-ings from “economies of scale and redundan-cies” will fund it.Labour acknowledges that covering the

whole population for GP care without chargewill cost €389 million and the party outlinesspecific areas where such savings will bemade to fund this.

MORE than 3,000 nurses and midwivestook to the streets of Dublin lastWednesday (16th February) to show theiranger at the decision by the Departmentof Health to phase out pay for pre-regis-tered students working on their rosteredplacement.This move is to be the subject of a

review announced by the Minister forHealth and Children and Education andSkills, Mary Coughlan, but no commit-ment has been given to reverse it.Chanting “No Pay No Way”, the stu-

dents – supported by many of their quali-fied colleagues – marched down O’ConnellStreet to a rally outside the Department ofHealth offices in Hawkins House.The rally was addressed by union offi-

cials, student nurse representatives and aspeaker from the Union of Students inIreland (USI). SIPTU Nursing Official,Louise O'Reilly, praised the crowd for their

bravery. She told them: “The people whotook the decision to introduce slave labourinto our health service are hiding behind anow discredited government. They are

cowards and you today have shown thatyou are brave and you are prepared tofight.”Louise O’Reilly reminded the crowd that

politicians who refused to pledge toreverse the move would be punished bynurses and midwives at the polls.In his address, INMO General Secretary

Liam Doran claimed what he described asthe nursing family potentially extended to200,000 voters and predicted that thiswould influence the outcome of the elec-tion.He congratulated the crowd for the mas-

sive turn-out and led cheers for the repre-sentatives who handed in a letter ofprotest to the Department of Health.Addressing the protest, USI President

Gary Redmond pledged the support of thewider student population for the campaignand pointed out this was an issue for allstudents and not only student nurses.A message of support and solidarity

from the ICTU Women’s Committee wasread out to loud applause.

Student nurses voice rageat placement year pay cut

Pictures: Paula Geraghty

Brave Nurses: SIPTU’s Louise O’Reilly addresses the crowd flanked by INMO General Secretary Liam Doran

War paint: SIPTU Health Division nurses – angered at the move to phase out placement pay – at last week’s rally to the Department of Health offices in Dublin

By SARA BURKELabour and Fine Gael commitments

5HEALTH

QWhat do you think about the decision of the Departmentof Health to slash the pay of pre-registration nurses and

midwives?

A I think it's downright disgusting and shows alack of respect for people and ultimately patients

because they are the people who will be affected by thisdecision.

QSome people have claimed that you’re not really work-ers but students – what would you say to that?

A When you start nursing it consists of theory at uni-versity and then putting that theory into practice on

the wards. When you're in first year as a student nurse,on the wards, you're at assisted level. In second and thirdyears, you're at supervised level (on the wards) and forthe first six weeks of fourth year you're also at supervisedlevel.

You do final exams at Christmas and then in Januaryyou start work on the wards as a fourth year nurse atindependent level for nine straight months. We are fin-ished attending lectures at university and have no moreexams to do.

We do, however, have to submit a research proposaland one other assignment throughout this final ninemonths on the wards, which contribute considerably toour overall degree, and, as such, make the final year verydemanding when you have to balance your full-time jobstatus on the ward alongside the final academic assign-ments.

I would say to people who suggest we are not workersand are really students that we are full-time workers whohappen to be students. As a fourth year nurse at inde-pendent level, you take responsibility for a group ofclients, whether on the ward or in the community.

We are counted in the numbers in the clinical environ-ment, wherever that may be. To say we are students andnot workers is an insult because it almost implies wedon't make any difference in the clinical environment.

I would ask a staff nurse would they manage withoutthe fourth year internship nurses and see what they say...

QYou’re in fourth year now – how would you be ableto manage if your pay was gone? Couldn’t you

just get another job?

A I wouldn't be able to manage. I pay tuition feeswhich amount to approximately €7,000 per year

because I already have a degree as well as rent and utili-ties etc.

For my first three years of nursing, I was able to makeup the shortfall by working as a healthcare assistant dur-ing the week and at weekends and all summer. It washard going but you got there and you knew that when yougot into fourth year internship, you would start gettingpaid which would offset the pressure.

If I wasn't getting paid now (but working the 75 hourfortnight for nothing), I would still somehow have to findtime to complete my academic work and continue withmy part-time job as a health care assistant.

Clearly, this couldn't be sustained. In fact, I think itwould probably be illegal. It would no doubt impact onmy own health and obviously the care of patients.

QIf you were thinking about nursing how would thedecision made by the Department to phase out pay for

pre-registration nurses and midwives affect your decision toenter the profession?

AWell, I can only speak for myself and say that Iwouldn't enter it here. I think I would apply to do

nursing in the UK instead – after all, a lot of Irish nurses

are getting jobs in the UK once they qualify here becausethere isn't the work for them due to the embargo.

I applied as a mature student and had financial respon-sibilities coming into this profession. However, I knowmany of my colleagues have far greater financial pres-sures than I do, so I can't imagine what it would be likefor them if they weren't getting paid – what, with familiesand mortgages etc.

QAre you angry at the decision to phase out pay for nurs-es and midwives?

A I'm very angry, especially the sneaky way it was intro-duced with no consultation at all. They pick on the

nurses. Prison officers and gardai haven't had any suchcut – and rightly so. Why are we any different?

Q What would you urge your classmates to say to politi-cians when they call looking for votes?

A I would urge all my classmates to find out what thestance of the politicians is towards the phase-out of

pay for us and to see what their stance is about keepingit the way it was. I would also suggest that we have lotsof friends and family whose vote will be influenced by thestance politicians take on this.

QThe phrase “slave labour” has been used to describethis decision – is that extreme?

A I don't think it's extreme at all. Basically what thegovernment wants to do is have nurses working full-

time for nine months for no pay. That means they would-n't even be getting the minimum wage.

I mean if someone is doing a job in this country andthey're not getting the minimum wage, we call it exploita-tion. It's sanctioned exploitation for nine months toapparently save a pittance!

Michael Farrell is 38 years old and a fourth year pre-registration student nurse who ison rostered placement. Michael completed a media degree and as part of this he cameinto contact with vulnerable members of society. This contact led to his interest inpsychiatric nursing. Liberty interviewed him to get his views on the recent decision bythe Department of Health to phase out the payment for pre-registered nurses who are onwork placement (the outgoing Government has said it intends to review this decision):

They want me towork for nothing

These include paying medical consultantsless, fewer administrators in the system and get-ting better value for state payment of drugs.Labour also recognises that there needs to bemore staff and facilities to provide universal GPcare without charge and has built this into itscostings.Fine Gael accepts the needs for more GPs but

does not detail how they will be paid for.In relation to buildings, Fine Gael says: “We

are confident that the capital costs of the pro-gramme can be largely borne by the private sec-tor if appropriate long-term contracts are put inplace.”Both parties are proposing a greater focus on

primary care and chronic diseases, quickeraccess to diagnosis and treatment and moreaccountability and responsibility for the ministerand Department of Health.In both plans, hospitals will be run by local

hospital trusts and will be expected to competeto provide care with private, often profitable,hospitals. Labour is not planning to abolish toHSE but envisages its role evolving significantly

over time. Fine Gael is committed to abolishingthe HSE. It wants a reduction of 8,000 HSEstaff through voluntary redundancies and normalretirement but what happens to the remaining102,000 HSE staff is not clear.However, the gap between Labour’s and Fine

Gael’s health policies seems to be closing. TheFine Gael manifesto, launched on 15thFebruary, reveals a noteworthy new development– it (like Labour) is now opposed to the privati-sation of the VHI.Fine Gael now sees the VHI as providing a

“public option”, which will compete with privatehealth insurance companies (a very differentproposal to the initial plan).This is a clear indication that Fine Gael is tak-

ing a step back from a totally “free market”approach to health care.However, it’s very hard to tell if that is just

electioneering optics as Fine Gael has yet topublish any more detail than it released in April2009.

AS election 2011 looms ever closer, thepublic and health workers have becomeever more confused about the future ofhealthcare provision under a newGovernment, writes PAUL BELL.Fine Gael’s Dr James Reilly, who has pub-licly declared his intention to be the nextMinister for Health and Children, has out-lined his party’s vision of making 8,000people redundant from the health servicesand abolishing the HSE.

The party plans to introduce a Dutch-typehealth model which is managed and sup-ported by competing insurance companies.It will maintain the staff recruitmentembargo and is likely to resist modifyingthe disgraceful position adopted by theDepartment of Health and Department ofFinance not to pay student nurses for theirwork in caring for patients.For SIPTU members working in the healthservice there little comfort in the Fine Gaelposition, as it seems that the Croke Park

Agreement could well be ignored in themanner in which the party intends to intro-duce redundancies and other measures.Fine Gael has stated that each citizenwill be expected to pay an annual healthcare premium for access to universalhealthcare. This is in contrast with whatactually happens in Holland where thelevel of health insurance premium is basedon income.Fine Gael is promising these changesand committing to lower taxes at the sametime.Health workers, their families and thegeneral public – many of whom have beenforced to abandon their health insurancethrough government inaction and high pre-miums – should demand a clear unambigu-ous policy document demonstrating howthe Irish health service will be managedand funded for the benefit of all citizens.Paul Bell is Acting Head of SIPTU’s Health Division

HEALTH REPORT:Fine Gaelunder microscope

Sara Burke is a journalist, broadcaster and a health policy analyst currently doing a PhD in health policy in TCD.

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

5

A NUMBER of jobs have beenlost at Heiton Buckley after thecompany announced it hadceased trading at its Dock Roadsite in Limerick.It also confirmed it was closing

its branch in Bray, Co Wicklow.Five jobs were lost in Limerick.

Three positions will remain thereas the company will run the siteas a storage facility as well asmanaging the transfer ofaccounts to another HeitonBuckley location in Limerick.There will be a number of job

losses at the Bray branch.The firm informed SIPTU it

was no longer sustainable tohave multiple building providersat the same location given thecurrent economic downturn inthe sector.Heiton Buckley is part of the

Grafton Group which also ownsthe Chadwick’s chain.The company said it is seeking

to transfer some staff to theirChadwick’s branch in Bray andother locations if it gets interestin an early retirement scheme.The company has also agreed

to pay the previously negotiatedenhanced redundancy terms.

Andrew McGuiness is a SIPTU Organiser

SIPTU and IMPACT have beenadvised that considerable progresshas been made on proposals tomaintain the Swords ambulanceservice.

The unions were told that con-structive talks have taken placebetween the HSE and Dublin FireBrigade (DFB) management overrecent days.

SIPTU Organiser Paul Smyth

said: “We are advised that a num-ber of productive meetings havetaken place between the HSE andmanagement which have substan-tially removed the threat to theSwords ambulance service.

“The improving relationshipbetween the HSE and DFB manage-ment creates the opportunity forthis matter to be satisfactorilyresolved in a matter of weeks.”

He added: “This follows propos-als from the two unions to the DFBmanagement which can ensure thesurvival of the service.

“The proposals presented by theunions have, in our view, created asituation where both the ambu-lance and the call services will beretained by the DFB and will allowconstructive discussions to takeplace on remaining issues.”

Jobs lostat HeitonBuckley

By ANDREWMcGUINNESS

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NEWS

FINE GAEL GETSSUMSWRONGFINE Gael has set out its strategy of taking€9.8bn, or almost 6% of GDP, out of theIrish economy, over the next three years –on top of the €20bn that has already beenextracted by the outgoing government.The party expects to meet the 3% deficit

target by 2014 and generate a surplus ofrevenues over day-to-day government spend-ing by 2016.Unfortunately for it, there is little or no

prospect of ever meeting such targets underthis strategy as it fails to factor in the majordeflationary impact that cuts of this size willhave.Unfortunately for working people, the error

will mean that cuts – more savage thanthose envisaged in the party’s manifesto –will have to be implemented if it is to chasedown its self-imposed deadline of 2014.Fine Gael’s mistake stems from its use of

the ESRI’s recovery scenarios set out by theInstitute in July 2010.Under the low growth scenario, the ESRI

estimates an average growth rate of 3.2%between 2011 and 2015 on the basis of a€7.4bn austerity package between 2011

and 2014.We now know that

the total adjustmenthas doubled to €15bnbetween 2011 and2014. €6bn has beenimplemented already in 2011with €6.4bn in spending cuts and€2.4bn in tax increases to be introducedunder the FG plan between 2012-2014.Put simply, while under the ESRI esti-

mates approximately €4.5bn was to betaken out of the economy between 2011and 2014, that sum under the FG proposalshas now mushroomed to €9.8bn – a differ-ence of €5.3bn.As a result of this large increase in its

austerity package, there is little or no

prospect of ever achieving average growthrates of 3.2%.

Already, the IMF has suggested underthe current FF/Green plan that wouldsee €9.8bn taken out the economyover the next three years, thatIreland simply cannot meet the2015 deficit target of 3% GDPthat was set down by the EUCouncil of Ministers.The IMF also says that addi-

tional austerity measures shouldnot be imposed as this would fur-

ther deepen the deflation alreadyexisting in the domestic economy.But heedless to these warnings, the con-

servative parties remain intent on sticking totheir reckless plans based on unrealisableprojections.If FG get its way, once again ordinary peo-

ple will be made pay for the misguided andreckless mistakes of the country’s politicalleaders.

Marie Sherlock is a SIPTU economist

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

6

By MARIESHERLOCK

Party’serror onuse of ESRIdata

revealed

LibertyJANUARY 2011

7LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

7

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Largo Foods is home grown and proud of it.

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

8

VETERAN civil rights activist JesseJackson enthralled a packed Liberty Hallon Monday (14th February) with his rec-ollections of more than 50 years of strug-gle against discrimination, racism andeconomic injustice in the US.In a recorded interview with journalist,

Myles Dungan, due to be broadcast onthe RTE History programme in earlyMarch, Jackson recounted how heencountered racial segregation from hischildhood days in South Carolina.Born in 1941, he recalled how in his

home town of Greenville there were noblack firefighters or police and how hisfirst protest led to his jailing in his lateteens after he and some friends sought toenter the whites-only town library.He attended a segregated high school

and won a football scholarship to theintegrated University of Illinois. He wenton to study at a Baptist college. On grad-

uation Rev Jesse Jackson joined with hisfellow Baptist minister, Dr Martin LutherKing, for the famous protests against seg-regation in Alabama, Mississipi, andother southern states in the early 1960’s.In 1965, he participated in the famous

Selma to Montgomery civil rights marchesand later the massive march onWashington which contributed to the col-lapse of the system where blacks weredenied equal access to public buildings,schools, and transport and were victimsof a wide range of other discriminationacross the US.He was with Dr King when the civil

rights leader was assassinated on 4thApril, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, theday after his famous “I have been to the

mountaintop” speech.This was at a time when King and the

activists around him were beginning tocampaign against the Vietnam War.Jesse Jackson told the audience in

Liberty Hall that it was this decision thatintensified establishment opposition totheir movement.Although attracted by the discipline of

Malcolm X and other militant black move-ment fighters, he said that non-violentresistance had proven to be far more suc-cessful in the US, as it had been decadesearlier in India and, in more recentweeks, in Egypt.In the 1980’s, Jackson campaigned

twice to be Democratic Party candidatefor the presidency and, although defeated

on both occasions, managed to mobilisefor the first time a Rainbow coalition ofprogressive and radical forces which, hebelieves, laid the basis for the Clintonvictories in the 1990’s and Obama’sstunning campaign success in 2008.Although unhappy with some of the

failures of the current administration totackle health care, poverty and economicinjustice, he credits Obama with intro-ducing a stimulus package which helpedto save hundreds of thousands of jobs ina recession created by the previous BushGovernment and its alliance with recklessand greedy bankers.But Jackson was most passionate in his

view that it is the movement outsidemainstream politics that affects politicalchange, citing a meeting between FDRoosevelt and progressive human rightsand labour leaders many decades agowhen the then-president listened to theirdemands and then told them:“I agreewith you. Now go out there and make medo it.”

By FRANKCONNOLLY Jackson enthralls

Liberty Hall audience

Before the Liberty Hall event, Rev Jackson attended the launch of the Equality and Rights Alliance conference in Dublin Castle. 11-year-old Amber Redmond, centre, and other pupils from the choirof Scoil Oilibheir, Blanchardstown, surround the world-famous civil rights activist – they obviously liked what he had to say... Picture: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

JESSE REFLECTS ON50 YEARS FIGHTINGFOR HUMAN RIGHTS

NEWS

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

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He said that the most importantchanges, such as the end of slavery, thevote for women, de-segregation andlabour rights wereforced on govern-ments and politi-cians from the pres-sure generated bypopular movements.Jackson added

that he was struck athow the issues raisedby Irish activists,including the cam-paign against the cutin the minimumwage, the fightagainst home repos-sessions, and againstthe squalor in whichmany of those in theTraveller communityare forced to live, resonated with theconcerns of those fighting poverty andeconomic injustice in the US.

He pointed out that collective actionand working in a coalition with otherforces was more effective than being iso-

lated.Jackson expressed force-

fully his view that “thebudget is a moral docu-ment” in that it madechoices which have bene-fitted the lives of thosealready at the top of soci-ety at the expense ofthose at the bottom.Commenting on the

forthcoming election inIreland, he told the audi-ence to focus on whatyou want “with passionand not anger.”Jackson added:

“Make wise choices. Ifyou don’t vote you lose your right to

criticise.”Frank Connolly is SIPTU Head of Communications

and Editor of Liberty

Honorary member: SIPTU Vice President Patricia King pins a specially commissionedcentenary union badge to Jesse’s lapel

Greeting: Jesse & SIPTU’s General

Secretary Joe O’Flynn

Pictures:

TommyClanc

y

NEWS

continue to suffer in what is effectivelya giant prison camp in the Gaza strip.

Check out the four stunning prints atwww.irishart4gaza.com.

For further information, phone Irish Artfor Gaza at 086 2474951.

IRISH Art For Gaza is hoping a new artsinitiative will help fund an Irish shiptaking supplies to the under-siege Gazastrip later in the year.

Four top Irish artists – Felim Egan,Robert Ballagh, Pat Harris and Guggi –have each contributed a unique set of100 personally-signed and numberedprints to the project.

Each one is produced from top-gradearchival paper and inks.

The artists are covering the produc-tion costs themselves so every cent isgoing to the worthy cause.

Several Irish people were on theboats hijacked last May in internationalwaters and taken into custody in Israel.

This year more Irish activists will setsail on an Irish ship to bring aid sup-plies and much-needed solidarity toPalestinians – innocent people who

Gaza artshipment

SIPTU has withdrawn its planning applica-tion for the redevelopment of Liberty Hall.However, the union has made it clear thatit will be reapplying for planning permis-sion within three months.

SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn,stated; “We have decided to withdraw thecurrent planning application due todetailed design issues. While the union, itsprofessional advisors and Dublin CityCouncil officials have worked hard to

resolve these outstanding issues time sim-ply ran out on us. After detailed considera-tion SIPTU has withdrawn the applicationto allow more time to resolve these mattersand we intend to re-apply for planning per-mission within three months.”

Joe O’Flynn said that SIPTU remains fullycommitted to proceeding with this majorproject for the union and the city of Dublinas the current building is no longer fit forpurpose.

Scott Millar has been appointed to the position of journalistwith the SIPTU Communications Department. Scott has overnine years experience working as a journalist in nationalnewspapers including the Irish Examiner, Sunday Times, DailyMail and Sunday Mirror. After gradating from UCD in the late1990’s he worked in a variety of sectors, includingconstruction and healthcare, before receiving an MA injournalism from Dublin City University. Scott is also theco-author of The Lost Revolution: The story of the Official IRAand Workers' Party published by Penguin in 2009.

Scott Millar to join SIPTUcommunications team

SIPTU to resubmit applicationfor Liberty Hall project

Labour in government will address the fact that someunscrupulous employers have sought to undermine the right to collectivebargaining. Labour will introduce legislation to strengthen the rights ofworkers to engage in collective bargaining, as enshrined in the EU Charterof Fundamental Rights. The legislation will also make it illegal to discrimi-nate in any way against an employee because they are a member of a tradeunion or involved in trade union activitiy.

(See pages 22-26)

NEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

10

response on these keyissues for low paid workers.All responses – whether

positive or negative – will behighlighted to the generalpublic through press releases,internet postings and a numberof direct actions in key con-stituencies.A delegation of contract cleaners working

at Dublin Bus successfully lobbied SinnFéin at its campaign launch, ensuring all41 party candidates signed the pledge.A large number of Labour Party candi-

dates have also signed the pledge, as havecandidates from the Workers Party andNew Left Alliance.Already Dublin Central has been a partic-

ular focus of the campaign because of thelarge number of contract cleaners livingand working in the constituency.To date, candidates Joe Costello

(Labour), Mary Lou McDonald (SF) andMaureen O’Sullivan (Ind) have all signed

the pledge card andactivists are nowset to focus on theremaining candi-dates standing in theconstituency.At national level,

attention will now turn towhere the conservative parties

stand on this issue.It is already clear that Fianna Fáil and

the Greens, which have authorised boththe cut to the minimum wage and thereview of ERO rates will find it difficult tosupport this campaign, while Fine Gaelhave been ambivalent with regard to theseissues.Workers from the contract cleaning

industry along with SIPTU representativeswill be visiting candidates in key Dublinconstituencies and asking them to sign thepledge to protect low paid workers.They make no apologies for declaring

that candidates who do not sign the pledge

will be named and shamed.Martin Brennan, a contract cleaner work-

ing at Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin,spoke at the Dáil protest and asked thequestion that all low paid workers want ananswer to: “How will driving me and myfamily into poverty help the economy?”Hotel worker Bernie Casey was very clear

about the position of ERO workers.She said: “We will ensure there will be

no hiding place for politicians who will notsign our pledge. We will name and shameall politicians who refuse to support lowpaid workers.”SIPTU members can help the campaign

by raising the issue of the pledge in theirlocal constituency, particularly if aprospective TD should call to your door.Cut out the pledge from this page and

ask him/her to sign it.If they don’t sign the pledge, let them

know they can expect to take the plungeon election day.

MAKE THE PLEDGE ORTAKE THE PLUNGE!

Cut out and keep... in case they call

A NEW coalition of trade unions and civil society organisa-tions has made a significant intervention in the generalelection campaign. The Coalition to Protect the Lowest Paid has written to

all candidates standing in the election asking them to signa pledge to reverse the cut to the minimum wage and toprotect Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) which arecurrently under review. The latter regulations set rates for a range of employment

sectors such as contract cleaning, retail, security, hair-dressing, hotels and restaurants.The coalition, members of which include SIPTU,

Mandate and Unite trade unions alongside civil societyorganisations – such as the National Women’s Council ofIreland, the Poor Can’t Pay, the Migrant Rights Centre ofIreland and the Community Platform – has already made amajor impact on the issue of protecting low-paid workerswith a Day of Shame protest outside the Dáil on 1stFebruary, complete with an appearance byBig Jim Larkin (played by actor JerO’Leary).Now they have written to

more than 500 election can-didates requesting a

Let us knowthe responses you get either

through Facebookpage Fair Deal for Cleanersor email us atcleaning@siptu.ie

Taking the pledge: Dublin Central hopefuls, from left, Joe Costello,Maureen O’Sullivan and Mary Lou McDonald

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

14 NEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

2

FUEL Poverty is growing as the price offossil fuels soars, a special conference inDublin Castle has been told.A total of 13,000 domestic customers

were disconnected by energy companiesin the Republic last year – compared withfewer than 10,000 in 2009.Delegates at the Energy Action confer-

ence on 7th and 8th February, sponsoredby the ESB, were told this figure wouldhave been higher but for the moratoriumon disconnections introduced by theGovernment last December.Another 200,000 electricity and gas

customers entered planning agreementsto meet their bills in 2010.However, a moratorium is no more than

a stay of execution – and, for some, noteven that.Professor Christine Liddell of the

University of Ulster told the conferencethat “excess” deaths from cold-related ill-nesses were being underestimated byabout 25% in Northern Ireland.Dr Emer Begley, Social Inclusion and

Policy Officer at Age Action Ireland,expressed similar concerns over mortalityfigures in the Republic and claimedIreland probably had the highest “excess”death rate from cold-related illness inEurope.Brenda Boardman, Emeritus Fellow of

Oxford University’s Environmental ChangeInstitute, underlined how our presentenergy market structures are not sustain-able.She told delegates a lifetime of study

had convinced her that liberalising energymarkets led to increased fuel poverty.Low income households were often

restricted in choice and reluctant toswitch suppliers because they lacked theinformation to make informed decisions.This was especially true of the old, who

“end up subsidising those who do switch

by continuing to pay the higher tariffs”.Brenda Boardman said “older people

don’t self-refer themselves to agenciesthat can help and they fail to take upbenefits they are entitled to” while vari-ous grants and subsidy schemes weretaken up by better-off households that didnot need them.She claimed “weasel words” such as

“vulnerable” were used to define house-holds and encouraged a situation wheregovernments introduced initiatives on thebasis of their vote pulling power ratherthan their ability to target those most inneed.Duncan Stewart, in another powerful

contribution, criticised Irish political par-ties’ approach to fuel poverty and singledout the Labour Party’s policy as the onlyone that came close to addressing theproblem.Irish Times Environment Editor Frank

McDonald condemned the lack of anational housing audit, which he claimedwas a vital preliminary step towards tack-ling the problem.Jenny Livingstone, who is Energy

Services Manager with NIE Energy, toldthe conference that while a third ofhouseholds are experiencing fuel povertyin Northern Ireland, no customers hadbeen disconnected for 10 years.

This was due to the introduction of PayAs You Go meters, which were popularacross all socio-economic groups.Delegates were told that customers

using meters reduced their energy con-sumption by an average of four per centand found it easier to budget.Many delegates from community-based

organisations felt that the ESB had thebest approach to customers in debt andthat the bringing in of competition hadseen a jump in “debt-hopping” by desper-ate consumers.This had resulted in an insurmountable

burden of debt for many.

By PADRAIGYEATES

Heated debate: Delegates at conference heard of surge in Fuel Poverty in Ireland

NEWS LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

11

SIPTU sources have claimedold-fashioned “perserverance” –and an effective membershipdrive – have been particularlyeffective at organising Bord naMóna subsidiary AdvancedEnvironment Solutions (AES).In little over 18 months,

SIPTU has seen membershiprise to 62% of the workforce.During that time, Energy

Sector Organiser Greg Ennisand SIPTU Organiser PatMcCabe played key organisingroles at AES, a firm that spe-cialises in waste recycling.According to Greg Ennis, theyused “perseverance” and an

increasing membership –“resulting in significant densi-ty” – before they approachedmanagement at AES to seekformal recognition.An official meeting between

management and SIPTU offi-cials then followed. An agree-ment was reached that member-ship contributions could bededucted at source. The right torepresent individual memberswas also conceded.However, management

refused to move on collectivebargaining rights. Greg Ennissaid: “Despite this, we contin-ued to build density at various

AES facilities while still refer-ring our claim for a collectivebargaining procedural agree-ment to the Labour RelationsCommission in March 2010.”The semi-State firm refused

to attend the LRC to find a res-olution and the union referredto matter to the Labour Courtunder Section 20 (1) of theIndustrial Relations Act 1969.In July 2010, the Court recom-mended that “the companyshould recognise SIPTU for allindustrial relations purposesincluding collective bargainingon the terms and conditions of

employment of its members.”The Court called on the par-

ties “to meet at an early datefor the purpose of concluding aprocedural agreement forsame.”AES finally accepted the

Labour Court recommendationand a comprehensive procedur-al agreement was reached inNovember 2010.Currently, SIPTU Industrial

Organiser Oliver McDonagh ismaking good use of the deal toimprove conditions of work atAES particularly in relation topay rate standardisation, sick

pay, unsocial hours payments,meal allowances and pensions.A union source added:

“Efforts are continuing to con-clude the complete organisationof AES.”Founded in 2001, AES spe-

cialises in waste management,skip hire and recycling servicesat various locations, includingfacilities at Drehid, Co Kildare,Rosslare, Co Wexford andNenagh, Co Tipperary.

‘Perserverance’ works at AES

Fuel Poverty being stoked byenergy market competition

NEWSNEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

12

SENATOR Shane Ross is one ofthose independent candidatesFine Gael hopes could help itinto Government without havingto rely on the Labour Party. The senator is also Business

Editor at the SundayIndependent newspaper andspecialises in attacking publicsector workers and unions whenhe is not doing the real work ofprobing bad practices in bank-ing and business. For many years he has worked

out of his offices in theOireachtas since becoming sen-ator for Trinity College, Dublin. He is a former employee of

Dublin stockbrokers Dillon &Waldron, which at the time wasowned and run by the Murphyfamily of William MartinMurphy fame. He left the com-pany when it was taken over byfinancier, Dermot Desmond. Hehas also maintained an activebusiness life serving as non-executive chairman of SVMGlobal Fund and a non-execu-tive director of both New RussiaFund and Baring Hedge SelectFund. Last year, he denied having a

conflict of interest over anotherhedge fund he chaired before itwent into voluntary liquidation. He told the Sunday Times he

was unaware SVM Saltire Fundplc – of which he was non-exec-utive chairman – held shortpositions in Irish bank shares ata time when he was publiclyadvocating against a ban onshort-selling. Asked by the newspaper

whether his position as Saltire’s€15,000-a-year chairman rep-resented a conflict, he replied:“I had no input into the man-

agement of the fund. I didn’teven know it had any shorts.I’ve always been in favour ofshort-selling.” The practice whereby traders

sold borrowed shares andbought them back at a profitwhen the price dropped wasoutlawed on 18th September,2008, by the former financialregulator, Patrick Neary. About $3 trillion had been

wiped from stocks globally thatweek and the practice of short-selling was being widelyblamed. The prohibition applies to

short-selling of stock in Bank ofIreland, Allied Irish Banks(AIB), Irish Life & Permanentand Anglo Irish Bank. The week the ban came in,

Ross – a member of theOireachtas committee on eco-

nomic and regulatory affairs –wrote: “I have news for poorPaddy the regulator: short-sell-ers are good guys.” The Saltire Fund held short

positions on Bank of Irelandand AIB shares before the banwas introduced and continuedto hold Bank of Ireland shortpositions 14 months later, inNovember 2009. The rules of the ban do not

preclude the continuance ofexisting short positions. “If you think I’m conflicted, I

should tell you I’m a sharehold-er in Bank of Ireland and havebeen for a very, very long time,”Ross said when asked about thematter last summer. The Saltire Fund was listed

on the Irish Stock Exchangeand managed by SVM AssetManagement Ltd, based in

Edinburgh. The fund was placed in vol-

untary liquidation in June 2010(with a balance in the bank of€3.4 million available forredemptions) after recording a26.3% drop in returns for theprevious 12 months, comparedwith 19.7% growth in 2008. The other director of the fund

was David Shubotham, theSwitzerland-based Irish stock-broker and for many years aninvestor in Ireland’s bubblingproperty market.Ross is chairman of SVM

Global Fund, Edinburgh, whichhas both retail and institutionalclients. It puts an emphasis on

investing in emerging countriesas it believes the developedeconomies have taken on toomuch debt, according to its lat-

est annual report.SVM describes itself as a

“multi-strategy fund of funds”that provides access to an inter-national portfolio and to spe-cialist funds including hedgeand private equity funds. Ross receives a fee of

£22,500 (€26,700) a year forhis work and is also a share-holder. Ross is a director of twofunds managed by BaringsBank in London. The Baring Hedge Select

Fund is a $142 million CaymanIslands company listed on theIrish Stock Exchange. It aimsfor consistent returns and mini-mal volatility.He is also a director of the

Baring Russia Fund – a $242million Luxembourg-registeredfund that concentrates oninvesting in Russian equities.One of its bigger investments

is in the huge Russian energycompany, Gazprom.In his decla-ration of members’ interests,Ross gives a London address forthe two Baring funds. He recently told The Irish

Times that he did so becausethey were managed fromLondon, and pointed out thatformerly he cited them as beingresident in Luxembourg and theCayman Islands.Ross has shares in

Independent News & Media,the Bank of Ireland andNational Toll Roads, accordingto the 2009 Oireachtas registerof members’ interests. Standingin the Dublin South constituen-cy he is one of a number ofright wing economists runningfor election.

ROSS HEDGES HIS BETS INPUBLIC AND BUSINESS LIFE

One to watch: Senator Shane Ross hopes to take a seat in Dublin South Picture: Photocall Ireland

SO Fine Gael believes that workers are as responsible asbankers, bond holders and property developers for theeconomic and financial crisis. It says so on the party’swebsite.

“Unlike the other parties, Fine Gael will take on the bigvested interests that have contributed to the current crisis– the bankers, the bondholders, the developers and theunions. And we will aggressively cut the waste in our pub-lic service to keep all taxes as low as possible.”

The party which hopes to form the next Government hasalready made up its mind to scapegoat ordinary workersand those who depend on public services to meet its seri-ously unreal budget targets. By blaming workers and theirunions for the crisis Fine Gael has signaled that they willbe fair game for the massive privatisation and outsourcing

that the party is planning across the public service andthe inevitable job losses across the wider economy thatwill result from its austerity programme.

Despite a letter of complaint by Congress general secretary, David Begg, the party has kept the offensiveremarks, attributed to finance spokesperson, MichaelNoonan, on its site.

In his reply, Michael Noonan stated he had beeninformed by the Director of Elections about the letter andthat Fine Gael would contact him “directly on behalf ofEnda and myself to explain the position.”

“If we are fortunate enough to be in Government I lookforward to a continued good working relationship withyou,” he added in his letter of 8th February.

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Workers to blame for economic crisis says Fine Gael

ROSS earns more than€70,000 a year from hisseat in the Seanad – andat least the same againworking as a journalist.He also earns significantamounts from his businessactivities.

Earninga crust or two...

Michael Noonan: Workers as much to blame as banks for crisis

Pho

to: Pho

tocall Irelan

d

NEWS LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

13

ONE of the great trade union suc-cess stories of recent times is thecontinued growth of the FairHotels Campaign and its websitewww.fairhotels.ieThe site has seen a 20%

increase in registered hotels andthis trend continued last weekwith one of the biggest names inthe industry – Whites of Wexford –signing up to the campaign.Whites of Wexford is one of the

leading 4-star hotels in the coun-try offering luxury accommodationin Wexford Town.Trade unions that require large-

scale conference facilities nowhave a quality addition to the FairHotels menu to choose from –this time in the sunny south east.The hotel offers facilities that

can accommodate up to 1,000people in a theatre-style setting,

and also boasts some of the finestleisure and spa facilities in thecountry, including their cryothera-py clinic, as used by the Irishrugby team.SIPTU Sector Organiser Pat

Ward spoke of his delight at thehotel’s decision to sign the FairHotels Access and NeutralityAgreement.He said: “I want to welcome

Whites of Wexford signing up. Itbodes well for the future of theworkforce, of the hotel, and of theregion. The hotel boasts first-classfacilities with a workforce tomatch.”The agreement provides for

recognition of SIPTU for collective

bargaining as well as a commit-ment to remain neutral in theface of union organising.There is also provision for

access to staff on paid time fororganisers from the union’sStrategic Organising Department.SIPTU’s Fair Hotel Organiser

Kevin Glackin was keen to stressthe influence of the MANDATE inbrokering the deal.Responding to this, MANDATE

General Secretary John Douglassaid he was “delighted” to workin solidarity with SIPTU in sup-port of hotel workers.He added: “I would call to all

trade unions to continue to worktogether and use the leverage ofour combined purchasing powerto support existing Fair Hotelsand encourage others to join theFair Hotels Campaign.”

BIG NAME SIGNS UPFOR HOTELSCHEME

John Douglas: Solidarity in action

Pat Ward: Bodes well for the future

THE Fair Hotels Campaign got off to a flyingstart to the year by another star signing to itsranks – the historic Wynn’s Hotel, situated onLower Abbey Street, Dublin.Wynn’s, with a history stretching back to

1845, joins a growing list of reputable hotelsthroughout the country that have committedto the principles of union recognition and fair-ness at work.Hotel management signed the Fair Hotels

Agreement on 23rd December 2010.The agreement provides for recognition of

SIPTU for collective bargaining as well as acommitment to remain neutral in the face ofunion organising.There is also provision for access to staff on

paid time for SIPTU Organiser Kevin Glackinfrom the union’s Strategic OrganisingDepartment.Outlining the next steps in the process, he

said: “We will now have conversations with allthe workers, helping them realise that beingorganised and acting collectively as unionmembers is the most effective way of havingpower in their workplace.“By forming an in-house committee and

receiving the appropriate training from theOrganising Department, these workers will beable to deal with issues locally and influencethe decision making process in their hotel.”Highlighting the assistance received from

the IMPACT trade union over the campaign,Kevin Glackin added: “I wish to take theopportunity to acknowledge the role ofMargaret Coughlan, Vice President of IMPACT,in helping to broker the agreement betweenSIPTU and the hotel."Reacting to the news, Wynn’s Hotel Night

Porter Willy Redmond said: “I am delighted

that Wynn’s have joined the Fair Hotels’ cam-paign and will recognise SIPTU for bargainingpurposes.“This will give us the chance to have a real

voice in the workplace. We also look forwardto the trade union business that will now becoming our way.”Situated yards from O’Connell Street in

Dublin, the hotel had been missing out oncustom from trade unions in recent years, butthis is set to change for 2011.Wynn’s Hotel will be now be listed on the

union’s Fair Hotels booking websitewww.fairhotels.ie.The site continues to go from strength to

strength offering great deals across some ofthe best hotels in the country.Welcoming the decision by Wynn’s to join

the campaign, Sector Organiser Ethel Buckleysaid: “The Fair Hotels strategy of encouragingconsumers to make an informed choice andchoose hotels that treat staff fairly is now pay-ing dividends for workers in the industry.“Since we adopted this strategy in the sum-

mer of 2009, nine additional hotels haveagreed to recognise the union for collectivebargaining. This represents a 20% increase inthe number of hotels which recognise theirstaffs’ right to be represented by the union.“Every hotel that signs on for the campaign

is good for hotel workers but the addition ofWynn’s in particular will be welcomed by cam-paign supporters.“Wynn’s has long been a hotel of choice for

trade unionists and other progressive groupsfor meetings and overnights. We are delight-ed to be in a position to promote Wynn’sHotel as a Fair Hotel.”

Historic Wynn for Fair Hotels!

Whites Hotel in Wexford

Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin

NEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

14

Migrant Rights Centre Ireland is a national organisation working to promote justice, empower-ment and equality for migrant workers and their families.

For more information on our work & campaigns visit our new website: www.mrci.ie

CONTACT:(01) 889 7070 / info@mrci.ie / 55 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

DOMESTIC worker organisations and tradeunions have been battling to get domesticwork on to the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) agenda for the last 50years. In 2008, the battle finally paid off and at

present the negotiation process is wellunderway. But many challenges lie ahead inthe coming months before domestic work-ers can claim victory and have theiremployment rights recognised and protect-ed by legally-binding international stan-dards. Despite providing essential roles in socie-

ty by enabling others to work outside thefamily home, the valuable work of child-minders, cleaners and carers of the elderlyis undervalued and underpaid. Getting domestic work recognised as work

is one of the major struggles of domesticworkers’ movements, globally. In somecountries, domestic work is completelyexcluded from the protection of labourlaws.Millions of women and girls around the

world are domestic workers. They are recog-nised as some of the most abused andexploited workers. Isolated behind closed doors, many

“invisible workers” suffer abuse at thehands of their employers. Wage exploita-tion, long working hours, forced labour, sex-

ual, physical and psychological abuse andharassment are all common. The domestic work sector needs specific

legislation to protect this historically neg-lected group. The Domestic Workers Action Group

(DWAG), supported by the Migrant RightsCentre Ireland, has been campaigning forthe rights and dignity of domestic workersin Ireland since 2004. DWAG and ICTU are mobilising support

for a strong rights-based ILO Convention. DWAG is campaigning together with

domestic worker organisations international-ly to ensure that domestic workers’ voicesare being fairly represented in the processto ensure the final instrument protects therights of all domestic workers, regardless oftheir immigration status or whether they areemployed by a diplomat – two contentiousissues in current discussions. The reality is migrant women make up a

significant proportion of domestic workersglobally and any discussions will have toconsider their situations. DWAG believes that a person’s immigra-

tion status should never be allowed to beused to deny a worker their rights – this isa morally indefensible argument. The campaigning will come to a head in

Geneva in June 2011, when the standardwill be discussed and finalised, hopefullytaking the form of an international conven-tion supplemented by a set of recommen-dations.

Our task now is to negotiate and convincethe Government to commit to supporting aconvention that is both effective and ratifi-able. This campaign for the rights and recogni-

tion of domestic workers needs to be madevisible. In the build up to June, we need tostrengthen alliances, as lobbying theGovernment into responding posi-tively is a priority. The collaboration between trade unions

and NGOs with regard to domestic workersis a model of how, with common vision,workers’ organisations can be strengthenedand contribute towards building a dynamiclabour movement. We invite the trade union movement to

join us in a global campaign for decentwork and rights for domestic workers byorganising and supporting our actions toput pressure on the government to vote fora meaningful rights-based ILO Convention. 8th March – the 100th Anniversary of

International Women’s Day – is markedacross the globe as a “Global Call toAction” for this campaign. Worldwide, trade unions and domestic

workers’ organisations will use this opportu-nity to raise awareness for rights and digni-ty for domestic workers in calling for a con-vention.Aoife Smith is DWAG co-ordinator with

MRCI.

By AOIFESMITH

For more info on this campaign visit www.domesticworkerrights.org / www.mrci.ie/Domestic-Workers/ or email aoife@mrci.ie

50 years of strugglefor ILO recognition

• 40% of domesticworkers surveyed do not have an employmentcontract.

• 38% are paid underthe minimum wage (withsevere cases as low as €2 per hour.)• 42% do not receive

payslips.• Two thirds of those

surveyed experiencedexploitation as a domesticworker in Ireland.• 30% work Sundays

and Bank holidays withoutextra pay or a day off.• 44% raised a

complaint with theiremployer about their unfair treatment and longworking hours but theirconcern was ignored andnothing changed.

MIGRANTDOMESTICWORKERSIN IRELAND

THE FACTS

(Results taken from a 2010 DWAG survey)

OPINION & COMMENT

OPINION & COMMENT LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

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LibertyView

THIS general election will almost certainly decide thefuture for many years to come. It is now clear from allthe opinion polls that there are only three possible out-comes: a Fine Gael majority Government, a minorityFine Gael Government depending ona few right-wing independents, or aLabour/Fine Gael Government.The first two would be decidedlybad for working people and theirfamilies. Fine Gael, without themoderating effect of Labour, wouldgo about wage cutting, and the pri-vatisation and the dismantlement ofpublic services on an unprecedent-ed scale.It would be worse for working peo-ple and their families than anythingenvisaged in its manifesto becausetheir sums are out by €5bn. Thiswould mean even more savage taxand cutting measures.This catastrophe can still beavoided. The only way of doing sonow is by voting for Labour Partycandidates first and continuingpreference votes down the ballotpaper to all other candidates representing parties thatare committed to social solidarity.This would result in Fine Gael having to deal withLabour to obtain a majority of the seats in the Dáil.Labour in Government will not be able to createUtopia. However, at very least it would mean parity ofesteem for working people with the rancher farmers

and top business professionals who have always consti-tuted Fine Gael’s core vote. Balanced Government canwork. The last time we had such an administration wasduring the period between 1992 and 1997. It saw the

abolition of third-level education fees,the highest increase in child benefit inthe history of the State, the generationof 1,000 new jobs per week between1994 and 1997 (without creating abubble).After accomplishing it, all the publicfinances were handed over in pristinecondition by the only Labour PartyMinister for Finance the country hasever had – Ruairi Quinn. Tragically thePDs and Fianna Fáil went on to ruin it.The outgoing administration hasdivided the country, between publicand private, rural and urban.The first thing that must be done isto heal these divisions. Then thewhole of our society must be mobilisedto tackle the enormous problems leftby Fianna Fáil and the PDs.Of the three alternatives that remainavailable, (based on the opinion polls),

this can only be achieved by a balanced Governmentreflecting the interests of working people as well as thebusiness community and other sectors.We can still make it happen by voting Labour andthen continuing our preferences right down the line tothe other parties that are committed to the principlesof social solidarity. The future is in our hands.

CATASTROPHE CANSTILL BE AVOIDED

February 2011

Liberty is published by the Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union, LIberty Hall, Dublin 1SIPTU General President, Jack O’Connor • Vice President, Patricia King • General Secretary, Joe O’Flynn

Production: SIPTU Communications Department, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 • Tel: 01 8588217 • Email: communicationsdepartment@siptu.ieSIPTU Head of Communications, Frank Connolly • Design: Sonia Slevin (SIPTU) & Joe Mitchell (Brazier Media) • Publications Assistant, Deirdre Price • Administrative Assistant, Karen Hackett

Produced, designed, edited and printed by trade union labour • Printed and distributed by The Irish Times, City West, Dublin.

By JACK O’CONNORSIPTU General Presidentand President of Congress

OPINION & COMMENTLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

16

SO WE want change – the magic six-letter word that will erase the pastand enhance the future.Political parties would give their

right arm to have the kind of profilethat this word has at the moment butas we know only too well, profile isno replacement for concrete reality. But what do we want when we say

that word? What do we mean? The truth is we want everything to

change – back tothe way it waswhen wehad moneyin ourpocketsand ouryoungpeoplehadjobs.

Wishingfor

the past is safe because the devil youknow is certainly more attractive thanwishing for the kind of change weneed now, even though we know weneed it.But when people talk on the doors

and in the pubs, a hint of what kindof change we want emerges. The first is that we all would like

the chance to see the architects ofour downfall be made accountablefor the damage that has been inflict-ed on every family in this country. This subject makes people apoplec-

tic but, of course, tighter laws andgreater powers of finan-cial investigation arerequired to bringthat result. We see politi-

cians and busi-ness people inthe US and theUK pay the pricefor their actionsby going to jail. So far, the moun-

tain of debt and destruc-tion has not dragged one sin-gle person into court in this coun-try, never mind prison. This mustchange.

The nation’s debt is the sec-ond area where voters show

their anger and their desire for achange. They don’t talk about it in econom-

ic terms. Rather, people shake theirheads and say “nothing can bedone” or “the country is ruined” or“we’ve been sold out”.What they really mean is they feel

their own lives have been torn apart,that their children and grandchildrenare leaving, their houses are worthnothing and their pay cheques don’tmeet the bills. People know too that the money

they are giving up isn’t even going togood purpose.

The kind of change requiredto tackle this problem is ona scale we have neverexperienced. The countryis in new territory andnegotiating a paththrough it will requireskill, tenacity and a newhonesty. It must be said that,

since the debt mountain isstill growing, the outcome can-

not be predicted but it is clear thatthe current deal will not hold oncethe new debt reality emerges. Tight robust regulation of the finan-

cial sector must be the change forthe future.

Banks are not gambling organisa-tions and their systemic importanceto our economy must be recognisedwith enforceable rules and laws.The state of politics itself is the

third most common call for changeon the doors. Events during the past four years

have revealed the ruler and the ruledand the great gap between the two.Voters have been betrayed by thisGovernment and are demandingchange to the way Government car-ries out its business – from pay andpensions, through electoral reform tovouched expenses and full accounta-bility. There is no going back now. The

change will be hard and slow and itmust be more than skin deep. We need to want a society where

jobs are won because of what youknow, not who you know. We need to know that planning

laws cannot be twisted by brownenvelopes. We need to reject the cul-ture of quiet phone calls to the gar-dai or the heads of governmentdepartments to drop investigations orcomplaints. And, above all, we need honest,

decent people to stand up and drivethis change.

Susan O’Keeffe is a journalist and the Labour Party candidate for Sligo/North Leitrim

Courtesy of Martyn Turner and The Irish Times.

Change is in your hands, now go and vote for it...By SUSAN O’KEEFFE

Events of the past four yearshave revealed the great gapbetween ruler and ruled

The diary of aSouthside Senator

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

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Friday

I have become a member of the Twiterrati. (Ed: But you were always a twit).From the Cayman Islands to Carrickmines, I can tweet to my heart’s content. It means that not one thought shall go unpublished. My loyal followers in TalbotTowers will know my every move. Anguish says he should have thought of ityears ago.How they chuckle when I tweet about my experience on the doorstep. One apparently charming voter came to the door carrying my book, ‘Wasters’.He wanted his money back. I knew by the look of him he was voting for Labourso I did not waste time arguing with someone whose taste in books and politi-cians is so dodgy.

SaturdayMy policy on cronyism is going down a storm. As I said: “Fianna Fáil and FineGael are mirror images based on families, not political argument.” The problemwith tweeting is that they can tweet back. One twit had the temerity to tweet:“Ross, you are the son of a senator, John N Ross. You can’t talk about dynas-ties. And you were elected to serve the rotten borough of Trinity College”. How dare anyone suggest that there is a comparison between the Cowens,Coughlans, Lenihans and Kennys and the blue-blooded Ross dynasty. Trinity isa class apart.

SundayImagine my surprise. I picked up a copy of the Fine Gael manifesto in Centra –bright, glossy and very similar to my own sensible approach to the public sector.When I got home I discovered it was in fact the Sindo! They must have got theidea from the Mail’s stunt of imitating the Sunday Tribune. Last time out, theSindo sided with Bertie but Kenny’s the man this time round. Pity about the Tribune but Anto had to pull the plug. You have to hand it to theboys – timing is everything. Not one candidate will take on a powerful mediagroup during an election campaign.

MondayThe Irish Times has been doing some digging. Why do they insist on revealingthat I am non-executive chairman of SVM Global Fund, Edinburgh? It’s mybusiness that I earn €26,700 a year for this invaluable work. This guy Keenaalso tells readers that I am a director of two Cayman Island based funds man-aged by Barings Bank in London. Surely it’s to my credit that I can undertake this unselfish missionary workwhile serving as a parliamentarian and a business editor.I must admit it is a chore keeping so many balls in the air but the returns areworth it.

TuesdayThe big debate. Enda is hiding in Leitrim. Martin keeps going on about his oldman being a champion but he himself is more of a shadow boxer. He certainlypacked no punch at the cabinet table and now it seems MM was a closet revolu-tionary. Gilmore is very restrained – I think he’s afraid that if he raises his voice,Browne will accuse him of doing a Burton!

WednesdayTo the studios of Prime Time where the focus is on the economy. The scene is setby an interview with Brian Lucey from Trinity (where else?). I’m on the panel and Iam from Trinity (where else?). By a coincidence Constantin Gurdgiev is on thepanel. And you guessed it – Gurdgiev lectures in Trinity. That is not all we have incommon. Constantin and Brian are both supporting Paul Sommerville who isstanding in Dublin South East. With any luck Sommerville and Ross could holdthe country to ransom – sorry, hold the balance of power.It was a compelling debate and while we might differ a bit on small issues, wereally are ideological bedfellows. Prime Time forgot to mention that the two amigosare actually supporting a candidate, which is just as well. Balance and objectivitycan go too far.

ThursdayThe Irish Times just announced a new platform in the Saturday magazine for aSouth side pain in the arse with pretensions. My supporters were thrilled until Ipointed out that Ross is the first name of a guy called O’Carroll Kelly, who can begenuinely funny and does not actually think public servants are the lowest form ofhuman life.

FridayI have helped shape the agenda. Kenny and Bruton are turning on the public serv-ice and on the unions. The opinion polls show that Kenny could form a singleparty government, with a little help from his friends. The quangos are going to beabolished. Yipee!

SaturdayCongress is asking difficult questions about accountability and transparency. Theysay that if we get rid of independent watchdogs and enforcement agencies,employment laws will be breached, health and safety regulations ignored andworkers will suffer. Naked self-interest, that’s what this stuff is all about. All theycare about is the workers. Do they not know we have an economy to restore?

OPINION & COMMENT

Change is in your hands, now go and vote for it...

A great way for kids to learn about the 1913 Dublin Lock-out

The historical events of the Dublin 1913 Lockout vividly portrayed through the lives of two young friends…Liam and Nora form an unlikely friendship when he lends her a helping hand during a music competition. When Jim Larkin takes on the might of the employers in 1913, resulting in strikes, riots and lockouts, Liam and Nora's friendship is challenged and their loyalties torn. Caught up in events that they don't fully understand, the two come face-to-face with hardship and danger, but also �nd humour and generosity as they set out on an adventure that may make or break their friendship, but will de�nitely change their lives forever.

Across the Divide by Brian Gallagher, published by The O’Brien Press. Available from all good bookshops priced €7.99

Courtesy: The Irish Times Nov. 2010

OPINION & COMMENT

EVERYONE I meet seems to bethinking of the coming electionmainly as a means of giving FiannaFáil a bloody nose.All well and good, but that’s

going to happen anyway. We needto think past the politics of revengeand ask a much harder question:what kind of government is likeliestto improve the living conditions ofordinary people, create jobs andrestore hope to a shattered nation.All of the polls seems to point to

a Fine Gael-led government, mostlikely in coalition with Labour —though there is a chance that ifenough right-wing independentsare elected and the num-bers add up then FGwould attempt toform a govern-ment with thehelp of thoseindependents.It seems to

me clear thatthis will land thecountry in a worsemess than we’re inat present.It is an iron law of politics

that right-wing governments areaddicted to the proposition that thepoor must pay.FG has made it clear that there

will be no wealth tax – this speaksfor itself.There will be a move away from

universal health care paid for fromrevenues to a system of purchasedhealth insurance.Ask yourself, is €500 a year for

health insurance the same thing

for a bus driver as it is for a barris-ter?FG says that local authorities,

under the guise of being empow-ered, will be funded from propertytaxes and charges for utilities suchas water.Ask yourself, if a bank manager

and a hospital porter are each pay-ing the same amount for water,who can least afford it?And so on.Taxes on goods and services

always hit the poor and the unem-ployed hardest of all.

Even on their publishedproposals, then, FG aremaking it clear that itis not in the bestinterests of workingpeople to vote forthem.So what about

their job creationprogramme?

Everything I have readsuggests to me that in gov-

ernment FG will have a double per-spective on this – any efforts theymake to create jobs will be linkedto a determined attempt to drivedown wages, in the private sectoras well as in the public sector.More, I firmly believe they will

bow to EU pressure to cancel allexisting agreements on rates forthe job, and put employees at themercy of employers whose offerwill be: your job at lower pay or thedole?

So, nobody in their right mindwill vote for FF this time out, andonly turkeys who can’t wait forChristmas will vote FG.There is a real hunger for change

in the country, and there will be, Isuspect, a big vote for independ-ents this time out — but we needto take a long cool look at theseindependents, and vote only forthose who will not support a FGgovernment.Sinn Féin? FG will never

bring SF into government,so if you believe that FGwill be the principal part-ner in the coming govern-ment, you have to askyourself if a vote for SFis, in the narrow sense,a wasted vote —though a strong SFcontingent in the Dáilwill at the very least actas some kind of thorn inthe side of a right-winggovernment.The best hope, it seems to

me, of tempering the worstexcesses of a government ledby FG is to force them intocoalition with the strongestpossible Labour repre-sentation. To keepLabour honest,it seems tome pru-dent tovote

for SF, ULA and left independentsin places where they also have agood chance of being elected.In any case, I see this as an

interim election. We are in themiddle of a great debate about theneed for radical change in how weimagine and how we manage ourbattered Republic.The most urgent political task

facing us now is to keep thisdebate alive through the change ofregime.

Fine Gaelrulingthe roostwill maketurkeysof us all

By THEO DORGAN

Pic

ture

:P

hoto

Cal

lIr

elan

d

Enda the road: Fine Gael governing with the help of right-wing independents will land us in a worse mess

Theo Dorgan is a writer and poet

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

18

Right-winggovernments

are addicted tothe proposition

that the poormust pay

NEWSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

2

HAVE you noticed how few women candi-dates are calling to your door? Every streetlamppost is overburdened with politicians’posters. There are very few women’s faceslooking out for our number one.Ireland already stands 23rd out of 27

European countries in terms of the repre-sentation of women in Parliament. Only13% of current TDs are women.It’s going to get worse. A mere 16% of

the candidates in the current election arewomen.The homogeneity of our political repre-

sentation is a problem. It is not just, it isnot democratic and it is not effective.Claiming Our Future has launched a

petition calling for action to ensure thiscannot happen again.Sign up to the petition on

www.claimingourfuture.ie so we can presenta strong demand to the incomingGovernment for immediate action to legis-late that full public funding under theElectoral Act is only available to partieswhich select no more than two-thirds oftheir candidates from one gender.The five party leaders debated their pri-

orities on RTE on 14th February for anhour-and-a-half.Women were mentioned once (Green

Party). Equality was mentioned once (SinnFein) and fairness got mentioned once(Labour Party). People on lower incomesalso got one mention (Sinn Fein).None of these references were substan-

tive – all were in passing.Environmental sustainability fared worse

with passing mention only made by theGreen Party. Participation and participa-tive forms of democracy did not even get amention.This debate further underscored a disen-

franchisement of those parts of civil socie-ty advocating a more equal, environmen-

tally sustainable and participative Ireland.This is why Claiming Our Future recalled

the Back Lane Parliament on 9thFebruary.In 1792, it was called to demand an

end to the disenfranchisement ofCatholics. In 2011, it was called todemand an end to this disenfranchise-ment of civil society.This is why local activists are organising

meetings around the country under thebanner of Claiming Our Future to ask thecandidates in their areas what they have

to offer in terms of equality, environmentalsustainability and participation.Our votes do count and politics is key to

defining a different future.Claiming Our Future has prepared and

disseminated notes to assist a questioningof the canvassers and candidates callingto our doors (available onwww.claimingourfuture.ie).A poster of the policy priorities identi-

fied at the Claiming Our Future assemblyheld late last year is also available.It is important to vote for candidates

and parties that will take steps to advanceequality, participation and environmentalsustainability.However, action over a longer term out-

side of politics to build the demand forthese values is going to be crucial.

We need a strong and effec-tive civil society force,

involving tradeunionists, envi-ronmentalactivistsand com-munityactivistsamongothers,toinformthisdemandand to pro-

vide a frame-work to demon-

strate the supportfor equality, environmental

sustainability and participation in decisionmaking.Claiming Our Future is working to devel-

op this civil society force through delibera-tive assemblies and campaigns.The first focus will be income equality

with an assembly on this topic beingplanned in Galway for April.Initiatives are envisaged on public sec-

tor renewal for efficiency, integration andequality, political reform to embrace repre-sentative and participative democracy andestablishing a new model of developmentfor economic security and environmentaland social sustainability.

Niall Crowley is formerChief Executive of the Equality Authority

Vote for those withprogressive agendas

By NIALL CROWLEY

It isimportant to

vote for candidates andparties that will take

steps to advanceequality, participation

and environmentalsustainability

Picture:Conor

HealyPhotography

OPINION & COMMENT

THE traditional Irish belief in the healingpower of time and the ‘Goodness of God’is being severely strained by the presentdebt crisis.Rather than getting better, the problem

of the banks is daily becoming more acuteand more intractable while the word‘bailout’ is quickly losing any real meaningfor the domestic economy.Foolish predictions that two years of

political manoeuvring has moderated theimpact has absolutely no credibility on theelectoral doorsteps and the economy,already in the worst place it has been inliving memory, lurches deeper into thegloom.As the the Election 2011 campaign is

proceeding into its final phase, the eco-nomic data becoming available offers littlehope of any political fix.Politicians, never anxious to dwell for

too long on the pessimistic side, are nev-ertheless confronted by a number of eco-nomic commentaries forecasting slowerthan expected economic growth, deterio-rating prospects and significantly, in thecase of Goodbody Stockbrokers, a predic-tion that the current IMF/EU bailout is

something the country cannot afford.This, in turn, has led to a chorus of

voices, not just from the extreme ends ofthe political spectrum, crying out for adefault on the banking rescue debt whichnow also happens to be State debt.This is a worrying clamour because even

the smartest commentators cannot agreeprecisely where a default will take theeconomy.No one seems sure, (or in the electoral

climate, is prepared to admit) what wouldhappen to the cost of future borrowings ifthe Government began to “burn thebanks”.Nor is there any confidence about how

long the State would be saddled with thatincreased costs burden. If, as some sug-gest, it would go into generations, theprice would be a heavy one. It is also notpossible to say what impact such anextreme decision would have on the valueof private assets in the medium term.

The international model provided bydefaulters of the past is not an especiallypropitious one. The only certainty is thatthe default is likely to bring a mixed bagof troubles, which is not what the elec-torate currently craves.Compared to any other recessions in liv-

ing memory, the present one is alreadymarked by its length, its breadth and thefact that the heaping of large dollops ofausterity on all sectors of society is notmaking things even remotely better.The feeling that the crisis is creeping up

on the public and is relentlessly biting atthe heels of the tax payer, has been rein-forced by the disappearance of many tensof billion of euro in deposits from the Irishbanks starting at the end of last summerand becoming a flood in October. This, ata stroke, made the banks insolvent andilliquid.So protected were the banks by

Government guarantees that the country is

now also broke and cashless and in everysense dependent on the kindness ofstrangers.This painful experience has helped the

electorate, perhaps for the first time,come into an election fully equipped withthe necessary information to challengecandidates, and for this reason the politi-cal discourse has been more measured.There have been no reassurances that

“things will be grand.” Clearly they won’t.It seems clear that the first item on any

new agenda will be to ease the terms ofthe so-called bailout.This will be so much harder to achieve

than it would have been in the past.Our European partners, in spite of Enda

Kenny’s fizzy water tête-à-tête with AngelaMerkel on St Valentine’s day, are likely tobe more interested in playing hardballthan ‘footsie.’Emboldened conservatives are using the

‘austerity’ word again. Brace yourself.

Martin Fitzpatrick is a former businesscorrespondent witht the Sunday Independent

Dependent on kindness of strangersBy MARTIN FITZPATRICK

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

19

ELECTION 2011LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

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The party is committed to state enterprise and it will use the commercialState companies as a key part of the recovery. It will oppose the privatisation of these companies.

Stimulating the economy

The party’s proposed Strategic Investment Bank would play a key role instimulating economic activity. It would:

“Be a key lender to small and medium sized businesses as well as innovativefirms. It would also work closely with the Enterprise Agencies to facilitate high-potential firms.”

“It would… support investment in large infrastructure and infrastructure-relatedprojects.”

Job creation

Labour is proposing to establish a Jobs Fund of €500m to grow employment and skills training. It also proposes a “greater emphasis” on the contribution of indigenous firms to economic growth.

It sees clear potential for job creation in the energy sector:

“Labour believes that the right energy policies could deliver 80,000 jobs in various sectors. For example, a National Retrofit Programme of the estimated1.2 million homes in need of improving their energy efficiency has the potentialto employ up to 30,000 construction workers.”

Equally, a focus on innovation and research would involve merging existingbodies into:

“the Innovation Strategy Agency (ISA)... whose role will be to stimulate technology-enabled innovation in the areas which offer the greatest scope forboosting growth and productivity.”

The ISA would see the creation of Technology Research Centres that wouldbe “located in appropriate higher-education institutions”.

The party advocates...

“a new industrial policy that will promote and support a number of strategicsectors of the economy, including, but not confined to the following: cleantech,creative industries, education, internet services/ cloud–computing, food,tourism, retail sector.”

Non-Commercial Semi State Bodies (NCSSBs)

The Labour manifesto pledges a “spending and waste” audit of the sector:

“….each body being required to justify its continued existence outside of itsparent department. Remaining NCSSBs will be required to be properly accountable to the Oireachtas. Labour is proposing a series of amalgamations ofNCSSBs that will both save money and achieve greater policy coherence. These include utilities regulation, equality, tourism, industrial development, broadcasting and housing policy.”

Conclusion

Labour is unambiguously supportive of State companies and states explicitly that it will oppose privatisation. It also states that it will utilisethese major companies in a drive to bring Ireland out of the deep recession.

Fine Gael is committed to expanding some State utilities (possibly with private involvement) but it does support full or partial privatisation of thesecompanies.

Investment in State companies...

“Under Fine Gael’s NewERA plan, streamlined and restructured semi-State com-panies will invest an additional €7 billion, over and above current plans, overthe next four years in ‘next generation’ infrastructures in energy, broadband,forestry and water.”

...financed by privatisation

“Over time, we… propose to finance the investment programme from the sale ofcertain State assets. We will only sell State assets, however, if the sale cohereswith the following principles:

“The asset is not a monopoly or of strategic importance to the State. We willnot repeat the mistake of Eircom by selling off a strategic asset which is a natural monopoly. As a result, we would retain ESB Networks and Eirgrid (whichwe will merge) and the national electricity grid in majority state ownershipalong with Bord Gais Networks, Coillte and Bord na Mona.”

Worth noting

The Fine Gael manifesto says a “trade sale” of Bord Gais Energy, ESBPower Generation and ESB Supply could raise €4bn, quoting an estimatefrom Davy Stockbrokers (would Davy handle the sales?).

Even if the amount raised matched that figure, it would be a once off sumthat the State would receive in return for a loss of strategic control over keyareas of the economy.

The manifesto explicitly states that Fine Gael “sees no impediment to selling”:

• Bord Gais Energy• ESB Power Generation (excluding the hydro plants)• The ESB Customer Supply Companies• RTE NL (the network that transmits and distributes RTE output

- TV and Radio)

Privatising public transport

Fine Gael takes a similar attitude to public transport networks. The manifesto explicitly states:

Delivery of transport services will be opened up by:

• Mandating the National Transport Regulator to open up bus routesin Dublin and elsewhere to competitive tendering from alternative providers;• Opening up the use of publicly owned bus stations to facilitate competition and user choice; and• Commissioning an examination of the feasibility and benefits of terminal competition at Dublin Airport as recommended by ESRI.

Local Authority Waste Services

The party is also explicit with regard to these key services:

“And also making all local authority waste services contestable, and consistentwith a National Strategy”

LABOUR FINE GAEL STATE SECTOR PRIVATISATION – HOW MAIN PARTIES LINE UP...

ELECTION 2011

ELECTION 2011

STATE SECTOR PRIVATISATION – HOW MAIN PARTIES LINE UP...Privatisation in the public services

The party manifesto also sees potential in the public sector and sees the“the opportunity for private tender to deliver back-office activities within thepublic service.” It continues: “In each of the areas where Fine Gael develops,under Reinventing Government, consolidated Public Service delivery, a privatesector bid will be developed for some of the service.”

Plans for other State bodies

Fine Gael will appoint a committee to examine the cost base of the semi-States and to recommend ways to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in each company.

The manifesto also says that a Fine Gael Government would merge theCompetition Authority, the National Consumer Agency (NCA), theCommunications Regulator (ComReg), the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland(BAI) and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) into a powerful newCompetition and Utilities Commission.

Conclusion

While Fine Gael will invest in utility networks under its NewERA holdingcompany – specifically in the areas of water, broadband and energy – theparty plans the privatisation of state assets, including key State companies.Indeed, party policy demands a large amount of money from privatisation inorder to keep direct taxation “low” for high earners or to pay off nationaldebt and the bank bailout.

Conclusion

The Fianna Fáil manifesto is poor on detail with regard to the future ofState companies. In the past, under Sean Lemass, the party built up thiskey indigenous commercial sector and saw it playing a major role in theIrish economy. However, since its ideological ‘capture’ by the ProgressiveDemocrats in the 1990s, that attitude has changed dramatically. In addition, the terms of reference for the McCarthy group betray a clear preference for further privatisation of State assets and it can only beassumed that Fianna Fáil would maintain that stance, if in government.

FIANNA FÁIL

SINN FÉIN

GREEN PARTY

Once committed to state enterprise, Fianna Fail has actually carried out theprivatisation of many of State companies and in Government it would belikely to privatise more.

This is clear from the loaded terms of reference it set for the Review Groupon State Assets. The group – chaired by Colm McCarthy – is expected toreport soon. Those terms are worth quoting in full:

“To consider the potential for asset disposals in the public sector, including commercial State bodies, in view of the indebtedness of the State.

“To draw up a list of possible asset disposals.

“To assess how the use and disposition of such assets can best help restoregrowth and contribute to national investment priorities.

“To review where appropriate, relevant investment and financing plans, commercial practices and regulatory requirements affecting the use of suchassets in the national interest.”

They are no less than a charter for privatisation.

Over the years Fianna Fáil policy has undertaken a huge programme of privatisation: in Government the party has sold off Eircom, Irish Ferries,Irish Sugar, Irish Life, Irish Steel, B&I, INPC, ACC/ICC and Aer Lingus. But it was the Fianna Fáil/ PD privatisation of Eircom that was the real failure.

That sorry tale of asset stripping and value destruction is outlined in Learning from the Eircom Debacle, published by Congress, and availableat: http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/learning-from-the-eircom-debacle

While it has published few specifics on the role of the commercial Statesector, in general the party has been supportive of these important indigenous companies. Sinn Fein advocates the transfer of €7billion fromthe National Pension Reserve Fund (NPRF) for a state-wide investment programme (stimulus).

The manifesto makes reference to growing the Agri-Food Sector and improving communications infrastructure:

“Augment the current National Broadband Scheme to provide a fibre-opticisland-wide network. Fast-track the €435 million spend so that it is deliveredbeginning in 2011 instead of 2013.” The manifesto also says that: “Sinn Féinwould reverse cuts to public services and social welfare introduced in Budget2011.”

Conclusion

Sinn Féin is also thin on detail on state companies for Election 2011.However, in general the party has been supportive of the sector.

While the Green Party is supportive of the public transport sector – whichcontains a number of State companies, the party supported the loadedterms of reference set for the Review Group on State Assets. It seems tofavour ‘competition’ rather than public control of key commercial assets.

The party has a comprehensive policy on Energy, which includes transport.This focuses on alternative energy production and use and would havemajor implications for the ESB and Bord Gais, although there are fewspecifics spelt out.

The Green Party’s strong pro-public transport bias would thus be supportiveof many State companies. For example, it proposes to:“Extend the proposed orbital Metro eastwards from Ballymun to Baldoyle toserve this rapidly developing northern fringe area of the city; Extend the citycentre Metro south from St Stephen’s Green to connect at Beechwood stationfrom which point the Luas and Metro trams would share Luas Line B; Extend theMetro south from Cherrywood to follow a direct route to Bray...” etc. The partyappears to opt for “small co-operative forestry enterprises” that would per-haps challenge Coillte “as part of a decentralised state system”.

Conclusion

The Green Party manifesto contains few specifics on plans for State companies. Nonetheless, the policies pursued by the party while inGovernment – light touch regulation, low personal and corporate taxation,the disastrous bank guarantee – caused enormous harm.

ELECTION 2011 LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

21

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

22 ELECTION 2011The following questionnaire was sent only to those political parties that are seeking to participate in the formation of a Government.

1. What are your Party’s proposals to generate investment for job creation?Labour is advancing a comprehensive package of measures to promote employment, including Labour’s propos-al for a Strategic Investment Bank that would initially act asa vehicle to invest €2.8 billion from the pension reservefund. We would then invest a further €2billion to capitalisethe bank, which would drive investment in the Irish economyon an on-going basis. Our economic plan also includes a€500m Jobs Fund to support initiatives to get unemployedpeople back to work, education and training.

2. Did your Party agree with the imposition of a €6bnadjustment in Budget 2011?No. Labour argued that the €6billion frontloaded adjustmentwas too great a risk to jobs and growth.

3. Did your Party go along with the inclusion of AngloIrish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society in theBank credit guarantee of September 2008?No, Labour was the only party in the Dáil to vote against theblanket guarantee for the Banks.

4. Does your Party believe the burden of economic adjust-ment is being fairly distributed, or should the wealthy contribute more?Labour has proposed a fair and balanced approach to thenecessary economic adjustment, calling for an extension tothe time limit for adjustment, a better balance between cutsand revenue raising, and reform to ensure fair taxation.Labour has made a clear commitment that no-one with a single income of less than €100,000 will pay more incometax.

5. What specific commitments and reassurances is yourParty prepared to offer PAYE workers in the matter of personal taxation?Labour has long argued for a fair and balanced tax structurein Ireland. Labour does not support further impositions ofincome tax on people on middle and modest incomes in theperiod 2012-2014 and propose that no increase in incometax will be imposed on people earning less than €100,000.

6. Will your Party honour the terms of the Croke ParkAgreement?Yes.

7. What is your Party’s position on further privatisation and/or outsourcing of the Health Service?Labour is committed to retaining the not-for-profit ethos inthe Health Service and our plan for Universal HealthInsurance has been developed on this basis. Labour is committed to developing a health service based on strongerprimary care and an end to the two-tier system.

8. What is your Party’s attitude to selling off commercial semi-state companies?Labour is opposed to selling off commercial semi-state com-panies and state assets. Labour believes that the state com-panies have a significant role to play in economic recovery,since they can leverage resources to develop new enterprisesand expand existing ones, thereby increasing employment.Labour recognises the strategic importance of utilities, suchas power generation, airports, sea ports, etc., in an islandcountry, and does not favour relinquishing control of them.Labour is utterly opposed to the proposal to sell Coillte.

9. Will your Party commit to maintain the RegisteredEmployment Agreement system and the EmploymentRegulation Order mechanism?Labour has consistently opposed efforts to resolve the eco-nomic crisis at the expense of vulnerable workers. Labour isin favour of improving the efficiency and responsiveness ofthe system. However, the Party will strongly oppose effortsto dismantle it or render it useless from the point of view ofemployment protection. Good employers should have noth-ing to fear from the maintenance of a level playing field. Inparticular, Labour will ensure that the Joint LabourCommittees are independently chaired and that the chairper-son will retain a casing vote.

10. Will your Party commit to legislate to provide workerswith an entitlement to participate in collective bargain-ing and for recognition of a trade union, if they opt to berepresented by one?Labour in Government will address the fact that someunscrupulous employers have sought to undermine the rightto collective bargaining. Labour will introduce legislation tostrengthen the rights of workers to engage in collective bar-gaining, as enshrined in the EU Charter of FundamentalRights. The legislation will also make it illegal to discrimi-nate in any way against an employee because they are amember of a trade union or involved in trade union activity.

ELECTION 2011

LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

21LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

23ELECTION 2011The following questionnaire was sent only to those political parties that are seeking to participate in the formation of a Government.

1. What are your Party’s proposals to generate investment for job creation?In Government, the Green Party facilitated the creation of over 20,000 Greensector jobs. We will continue to invest in the Green Sector which has thepotential to generate up to 100,000 jobs. The Green Party is the only partythat has a proven track record in creating jobs in the Green Economy. We arejust getting started and have a lot more to do. Green jobs include a range ofgreen businesses such as organic farming, energy efficient construction, elec-tric cars, biofuels, manufacturing, servicing, water management, renewableenergy. For example, by drawing an additional €500 million from the NationalPension Reserve Fund, we intend to scale up the National Retrofit Programmeso that we double that figure to 100,000 premises retrofitted every year.

2. Did your Party agree with the imposition of a €6bn adjustment in Budget 2011?Budgetary adjustments over the past numbers of years have beenpainful and caused a drop in living standards for many people.However, we made a commitment to our European partners and theIMF that we will save a further €9bn over the next three years.There can be no avoiding this or deviating from this plan.The GreenParty believes that the €15bn adjustment over the four year periodshould be based on a 2:1 relationship between reductions of expen-diture and increases in revenue. Insodoing, we will avoid makingany further cuts to basic social welfare rates.

3. Did your Party go along with the inclusion of Anglo Irish Bankand Irish Nationwide Building Society in the Bank credit guaran-tee of September 2008?The Green Party was a party of Government when the BankGuarantee was put in place in 2008. The decision was taken basedon the best information available to us at the time. This includedan assessment that Anglo Irish Bank was of systemic important tothe wider Irish banking system and its collapse could have fatallydamaged other banks.

4. Does your Party believe the burden of economic adjustment isbeing fairly distributed, or should the wealthy contribute more?The Green Party believes that the underlying principles of the four-yearadjustment should be that it: Supports economic growth and jobs; Is fair;Broadens the tax base and ensures it is more sustainable and Promotes themove towards a low carbon economy. The Green Party proposes to takejust €800m from the social welfare budget over three years. Keeping socialwelfare cuts to a minimum will allow us to retain rates at their current levels.

5. What specific commitments and reassurances is your Partyprepared to offer PAYE workers in the matter of personal taxation?Budgets 2009 to 2011 saw rises in income taxes which were aimed at bring-ing more people into the tax net. By 2010, 45% of earners were not payingany income tax. This was not sustainable and was completely out of step withthe taxation systems of our European partners and competitors. With theintroduction of the Income levy and now the Universal Social Charge, ourincome tax system has been brought back to a more sustainable level.However, it is also important to remember that those on higher incomes alsosaw their taxes rise. In Government, the Green Party prioritised the abolitionof the PRSI ceiling, which had previously benefited higher earners. The high-est marginal rate now stands at 55%.

6. Will your Party honour the terms of the Croke ParkAgreement?The Croke Park agreement provides a framework to deliver further effi-ciencies in a co-ordinated and co-operative manner. The Green Partybelieves that the Croke Park agreement must deliver its promised sav-ings of over €1.2bn, as laid out in the four year plan. If these savingsand efficiencies are not found then Croke Park will have to be re-exam-ined. The best way of ensuring that these savings are made and thatthe public service delivers for the citizen is through co-operation andpartnership with those who deliver the services.

7. What is your Party’s position on further privatisation and/oroutsourcing of the Health Service?The Green Party is advocating a single tier universal public healthcare system that is accessible to all. The Green Party believes thathealth care services are a human right. This means that everyone,rich or poor, young or old should have equivalent access to a decentpublic health service. Health care should depend on what we need,not on what insurance we have, how much we earn, who we knowor where we live.

8. What is your Party’s attitude to selling off commercial semi-state companies?The Green Party is strongly opposed to a fire sale approach to the sale ofstate assets. A number of our semi state companies including the ESB,Bord Gáis, Bord na Móna and EirGrid are strategically crucial to theimplementation of the Green’s vision of Ireland as a net energy exporter.In addition they are healthy, vibrant companies that are raising debtindependently and offering high-value employment to thousands of peo-ple. We believe it makes neither economic nor strategic sense to sellingoff these companies. Given the economic situation and the severe pres-sures on the public finances, however, full consideration must be givento making the best use of state assets. Where a state asset is not mak-ing a vital contribution to the implementation of Government policy andhas the potential to achieve a reasonable return for the Exchequer, wesupport the selling of such assets. The RTE transmission network is oneexample of such an asset.

9. Will your Party commit to maintain the RegisteredEmployment Agreement system and the Employment RegulationOrder mechanism?The Green Party supports the current Registered EmploymentAgreement system.

10. Will your Party commit to legislate to provide workers with an entitlement to participate in collective bargaining and forrecognition of a trade union, if they opt to be represented byone?The Green Party is supportive of the principle of collective bargaining.Where clear barriers to collective bargaining exist we would examinethe possibility of legislating to remove those barriers.

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24

1. What are your Party’s proposals to generate investmentfor job creation?The big crisis in the state is unemployment. The only wayout of this recession is to create jobs. Instead of puttingmoney from the National Pension Reserve fund into insolventbanks we would invest €7 billion in jobs. There are manyexamples of what we would do. Not only would we invest invital infrastructure - roads, schools, broadband, we wouldsupport enterprise. There are more than 200,000 small andmedium businesses in existence. If they were helped toretain one job or create one new job it would make a huge difference.

2. Did your Party agree with the imposition of a €6bnadjustment in Budget 2011?No. Sinn Féin opposed the budget and refused to facilitatethe passing of the budget. The budget was deflationary andplaced the burden on the low and middle income familiesthrough measures such as the Universal Social Charge.

3. Did your Party go along with the inclusion of AngloIrish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society in theBank credit guarantee of September 2008?No. When the specific terms and conditions of the BlanketBank Guarantee were placed before the Dáil on the 17October SF opposed it.

4. Does your Party believe the burden of economic adjust-ment is being fairly distributed, or should the wealthycontribute more?Sinn Féin do not believe the burden of economic adjustmentshould be borne by low and middle income families. Webelieve that those who can pay more should pay more.

5. What specific commitments and reassurances is yourParty prepared to offer PAYE workers in the matter of personal taxation?We would not increase income tax for anyone earning under€100,000. We would introduce a 48% rate of income tax forindividuals earning over €100,000. This would allow for theabolition of the Universal Social Charge.

6. Will your Party honour the terms of the Croke ParkAgreement?Sinn Féin do not believe in further pay cuts for the vastmajority of public sector workers. Our policy would see front-line public services protected and in areas such as health andeducation where there is a shortage of staff due to theembargo, we believe additional staff are required. However,there are other areas, which are top heavy with bureaucracyand salaries are too high. Sinn Féin would cap the maximumsalary of public servants at €100,000. We would cut Ministerssalaries by 40% and TDs salaries by 20%.

7. What is your Party’s position on further privatisation and/or outsourcing of the Health Service?Sinn Féin supports a public health system. Healthcare mustbe available when and where you need it. It cannot be driv-en by private profit. We would not allow any public money tobe used to subsidise private healthcare. We need to lift theembargo in frontline services. Outsourcing simply doesn’twork.

8. What is your Party’s attitude to selling off commercial semi-state companies?Sinn Féin is opposed to the selling off of commercial semi-state companies. We should not sell off the family silver atthe behest of the IMF or anyone else.

9. Will your Party commit to maintain the RegisteredEmployment Agreement system and the EmploymentRegulation Order mechanism?Yes. Sinn Féin will oppose the agenda at the heart of theGovernments Four Year Plan and the EU/IMF Bailout to drivedown workers wages and terms and conditions with attackson the minimum wage and Registered EmploymentAgreements.

10. Will your Party commit to legislate to provide workerswith an entitlement to participate in collective bargaining and for recognition of a trade union, if theyopt to be represented by one?Yes. In June 2008 Sinn Féin published a bill to provide forthe right to collective bargaining and mandatory trade unionrecognition.

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1. What are your Party’s proposals to generate investmentfor job creation?We have set up a €500 million Innovation Fund whichwill support enterprise development and job creation bydrawing top venture capitalists to Ireland. We will invest €35bnin infrastructure over the next few years. This will create 30,000jobs in construction alone. Metro North has been given priorityas a major labour intensive capital project. This will create6,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase. Italso has the potential to create and sustain 37,000 jobs. Over€1billion will be spent on housing and water services, whichwill create and sustain employment of somewhere in the regionof 10,000 jobs.

2. Did your party agree with the imposition of a €6 billionadjustment in Budget 2011?Yes. In order to reduce our deficit to 3% by 2014 we need tomake adjustments of €15 billion over three years. This is a verysignificant challenge but we believe that frontloading theadjustment this year is the best way to return this country togrowth. If we postpone it even bigger adjustments will berequired at a later date.

3. Did your party go along with the inclusion of Anglo IrishBank and Irish Nationwide Building Society in the Bankcredit guarantee of September 2008?Yes. If we had not introduced the bank guarantee in September2008 the banks would have run out of money within days.Should we have allowed a situation where people could notaccess their salaries, their savings and let the pass machines lit-erally stop working overnight? Massive job losses would havefollowed as cash is the lifeblood of the economy. We had nooption but to include Anglo Irish Bank and INBS in the bankguarantee given they had a balance sheet approximately halfthe size of the Irish economy.

4. Does your party believe the burden of economic adjust-ment is being fairly distributed, or should the wealthy contribute more?We believe that the burden of economic adjustment has beendistributed evenly. We believe that those who earn most mustpay most. Unfortunately no group can be sheltered. This viewhas been confirmed in a report by the ESRI which examined thetax and welfare changes in Budget 2011 and their combinedeffects in the Budgets from 2009 to 2011. They acknowledgedthat the combined effect of the budgetary responses has beenstrongly progressive. The policy changes have reduced topincomes by close to 10%, and middle incomes by about 5%.

5. What specific commitments and reassurance is your Partyprepared to offer PAYE workers in the matter of personaltaxation?We believe the majority of the changes in this area have alreadytaken place over the last couple of years. As outlined in thenational recovery plan we will reduce the tax credits and thebands by 16.5% between 2011 and 2014 bringing income taxback to 2006 levels.

6. Will your Party honour the Croke Park Agreement?Yes. It is vital that the Croke Park Agreement is fully implement-ed. The reforms under the Croke Park Agreement are essential tohelp meet the unprecedented challenges currently facing Irelandand its public services.

7. What is your Party’s position on further privatisationand/or outsourcing of the Health Service?We are against further privatisation, we believe in providing anessential public health service for all. Co location is no longeracceptable .However contracts already entered into will be hon-oured.

8. What is your Party’s attitude to selling off commercialstate assets?Fianna Fáil in Government established a Review Group on StateAssets and Liabilities last year to examine and provide advice onthe proper stewardship of state assets and on opportunities forthe better use of those assets. The Group, which is headed upby UCD economist Colm McCarthy, will report shortly. We areagainst large scale or “fire sale” of state assets.

9. Will your Party commit to maintain the RegisteredEmployment Agreement system and the EmploymentRegulation Order?We are committed to reviewing the Registered EmploymentAgreements (REAs) and Employment Regulation Orders to eliminate anomalies.

10. Will your Party commit to legislate to provide workerswith an entitlement to participate in collective bargainingand for recognition of a trade union if they opt to be repre-sented by one?We are committed to introducing legislation in relation to collective bargaining.

ELECTION 2011

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26 INTERNATIONAL

1. What are your Party’s proposals to generate investment forjob creation?Fine Gael has a clear credible jobs plan which will create 25,000 jobs every year over the next four years by focus-ing on spending cuts rather than job-destroying tax increases.We will invest in our future through our New ERA plan to pump€7 billion in green infrastructure. The policy is based around anumber of prinicpals: Competitiveness: no direct tax hikes onjobs or enterprise; no income tax hikes, including PRSI and USC;employment law will be consolidated; consider a single businesstax for micro businesses; simplify tax registration for start-ups;maintain the 12.5% corporation tax rate, cut the Jobs Tax(employers’ PRSI) for the lower paid; cut VAT in labour-intensivesectors of the economy like construction, hospitality, hairdress-ing, and newspapers.

2. Did your Party agree with the imposition of a €6bn adjust-ment in Budget 2011? Fine Gael agrees with the target of a fiscal adjustment of €15billion between 2011 and 2014. Frontloading €6 billion of theadjustment in Budget 2011 was necessary to prevent furtherdeterioration of public finances. Fine Gael is committed to deliv-ering €9 billion in deficit reduction measures by 2014. The IMF,Department of Finance and the ESRI support our view that thisplan will bring borrowing to under 3% of GDP by 2014. TheEuropean Commission now believes that getting the deficit to under3% of GDP will take longer, but supports our view that €9 billion insavings is still the right target to pursue by 2014 – not the €6 bil-lion in savings proposed by other parties which will further under-mine confidence in Ireland’s ability to repay its debts.

3. Did your Party go along with the inclusion of Anglo IrishBank and Irish Nationwide Building Society in the Bank creditguarantee of September 2008? The Bank guarantee was presented to Fine Gael as an option toensure the stability of the banking system that was suffering a liq-uidity crisis and not an insolvency crisis that it turned out to be.Nationalisation of the banking sector as proposed by the LabourParty at the time would not have made any difference on the even-tual outcome as the taxpayer would have still taken on board thebillions in bank losses. Fine Gael agrees with the Central BankGovernor who has criticised the guarantee for being too broad. FineGael has outlined its extensive plans to restructure the banking sys-tem and for additional burden sharing of the banking losses withthose who gambled on the banks.

4. Does your Party believe the burden of economic adjust-ment is being fairly distributed, or should the wealthy con-tribute more?We believe that the vulnerable should be protected more. That’swhy we opposed the inclusion of carers, disabled and the blindin support cuts. We will make sure they are excluded from futureadjustments. In addition the poorest families would also havetheir child benefit protected. We believe that we cannot tax ourway back to recovery and that future tax increases will damageeconomic recovery and job creation. As with other parties we arecommitted to closing down tax reliefs for the wealthy and intro-duce new residency rules for tax exiles.

5. What specific commitments and reassurances is your Party pre-pared to offer PAYE workers in the matter of personal taxation? Following the massive income tax hikes of recent years, as wellas the introduction of the Universal Social Charge, Ireland is nolonger a low tax country when it comes to income tax. That iswhy Fine Gael opposes proposals to raise either the standard

20% or the top 41% rate of income tax, or the further reductionsto tax credits and bands proposed in the Government’s 4-yearplan.

6. Will your party honour the terms of the Croke ParkAgreement?Pending a built-in review of its implementation, Fine Gaelremains committed to honouring the pay elements of the CrokePark Agreement. Fine Gael has always indicated its commitmentto go beyond the Croke Park Agreement in terms of the reformagenda needed to get Ireland working again. The planned reduc-tion in public sector numbers will be achieved through voluntarymechanisms.

7. What is your Party’s position on further privatisationand/or outsourcing of the Health Service?FG has no plans to privatise the health service. Fine Gael’s planis to introduce Universal Health Insurance and hospitals willremain in public ownership.

8. What is your Party’s attitude to selling off commercialsemi-state companies? As we fix the deficit in a way that restores confidence, a FineGael government will use the remaining funds in the NPRF, sellnon-strategic state assets and restructure the commercial semi-state sector in order to finance €7 billion in extra investment inwater services, telecommunications and energy. This will supportdemand and employment in the short-term, and provide thebasis for sustainable, export-led jobs and growth for the nextgeneration. We will merge ESB Networks and Eirgrid intoSmartGrid, tasked with upgrading the national electricity grid tohelp meet national renewable energy and climate change targets.This will be financed in part by the disposal of non-strategicstate assets, such ESB PowerGen, Bord Gais Energy (not the net-work) and ESB Customer Supply and ESB International. We willmerge Coillte and Bord na Mona into a new single renewableenergy leader, Bio Energy and Forestry Ireland. We will mergeState-owned telecoms assets (spread between ESB, MANs, CIE,Bord Gáis, National Roads Authority and Waterways Ireland) into“Broadband 21” to work with private sector providers to acceler-ate the build-out of a next-generation broadband network acrossthe entire country.

9. Will your Party commit to maintain the RegisteredEmployment Agreement System and the EmploymentRegulation Order mechanism?To protect jobs, we will review and renegotiate the EmploymentRegulation Orders (ERO’S) imposed on the hotel, restaurant,security, agricultural, retail and other sectors under the JointLabour Committee system within six months. We will also allowemployers and workers in ERO sectors to negotiate enterprise-level collective agreements with their own staff which will makethem exempt from the ERO. All existing employment law will beconsolidated into a Single Employment Act to ease compliancefor employers.

10. Will your Party commit to legislate to provide workerswith an entitlement to participate in collective bargainingand for recognition of a trade union, if they opt to be repre-sented by one? The issue of collective bargaining will be a matter for negotiation between the next Government, employers and trade unions.

ELECTION 2011

ELECTION 2011 INTERNATIONAL LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

27

A WAVE of strikes has deepenedthe political crisis for the newmilitary regime in Egypt as work-ers demand pay increases tocompensate for escalating foodand commodity prices. A late

concession by now-resigned President

Mubarak to pub-lic sector

work-

ers has not prevented hundredsof thousands of transport, bankand tourism employees joiningwith workers from the strategicsteel, oil and gas industries overthe past 10 days. A key demand of anti-govern-

ment negotiators is the recogni-tion of trade unions and theright of workers to engage in col-lective bargaining. While the international media

has predictably focused onsocial networks such as Twitterand Facebook as revolutionarymeans of mobilising popularopposition to Mubarak’s regime,a key role has been played by

Independent trade unions hadkey role in toppling Mubarak

the independent trade unionmovement. As far back as 2004 ,workers

began breaking away from thegovernment-controlled EgyptianTrade Union Federation (ETUF)and began organising strikes forbetter pay and conditions. More than 1,900 strikes involv-

ing 1.7 million workers took placebetween then and the end of lastyear. On 30th January, the protests

escalated with independentunions calling the first in a seriesof general strikes. On 2nd February, millions of

workers – many of them unorgan-ised and employed in anti-unionplants and on temporary contracts– joined in. One of the factors that

mobilised them will strike a chordin Ireland, as it did in Tunisia; itwas media leaks about theobscene amount of wealth accu-mulated by the ruling elite whilethe economy slumped and thevast majority of young workerslanguished on the dole.It is estimated the Mubarak

family alone has amassed an esti-mated $70 billion, while 40% ofEgypt’s population of 80 millionlives on $2 a day.When the Mubarak regime dis-

rupted the internet to prevent theuse of social networking by oppo-nents, the trade union movementwas able to maintain contact withmembers using ‘old’ technologysuch as phones, faxes, ‘snailmail’ and personal contactthrough branch networks. It also kept the International

Trade Union Confederation and itsaffiliates informed on develop-ments.

One of the first signs ofMubarak’s weakening grip onpower was the recognition of theindependent trade union move-ment last year. It was a reluctantadmission of the movement’sineluctable rise – the first timethis had happened in more thanhalf a century. The loosening of controls was

due in part to pressure on theregime by the international labourmovement as well as the lobbyingof their own governments by indi-vidual affiliates. As in Tunisia, the role of the

trade union movement in a post-Mubarak Egypt will be crucial. Ithas a degree of organisation anda track record of opposing the oldregime unmatched by any otherorganisation, except possibly theMuslim Brotherhood. Whether the trade union move-

ment can overcome religious ten-sions to maintain working classunity will be one of its biggesttests. Again this will strike achord with our experiences inIreland.It remains to be seen if the

emergence of strong trade unionmovements in Egypt and Tunisiawill have the same impact acrossthe Arab world as the rise ofSolidarnosc had in EasternEurope. If unions are no substitute for

political parties, their emergencehas traditionally been an essentialstepping stone to democracy inevery modern revolution. While the course of events in

Egypt is uncertain, the role of theunions will provide a litmus testof how far the interests of ordi-nary working people are advancedas the crisis evolves.

By PADRAIGYEATES

Toppled:ex-PresidentMurbarak

PrivatisationLearning from theEircom debacleSpring 2011Lessons

from theEircomdebacle

http://www.ictu.ie/publications/fulllist/learning-from-the-eircom-debacle/

CONGRESS REPORT

RIGHTSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

28 RIGHTS

Dear Editor,

Election 2011 must surelycause us all now to thinkof what each of us mightdo to really influence thispoll outcome for a muchfairer advancement forworkers, their families andsociety as a whole. As union members we

strive to achieve greaterfairness and equality forour members and societyat large – and this needsto be connected with howwe think and act political-ly. For almost ten decades,

the two main political par-ties here have beenrepeatedly given thelargest mandate to govern,manage our economy, dis-tribute our wealth andresources – and haven’tthey done so in a mostunfair and unequal way? It is hard to believe, for

example, that after almost90 years of the history of

our State, these two par-ties have continuallydenied workers a right toan entitlement to collec-tive representation andbargaining. Election 2011 gives

workers, their families andyoung first-time voters aunique opportunity to cast

a vote that will give a realchance for change to afairer and more equal soci-ety. The Labour Party, and

those candidates whofavour social solidarity,should therefore be ourtarget for our votes. I am most respectfully

suggesting that we act sig-nificantly to influence theoutcome of the poll byadvocating first preferencevotes for the Labour Partyat every opportunity. A strong Labour pres-

ence is vital to achieve apolitical balance and aProgramme forGovernment with a differ-ence.Each of us has less than

a week to work for thiscommon goal and everyone of us needs to try. Trusting on your solidari-

ty at this time.

Christy McQuillanSIPTU Divisional Organiser

Dear Editor,

Having canvassed in Dublin South Eastfor the last six weeks, the following itemsseem to centre on whether voters in thisleafy suburb will cast their vote for eitherFine Gael or the Labour Party (most vot-ers have nothing good to say aboutFianna Fáil and the Green Party and SinnFéin candidates were very late entriesinto the field).Fine Gael1. Will devastate public services by

insisting that 30,000 redundancies arecarried out at a cost of €1billion.2. Fine Gael is committed to a priva-

tised, profit-driven health care which willdrive up costs by 10% as in theNetherlands.3. FG is committed to introducing a

graduate tax – graduates paying back onethird (up to €17k) of costs on graduation,irrespective of income level.4. FG will privatise state assets and

services such as Bord Gais Energy, ESBPower Generation and customer supplycompanies.Labour1. Labour has so far released 10 policy

documents during the election campaign– FG allege Labour have no policies.2. FG allege Labour will be run by the

unions. Only 4% of the Labour Party’sfunding comes from trade unions. Thereare no General Officers of SIPTU onLabour’s Executive Board.3. Labour has advocated a spend of

€500 million which will be targeted athigh density employment sectors.4. Labour will reverse the minimum

wage cut and will rebalance the UniversalSocial Charge to make it fairer on low andmiddle income families.

Fraternally yours,

Dr Jack McGinleyPearse Street, Dublin 2

A vote for Labour isvote for real change

Doorstep concernsin Dublin South East

Write to The Editor, Liberty, SIPTU Liberty Hall, Dublin 1 or email communicationsdepartment@siptu.ie

A chara,

As I listened to Mr Martin attacking SinnFein re: corruption, I wondered had he heardof the adage: “People in glass houses should. . . do naughty things in the basement”.

The sheer effrontery of the party that gaveus such selfless, frugal examples as RayBurke, Liam Lawlor, the Flynns, Ivor Callelly,CJ Haughey and B Ahern, not to mentiontheir close association with the likes of

Fitzy, Fingers, Dunner, O’Callaghan, et al viathe Galway Tent and plush golf courses,attacking others for corruption is breath-tak-ing.

Are they trying to eradicate the memory ofthe last 14 years or is it because the contestfor the last seat in many areas is betweenFianna Fáil and Sinn Féin?

Is mise,Dr Sean Marlow

Cast ye not the first stone, Micheál

Vote Labour: No other way

RIGHTSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

26 LibertyFEBRUARY 2011

29RIGHTS

DOES YOUR EMPLOYER HAVE TOINFORM YOU ABOUT YOURTERMS OF EMPLOYMENT?YES - The European Union, by Directive,requires all Member States to bring in alaw to do this, and so the Terms ofEmployment Information Act 1994-201was brought in to oblige all employers toprovide a written statement to theiremployees, setting out the particulars oftheir terms of employment.(Note: this is not to be confused withthe contract of employment itself).

WHO IS COVERED BY THE ACT?You have to be an employee with atleast one month’s service with youremployer. This includes employees ofthe State, apprentices and also agencyworkers. If you are an agency worker,then it’s the party who actually pays youwho is responsible for providing the writ-ten statement.

WHAT ARE YOU ENTITLED TO?If you entered a con-tract of employment(written or otherwise)after the 16th May1994, then your employ-er must give you a writ-ten statement of yourterms of employment,signed by them, withintwo months of commencing employmentwith them.If you entered a contract of employmentprior to that date, then they must giveyou the written statement within twomonths of you requesting it.Either way, they must also notify you ofany changes in the particulars given inthe statement, and do so within onemonth of any such changes coming intoeffect.

WHAT MUST BE IN THE STATEMENT?The law requires the employer to detailthe following particulars to you:-• Full name of the employer & employee• Address of the employer in the State,or, where appropriate, the principalplace of business, or the address regis-tered with the Companies RegistrationOffice• Place of work, or where there is nomain place of work, a statement indicat-ing that you are required or permitted towork at various places.• Job title or nature of work

• Date you commenced employment•If your contract is temporary, theexpected duration of the employment• If your contract is for a fixed term thedate on which the contract expires• The rate of remuneration or themethod of calculating it• The pay reference period for calculat-ing the hourly rate of pay for theNational Minimum Wage• Whether remuneration is weekly,monthly or otherwise• Hours of work-including overtime• Terms or conditions of paid leave(other than sick pay)• Terms or conditions of any sickness or

injury benefit or leave• Terms or conditions relating to pen-sions and pension schemes• Notice to be given on termination ofemployment or the method by which itwill be determined•Reference to any Collective Agreementaffecting the employment contract

Note: If you work outside the State,then your employer must include in thewritten statement details of the periodof employment outside the state, thecurrency you will be paid in, any otherbenefits you will be entitled to and anyterms relating to your repatriation home.You have to get these before you leave.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT GETWHAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO?If your employer does not give you yourwritten statement, or there is a problemwith what they have included or exclud-

ed, you can make a com-plaint to a RightsCommissioner at any timeduring your employment,or within six months ofleaving.The Rights Commissionercan uphold your com-plaint or not. They can

confirm the particulars in thestatement, alter or add to it, order astatement to be drawn up by theemployer and they have the power toorder the employer to pay you up to fourweeks remuneration as compensation.If you (or your employer) are not satis-fied with a Rights Commissioner’s rec-ommendation, then you can appeal it tothe Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT)within six weeks of the RightsCommissioner communicating the rec-ommendation. There are also enforce-ment procedures available.

Michael Halpenny is Head of SIPTU Legal Rights Unit

..KNOW YOUR RIGHTS...KNOW YOUR RIGHTS...

IN the passing of Tadhg Philpott thiscountry has lost a great trade unionistand advocate for older people.In February 1959, Tadhg went to work

for the members of the ITGWU in Cork asan Assistant Branch Secretary in the CorkNo. 2 Branch moving in 1965 to CorkNo. 4 where he became Branch Secretaryin April 1973.Tadhg was also a prominent member of

the Union's Cork District Council of whichhe became Secretary in 1980. He wasalso an elected member of Cork Councilof Trade Unions to which he was electedPresident in 1984-85.Tadhg was also very active in Cork poli-

tics and was elected to represent theLabour Party as a Councillor from 1967to 1974.In 1995, after a meeting with Jim

Quinn and Ross Connolly he set aboutorganising SIPTU retired members in the

south west. He was secretary of south-west Regional Committee from then untilearly 2010, also representing that regionon the national committee and as its ViceChair.Tadhg was involved with the Irish

Senior Citizens Parliament from the startof that organisation and was instrumentalin setting up the Cork division of whichhe was Secretary.Along with all these activities swimming

was one of Tadhg's other great passions,representing his country abroad in over-age competitions and also giving of histime to teach non-swimmers.Tadhg was honoured as a life saver

after going into the river Lee in Cork tosave a person from drowning.Giving the oration at his recent funeral

in Cork, SIPTU General Secretary, JoeO’Flynn, praised Tadgh for his life time ofcommitment to the trade union and

Labour movement.“He made an invaluable contribution

over an extended period to improve thepay and conditions of workers throughoutthe city of Cork but particularly those ofhotel, catering and health care workers.“It was remarkable that he spent so

much time in retirement representing theinterests of workers and their families, inthis case senior citizens, as he did duringhis working life.“He contributed much to improve their

quality of life in health care, elder carepensions, transport and other amenitieshelping senior citizens obtain a betterand more decent quality of life.“His family can be justifiably proud of

Tadhg for his dedication and commitmentto improving the lives of workers over hisentire lifetime,” Joe O’ Flynn said.

OBITUARY: Tadhg Philpott

Lifetime of dedicationand commitment

Tadhg Philpott: ‘An invaluable contribution’ totrade unionism & older people

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

By Michael Halpenny

JOHN Kenna’s biography of JamesEverett is one of a growing number oflocal studies that are filling in the gapsof the grand narrative on the formationand development of the modern Irishnation state. Everett dominated working class poli-

tics in Wicklow from the time of hisemergence as a founder of theAgricultural andGeneral WorkersUnion (AGWU) in1917 until themid-1960s.He was also

leader of thebriefly-livedNational LabourParty and Ministerfor Posts andTelegraphs in thefirst Inter-PartyGovernment of 1948-51. Although Everett

presided over animpressive expansionof the post office net-work and telephoneconnections, he isprincipally rememberedfor his role in theBattle of Baltinglass. He found himself at the centre of local

controversy when the franchise to run thepost office was awarded to the son of aclose friend rather than the niece of theprevious holder who had helped her auntrun the post office for many years.Nor was his reputation enhanced by his

support for the Catholic hierarchy in theirconfrontation with Noel Browne over theMother and Child Scheme.

Both controversies epitomised theparish pump, clerical dominated politicsof the era.Kenna shows there was more substance

to Everett. His deep religious faith coloured his

politics, but also sustained him throughthe difficult and dangerous years from

1917 to 1922, whenhe was active in theIrish Volunteers,served on republicancourts and collectedtaxes for the rebeladministration atconsiderable per-sonal risk, as wellas organising work-ers. Men like Everett

built the modernIrish state. During these

years, he broughtthe AGWU intothe IrishTransport andGeneral WorkersUnion, helpingtransform it froman organisation

largely based in Dublin, Cork andother port cities into a movement thatspread to every parish in the country. Like his mentor for many years, ITGWU

General Treasurer William O’Brien, hewas close to Fianna Fáil and was instru-mental in persuading de Valera to leadhis party into the Dáil. These and many other valuable details

of Everett’s life are recounted by Kenna,who presents his subject warts and all.

Padraig Yeates

BOOK REVIEW

Courage andcontradictions

For more information contact info@siptu.ie

James Everett: Trade Unionist to GovernmentMinister 1917-1951 by John Kenna

QUIZ

Answers by e-mail only to communicationsdepartment@siptu.ie

The winner of the quiz in the January edition of Liberty wasDavid Leahy who works with Limerick County Council. Hewins the monthly prize of a weekend (two nights) for two inone of the country’s Fair Hotels and €500 spending money.

Quiz questions1. In which US town and state was Rev. Jesse Jackson born?2. Who does Fine Gael blame for the economic crisis?3. Who owned the Dublin stock brokers for which Shane Ross worked?4. Name two State companies which Fine Gael sees no impediment in selling?5. Which party proposes to cut Jobseeker payments, by how much and when?6. Who wrote the new children’s book on the 1913 Lock-out?

Answer the six questions below correctly and you can win els with €500 to spend.

Answer the six questions below correctly and you can win a

weekend away for two in one of Ireland’s Fair Hotels with €500 to

spend. Answers to the following questions should be submitted

by email only by Friday 18th March.

JANUARYRESULTS

RIGHTSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011

30 SPORT

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Jim Larkin Credit UnionThe Credit Union for all SIPTU members and their families in the Dublin Region

If you are interested in joining the Jim Larkin Credit Union

Tel: 01-8721155 email: jimlarkincu@eircom.net

The Jim Larkin Credit Union is regulated by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA)

Opening Hours: 7pm-8.15pm on Thursday and 9.30am-12.00 noon on Saturday

THE race for one of the most powerfulpositions in Irish sport will intensify overthe next eight weeks as two candidatesbid to become the president elect of theGAA at the annual Congress in Mullingar.The GAA may be administered at the

top by a permanent secretariat but thereis no doubting the significant influenceexerted by the president over theAssociation during his three-year tenure.In April, either Liam O’Neill, from

Laois, or Tom Daly, from Donegal, willassume the mantle of president-elect,eventually replacing the current incum-bent Christy Cooney in April 2012.However, the influence of the new man

will be felt immediately as he lays thegroundwork for his reign, working closelywith both Cooney and Director GeneralParaic Duffy to prepare for office.The election will also mark the begin-

ning of the end of a historic presidentialterm which saw the Gaelic PlayersAssociation (GPA) emerge from the cam-paigning margins to take its place withinthe GAA’s official family with its long-term future and aims supported by afive-year agreement.While Duffy’s inclusive pragmatism and

excellent leadership qualities under-pinned improving relations between theGPA and Croke Park, the presidency ofCooney will be forever linked with thisgiant leap forward for the hurlers andfootballers who inhabit Gaelic games’ topstage.Unlike other sports organisations, the

GAA president is far from just a titularhead cutting ribbons, controlling as hedoes the GAA’s policy-making commit-tees and playing a central role in thepowerful management committee.Having journeyed through the extensive

administrative ranks of the GAA at club,county and provincial level, the presidentis traditionally viewed as a “constant”, atorch-bearer for the vast body of volun-tary members at grass roots level.However, since the rapid commerciali-

sation of the GAA over the past 20 years,the president has had to embrace theexpanding executive demands of theposition, and do so in tandem with the

in-situ Director General.Multi-million euro contracts are negoti-

ated on the GAA’s behalf, strategic plansare formulated while at the same time,concerns and demands of the small club,the county board and the provincialcouncil have to be listened to and actedupon.The success of the GAA in constructing

its magnificent headquarters at CrokePark as well as developing its infrastruc-ture nationally has been one of the mostpositive legacies of the boom years inIreland.The influence of various presidents

throughout this period of rapid develop-ment and change has been equally sig-nificant, from the role played by PeterQuinn in initiating the project to redevel-op Croke Park along with former DirectorGeneral Liam Mulvihill to Seán Kelly’sleading part in opening the stadium tem-porarily to soccer and rugby.

While the GAA was embracing theinfrastructure and status of a powerfulmodern sports organisation, the emer-gence of an active, organised players’body in 1999 posed a new challenge forpolitical hierarchy of the Association.Administrative success in the GAA is

quite often measured in bricks and mor-tar, or indeed in a good sod or an all-weather pitch. Investing in “human”capital was a whole new ball game.So when the GPA first came to public

attention in early 2000, the reaction ofthe GAA presidents was suitably suspi-cious.In fact, it would be fair to say that the

president was viewed as a bulwark as theyoung GPA became increasingly linkedwith a sense of an impending push forprofessionalism. However, as the GPAbegan to crystallise its vision for thefuture, one which protected the amateurethos while supporting players off the

field through development and welfareprogrammes, the need for proper engage-ment with Croke Park became critical.And pivotal to the potential for any dealwas the president.Talks with Croke Park began early in

the GPA’s development but Kelly was thefirst president to acknowledge the GPAas the de facto players’ representativebody. Another major advance in relationstook place when the GAA, under thestewardship of Nickey Brennan, endorsedthe Government Funding Scheme forinter-county players.Negotiations on formal recognition con-

tinued apace under Brennan but despitethe good relations, a deal had still notbeen struck by the end of his tenure inApril 2009.The GPA was now facing its fifth presi-

dential term. Many believed the period inoffice was perhaps too short and the rolesimply too political for any one incum-bent to really embrace the players’ body.And sceptics doubted whether thingswould be any different under Cooney.However, bringing significant board-

room experience and strategic vision tothe table, the Cork man oversaw thesigning of an interim agreement with theGPA just seven months after takingoffice.The interim arrangement was signifi-

cant for the GPA as it recognised thecontribution of the inter-county player tothe GAA’s commercial success and theneed to support and fund a developmentprogramme as well as the GPA itself.Cooney and Duffy also articulated the

mutual benefits of a partnership in termsof games promotion, dispute resolutionand commercial opportunities.The following April the GPA was offi-

cially recognised by GAA Congress whilenegotiations on a comprehensive long-term agreement took place throughout2010, culminating in the five-year dealratified on 12th February last.From next April, the focus on Christy

Cooney will begin to fade slowly as peo-ple look to the new regime.But for the men who grace Croke Park

with such distinction annually, the presi-dency of the Youghal man will never beforgotten.

Sean Potts is GPA Head of Communications

By SEANPOTTS

Succession: Current president Christy Cooney, above, with Liam O’Neill (below left) & Tom Daly(below right) Pictures: Sportsfile

Succession race hotsup for GAA’s top post

RIGHTSLibertyFEBRUARY 2011 Liberty

FEBRUARY 201131

MEMBERS IN FURTHER EDUCATIONThe scheme will offer up toten awards each year.

SECOND-LEVEL AWARDS FORMEMBERS AND FOR MEMBERS’ CHILDRENUp to thirty awards will be made eachyear to second-level students to coverthe senior cycle (the two years up tothe Leaving Certificate).

GAELTACHT AWARDS FORMEMBERS’ CHILDRENUp to twenty-five awards will be madeeach year for the children of membersto cover the cost of their participa-tion (accommodation and tuitionfees) in a Gaeltacht course under thescheme operated jointly by SIPTU andGael Linn.

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENTSUPPORT SCHEME

A member, applying on his/herown behalf or on behalf of his/herchild/children, must have at least oneyear’s membership of the Union andbe in benefit when both the applicationand the payments are made.

Application forms and furtherinformation available from your SectorOrganiser.

Closing date for receipt of completedapplications is 30th September, 2011(for awards 2011/2012).

SPORT

MEMBERSHIPINFORMATION &SUPPORT CENTRE (MISC)

8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday - Friday

Members call your MembershipInformation & Support Centrefor all your enquiries or concerns:

MEMBERSHIPINFORMATION &SUPPORT CENTRE (MISC)

8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.,Monday - Friday

www.siptu.ie