Comments on: Shifting sands of Irish Politics http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/ Borderless thoughts on Public Relations, Public Affairs and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, MD of Weber Shandwick in Northern Ireland Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:06:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: O’Conall Street » Blog Archive » We’ll keep the red flag flying here? http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-99 O’Conall Street » Blog Archive » We’ll keep the red flag flying here? Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:07:55 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-99 [...] Labour)  to think not just about tomorrow but about the next decade and the decade after that. The political sands of our small island are shifting and with the shift there will be an inevitable realignment of the [...] [...] Labour)  to think not just about tomorrow but about the next decade and the decade after that. The political sands of our small island are shifting and with the shift there will be an inevitable realignment of the [...]

]]> By: Conall McDevitt http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-39 Conall McDevitt Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:11:39 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-39 <p>Pat I am happy to see Joan win. She is able and energetic and will make a significant contribution. Joan had a huge number of supporters of which I am just one.</p> Pat I am happy to see Joan win. She is able and energetic and will make a significant contribution. Joan had a huge number of supporters of which I am just one.

]]> By: Pat http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-38 Pat Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:41:54 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-38 Conall I don't buy into the comparison between carve ups of powerless local council committees around the North and Labour's deal with SF in the Oireachtas. A very prominent SF figure has been rehabilitated and valuable speaking rights in the Dail have been given back to their TDs. Time will tell how much further they will develop the relationship, but I think it's one to watch. I'm struggling to see the upside so far for Labour. On the Deputy Leadership issue, Jan's position is now irrelevant as I hear Joan is victorious. Are congratulations to you in order? Conall
I don’t buy into the comparison between carve ups of powerless local council committees around the North and Labour’s deal with SF in the Oireachtas.

A very prominent SF figure has been rehabilitated and valuable speaking rights in the Dail have been given back to their TDs. Time will tell how much further they will develop the relationship, but I think it’s one to watch. I’m struggling to see the upside so far for Labour.

On the Deputy Leadership issue, Jan’s position is now irrelevant as I hear Joan is victorious. Are congratulations to you in order?

]]> By: Conall McDevitt http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-31 Conall McDevitt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:35:12 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-31 Pat Sorry I missed your point about SDLP breakup. My view is come what may in the years ahead the single most important thing is that the SDLP does not break up and that any future arrangement is capable of accomodating its people in all their diversity and its principles. Conall Pat

Sorry I missed your point about SDLP breakup. My view is come what may in the years ahead the single most important thing is that the SDLP does not break up and that any future arrangement is capable of accomodating its people in all their diversity and its principles.

Conall

]]> By: Conall McDevitt http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-30 Conall McDevitt Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:26:26 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-30 Pat To be fair to Labour I think the the Oireachtas pact is a tactical one in the same way as the SDLP and SF and the SDLP and unionism have tactical pacts all over the North at local government level, as do SF and FF, FF and FG and FG and SF. That's modern Irish politics for you! Jan O'Sullivan's position on NI is interesting and I supect aimed at securing the small number of votes going North of the border. My understanding is that Joan would take the traditional Labout line that if people want to vote for a Labour Party in NI, they should vote for the SDLP. Thanks for your comments. Conall Pat

To be fair to Labour I think the the Oireachtas pact is a tactical one in the same way as the SDLP and SF and the SDLP and unionism have tactical pacts all over the North at local government level, as do SF and FF, FF and FG and FG and SF. That’s modern Irish politics for you!

Jan O’Sullivan’s position on NI is interesting and I supect aimed at securing the small number of votes going North of the border. My understanding is that Joan would take the traditional Labout line that if people want to vote for a Labour Party in NI, they should vote for the SDLP.

Thanks for your comments.

Conall

]]> By: Pat http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-29 Pat Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:02:42 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-29 Hi Conall - the website looks good. Best of luck with it. Picking up on El Mat's point about the SDLP splitting up into two or three parts, how realistic do you think that is? Surely there can't be much appetite left for any sort of relationship with Irish Labour following the Doherty / Dail Speaking Rights for SF deal? Also, I've noticed that anytime any prominent southern SF rep is interviewed these days, he is very careful to talk about the importance of working closely with the Labour Party - has anyone else noticed this? On the other hand, Jan O'Sullivan has said pretty clearly that if she is elected as DL, Irish Labour will contest in the North - is Joan of similar mind? Interesting times indeed. Hi Conall - the website looks good. Best of luck with it. Picking up on El Mat’s point about the SDLP splitting up into two or three parts, how realistic do you think that is?

Surely there can’t be much appetite left for any sort of relationship with Irish Labour following the Doherty / Dail Speaking Rights for SF deal? Also, I’ve noticed that anytime any prominent southern SF rep is interviewed these days, he is very careful to talk about the importance of working closely with the Labour Party - has anyone else noticed this?

On the other hand, Jan O’Sullivan has said pretty clearly that if she is elected as DL, Irish Labour will contest in the North - is Joan of similar mind?

Interesting times indeed.

]]> By: Conall McDevitt http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-27 Conall McDevitt Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:36:33 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-27 Matador, companero. A number of very good points raised in your comment. 1- Irish Labour is organised in NI although they do not contest elections (and would not without the agreement of the SDLP). 2- D'hont and the impact of a fractured nationalist representation. This has been the SDLP's big argument against realingment since the GFA. I would be most surprised if the party did anything which weakened its standing in the assembly. 3- My own suspicion is that FF has wanted into the PES for years. But maybe thats just me! Weber Shandwick moves offices next weekend but will do my best to pop in on the Civil Rights Conference. The agenda looks great. No pasaran! Matador, companero.

A number of very good points raised in your comment.

1- Irish Labour is organised in NI although they do not contest elections (and would not without the agreement of the SDLP).
2- D’hont and the impact of a fractured nationalist representation. This has been the SDLP’s big argument against realingment since the GFA. I would be most surprised if the party did anything which weakened its standing in the assembly.
3- My own suspicion is that FF has wanted into the PES for years. But maybe thats just me!

Weber Shandwick moves offices next weekend but will do my best to pop in on the Civil Rights Conference. The agenda looks great.

No pasaran!

]]> By: El Matador http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-26 El Matador Sat, 22 Sep 2007 16:21:56 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/09/22/shifting-sands-of-irish-politics/#comment-26 It will be interesting to see how this goes, particularly in relation to Irish Labour- will they now move northwards also? Indeed, is a proliferation of nationalist parties each with a portion of the vote in the north a good thing for nationalism or social democracy here? After all, it could mean that the DUP, Sinn Féin and UUP become the 'big three'- if the SDLP splits into two or three new parties affiliated with existing southern parties, none of them may get enough seats in the Assembly to entitle them to a Ministry (the SDLP as it currently stands had enough problems as it is getting into the Executive). There are also considerations such as the fact that the SDLP is constituted as a socialist party and is a member of organisations such as the PES and Socialist International- how will this fit into any proposed alignment with Fianna Fáil? Interesting times. BTW, the civil rights conference is on next Saturday if you're about. It will be interesting to see how this goes, particularly in relation to Irish Labour- will they now move northwards also? Indeed, is a proliferation of nationalist parties each with a portion of the vote in the north a good thing for nationalism or social democracy here? After all, it could mean that the DUP, Sinn Féin and UUP become the ‘big three’- if the SDLP splits into two or three new parties affiliated with existing southern parties, none of them may get enough seats in the Assembly to entitle them to a Ministry (the SDLP as it currently stands had enough problems as it is getting into the Executive). There are also considerations such as the fact that the SDLP is constituted as a socialist party and is a member of organisations such as the PES and Socialist International- how will this fit into any proposed alignment with Fianna Fáil? Interesting times.

BTW, the civil rights conference is on next Saturday if you’re about.

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