tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.comments2018-04-19T19:03:14.429-07:00in deniall - The blog of Niall FarrellNiall Farrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-23218009953021672952010-04-05T15:21:46.817-07:002010-04-05T15:21:46.817-07:00Hey Niall!
Seamus here from action replay. Im a c...Hey Niall!<br /><br />Seamus here from action replay. Im a class rep and im not telling my 'constituents' anything until i wait and see what happens at the emergency union council! Class rep are right not to send anything until after tomorrows meeting. <br /><br />Just saying, thanks!Seamusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-36421347436065027722010-04-04T17:22:46.923-07:002010-04-04T17:22:46.923-07:00The class reps were sent this email, on Easter Sun...The class reps were sent this email, on Easter Sunday. People have lives outside the SU, and even the exec almost certainly have better things to be doing with their time on a bank holiday weekend.lil_cainhttp://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~lil_cainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-82714879252417130612010-04-04T15:44:36.847-07:002010-04-04T15:44:36.847-07:00Niall, cop on.
The email was received 30 minutes ...Niall, cop on.<br /><br />The email was received 30 minutes before you made this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-51049830175706207562010-04-04T15:42:32.907-07:002010-04-04T15:42:32.907-07:00I think the problem was that even class reps were ...I think the problem was that even class reps were unaware of what was going on until a few minutes before that person posted the email to boards (they had only just received the email). <br /><br />This whole election is getting far too dramatic. I eagerly await a candidate proposing massive health insurance policy changes, and angry republicans sending death threats and talking about civil war; it's clearly the next logical step.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-26107371070751450562009-09-29T02:29:29.863-07:002009-09-29T02:29:29.863-07:00Well I can safely say that the CYM is not in favou...Well I can safely say that the CYM is not in favour of unregulated free trade (look up http://www.cym.ie/). Neither am I for that matter. <br />I don't want Ireland to go the way of Pinochet-era Chile or apartheid South Africa (as detailed in Naomi Klein's "The Shock Doctrine")Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-39735074840403937942009-09-28T02:14:37.069-07:002009-09-28T02:14:37.069-07:00I share your concern about the erosion of sovereig...I share your concern about the erosion of sovereignty emobodied by any strengthening of the political union over member states. It inevitably follows that more distance is created between those forming policy and those that policy affects - ie an accountability deficit.<br /><br />However, I'm a little confused about your support for the "needs of the people" over "big business". Surely businesses cannot become big unless they are supplying the people with a need or service in demand. Hence supply and demand economics.<br /><br />My main gripe with the EU is the lack of conviction it attaches to its free trade principles. The European Court of Justice keeps handing out rulings (see 1999 Zenatti case or 2009 Bwin vs Portugal)which fail to provide EU citizens with unrestricted access to services and goods from across the continent. Yet in France, taking as an example online gambling and sports betting, the government runs a monopoly over the industry, preventing French citizens using non-French bookmakers and agencies. This is protectionist, leadign to less competition and higher prices for punters everywhere. <br /><br />There's a petition at www.right2bet.net to challenge the European courts to uphold the basic free trade mantra. Otherwise the organisation fails its most basic objective.Richard Websternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-54092079745672056372009-09-24T04:17:06.627-07:002009-09-24T04:17:06.627-07:00Let's be clear: the EU did not decide to grant...Let's be clear: the EU did not decide to grant Poland an aid package. The EU decided that the subsidy offered by Poland to Dell did not infringe competition law. No EU money is involved.<br /><br />Besides, the EU has approved numerous cases of Irish State subsidies in the past. Recent ones include public funding to bridge the broadband communications gap in Ireland , aid to Centocor Inc. for the setting-up of a biopharmaceutical production plant in Ireland and grant aid of up to €500 000 per firm in difficulty due to the crisis.<br /><br />Dell has said that it wanted to move from Ireland and was closing its Limerick plant anyway. The fact that it chose to relocate in Poland as opposed to, say, the UK, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia or wherever, is neither here nor there.Joe Hennonhttp://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-71532465833042914182009-07-24T00:12:02.557-07:002009-07-24T00:12:02.557-07:00we're not afraid, we're not go down to fai...we're not afraid, we're not go down to faight against terrorismAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-18927624555801288032009-06-26T14:30:00.372-07:002009-06-26T14:30:00.372-07:00I am a 'lefty', yes.
There is a bias in th...I am a 'lefty', yes.<br />There is a bias in the western media- they would have us believe that Mousavi is somehow benevolent and Ahmadinejad is the problem, not the Ayatollahs. Let me just say I'm not defending the Iranian government, especially as the theocratic system they have is anathema to me (as an atheist). I'm criticising the portrayal in the media in the Western (geographically west of Iran) world of this conlict as one of class, and as an 'uprising' in class terms.Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-77883668868567164722009-06-24T17:26:54.968-07:002009-06-24T17:26:54.968-07:00What an odd post. I take it that you're a bit ...What an odd post. I take it that you're a bit of a lefty. That's cool. I like lefties. But you are such a lefty that if a people demonstrating against an oppressive government appear to be middle class then this somehow invalidates the movement in your eyes. Of course its an uprising, and incidentally the demonstrators in this case come from all classes. <br /><br />Seriously Niall, "bias of the western media". Are you joking. We are dealing with a nation here whose media is not simply biased, its acting as an arm of the state as it crushes opposition. I think you need a brief history lesson. Iran has lots of lefties in it. In fact the best Marxist minds of the second half of the 20th century came out of Iran. They were vital in overthrowing the shah in 1979. But once the mad mullahs got into power they had many thousands of these "godless communists" executed. I'm making this point because I think you should be aware that in Iran it is the leftist who suffer the most from the sheer brutality of the regime. A person such as yourself would not be able to go watch football matches, you would be in a dark dungeon somewhere getting tortured. But hey, maybe how biased the western media are is the real story here.Ted Leddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07099373369851406414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-14982635917331440322009-06-24T16:22:26.112-07:002009-06-24T16:22:26.112-07:00Hey,
I'm involved in the SP, and just to clari...Hey,<br />I'm involved in the SP, and just to clarify, it isn't a coalition with Labour. There is no ongoing agreement, nor was there any deal struck. All that happened was that on this occasion (as has been done at times before) our councilors voted for a Labour party chairperson of council meetings. The main reason for this was for the upcoming local area plan.<br /><br />We do not see Labour as being fundamentally different from FF & FG, and believe that in government with either of them they will pursue similar policies. Now in Fingal we will put them under pressure, putting forward motions on various issues (e.g. managment companies, need for parks etc). We will demand that Labour support these motions, in which case they will get through. The likelihood is they will not, and instead will side with the right wing, exposing themselves. This will be a test for Labour, if the SP is wrong and they really are left they can prove it now. If they are not they will exposed as just another establishment party.Cianhttp://www.joehiggins.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-85213098058092943372009-06-23T19:24:49.622-07:002009-06-23T19:24:49.622-07:00The Milk of Magnesia quote is the kind of stuff yo...The Milk of Magnesia quote is the kind of stuff you'd expect from him, great stuff.Cianhttp://www.cianginty.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-27748135301376497232009-06-23T11:49:47.779-07:002009-06-23T11:49:47.779-07:00At last I have enabled comments on the Iran post. ...At last I have enabled comments on the Iran post. Now if only I could move comments...Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-13481109422629364802009-06-21T18:30:21.508-07:002009-06-21T18:30:21.508-07:00Finally the clerics that Achmadinejad have critici...Finally the clerics that Achmadinejad have criticised have been reformist ones such as Rafsanjani who has been for a long time been feuding with Ayatollah Khameini. <br /><br />Also I still cant post on the actual article sorry for cloggin this one :Dstevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-68310669286702867812009-06-21T18:21:28.626-07:002009-06-21T18:21:28.626-07:00Shit I really should have proofread that before I ...Shit I really should have proofread that before I posted it :D.<br /><br />Yes the religous establishment in Iran are the main source of Irans problems and this is reflected in the way that the President is in reality subordinate to the wishes of the Grand Ayatollah.<br /><br />The protests in Iran really could only be portrayed as a downrising if the masses had control of the political process in Iran. Which they clearly do not as this election has demonstrated.<br /><br />Achmadinejad isnt as heavily backed by the poor of Iran as I think you are hinting. In the first place his support base is generally portrayed as the rural poor rather than the urban poor who tend to be less religously conservative. In 2005 he mainly gained power with the help of this section of the electorate. However the main factor in his victory in that election was the low turnout, caused by the boycott of that election by most of the reformist voters who had been disheartened by the failure of Khatami to achieve any great change in Iran in the face of the religous establishment.<br /><br />The support of protestors for Moussavi is irrelevant he was merely the candidate they rallied behind as their best chance for social reform such as happened in America with Obama. The place of women in Iranian society and the increased powers and prescence of 'basij' self appointed moral police under Achmadinejad had had been major issues as had been his mismanagement of the economy which had by some accounts I have read even alienated elements of his rural support base. <br /><br />If you have doubts about the claims that the elections have been rigged I recomend 538.com which is a website has been doing some excellent analysis of the election results and comparing them to the 2005 elections and polls. <br /><br />I probably should have been more clear when I said mass awakening. In my opinion the reason the clerics saw fit to manipulate these elections was not because Moussavi represented a challenge to their level of control but rather that his support base does. The reformists had been gaining greater confidence and it was all too possible that they would make more and more demands upon the ruling elite.<br /><br />As a result they seem to have seen fit to crush these aspirations by subverting the electoral process. The ensuing protests constitute the greatest threat to the mullahs control over Iranian life since they gained power. In challenging the ruling elite in this way the real level of power they can wield is becoming more apparent even despite the levels of repression the state is willing to resort to in response.<br /><br /> Though its mere speculation yet it is more than possible that the if these protests are in any way succesful that the people will far outstrip the small ammount of reform presented by the likes of establishment 'reform' figures such as Moussavi and Karoubi .I mean the standard chant in the videos uploaded have gone from ' Moussavi Moussavi get my vote for me' to ' Marg bar Khameini'(death to khameini') in the space of a week.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-15250872942237161522009-06-21T11:16:01.885-07:002009-06-21T11:16:01.885-07:00Hi Steve, I've fixed that problem, you can now...Hi Steve, I've fixed that problem, you can now go up to comment on the Iran post. <br />Yeah I found that even the usual news sources I'd regard highly for foreign affairs reporting (The Guardian/Observer and Washington Post) have been really atrociously biased when covering recent events in Iran. I've found Al Jazeera to be good alright, I'd generally read AJ online a bit anyway. I must give Fisk a go too, I've only ever read him when he features in the IT. <br />By downrising I was just coining a phrase to be the opposite of an uprising really. <br />I had read a bit about Karoubi, but it seems to me that the majority of people campaigning are all Moussavi supporters. Again, the media are terrible with this. Yesterday the IT had a picture with a story about the killings at the protests- the picture was of a woman with a Moussavi picture. <br />The people of the 'mass awakening' are portrayed as Moussavi supporters. Indeed all of the videos I've seen from on the ground (I saw a few there on the Al Jazeera website) are from Moussavi 'reformist' supporters. As you've said, Moussavi is unlikely to bring any change. Ahmadinejad isn't the root of the problem in Iran, the Mullahs and Ayatollahs are.<br />Indeed Ahmadinejad has actually criticised some of the clerics in the past.Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-40636629166061744882009-06-21T10:38:31.217-07:002009-06-21T10:38:31.217-07:00Yo Steve here, I cant comment on your iranian arti...Yo Steve here, I cant comment on your iranian article for some reason so i will here instead.<br /><br />The Media in general have been atrocious in regards to covering this event but if you expect RTE to cover foreign events with any sophistication at all you will always be dissapointed.<br /><br />Id reccomend Robert Fisks articles in the Independent or Al Jazeera if your looking for a more balanced view. The blog Lenins Tomb is decent as well.<br /><br />By downrising I presume you mean that these protests represent an attempt by the middle class elite to overturn the verdict of the people.<br /><br />However the offical results for the elections given by the Iranian ministry are frankly bizarre for example the Reformist candidate Mehdi Karoubi (who was running on platform of introducing social programs and has a support base amongst the poor btw) apparently got less votes than there are members in his party and had his results completely eradicated in the areas such as Lorestan where he had performed extremely well in the 2005 election.<br /><br />To me its seems that these efforts by government to subvert the outcome of this election where intended to prevent a run off election where Achmadinejad was set to do badly with the Reformist Movement gathering steam.<br /><br />I cant paste links in this but I have sources.<br /><br />In regards to Moussavi, personally I have little hope for him being much better than the severely reactionary hardliners who are in power at the minute. This is largely due to both his nature, he was prime minister during the purges of the Mujihadeen e-Khalq and other leftist movements in which 30,000 died, and that of the Iranian political system in general.<br /><br />However these protests are present a mass awakening of the people to the nature of the government and they have much wider support than the 'middle classes and university graduates' that you refer to as shown by the mass protests in both Teheran and practically all othercities such as Isfahan, Tabriz and supposedly Achmadinejad supporting ones such as Shiraz.<br /><br />Im not sure what you mean by your point about 'terrorist groups' is refering to. Those killed and injured have been by the government basij militias as testified by the constant stream of video and picture footage and eyewitness accounts by those reporters defying the press ban.<br /><br /><br /><br />p.s In regards to the Mujihadeen e-Khalq, the Americans placed them on the terrorist watchlist during Clintons Presidency in order as a peace offering to the reformist Khatami presidency.<br />In any case seeing the same watchlist included Nelson Mandela until quite recentely and that the same organisation has been taken off the european equivalent it means very little.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-29475538943437548892009-06-21T02:50:13.803-07:002009-06-21T02:50:13.803-07:00I hadn't heard that, she did say that they ...I hadn't heard that, she did say that they 'stopped' the Ashleaf development though.<br />Where did you hear that?Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-67409120853566322002009-06-20T19:36:44.205-07:002009-06-20T19:36:44.205-07:00why didnt you ask why PBP collected money for an a...why didnt you ask why PBP collected money for an appeal for the ashleaf shopping centre but did not lodge it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-30596389638310826332009-06-06T07:34:59.013-07:002009-06-06T07:34:59.013-07:00Ahh... apologies for my ignorance. I'll edit t...Ahh... apologies for my ignorance. I'll edit the offending paragraph!Niall Farrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037504516060194921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221304666776500994.post-52123638481463488732009-06-05T16:43:50.216-07:002009-06-05T16:43:50.216-07:00GCSE's are *not* the equivalent of the Leaving...GCSE's are *not* the equivalent of the Leaving Cert. GCSE's are roughly equivalent to a Junior Cert, although as they're designed to be sat a year later they're widely regarded as a higher qualification. The equivalent to the Leaving Cert in England, the terminal exams of secondary education, are the A-levels.<br />But yeah, it seems to be the year of the cock-up. Can't say I'd mind getting a paper I'd seen before, though!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com