TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME IN POLITICS.

April 28th 09

TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME IN POLITICS.

President Obama is one hundred days in the White House. Early days indeed but already the record of his administration is being scrutinised by the media and by political commentators. Things on this little island move much more slowly.

Next month will mark two years since the establishment of the power sharing government involving Sinn Féin and the DUP and the other parties. That’s the longest period that the political institutions have been functioning since the old Stormont regime was stood down in 1972.

The deal which led to this development between Sinn Féin and the DUP, at that time led by Ian Paisley, was recognised as a historic step forward. And it was. Even if I say so myself.

Few thought it possible and many thought, and some hoped, that it would not last. But it has.

Of course working with the DUP is not easy. Remember this is a party established 40 years ago to oppose Civil Rights; a party which set its face against power sharing.

This is a party which pledged to smash Sinn Féin.

This is the party that wouldn’t take its seats at the Executive table the last time the institutions were in place and which wouldn’t attend all-Ireland Ministerial meetings.

Where is it today?

For the past two years the DUP has been at the Executive table; attending all-Ireland meetings; in government with Sinn Fein, and sharing the office of First and deputy First with Sinn Féin as equals.

And their leaders are to be commended for this.

But let’s be clear about it all.

Like the Afrikaaners some unionists continue to oppose change.

Over a decade ago, when we achieved the Good Friday Agreement, I said that it would be a battle a day making the institutions work.

Working and negotiating with the DUP is very like that. In private they can be courteous, good humoured and engaging - when they engage.

In public, for some of them, it’s a different matter entirely. For them, it’s all about fighting the good fight against the rest of us. Even if they do have to go out of their way to pick a fight or the pretence of a fight.

And that is the reality. Of course there are real and fundamental differences between us but with some of their representatives these fights are sham fights – more style than substance. They also have this really wearisome habit of couching their positions in the most negative way possible. No, Nay Never is a chorus line most favoured by their spin doctors. And for some their publicity is no more than a litany of outlandish claims about all the things they claim to have staunchly prevented Sinn Féin from doing.

Maybe they have worked out that this is the line the unionist constituency wants to hear. Maybe it reflects their own insecurities. Maybe they really believe it. Who knows? Who can tell? Is this heaven or is this hell? Anyone for the last few choc ices?

Clearly the DUP is closer to grassroots unionists than me but I fancy somehow that positive leadership is as necessary in that constituency as in any other one. On the other hand I suppose it depends on what you mean by positive. What sounds negative to the rest of us may be very positive in the acoustics of DUP land.

Anyway notwithstanding all of this, or any of it, the DUP are where they are. They are reluctant partners. They don’t like equality. They don’t like democracy. They don’t like being part of a system which they cannot dominate. But they are, to repeat myself, where they are. And that’s a good thing. And it’s two years on. And that’s also a good thing.

But it’s not good enough just to have functioning, if fledgling, institutions. They also have to deliver. On the economy. In the battle against poverty. Against sectarianism. For equality. The Irish language. Policing. All Ireland matters. And on all the other issues which are important to citizens.

So, one of our tasks is to keep working with the DUP and other unionists because we believe that they are capable of doing bigger and better things.

And I, for one, two years on, really believe this.
So this dimension of our work is about dialogue, good neighbourliness, consensus building. It is about eradicating sectarianism. It is about making friends with unionists. It is about nation building.

Our responsibility is to work the agreement and to build on it in the future.

That means engaging with unionism on every aspect of it.

It means pointing out to them that the main principles are their legal guarantees of fair treatment in a new shared Ireland.

Most unionists are persuaded of the merits of all Ireland co-operation and partnership. They know it makes sense.

We also need to persuade them of the logic and good sense of Irish unity.

This blog knows that that is a mighty challenge.

We are back with that great Protestant patriot Wolfe Tone. Genuine democrats and thinking republicans, will recognise the validity and wisdom at this time, of Tone’s great call for the unity of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. That my friends is what this is all about.

THE TALE OF THE DOG

25 Aibrean 2009


THE TALE OF THE DOG




Osgur relaxing

In a previous life as an occasional columnist, it has been my experience that mention of dogs, cats or horses sparks off a warm and broadly positive response from readers. It is taken as a given that such initial mention is also positive and warm. It is safe to presume that negative or critical mention would produce a reply in similar vein. Anyway it is worth recording that blogs produce the same effect. Since my mention of Osgur and Snowie I have been overwhelmed by a variety of warm comments and some negative comment, amounting to a challenge of sorts. This challenges took two forms.

1. Did you admit to having a poodle?
2. Snowie is a Bisson Freize. He is not a poodle.

The first point ignores the fact that I made it clear that Snowie is not my madadh. This is not to concede that a poodle is any lesser a dog. In fact readers of the blog in question will have noted that I find Snowie to be an admirable mutt with all the finer qualities of the species.

‘Despite being a poodle’ detractors may suggest but this blog has no time for naysayers so I treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves.

As an old friend of mine used to say. ‘I won’t even ignore that remark.’

His nickname, coincidently is the Dog.

The second point was made to me by very small people who are a very important part of my life. They are also the owners, if owner is the proper term, of Snowie.



Snowie stood still for all of two seconds to allow for this photo

‘Snowie is a Bisson Freize’ they declared to me.

Their interest in the matter is purely to do with accuracy. They have no macho hang ups about poodles. They are young ladies of the sensible gender.

So there you are dear readers. Isn’t it interesting that the mere mention of a tiny little dog would excite such controversy? That’s what makes conversation, or blogging, interesting. Everybody hears what they want to hear. It is also why dog is man or womans best friend. Dogs don’t answer you back.

'Isn't that right Snowie?'

‘What Osgur? What do you mean? You're not taking that sort of lip from a poodle!'

The Green, green grass of home

19 Aibrean 2009

The Green, green grass of home

I am resisting the temptation to write about the Middle East two blogs in a row though I must confess my recent visit there is the filter through which I have viewed everything since my return. The stunningly sad vista there makes you appreciate what we have going for ourselves in this part of the world and especially on this little isle.

Ok, so we are in grip of the worst economic recession in Irish history and most of our greater difficulties are entirely self afflicted! But this too will pass. This blog does not minimise our economic difficulties. On the contrary I believe that these can be cured. Easier said than done I know. The necessary realignment of Irish society to accomplish this is a mighty task. But not impossible. On the contrary it is very do-able.

But I am resolved not to ponder on these matters this morning. I declare this space a politics free zone. For a wee while anyway. Everything is politics, you may respond in a dismissive retort. Retort till your lips grow dry and bitter. This blog is oblivious to your protestations. This blog refuses to be fatalistic or pessimistic.

Spring has sprung. The field before me is a verdant green, speckled with primroses. Beneath the sun dappled trees, blue bells raise their tiny wee heads heavenwards. The surviving daffodils nod brightly and cheerfully at me. In the birdhouse a pair of tits are rearing a brood of younkers. Above them a bright blue tent of sky stretches as far as the eye can see, unblemished by even one single dark cloud. A blackbird sings in a holly tree.

Osgur, our ancient and wise old dog, is stretched out beneath the wall in her own little sun trap. Osgur is 16 years old this year. That makes her 105 going on 112 years. If she was a human, that is. She now has a male companion. A cheeky little fellow, a white poodle which goes by the amazingly original name of Snowie. Not my dog. But he and I have bonded well. A dog by any other name is still a dog. Poodles, even snowie white ones, I have discovered, like bog trotting and long hilly treks or danders along deserted strands as much as any other mutt. Most of them like a good walk as much as, or even more maybe than, a good feed. A dog is a dog is a dog. For a’ that. Like a pint of plain, it’s your only man.

So is Clonakilty black pudding. I cooked some last night with good bacon and floury spuds and fresh plucked cabbage simmered to softness with just a braon bheag of water to moisten it. Scrumptious. With daps of butter to melt the potatoes. And black pepper to excite them. And a glass of merlot, donated by a saintly friend, to wash it all down. Sláinte.

And Seamus Heaney is 70. Nearly as old as our Osgur. And even wiser. And modest as well. We are blessed by his wordsmithery. RTE filled the airwaves this week with his poetry. A great steadier to the sombre newscasts.

Seamus Heaney from Tamlaghduff in County Derry. Oracle. National treasure. One time teacher, alongside Michael McLaverty in Saint Thomas’s School on the Whiterock Road in Belfast. Seamus Heaney, the world’s greatest living poet.

Living. That’s the important bit. Long may you prosper Seamus. To dedazzle and amaze us. To uplift and surprise us. To remind us. To challenge and comfort us. Long life to you and your clann.

Aye, it’s a great week to be back in Ireland. Easter is for optimists. There is a certainty and a renewal about it. The certainty of hope. So;

‘Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells.’

Organise for Freedom

Speaking at the Republican Plot Miltown Cemetery

Organise for Freedom

This Easter I had the honour of giving the Easter Speech at the Republican Plot in Milltown Cemetery.

Below is the text of my remarks and a few photos.

This is my second blog today. For regular readers and the curious and irregular the blog after this on Gaza should be read also.

GerryA

Full Text of Easter speech:

A chairde, tá mé lán sásta seasamh anseo libh inniu ar Domhnach na Cásca seo le smaoineadh ar ár gcomrádaithe a chuaigh romhainn agus a caint faoi an todhcaí.

Is cuimhin linn an méid a thug ár laochrai cróga ar son saoirse na tire seo, an méid a chaill siad. Cuidíonn seo linn nuair a bhíonn fadhbanna againn nó nuair a bhíonn muid traochta.

I just returned last night from the Middle East.

I will not dwell at length on that issue today but I will be presenting a full report of the Sinn Féin delegations views of the situation there, particularly in the Palestinian Territories.

I will make this available to anyone here who is interested.

For now let me say that the situation for the Palestinian people has deteriorated, the siege of Gaza is a shameful indictment of the International Community and within our limited capacity Sinn Féin is committed to do all that we can to rectify that situation and to assist the process to bring about a viable state for the people of Palestine.

Irish republicans are internationalist and we are assembled here today to re-commit ourselves to the ideals of the 1916 Proclamation which are at the core of the Irish republican philosophy.

We are mindful also that this year marks the 90 anniversary of An Chéad Dáil - the first and only freely elected parliament of all the Irish people.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of Na Fianna
Éireann, first founded in Belfast by the Countess Markievicz and Bulmer Hobson. Later this year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of the Bogside, when the citizens of Derry defeated the RUC assault on their community and signalled the beginning of a popular uprising against the Orange state. Belfast republicans will also reflect on events in this city at that time and particularly on the Belfast pogroms of 1969.

But for now at this Easter ceremony, it is suffice to assert clearly and truthfully that while we have yet to win our freedom, the Orange state as we knew it is gone.
It may take time for some unionists to catch up, but their leaders know that there is no going back to the old days of sectarian domination and two-tier citizenship.

The relationship between the North of Ireland and Britain has also been fundamentally altered and an increasingly confident republican community is taking co-ownership, as is our right, of every sphere of public, political and institutional life here.

And importantly a peaceful and democratic path to a united Ireland has been opened up. But that does not mean that we republicans can sit back and wait for the British government to do the right thing for Ireland. We need to organise for freedom.

The British government will only leave Ireland, when the Irish people – together – demand that they leave.



Me and Bobby Storey walking in the Easter march on the Falls Road

Sinn Féin’s historic duty is to popularise republicanism, and to mobilise the Irish Diaspora across the world behind the demand for Irish unity. Our job is to ensure that the political institutions on this island deliver for all of the people and our responsibility is to build the Sinn Féin party.

Part of our work has to be to persuade unionists of the desirability of a shared, united Ireland. That does not mean that the unionist political class have a veto over the future. It does means that we, as genuine democrats and republicans, recognise the validity and wisdom of Tone’s great call for the unity of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter and that we are committed to bringing this about.

So, let me thank all of our activists who are engaging in this crucially important work. In this city at this time there is more work being done by republicans, across the sectarian divisions, in working class unionist neighbourhoods, than at any time since James Connolly lived on the Falls Road.

Of course Sinn Féin also has a job of work to deliver for the republican citizens of Belfast especially those who are disadvantaged in any way. We do this on the basis of objective need - we work for all citizens - in the knowledge that such work is part of the endless responsibility to build and use our political strength to tackle inequality and injustice.

At this point let me say a few short words about so called republican dissidents. I uphold the right of everyone to dissent from Sinn Féin’s point of view. But no one is entitled to hijack our proud republican history and our republican future and abuse it for narrow selfish interests or self gain.

Sinn Féin, standing firmly on a republican platform, sets ourselves firmly against those elements who do this. Let me also pay homage to our patriot dead, not just the men and women who fell in 1916, but to every generation of heroes and heroines and particularly those of our own time. We are extremely proud of the volunteer soldiers of the Irish Republican Army and the activists of Sinn Fein and all others who gave their lives for Irish freedom. We are indebted to their families.

Our resolve is to finish the work that they began and Sinn Féin is about uniting the greatest number of people in active support of this aim. There is a part for all citizens in this great endeavour and I take this opportunity at this sacred place to appeal to everyone to join with us in this necessary work.

The dire economic situation is the number one issue for many people today. Predictions of half a million citizens on the dole by Christmas give some sense of the difficulties facing working people across this island.

I note assertions by DUP ministers after the layoffs at Bombardier, FG Wilson and Visteon that there is little that a devolved administration can do in the face of a global crisis. I disagree. We can always do more. We can be imaginative and innovative. And if we have not enough powers, as the DUP appears to suggest, then it makes economic sense as well as political sense, that we should take whatever powers we need to do the job we are elected to do.

Sinn Féin is working to build an economy which serves the needs of Irish society and not the other way around. While working to improve the quality of life in the here and now, we see a united Irish economy as the best option.

But Sinn Féin is not just about a change of flags. There is little difference between the social and economic policies of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Both pay lip service to republican principles and to the Proclamation. Both govern in the interests of elites and against the interests of citizens

1916 saw the coming together of nationalists, republicans, language activists, Trade Unionists and the women’s movement in the cause of Irish Unity. So, in this 100th anniversary of the formation of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union we send greetings to the labour movement. We recall proudly how Jim Larkin campaigned in this city and how he lit a fire that blazed in 1913 particularly in the Great Lock-Out.

We recall how James Connolly led the vanguard of that movement in the Irish Citizen Army which played a pivotal role in the 1916 Rising.We assert with James Connolly that ‘the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour and the cause of labour is the cause of Ireland - they cannot be separated'. But it is not enough to verbalise. Action is needed.

So Sinn Féin Féin is ready to join with other political parties, trade unions, community and voluntary organisations to forge a new political alliance for change in Ireland. Such an alternative would seek to combine economic success with social responsibility. It would foster prosperity and equality.

Tá a lán obair maith déanta againn go dtí seo agus a lán le déanamh go fóill.
Ní bhéidh muid ag stopadh nó ní bhéidh muid ag maolú. Is pobal aiséirithe Sinn Féin. Tá muid ag bogadh chun tosaigh agus tá mé cinnte de, tá an straitéis ceart againn.

We are also very mindful that there is a significant element within the Southern political establishment and the SDLP whose inclination is to view the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions which have arisen from it as a final political destination.

On this issue we are with Charles Stewart Parnell when he asserted, ‘No man has the right to say to his country; thus far shalt thou go and no further.’ Republicans must ensure that the Irish Government does not renege on its obligations to the political institutions and all-Ireland integration.

For our part Sinn Féin will continue to push for Northern representation in the Oireachtas. We will continue to work for an Acht na Gaeilge here in the north.

We are the only party contesting all the Irish constituencies in the European elections in June. There will also be local government polls in the 26 counties.

These are important elections and it is important that all of us work together once again to maximise the Sinn Féin vote. That means republican Belfast recording the very highest possible vote for our candidate Bairbre de Brún.

So my friends, there is plenty of work for every one of us. Play your part.

40 years ago the Orange state thought it could crush us. It failed. Today, on this Easter Sunday we stand proudly at the gravesides of our fallen comrades unbroken and unbowed and ready to persecute the next phase of our struggle.

The spirit of 1916 is needed at this time. We leave here today confident in the reality that that spirit is alive and well in Republican Belfast and throughout republican Ireland. There is work to be done. Let us go from here and do that work.

Eyeless in Gaza

At the American International School which was destroyed in Israeli bombs: Sharhabeel Al Zaeem the Director


Eyeless in Gaza

Nothing prepares you for the scene of destruction in Gaza. Even when you read before hand that 3500 homes were destroyed and 28,000 damaged. Even when you know all the statistics. 800 industries damaged. 10 schools destroyed, 204 damaged. 14 mosques destroyed, 38 damaged. The list goes on and on. But it makes you word blind.

431 children and 114 women killed. 1400 dead bodies in total. And 5303, including 1606 children and 828 women injured.

Intellectually it may be possible to absorb some of this but it’s only when you are there that the impact of it all hits you. I had to fight back tears a few time. Particularly at the first stop on our schedule. A woman was sitting before an open fire in what was once her house. She was cooking. Girders and huge slabs of concrete formed a cave like structure above and around her. Her husband was dead. She was living on handouts. She used to live in a little village called Izbet Abd Rabo. Now she lives in a cave.

She is not on her own. 80 percent of Gazans are dependent on aid. Gaza is about the size of County Louth. 1.5 million people reside there. They are under siege. There has been little or no regeneration work done since the Israeli assault, because building materials are not allowed in.

500 trucks a day are needed to enter Gaza every day to maintain a sustainable level of economic activity, according to the World Bank and the European Union. Since the end of what the Israeli’s called ‘Operation Cast Lead’ only an average of 84 trucks enter every day.

We were there for two days. We met a huge amount of NGOs, women’s groups, community organisations, bankers, the private sector, all the university heads, other educationalists and all the political parties.



At 'The Wall' at Bethlehem with some local children

I am on my way back now in time for Belfast’s Easter Commemoration. So this blog is just touching base. I intend to return to this issue again. In fact I intend to write up a report for George Mitchell. He is due in Jerusalem on Monday.

I wish him well. But he has his work cut out. Of course George will not bring peace to the Middle East. That, like Ireland, can only be done by the people who live there. We met others on the Israeli side particularly at Sderot, a small town that has been targeted by rockets from Gaza. I was very impressed by the local people, particularly the women in the Resilience Centre. When I met Hamas I told them the rocket attacks should stop.

I also met other Israelis who understand that the people of Palestine and the people of Israel are destined to live side by side. They want to do this with mutual respect and tolerance. And they are right. That is the only way to build peace. Airstrikes are not the answer. Neither are rocket attacks. A peace settlement is needed and possible.

And the international community has a duty to create conditions to make this happen. So far they have behaved in a shameful way. Hopefully that will change. It has to.

BITS AND PIECES

April 7th 09

BITS AND PIECES

This blog is airborne. I’m tapping away at the laptop on route to the Middle East and reflecting on Sundays Family Day at the Visteon factory in Belfast where sacked workers are occupying the site. They are campaigning for their rights. The Family Day was a huge success. Many thanks to Féile an Phobal and all the performers who helped make this a very enjoyable act of solidarity with the work force and their families. And congratulations to all the families who turned up. Children and grand children as well as spouses and grand parents enjoyed the days craic and the real sense of community which underpinned the occasion. All eyes are now on Wednesday meeting in New York between senior union officials and the Vesteon’s senior management.

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Before that the Fianna Fáil/ Greens Coalition government will have revealed yet another budget. Tuesday is D Day and punters are anxiously waiting to see what pain is planned for them. I flew out from Dublin and quite a number of people stopped me in the airport to make disparaging remarks about the government. The anger following recent revelations about the golden circles and cronyism between the political establishment and their friends in financial institutions and some developers is still palpable. And so it should be. The wealth of the Celtic Tiger should have been used intelligently and strategically to build public services. Instead it was wasted. Greed instead of public need ruled the boom years and successive governments actively encouraged and promoted that. As usual the ordinary citizen
suffers. And then we are expected to pay for it as well. No wonder people are angry.

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By all accounts Fine Gael had a good Ard Fheis at the weekend. Fair play to them. Someone said to me that party leader, Enda Kenny couldn’t run a bath. That’s not fair. He has succeeded in renewing and revitalising Fine Gael. Their party had the biggest gains in the last general election but that was overshadowed by the Fianna Fáil electoral tsunami. So Enda doesn’t get much credit for the rise of Fine Gael. Outside of his own party faithful. But despite this there is a danger that a snap election could see voters who want change voting for Fine Gael to get rid of Fianna Fáil. Then we would be in even more trouble once the punters find out that there is little if any difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on social and economic issues.. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me and all that. They both represent elites. If people are demoralised now they would be even worse with Enda in charge.


That is not an argument for keeping Fianna Fail in power. On the contrary. A realignment of Irish politics is long overdue. That is why I have been arguing for a new coming together of people and parties which have a vision for a different Ireland. By that I mean a fair and egalitarian society which values prosperity and decency and equality. In my view there are people in most of our political parties with progressive politics. There is certainly an abundance of such people outside the political parties, particularly in the community and voluntary sector. And there is an epidemic of single issue campaigning groups looking for better public services or rights for disadvantaged sectors of our society. We need a national conversation to bring together a popular consensus on all these issues. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail could help this process of political realignment by forming a coalition all on their ownie oh.

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Maybe Tuesday’s budget will be the spur for that. But some how methinks not. The leaders of both these conservative parties prefer shadow boxing and party political point scoring. Its all about holding onto power when it should be about using that power to bring about a better, fairer and just society. Around about this time ninety three years ago a small group of Irish men and women were putting together the final arrangements to proclaim an Irish Republic. We can be sure of one thing. If any of them were alive today they would see little evidence of the Republic they proclaimed at Easter 1916, in the government budget or in the response to it by Fine Gael.

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By the time the budget is revealed I will be heading into the Holy Land. I dread what I might see there. However bad things are in Ireland we have a lot going for us. At least we have a peace process. They have neither peace nor process. However, as always, this blog travels with the certainty of hope.

Next Week I will Visit the Middle East

This photo was taken in September 06 at the 600 kilometre Wall the Israeli government has built in contravention of a 2004 judgment by the International Court of Justice

April 1st 2009

Next Week I will Visit the Middle East

This blog is an internationalist. I have long been concerned about the plight of people throughout the globe. The conflict in the Middle East has been a long and enduring one. In my time I have raised the situation in that region, and particularly the need for a negotiated peace settlement, with US President Clinton and President Bush as well British PM Tony Blair.

In September 2006 I spent a brief 40 hours in Israel and the Palestinian territory on the west Bank. It was a very informative, exhausting and emotional journey.

I met with Palestinian and Israeli NGOs. I also received a detailed briefing from the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO on the 600 kilometre Wall that the Israeli government has built in contravention of a 2004 judgment by the International Court of Justice.

Rafiq Husseini, President Mahmoud Abbas’s Chief of Staff and other senior advisors received us in Ramallah and I spoke to President Abbas by phone.

I also met representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) including representatives from Fatah, the Third Way , Abu Ali Mustafa, the Alternative bloc and Hamas. Later I was taken by Palestinian officials to visit Kalandia refugee camp which was opened in 1949 and is under the control of Israel. It has a population of just over 10,000 many of whom are entirely dependent in emergency food rations.
Conditions in the camp are appalling.

That was two and a half years ago. The Israeli government refused to meet with me at that time though in fairness to them they facilitated the visit and helped to make it run smoothly. Since that time the situation has seriously deteriorated, most clearly in the recent assault on Gaza by Israeli forces which left over 1400 Palestinians dead, mostly civilians. 13 Israelis have also been killed.

My purpose in travelling to the region again is to meet as wide a range of Israeli and Palestinian opinion as practicable.


So next week I will again visit Israel and Ramallah. But this time I will also travel into Gaza and Sderot and Ramallah where I will meet with senior members of the Palestinian Authority.

I again asked for a meeting with the Israeli government or with government officials. But again this has been refused because I will not give a commitment not to speak with Hamas representatives.

I very much regret the Israeli government decision.

As the leader of a party which was censored and demonized and whose members were killed, I see dialogue between all sides as key to building a successful peace process. So I will meet with all sides and urge all sides to end all armed actions and to engage in meaningful dialogue.

I believe there should be a complete cessation of all hostilities and freedom of movement for everyone.

The big challenge is to bring about a settlement on the basis of a two state solution.

This requires a sustainable and durable state for the Palestinian people. They share the region with their Israeli neighbours.

Without doubt the security of the people of Israel is linked inextricably to the rights, freedom and prosperity of the people of Palestine. They can co-exist peacefully together. I am certain about that.

Drawing comparisons between the peace process in Ireland and efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East would be foolhardy. There are similarities but there are also significant differences.

But it is clear that finding solutions will require leadership on both sides, and a willingness to take risks, initiatives, and compromise.

And it will need the international community, and particularly the USA, to play a very positive and active role. In this respect I welcome the appointment of George Mitchell as US Envoy to the Middle East.

So this blog journeys forth in the certainty of hope that political will can move mountains. It can certainly transform political conditions. Despite all the difficulties I am convinced that the conflict in the Middle East can be ended. A solution is possible. Everyone has a duty to do whatever we can, modest though that may be, to assist the process to bring this about.

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Back Visteon Workers



Visteon Trade Union representatives and Workers along with Jennifer McCann, myself and Paul Maskey

The preparation for this trip comes during the usual madness of political life here. The big and very upsetting story at this time in west Belfast is the decision to close Visteon, car part manufacturers and part of the Ford Motor Company empire, with the loss of over 200 jobs. I spent this morning with my colleagues west Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann and Paul Maskey in the plant with the work force who are occupying the factory.

The treatment of the workforce by Visteon and Ford has been shabby and disgraceful. In our conversations with senior Visteon and Ford managers our objective has been to retain jobs at the plant. It is easier to retain jobs than to create new ones.

I believe that Ford has a responsibility to the work force. It must stand by its moral and contractual obligations to the workers.

I am also concerned at the role of Invest NI and whether it alerted the Minister to the seriousness of this situation. I also want to know what it was prepared to do to secure the future viability of this plant and of the 200 jobs here.

My colleagues Paul Maskey and Jennifer McCann and Sue Ramsay have already been in touch with the Department seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister, Arlene Foster.

It is also crucial that every effort is made to ensure that the skills resource is not lost and that these workers are not abandoned to the dole queue. We intend raising this matter with Minister Reg Empey at the Department of Learning.

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And finally, if any so-called dissidents read this blog would they mind terribly explaining the rational behind the bomb hoaxes of recent days. In particular would some one take the time to explain how the Irish cause was served by closing St. Aidan’s Primary school in Ballymurphy or for that matter the eviction overnight of families in Islandbawn Street?