PAUL Murphy is an interesting figure – a polite, well-educated 33-year-old from a middle-class background – who speaks in rapid fire about his passion that the poorer people rise up and challenge austerity and “the establishment” in the forthcoming General Election.
In this, the first part of a series of interviews with the Anti Austerity Alliance TD, we get to grips with Murphy’s persona and his quest for a Left Government. The left politician genuinely believes this election will be different – that the working class vote will increase and that austerity can decrease with it.
This is the first time I have met Murphy – whom had become a real figure of interest as he awaits a criminal trial for alleged involvement in the false imprisonment of Tanaiste Joan Burton during a water charges protest in Jobstown, Co Dublin in November 2014.
When we meet Murphy in a cafe bar in Dublin, the legal proceedings are a matter that must stay off the table to allow for a fair trial for the TD and the 17 others who will appear before a judge and jury for the alleged charges.
Meeting Murphy for the first time, after seeing him only on TV is an intriguing experience. When compared to certain political leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Labour, the cardigan-wearing Murphy, may not exude the empowering political and corporate approach of the mainstream politician – but in what he lacks in the suit department, he makes up for in genuine old school passion.
“I’m looking forward to the elections,” Murphy said. “I think it will be good to get out there and talk to people. There’s a big opportunity there to make a change.
If you look at what happened in Spain, the same thing could happen here in Ireland. We could also achieve a bit more of a stabilisation in the establishment. The two party system has been broken.
In December Spain’s political parties faced a struggle to gather a stable government after a historic election that tore asunder the traditional two-party dominance.
For decades the conservative Popular Party (PP), now led by PM Mariano Rajoy, and the Socialists (PSOE) had dominated the Spanish political landscape.
But a climb in support for the anti-austerity Podemos party and the centrist Ciudadanos broke the mould.
Murphy believes that while the Left do not have enough numbers to storm a victory in the General Election – they are increasingly becoming a fly in the ointment of the “establishment,” and that poorer voters are being underestimated.
This election is different to any other that has come before in Ireland, Murphy said.
The former UCD law student says as he sips his coffee in this city centre cafe-bar, full of jeans-wearing student types.
“A huge number of working class people have become politicised. Communities have been active over water charges and marriage equality.
“A huge number have been registered to vote for the first time. A large amount of commentators aren’t taking that in to account.
“That’s hopefully going to see a good performance from the Left to strengthen the movement against austerity.
The voting predictions aren’t necessarily going to be accurate because we believe more working class people will vote this time.
For those who have been affected by austerity – Murphy believes – with the latest figures showing 120,700 men are unemployed and 71,000 women out of work in Ireland – and 92,291 mortgages in arrears – 33,000 of these, family homes in arrears for more than two years – ad 17,000 legal proceedings on these before the courts – the Left is becoming more appealing
