The O’Callaghan / O’Brien Triangle

Article by : Garreth McDaid,  March 5, 2016 in sortitionireland.org

Jim O’Callaghan FF TD, Dublin Bay South.  He is also a member of Fianna Fail's  team negotiating the set up of a Fine Gael led government. 

If you’ve read this link  Representative Government? Democracy? Oligarchy?  you’ll understand that oligarchy is government by the few, while democracy is government by the many.

As it also pointed out in that post, oligarchy does not arise through some secret or malicious intent, but instead through complacency.

A good example of this has surfaced in the aftermath of the 2016 Irish General Election.

In the constituency of Dublin Bay South, the Fianna Fail candidate, Jim O’Callaghan was elected to the 32nd Dail.

Jim O’Callaghan is the brother of one of Ireland’s most influential media personalities, Miriam O’Callaghan, who anchors several current affairs programmes on RTE, who previously had her own talk show and who chaired the final televised leaders debate in the run up to the election.

Jim O’Callaghan is also a Senior Counsel (a barrister), and has represented both GMC Sierra (who install our water meters under contract from Irish Water) and Denis O’Brien, owner of Ireland largest media group, Independent News and Media.

There is no suggestion that any of these people have used their influence to the benefit of any of the others, or that any have executed their public and professional duties in anything other than a legal and impartial way.

However, what this type of relationship does point to is the exclusivity of effective power, and the impregnability of the barriers that exist between ordinary people and the institutions of government.

Democracy is not something than can exist in theory only. For it have legitimacy, it must exist in practice. The use of elections cannot be relied on for this, as evidenced above.

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Boycott can take the decision on water charges out of hands of FG & FF

Buncrana Together is  non-aligned anti water charge group.  However, we are and have always been an advocate of non violent protest including mass protest, boycotting water charges, Irish Water and  water meters.  We will support any party that genuinely supports the campaign but we will also criticise any  who try to undermine, deceive, defeat or follow party agenda instead of the interest of the campaign and in turn the people.     

The above Anti Austerity Alliance press release was in response to ongoing negotiations  between Fine Gael  and Fianna Fail parties to form a government.  These negotiations  have been dragging on now since the Jan 29th Irish general election.  The main sticking point, or so we are led to believe' is Irish Water and 'Water Charges'.  Fine Gael is the major party in the outgoing government and won the majority of seats in this years elections.  They are responsible for introducing Irish Water and 'Water Charges.  Fianna Fail received the second highest number of seats, having recovered from near obscurity, by,  some would say,  promising to abolish Irish Water and 'Water Charges', clear policy principles in their manifesto.

The article below is from RTE, RTE April 27, 2016,  reports on the present stance of the negotiations.  It must be said that there has been no official statement of agreement to datebut everything indicates the outcome which RTE is giving.    This outcome it must be said  would  seem to be a total  capitulation by Fianna Fail, a total reversal of their manifesto promises.  It would also be in opposition to what the majority of the county voted for. 

Bruton: Water charges will be suspended under any deal

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton has confirmed that there will be a temporary suspension of water charges under a proposed deal with Fianna Fáil to form a minority government.

Richard Bruton said Fine Gael did not win the election so it cannot impose its policy on the Dáil

He also said if charges did not return then those who have paid will have to be fully reimbursed. 

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil negotiating teams are due to resume talks later today.

The first strand of their proposal is to retain Irish Water but an external advisory board will be set up to improve its transparency, accountability and also how it works.

Under the plan, the board would report to the Oireachtas.

On water charges, it is suggested that an independent commission would look at the overall funding model and conservation matters.

Its recommendations would then be referred to an Oireachtas committee but it would not be bound by the commission's proposals.

In turn the committee could make its own proposals which the Dáil would then vote on.

As the commission and committee examine the issue, it is proposed that water charges would be suspended for nine months though there is the possibility of this being extended.

The technical details still have to be finalised and the proposal has not yet been formally agreed.

Fine Gael to 'defend to the hilt' people who paid charges

Mr Bruton said Fine Gael will "defend to the hilt people" who have paid water charges.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said there could be no question of people being left at a loss if a decision were taken in the future to abolish water charges.

If water charges are to be scrapped, then people who have already paid their bills will have to get their money back, he said.

In the event that charges continue in the future, he said that those who were in default will have their outstanding bills pursued.

Mr Bruton said Fine Gael did not win the election so it cannot impose its policy on the Dáil.

He said the bigger picture was that a government needed to be formed to deal with pressing issues and it could not be a government that will fall at the first hurdle.

Great progress has been made in talks, he said, but added that a lot of work remains to be done and it still has to be put to independents.

Also speaking on the programme, Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher said he could not put a time frame on how long charges will be suspended for.

He added that establishing a commission would finally get Irish Water and the "consistent running sore in Irish politics" back into the parliamentary process where there can be accountability in the Dáil.

Those who paid the charges, he said, should get their money back if they are scrapped.

Both parliamentary parties will have their say; Fine Gael will meet later today or possibly tomorrow while Fianna Fáil has not yet confirmed when it will meet.

In the Dáil chamber, all parties and independents will get an opportunity to discuss water charges as a debate on the issue will take place this afternoon.

However, Sinn Féin has argued for a vote on the matter.

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Anti Water Activists' statement in response to political stalemate and the way ahead

Below is a statement from Brendan Young on behalf of a group of anti water charge activists who met last Saturday, April 16, in the Teachers Club, Parnell Square.  

The meeting was in response to a unilateral call from Brendan Ogle for all TDs who support the movement's aims to vote for a Fianna Fail minority government  (see our article Anti Water campaign broadsided amid Dail doldrums ).  This controversial issue highlights  divisions and uncertainties within the anti water charge movement which the political stalemate in the country is causing.   The meeting was an initial attempt to find an agreement on the way forward for the anti water charge movement.  A further meeting will be held this Saturday, April 23, in the Teachers Club, Parnell Square, Dublin, 2-4pm.    The movement has to take the initiative away from politicians and demand that our voice be heard. 

We agreed the following: (see attendees below)

1. With regard to the public discussion on the formation of the next government, we are opposed to the movement against the water charge calling for TDs to vote for a government of the parties responsible for the austerity imposed to pay for the bank bailout – including the water charge; 
2. Instead we support a call for all TDs who say, or have said, they oppose the water charge to vote to immediately abolish the water charge and to immediately abolish IW when a Bill to that effect is put before the Dail;
3. We are aware of discussions amongst anti-water-charge TDs on drafting a Bill and look forward to seeing that draft Bill in the coming week;
4. We are in favour of such a Bill being a cross-party Bill, rather than a Bill presented by any one party;
5. We are in favour of all TDs who say they oppose the water charges being asked to sign this Bill;
6. While we support a Bill being put to the Dail, we regard mass non-payment as key to defeating the water charge and are committed to promoting the boycott of the charge;
7. We are in favour of a national demonstration against the water charge – and in support of a Bill to abolish the charge and abolish IW – involving all who oppose the water charge;
8. We are aware that a Bill will not be put to the Dail until after the formation of the next government; we favor a demonstration before the formation of the next government;
9. We are aware of discussions taking place, amongst the TDs and parties involved in the drafting of a Bill, on the possibility of a national demonstration – and the possibility that these TDs and parties may agree to call a national demonstration; we look forward to hearing the outcome of this discussion in the coming week;
10. We agree to a press conference being called, involving broad participation of anti water charge TDs, in response to IW payment figures when they are announced in the coming week;
11. We support a visible mobilisation of all who oppose the water charge at the Reclaim the Vision of 1916 event on Sunday April 24 in Dublin – assemble in Merrion Sq at 14.00 and bring banners; the organisers ask anti-water charge groups to join the parade behind the banner 'Irish Republic – ownership of Ireland' 
12. We are in favour of a national day of action against the water charge in the near future – provisionally on Saturday April 30, depending on the outcome of the discussion on calling a national demonstration mentioned above – and will discuss this at our next meeting;
13. In the event that the incoming government does not scrap the water charge, we support open discussion and democratic decision-making in the next phase of the campaign;
14. we agree that there is a need for systematic work on social media; we will discuss how best to do this at our next meeting;
15. We will meet again at 14.00 – 16.00 in the Teachers Club, Parnell Sq on Sat April 23. This meeting is open to all who oppose the water charge and we will publicise the meeting as much as possible.

Attendance: Paddy Healy, Sean Heffernan, Seamus McDonagh, John Lyons, Donall O'Ceallaigh, Garrett Banks, Joe Kelly, Enda Craig, James Quigley, Shane Fitzgerald, Eddie Doyle, Joanne Pender, Liz Wilders, Mary O'Donnell, John Meehan, Aaron Nolan, Paul Murphy, Ciara Hendrick, Evelyn Campbell, Pat Waine, Brendan Young. 

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