Election Pap
15/05/07 23:22 Filed in: Election
2007
This was
waiting for me on the mat when I came home this
evening:
Full-fat version here.
Many are predicting that Sinn Féin will achieve their long-awaited breakthrough this election, and if they do, it won't be from want of producing mindless pap. Let's take a close look at the leaflet I received today.
First up, there's the banner "Others promise - WE DELIVER". Do ye now, lads? What do ye deliver? Pizza?
Then there's the obligatory cúpla focail: "Saoirse - Ceart - Síocháin". (Freedom - Justice - Peace.) To be honest, in Laois, we have all three already, but thanks for the thought anyway.
Another bit of Gaelige as they exhort us to "Vótáil Brian Stanley."
On the reverse, we get SF's vision. "Sinn Féin is ready for government north and south. We are looking for a mandate to build strong public services, a prosperous and equal economy and continue our work for lasting peace and Irish unity."
Platitudes galore there, "strong public services", "a prosperous and equal economy", blah, blah, blah. "…continue our work for lasting peace and Irish unity." This would be the Irish unity that has been set back at least one generation, if not more, by the sectarian war waged by SF's erstwhile armed wing (which, in case you didn't notice has still not disbanded.)
Issues raised in this part of the leaflet (things that the bould Brian "will work for") are health, education, housing, crime, waste, jobs, infrastructure.
You know, if the worst came to the worst and SF got into power with FF or whoever, one ministry I would love to see go to SF would be health, preferably to Caoimhghín Ó Ceoláin. "Let's end the two tier system", say SF. It's not a two-tier system, it's a system that has countless layers of bureaucracy, in-fighting and self-serving vested interests. Everyone from the consultants to the porters guard their own little patch jealously, and God help anyone that tries to introduce change. I read somewhere that we spend more per head of population on health than any other country in the EU, yet our service is still utter cock. The only way that it could be solved by money alone would be to build a completely new health service in parallel, and then destroy the old one. Can you imagine Ó Ceoláin having to make a decision to close the A&E at either Cavan or Monaghan?
"Action on substandard schools, smaller class sizes and affordable childcare."
Substandard schools first. By this I suppose he means schools in a poor state of repair. As far as I know, that is being addressed. What is a potentially bigger issue is provision of schools in the commuter belt. We had the situation in Laytown last September where there weren't enough places for all the new intake of pupils. This will be repeated all round the commuter belt in the next few years unless action is taken. Smaller class sizes are always on the agenda of any Minister of Education. It doesn't happen overnight. Affordable childcare. Provided by whom, the private sector or the public sector?
Housing is a hot topic, as house prices have increased hugely in the last ten years. Widespread "affordable" housing is something of a chimera, because if there was even half enough to satisfy demand, it would skew the housing market and prices would fall. Increased mortgage interest relief has been done already.
"Safer communities through active and accountable community policing." Why not through better management of Garda resources? Whoops! Sorry, I forgot! Sinn Féin actually champions the case of killers of Gardai, such as those that murdered Jerry McCabe. (Yes, I meant to use the word "murdered".)
Reducing waste, recycling, etc. are already being addressed. How's about a debate about incineration as a method of waste management? Or what is your policy on long-term security of energy supply?
"The IDA to prioritise job creation in Laois/Offaly and equal incentives for local industry."
That, I'd reckon, is a copy and paste job on every candidate's leaflet. So for Kathleen Funchion's leaflet it probably reads "The IDA to prioritise job creation in Carlow/Kilkenny and equal incentives for local industry."
"Improved roads, rail and broadband infrastructure."
And how exactly does this makes you special or unique?
Overall, it's the usual mix of bland platitudes we should expect from a populist party like Sinn Féin. They're like a weathervane, and will face whichever way the political wind is blowing.
Full-fat version here.
Many are predicting that Sinn Féin will achieve their long-awaited breakthrough this election, and if they do, it won't be from want of producing mindless pap. Let's take a close look at the leaflet I received today.
First up, there's the banner "Others promise - WE DELIVER". Do ye now, lads? What do ye deliver? Pizza?
Then there's the obligatory cúpla focail: "Saoirse - Ceart - Síocháin". (Freedom - Justice - Peace.) To be honest, in Laois, we have all three already, but thanks for the thought anyway.
Another bit of Gaelige as they exhort us to "Vótáil Brian Stanley."
On the reverse, we get SF's vision. "Sinn Féin is ready for government north and south. We are looking for a mandate to build strong public services, a prosperous and equal economy and continue our work for lasting peace and Irish unity."
Platitudes galore there, "strong public services", "a prosperous and equal economy", blah, blah, blah. "…continue our work for lasting peace and Irish unity." This would be the Irish unity that has been set back at least one generation, if not more, by the sectarian war waged by SF's erstwhile armed wing (which, in case you didn't notice has still not disbanded.)
Issues raised in this part of the leaflet (things that the bould Brian "will work for") are health, education, housing, crime, waste, jobs, infrastructure.
You know, if the worst came to the worst and SF got into power with FF or whoever, one ministry I would love to see go to SF would be health, preferably to Caoimhghín Ó Ceoláin. "Let's end the two tier system", say SF. It's not a two-tier system, it's a system that has countless layers of bureaucracy, in-fighting and self-serving vested interests. Everyone from the consultants to the porters guard their own little patch jealously, and God help anyone that tries to introduce change. I read somewhere that we spend more per head of population on health than any other country in the EU, yet our service is still utter cock. The only way that it could be solved by money alone would be to build a completely new health service in parallel, and then destroy the old one. Can you imagine Ó Ceoláin having to make a decision to close the A&E at either Cavan or Monaghan?
"Action on substandard schools, smaller class sizes and affordable childcare."
Substandard schools first. By this I suppose he means schools in a poor state of repair. As far as I know, that is being addressed. What is a potentially bigger issue is provision of schools in the commuter belt. We had the situation in Laytown last September where there weren't enough places for all the new intake of pupils. This will be repeated all round the commuter belt in the next few years unless action is taken. Smaller class sizes are always on the agenda of any Minister of Education. It doesn't happen overnight. Affordable childcare. Provided by whom, the private sector or the public sector?
Housing is a hot topic, as house prices have increased hugely in the last ten years. Widespread "affordable" housing is something of a chimera, because if there was even half enough to satisfy demand, it would skew the housing market and prices would fall. Increased mortgage interest relief has been done already.
"Safer communities through active and accountable community policing." Why not through better management of Garda resources? Whoops! Sorry, I forgot! Sinn Féin actually champions the case of killers of Gardai, such as those that murdered Jerry McCabe. (Yes, I meant to use the word "murdered".)
Reducing waste, recycling, etc. are already being addressed. How's about a debate about incineration as a method of waste management? Or what is your policy on long-term security of energy supply?
"The IDA to prioritise job creation in Laois/Offaly and equal incentives for local industry."
That, I'd reckon, is a copy and paste job on every candidate's leaflet. So for Kathleen Funchion's leaflet it probably reads "The IDA to prioritise job creation in Carlow/Kilkenny and equal incentives for local industry."
"Improved roads, rail and broadband infrastructure."
And how exactly does this makes you special or unique?
Overall, it's the usual mix of bland platitudes we should expect from a populist party like Sinn Féin. They're like a weathervane, and will face whichever way the political wind is blowing.