tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post3846034093024301084..comments2023-09-17T10:45:54.867+01:00Comments on Matt Carthy: Louise Minihan Leaves Sinn FéinMatt Carthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04615332043058890800noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-90235875076356438322009-07-22T16:09:54.683+01:002009-07-22T16:09:54.683+01:00I'm going with Risteard (above). The place to ...I'm going with Risteard (above). The place to debate, discuss and even criticise the direction of the party is with the party. Leaving the party on personal or political grounds is understandable, but the representation that the seat symbolises, the people that worked to win that seat and the rightful authority to use the position of ‘elected representative’ in this instance all rest clearly under the banner ‘Sinn Fein’.<br /><br />We've had many 'monumental' debates in the last few years and the results did not always favour the opinions of all involved. That is why it is called a debate. The overall point is summed up by Rist: "What other party has worked and sacrificed as much to advance the cause of the Republic?" There simply isn't any political group on this island that is within a snipers mile that has the work done and the work in progress like Sinn Fein. (Prob should have said an 'Asses roar'!) <br /><br />There are many policy and strategy decisions that I would not agree 100% with...I'm not a robot or a yes-man. I have my own opinion and have expressed them during many debates and discussions. I have also put forward the views and opinions of people in the community that we are supposed to represent, even when those views may be contrary to what the party is doing. That is what SF is supposed to be all about. Republican representation. 90 years of it certainly has its merit.<br /><br />I see many of our current problems as being created by ourselves and of an operational nature more than policy. But, I also believe that in the area of policy, the leadership and the party members have expressed and debated to a reasonable degree on most issues. I haven't always agreed...but the point of view on the other side of the argument has on most occasions been made clear to me during any debate. And the over all objective of Sinn Fein is, as always, based on principles going back to 1916, which is crucial.<br /><br />If she wants to pursue Republican objectives independently or with the association of other groups I can understand, but when this very same situation occurred in the past, the end result is neither a retained seat for SF or the individual. Therefore the opportunity to provide Republican representation in the area is lost.joedeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720812793855556689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-45826953794709819882009-07-22T10:32:28.992+01:002009-07-22T10:32:28.992+01:00I agree with Matt. I was also a Sinn Fein candida...I agree with Matt. I was also a Sinn Fein candidate in the last local election and my running mate headed the poll here in North Kerry. I know that some of the 1,005 votes that I got were personal votes. However, this does not mean that a seat won is a personal seat. We sign a pledge and it has always been my intention, if elected, to honour that pledge. I have to pose the question. Why wait until after the election to leave Sinn Fein. If I thought I did not need Sinn Fein to get elected I would leave beforehand and paddle my own canoe. I don't understand standing on the Sinn Fein ticket, getting elected and then laving the party. Like Matt and others, there are matters that need to be addressed. Ask any member of any other party and they would say the same thing. There are things in their respective parties that they would like to see changed. I know people in Fianna Fail who are not happy with the way things are going but they are doing their best to bring about change. Will they be successful? Who knows but they are in it for the long haul. Folks, as we say in Kerry, it is time to pee or leave the pot. As a party we have known tough times. Yes we have made tough decisions to advance our goals of an Irish Republic. Some people say we should 'adapt' more to 'modern' Irish political and social life. Does that mean being more sensible and forgetting about the North to become more popular? If I were to leave Sinn Fein in the morning, where would I go? What other party has worked and sacrificed as much to advance the cause of the Republic? As a final comment on policing. Policing in the North has always stuck in my craw. Believe it or not, I was never treated badly by the Brits (one of the lucky ones). However, I was by the RUC. Why did we support the Ard Fheis motion? Because accountability was needed. We could never rely on other parties to ensure that a police force in the six counties was held accountable for its actions. That is why I decided to support a process where the police were held responsible and that Republicans would hold them accountable for their actions. The alternative was to allow them to do as they wished with the knowledge that they would not be held accountable by the yes men and women of other parties. If people have an alternative to Sinn Fein and how the alternative will achieve a Republic more quickly, let's be hearing you. Tiocfaidh ár lá.Risteardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089554702748445427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-58186913345540514142009-07-20T03:58:11.183+01:002009-07-20T03:58:11.183+01:00Matt. Your concerns about this lady keeping her se...Matt. Your concerns about this lady keeping her seat ring a bit hollow. I dont remember you getting up on your high horse when Gerry Murray joined SF. Or Billy Leonard. Shall I go on? She is doing what a lot ore of SFers should be doing if they thought about it. I never thought I would see the day when you would support the RUC Matt. I thought you were worth more than thatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-82168040554964219872009-07-19T22:49:12.985+01:002009-07-19T22:49:12.985+01:00Wise up Matt. You would be better off doing like L...Wise up Matt. You would be better off doing like Louise. Better late than neverUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04744216883995524961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-63390187501901226442009-07-19T00:49:16.452+01:002009-07-19T00:49:16.452+01:00well said matt.
louise could argue with best of t...well said matt.<br /><br />louise could argue with best of them, never heard her socialist critique.stephen kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12997653973322772606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741753396470190993.post-83583670608829662622009-07-18T21:51:45.397+01:002009-07-18T21:51:45.397+01:00Very sly Matt.Very sly Matt.Ger Devereuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043847440537027155noreply@blogger.com