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THE MAYOR OF South Dublin County Council has resigned from the Labour party, becoming the 27th councillor to leave the junior coalition partner in three years.
Dermot Looney, a 31-year-old teacher who represents the Tallaght Central area of Dublin, had already been selected to run again for the party in May’s local elections.
He said the decision to leave the party he had been involved in for more than a decade had been difficult but he believed it was the right thing to do.
“My time in the Labour party came to a natural end. I’d no distance left to run,” he told TheJournal.ie this evening.
“I made the decision about a month ago but the reason I didn’t go then is that there was a budget [for South Dublin County Council] to get through, where I managed to make some gains for people in the area, and it was the right thing to do to stay until that was done”.
Looney was strongly criticial of Labour, saying the party had abandoned its principles while in government with Fine Gael.
Looney said there was no one policy on which he was making a stand, but that there had been dozens over the lifetime of the Government with which he fundamentally disagreed. He said Labour had ‘kowtowed’ to Fine Gael’s economic agenda to the detriment of the poorest people in society.
“I stand diametrically opposed to government policy – and by extension, that of the Labour Party – in areas as diverse as healthcare, local democracy, housing, state assets and taxation,” he said.
He also criticised the running of the party. “The party is run very strongly from the centre, and councillors like me are having less and less of an impact,” he said. He cited the recent party conference as an example, where, he said, around 20 motions from members weren’t allowed to be brought to the conference floor.
Looney said the reaction so far to his resignation had been “overwhelmingly positive”. He told the Labour councillors on South Dublin County Council and local party members of his decision before it was made public tonight.
Looney will remain on as mayor and councillor ahead of May’s elections.
He ruled out running for any other party and said he would be standing as an Independent in the local elections.
“I’m definitely not running for another party,” he said. “I’ll see what I can do both nationally and locally as an independent, possibly working with other groups from the left”.
Looney had been a member of the party for more than a decade after joining while studying social science in UCD. He was first elected to South Dublin County Council in June 2009 and became the youngest ever mayor of the local authority when he took over the office last year.
Looney made the news last year when he donated €7,000 of his €45,000 allowance as mayor to local community groups.
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What bothers me the most about all of this, is that the whole country of the USA is focusing on one guy that sits down for the national anthem, while there are 3,000 people in North Dakota, protesting the destruction, by major oil companies, of Native American sacred burial grounds, in order to build a pipeline to carry oil. This pipeline will potentially destroy the drinking water for millions of people, but we are hearing nothing about it in the mainstream media. As well as destroying the sacred burial grounds of the Native Americans, the treaties made between them & the US Government have been broken by the Government. This is a continuous cycle afflicted on the Native Americans since Europeans landed on their shores centuries ago. They are protesting both the destruction of their land, the breaking of even more treaties, but most of all, they want to protect the Earth from these greedy oil companies that have no respect for the environment whatsoever. Google “Standing Rock” and you will read of the terrible things going on in North Dakota, that the mainstream media are keeping from us.
Its all bread and games..
@Pheilum Shannon: Those at the top are loving the distraction the Black Lives Matter movement is giving them.
No respect, none!!! Campaign against black violence against blacks in their own community, maybe then it would make sense. Black people murder more black people every year than anyone else. Cops kill a small fraction of black people every year, the majority, a large majority, justified. Playing the ‘race card’ doesn’t work for me, especially as he was raised by white parents in a middle class neighborhood, and is a multi millionaire. Oh that’s right, white people held him back. Give me a break!!! The most racist people in the US are black people, they have a sense of entitlement, and play the slavery card way too much. Why don’t the Irish play the slavery card? Or the discrimination card? Eh, because they made something of themselves, they didn’t wallow in self pity and wait for the world to change their circumstances. All this BS with disrespecting the anthem and flag is counter productive, it only copper fastens the division of the races in the US. The irony of it all is that black communities cry poverty and oppression, then riot and loot their own neighborhoods. They burn down their own neighborhoods, create more unemployment by doing so, and turn working class areas into ghettos. Yep, it all makes sense.
@Stephen Duggan: nice justification for racial murder there :/
The Irish can’t play the “slavery card” as they weren’t in fact slaves. Though many Irish were involved in the brute exploitation of the slave trade. Capital has always understood that their dominance depends on keeping the working class divided along racial, religious, nationality etc lines.
Stephen turn off Fox News every once in awhile will you it’s warping your mind. The point of the protest is to highlight the treatment of black people by law enforcement officers. These officers are supposed to protect the community, not just the white community but all of society.
What we have seen numerous times now is police threatening or even murdering unarmed black people, it’s not made up or a figment of their imagination there is video evidence. It is so common now that it cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents so people try to deflect it like you have done by linking it with violence in the black community.
As someone who has lived in the United States I can tell you that if you think that country does not have a serious racists problem you are deluded. Your comments about blacks having a sense of entitlement etc just show how some people feel completely justified judging a entire group of people based on the skin colour. But yeah it’s the blacks that are the problem right?
@Ricky Spanish: Reading your post you would think that only black people are shot and killed by the police . In the USA in 2015 over 700 people were shot and died at the hands of the police . Of that 700 plus black people account for 166 deaths and thats a little over 23%which is higher than the % population compared to white .However black people commit more serious crimes when prcent is taken into account Why have the other 77% not looted and burned down their neighbour hood . Colin Kaepernick can sit ,stand or ly down it wont change anything its only a gesture/stunt . He would be far better off going into the black community/black police officers and talking to young black people . There is no easy way to solve this problem
@Billy Mooney:
Cromwell sent thousands of Irish as slaves to the West Indies.
He’s raised awareness of the issue. We are talking about it here in Ireland even.
He’s also donating $1m to racial equality projects this year.
All in all it’s very productive. I find it refreshing to see a star athlete have some awareness of what’s going on in the world outside their little bubble.
Protesting the flag and anthem are also a very targeted intelligent form of protest. Too often America hides behind blind patriotism and doesn’t look to address their problems and uses that blind patriotism to convince people that America is the greatest country in the world. This is saying, “no wait a minute we’ve a serious problems in this country we need to fix.” The racial divide and gun ownership laws (which has a deeply rooted history of racism) are 2 major factors in this problem and huge issues that need tackling.
Where did I justify it?
Really? You need to study history a bit more, here’s some help.
http://settingrecordstraight.blogspot.ie/2015/03/irish-forgotten-white-slaves.html?m=1
It’s not a competition ffs. A cops job is to protect and serve , not to shoot first and ask questions later. There are so many circumstances where the cops could have used a taser or shot a limb rather than shooting to kill. When the system puts you St a disadvantage from day one by placing you in a drug fueled ghetto then it’s hard to escape from that lifestyle. This issue needs to be tackled at the roots
@Eamon Mac Gowan: utter nonsense based on amateur historiography and used by the extreme right in America i.e. the Klan and such to justify racism and suggest that African Americans only bring it on themselves. Only 50 years ago most African Americans couldn’t vote or even share a restaurant or public transport with whites. Whites were sent as indentured servants not slaves. It’s an important difference but clearly one that people like you are unwilling to grasp. Also conveniently ignores role that many Irish had in slave trade and cities like Cork and Waterford were much involved in 18th century slave trade and families such as the Roches and the Cork merchant princes owe their wealth to the slave trade.
Stephen, you can tell the education system failed you.
Trumps people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErjPmFulQ0
@Stephen Duggan: Your right More blacks kill blacks in America than whites killing blacks. Why do we always have to bring everything back to colour. Basically when someone with a gun or knife asks you to do something then just do it. You have a better chance of walking away thanif you mouth off to them.
The last cop killing of a black man in North Carolina is interesting the cop is black his chief is black the mayor is black the president is black. its a class thing rather than race.
When you look at a single situation it doesn’t represent the whole.
When the last shooting is of a black man with a gun it just shows blm is a racist movement. Carry a gun and don’t follow police instructions. You will be shot. Simples.
Id like to see figures for police shootings broken down by income bracket.
@cholly appleseed: Absolute garbage. Whites are not treated nearly as bad by the police. Enjoy your white pivelege, tw@.
When most people go to America on holidays, they usually stick to the east and west coast places. New York, Boston, Florida, LA etc. But if you want to see a totally different America, head inland. Oklahoma, Ohio, Colorado, Louisiana. They still have black only schools and universities. Racism is lethal in America. It never sent away, it was just hidden from the world till social media came along.
@Peter Cavey: This paints a picture, https://www.ted.com/talks/rich_benjamin_my_road_trip_through_the_whitest_towns_in_america
@Peter Cavey:
“Birds of a feather flock together” it’s completely natural for people to want to be with others who are like themselves. Forcing people of different cultures to live together is a always going to end in disaster, look at Rotherham and Molenbeek.
Eamonn, maybe you’d care to share that with Angela Merkel, the EU management and the open-borders folk.
I find this choice of protest odd.
Surely kneeling before the flag during the anthem shows it more deference and respect, not less.
If you want to make a statement then turn your back and face the opposite way. Mind you, that would be considered treason in The US.
Or just stay seated. I thought the article was going to be pro nationalism.
Irish people stand for the national anthem because we feel a sense of pride in our country. If you dont want to then that is your choice, i wont be offended because it doesnt change the pride i feel.
I find it difficult to understand a country that forces you (through intimidation) to stand.
@Stephen Coveney: The UK is the same every year with that poppy campaign. People in the public eye who refuse to wear it are hounded by simpletons
@Screaming Toddy:
To be honest I’ve only notice dit lately with the james mclean stories but again if you take nationalism to extreme states its not a pretty picture.
“The love of ones country is a terrible thing”
When black people protest in a peaceful manner, there are still right-wing pundits complaining. Go figure.
It’s ok for the USA to bomb other countries & kill civilians! Yet there is no flag protests
That problems American is facing now is because of the gun. A bunch of trigger happy f@#kers with no regard for human life simple as that
Initially I was against what they’re doing. If you’re taking money for a job you can’t protest at the same time. Either refuse the money or protest. You can’t do both. But the fact it’s annoying so many people changed my mind. The same people who can see discrimination happening but don’t have a problem with that.
@Peter King: They are either blind to it or your talking to a racial “separatists” gumming for a race war to reture to racial purity.
@Teene Nyantoon: *return.
It’s like the protocols of elders all over again :( actually no, maybe just the buybull. https://whistlinginthewind.org/2016/06/06/an-atheist-reads-the-bible-the-importance-of-racial-purity/
Wonder who will play him in the movie in years to come when it’s made
As an American citizen I find the American people foolish and idiotic , thier should be an outright ban on guns in America and then maybe thoer wouldn’t be so much shooting . The police have to protect themselves and over do it completely by shooting anybody white or black who they think had a weapon . I Never understood why they don’t shoot for the arms or legs . Delighted I never grew up in the us they are gun crazy racist nut jobs
The ZIONISTS are in power.
I see they’re holding down your caps-lock key too…
Pretty shocking and disappointing comments here. Also alarming to see excellent points receiving many red thumbs. And then we have the Irish slavery cases being held uo as an example of what exactly?…with a weird sense of pride attached to it. Shameful stuff
So your disgusted some people dont agree with you!!! Good argument. Rich white areas have no problems with rascism. In fact most people in these colour free zones are very anti racist
Antonio Cromarte (estimated worth: $32,000,000) was the first Colt to “take a knee” during the national anthem over the weekend. He’s upset too, about the way blacks are treated in these racist United States.
As soon as he can round them up (for they are scattered round the
country), the father of 10 and soon to be 12 will be sitting Jerzie,
Jagger, Antonio Jr., Deyjah, Julian, Alonzo, Karis Marie Ford,
London, Leilani, Tyler Jae and their eight mothers for a long
talk about the injustice of it all. Then he’ll emphasize the
importance of fatherhood in a responsible, productive and strong community.
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