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Updated 6.40pm
SIXTEEN POLICE OFFICERS have been injured during serious clashes between loyalists and nationalists in Belfast this afternoon.
PSNI officers used a water cannon and fired four Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEP) rounds in a bid to break up the unrest. Police have advised members of the public to avoid parts of east Belfast as the disorder continues into the evening.
Two of the officers have been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has said the violence in Northern Ireland is being orchestrated by “known criminals” who are intent on creating chaos.
In a strong statement, the Tánaiste said loyalists are taking advantage of earlier protests around the flying of the Union flag over Belfast City Hall.
“This has nothing to do with real issues around flags and identity in a shared society which are the subject of intensive political discussions at present,” Eamon Gilmore said in a statement. He said:
This violence is being orchestrated and those behind it are known criminals intent on creating chaos.
Petrol bombs, masonry and other missiles were thrown at PSNI officers last night. Aside from a brief lull over Christmas, protests have been ongoing almost every night since 2 December when Belfast City Council voted to reduce the number of days the Union flag flies over the City Hall building.
A campaign by businesses in Belfast to encourage people to go to a local pub or restaurant and ignore the protests and disruption was trending on Twitter last night.
The Tánaiste has spoken with First Minister Peter Robinson, Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the leaders of all the political parties in recent days.
He is due to meet the Secretary of State and the First and Deputy First Minister next week to review developments.
All photos: Paul Faith/PA Wire
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Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.
http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=25204
Eamon Gilmore put the Meath by-election rout down to the fact that “progress” made “hasn’t penetrated”; on the contrary, Labour’s impotency in protecting the “common good” has permeated quicker than the party nobles expected.
Thanks Andrew good article.
Andrew
I am bewildered by what you might describe as the common good as the present Government have worked tirelessly in that social and economic direction since the General Election. They brought us from beyond catastrophe and total collapse to where the selfish and greedy now want everyone else to pay but themselves. Mortgages not being paid by those who have decided on their personal defaults runs into thousands according to those that know. Hundreds of thousands deciding not to pay lawfully imposed taxes. Teachers behaving like animals at the back of the classroom to selfishly hold on to their share of the public purse and Guards acting the bully boy to defend their status quo.
How could a politician serve when they get the electorate they deserve!
“pay lawfully imposed taxes”
There is nothing lawful about imposing taxes on people who can not afford to pay them and this is not the mandate they asked for when knocking on doors looking for votes. The only people acting like animals and bully’s are the government, but sure you’re a party hack so you know this already.
“They brought us from beyond catastrophe and total collapse” Bailout #2 coming very soon.
Thanks Andrew, very interesting article and a real eye opener.
@Quentin
Howya Paddy or is it Mick haha
@Quentin….you insufferable clown!
@ John Cash…. Yep it looks like the Journal “thrush” is back under a new name.
Got a great reply from twitters legal section,must post it when the matter is sorted.
Hi, Kevin, how’s she cutting?
Though Labour/FG had been ‘penetrating’ us for the last few years?
Seriously guys did you think that by ringing members of the labour party and asking them if Gilmore was touting for their support you were going to get an honest answer ( honesty not being a politicians top trait). I imagine most of them would be fence sitting and waiting to judge which way such a vote, if called, would go. They certainly are not going to come out and publicly admit their party is crumbling quicker than a digestive dunked in tea.
True, Snakes always hide in the grass!
Who cares? Hopefully they’re fcuked anyway.
Seriously,who would believe a word from his (or any of them) mouth.
Labour 4.5% Party TD’s now have a major dilemma on their hands. Do they stay on the sinking ship under old Stickie’s Captain Gilmore and First Officer Rabbitte, and panicking crew members Howlin and Burton …. or jump overboard and start swimming. Decisions, decisions … Stay put and go down to the bottom where little fishes are eating the leftover crumbs from the PD’s and Greens. Or join the Broughan Brigade and hopefully save their €90,000 plus jobs (plus those rather generous expenses). To add to their distress they know that the Officer class have already secured their own futures, the lifeboat is waiting to bring them to the sunny land of massive pensions, and the handy well paid European number, courtesy of their best friends in Troikaland. Decisions, decisions ….
Unfortunately for Gilmore he will go down in the history books as the leader of Labour who led them into the abyss….
Power hungry and should have played the long game and let FG at it and Labour would’ve been the majority next time round.
Same as Cowen led FF and Kenny is leading FG to political destruction. All have one common fault…none of them stood up for the Irish people when we needed them most. They live under the illusion that they are untouchable and we’re all soft on the head. Bring on the next election and let’s have a total clear out.
Well said Tony , the pressure on ordinairy folk out there is immense , this Government are a disgrace
This man has absolutely no creditably left and has proven without a doubt that he can’t be taking at his word, the only decent thing he can do now is to stand down and give the rest of his party a chance to do what they promised and were elected to do, to stand up for the people of this country
they told us if we didnt pay the bond holders we would go the way of Iceland,,, Iceland is now out of the woods,,one of the only growing economy’s ,,only took 5 years,,Iceland sacked their government locked up ministers and bankers,,we were told yesterday by the IMF we have another 8 to 10 yrs of austerity to go,,,gilmore says were three quarters of the way there,,who the fook is lying,,GILMORE IS
Actually, it appears as as though Iceland is in a far worse state than internet meme’s have led us to believe:
http://studiotendra.com/2012/12/29/what-is-actually-going-on-in-iceland/
The people are being financially crushed while the bankers the country supposedly jailed for their corruption, were usually released within a few months, and were allowed keep the money they pilfered…the president of the country is a former banker, and is himself accused of crony-ism and protecting bankers.
I too believed Iceland was a possible financial utopia, but it seems such places do not exist!
New Social Democratic Party on the way?
Did someone say election!!
Gilmore will jump ship to that one too
When? Tell me mote.
The only creditable option left for this labour lot is to withdraw from government
And even then it would be hard to save the party
Nonsense, just look at the attacks on Ness Childers today. You’re attacked if you’re there, attacked if you leave. At least staying in government gives them the opportunity to achieve something. The question is how well they deal with the opportunity.
Deffo not the way the labour party are doing it,,,clowns
Or lie some more and do what they’ve done the last few years…..nothing.
David they’re a stubby tail on a very large dog,SFA they can achieve.I think its to late for them one way or the other to save the party.They should have stayed in opposition 2016 would have been their time,except for the vanity of Gilmore and his close cohort.
Stay in government for what Higgins? It’s not to implement their party ideals….me thinks fg want labour to stay in government so the heat is deflected from them. An election will come either way……tick tock.
“Party ideals”! What ideals would they be?
The end is neigh Eamon.
your days are numbered Gilmore ,you betrayed the people who voted for you and your party ,i hope a few more have a bit of backbone and leave you and your new best friends and start up a breakaway party of REAL Labour one who actually fights for poor people not punishes them for being poor ,your a disgrace as is the party you lead !!!!
He really is arrogant lying skum. You’ve got ur pension so feck off. You’ve destroyed that party and the country with your evil bedfellows FG. (Virtually vomits for added effect)….
Gilmore and Rabitte have betrayed the people they proport to represent. Labour will not survive while they are in control.
I voted labour at the last general election. Won’t be doing it the next time around. They are following FF’s failed polices and I voted for them hoping for something different.
Lobour could nt lie straight in bed at moment
How could you, with Enda next to you?
If the story is true, then the the leadership have just realised that pandering to Fine Gael is at the cost of grass roots Labour supporters.
The penny has finally dropped, that the Labour Party is heading for a wipeout after the next election.
(PD’s – rip. Green’s – rip. Labour…?)
And of course FG
End of Labour and not to forget FF
We didn’t see a group of them come out and say they publicly have confidence in him and put an end to it, that’s telling.
no balls
At least his wife scored a good job ,so she’ll be able to bung him a few quid to tide him over until the massive pension kicks in , lucky her, she was successful at the interview and beat of all the other candidates oh wait…..
Labour voter all my life, and from a labour voting family. None of us will ever vote for this shower again.
No need to. They’re finished as a credible party after sleeping on the job.
Leaders my arse, kenny and gilmore have never stuck up for irish people , bringing this country to its knee’s
Time to stand down Eamo, we need strategic visionaries like Sean Lemass, and people that experts in their roles. you are a blagg artist and a liar. I hope irish people will see through you.
good luck Eamo
it time to get rid of this lying thiveing bastards who took from poor kids and special need kids and adults.may they rot in hell the lot of them
Gilmore for Taoiseach of Frankfurt
We came so close to have a leftish/rightish divide in our politics, with Labour in opposition and FF/FG finally together as befits two identical parties – ruined by the vanity and hunger for power of the geriatrics at the top of Labour who smelled a pension and a comfy office.
I think a leadership challenge is irrelevant, let the number of their TD’s continue to peel off and let them form a new party, unblemished by consistently being lapdogs to FF/FG and being lead by old men who could give lessons in condescension and the arrogance of unearned power to Shatter himself.
Me thinks it’s FG/FF next time. With Labour nearly wiped out and Sinn Fein only making modest gains, it seems to be the only grouping to make the numbers up.
He should try a shore up support because at the moment he is a lame duck.
Gilmore and the bunny have turned labour into democratic left without teeth. its great what a big pension and merc outside the house can do.they will be voted out the next election and will go with big pension and payoff. they will bully t.d.,s to stay in power. howlin, Quinn etc havnt the balls to stay true to labour and get rid of enda,s lap dogs. they are capitolists now without morals. they let reilly do what he wants, they wouldn’t back shortall, when colin keavney stood for labour policy, the muppets are still tryin to get him out. they are letting rothweiler Hogan do what he wants, let the tax payer pay for a dirty week in Dubai with another man,s wife and not complain when abuses his position threatening the press. giving the last government big pay offs for ruining the country. get out Gilmore and rabbit now. enda has screwed you both along with angela merkel. you bastards
Your party is on the verge of death mr Gilmore.
And I for one will enjoy the death of the Labour Party.everyone expects the likes of FF/FG to screw the people,but people voted the Labour Party hoping the the tax hikes and levies would be fair.
This did not happen and you screwed us too.
The people’s party my balls.
Now if we can get rid of Adams and the old school I might move my Labour vote to Sinn Fein
Paul you may be right on that one…
If Gerry & Mary Lou can get their economics reasonably right, they may usurp labour…
Labour are a lost cause the whole lot of them rowed in with fg to screw us f the lot of them
Adam ,just read the comments here ,just look at the results in the recent by- election in Meath ,now ask yourself are people happy with the way the Labour Party are behaving in Government ….i am just an ordinary person and if i can see this why cant you as an active member at grassroots level for many years ?? you perceive the people who have left the party as the ones in the wrong when really there the only hope Labour has going forward !
Marion,
At no point did I say people who left the party are in the wrong I 100% support Roisin Shorthall’s decision to leave on what I saw as principled grounds.
It’s not always about if people are happy with how governments run Marion. If we turfed every government who fell below 50% support in an opinion poll we’d never have a functioning govt. People are hurting that’s obvious. Labour have attempted through USC cuts, stopping cuts to SW and numerous other policies in govt to make those cuts less harsh but there’s a 170 billion Euro public debt that needs to be dealt with and let me remind all those that out of all the parties in Dail Eireann at the time, FF FG SF & the Greens all voted for the bank guarantee. Labour didn’t.
Adam,
“Get over it”,”feel no shame”.You’ve just summed up the Labour party’s attitude to the people who believed their lies and wasted a vote on them.
Barry,
Thanks for putting what I said into context…
Everyone has a free vote, use it as you wish.
Gilmore and Rabbitte are career politicians,they’ve had more parties than a hotel function room.
Position,power and all the goodies that come with it are all that matters to them.
They’ve secured futures for themselves where austerity won’t even touch the sides.
The hacks can put as much spin as they want and they can come on here there and yonder to defend the lieing shower of decieptive sleveens but the next election will tell the story..
Labour are just ‘Champagne Socialists’, – they don’t care about the economic struggles of ordinary working people. They have betrayed their working class roots.
I remember Pat Rabbitte taking offence with an audience member on the Frontline when said audience member accused them of “all being the same”.Nice of Pat to prove him right!
No difference in Labour and the shower they replaced.
Adam,
I have very little doubt social welfare and minimum wage won’t be touched because despite Gilmores pledge, it is Frankfurt’s not Labours way.Child benefits,household charges,property taxes,not a peep about the bond holders,far outweigh the couple of so called “dozens” of achievements that your precious Labour claim.Could you please enlighten us on the principles which attracted you to the Labour Party in the first place,and do they hold any relevance today.
Adam,
Yes everyone has a free vote,but to prey on the fears and worries of the electorate and blatantly lie to the them,because “that’s what one does”,to quote Mr Rabbitte,is to put it mildly disgusting.
Shame on them,and shame on you for being so blasé about it.
Nice to know the future of Labour is in similar hands.
Barry,
So it was a lie to say that the basic rates of Social Welfare wouldn’t be cut? Which they weren’t?
Was it also a lie that Labour will insist on the reinstatement of the former minimum wage? Which they did.
There’s literally dozens of things in the Labour Party manifesto that have either been carried out or are in the PfG. Of course, when you’re a minority coalition partner you can’t do everything you want. Just as the larger partner can’t do everything they want.
“basic rates” is a meaningless phrase. They use it to apply to the things they didn’t cut, where the things they did cut (and promised not to) such as child benefit, oh, well that wasn’t a basic social welfare rate – of course!
Take a look at their “Every Little Hurts” campaign ad – they’ve inflicted on us what they asked us to elect them to save us from.
YAWN……. now where’s my yo yo ?
There isn’t as much anger at the leadership of the party as people who aren’t members seem to think.
Definitely disappointment at the fact that a number of key Labour policies are moving ahead slowly but there’s not some kind of large grassroots coup against Eamon Gilmore.
the grass roots cannot stand the man,,, he is near to finishing his walk of the green mile thank god
Not my experience and I’ve been active within Labour at the grassroots level for many years speaking on a daily basis with fellow members.
well Adam ,if there isn,t anger at the leadership there bloody well should be ,in my experience of talking with the general public they will never vote for Labour again !!
Then why are elected members of labour leaving the party? This is a bad bad BAD sign for labour, and you just have to look at the by election to see it.
Marion,
That’s my experience of many people’s attitudes also, although many of the people who’ve said that to me wouldn’t have voted Labour anyway nor have they ever.
I reject the notion that if a party slides in polls and some members jump to save their seats (I’m not saying all of the PLP members who have resigned have done that but in the case of, for example Mr. Keaveney) that the blame should be therefore laid at the party leadership. Each member is responsible for the governments actions and the blame must be appropriated as such.
Ryan,
As I stated in previous response. Certain members have left to save their seats/ for political advancement.
A number of other members have left on what I see as reasonable grounds for example Deputy Shorthall.
R u angry and disillusioned with the leadership?
have to disagree with you Adam ,the people who “jumped ship to save there seats ” are the ones with the guts to stand up for the people who voted them into power and are sickened by the disgracful carry on of Gilmore and his cronies who are only interested in feathering there own nests ,Gilmore is percieved as a bully and a turncoat and i and many more like me who did indeed vote Labour want him OUT ,asap .
Paul,
With the leadership? No.
Mr. Gilmore wouldn’t be my first choice for leader but, as far as I’m aware no heave has been made against him and therefore I judge him on his present performance. Which is, I feel, adequate.
Am I 100% happy with some of the things that’ve been carried out by this government? No and you won’t hear me defending those actions I’m unhappy with.
I would like to see the party advancing it’s priorities more forcefully. However, Labour are a minority party in a government with a massive majority. I’m happy with many of the concessions Labour did get in the PfG and I’m optimistic about where we go from here.
Marion,
Well the decision about the leader is a party decision and as I’ve said. The party members I’ve spoken with have reflected my own view that there’s no immediate coup against Mr. Gilmore.
I disagree wholeheartedly that people who ”jumped ship to save their seats” do so on principled grounds or because they have an overwhelming care for the people.
well then im afraid Adam if your not part of the solution your part of the problem !!!
Marian,
So leaving government is a solution? Too….
You are exactly what is wrong with the labour party. You cannot call yourself a socialist and a descendant of the traditions of Connolly and Larkin. Shame on you and your traitorous sell out party. You have sold your souls and our futures for power
Parties change and evolve. Get over it.
I feel no shame.
That is exactly the problem you and your ilk feel no shame because you have no on idea of morality psychopaths feel no shame either thankfully I left the labour long ago when I realised that to the party power was the only thing that matters not ideals. The labour party has reached a new low and you exemplify it. At least tommy Patrick message roisin etc have eventual found a backbone
Adam selling out your core values is not evolving,its betrayal.However i admire loyality its just a pity your party leadership doesn’t deserve it.They have destroyed your party,but i suspect none of them will be seeking re-election.It is the younger TD’s who will be the losers.
Spoken like a true labour turn coat.
Norman,
It’s a collective governance. I encourage someone who wishes to be the leader of the party to get enough support and run for the position. Then they will be judged on their merit. End of.
Ryan,
I’m sorry to disappoint you but insulting me instead of disagreeing with party policy speaks VOLUMES about yourself.
With one or two notable exceptions, there hasn’t been a socialist in the Labour Party since Connolly, and those few had to leave! See Noel Brown et al.
The absolute nadir came when Michael O’Leary, a former leader, joined Fine Gael, the most right wing gang in the country. There is no example so extreme that can be cited anywhere… maybe if, at the height of the miner’s strike in Britain, Arthur Scargill had joined the Tory party.
Labour are career charlatans. Upper middle class types, who maybe read Karl Marx in uni, to be rebels but that rebellion didn’t last long.
The only principle evident from The Labour Party of the last 40 years is: get your arse in a ministerial car, and f*ck the begrudgers… f*ck everyone… especially the gobsh*tes who voted for you!
Pat,
Do you know how many Labour party members have ministerial cars? One.
Hear hear totally agree
Betty-Lou,
I feel no shame because if I’m working in a minimum wage job, that pay is 8.65 which FG and FF opposed reinstating but Labour insisted on.
If I earn a very small amount, I’ll be one of the 330,000 taken out of the USC tax net by the Labour party.
If I cannot afford the LPA I will be able to defer it as was a policy of the Labour party.
If I happen to be on social welfare there hasn’t been a single cut to the standard rates, again something opposed by FG but insisted on by Labour.
So no, no shame here.
No disrespect to the previous comment, but..!! I work in an industry whereby I hear the general publics opinion on a regular basis.
From swing voters in the last election (labour (predominantly , ) and independents ) ..
These people feel betrayed and that their vote was wasted..
Of all main stream parties that are socialist, the hard pressed middle ground voters put their faith in Gilmore etc. what’s the chances they’ll ever vote labour again!!!
(Gilmore – 2yrs an I’ll have a wonderful pension for life!! )
Struggling mortgage holder- property tax , water charges, increase electricity/gas,as well as paying extra USC , just to pay a bondholders..
We draw comparisons with other EU countries re: property tax.
Property tax in the UK …(..our nearest neighbour) pays for…
Street lighting
Roads/ streets resurfacing / maintenance
Water services
Sewerage services
Refuse collection
In Ireland it means ,
Eh….!!!!! The bank owns yer gaff… Yer in negative equity, but………..ah feck it , we’re gonna tax ya anyway!!!
Colm,
You clearly didn’t read what I posted directly above where you replied.
I addressed the USC for people on lower incomes (which has gone down or been abolished completely not gone up as you state)
Suddenly the government decide how much you pay for electricity and gas? News to me.
You at current do not pay any water charges so I wonder how it is this government has caused you suffering due to water charges?
The Labour Party’s stated policy on the LPA (which is to fund the local services you mention) is that there should be a deferral procedure in the event the homeowner cannot make the payment. That deferral procedure was not supported by FG but it was implemented as a LP position.
The truth hurts James. Labour are nothing but turn coats. Renegaded on the faith of the electorate by blatantly lying. If you think that’s evolving the party then you are sadly mistaken. And by staying in this coalition you are only exaggerating your chances of extinction in the next election.
I gave my number 2 to the labour party in the hope that they would rein in on fg policies but nah, uselessness and nothingness from labour. Letting fg walk all over you, moulding and bending the party into a sleeping dog.
We have the continuity ff party in power and the labour morphing frantically into fg.
FF/FG/LAB all the same.
The FGAB party.
A deferreal with 4% per annum.So you can’t pay, no problem we’ll just charge you interest till you can pay.Yeah that was a great concession Labour achieved considering FG didn’t want to introduce a property tax in the first place.
If FG didn’t want to introduce the Property Tax in it’s current guise then they needn’t have. The FF deal struck left lee-way on how exactly a tax was implemented. You can argue with FG on that one the Labour party supported property taxes since the late 1990′s which every decent economist noted would have lessened the collapse of the property market when it came knocking.
Oh and yes, of course there’s interest because there should be. Everyone has to pay taxes. Those on the lowest have been saved through a cut in the USC but the tax base needs to be broadened so as to cover a massive public debt.
I’ve one question!!!
If the electorate voted labour on their policies / mandate, and the Labour leadership reneged on it..(by Gilmores admission!) how can you expect the voting public to trust Labour in future?
People voted for the Labour Party based on the manifesto. The party didn’t get the requisite support to govern as a single Government and thus not all of that manifesto could be implemented. Every normal thinking person understands that.
There were dozens of things in the LP manifesto that have been implemented and will be in the next few years. I don’t expect the voting public to vote in huge numbers for Labour at the last election. Irish people don’t like change that’s what the polling shows and why only FG & FF have ever governed as senior coalition partners.
Deferral at 4% pa. Also is the Labour Party ( which governs this country in partnership with Fine Gael) advocating the introduction of water taxes in Jan 2013??
And as for the property tax……
It can be taken from your bank account, social welfare , and or your wages!!!!
Labour & Fine Gael have just promoted a black economy within Ireland , just when they needed it least!!!
“Need a house painted”??
€300 cash………. Through the books €700…
It happened 30 yrs ago… Whereby the black economy was rampant whilst FG were in power.
Looks like it’s close to happening again…
You’re having a laugh, aren’t you?
Then manifestos are worthless as a means of choosing a political party to support? Tell me, if as you and Mr Rabbitte suggest a party’s manifesto should be ‘taken with a grain of salt’ how is an ordinary decent person supposed to decide who to vote for?
Doesn’t it stick in your craw that had they let FG go into coalition with FF as a last resort, or cobbled together enough independent TD’s for a majority, that Labour would be the next government and we’d have a left government for the first time in our history?
I don’t buy that they’ve watered down all that much of what FG has thrown at us, I don’t think we’ve gained anything by having Labour support a right-wing continuity-Cowen administration.
So that’s a story about nothing, then….
Gilmore is in a bit of a sticky situation alright.
Adam,
You say Labour,as a minority coalition partner,cannot do everything they want.
Whilst this is true,another post election lie perpetrated by them is they made promises in the context that they would be the majority.come on now,the dogs in the street knew that was never going to happen,as did they.
labour have turned to the same as fg,, they are just doing as they are told , fg have not been in power for years as they did the same shite years back,, but labour are a shame to themselves and to who voted for them, they have no morals, no one really cares about mortgages in the dail, no one cares there are more losing jobs and leaving the country,, no one cares when care is taken from the private home and put in nursing homes,, our government is not for the people of ireland, they have foreigners running our country telling them what to do,, how can one pay taxes on a home when one cant afford to pay mortgage and eat, and forget about heat, what they have done will come back to hit them in history but will be to late for poor ireland as they will have 3,000 per week pensions, they should be ashamed of themselves but are not,, 2 million on rent on premises never used, private lavatories that cost nearly what my house cost,, wish they would give some of them millions they throw away each year back into the economy and create some jobs,, labour is history only labour in this country will be a woman yelling give me drugs in that department in the hospital,,,
Ship to shore,
We don’t need a Gale anymore…
Over the past six months I have sent three most unwelcome emails to Mr Gilmore congratulating him, amongst other things, on presiding over the demise of the Labour Party. I did it because I cared. Unfortunately he doesn’t.
In America the Gun Lobby dictate policy.
In Ireland the most well paid public sector on earth dictate poilcy.
Where did my last post go, that’s what I want to know?
And no, there was no bad language in it!
have your say