Why were Labour snapping kids and telling lies?

Dear Editor,

There would appear to be a growing dichotomy between the Labour Party’s public and private persona. Labour claims to be always doing the wrong things, but for very good reasons. Labour celebrated it s100th birthday in National University of Ireland, Galway To arrive there you would be astounded to observe numerous Garda personnel, including Garda Reserves; a multiplicity of Garda vehicles, and I was notified, that the Armed Response Unit, multiplied by God knows how many, were also circling, just in case. And, ancillary to all the gardai mentioned, there was equally numerous private security personnel, and these were defending this convention from behind double rows of fortified steel fencing. The obvious question to be considered here is perhaps: to what purpose would the Peoples’ Party demand this level of protection?

The protest, when it did take place, on Saturday, was rowdy and extremely vocal and an attempt was made, quite successfully, to confront this bastion of the status quo.

RTE News showed coverage, but failed to mention that Labour personnel photographed the protesters, including children, without parental consent, and these personnel refused to identify themselves when asked, and the gardai made no attempt to demand a cessation of this infringement of child protection measures, or to ascertain the purpose of this volume of photography. Echoes of Rossport prevail?

Once the protesters overcame the barriers they protested vigorously, and then dispersed quietly. The gardai and Labour personnel mingled freely with the protesters thereafter, and no attempt was made to harm any persons present.

So, why did the Gardai indiscriminately use pepper-spray and resort to batons initially? This display of ignorance almost resulted in a crush and perhaps injury to those persons offering their support to the protest, including old people and very young people.

We must question the cost of this exercise in Labour’s sense of self-importance; surely this is reminiscent of the previous government’s {Fianna Fail} visit to Galway, for their ‘convention,’ and all the un-necessary security, and cost which that entailed?

Labour is also guilty of a tent mentality, in its approach to this weekend’s celebration. Only those on an ‘official list’ were to be admitted. You could have also received an ‘official pass’ online, and that would have allowed you admission. However, some of those Eamon Gilmore appealed to upon his last visit to NUIG were deemed not acceptable this time, and were asked to “Go away” and to “Try again.” Labour also threatened to cancel their celebration/convention, if an alternative convention of dissenting views to Labour’s was allowed to go ahead at NUIG. The alternative convention went ahead elsewhere. Perhaps it was these people with an alternative that was the catalyst for all this security and self delusion.

Lest we forget: Eamon Gilmore appeared at NUIG, prior to the last general election, to ask for support for Labour, in their bid to be granted an electoral mandate for an alternative to the then status quo and, to be allowed to represent the best interests of people of the Republic of Ireland.

That same evening, Eamon Gilmore was asked to defend his decision to support the second Lisbon Treaty. He had declared publicly, prior to and post Lisbon 1, he could not envisage his party, Labour, ever supporting a second Lisbon Treaty. Mr. Gilmore waffled eloquently and explained how particular societal and political events in the intervening period of Lisbon 1-2 were his only considerations, in his eventual decision. We now know this to be a crock. The Wikileak’s reports of Eamon Gilmore’s behaviour, on the night that Lisbon 1 was rejected by the Republic of Ireland, privately contacting foreign diplomats of all persuasions, to offer his personal assurances, He would be doing all in his power to secure a future victory for his friends, next time.

And let’s not forget: Eamon Gilmore and his party/friends are now demanding you pass another Treaty, the forthcoming Fiscal Treaty, May 31, 2012, or else?

Would Eamon Gilmore consider taking an opportunity, to offer an apology for the blatant lies he told to hundreds of people, that optimistic evening at NUIG; and for the behaviour of Labour’s security personnel and photographers this weekend?

Should the Peoples’ Party insist on the right of the people of the Republic of Ireland to expect honesty from their representatives?

Is mise,

Padraig Mac Donnacha

21 Ardan Naomh Antoine

Bóthar Mor

Gaillimh {non-partisan/non-party}