Sinn Féin lacking migrant candidates for local elections

[The People's Party]

Difficult for a party for whom Irish identity is central to accommodate other nationalities. With globalism, nationalism is looking less and less like a progressive force. Most nationalism in Europe now is associated with a scummy brand of neo-facism. Just look at the English who wave the national flag.

Hence why Sinn Fein is a Republican Socialist/Labour party.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Difficult for a party for whom Irish identity is central to accommodate other nationalities. With globalism, nationalism is looking less and less like a progressive force. Most nationalism in Europe now is associated with a scummy brand of neo-facism. Just look at the English who wave the national flag.

Nationalism is not the same as fascism. But thank you for reminding me of the fact that post-nationalism is part of the Eurofederalist agenda and that one its primary weapons in its arsenal is equating national identity with fascism - a despicable insult to the founders of this country and to separatists everywhere who seek national self-determination. To equate nationalism with fascism is to label Michael Collins and the men and women of 1916 as fascists too. It's important that such an agenda be resisted in political-discourse.

Regarding the lack of SF candidates from among immigrant communities, I do not know why this is. It is arguable that they are less attracted to SF because they don't share the same affinity with the goal of a United Ireland because they don't have the same inherited political-views on the issue that most Irish people have. It is ironic though that a party that always presents itself as being on the side of immigrants (including illegals in terms of decrying deportations) would hold such little apparent appeal to them. To answer why that is, one would need a cognaissance of how much of a hands-on role in candidate-selection the leadership has relative to constituency-parties. Could someone from SF clarify that role for us?

Hence why Sinn Fein is a Republican Socialist/Labour party.

You can't credibly deny though that Irish Republicanism has some of its roots in Irish Nationalism. Otherwise, why does SF emphasise the Irish language? Had Irish Republicanism simply been about replacing a monarchy with a republic, we would not have left the UK. It was primarily because we have a separate national identity to the British (among other reasons) that we left the UK. We wanted to run our own affairs.

[Nem]

However, Tiernanator is right. We would have been condemned if we had of came out with an immigration policy in the same way that some are now criticising us for not having one.

I seem to remember that MLM came out with some guff about immigration after the whole 'rethink' that followed the disappointments of the 2007 election. Thankfully they didn't persist in it. This is the type of far-right nonsense that SF probably don't want to be associated with. The sinister element that comes with will alienate a much larger share of the vote then that it will ever attract.

I fully understand that it is depressing and frustrating to be out of work. I've been there myself. But it is very simplistic and downright dimwitted to blame 'those foreigners' for this. Like any other Western European country, the RoI needs an influx of people to fulfill a wide range of skills. And that is something that needs to be organised in sensible and fair manner on a European basis.

I don't agree with many policies (or lack thereof) that SF have. But their point about supporting illegal immigrants is the right one. It fits in with the profile of the party - certainly here in Northern Ireland. A party that emphasises equality here can't be seen to be doing the contrary in the Republic. That not only smack's of blatant opportunism but it simply would sit very uncomfortable with most people involved in the party IMHO.

Let Libertas run with this in the RoI and dig their own grave.

[Seán Mac Stiofán]

I've never been in favour of unrestricted immigration as common sense shows that a country cannot sustain an immigrant population which is fast becoming unsustainable, adding around 22% to the dole queues.

I can only imagine that someone in the leadership of the party, as has happened in all parties, felt that it would be politically wise not oppose it despite the fact that it would eventually lead to conflict with our core voters due to the fact that the Irish working class would be competing with the migrants for scarce resources.

It is once again a case that the party needs to learn not to listen to those who will not vote for us (middle class liberals who espoused the pro-immigration argument) and not to go along with what was represented as the majority consensus.

However, Tiernanator is right. We would have been condemned if we had of came out with an immigration policy in the same way that some are now criticising us for not having one.

These arguments have all been made in the past and Sinn Féin had numerous opportunities to rectify the situation. Instead, Sinn Féin (lead by certain individuals, including Ó Snodaigh, Doolin and faceless party apparatchiks or other ideologues) became one of the most shrill opponents of debate on the immigration issue. Their support for the laughable Afghan 'Hunger-strikers' has become notorious as has their association with R.A.R. and that Englishwoman, all of which has seriously damaged their credibility. Their seemingly unqualified support for asylum seekers, regardless of authenticity has made them irredeemably middle class liberal in the eyes of many.

I seem to remember that MLM came out with some guff about immigration after the whole 'rethink' that followed the disappointments of the 2007 election. Thankfully they didn't persist in it. This is the type of far-right nonsense that SF probably don't want to be associated with. The sinister element that comes with will alienate a much larger share of the vote then that it will ever attract.

Yet it is so-called 'far right' parties that are on the rise and gaining support in Europe. Look at Flaams Blok. Look at La Front National. DVP, SVP etc...

I fully understand that it is depressing and frustrating to be out of work. I've been there myself. But it is very simplistic and downright dimwitted to blame 'those foreigners' for this. Like any other Western European country, the RoI needs an influx of people to fulfill a wide range of skills. And that is something that needs to be organised in sensible and fair manner on a European basis.

All of this is absolute rubbish. Firstly, Ireland is a sovereign country, not a province of Europe (or so Sinn Féin's ideology would aspire to such): our immigration policy should be a matter for this polity and not held hostage by the guilt of the former colonial powers.

Secondly, there's a difference between immigration of highly-educated, high skills migrants and non-Irish nationals with low economic value. Admission of the former group to Ireland was facilitated in the past by the work VISA whereas the latter gained entry into Ireland through the work permit or illegal entry and claiming asylum. Highly educated foreign workers are highly mobile and follow employment opportunities. Generally they are net contributors to the exchequer, especially if lacking dependents. Non-Irish nationals of low economic value usually aren't PAYE tax payers and whatever benefit their labour supposedly befits the Irish economy must be offset somewhat by their consumption of public services. These category are often net beneficiaries. Liberals and the Left in particular has failed to make the distinction between both cohorts, conflating the two.

Thirdly, non-Irish nationals of low economic value came here to "do jobs Irish people didn't want to do", which is a euphemism for lowly paid or poorly unionized jobs. Jobs that Irish Times journalists don't want, that is. They compete with Irish workers for jobs and in so doing, lower wages. Simple supply and demand. A "liberal labour market". Working class Irish people are entitled to feel cheated: primarily by the Government and by the Opposition as well. The Establishment supported liberal immigration with the least restrictions and Irish workers are entitled to blame the Unions and the Left. They are certainly entitled to feel resentful towards the foreigners and that's perfectly understandable.

I don't agree with many policies (or lack thereof) that SF have. But their point about supporting illegal immigrants is the right one. It fits in with the profile of the party - certainly here in Northern Ireland. A party that emphasises equality here can't be seen to be doing the contrary in the Republic. That not only smack's of blatant opportunism but it simply would sit very uncomfortable with most people involved in the party IMHO.

Let Libertas run with this in the RoI and dig their own grave.

Opposing illegal immigration and "equality" are not mutually exclusive: in other words, people have a right and duty to oppose illegal immigration without being branded racist or similar.

[factual]

Important for Sinn Féin to get more high quality female, gay, black and asian, muslim etc candidates, into winnable positions, in order to better represent the increaseingly sexually and ethnically diverse society that is to be found in Ireland.

[Staropramen]

Important for Sinn Féin to get more high quality
candidates into winnable positions, in order to better represent the increasingly sexually and ethnically diverse society that is to be found in Ireland.

Fixed your post for you. The best candidate should run. Sin e.

[Seán Mac Stiofán]

Important for Sinn Féin to get more high quality female, gay, black and asian, muslim etc candidates, into winnable positions, in order to better represent the increaseingly sexually and ethnically diverse society that is to be found in Ireland.

You were long considered a joke poster, a pisstake by someone else. Yet, over seven and a half thousand posts later, you are going strong spouting the same inane rubbish. Incredible.

[dsmythy]

Important for Sinn Féin to get more high quality female, gay, black and asian, muslim etc candidates, into winnable positions, in order to better represent the increaseingly sexually and ethnically diverse society that is to be found in Ireland.

Why not just the best candidates regardless of colour or whatever other tags you want to put on people.