Staying Neutral and taking a side in an armed conflict?
I am all for supporting Palestine but making it a top priority is ridiculous
FFS of all things that are causing me an issue in my daily life caused on a foreign policy level, Palestine is so far down the list I can’t even see it.
I intend on voting sf next election but I hope they don’t just fall into these hot button issues and forget to deal with the boring/actually relevant issues. Nobody on earth gives a shit about Ireland’s stance on peace in the middle east.
I also like populist policies.
Wow, that shows a complete lack of understanding of priorities in foreign policy.
How can you make neutrality a top priority yet another top priority is to take sides with a group who are technically at war?
This must be a joke right?
Oh God.
I hope the war in Ukraine has ended by the time they get into power so.
Or that we’re not dealing with Trump 2.0
Or UK/N.I. issues
Or….
What a weird choice of priorities when it comes to foreign affairs. They couldn’t think of anything more pressing like the Russia-Ukraine conflict or Brexit? Things which can/do have a direct impact in Ireland.
Good.
Great, now there’s fuckin no one worth voting for in the next GE.
Ali can just imagine her in dragons den , it’s at this moment she’ll get a “and for that reason , I’m out”
Couple of good of ole ‘religion of peace’ beheadings soon sort that out.
Well your not neutral about Palestine?
Double speak
Yeah, more populism, the militant Sinn Fein is now neutral, they’ve finally put down the weapons they say, but won’t apologise for atrocities committed during the troubles. All sides should apologise, and any serious political party should before lecturing on human rights and neutrality.
I can’t understand how the Irish Times can call them a left-wing party when their populist nationalist rhetoric is nearly a mirror of right wing party behaviour in Europe and elsewhere. Same hymn sheet, they even call anything negative about them fake news.
True, they’re spouting promises to solve all of the social woes in the country: housing, health, transport, equality … all in a five year term. Either taxes or national debt will have to go through the roof to pay for all of these promises, and in the end, debt eats taxes anyway.
Where’s the joined up journalism, the astute analysis. Even if they win enough seats, they won’t have an outright majority and will end up in coalition. Is it not worth considering that when speaking about a possible win? They’ll end up horse trading to get into government if they get enough votes and all of the people wanting change will be disappointed.
It’s clear that they’ll say and do anything to gain power and maybe that’ll be best, at least then the illusion will be over.
Paywall.
I like how everyone here is clearly commenting on the title only. Can we have what she said in context first?
How can you be neutral and yet support one side so clearly?
I love how nobody called for this and we still have balloons calling this populist.
It does not mean what you think it means
Why do these parties just bang on about Palestine all the time? Do they think the people who vote for them (I’ll just generalise and say the working class because we’ll that’s who usually votes for left wing parties) actually give a fuck? It’s students and twitter denizens that care not fucking Mary who’s going out of pocket because of fuel prices. It’s so ridiculously out of touch
It’s pretty much all SF care about.
They were the most powerful party on most local councils after the 2014 water charges protest vote.
Local councils are the main drivers of housing in Ireland. Most will have heard the term ‘a council house’.
We got about 50 bleedin’ motions on Palestine, but they also systematically blocked all new housing. They’ll defend it as being generally anti-developer, but they also blocked projects that were 100% social housing, so that doesn’t hold up.
They built no housing from 2014-2019, which was their job, and also blocked every single new housing project, both public and private.
And now they’re shocked, shocked I tell you that there’s a housing crisis due to massive undersupply. It’ll be 2027/28 before we catch up from this.
I would be proud if our Government was vocal in its opposition to human rights abuse and colonialism in Palestine. It’s also an easy win because we don’t have any major economic ties with Isreal.
Ireland isn’t neutral. If we were neutral we’d actually have the ability to defend ourselves.
Its quite ironic that the shinners of all people will happily allow the UK/US/NATO to patrol Irish skies and seas and then harp on about patriotism
Neutrality is great if you can afford to stay neutral. Switzerland does this well. Compulsory military service and a highly militarised nation in general.
Sweden and Finland were also doing it (national service, although not necessarily military is compulsory in Finland), until they realised they were next in line for invasion seeing how easily neutral Ukraine were invaded.
Ireland has never done these things. This wasn’t such an issue from 1945-1985 when Ireland wasn’t a particular valuable asset for an invading force.
Now we are, amongst other things, a global power in some ways. Certainly a cultural and financial power and Europe’s breadbasket when it comes to computer chips and pharmaceuticals (both of which any superpower will seek to control the supply of in a potential global conflict).
The attitude to Ireland’s defence forces, from politicians of all colours ranges from ignorance to downright derision. Sinn Fein and the other left wing parties seem to see the Irish Army as some kind of internal enemy, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael say they support them but the money isn’t there to match what they say.
My two cents: we need to end neutrality. Side with NATO immediately, increase our defence spending to 4% of GDP, build a major naval base near Dublin to match the HQ in Haulbowline, and encourage a career in the defence forces at all levels, both at the enlisted and the officer cadet classes.
Can’t wait to be thrown under the bus by the US when this happens.
This is embarrassing lmao. Who gives a shit about the middle east seriously
SF will be in within two years. Mortgage arrears will explode in 18 months and the government will collapse.
Will be interesting to what they do!
Why do we have to chose between these clowns and FFG.
Wouldvbe great if SocDems replaced them as the leading left party in Irish politics
26 comments
Staying Neutral and taking a side in an armed conflict?
I am all for supporting Palestine but making it a top priority is ridiculous
FFS of all things that are causing me an issue in my daily life caused on a foreign policy level, Palestine is so far down the list I can’t even see it.
I intend on voting sf next election but I hope they don’t just fall into these hot button issues and forget to deal with the boring/actually relevant issues. Nobody on earth gives a shit about Ireland’s stance on peace in the middle east.
I also like populist policies.
Wow, that shows a complete lack of understanding of priorities in foreign policy.
How can you make neutrality a top priority yet another top priority is to take sides with a group who are technically at war?
This must be a joke right?
Oh God.
I hope the war in Ukraine has ended by the time they get into power so.
Or that we’re not dealing with Trump 2.0
Or UK/N.I. issues
Or….
What a weird choice of priorities when it comes to foreign affairs. They couldn’t think of anything more pressing like the Russia-Ukraine conflict or Brexit? Things which can/do have a direct impact in Ireland.
Good.
Great, now there’s fuckin no one worth voting for in the next GE.
Ali can just imagine her in dragons den , it’s at this moment she’ll get a “and for that reason , I’m out”
Couple of good of ole ‘religion of peace’ beheadings soon sort that out.
Well your not neutral about Palestine?
Double speak
Yeah, more populism, the militant Sinn Fein is now neutral, they’ve finally put down the weapons they say, but won’t apologise for atrocities committed during the troubles. All sides should apologise, and any serious political party should before lecturing on human rights and neutrality.
I can’t understand how the Irish Times can call them a left-wing party when their populist nationalist rhetoric is nearly a mirror of right wing party behaviour in Europe and elsewhere. Same hymn sheet, they even call anything negative about them fake news.
True, they’re spouting promises to solve all of the social woes in the country: housing, health, transport, equality … all in a five year term. Either taxes or national debt will have to go through the roof to pay for all of these promises, and in the end, debt eats taxes anyway.
Where’s the joined up journalism, the astute analysis. Even if they win enough seats, they won’t have an outright majority and will end up in coalition. Is it not worth considering that when speaking about a possible win? They’ll end up horse trading to get into government if they get enough votes and all of the people wanting change will be disappointed.
It’s clear that they’ll say and do anything to gain power and maybe that’ll be best, at least then the illusion will be over.
Paywall.
I like how everyone here is clearly commenting on the title only. Can we have what she said in context first?
How can you be neutral and yet support one side so clearly?
I love how nobody called for this and we still have balloons calling this populist.
It does not mean what you think it means
Why do these parties just bang on about Palestine all the time? Do they think the people who vote for them (I’ll just generalise and say the working class because we’ll that’s who usually votes for left wing parties) actually give a fuck? It’s students and twitter denizens that care not fucking Mary who’s going out of pocket because of fuel prices. It’s so ridiculously out of touch
It’s pretty much all SF care about.
They were the most powerful party on most local councils after the 2014 water charges protest vote.
Local councils are the main drivers of housing in Ireland. Most will have heard the term ‘a council house’.
We got about 50 bleedin’ motions on Palestine, but they also systematically blocked all new housing. They’ll defend it as being generally anti-developer, but they also blocked projects that were 100% social housing, so that doesn’t hold up.
They built no housing from 2014-2019, which was their job, and also blocked every single new housing project, both public and private.
And now they’re shocked, shocked I tell you that there’s a housing crisis due to massive undersupply. It’ll be 2027/28 before we catch up from this.
I would be proud if our Government was vocal in its opposition to human rights abuse and colonialism in Palestine. It’s also an easy win because we don’t have any major economic ties with Isreal.
Ireland isn’t neutral. If we were neutral we’d actually have the ability to defend ourselves.
Its quite ironic that the shinners of all people will happily allow the UK/US/NATO to patrol Irish skies and seas and then harp on about patriotism
Neutrality is great if you can afford to stay neutral. Switzerland does this well. Compulsory military service and a highly militarised nation in general.
Sweden and Finland were also doing it (national service, although not necessarily military is compulsory in Finland), until they realised they were next in line for invasion seeing how easily neutral Ukraine were invaded.
Ireland has never done these things. This wasn’t such an issue from 1945-1985 when Ireland wasn’t a particular valuable asset for an invading force.
Now we are, amongst other things, a global power in some ways. Certainly a cultural and financial power and Europe’s breadbasket when it comes to computer chips and pharmaceuticals (both of which any superpower will seek to control the supply of in a potential global conflict).
The attitude to Ireland’s defence forces, from politicians of all colours ranges from ignorance to downright derision. Sinn Fein and the other left wing parties seem to see the Irish Army as some kind of internal enemy, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael say they support them but the money isn’t there to match what they say.
My two cents: we need to end neutrality. Side with NATO immediately, increase our defence spending to 4% of GDP, build a major naval base near Dublin to match the HQ in Haulbowline, and encourage a career in the defence forces at all levels, both at the enlisted and the officer cadet classes.
Can’t wait to be thrown under the bus by the US when this happens.
This is embarrassing lmao. Who gives a shit about the middle east seriously
SF will be in within two years. Mortgage arrears will explode in 18 months and the government will collapse.
Will be interesting to what they do!
Why do we have to chose between these clowns and FFG.
Wouldvbe great if SocDems replaced them as the leading left party in Irish politics