Comments on: Vote Green. Get a random colour. http://numero57.net/2007/09/30/vote-green-get-a-random-colour/ a blog by Jim Bliss Tue, 15 May 2012 02:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: john Farrelly http://numero57.net/2007/09/30/vote-green-get-a-random-colour/#comment-956 john Farrelly Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:30:17 +0000 http://numero57.net/?p=193#comment-956 Yup I agree Yup I agree

]]> By: Jim Bliss http://numero57.net/2007/09/30/vote-green-get-a-random-colour/#comment-955 Jim Bliss Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:14:43 +0000 http://numero57.net/?p=193#comment-955 <i>If you read their manifesto, you surely read that they intended to respect existing road contracts (clearly implying Tara). So how exactly were they misleading or lying about it? I disagree with the Irish Greens' manifesto on tara - but I can't accuse them of dishonesty.</i> That's not exactly the case, though is it? The contract for the M3 hadn't been given the go-ahead prior to the election. In fact the last act of the outgoing Fianna Fáil minister was to approve it... after the election and <em>after</em> The Greens had joined the coalition... so it's something the Greens must have accepted during the negotiations. Also, the fact that John Gormley claims he tried to stop the scheme but was unable to do so because his "hands were tied" kind of undercuts your point. No? On the blood-sports issue: The Greens were utterly unequivocal in their support for an outright ban. Therefore to issue even one licence is a betrayal. But in fact there's far more than one licence being issued. <blockquote>On the basis of breaches of the previous licence the Minister has decided to exclude one of the affiliated clubs from the licence for the coming season and to curtail the activities of two other affiliated clubs.</blockquote> There are currently 78 registered hare-coursing clubs in Ireland. You say he's "moving in the direction outlined in the manifesto". That might be technically true, but at the rate he's moving he'll need to remain in his position for another 77 years before he fulfills a clear pledge. So I must admit that when I see him refuse a licence to one out of 78 clubs, it appears far more like a face-saving exercise than movement in any direction. One out of 78? That allows him -- and yourself -- to say "moving in the right direction" while having precisely zero impact on Irish bloodsports (with 77 other clubs to choose from, do you honestly believe that anyone who wishes to watch hares tortured for their amusement will have difficulty doing so?) If you read their manifesto, you surely read that they intended to respect existing road contracts (clearly implying Tara). So how exactly were they misleading or lying about it? I disagree with the Irish Greens’ manifesto on tara – but I can’t accuse them of dishonesty.

That’s not exactly the case, though is it? The contract for the M3 hadn’t been given the go-ahead prior to the election. In fact the last act of the outgoing Fianna Fáil minister was to approve it… after the election and after The Greens had joined the coalition… so it’s something the Greens must have accepted during the negotiations.

Also, the fact that John Gormley claims he tried to stop the scheme but was unable to do so because his “hands were tied” kind of undercuts your point. No?

On the blood-sports issue: The Greens were utterly unequivocal in their support for an outright ban. Therefore to issue even one licence is a betrayal. But in fact there’s far more than one licence being issued.

On the basis of breaches of the previous licence the Minister has decided to exclude one of the affiliated clubs from the licence for the coming season and to curtail the activities of two other affiliated clubs.

There are currently 78 registered hare-coursing clubs in Ireland. You say he’s “moving in the direction outlined in the manifesto”. That might be technically true, but at the rate he’s moving he’ll need to remain in his position for another 77 years before he fulfills a clear pledge.

So I must admit that when I see him refuse a licence to one out of 78 clubs, it appears far more like a face-saving exercise than movement in any direction. One out of 78? That allows him — and yourself — to say “moving in the right direction” while having precisely zero impact on Irish bloodsports (with 77 other clubs to choose from, do you honestly believe that anyone who wishes to watch hares tortured for their amusement will have difficulty doing so?)

]]> By: Peter http://numero57.net/2007/09/30/vote-green-get-a-random-colour/#comment-954 Peter Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:48:19 +0000 http://numero57.net/?p=193#comment-954 If you read their manifesto, you surely read that they intended to respect existing road contracts (clearly implying Tara). So how exactly were they misleading or lying about it? I disagree with the Irish Greens' manifesto on tara - but I can't accuse them of dishonesty. As for hare-coursing - the article you link to says that John Gormley is refusing to issue some licenses and is curtailing the activities of other clubs. He's clearly moving in the direction outlined in the manifesto on this particular issue. Ultimately, the Greens did not win the election, so anything they manage to get is a bonus. It remains to be seen whether the public will consider them to have made a good difference or not in government. If you read their manifesto, you surely read that they intended to respect existing road contracts (clearly implying Tara). So how exactly were they misleading or lying about it? I disagree with the Irish Greens’ manifesto on tara – but I can’t accuse them of dishonesty.

As for hare-coursing – the article you link to says that John Gormley is refusing to issue some licenses and is curtailing the activities of other clubs. He’s clearly moving in the direction outlined in the manifesto on this particular issue.

Ultimately, the Greens did not win the election, so anything they manage to get is a bonus. It remains to be seen whether the public will consider them to have made a good difference or not in government.

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