Joe Higgins on Saturday View

dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | opinion/analysis Saturday October 18, 2003 16:05 by radio listener

Having, along with Clare Daly, been released from Mountjoy this morning, Joe Higgins appeared via telephone on Rodney Rice's Saturday View radio program on RTE Radio One. This was his first interview since his release.

Fair play to Joe, as having been released he faced down the assembled might of FF (Brian Lenihan), FG (Olivia Mitchell) and Labour (Eamonn Gilmore) - its not like he doesn't see enough of them in Dail already.

In fairness to Eamonn Gilmore, I don't think I have seen a better job made of sitting on the fence since FF and the PDs during the run up to the Iraq War. As my mother said to me last night, its a pity there isn't a tax on _talking_ rubbish, as we'd see a masive rallying of support from the establishment politicans!

Obviously, Joe being the great orator that he is (no-one can deny this), the side of the Campiagn was well represented - but again, RTE fails to implement 'balance', having as they did two TDs totally opposed to the Campaign and pro-chrages, and one who is 'opposed' to charges, and opposed to the campaign. Personally, I find it ironic that Eamonn Gilmore (or any Labour TD for that matter) can harp on about the 'rule of law' when their party leader is an ex-member of a terrorist organisation, as is their Party president!

Of course, as was to be expected, the lies continued spewing forth from Lenihan and the 'loyal opposition' of Mitchell. Mitchell was particularly venomous in her criticism, saying that "after 28 days in jail he has learned nothing (therefore backing up the Blueshirt view that acceptance of 'norms' must be enforced with imprisonment for those who refuse to toe the line)... he continues with his left-wing cant... no principles... blah blah blah". Indeed, she actually said a lot without saying anything of substance. It amounted to simply a personal attack on Joe.

In a classic episode in the debate, Joe made a remark about FG being the 'loyal opposition' to their buddies in FF, to which the only reply Ms Mitchell had was to blurt out "At least we're not in jail!" Fantastic political insight there Olivia.

I won't go into the details of all the arguments made, you can listen to the piece yourself at the link below. But it was interesting to note, that Lenihan made a slip and referred to the charge as a 'tax', and when Rodney Rice at the end of the program said something to the effect that it was nice to see Joe back, Ms Mitchell appeared to disagree (she must have raised her eyes, or shook her head or something) as Rice asked her "Olivia's not glad, is that what you said?" and she quickly laughed and said "no, no, no thats not what I meant" - As if.

All three demanded that the Campaign stop the blockades, and looked for an assurance off Joe (as if he controlled the Campiagn) that this would happen. He was then asked if the SP would leave the Campaign, to which Joe replied: "What, and run away from our communities?" He should have added, "that's what Fianna Fail would do!"

NB: Please note that today's show will probably not be online until later tonight, or tommorrow, and will only remain streamable for the next week. I will try and sort out a more permanent download later.