What Are RTE, The Greens and Labour So Afraid Of? Ideas? Debate? Democracy?

Are They Actively Conspiring to Deny Citizens Their Constitutional Right to an Election?

A Letter to Ireland, ''...A living Constitution requires a ‘living’ President, who is responsive and proactive in nurturing our legal evolution. This duty is pivotal in the Constitution, where on one hand the President must scrutinise every Bill before it is signed into law, and refer it to the Supreme Court if it appears doubtful. On the other hand, the President is also vested with the duty to ‘promulgate’ your laws, or put the law into effect by formal declaration. Reference to the Supreme Court has only happened three times in the history of the State, and never during the current Presidency. Yet, many laws have reached the courts after being passed, and were found to be unconstitutional, at great cost to the victims of these unjust laws....'' Letter in Full

From the Newswire: Oh what a lovely Democracy - Labour, Greens (not definite yet) Sinn Fein, FG and RTE (by the just about plausibly deniable sin of omission) all lining up behind Bertie's Mary as the first real chance of a national debate and election where tweedle-dum tweedle-dee civil war political lines are consigned to the past is flushed down the toilet by a cowardly set of self regarding opposition parties putting dreams of power tomorrow ahead of the battle of political ideas today and ahead of the constitutional right of citizens to vote for their President. Is rendering those wishing to participate in a supposed democratic system invisible what a national broadcaster is for? Wasn't that how it worked in Russia and how it works in North Korea?

The Labour press office line is that the Labour Party opinion was and is that once Eamonn Ryan pulled out - the process was closed bar the shouting. No whip in operation but an expectation of closed ranks on this from the Press Officer I spoke to. Lovely - It seems that the Labour Party are only too happy to close the process on behalf of the Country. They know the arithmetic and they should and deserve to take the lions share of the blame for a cynical suspension of democratic processes.
Full Story: A Riddle: Is An Opposition Really An Opposition If It Conspires With Government To Cancel an Election?

INDYMEDIA IRELAND INTERVIEW WITH VINCENT SALAFIA

Indymedia.ie: It has been said by Joe Higgins TD amongst others that the Irish Presidency should be abolished - would you agree or does it serve or can it serve a purpose?

Vincent Salafia: Absolutely not. However, I would say that the presidency as currently exercised needs to be radically changed. It is a core constitutional office, rather than window dressing for the State. The scrutiny and promulgation of legislation, and consideration of whether to refer to the Supreme Court, is a vitally important check and balance.

Indymedia.ie: Why did you take the sudden decision to run for President?

Salafia: It wasn’t a sudden decision in the sense that I had been considering it for some weeks before I went public. In fact, I was in touch with the Green Party before Eamon made his move and decided not to oppose him. When he dramatically pulled out I decided to take the plunge.

Indymedia.ie: What do you say to accusations that this is purely a publicity stunt?

Salafia: Campaigning for any office involves publicity. In fact, it lies at the core of any election campaign. I see this race as a logical continuation of the path already chosen. Furthermore, I would not have entered the race if I did not feel it is one I can credibly participate in and potentially win.

Indymedia Interview with Vincent Salafia Continues At The Feature Continued Link below Indymedia.ie: It has been said by Joe Higgins TD amongst others that the Irish Presidency should be abolished - would you agree or does it serve or can it serve a purpose?

Vincent Salafia: Absolutely not. However, I would say that the presidency as currently exercised needs to be radically changed. It is a core constitutional office, rather than window dressing for the State. The scrutiny and promulgation of legislation, and consideration of whether to refer to the Supreme Court, is a vitally important check and balance.

Indymedia.ie: Why did you take the sudden decision to run for President?

Salafia: It wasn’t a sudden decision in the sense that I had been considering it for some weeks before I went public. In fact, I was in touch with the Green Party before Eamon made his move and decided not to oppose him. When he dramatically pulled out I decided to take the plunge.

Indymedia.ie: What do you say to accusations that this is purely a publicity stunt?

Salafia: Campaigning for any office involves publicity. In fact, it lies at the core of any election campaign. I see this race as a logical continuation of the path already chosen. Furthermore, I would not have entered the race if I did not feel it is one I can credibly participate in and potentially win.

Indymedia.ie: Can you give our readers a sense of how your efforts to get support from TDs and Senators are progressing? Do you think you'll make it to a race?....

Salafia: On deciding to seek nomination, I decided it would be counterproductive to give an ongoing tally of who or who is not nominating me. I will have it or not on October 1st. However, it has been in the media that two political parties are seriously considering my nomination.

Indymedia.ie: You have questioned the constitutionality/legality of the the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties 'colluding' to deny citizens a vote for president. Can you explain your reasoning on this point?

Salafia: Article 12.2.1 of the Constitution states: “The President shall be elected by direct vote of the people.” However, our sitting President, championed by the Fianna Fail party, has come to an arrangement with the main Opposition party, Fine Gael, to nominate herself as an Independent candidate. In return, Fine Gael will not oppose her, and will in fact assist her in her campaign, if there is one. The stated purpose of this pact is to prevent the President from being elected by an expensive direct vote of the people. But the underlying purpose is to deny any other citizen the right to stand for election. In addition, Article 12.1.2 of the Constitution states: “Every citizen who has the right to vote at an election for members of Dáil Eireann shall have the right to vote at an election for President.” Denying citizens their right to vote for the President, due to a political decision that will benefit private party concerns cannot be in the public interest. This defies the notion of public service, and undermines the very Constitutional basis of the Office of Presidency and the constitutional rights of citizens.

Indymedia.ie: If Labour, Sinn Fein and the Greens fail to nominate yourself or anyone else by the end of next week would you accuse them of the same thing?

Salafia: No, not necessarily, unless they sent out direct orders to their members not to nominate anyone.

Indymedia.ie: What, if anything, are you going to do about it if next week goes by and you haven't got enough support to run?

Salafia: I will continue with the Save Tara Skyrne Valley campaign, as before.

Indymedia.ie: What do you think of Mary McAleese and her conduct of her first term as President?

Salafia: I believe she has been window dressing for the State. Upon election, your President swore the oath of Presidential Office, and proclaimed: “I will fulfil my duties faithfully and conscientiously in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. May God direct and sustain me.” Whatever the best intentions of the President, I must question her right and her ability to continue to hold office. This constitutionally questionable political arrangement before us deprives the people of Ireland of their right to either affirm or deny her fitness for office, and their right to aspire to that office themselves.

Indymedia.ie: What have you to got to offer voters that would contrast with the incumbent?

Salafia: I am an independent, non-partisan candidate, who would push the boundaries of the presidency, as defined in the Constitution. This would entail being more pro-active and responsive as guardian of the Constitution.

Indymedia.ie: What issues do you have other than Heritage Issues? Are you not a 'single issue' candidate?

Salafia: The only issue that is relevant to the presidency is the legal, non-political stance as guardian of the Constitution. Therefore, I would review all legislation with equal vigour. However, heritage is a very broad term and encompasses a broad church of Constitutional issues. The legal heritage is of primary importance since everything flows from that. That is not to say that I would not pay special attention in less formal ways to the preservation and conservation of our national cultural heritage. Perhaps, an award of some kind may be appropriate for those involved in this activity.

Indymedia.ie: How would you represent Ireland internationally?

Salafia: I would be myself and practice the ancient Irish tradition of hospitality and friendliness as best I can. I would offer nobody special favoured nation status nor would I court big business as a primary focus. International cultural exchange would be at the root of my efforts.

Indymedia.ie: Considering that the Presidency is largely non-political and symbolic, how would you use the Presidency without interfering in the politics of Dáil Éireann?

Salafia: I would disagree in your interpretation of this being a purely symbolic role. For one, the President sits at the head of the Armed Forces. If elected, I would ensure that Irish blood would never be spilled contrary to our country’s Constitutional neutrality. While not interfering with the politics of Dail Eireann per se, the President’s role is to be a check and balance within the overall legislative process. Finally, I would address the Dail on matters of national importance should the need arise.

Indymedia.ie: People generally know you from your attempts to reroute the motorway around Carrickmines Castle. What are your politics more generally? Are you a ‘leftie’? Are you a ‘greenie’?

Salafia: I’m not a leftie or a greenie though I certainly sympathise in those directions. My stance in Carrickmines was largely a legal one because I truly believe in the rule of law. However, when the system fails I also believe there is a legal justification for civil disobedience. In fact, I would say as a citizen there is a duty to act in such a manner.

Indymedia.ie: RTE seem to have comprehensively ignored the fact that you are running. Their coverage of your attempt to secure a nomination has boiled down to a throaway one liner on 57 live and a paragraph at the end of a story on their website. When contacted by an imcer a journalist in the newsroom said that it was policy to not cover you or the 'other people seeking nominations'. The same journalist could not when challenged name any of these 'shadow' candidates. Dana according to the journalist was an exception because 'she has run in elections before'. Do you have any opinions on this? Can you help us find out who the 'shadow' candidates are?

Salafia: I have no idea who the shadow candidates are. As far as I am aware, there is only myself and Dana contesting the re-election of Mary McAleese. As for RTE, I received my first telephone call from them today. And I did an interview for 2FM news. However, I would agree that up until now RTE has ignored my candidacy and, indeed, been very slow to give any attention to the Tara campaign. One is always aware that they are the public broadcasting service. Considering that I have survived and am still in the running, it is getting harder for them to ignore me.

Indymedia.ie: How have you been treated by the media generally in your estimation?

Salafia: Considerably well. The first day the phone was ringing off the hook and it has been steady since then. Ironically, The Irish Times seems to have taken a rather negative view of my candidacy and The Irish Independent has been very encouraging. Indymedia.ie: Have you or will you ask Michael D. or Eamonn Ryan for a nomination?

Salafia: I have sent letters to all members of the Oireachtas, including Micheal D. and Eamonn Ryan, seeking nomination.

Indymedia.ie: Who out of all the names thrown around in last couple of months would you have liked to see running and why?

Salafia: I think Eamonn and Michael were both quality candidates. I would also like to see some other regular people making a bid for the office. It should be a realistic goal for anyone who sets their mind to it.

Indymedia.ie: You have said there is a need for a presidential election and a national debate around it? What kind of debate would you be trying to open up? Would it boil down to some kind of Fianna Fail VS An Taisce rerun about conservation vs development?

Salafia: Yes, there is a need for an honest debate. Mary McAleese is not an independent candidate. What exactly she is after seven years in office we simply do not know. This is about private political parties getting together and deciding to cancel democracy for their own personal gain or savings. It is absolutely disgusting and, even more worrying, that there is not a huge outcry in this country.

Indymedia.ie: have you got much reaction good or bad so far from 'Joe Public'?

Salafia: Having spent the last week either in front of my computer or in front of a microphone I have had little chance to meet Joe or Josephine. The focus now is on Oireactas members. The only real feedback I have garnered has been from the likes of Newstalk 106 when I was interviewed by Orla Barry on the first day of my campaign. Generally, the response was split roughly 50:50, which to me is very encouraging.

Indymedia.ie: Are you looking for any types of assistance from the general public in your efforts?

Salafia: No, not yet, although fund raising is certainly a critical issue. So far, my campaign has been run on a very slender shoestring, using the Internet, my mobile phone, and bus tickets to public places. However, even these low costs cannot be sustained for long.