Fís Nua - the newest political party in Ireland

national | politics / elections | press release

Wednesday February 09, 2011 21:22

by Charlie Williams

press at fisnua dot com

Fís Nua Press Release

Fís Nua (http://fisnua.com/) lanched its election candidates on 5 Feb 2011 in Buswells Hotel, Dublin. Fís Nua is Ireland's newest political party and was entered on the official Register of Political Parties on 4th Feb 2011. F?s Nua stands for an end to the bank bailout, for social justice, sustainability, a steady state economy, greater democracy with devolution of power and an end to corruption. Cordelia N'c Fhearraigh welcomed everyone to the launch and introduced Cllr. Pat Kavanagh who made an opening statement. Each of the candidates then made introductory comments about their reasons for standing for Dail Eireann. Those candidates are (left to right): Ian Clotworthy - Dublin South East, Gerry Kinsella - Wexford, Pat Kavanagh - Wexford, Liam Johnston - Dublin Central, Dr. Ben Nutty - Waterford, Donal O'Riordan - Cork South West.

Fís Nua is the newest political party in Ireland registered for all elections in the country as well as for the European elections.

Statement made by Cllr Pat Kavanagh at the Launch

Fís Nua was born out of an Ireland in crisis. The bank guarantee and NAMA are intended to provide a lifeline to the banks, the property developers, politicians and their friends. This is being achieved by the state guaranteeing the international bondholders so that our banks would not go to the wall. The National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) was designed to pay above market values for loan portfolios, with the assumption that this would be sufficient to recapitalise the banks. A group of us decided, about 9 months, ago that this policy was extremely dangerous and we therefore began the process of organising to reject this bailout strategy and create a new political movement through which people could counter the corruption in Irish politics.

Our current crisis was created by a spate of unbridled consumerism on the back of a property boom fuelled by the promise of ever-rising property prices. Those in a position to do so lessened the financial regulation of checks and balances on the supply of money, and the banks lent as though there was no tomorrow. Loans were secured on flimsy security and there are numerous examples of corruption and collusion between bankers and property developers and international financial institutions, which led to the effective collapse of our banking system. Now the Irish State has underwritten these banks when the extent of the bad loans is still not fully appreciated. Continuing this policy has the potential to bankrupt the state.

Did we, the majority of the Irish people, create this crisis? No.
Are we the Irish people being asked to pay for the crisis? Yes.

Is there an alternative to the bail out of the banks, the acceptance of the ECB / IMF loan? Yes

Not only is there an alternative policy, but it is also evident that to continue along the path of accepting the bank bailout strategy could lead to the total bankruptcy of the Irish state.

Our policy is founded on the need to create a groundswell of public opinion for grass roots democratic reform and to remove the opportunities for widespread corruption within the political system and public life. By reducing TDs pay and unnecessary expenses, limiting public pensions and creating a culture of democratic accountability, combined with a mechanism to recall public representatives, we can dig out the roots of corruption and patronage within our political system. We are calling for the incorporation of a whistleblowers charter into Irish law as a method to ensure that we develop an early warning system against any potential recurrence of corrupt practices.

Why would the removal of this corruption also change the economy of the country? Because it is by pulling together that we can get out of this crisis. It isn't just about banking liquidity, it isn?t just about not being able to pay the mortgage, it isn?t just about the cuts to the health system, the education system or the introduction of the universal social charge. It is the lack of hope that we all feel. Some of us tasted the good times and they left only a sore taste in our mouths. We need to all pull together, to create our jobs, to undermine corruption and to create local democracies. It is the people that will end this crisis.

Fís Nua is a federated party. We are an umbrella movement for the layers of community and local activists who know what needs to be done on the ground to regenerate our communities. We need to develop local initiatives, school building programmes, local health centres, and encourage small and co-operative businesses in sustainable and eco-friendly industries.

Our New Vision is to create a new sustainable economy based on our natural resources (i.e. gas and oil, forestry, agriculture, solar power, wave energy), and to give a voice to Local Communities in decision making by having Aarhus Convention (Local Agenda 21) transposed into Irish Law.

Fís Nua seeks to end the recurring cycle of ?boom or bust? economics for a new economic system. Following an initial period of stabilisation we would aim for a steady state economy where economic activity serves the needs of society, rather than the current unsustainable model where society is shaped according to the fluctuating demands of the economy.

Fís Nua is now a registered political party and has been entered on the Register of Political Parties as from 12 noon yesterday, 4 Feb 2011. We have however been refused entry on the Register of Political Parties in force for this election. We are in consultation with our legal team about immediate action on this matter.

Fís Nua (New Vision) is aware that another political alliance has announced its intention to call itself ?New Vision?. This Alliance does not have an association with Fís Nua, and is not registered as a political party. We are in contact with that movement with a view to co-operation and compromise to avoid any possible confusion

We welcome you to our launch today and I would now like to introduce some of our candidates who will be representing Fís Nua in the Dail Election 2011.

Go raibh maith agaibh.

For further inquiries please get in touch with us at press@fisnua.

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Comments (9 of 9)

It is great to have a new party to fight for total reform of our rotten political system

by first time voter

Thu Feb 10, 2011 16:37

Great to see a new party out there. I totally agree with Fis Nua that a mechanism to recall public representatives is needed to control 'rogue' independents like Jakie healy Rae and Finian McGrath who have done secret deals with FF and betrayed their voters hopes for change. You are right to fight for a total reform of our rotten political system with its corruption and patronage. You have my vote. good luck in getting your message past the gatekeepers in RTE though.

why stand candidates against ula

by ula supporter

Thu Feb 10, 2011 20:45

could someone from this new group please tell me what is the sense of standing in areas where a ULA candidate is already standing

a bit fishy alright

by suspicious

Thu Feb 10, 2011 21:39

I agree , it simply shouldn't be allowed in my opinion. . Did they even ask for permission ? Something definitely a bit odd going on when a new group just comes along out of nowhere and stands in the same area as the ULA.

ULA should come up with a few new policies their leaflets have nothing new to say

by old leftie

Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:29

So nobody who is new has a right to stand against the ULA? The Irony is that the ULA are new themselves! Maybe the ULA would be better off coming up with some new policies! I read one of their leaflets it is just a lazy rehash from the past. They had nothing to say about Reform of our clientilist system. They had nothing to say about leaving the EU! They are not calling for a referendum to default like Iceland gave its people. ULA has very little new to offer but FIS NUA has a lot of new thinking and is not just living in the past like ULA

Apologies

by ula

Fri Feb 11, 2011 21:37

Oh sorry I didnt realise that you were actually hostile to the ula. Work away so with your new ideas.Am sure the electoate will find them exciting,

same old same old

by hostile takeover

Mon Feb 14, 2011 15:35

its the same old same old policies as far as the ULA goes. But a few good activists are on board. Their trotskyist dogma is what will make it all to no avail even if they get a few people elected they are guaranteed to split. There are some very very irrational people involved in both the SWP and the Socialist Party so it is just a matter of time before the ideology causes them to self destruct once again!

FIS NUA Has Ming so the boring policies of ULA dont stand a chance

by flash Gordon

Mon Feb 14, 2011 16:32

FIS NUA Has Ming Flanagan running as a candidate so the boring policies of ULA dont stand a chance with younger people who are looking for something new. Ming will hoover up a lot of the first time voters who want to see some sign of new ideas and he is someone who is well known for taking a stand for something new at least in Ireland and against all the odds.

Some clarification

by Pat Kavanagh - Fís Nua

Fri Feb 18, 2011 20:08

Just to clarify a few things:

Fís Nua has no hostility towards the ULA.

Ming Flanagan is not standing for Fís Nua.

There is another group calling themselves 'New Vision'. They are not associated in any way with Fís Nua.

Fís Nua has GREAT reform policies! www.fisnua.com

fair play

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party

Sun Feb 20, 2011 16:14

for at least mentioning Shannon and abandonment of neutrality. You have nobody in my constituency, but if you keep that priority I wish you luck.

As usual I will vote independent and left. The two-faced moralising against Adam's history, while facilitating the destruction of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, inclines me to give them No.1.
Plus, they are calling for Anglo to be dumped. That lesson needs delivering, or the fuckers will only set us up for another clean-out if we ever do recover. Their fucking claims seem to be on a sliding scale upwards by the billion already.

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Fís Nua - the newest political party in Ireland

Comments (9 of 9)