What is going on in Sinn fein? Cllr Killian Forde resigns

by AM Sat Jan 09, 2010 09:12

Killian voted for the Estimates last month, in violation of the decision taken by Dublin SF to oppose them because of the abolition of the low-income bin tax waiver. He was also the driving force behind the SF councillors' decision to support business interests in suspending the bus gate.

His departure may be a blow to SF in some respects but clearly not to the party's left wing.

by Hot Gossip Sat Jan 09, 2010 14:37

Killian forde has been in talks with Labour for months. He delayed his departure until his future position “within” Labour was agreed. His election to the chair of the finance committee was a first move by the Labour group to lure him and his voting for the budget was the chosen issue on which to depart. This has nothing to do with Adams etc.., but is a purely financial move by Forde. He was lured into full time sinn fein by the promise of the european seat from Mary Loser when she was elected to the Dail. Since then the good ship shinner has run aground. No chance of a Dail seat, no european seat and most importantly no money from europe ( and the Dublin Brigade!! ) has left sinn fein feeling the pinch. Several of their staff have been let go and the payments to others curtailed. Forde wanted out of this situation and has headed to pastures new. A loss to the shinners in that he was one of their few councillors who could speak/think/act. They now have the wisdom of Ellis, O’Toole & McGrattan to rely on. Wow. The ship has not only run aground, its sinking

by Wondering Sat Jan 09, 2010 19:01

A blow to the left?
by AM Sat Jan 09, 2010 09:12
"Killian voted for the Estimates last month, in violation of the decision taken by Dublin SF to oppose them because of the abolition of the low-income bin tax waiver. He was also the driving force behind the SF councillors' decision to support business interests in suspending the bus gate.

His departure may be a blow to SF in some respects but clearly not to the party's left wing."

Is this the same 'left-wing' of SF that is so keen to build a 'progressive left alliance' and considers it impossible to do so without the Labour Party. The same Labour Party that also supported the Dublin City Council budget?

by Redundant Republican Sat Jan 09, 2010 22:27

A lot of talk about "left politics", Sinn Fein left and Labour left. I do not believe either party represents "left" politics. They are committed 100% to the system we have and which provides their politicans with lucrative careers. Leaving Sinn Fein is now the name of the game, the clever career politicans will get out before there is nothing left to leave.

by Con Carroll Sat Jan 09, 2010 23:40

Killian Forde had nothing politically which could identify with Irish Republican class politics, he may find a new home with FG. good riddance

by Dermot Lacey Sun Jan 10, 2010 15:56

Funny SF thought so highly of Killian that thye voted for his to be their first ever Chairperson of a City Council Finance Committe only a few months ago - personally I think they made a very good decision then.

by Building blocks Sun Jan 10, 2010 16:16

Interesting to see what lay person Dublin members of Sinn Féín think;

www.dublinshinner.blogspot.com

Some home truths I think.

by Whats Going On? Sun Jan 10, 2010 17:33

I think the Dublin Shinner's blog is a classic bury your head in the sand analysis and a retrospective narrative to justify the ridiculous statement that the Sinn Fein press office issued. The notion that Sinn Fein in Dublin was flooded with middle class yuppie types, looking for a career in 2001 is bull.

Sinn Féin's problems emanate from its inability to adapt to the shifting political conditions; its failure to capitalise on the current economic mess is a classic example of that. Furthermore, they are about to be swallowed up by the Labour Party in Dublin, precisely because their politics are now indistinguisable from Labour. If they were so 'vehemently opposed' to the Dublin City Council budget estimates as Eoin O Broin claims in the Sinn Féin press release, why were none of their activists or councillors at the protest at City Hall that night? O'Broin believes that a left alliance is impossible without the Labour Party, his strategy seems to be leading SF to the same destiny as Democratic Left, except there isn't a hope of a reverse take over by the Shinners.

by Séamus Sun Jan 10, 2010 22:02

Forde has put his explanation of the resignation on his blog site.

by Makhno Mon Jan 11, 2010 00:27

Defection of Cllr. Forde to Labour Party a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members

Sinn Féin has described the defection of Killian Forde to the Labour Party, taking with him a Sinn Féin Dublin City Council seat in Donaghmede, as a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members. It is understood that the defection will be announced tomorrow (Monday) in advance of the monthly meeting of Dublin City Council.

Mícheál Mac Donncha, Chairperson of Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede Ward, and a member of the party's Ard Chomhairle, said:

"Killian Forde was elected last June as a Sinn Féin Councillor, on a Sinn Féin policy platform, with the support of Sinn Féin activists in the local election constituency of Donaghmede. His candidature benefited from the support of the party locally and nationally. He stood before the people as a Sinn Féin candidate and received his mandate on that basis.

“While he, like anyone, is quite entitled to leave the party if he feels it is no longer the place for him, he has no right to take with him the City Council seat he won as a Sinn Féin candidate. His retention of this seat and defection with it to the Labour Party is a betrayal of Sinn Féin voters and members in the Donaghmede constituency, including activists who worked hard over eight years and two local government elections to elect and re-elect him.

"Killian Forde was elected as chairperson of the Council Finance Committee on the basis of his membership of the Sinn Féin group. It is clear now that Killian Forde's support for a Labour Party-sponsored City Council budget that imposes new charges on low income households in this City was a prelude to his defection to that party.

"Sinn Féin will continue to stand side by side with low income families in this City who have been hit by draconian budgets imposed by central and local government. Already Sinn Féin in the Donaghmede ward and in the Dublin North East constituency is moving on from this and we held a special meeting on Saturday to plan the way forward, developing the party and continuing to give principled and effective representation to people in this area and across Dublin."

by Makhno Mon Jan 11, 2010 01:51

Spotted this just a while ago on a blog I haven't encountered before.

Sunday, January 10, 2010
Killian Forde.
I've always thought about adding my name to the long list of blogging elite in Irish political circles, recent events within Sinn Féin have prompted me to start.

Much has been made of Irish blog sites and discussion fora in light of Killian Fordes resignation from Sinn Féin, so on the back of that comes my initial blog input and thoughts regarding Killian and the much spoken about resignation.
Killian is an interesting individual. The epitome of a new Sinn Féin brand. Young, energetic and intelligent Killian joined Sinn Féin in 2001 as the party rode the crest of a wave, especially in Dublin. The future was bright and Sinn Féin would have been a prime choice for any young, energetic and intelligent individual chasing a political career.

He had a fine resume, working abroad as an aid worker and at home with the travellers rights group Pavee point. When Killian joined Sinn Féin he was destined to be head hunted by the Dublin leadership to stand for election. In 2004 he was successfully elected to represent Sinn Féin on the Dublin city council and the people of the Donaghmede ward in Dublin North East.

I first met Killian circa 2002. My initial thoughts on him were that he was while a bubbly friendly type of guy, he was somewhat eccentric. I could see early on that he craved the attention he received, and Dublin Sinn Féin spoiled him with attention, promoting him as and quite rightly so, it's next leading light.

In the build up to those popular years Dublin Sinn Féin failed to see what was coming- an influx of members similar to Killian Forde. The war was over and the IRA were taking initiatives to remove itself from the Irish political landscape, Gerry Adams and the team were making huge progress in the north. Sinn Féin were in high demand, and as a result attracted a new breed of member.

Being an Irish republican was now trendy unlike being a Sinn Féin member in the height of the war years which brought its own set of problems. Special branch harassment, public resentment and criminalisation. This era attracted members that were solid republicans who stuck the course come what may. They understood.

Killian was 25 years of age when he joined Sinn Féin in 2001. Joining the party during the hard times wasn't an option for him, clearly not because of his age. Sinn Féin wasn't popular. Republicanism wasn't popular
Being a member of Sinn Féin during those years took grit and it meant a hard and heavy work load.

In 1999, Sinn Féin began to emerge from the political darkness. Electing ten councillors in Dublin set the stage for two TD's in 2002 and an MEP in 2004. The sky was the limit, and Killian grasped his opportunity to become an active republican.

Once the party was popular, Killian was a happy councillor;
"I had no real republican connections and my family was not involved with Sinn Fein. But there was no chance of me joining any other party. Sinn Fein reflects my values and I believe in the vision of a united Ireland based on socialist values, People are looking for an alternative and we are providing them with one.'' -
he said in 2004 after his election in the Sunday Business Post newspaper.
His popularity within the party, amongst leadership types and Dublin comrades was at an all time high. So much so, he was proposed as the replacement to Mary Lou MacDonald should she decide to pull out of the European parliament. Pictured here is Killian with Mary Lou, canvassing during the election of 2009. Mary Lou like many other Dublin activists canvassed on his behalf in his local area promoting him, and more importantly promoting Sinn Féin.

Killian says that he became disillusioned in 2006/7;

"As people within the organisation will know I had become increasingly concerned with the direction of the party over the past three years." as he state in a recent addition to his blog.

I would disagree. Since he became elected Killian's eccentric and self centred behaviour became a worry for the party. His relationship with certain media hacks and several leaks cemented the party's new found suspicion. The direction changed for him as avenues for furthering his career were closed.

Coupled with that, the 2007 election result began a roller coaster ride of bad luck for Sinn Féin in Dublin. The party started to slip in the polls. Constantly under attack from the usual suspects in the media, bad electoral strategies in 2007, sniping from hurlers on the ditch and a drop in morale meant that Dublin Sinn Féin had its back to the wall and was fighting for its political life.

All of a sudden, Sinn Féin weren't the new kids on the block and the gloss was slowly fading. The reasons for that are for another blog, on another day, maybe.

2009 didn't bring much hope, the loss of the MEP seat was a severe blow as the party continued to fight a rear guard action against its detractors while at the same time it pushed forward with relevant and high spirited campaigns.

For Killian, the prospects of Sinn Féin slipping in popularity didn't suit his career or his egocentric personality. Dublin Sinn Féin knew this. In a bid to keep him happy, DSF proposed that he chair the Finance committee on the city council. Bad move. Killian seemed to enjoy the trust of some at the helm of DSF. Naive.
He had already been removed as Mary Lou's secretary in Brussels and he wasn't proposed as the replacement for her should she have been re-elected to Brussels. The red flag was up, and DSF failed to read the situation clearly. More lessons to be learned.

The result of Killian chairing the finance committee was him breaking ranks with the party, disregarding the Cúiges direction and the politics of the party within the city and voting in favour of the city council budget. Allowing him to become the chair of this committee gave him the platform he needed to exert his own politics empowering him to impose an extra tax on the poorest families of the city.

Killian now shares the same opinions as Labour on the city council. Labour. The political party on the crest of a wave. The political party that will inevitably share power with Fine Gael after the next general election, the sky is the limit. Killian smelled a new opportunity. Killian can't deal with being unpopular or for that matter he can't deal with the long haul, the battle back, that's too much like hard work. The grass is greener on the other side, paradoxically. Politics equates popularity for some.

Knowing Killian, he is now revelling in the thoughts that he is being discussed all across the Dublin political arena. I can picture him toasting himself in a mirror with a large glass of red wine. Maithú Killian he might say.

The people I feel most sorry for are those that make up the local Donaghmede cumann, like those from the Ballyfermot cumann, they've been given the finger by someone they held in trust. Their hard work, determination and vision will stand to them, they understand the hard slog it is to be a republican in this city. Similar to the Ballyfermot cumann, not one of them decided to follow Killian. They are good republicans.

The Sinn Féin statement is right. “Sinn Féin is an activist, campaigning party that puts policies before personalities. It is not a platform for careerist politicians. "

Things can only get better.

by old hand Mon Jan 11, 2010 09:43

Are Sinn Fein still ready for Government north and south, as they were in 2007

by New Hand Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:31

Sinn Féín are the largest party in the 'north' with MP's and MLA's galore and an MEP who topped the poll.

Of course they can be ready for government. The loss of a middle class brat in a pocket of Dublin isn't going to mean that they can not be ready for government. Sinn Féin policy speaks louder than any of it's perceived problems surrounding loose personel.

by old hand Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:01

When Sinn Fein have only 3 T.Ds , which is likely all they will have,after the next election,how can they go into government,I must ask.

by brian Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:45

They may be lucky to have three TDs after the next election. O Snodaigh will definitely lose his seat and both Ferris and Morgan will struggle to retain theirs. O Caoilean's seat is really the only safe seat they have at this minute in time

by Reality Checker Mon Jan 18, 2010 08:51

If I hear the stock phrase working class politics, one more time I will go nuts. The comments on this blog and on politics etc, show that the party are determinded to stick with the woeful route to date. I wonder if the mini-membership surge after the ODU came to town in 2007 is still there, or have they had their fill as well. There is significant truth in what Forde had to stay. He maybe a twat, never met the man enough to know either way. He is stil right.

If the party membership goes on with, he wasn't their when the war was on, it is finished. The war is over nearly 14 years. Time to look at the here and now. ( Billy Leonard ffs. Difficult choice - wrong side tho.)

I think the party put him in an untenable position by allowing him to become the Finance chair. They had no intention of allowing the end product to be approved by them. The party needs to decide if it is going to sit in the Council or withdraw. It cannot be taken serious if it tries to have the best of both worlds.

Sinn Féin are in the unenviable position of no longer been taken serious in Dublin by friend or foe.

by Frank Mon Jan 18, 2010 16:11

I'm aware of a SF candidate who is now a member of the SWP so it seems the problems arent just in Dublin but Nation Wide. I think people are now seeing the party as "sell outs" having shook hands with Rev. Ian Paisley and the DUP by entering into the power sharing agreement.

by Redundant Republican Mon Jan 18, 2010 20:01

Are we witnessing the beginning of the end of SF progress in the 26 counties? The present stories of child sexual abuse by leading republicans and the cover up of this abuse by the movement will be devastating when full details are made public. Shame of them, SF were quick off the mark to condemn the clergy but not a single elected SF representative has opened their mouth to ask any questions on this scandal. Exposes a real SF problem- the inability or the fear to speak or act without leadership consent, explains why the talented are leaving. Have you ever wondered why SF representatives are the only politicans not to include personal mobile phone numbers on their literature?

by AllGuilty Tue Jan 19, 2010 00:08

Other parties have questions to answer too about issues of knowing about cases of abuse by the church and knowingly colluding with church hierarchy to limit financial liability for abuse cases. FF please step up and tell us all why you did this just before leaving office. then resign in disgrace. Oh...wait. there is probably no longer such thing as resigning in disgrace from FF