FF and Harkin in ‘PD-style’ Euro group

IT WAS interesting to hear over the past several years commentators from the left in Irish society almost congratulate themselves on the demise of their right-wing adversaries, the PDs.

According to their opponents, the PDs’ time had come and gone. Ireland had now matured and the aggressive free market policies that once characterised the PD manifesto would never be seen again.

Having browsed the EU’s ALDE Group website, it seems to me they have simply moved to the Brussels.

The ALDE group of MEPs, which includes Marian Harkin and now our Fianna Fáil MEPs, makes the PDs look like Mother Teresa.

It wants the Common Agricultural Policy effectively dismantled and it was in favour of Peter Mandelson’s proposals at the world trade talks. It wants the collective defence of the EU to be organised with NATO.

Also, on May 8 last, it opposed the Estrela Report which sought to introduce basic health and safety protection for pregnant workers, including protections against dismissal on returning to work, rights which Irish people take for granted. The list goes on.

Is it any wonder we don’t hear from our MEPs between elections? If we knew what they were up to, we might actually not vote for them.

Mairtín O’Maolruaidh

Polkeen

Tuam Road

Galway