An Irish Green Voice in London
22 May 2009
Joseph Healy, an Irishman and a candidate for the Green Party in the London constituency, gives his views on the role of Irish voters in these elections and the role of the Greens in 21st century Europe
I am standing in this election to the European Parliament as a candidate for the Green Party in the London constituency and am, as far as I am aware, the only Irish candidate standing. Originally from Dublin I came to London in the mid 80s when the Irish were far less welcome than they are now. Anti-Irish prejudice and comments were rife but the Irish community was strong and rode out the storm. I think the experience of being an emigrant and an immigrant has helped me to understand the reality of the European Union and the fact that London is now its most international city. The role of the European Union in the development of modern Ireland was central and it was only by entering the EU and ending the total trade domination of the UK, as well as by gaining vital European subsidies that Ireland was able to turn its economy and its position in Europe around.
Many laws, particularly those concerning the environment, have their origin in the EU. London, for example, has some of the worst air pollution in Europe and it is EU law that is demanding that the problem is dealt with in a city where 1,031 people died in 2005 because of this problem. The EU also allows the free movement of labour and has opened Europe up to young Irish people who wish to study and work abroad. The Greens in Europe are the main political grouping which is seeking to protect the health and welfare rights of migrant workers and their families, as well as to allow EU citizens to take advantage of health and other systems which are open to them.
But there is a dark spectre over Europe and that is Fascism. Parties such as the BNP are intent on driving a wedge between people and are now even trying to appeal to Irish voters after having hated us for years - this is just part of the classic ‘divide and rule' tactic. The Greens on the other hand, want to raise our voices in Europe to help those who are disadvantaged and need assistance as well as having a policy of a Green New Deal for Europe, where millions of new jobs will be created through policies such as the free insulation of homes. I am a modern Irish person and a European and I hope that Irish people will use their votes in this election and not let decisions be made by a handful of people.
The sort of failed economic policies of neo-liberalism, where the get rich quick ideology led to privatisation and a massive feasting of the fat cats on the public finances have always been opposed by the Greens. It is the fallout from such policies that are now causing such havoc in Ireland and will also lead to similar problems in this country. In such a situation Europe can play a leading role. The European Parliament is the only democratic structure in the EU and it is where vital decisions can be taken on economic and social policies. One example is the Working Time Directive - which tries to limit the number of hours which workers are obliged to work. The Green Members of the European Parliament were centrally involved in trying to ensure that the UK did not opt out of this, which the Labour government here wanted.
Europe also can play a large part in bringing about an end to wars and divisions on our continent. The former Yugoslav states are now applying for membership of the European Union and the EU can play an active role in trying to bring about peace in areas such as the Middle East, being an active player along with the US. We are in a larger and interconnected world now and our relations with our European neighbours are vital. A small country like Ireland or Belgium often understands this better than a larger country like the UK, which often dwells too much on its imperial history. But in order for the European Parliament to play a positive role it must have representatives who support social justice and who will take a long term vision on issues such as climate change and rising sea levels which are going to have a huge impact on our children and their children.
As an Irish person I have an instinctive feeling of support for those people who are the victims of war and great power politics such as the Palestinians and others. Green Members of the European Parliament have been to visit Gaza and the West Bank and voted to freeze the Israel-EU Trade Agreement (which would give Israel privileged access to EU markets) until such time as the rights of the Palestinians were properly addressed and Israel began meaningful peace talks. I will be marching in this weekend's national demonstration for Gaza organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, CND and many other organisations.
At a time when spending on vital services such as the NHS and Social Care for the elderly is being called into question, it is simply immoral that vast sums are going to be spent on arms and further adventures abroad. Britain is no longer an imperial power but a medium sized European country and it is about time that it began to act like one rather than the ‘policeman of the world'. Green Members of the European Parliament are opposed to NATO and want the defence of Europe to be carried out by European states themselves, and not as an appendage to US foreign policy, which is increasingly drawing us into major wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. I think this is also much closer to the wishes of Irish people who do not want us to be part of a large military power block.
Many members of the Irish community who came over here in the 50s and in the 80s are in receipt of social care and dependant on the services of the NHS and Social Services. The EU plays a role in this also and monitors the level of services provided by various member states as well as ensuring that citizens have fair access to services. There have been several high profile cases in recent years where people have sought redress via the European Court of Justice.
Finally in the area of human rights, the UK, under New Labour, is rapidly heading down the road of becoming a police state. There are more CCTV cameras here than anywhere else in Europe and now databases where the details of innocent people questioned by the police can be stored for years. The European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights have recently ordered the UK government to back down. These increases in police powers and miscarriages of justice are areas which the Irish community here are only too familiar with. I hope that Irish people will turn out and vote on June 4th for a fair and progressive Europe and one that we will want to be citizens of.
Information about what Jean Lambert (London's Green MEP) has been doing on some of these issues is available here www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
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