Dearth of democracy

Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin questioned whether democracy exists at the Ard Fheis. I wish to concur with that committed and conscientious councillor.
In a Party of Equals there can be no such thing as a hierarchy of respect. Surely the democracy of any political party is illustrated by the loyal dissent between those sitting at the top table and those looking at that same table.
In 2007 our cumann was instructed to hand-deliver a motion, twice mislaid in Head Office, within a six-hour deadline. I drove the 200 miles from wildest West Cork to arrive on time. A Dublin Ard Chomhairle member didn’t keep our appointment. The motion? Non-coalition with Fianna Fáil.
In 2009 our cumann sent three motions to Head Office but on the Clár they had been appreciably adjusted, thus altering the idiom and intention of the cumann members. No explanation was given.
In 2010, queuing, to speak to a motion that our cumann had submitted, I was informed that the queue was too long. I opted to wait.  Then it was deemed ‘delegates only’, even though my visitor’s pass had been acceptable for the previous five years. An Ard Chomhairle member subsequently joined the ‘over-long’ queue and was allowed to speak.
So, between mislaid and modified motions, together with muzzled messengers, does a dearth of democracy exist.
LEIM Uí DHONNABHÁIN,
Bandon,
County Cork

Join our Band

I would like to take this opportunity, through the pages of An Phoblacht, to thank the Dublin Republican Commemorations Committee and the Dublin ODU Department for their continued support and great help over the last several months while the Dublin RFB recruited new members and prepared for the annual Tom Smith Commemoration and the upcoming Easter parades.
It was commented on by many that this year’s Tom Smith Commemoration was bigger than in previous years. This commemoration was the first undertaken by the newly formed Dublin RFB. The band would like to take this opportunity to invite any young republican or like-minded persons who are interested in joining the band. Please contact Niamh (0851600371) or Natalie on (0852807009).
NIAMH BINÉAD,
Dublin