The political establishment has gone berserk over a decision of the National Women’s Council not to invite speakers from either Fianna Fail, Fine Gael or the Greens to a protest over domestic violence. But as they hit the airwaves, they let slip a key mechanism by which they have been controlling Non-Governmental Organisations for decades.
When any NGO speaks out against government policy, they are threatened with a withdrawal of funding.
This threat is now being wielded over the National Women’s Council. Yet they have every reason to protest against government inaction on domestic violence.
The government has cut funding to women’s refuges and, scandalously, there are nine counties with no refuges. These are Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Carlow, Cavan, Laois, Longford, Monaghan, and Offaly.
There have also been revelations that the Gardai have simply ignored more than 3,000 calls about domestic violence. But instead of sacking the Garda Commissioner, he has been let away with just an apology.
The latest move against the National Women’s Council shows that the political establishment is frightened and is sending a signal to NGOs that they should not be involved in supporting protests.
It offers clear insight into the iron fist that lies behind the nice, liberal progressive image the Irish state cultivates.
Just as RTE is wheeled out to run a special Claire Byrne programme on why people should not vote Sinn Fein, the NGOs are being told ‘Get in Line’.
There is a confrontation coming over loosening the grip that FF and FG have had over Irish politics for one hundred years.
The right-wing parties are getting ready to fight – so must we.
