That plan and me 2/2012

In 1990, I devised a Programme of Irish Socialists which I circulated to over a  hundred trade unionists, unemployed groups, tenants groups, residents groups and politicians. In 1995 this plan became the National Development Plan after fourteen and a half million Irish pounds had changed hands between the brother of the General Secretary of the Labour Party,Ruairi Quinn, and Guinness Mahon Bankers.

Judge for yourself from what I recall from the contents of this plan as to who is responsible, as principal, for the transformation of the South.

The plan was on one page as follows:

 1: Transport. Motorways between Dublin and Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Derry and Belfast. A tramway for Dublin. Electrification of the railways.Extension of the Dart to all suburbs in Dublin.Construction of an Undergound to link Connolly ,Heuston and Pearse Street Street Railway Stations.

 2: Health. Public health insurance.

3: Education. Free university education. Democratic control of primary and secondary schools.

4.: Housing. Demolition of all slums and construction of family houses.

5: Communities. Libraries, sports centres, leisure centres,town libraries,local arts centres and community halls. Olympic stadium .

6: Dublin Pedestrianisation of streets with O’Connell  Street turned into a concourse for public meetings .

7: Taxation .A progressive income tax.

8: Defence. Compulsory military service

9: The North. Irish Unity and decriminalization of the IRA.

10: Irish language. Irish language TV station.

11: Fiscal matters. Repudiation of the National Debt.
12: Nationalisation of the means of distribution, production and exchange.
13: Agriculture. Keeping as many people on the land as possible.
14: A new Constitution.

Ruairi Quinn is still the prisoner of these ideas in the field of education as is is Adams as regards the National Debt.

I have moved on and returned to the church.

Joseph Paul McCarroll