In yet another act of pro-partitionism from a southern organisation, the National (sic) Dairy Council is introducing a new mark on milk and cream packaging to show consumers it has been sourced and processed in the 26 counties.
According to RTÉ, the initiative is designed to protect the livelihoods of farmers and workers in the dairy industry in the Republic, and major companies such as Glanbia and Kerry Group are supporting the move.
The report also says that NDC Chief Executive Helen Broffey denied suggestions that the move is part of a cross-boarder economic war and rejected claims that it flies in the face of North/South co-operation in agriculture.
How else can it be described? They are seeking to delineate between southern products and northern products. It would seem that some Irish produce is more Irish than others in their eyes.
Also, I'd be interested to know what Fianna Fáil's position on this is. They hold their media-friendly publicity meetings in Crossmaglen and Downpatrick, but are they prepared to condemn a campaign to discriminate against dairy produce which is sourced in this part of the island? They can't court northerners while turning a blind eye to campaigns which could damage the livelihoods of people living up here.
Also, the 'National' Dairy Council should not be permitted to use that name- it clearly only represents dairy producers in part of the nation.
Yet again we see that for many, the idea of a united Ireland takes second place to the amount of change in their pockets.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Disgusting Partitionism by 'National' Dairy Council
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4 comments:
"...the 'National' Dairy Council should not be permitted to use that name- it clearly only represents dairy producers in part of the nation."
I thnk that's a little unreasonable. Together Northern Ireland and the Republic may make up a 'nation' in the eyes of those who wish the two seperate and politically distinct entities to unite, but not in the eyes of international law. The Republic is a de jure nation state; Northern Ireland is an integral part of another de jure nation state.
Since the remit of the National Dairy Council covers the territory of an independent nation the designation seems appropriate. That they do not wish to make some profound statement about claim of ownership over the territory of another nation - as you wish them to - is not really their problem.Indeed, since the Republic gave up articles 2 and 3 of the constitution - which claimed jurisdiction over Northern Ireland - back in 1999 it'd be politically irresponsible of them to do so.
It's perfectly possible to be an Irish nationalist and restrict that nationalism to those parts of the island of Ireland that already form an independent state.
Keith-
The south didn't "give up" articles 2 and 3- it altered them. Article 2 states: "It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland, which includes its islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation." To have a body which describes itself as 'National' but which treats people residing on a particular part of the island of Ireland less favourably than others, goes against this.
Article 3 says: "It is the firm will of the Irish Nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland"
Having a 'National' organisation in the south which apparently seeks to place people in that jurisdiction at an advantage over those in the north-eastern jurisdiction again goes against this will.
You go on to say: "It's perfectly possible to be an Irish nationalist and restrict that nationalism to those parts of the island of Ireland that already form an independent state."
Not so- this is a definition pretty much of unionism. Since Southern Unionism faded into history, the raison d'etre of unionism on this island is to maintain the border and maintain the 26 counties as an independent entity from the north. Likewise, the point of nationalism has been to unite the 32 counties in one independent state. Therefore,to restrict one's definition of nationhood to the 26 counties is anti-nationalist and pro-partition i.e. unionist.
Well, that's new to me - I was always under the impression that the Republic of Ireland had dropped it's constitutional claims over the North as a condition of the Good Friday Agreement. Perhaps someone should say something in case no one has noticed...
Seriously though, if it transpires that the Republic still claims ownership over the North despite that territory being a constituent part of another de jure political state you can hardly blame the National Diary Council for acknowledging political and economic reality. It sounds to me like that's more the fault of Ireland's idealistic and irresponsible constitution than anything else. Imagine the kerfuffle that would be caused if UK government agencies began claiming ownership of the Republic…
You define anything that regards a natural Irish state as the 26 counties that currently make up the Republic as Unionist; I'm sure the NDC would be interested to know that they now fall into that category...
Personally I don't regard Irish cultural identity and political unionism as being necessarily mutually exclusive, just as it is perfectly possible to be culturally English or Scottish or Welsh and still believe in the maintenance of the United Kingdom. But there is something of a cultural dichotomy on the island of Ireland - just as there are on the island next to it - and this is something many Irish nationalists have never really fully appreciated or understood. If a majority of people in Northern Ireland wish for continued union with the North and have expressed this wish via the democratic process then so be it. It’s not the job of the Dairy Council to promote the idea of a union between the two Irish states when a majority of people in both states have not consented to it.
Keith-
The south doesn't "still claim ownership over the North"- it considers the island of Ireland to be one nation, as do nationalists.
As for the NDC's position, I do consider it de facto 'unionist' and would behappy for them to know that is how I feel. I would probably have no problem with an organisation in the south describing itself as a 'state' organisation and acting for the benefit of people in the 26 counties- it's the issue of it being 'National' which grates particularly I suppose, much the same as the way the 'Irish' Farmers' Association taking an anti-northern line irritates me.
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