Pascal Derrien

8 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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For Immediate Release

For Immediate Release

             

For Immediate Release
                      


With the recent developments in Europe, the rising walls debate in the US and various disturbing events in Southern East Europe I revisited a draft I wrote two years ago but never published, it does focus on Ireland but is applicable to any country I believe


Ibuko Clancy is journalist at the Migrant Times in Dublin, the popular On Line Journal set up in 2019 in reaction to the changes in Europe in general and in Ireland in particular. Minorities have been struggling and Michael O'Connell had already put this in his book where he highlighted the signs of the Rise of Populism in Ireland and more broadly on the continent.

``The Rise of Populism in Ireland and Europe were palpable & tangible Traditionally in Ireland, conservatism was expressed through and by the Catholic Church. However the declining role of the Church had left a vacuum in Irish politics. Michale in those early days asessed the likelihood that the vacuum would be filled by a new and shrill right-wing populism. This right-wing populism was based partly on the rise of Euroscepticism, especially as the accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe join the EU. However, the core debate would be around issues of race, immigration and asylum. Evidence from surveys and focus groups of the time presented an alarming growth in hostility towards new minorities by major sections of the Irish population. Drawing on patterns in other European countries, and a sober analysis of their similarities to Ireland, the author argued that it was unlikely that sections of the Irish political class would be able to resist playing the race card for much longer``

Ibuko is gathering the Press Releases he has received today and one in particular dragged his attention, he reads it twice as he needs to write an article about the most shocking and traumatic event the political life in Ireland has experienced in more than 100 years . The recently founded National Irish Identity First (NIIF) party has won the general elections and no only will have a large representations @ the Dail  but the Taoiseach will also comes from within the NIIF and will most probably be the Controversial Ian Garry. In reaction to the situation the former executive prime minister now president and guardian of the constitution Enda Kenny has decided to break the neutrality confered to its rank and has come forward with a Media Statement.

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Media Statement

Dublin

Tuesday 1stof Dec 2026

Enda Kenny

The Irish general election of 2026 took place on Friday, 27th of Nov. Following the collapse of the coalition, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael was swept from power in the worst defeat of a sitting government since the formation of the Irish state in 1922. Losing more than half of its first-preference vote from 2007. It is the new-largest party in the 37th Dáil who has taken over. The Irish Times, Ireland's newspaper of record and the Migrant Times, described the two parties’ meltdown as "defeat on a historic scale Labour Party and Sinn Fein came respectively last and second last in terms of polls results and the NIIF has become the largest party increasing its number of seats significantly allowing its leader Ian Garry to become Taoiseach without the need of a coalition

As President of Ireland I want to acknowledge the victory of the NIIF but I also want to strongly affirm my utmost disagreement with the themes and tenets carried by the NIIF and its representing body. As a country we should have been able to read and recognize before the start of the campaign our collective responsibility in preceding months, years or decades in ignoring the benefits of a multicultural society that Ireland has become.

I want to acknowledge my personal responsibility as former Taoiseach in failing to focus on the future at a time where myself and my government could have prevented the seeds of hatred to grow within our society. I know that each of us will leave behind a legacy when we depart this life. That legacy will be a reflection of what we stood for, how we lived, who we touched and how we contributed to life or the people that crossed our path. Today and every future day of my life I will be caught up by my lack of decisive action and of vision. I know it is too late to say what can I do now or who can I touch now to change that?

However, I would like to strongly and passionately convey the message to all the citizens of Ireland that make no mistake there is no reward or dividend for our society but only doubts sorrow and pain that comes with rejection and sectarianism

Fellow citizens of all origins I would like to present my sincere apology by saying


``If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now``


ENDS

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Notes to Editors

Enda Kenny (born 24 April 1951) is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach from 2011 to 2015. He led Fine Gael from 2002 to 2018. He served as Minister for Tourism in 1994 to 1997. He was also a two-term Vice President of the European`s People Party

Kenny led Fine Gael in the 2011 general election. He subsequently brokered an agreement with the Labor Party and formed a coalition government on 9 March 2011. He was Fine Gael's first Taoiseach since John Bruton  

Enda Kenny has been serving as President of Ireland since 2022

With a heavy heart Ibuko Clancy is about to write the most important article of his career on one of the most apprehensive chapter of Irish history unfolding in front of him, for the very first time too in his life he is developing a


FEAR ABOUT UNIQUE IDENTITY

"
Comments

Pascal Derrien

8 years ago #3

#1
@Donna we will get there but it is taking longer than originally thought !! :-)

Pascal Derrien

8 years ago #2

#2
@Lisa It is hard but I guess we should not give up :-)

Lisa Gallagher

8 years ago #1

Amazing how the present can shift our brains towards the future. Interesting @Pascal Derrien . Donna asked "When will the world change, When will people be equal?" Sadly, I never see this happening in my lifetime. I know, I sound like a pessimist. :-(

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