On Thursday 27^th October, the people of Ireland go to the polls for 3 separate votes. The most obvious ballot, that to elect the state’s ninth president, is arguably the LEAST significant vote of the day.

Seven candidates, none of whom are particularly appealing, each vying for a 7 year term, an annual salary of €300,000 approx. and a grand residence provided for by tax payers funds. I, for one, am deciding for which candidate to vote through a process of elimination, last man or woman standing gets my tick. I’m now down to a choice of 3. It has become a political X-Factor & the eventual winner probably has as much relevance as that of the ITV ‘talent’ show.

The other two votes that day are of far more importance, although have received significantly less coverage in any medium and certainly no public debate. Why the secrecy? Where are the dissenting voices? Why are we being kept in the dark? One thing the electorate should have learned from the previous regime is to question all things related to the government. Perhaps this is 10-15 years too late, but we should not vote and acquiesce just because the government of the day says so. It’s not always with the long term, or even short term, good of the nation that our government act.

One referendum to be voted on “proposes to give the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Dáil and Seanad) express power to conduct inquiries into matters of general public importance and, in doing so, to make findings of fact about any person’s conduct” As was the case in the Abbeylara inquiry, currently the Oireachtas does not have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence or produce documents. Nor in my opinion, should we grant it to them. If we vote for the amendment, no future government is likely to relinquish the power. It is granting powers to the Oireachtas that should remain as the sole preserve of the judiciary.

The other referendum is that on judges’ pay. A populist vote in the current climate, and one which the government does not expect to lose. On the surface, reducing the pay of judges while everyone else is suffering from economic hardship sounds like a good idea. But remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Judges remuneration is constitutionally protected for a good reason. The last thing a democratic society needs is a judiciary that is constantly looking over its shoulder hoping its latest ruling pleases their paymasters, i.e. the government of the day. Do not listen to the disinformation out there. Reductions in judges’ pay is possible, although voluntary. Only 6 judges have not voluntarily had a reduction in their remuneration. Is it worth diluting the independence of the judiciary just to cut the pay of 6 judges?

Think before you vote. Not only are we granting judicial powers to politicians, we are potentially reducing the independence of the judiciary by making them answerable to the government of the day for their salaries. That is why I’m voting NO on both amendments on Thursday.

Sami Hyypia Farewell from Anfield.

YNWA - Best Centre Back we’ve had!!

John Bishop is Carra and Lucas’ Love Child!!

Thanks to F@ces from IrishKop.com for this.

South Yorkshire Mass Murderer - Manic Street Preachers (by fugazi2k)

Justice for the 96

At 15.06, the whistle was shrill,

That sunny afternoon in April.

The year was 1989,

96 fans became angels to shine.

For the young and the old,

None of this was foretold.

The police lost command,

And let in Death’s hand.

22 years on the struggle continues,

That rag didn’t report the news.

It spewed lies and bile,

Backed with Mackensie’s smile.

At Hillsborough, they fell,

In our memories they’ll dwell.

One day Justice will be done,

For now, Don’t buy the S*n.

JFT96

Last weekend saw James McCarthy make his long awaited competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland, thus, finally, rendering him ineligible for Scotland. My mind is cast back to this time last year when a similar tug-o-war was taking place over the young Everton defender Shane Duffy, who suffered an horrific life threatening injury in a freak training ground accident in camp with the Republic of Ireland.

The competition over Duffy’s international future culminated in the Irish Football Association (IFA) taking a case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that the current situation gave the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) an unfair advantage over all the other associations in FIFA. Any person born in Northern Ireland is entitled to claim Irish citizenship and with half of the North’s population only too willing to take up this option, the IFA feels it is at a distinct disadvantage and at risk of what it perceives as a talent drain to the Republic.

Shane Duffy’s case should have been simplified by the fact that his father and maternal grandparents hail from Donegal. So this was not an incidence of a player claiming an Irish passport and thus eligibility to play for the Republic. Given that he played at various under age levels for Northern Ireland, and his undoubted talent, the disappointment felt by the IFA is understandable.

What is not understandable, nor excusable, has been the level of vile, vitriolic abuse this young man has suffered since declaring his intention publicly to play for the Republic. He is not the first, nor in all probability will he be the last to suffer at the hands, or keystrokes, of the bigoted minority who seek to keep the acts of supporting and playing for Northern Ireland the sole preserve of Protestant Unionists. One only has to look at the verbal abuse and death threats that led to Neil Lennon retiring from international football.

Rather than denying a player his birthright of choosing which country to represent, the IFA would be better off looking within their own organisation and making it a more welcoming place for nationalists. They must be commended for their Football for All initiative a few years back but if they are serious about making the sport and supporting Northern Ireland an all inclusive activity they need to do more to involve the nationalist community.

Sectarianism still exists in Northern Ireland and by extension, within the ranks of Northern Ireland fans, but unlike a generation ago, it is not the prevalent attitude among supporters. Yes there were sectarian songs sung at the Aviva Stadium last month when Northern Ireland played Scotland, but to their credit the IFA have vowed to impose a life time ban on the culprits should they be identified. A small, yet significant step to eradicating this behaviour.

A further opportunity to display their intent will arise in late May when Northern Ireland visit the Aviva Stadium again this time to play the Republic. It will be interesting to see if the FAI adopt the IFA’s stance should sectarian chanting break out. We, too, have our share of bigots!

Another step the IFA should consider, if they are serious about attracting the nationalist community, is to discontinue playing God Save the Queen prior to matches & find/compose a more politically neutral anthem a kin to Ireland’s Call. Such a step may or may not have any impact. After all, the nationalist community are only displaying their heritage and national identity in supporting the Republic of Ireland. It only stands to reason, that given a choice the majority of players from this background will choose to play for the Republic.

Despite the peace and reconciliatory moves made by both sides, I am not so naive as to think that Nationalists and Unionists will any day soon, if ever, walk side by side cheering for the glory of Northern Ireland. Some divisions are too deep to be bridged in such a short time. It may take several decades or generations of lasting peace before Nationalists feel they can or want to support Northern Ireland or even feel accepted by what is by and large a Protestant Unionist fan base.

Putting obstacles in the way of players like Shane Duffy will serve only to further alienate them. Those small minded bigots who have sought to vilify and abuse Duffy will have achieved nothing more than to increase the likelihood of future members of the Nationalist community declaring their allegiances to the Republic of Ireland when it comes to choosing which country to represent at international level.

Read my “What Price, Loyalty?” article in the new online sports magazine Swinging Balls. Do we expect too much loyalty from our sporting heroes?

Read my ‘Emerald Yorkers’ article in the new online sports magazine Swinging Balls. Keep in mind, this was written and published before yesterday’s momentous victory over the Auld Enemy! 

Kenny - Kenny Dalglish (via bannad11)

“I told the club to listen to that offer as that is the team I wanted to play for. It’s one of the best, if not the best, club in Europe” – Fernando Torres, July 2007.

“They [Chelsea] are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything” – Fernando Torres, January 2011.

It could all have been so different. Instead of leaving the club as a legend, as Alonso did, Fernando Torres has left a pariah. In my eyes, he has committed a far more serious crime against my club, and our fans than Michael Owen ever did.

We all know about his “You’ll Never Walk Alone” captain’s armband at Atletico. We thought it meant something, we thought he was red. We took him to our hearts, we thought he understood us, thought he was one of us.

Typically, when he was good, we cheered, sang his name, bounced his bounce! When he was poor, we sang louder, bounced higher because that is the Liverpool Way. Even over the last 18 shocking months, Torres was supported to the hilt.

Wanting a move away from Anfield is a player’s prerogative. It’s about handling your departure with dignity. Torres has none. Two weeks ago, he claimed to be as committed to Liverpool FC then as he was on day 1. 3 days before the transfer window shut, he put in a transfer request. A move completely lacking of honour.

“I’m at a big club now” – Fernando Torres, January 2011.

That quote is another example of Torres’ complete lack of class. Perhaps the Chelsea move is perfect for him. They won’t support him as we did. Remember, they booed Drogba. They won’t love him as we have.  On the plus side though, he will fit in with new petulant, moping, sulking strike partners, Drogba and Anelka.

Liverpool FC is a family, Chelsea is a rich man’s folly. Once the Financial Fair Play rules come into affect, the aging Chelsea squad are going to find difficult to challenge and Abramovic will find it difficult to rebuild. Torres could be their last big signing for some time. I hope he enjoys his stay at Stamford Bridge Old Folk’s Home.

He may not wake up this morning, rueing his move. He may not even regret it on Sunday. But once he realises all that he has forsaken, the true support he received from the Kop replacing that with fickle ‘plazzy flag waving’ fans, he will regret it.

To borrow a phrase from Barcelona fans to Figo, “We hate you so much, because we loved you so much”. Your name may appear in our record books, but you’ve forsaken your place in our history.