Jonathanwallace (talk | contribs) →Views on Israel and the war on terrorism: further revisions per weight,NPOV and BLPN |
Viticulturist99 (talk | contribs) →Views on Israel and the Middle East: added ref. to The Irish Times |
||
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
In 2007, he |
In 2007, he campaigned for Ibrahim Moussawi, head of the [[Hezbollah]]-owned [[Al-Manar]] TV station, to be allowed to enter Ireland to attend a Dublin conference organised by the [[Irish Anti-War Movement]]. According to the Irish Independent, Boyd Barrett said that banning Moussawi amounted to the suppression of "free public debate in the country".<ref>{{cite |
||
|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/war-of-words-over-islamists-irish-visit-1116976.html |
|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/war-of-words-over-islamists-irish-visit-1116976.html |
||
|title=editorial |
|title=editorial |
||
Line 69: | Line 69: | ||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> |
||
In April 2009 Boyd Barrett |
In April 2009 Boyd Barrett addressed the [[Al-Aqsa]] Conference in Dublin, where, according to The Irish Times, [[DVD]]s featuring armed [[Hamas]] fighters were openly on sale.<ref>{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0413/1224244556505.html |
|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0413/1224244556505.html |
||
|title=Mary Fitzgerald |
|title=Mary Fitzgerald |
||
|work=Violence in Gaza a 'victory' for Palestinians |
|work=Violence in Gaza a 'victory' for Palestinians |
||
|accessdate=13 April 2009 |
|accessdate=13 April 2009 |
||
}}</ref> |
}}</ref> He said that “it is entirely legitimate to argue that [[Israel]] has no right to exist because it is not a normal state but a state built on violence, oppression and apartheid. We must convince people that [[Israel]] has no right to exist as long as it denies rights to Palestinians.”<ref> |
||
{{cite web |
{{cite web |
||
|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0413/1224244556505.html |
|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0413/1224244556505.html |
Revision as of 03:54, 6 February 2011
Richard Boyd Barrett | |
---|---|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councillor | |
Assumed office June 2009 | |
Constituency | Dun Laoghaire |
Personal details | |
Born | 150px 1967 |
Died | 150px |
Resting place | 150px |
Political party | People Before Profit Alliance |
Parent |
|
Website | www |
Richard Boyd Barrett (born 1967 [1]) is an Irish left-wing political activist and a member of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. He is chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement[2] and is frequently cited in the Irish media.[3][4][5][6]
Family and education
Adopted as a baby, he was born to actress Sinéad Cusack, with whom he was later reunited.[2] This was revealed in the last week of his unsuccessful 2007 Dáil election campaign, during which Cusack, a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, canvassed for him.[2] He was raised in Dun Laoghaire by adoptive parents David and Valerie Boyd Barrett and was a pupil in St Michael's College on Ailesbury Road.[1] He holds a Masters Degree in English Literature from UCD.
Political career
He is a member of the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party, but contested the Dún Laoghaire constituency in the 2007 Irish general election for the People Before Profit Alliance. This identification was intended to broaden his support from non-socialist voters.[7] In the run-up to the election he participated in high-profile campaigns against highrise development, bin and water charges, privatisation of hospitals and support for the Rossport Five.[7] Boyd Barrett lost to incumbent Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party, by 9910 votes to 7890 votes in the 10th count.[8][9]
In 2009, he contested the local elections for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and was elected with 22.8% of the vote, more than 1000 votes over John Bailey, who came second.
He will contest the forthcoming general election 2011 under a new umbrella group, United Left Alliance.[10]. However, on the ballot paper he will be described as a member of the 'People Before Profit Alliance' rather than a member of the United Left Alliance or the Socialist Workers Party.[11]
Views on Israel and the Middle East
In February 2003 Boyd Barrett acted as Chairperson of the Anti-War Movement in Ireland, calling for demonstrations against any war in Iraq, and saying it was "almost certain" that any war would lead to between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths.[12] When U.S. President George W Bush visited Northern Ireland in April that year after the start of the war, Boyd Barrett criticised his policy, commenting "How can Bush come to Ireland talking about peace while his army is subjecting the people of Baghdad to a medieval siege with 21st century weaponry?"[13]
In March 2005 he attended the Conference of the International Campaign Against American and Zionist Occupation in Cairo.[14]
In 2007, he campaigned for Ibrahim Moussawi, head of the Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar TV station, to be allowed to enter Ireland to attend a Dublin conference organised by the Irish Anti-War Movement. According to the Irish Independent, Boyd Barrett said that banning Moussawi amounted to the suppression of "free public debate in the country".[15]
In April 2009 Boyd Barrett addressed the Al-Aqsa Conference in Dublin, where, according to The Irish Times, DVDs featuring armed Hamas fighters were openly on sale.[16] He said that “it is entirely legitimate to argue that Israel has no right to exist because it is not a normal state but a state built on violence, oppression and apartheid. We must convince people that Israel has no right to exist as long as it denies rights to Palestinians.”[17]
Notes
- ^ a b Fiona Looney (28 March 2004). "A Swagger to the Trot". The Sunday Tribune.
- ^ a b c Taafe, Danielle (2007-06-27). "Cusack reunited with son she gave up for adoption". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-08-14. [dead link]
- ^ "Gardaí relax Dromoland protest restriction". RTE. 2004-06-22. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
After a meeting between the Gardaí and representatives of the movement in Portlaoise this afternoon, spokesperson Richard Boyd Barrett said that while they were pleased the protest would be allowed to go so close to Dromoland Castle, they were disappointed that a request to continue the protest afterwards to Shannon Airport had been turned down by the Gardaí.
- ^ Donald, Niall (2007-06-03). "HARNEY THE DEAL BREAKER". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
Yesterday, Richard Boyd Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement called on Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath not to enter government with Fianna Fáil. He said the independent TDs had pledged not to back a Government that allowed the US military use of Shannon Airport. Boyd Barrett added: "Anybody who signed the pledge on the issue of the use of Shannon by the US military I would expect should stick to their principles on the issue."
{{cite news}}
: line feed character in|quote=
at position 147 (help) - ^ Maguire, Steven (2007-02-18). "JIM: LET U.S. TROOPS LAND IN DONEGAL". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
But Richard Boyd Barrett of the Irish Anti-War Movement said: "It is hugely immoral for anyone and especially a GP like Dr McDaid to tout for business on the back of 650,000 lives being lost."
- ^ "Agenda: This week's big issues". The Independent on Sunday. 2004-06-20. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
This administration represents everything that is wrong with the priorities of the world we live in," says Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement. "We want to be playing a part in driving George Bush out of power.
[dead link] - ^ RTÉ Election website
- ^ "Ciarán Cuffe". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
- ^ "Mary Minihan". Higgins and Boyd Barrett to contest election under left-wing alliance. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ "ULA not to be on ballot paper". Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "Unions seek support for anti-war day". RTÉ News. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "Blair and Bush plan new talks". BBC News. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ "Irish Anti-War Movement". Cairo Conference Challenges US Propaganda. Retrieved 7 May 2005.
- ^ "editorial", War of words over Islamist's Irish visit, retrieved 7 October 2007-
{{citation}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ "Mary Fitzgerald". Violence in Gaza a 'victory' for Palestinians. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ "Mary Fitzgerald". Violence in Gaza a 'victory' for Palestinians. Retrieved 13 April 2009.