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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
— June - July 2010
The Alternatives
first set up in , as Comhar
the National Sustainable Development Partnership.
Comhar is the Irish word for partnership. Comhar
SDC is the key organisation in Ireland providing for
sectoral and stakeholder engagement on imple-
menting sustainable development.
Its Council is multi-stakeholder. It is made up
for people drawn from five sectors; the State sec-
tor, economic sectors, environmental NGOs, social/
community NGOs and the professional/academic
sector. The council meets four times a year. Comhar
is supported by a full-time Secretariat based in the
Irish Life Centre, Dublin. It is currently chaired by
Professor Frank Convery and its budget is pro-
vided from the proceeds of the Environment Fund.
Comhar SDC conducts research on the best ways to
achieve sustainable development in Ireland. It may
undertake this work at the request of any Minister
or on its own initiative. It is an advisory council that
provides guidance to the Government on meas-
ures that can move us to a sustainable, equal and
low carbon society.
Comhar SDC also conducts outreach work
to inform people more generally on sustainable
development.
Comhar is very restrained and probably not
as exciting as the Irish Environmental Network,
but that group of the main environmental NGOs
is compromised by its relations with the Green
party and is focused on maximising funding for
individual groups.
Will it be around in five years? Definitely
Likes to march? No
Kevin Myers or Vincent Browne? Wouldn’t like
to say
Will it take over? Wouldn’t see the point. Role is
to give advice.
Electoral chances: not interested
Tips: get your excellent research into the open
and the mainstream
following the publica-
tion of Michael Cronin’s essay What is to be done?
It can be read at www.michaelcronin.ie/agora.htm.
It is an informal political grouping which is com-
mitted to the core principles of ecological sustaina-
bility, social justice and political freedom. Agora is
dedicated to presenting a viable alternative to the
dominant political parties in Ireland and to creat-
ing a political force which is capable of effecting
real political change. Agora is determined to chal-
lenge the prevailing atmosphere of fatalism and
resignation in Irish society which is based on the
belief that there is no alternative to the present sys-
tem of narrow political self-interest and economic
egotism. Agora will encourage new ways of politi-
cal thinking, new kinds of democratic action and
the emergence of new forms of solidarity which
will form the basis of a genuinely transformative
politics in Ireland. Its vision places culture at the
heart of economic growth and social development.
Its vision opposes rising inequality, the weaken-
ing of social solidarity and the privileging of pri-
vatised responses to social needs. Its politics will
not be sabotaged by the entryism of adventurists,
no matter how well meaning.
Will it be around in five years? May well be
Likes to march? No
Kevin Myers or Vincent Browne? VB
Will it take over? Too busy working out if that’s
a good idea
Electoral chances: uncertain. Needs to recog-
nise that there is a day-to-day crisis of politics
as well as of ideas.
Tips: get moving
Ireland’s support and representa-
tive umbrella network for community, voluntary
and charitable organisations. It helps them get
things done, it represent their shared interests to
Government and other decision-makers and it pro-
motes a better understanding by the public of them
and their work. It is a one-stop-shop for and about
the charity sector in Ireland.
Will it be around in five years? Definitely
Likes to march? No
Kevin Myers or Vincent Browne? Like a gentle
VB
Will it take over? Too gentle to want to
Electoral chances: not interested
Tips: doesn’t need many – lobby harder
is an ad hoc group of
individuals concerned with commu-
nity development, social inclusion, sus-
tainability, anti-poverty, human rights
and equality issues which is exploring
what an alternative economic and social
development model for Ireland would
look like, and what would be needed
to gain support for its implementation.
Is Feidir Linn grew from work commis-
sioned by the Community Platform: a con-
ference, in April , Funding and the
Strings Attached, and the publication of
A Better Ireland is Possible, in December
.
Is Feidir Linn’s launched a manifesto:
‘Shaping Our Future: developing a vision for
an inclusive, equal and sustainable Ireland’ (in
collaboration with the Community Platform)
in June . The next step is to build con-
sensus, momentum, solidarity and alliances
among those interested in this vision and these
goals with a view to working towards an inclu-
sive, equal and sustainable Ireland. Is Feidir
Linn has since opened up exploratory dis-
cussions with a broad spectrum of organi-
sations from civil society, including trade
unions, community groups, environmental
organisations, faith groups, international
development organisations and equality
groups. This has included a particular and
fruitful dialogue with the Irish Congress of
Trade Unions, the organisations from the
Environmental Pillar in Social Partnership,
the Community Platform, Tasc and Social
Justice Ireland
Will it be around in five years? May well be
Likes to march: Not quite clear yet
Kevin Myers or Vincent Browne? VB
Will it take over? Needs to ally with other
similar groups
Electoral chances: Unclear
Tips: Should really prepare for electoral pol-
itics. The goal, after all, is to keep FG – the
closest thing to FF – out of government
Frank Convery
