I am obviously such an ungrateful brat, considering how much the country has benefited from EU money. But let’s have a look at how this EU money has been spent, and who has benefited.
For a start, as with everything, some have benefited more than others. In terms of sectors, Ireland’s farmers have definitely gained handsomely, in spite of the farming sector declining as a proportion of the population. This has been because the farmers have been, from the dawn of Ireland’s EU membership, exceptionally well organised as a pressure group. But in spite of this EU largesse, I would be so bold as to say that rural society in Ireland is on its knees. Post offices, shops and other essential features of infrastructure have been removed. Many areas of our countryside are threatened by insensitive and ghastly housing developments or the construction of bypasses. Many farms are still uneconomical, heavily dependant on a range of handouts. This was recognised by the decision of Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to allocate a mass of funds for farmers on the eve of the referendum, thereby attempting to buy their votes. And like the recipients of generosity farmers are such bitter critics of welfare benefits.
Our fishermen never benefited to the same extent, so that fishing has become almost a marginal activity. There are no votes in fishing, so politicians have ignored it.
So EU largesse in Ireland is a fine example of injustice, not always going to the sectors that need it or deserve it, but to the school-boy bullies who are best able to grab it.
The distribution of structural funds has often been deliberately channelled through social and political elites, who have used control to buttress their positions at the expense of the greater public,
In Co. Cavan, some EU money has gone to pig producers, who ploughed it into increased production. This resulted was an increase in porcine effluent, much of which was poured into waterways including the River Erne. The EU then gave money to Fermanagh County Council and others north of the border to clean up the resulting pollution, a lovely example of north-south co-operation in action.
The spending of structural funds, disbursed under various labels like Phare and Leader is an excellent example of how EU funds have stayed in the hands of the existing elites. Whenever a new “tranche” of funding is announced for disadvantaged areas, such as those along the border with Northern Ireland, proposals are sought and public meetings organised to work these out,. The meetings usually come up with some very good and sound ideas. A second meeting, to “firm up” the proposals is then arranged. This is attended by “the boys”, members of the local political and economic elite who have their fingers in every pie; the ones who never have any trouble getting planning permission or any type of grant. (Viewers of Killnascully will remember Willy Power.) They muscle their way onto the committee and push out anyone who is not a client or relative. Their dominance is explained because they are the ones who ”know how to get the money.” This is sadly too correct, ordinary members of the public might very well make very well structured and valid proposals for funding but they won’t get a cent, whereas “the boys!” know who owes them favours.
One of the ideas to be put forward for Leader funding in the Cavan Monaghan area was the production of an illustrated guide-book of heritage tours. One of the members of the committee, sadly deceased, thought that I was the best person to undertake its writing and to supervise its production, because of my experience as a historian and writer. This post would be accompanied by a handsome salary. When my name was proposed at a meeting I had to sit through one of the most unpleasant episodes in my life, as nearly everyone there, including those who didn’t know me from Adam, proceeded to state just how unsuitable I was. The lead was taken by a loud-mouth from Belfast who managed a refuge for battered artists. Amongst his claims was that he doubted I could produce a website – admittedly not something that would have been considered a necessary component in the skills’ set for the job, but he was really discomfited when I told him of my experience with HTML. But everyone else took the lead from him.. One man left the room rather than participate in the circus Many of those who remained were Leader clients, people who had received or who expected to receive Leader funding. They were expected to behave towards me in a certain way – if they knew what side their bread was buttered on. I looked beseechingly at those there, as if to say “Is there none here who will speak on my behalf?” Then finally the coup-de-grace was delivered by one of those charged with the disbursement of the funds. He announced that the job must go to a “driver – someone able to get around”. He knew full well that, though I could, in those days get round very well, I could never drive. At this I stood up, saying “I never knew you were looking for a chauffeur” and left the meeting. I do not wish to name the figure who said this. Suffice it to say that he had a not very star=studded career as a Gaelic Football player. When my late mother later challenged him about what he had said, he retreated to the tower of cowardice of all mushroom-men, threatening to bring a legal action against her. As for the book, well they gave the job to a “driver” with no experience of the area who was able to get around so well that he went up every boreen in the two counties and expected the Leader funds to pay his expenses, which they did. However,, this virtually emptied the funds set aside for the book which was nowhere near finished – in fact, it hadn’t been begun. So guess who was then approached to finish it once the Duchy was dry? Yep, muggings here. I wrote out the trails with accurate mileage and kilometre indications, and they were then followed on the ground before publication. Nobody could believe just how accurate they were; but that just went to show that you didn’t have to be a driver to write the trails. But where did all the money go? Leaving aside the production costs, there wasn’t much left for me, and while “the driver” got his wages and expenses, he was fully entitled to them, We can only say that it went up the cook’s arse.
To be continued
