Bacik hopes Trump win may inspire desire for ‘civility’ in politics

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

Labour has called for a return to “civility and courtesy” in Irish politics.

Party leader Ivana Bacik, who was canvassing with Dublin South West hopeful Ciaran Aherne in the Wainsfort area of Kimmage on Saturday, said the party was running 32 candidates across 31 constituencies.

“We want to see an increase in support for Labour candidates and an increase in support for our Labour vision and our Labour values of equality, solidarity and fairness.

“We want to make a difference and I have said that we are serious about looking to deliver change to build better together, to build an Ireland that works for all.

“After the election, the first thing I will be doing is seeking to achieve a common platform across the left, the centre left and the green movement to ensure that our policies and our values will make a difference in the next government.”

Expressing concern over the rise of the division, hatred and the far right in Europe, Ms Bacik said Labour would run a positive campaign.

Asked by reporters about the impact of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election on polling here, Ms Bacik first acknowledged that the Irish economy was “vulnerable” to potential decisions taken by the next administration in Washington.

She then expressed hope that it may spur a return to “civility and kindness”.

Ms Bacik added: “I think the best-case scenario is that it will restore people’s belief in the need for decency in politics.

“Trump and his campaign completely undermined the civility and kindness and courtesy that we should see in democratic politics.

“It actually is integral to our democracy and I think I hope that Trump’s win will restore people’s belief in the need for that civility and courtesy to re-enter Irish politics.

“I’ve been very vocal about the increasingly aggressive and shoutiness of political discourse, not just on the toxic spaces online, but actually in the Dail chamber where we’ve seen, unfortunately, some deputies shouting and heckling abuse.”

She added: “But unfortunately we’ve also seen it manifest in assaults on canvases, on candidates, and again that’s deeply undermining of democracy.

“So I hope the Trump win – if nothing else – will have that impact on the campaign here, that it will make people will be more courteous, more civil, more kind.”