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major parties in both constituencies bears this point out, Fianna Fall ran their campaign on the issues of unemployment and rising prices in Dublin and Donegal. Though these issues were undoubtedly important in Dublin 5.W. Fianna Fail offered no practical means of solving these problams and did not campaign at all on related issues such as the denial of contraceptives or the lack of creche facilities, for fear of exposing divisions in the party. They totally ignored the National Question which had disastrous results in Donegal for, as one Balyneyite put it, prices aren't such an issue there because people can do their shopping in the Six Counties, Donegal rejects ‘*Blueshirtism”

Fine Gael on the other hand rana Blueshirt style “law and order” campaign in Donegal ina frantic chase after Protestant votes, while sticking to youth clubs and football pitches in Dublin 5,\W, — a deprived working class area not known for its respect for the Gardai, Between 1969 and 1973 the Fine Gael vote in Donegal NE. dropped from 41.9% to 33.4% — reflecting their loss of the Protestant vote. They undoubtedly won most of it back this time but their vote still dropped to 31.8%. Jn fact then their loss was worse than the figures initially indicate which means that their campaign significanth alienated many of their farmer supporters, Given the situation in border areas {increasing $.45/ Loyalist incursions and kidnappings, discontent among local peaple and Gardai at the level of collaboration) this, and the victory of Neil Blaney's candidate, is hardly }surprising, constituency in the next general election) and the Labour Party leadership will remain bad because the government will be driven to greater use of rapression while 0 Connell will keep his critical stance as long as he wishes to retain his enormous following in the constituency, The result is ominous for Labour T.D.'s (particularly Dublin ones) who retain their loyalty to the coalition and will encourage those aiready expelled from the parliamentary party (Senator Michael Mullen and David Thornley T.D.) to make more criticisms, Indeed on the day the election results were announced the national executive of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union rejected the proposed new wage agreement and Mullen denounced the government, The MSR and the Elections Members of the Movement for a Socialist Republic (MSA) participated in the campaign of Ite Ni Chionnaith, candidate of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), and issued a leaflet calling fora No. 1 vote for the IASP, anda No. 2? vote for the Official Sinn Fein candidate, Tomas Mac Giolla, under the slogan “Against Repression — Vote Republican! !" This was because the [RSP has taken a consistent stand against government repression while the Officials have more often than not condemned the victims of repression and in this campaign completely ignored the national question only running a ‘More Jobs’ campaign |ike that of Fianna Fail, Neither they nor the IRSP put forward demands which could help mobilise workers against the government attacks and failed to take up issues which could highlight these attacks (e.g. the prosecution of over 70 people for participation in the Provisional Sinn Fein 1916 Commemoration), Pamphlets available from Plough Books;

BRITISH STRATEGY IN NORTHERN IRELAND 25p WHAT IS TROTSKYISM? 10p IRISH NATLINALISM AND BRITISH IMPERIALISM 25p SOCIALISM MADE EASY by JAMES CONNOLLY 15p Subscriptions; £1 per year, to Plough Books, 38 Clanawley Road, Dublin 5.