of Ireland were a disaster for the government parties. Fine Gael and Labour together won only 37.4 per cent of the votes, a drop of 11.4 per cent compared with the last general election in November 1982. Fianna Fail, the main opposition party, made a small gain.
There was substantial support for small left-wing parties candidates: per That's more than double the Labour score of 7.9 per cent. This was the party's worst national electoral performance for 50 years.
Some of the 17 mer cent 'others' vore will probably rel to me dudle pailin in the next general election • Hanna ral exnect to be the main gainers. But the hig parties are worried. in some areas there were results. гере the socialist The five-seat North inner city constiruency returned independent left-winger Tony Gregory (Teachta Daia member the Dublin Sinn paramelis Fein': Christy Burke. Both these councillors, especially Burke, are closely identified with the Concerned Parents Movement, a milianti-heroin pushers campaign.
Tie Sinn Fein did well in other Dublin constituencies getting. 8-10 per cent of the poll in LUN tested areas. Their lower often •recience went heavily to the Workers' which became the third largest Dublin corporation group with six seats.
Although the Workers' Party used to be part of the republican movement it now hon a pre-Lationat policy national question.
By contrast Fianna Fail itself *The Call Republican Party' in election literature and nas a big working They took control of the Dublin Corporatior the County Council, for the first time in over 20 years.
Fianna Fail had one big black spot. Their vote in Limerick city went down five per cent. Joe Harringion, candidate People's Democracy (the irish sermon or me rourli International), won a LimHarrington stood the four-seat working class district of Southill. After the first count he was in second place with 589 votes, 12 per cent of the poll.
The Peopie's Democracy candidate took the second seat on the seventh count with 1019 votes. He the eliminated Workers' candidates.
The campaign againsi the new warer ax imposed by ibe government nas been a big feature of Joe's campaign. Up 1982 water supplies were free, and local authorities were responsible for maintaining the service. government wants these services to be paid for In Limerick Joe HarrLINC first speak out against this un must tax. since inen with the people of Limerick loe has marched against water tax, publiciy burnt the de mand notices civil bills. picketed the COle thouse and Dail Eireann and forced the city counci to vote against the £50 HeVV Fifteen to 20 activists in the water tax campaign backed Joe's election campaign. His manifesto linked this issue to broader national issues such the need for a crash housing programme: for local councils which side with working people their struggle for justice; for a programme to solve unemployment based on a 35 hour week with ao loss pay argued that there could be no real change in the welfare of Trish workers Without reai change in the position et women in irish society.
People's concludes the manitesio hy also supporting the struggles of workers worid wide of Solidarity Polana, Britain and the workers in Africa Nic aragua