Dr. John Robb - Community Surgeon and Irish Senator 1982 - 89
NEW IRELAND :SELL OUT OR OPPORTUNITY?
Explores the relationship between consensus building and self - determination. It illustrates how confidence can be created throughout the whole community for a completely New Ireland that allows people to maintain and cherish treasured beliefs while moving forward to a participatory democracy where you and I have more influence over government.
A DIVISIVE DEMOCRACYOR A CITIZENS ALTERNATIVE?
It examines in-depth how majoritarianism can divide and cause conflict and how a more citizen based approach to government is more inclusive and re-distributes power from parliaments to the people. This publication emphasises citizenship, putting society at the heart of government and sees centralisation of decision making as disempowerment of the people. This partnership government would thrive better within a New Confederal Ireland.
A PROPOSAL FORCONSENSUS
Points out a peaceful route to a New Ireland and argues the Good Friday Agreement has created more space for all traditions to work peacefully toward realising their political aspirations. It shows the recurring nature of the Anglo Irish conflict but states that having an attractive vision for a New Ireland is part of the process of getting there by reconciliation and co-operation.
LANGUAGELOCAL AND GLOBAL
In this article, John examines the importance of having a diversity of languages in the world to challenge the onslaught of globalisation and centralism. He looks at the richness of the Irish language and how it is a very important part of the heritage of everyone in Ireland. An insight is given into the thinking of Young Irelander, Thomas Davis, and there is an examination of how speaking the Irish language can be a very pluralist and positive experience that will enrich our lives and build bridges throughout the whole community.
LONG LIVE THE SMALLACUTE HOSPITAL
The small community hospital can best treat the illness of the majority of patients and the super specialisms located in centralised locations are required only in a minority of cases. Our health service is in crisis because of an excess of centralised decision making while the opinions of many nurses, doctors and patients are ignored and discouraged. A form of institutional imperialism.
CLIMATE CHANGE!
One of the most urgent problems facing all the people of the world and maintains everyone must do something to combat climate change by changing our lifestyles. In particular it maintains the culture of centralised government, exploitative capitalism and other forms of totalitarianism will need to change as this is one of the main driving forces behind climate change.
DEMOCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITYIN A DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICE
Dr John Robb argues convincingly in this pamphlet, the case for retaining and enhancing the small acute hospital. He draws upon professional clinical opinion to show us how small is beautiful when it comes to hospital provision. It is argued that the super specialists have their role but over 80% of acute care can be provided in a non centralised setting.
A NEW NORTH FORA NEW IRELAND
Dr Robb explains how confidence building through more accountable government and consensus politics (and not majoritarianism) will help to strengthen the foundations of peace in the North of Ireland. He illustrates how leadership for a New Ireland can come from all the traditions in the North and he outlines the steps to be taken to achieve this.
CONVERGING TO A NEWALL INCLUSIVE IRELAND
In this booklet, Dr Robb shows how the New Ireland Movement was founded in the 1970s to "provide an empathetic space for people from North and South, Catholic and Protestant, who had been born into either the Unionist or Nationalist traditions or with family relating to both, yet who did not feel comfortable in any of the contemporary political parties."
A PROCESS BASED ON THEPRINCIPAL OF CONSENSUS
This booklet was published in 1989 and states that after years of conflict, there is a hope of something better than continued statement. This pamphlet outlines the New Ireland Group's thinking on how political progress may be achieved. Since the achievement of enduring consensus in Ireland (North and South) will take time, this publication is very relevant today.
LETTER BY JOHN ROBB
In the following letter written to the press and printed around the time of publication of New Ireland: sell out or opportunity; the question was posed by Dr. John Robb: ‘Where is the leader with the charisma to take up this challenge?
LETTER BY JOHN ROBB
The under-noted letter was written on behalf of the New Ireland Group and was published in the Ulster Herald on 27/9/97. It is a brilliant letter.
PLEASE NOTE :
Out of courtesy, names of some individuals have been removed from these publications. Dr Robb would like to thank all those people who have been an inspiration to him throughout the years.