Made in Ireland – battling for Wales
Brian Gibbons is the sole Irish-born representative on the devolved Welsh Assembly. And he’s determined to make his presence felt. PETER FOLEY met up with the Roscommon politician.
Wherever they have settled over the centuries, the sons and daughters of Erin have always made an impact on political life.
So it comes as no surprise that there should be an Irish presence in the Welsh Assembly that took responsibility for much of what goes on in Wales when it opened its doors in 1999.
Roscommon man Brian Gibbons is the lone Irish-born member in the legislative body based in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, where he represents Aberavon and serves as Deputy Transport Minister.
He is continuing the family tradition by entering public life — his father Hugh was a member of the panel that captured back-to-back All-Ireland football titles for Roscommon in the 1940s as well as a Fianna Fail TD for the county.
But that is where the co-incidence ends.
“It was very evident that the mainstream conservative political parties in Ireland had no real answer to the poverty and emigration which was endemic in Co. Roscommon during my upbringing,” he says.
Brian graduated from Galway University’s Medical School in 1974 and after further training in West Yorkshire moved to South Wales as a GP in 1980 where he settled with his Mayo-born wife Catherine.
He recalls: “I took up a post with Dr Julian Tudor Hart who was pioneering socialist doctor who also had an international reputation in research and teaching in general practice at Blaengwynfi in the Afan Valley of South Wales.”
It proved to be a move that firmly rooted him to the area he now represents and helped him develop his own political philosophy — he joined the Labour Party shortly after his arrival.
“Specialist medicine is too narrowly based and away from the real world in hospitals, whereas general practice is based on a long term relationship with patients and their families in a community setting,” Brian says.
But the big move into politics came with the creation of the Welsh Assembly.
“Working as a doctor never allowed the time to become a local Councillor — the standard political apprenticeship,” Brian explains.
“You have no option other than to make a conscious decision to change career.”
His Aberavon seat — with the imposing Port Talbot steelworks at its heart — is the kind of constituency where the Labour vote is weighed rather than counted. Plaid Cymru finished second in the two Assembly polls (1999 and 2003) but Brian has commanded more than half the vote in both elections and increased his share of the ballot with a 6.3 per cent swing from the Welsh Nationalists last time around.
Aberavon is often referred to as Little Ireland — a reference to the fact that the area has seen a constant flow of Irish immigration since the famine years of the 1840s. And even fourth and fifth-generation Irish still display their roots with pride, making it the perfect setting for an Irish Assembly member.
Questions were raised — particularly by the English-based media — on the usefulness of a Welsh legislative body at the time of its creation but Brian is swift to answer the criticism.
“I have no doubt that the Assembly has brought government closer to people in Wales and it has allowed a whole raft of policies to be developed in line with the needs and cultural values of Welsh people,” he says.
“The approach of the Assembly Government is much more inclusive and partnership-driven than in the UK as a whole. This is in line with the radical, left of centre political culture in Wales.
“Unemployment is at a record low for decades and is falling more quickly in Wales than the rest of the UK while pay levels are increasing more quickly. Maintenance grants for students from low income families and the first Children’s Commission in the UK have been introduced. A Commissioner for Older People will also be appointed soon.
“Health spending has gone up dramatically and a community regeneration programme has been introduced.”
Although he is not a Welsh speaker, Brian strongly supports the wide ranging programme to make Wales a bi-lingual country.
Unlike its Scottish equivalent, the Cardiff legislature does not have tax-raising powers but this is not seen as a key issue for him at this point in time.
But he adds: “I do think, however, there is a strong case to further expand and develop devolution in Wales by extending the areas of responsibility of the Assembly and by granting primary legislative powers.”
Brian is pleased with the ever-expanding links with his native land and cites the creation of the Irish consulate in Cardiff, along with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s trip and President Mary McAleese’s state visit as visible signs of the enhanced relationship between the two countries.
“I think the success of the Celtic Tiger has been a source of great inspiration for the pro-devolutionist in Wales,” he adds. “It gave an excellent example that small countries can achieve big things.
“With its large industrial sector, Wales is probably more in favour of the Euro than other parts of the UK. All other things being equal I am sure there would be an Assembly majority for joining the Euro.”
The easiest way to judge a politician is talk to their constituents. Brian has no fear on this count as they are full of praise for his efforts.
“He’s definitely a man of the people and that goes down well in these parts,” said third-generation Irishman Dinny O’Callaghan.
Brian also has the distinction of being the only Assembly member ever to score five goals in a Gaelic Football match and was recently on hand to launch the Eire Og club that has just been created in his constituency.
“There is a certain curiosity value in being the only Irish-born member in Cardiff,” he concludes.
“I think my knowledge of Irish affairs and its success over recent years has allowed me to make a positive contribution to political debate here in Wales.”
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