Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dublin Central Easter Commemorations  2010

Arbour Hill
Good Friday April 2nd, 11.30AM 
Chair: Cllr Seamas McGrattan
Main Speaker: Ruadhán Mac Aodháin



City Centre
Easter Sunday April 4th, 2.30PM
Assemble at Gardens of Remembrance
Parnell Square



Full Listings at this link:  Easter Commemorations 2010:

Monday, March 29, 2010

Press Release- Docklands Authority was " in bed with Anglo Irish Bank to line the pockets of the fat cats and the return to the local community was minimal" - Mary Lou McDonald

PRESS RELEASE

Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald has said that the Dublin Docklands Development Authority was in bed with Anglo Irish Bank to line the pockets of the fat cats while the return for local communities was very minimal.

She also pointed out that anyone found to be guilty of corrupt planning decisions as a result of the publication to the reports on the DDDA must be made to face the full rigours of the law, regardless of political implications.

Mary Lou  McDonald said:

“Anybody found to be guilty of corrupt planning decisions must be made to face the full rigours of the law regardless of the political implications for any politician or political party.

“The reality of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority is quite different to the spin that was used at the time of its establishment. Communities in the inner city such as Sheriff Street, North Wall and East Wall were all to benefit from its establishment. However, it turned out the authority was in bed with Anglo Irish Bank to line the pockets of the fat cats and the return to the local community was minimal.

“And now, as a result of this whole mess, the state may well be faced with substantial costs for damages, the bill for which will of course have to be picked up by the taxpayer once again.”

Thursday, March 25, 2010

McDonald Supports Wheelock Family









Press Release 


Mary Lou McDonald has noted the release of the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission's report into the death of Terence Wheelock. Terence Wheelock died in 2005 in the Mater Hospital after being in a coma for three months. He never regained consciousness after a period of detention in Store Street Garda Station. In 2006, an inquest jury found 4:3 in favour of a verdict of death by suicide.

The GSOC report sought to deal with allegations regarding Terence's treatment by gardaí, including reports from witnesses that he was assaulted while being arrested; and that he was taunted, beaten and mistreated while in custody.

Blood stains and bruises on Terence Wheelock's body and clothing had led to speculation that he had been sexually assaulted in Store Street Station.

Ms McDonald said "The Garda Ombudsman report is long and thorough, but it did not allow for witnesses to be cross examined.  The circumstances of Terence Wheelock's detention and death are still not completely clear, and questions remain about the behaviour of gardaí and their treatment of him."

She continued: "Terence's family do not accept that he was suicidal, and have called for a public inquiry into the circumstances of his death. In view of the fact that such an inquiry would allow cross examination of witnesses including gardaí, I support the Wheelock family in this call".

Mary Lou McDonald has also called for the recommendations contained in the report to be implemented. She said: "Death and injury in custody must be treated extremely seriously. The calls in the Ombudsman's report for safety equipment, custody records and cctv are the very least that should be expected in the treatment of prisoners. They should implemented in full without delay". 





___________________


The Wheelock family have chosen to release postmortem pictures of Terence's injuries to journalist Ken Foxe. You can see one of them here- Ken Foxe's blog













Parking around Croke Park

Mary Lou McDonald has given a cautious welcome to changes in the parking system around Croke Park. The City Council have suggested that the maximum period for pay and display in a number of streets around the stadium be restricted to two hours.

Mary Lou McDonald said: "The huge influx of cars around the stadium on match days and for concerts has created problems for residents, who often have to park far away from their houses. I hope the change to a two-hour maximum parking time for visitors to the area will help with this. Residents of the area around Croke Park deserve to be able to park their cars in the same way as people in other areas, and the stadium shouldn't interfere with that."

The Sinn Féin representative continued: "I hope the City Council will consult with residents of the streets affected by the change and monitor the difference it makes."

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig





St Patrick's Day Charity Soccer Match


JOHN BYRNE TROPHY CHARITY CHALLENGE SOCCER MATCH,
DUBLIN
NORTH-EAST INNER CITY
In aid of the Irish Cancer Society and
Ballybough Court Senior Citizens Day Centre

and in memory of the late John Byrne of Orchard United FC
Orchard United FC
v
Orchard Legends

at Stella Maris FC, Richmond Road 
ST PATRICK’S DAY
17th March
Kick off: 1:30PM
– Admission €5
 


Directions to Stella Maris Football Club:

Leaving the City Centre head Northbound on Dorset St..
Cross the canal bridge heading out of town. (approx 2km)
Continue towards Whitehall until you arrive at Drumcondra. (approx 1km)

Take the Right turn off Drumcondra Road onto Richmond Road (after you cross the Tolka River).

Continue down Richmond Road 500mtrs, Tolka Park football pitch will be on your right hand side.

Continue for another 500 mtrs and you will pass a Maxol garage on the right hand side, just past the Maxol garage there is a turn to the left on the bend of the road, this is Waterfall Avenue, turn into the Avenue. 50mtrs up the avenue on the right hand side is Stella Maris FC.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Arts Minister



 
Martin Cullen is resigning on health grounds, and I want to express sympathy with him and his family. Whatever our differences in political views, it is hard not to feel sympathy for his medical problems.

He is Minister for the Arts, and I hope the Taoiseach keeps this position in the Cabinet . It has been suggested that some cabinet positions should change in the upcoming reshuffle, but I think it is essential that the arts is retained as part of a senior ministerial portfolio.

Before Christmas I met with representatives of the
Dublin Central Arts Workers, a lobbying group set up as part of the National Campaign for the Arts. Their campaign was centered on making sure that the December Budget did not make drastic cuts to arts. Although they were in many ways successful (and should be congratulated) there have recently been serious cuts in spending by the Arts Council. Cutting the arts is short sighted, as history has shown that spending in the sector creates jobs, training and stimulates the economy.

Heritage and tourism benefit from arts spending, as does the general environment.

I hope the Taoiseach realises that keeping a Minsiter for the Arts at Cabinet is important, and proper funding for the arts, especially small and community based projects, is an essential part of any plan for economic recovery. The arts, including theatre and film, should play a central role in commemorations of events like the 1913 Lockout and the 1916 Rising.

Martin Cullen is the latest member of "Bertie's Team" to resign. Maybe they don't realise that we don't want them to go one by one. They should all resign and have an election. If the government think they have a mandate for their policies, they should not be afraid to face the people. 

Friday, March 5, 2010

International Womens Day

It's hard to think of Mary Coughlan as a feminist or as any sort of campaigner for womens rights, but when the Tánaiste was heckled in the Dáil last week she responded by claiming that she was a victim of sexism. I don't think the TD who was criticising her was doing it for sexist reasons- his remarks were directed at her, not at women in general. Perhaps she thinks that to attack her is to attack all womankind? It's a definition of sisterhood I haven't heard before.

There is plenty of sexism in Irish politics, but this wasn't an example of it.



It's coming up to International Womens Day.
It's been suggested that it should be a public holiday, but the closeness of St Patrick's day means the date would be awkward. Some people have said that maybe St Brigid's day (February 1st) would be a better date. Ireland has less public holidays than many EU countries, so it's worth considering.

There are many events in Dublin going on to mark International Womens Day, a few that caught my eye are below. Please feel free to add others in the comments or email me to let me know.


Sunday 7 March 2010
 
At the New Theatre · 43 East Essex Street ,Temple Bar · Dublin 2
(Entrance through Connolly Books) admission free For all films
International Women’s Day Film Festival starting at 1.15Pm with
I Was a Teenage Feminist (2005) Directed by Therese Shechter.
When did “feminism” become a bad word? Why is it that young, independent and progressive women today feel uncomfortable identifying with feminism? This film
takes a funny and moving personal journey into the heart of feminism on the
threshold of the twenty-first century. Running time: 62 minutes.

For the rest of the programme of films and more information click here   http://www.progressivefilmclub.ie/

There are two walking tours on March 7th- a Feminist Walking Tour meeting at the Central Bank at 1PM; and earlier in the day, a Historical Walking Tour organised by Dublin City Council, meeting at Traitor's Gate on St.Stephen's Green at 12noon.




On March 8th, Sylvia Meehan is giving a talk at the Library on the Navan Road. The event begins at 6.30PM and is entitled EQUALITY AND ACCESS: A CAMPAIGNING LIFE- From equal pay and childcare provision to ageism and medical cards for the over 70's, Sylvia Meehan has never stopped campaigning. She was recently presented with a 'People of the Year Award 2009'.