Water Charges - Another Tax on Families
Speaking in the wake of Minister Gormley’s decision to introduce domestic water charges by 2012, Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien has described them as another tax on ordinary families who are struggling to make ends meet.
Cllr O’Brien stated: “Sinn Féin supports water conservation. However the way to do this is not to place another charge on already over-burdened households, but to fix our antiquated water system. Currently 58% of treated, clean water is wasted due to leaking pipes and other losses before it even reaches the consumer.”
“It is also a matter of huge concern that the Minister has chosen to apply the German model of water charges. German citizens pay among the highest charges for their water in the world.”
“Water charges and water metering are the thin end of a wedge leading to privatisation and ever-increasing costs for the consumer. Sinn Féin is opposed to water charges and will be actively campaigning against their introduction.”
For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907
Friday, April 23, 2010
Press release
Sinn Féin to Protest Outside Nirvana Head Shop this Saturday
As part of its ongoing campaign against legal highs in Cork, Sinn Féin is organising a protest outside the Nirvana head shop on Oliver Plunkett Street this Saturday at 1pm.
The protest follows a successful picket outside the mmMad head shop on Saturday week, which was attended by almost thirty Sinn Féin activists and members of the public. Several hundred signatures were collected in less than an hour calling for an end to this legal form of drug-dealing.
Cork City council also agreed last Monday night to refer a Sinn Fein motion calling for the establishment of a civic forum on the issue to the council’s joint policing committee. The forum would include elected representatives, council officials, the Gardai, members of the business community, and any others with an interest in tackling the proliferation of head shops.
Encouraging people to join the protest, Sinn Féin Cllr Jonathan O’Brien stated: “Drug dealing is drug dealing, whether it is hidden down a back alley or done openly over the counter of a head shop. Sinn Féin wants a comprehensive system of regulation which would put the onus on the owners of head shops to prove their products are safe for human consumption, and effectively end the sale of legal highs. There are encouraging signs in the past week that the government is at last moving to this position. However, we must keep the pressure up. I would encourage parents and all those concerned about the impact of drugs on our communities to join us on Oliver Plunkett Street on Saturday.”
For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907 or Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551
As part of its ongoing campaign against legal highs in Cork, Sinn Féin is organising a protest outside the Nirvana head shop on Oliver Plunkett Street this Saturday at 1pm.
The protest follows a successful picket outside the mmMad head shop on Saturday week, which was attended by almost thirty Sinn Féin activists and members of the public. Several hundred signatures were collected in less than an hour calling for an end to this legal form of drug-dealing.
Cork City council also agreed last Monday night to refer a Sinn Fein motion calling for the establishment of a civic forum on the issue to the council’s joint policing committee. The forum would include elected representatives, council officials, the Gardai, members of the business community, and any others with an interest in tackling the proliferation of head shops.
Encouraging people to join the protest, Sinn Féin Cllr Jonathan O’Brien stated: “Drug dealing is drug dealing, whether it is hidden down a back alley or done openly over the counter of a head shop. Sinn Féin wants a comprehensive system of regulation which would put the onus on the owners of head shops to prove their products are safe for human consumption, and effectively end the sale of legal highs. There are encouraging signs in the past week that the government is at last moving to this position. However, we must keep the pressure up. I would encourage parents and all those concerned about the impact of drugs on our communities to join us on Oliver Plunkett Street on Saturday.”
For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907 or Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551
Monday, April 19, 2010
Ógra unveil new Murals
A series of new murals has been unveiled by the MacCurtain/Doherty Cumann in Cork City. These include a mural of James Connolly, as well as a mural highlighting Ógra’s national Campaign ‘Who fears to speak of a United Ireland’, and a mural highlighting Ógra’s ongoing commitment to women’s issues.
The murals, which were attached to a wall at a busy junction in Cork’s Victoria Cross area, collectively highlight Ógra’s key priorities – Social justice, Gender Equality, and re-unification.
Speaking on the unveiling of the murals, Ógra activist Joe Lynch said ‘These murals were hung up as part of our activities over Easter, and has given Ógra a good deal of visibility in a busy area. These are core issues for republicans, and to highlight them in even this small way is worthwhile. We will be active on all these issues over the coming time, particularly on the National Campaign, and engaging with the people of Cork on the issue.’
The murals, which were attached to a wall at a busy junction in Cork’s Victoria Cross area, collectively highlight Ógra’s key priorities – Social justice, Gender Equality, and re-unification.Speaking on the unveiling of the murals, Ógra activist Joe Lynch said ‘These murals were hung up as part of our activities over Easter, and has given Ógra a good deal of visibility in a busy area. These are core issues for republicans, and to highlight them in even this small way is worthwhile. We will be active on all these issues over the coming time, particularly on the National Campaign, and engaging with the people of Cork on the issue.’
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Easter Rising Commemoration
Several hundred republicans gathered in Cork City on Sunday for the annual Easter Commemoration.
After assembling at the National Monument in Cork city centre, the crowd marched to St Finbarr's Cemetery behind the Youghal Republican Flute Band. The ceremonies at the Republican plot - the resting place, among others, of Terence McSwiney and Tomás MacCurtain - were chaired by Cork City Councillor Thomas Gould.
Wreathes were laid by Cllr Jonathan O'Brien on behalf of the Republican Movement, Cllr Henry Cremin on behalf of Sinn Féin, and Alan Conway on behalf of Ógra Sinn Féin. Pat Coughlan laid a wreath at the monument in memory of all those who died on hunger strikers, which includes 5 Cork men, Terence Mac Swiney, Joe Murphy, Michael Fitzgerald, Joe Murphy & Donnacha de Barra. John Stanton laid a wreath at the grave of Tómas Mac Curtain whose 90th anniversary occured recently.
Munster Ógra Sinn Féin organiser Joe Lynch read the Proclamation, while Cllr Fiona Kerins read out a statement from the leadership of Sinn Féin. The main oration was given by party vice-president, Mary Lou McDonald.
The commemoration concluded with the playing of Amhráin na bFhiann
Press release
Sinn Féin Steps Up Campaign Against Head Shops Sinn Féin councillors are to submit a motion to the next meeting of the city council’s Joint Policing Committee calling for the establishment of a civic forum to address the problem of legal drug dealing in Cork city. The party has also announced it will be holding a picket outside the mmMad head shop on North Main Street at 1pm this Saturday.
Cllr Jonathan O’Brien stated: “We want the council to set up a forum to examine what steps can be taken at a local level to combat this problem. These might include changes in planning regulations to prevent existing retail units being changed into head shops, putting pressure on the landlords who are leasing their properties to these legal drug dealers, or Garda surveillance of the premises. The forum should include elected representatives, council officials, the Gardai, members of the business community, and any others with an interest in the issue.”
“Sinn Féin has consistently stated that the government’s proposed legislation, which will ban some of the products being sold in these shops, does not go far enough. Confirmation of this came at the weekend, with newspaper reports that head shop owners are already devising new products to get around the ban when it comes into effect in June. What is needed – and what Sinn Féin has proposed – is a comprehensive system of regulation for this area, which would put the onus on the owners of head shops to prove their products are safe.”
“In the meantime Sinn Féin intends to keep up the pressure on these legal drug merchants by every means possible. That is why, as part of an ongoing series of protests, we will be picketing the mmMad head shop on North Main Street this Saturday at 1pm. I would encourage parents and all those concerned about the impact of drugs on our communities to join us.” For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907 or Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551
Cllr Jonathan O’Brien stated: “We want the council to set up a forum to examine what steps can be taken at a local level to combat this problem. These might include changes in planning regulations to prevent existing retail units being changed into head shops, putting pressure on the landlords who are leasing their properties to these legal drug dealers, or Garda surveillance of the premises. The forum should include elected representatives, council officials, the Gardai, members of the business community, and any others with an interest in the issue.”
“Sinn Féin has consistently stated that the government’s proposed legislation, which will ban some of the products being sold in these shops, does not go far enough. Confirmation of this came at the weekend, with newspaper reports that head shop owners are already devising new products to get around the ban when it comes into effect in June. What is needed – and what Sinn Féin has proposed – is a comprehensive system of regulation for this area, which would put the onus on the owners of head shops to prove their products are safe.”
“In the meantime Sinn Féin intends to keep up the pressure on these legal drug merchants by every means possible. That is why, as part of an ongoing series of protests, we will be picketing the mmMad head shop on North Main Street this Saturday at 1pm. I would encourage parents and all those concerned about the impact of drugs on our communities to join us.” For further information contact Cllr Jonathan O’Brien @ 085-2133907 or Cllr Thomas Gould @ 087-3021551
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)