A large rally against the deportation of asylum seekers took place outside of the Department of Justice last Saturday, 16 June, followed by a march through the crowded streets of Dublin to a further rally at the GPO. Free article

With the imminent approach of all-out industrial action by all non-nursing staff at Cavan General Hospital this Friday, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on North Eastern Health Board management to engage in immediate and meaningful talks with the representatives of striking porters to avoid the serious escalation of the current situation at the hospital. Free article

Hot on the heels of their defeat in the Nice referendum, the Fianna Fáil/PD government has made an ignominious retreat on a key piece of legislation after a revolt by the four government-supporting Independent TDs and by other backbenchers. The government's U-turn on its own proposal to end the dual mandate is its second major political embarrassment in a fortnight and was described by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin as a ``legislative farce''. Free article

The Sinn Féin group on Dublin City Council proposed at the June meeting that the Council ``oppose any attempt to privatise Dublin City's water supply and services, and fully endorses the Corporation workers in opposing privatisation''. Free article

Scotland's commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike continued last week with the largest ever republican march held in the East of Scotland. Larger than expected, a crowd of over 3,000 people joined the annual James Connolly march in Edinburgh. Two weeks ago, a commemoration march in Glasgow also attracted record numbers. Free article

The AGM of Tar Anall reviewed the huge work that Tar Anall has undertaken in the year, especially through the work of Roisin Kelly working with young people, with the publication of ``Ag Teacht le Chéile'', and ``Left in Limbo,'' which give very personal recollections of life experiences of ex-prisoners' partners and children. Free article

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern delayed the opening of the Sea Bank House pub in East Wall, Dublin, on Tuesday night in order to avoid a local residents' protest at the withdrawal of a teacher from St Joseph's School and the general lack of educational and recreational facilities for youths in the area. Free article

Sinn Féin Assembly Health spokespersons, West Belfast's Sue Ramsey and Mid-Ulster's John Kelly, have given a guarded welcome to the Hayes Report on Acute Hospitals and have described the document as ``radical and comprehensive''. Free article

Over 1,200 workers found out last week that they are going to lose their jobs. 350 are being made redundant at Xerox Europe as they close their ink jet manufacturing plant in Dundalk. 104 jobs are to go at Smith Kline Beecham, which is closing its toothpaste production plant in Dungarvan, County Waterford. Wexford Weaving's announcement of voluntary liquidation will leave 120 people jobless, while Cobh was in shock last weekend with the announcement of the closure of the former Irish Steel plant. Free article

Sinn Féin Dublin South Central representative, Aengus Ó Snodaigh has slammed the 30p increase to the minimum wage as ``miserly''. Commenting on the announcement that the minimum wage is to increase from £4.40 to £4.70, Ó Snodaigh said: Free article