10 December 2009 Edition

Irish and proud

10 December 2009

SINN FÉIN Councillor Críona Ní Dhálaigh has been instrumental in having a council motion passed last Wednesday week at the Dublin City Development Plan meeting to have new housing developments in the city named in the Irish language. The motion was put to the council by Ní Dhálaigh; Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom Brabazon supported her. Free article

Impressive turnout in New York marks 25 years of

10 December 2009

TUESDAY 8 December saw an impressive turn-out of political leaders, human rights activists and Irish-American organisations in New York's City Hall to mark 25 years of the MacBride Campaign for Equality and Fair Employment in the North of Ireland. The MacBride Principles, a nine point anti-discrimination charter, and the support they attracted, particularly in the US, ensured a focus on equality in employment and kept the issue at the centre of the political agenda for 25 years. Free article

Budget day protest over oil and gas giveaway

10 December 2009

SHELL TO SEA campaigners protested outside the Dáil on Budget Day to highlight the Irish Governments' ongoing giveaway of hundreds of billions of euros of Irish gas and oil to large multinationals while at the same time imposing harsh cuts to public services and the social welfare system. Dublin Shell to Sea spokesperson Caoimhe Kerins said: "If the government leaks concerning the extent of the cutbacks in today's budget are to be believed, a total of four billion is to be cut from public expenditure. To put the value of Irelands' gas and oil reserves into perspective, they are conservatively estimated to be well over 100 times this amount at approximately €420 billion. Meanwhile, Minister Eamon Ryan continues issuing licenses which gift Ireland's gas and oil to multinationals." Free article

Unionist ambiguity to loyalist violence continues

10 December 2009

THE Apprentice Boys decision to allow a loyalist band, dedicated to the memory of sectarian killer Brian Robinson, to take part in a controversial feeder parade in Ardyone at the weekend has been condemned by Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly. Kelly described the decision as "extremely insensitive" and questioned the rationale behind the Apprentice Boys decision to parade in a nationalist area and against the wishes of local residents. Free article

Anglo Irish Bank ex-CEO sues state-owned bank

10 December 2009

THE former CEO of Anglo Irish Bank - now nationalised and therefore owned by taxpayers in the 26 Counties - is suing the bank for €2.6 million compensation over losing his job and bonuses after he resigned last year when it emerged the bank had been keeping directors' loans secret from shareholders. Free article

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Justice Minister warns gardaí not to strike

10 December 2009

THE Garda Representative Association's announcement this week that it will ballot 12,000 police officers for industrial action after the collapse of last week's talks by public sector unions with the Government has led to Justice Dermot Ahern insisting the Government will not tolerate any industrial action by An Garda Síochána. Free article

Pat Doherty meets Irish in Britain

10 December 2009

PAT DOHERTY, Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone, was in London last week, visiting some of the city's many Irish community projects to get updated on their important work. At the Hammersmith Cultural Centre, he heard about the work currently being done in the centre, and had a discussion with Caitríona Casey, chair of the London St Patrick's Day Committee, about plans for next year's parade. Much of the group's work will be to access funding, following the slashing of the previous budget by Boris Johnson's new Mayoral administration. Free article

TD fasts for Crumlin Children's Hospital

10 December 2009

SINN FÉIN held a day of action in protest at cuts to resources at Our Lady's Childrens' Hospital in Crumlin Dublin last Saturday, 5 December. About 20 party activists, including Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, staged a sponsored fast from 8am to 8pm, raising funds which will be donated to the Crumlin Hospital Foundation for research. Free article

Nuacht na nOibrithe

10 December 2009

Fine Gael will slash 100,000 jobs and dole, Aer Lingus to jettison 1,000 staff, 222 drivers off the buses, National Irish Bank wants 150 jobs cuts and Éircom chief's call to cut jobs Free article

Wicklow Sinn Féin's first dinner dance a great success

10 December 2009

WICKLOW Sinn Féin held its first annual dinner dance in the Parkview Hotel in Newtownmountkennedy last Friday, 4 December. This was the first dinner dance in the Garden County and was held to honour veteran republican Eric Montgomery. The night got off to a wonderful start with a display of Irish dancing from the girls in the Dowling School of Dancing, followed by a fabulous four-course meal. Free article


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