May Day protest in Sligo - Resist the cuts

29/04/10

This Saturday, May 1, a demonstration has been organised in Sligo to protest against the Dublin government public service cutbacks. The protest, which takes place at 12 noon outside the offices of Sligo/North Leitrim Fianna Fáil TD Jimmy Devins in John Street, has been organised by the newly formed Sligo Workers Alliance.

Over the past 12 – 18 months there has been a systematic campaign by the administration in Leinster House and employers to reduce workers pay and living standards and to erode many of their hard earned rights and working conditions. Particularly abhorrent has been their attempt, cheered on by large sections of a compliant corporate media, to pit private sector workers against public sector workers.

Yet at the same time as they are imposing these cuts and slashing essential health and education services, they are pumping tens of billions of euros to bail out the banks through NAMA. This makes it all the more appalling that what passes for leadership in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have sold out their members once again by negotiating the Croke Park public sector pay and reform agreement with the Fianna Fáil led administration at the end of last month.

Speaking in advance of the demonstration éirígí Sligeach activist Gerry Casey urged trade union members to reject the Croke Park pay deal and urged all workers and the unemployed to support and participate in Saturday's protest.

Casey said: “The economic crisis this state is now in was not created by workers or by social welfare recipients. It was brought about by the greed and corruption of the wealthy political and business elite on this island. Workers and the unemployed must not now be made pay for it and any attempt to do so needs to be vigorously resisted."

Casey added: “The decision therefore of ICTU leaders to agree to the Croke Park pay deal at the end of March with the government is truly shameful and a betrayal of the interests of trade union members and indeed of all workers. It is astonishing that these people, who claim to represent the interests of their members, could agree to a deal that would have such a negative impact on the living standards and working conditions of public sector workers, would have major implications for their ability to take industrial action and would massively reduce the effectiveness of public services. Indeed, privatisation is inevitable in the public service unless a strong and defiant stand is now taken.”

“All of these cuts – cuts in pay, cuts in social welfare, cuts in essential public services such as health and education - are not only unjust in that they impact disproportionally on the less well off and low paid workers, but they are also completely unnecessary. The real agenda here is an ideological one. It is about taking on the trade unions and reducing their power and effectiveness and reducing workers pay and conditions in order to bail out the banks and to boost profits for employers.”

“Workers in the private sector who believe the right wing propaganda and swallow the line that cuts in public sector are necessary should examine very closely at what is happening. If these cuts are not reversed and further cuts are imposed, not only will it seriously damage the long term effectiveness of our public services which impacts on the lives of all workers, but the government and the employers will use it to drive down wages and conditions even further within the private sector. It will be used to drive down the minimum wage, minimum rates of pay and social welfare payments also.”

“The gains achieved for workers over the decades have never been granted willingly. They have always had to be taken by workers themselves. This battle is no different. This is a battle that will not be won by union leaders cosying up to the Dublin government and to employers. It will only be won by determined and sustained action in the workplace and on the streets.”

Casey concluded: “These cuts must be resisted vigorously. All workers and the unemployed should mobilise for Saturdays demonstration and let the government and the so-called “leadership” of the trade union movement that they have had enough and will not be made to pay for the failures of capitalism, for the greed and incompetence of the political and business classes and to bail out the banks. Resist the cuts – Resist the Croke Park pay deal.”

Gá le Gníomh ar Thinte Aitinn - éirígí

28/04/10

(English version follows)

Ghlaoigh urlabhraí éirígí Thír Chonaill Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig arís ar Chomhairle Chondae Dhún na nGall scéim traenála a bhunú le teagasc d’oibrithe deonacha na bealaí is fearr tinte aitinn a throid.

Tagann a ráiteas i ndiaidh tine aitinn eile Déardaoin seo caite i gceantar Bhaile na Finne, a raibh druidim bóithre, damáiste do shealúchas agus cur isteach mar thoradh orthu.

“Leis an mhéadú mhór atá ag teacht ar thinte aitinn ar fud Dhún na nGall de réir dealraimh sílim gur choir don Chomhairle Condae i gcomhar leis an tSeirbhís Dóiteáin machnamh a dhéanamh ar scéim traenála a sheoladh a thabharfadh an t-eolas d’oibrithe deonacha áitiúla le troid in aghaidh na dtinte atá ag déanamh an oiread sin damáiste agus cur isteach le tamall beag anuas,” arsa é.

“Le cúpla seachtain anuas chonaic muid tinte i gceantracha Bhaile na Finne, Ghaoth Dobhair, Anagaire agus an Chraoslaigh agus in áiteanna chomh fada óna chéile le Cúil Dabhcha in Inis Eoghain agus Bhaile Dhún na nGall. Is féidir a leithéid de thine a chur faoi smacht go gasta dá mbeadh an traenáil cheart ag daoine áitiúla le heachtra ar nós tine aitinn a láimhseáil. Thig leis na tinte sin cur isteach forleathan agus dochar timpeallachta ollmhór a dhéanamh má théann siad as smacht, mar a chonaic muid i gceantar Bhaile na Finne le déanaí. Nuair a tharlaíonn seo tá an tSeirbhís Dóiteáin sínithe chuig a n-acmhainn feidhmithe agus cuireann seo saolta i mbaol dá réir. Is draein mhór ar an cháiníocóir é freisin nuair atá an tseirbhís dóiteáin gafa i dtinte aitinn a throid.”

Chríochnaigh sé, “Dá mbeadh aonaid dheonacha againn leis an traenáil cheart le tinte aitinn a throid thiocfadh leo ansin measúnú a dhéanamh an dtig leo na tinte a thabhairt faoi smacht iad féin agus an bhfuil gá scairt a chur ar an tseirbhís dóiteáin. Ar mhaithe le leas an cháiníocóra, na timpeallachta agus an rud is tábhachtaí, saolta daoine, measaim go bhfuil sé ag dlí ar Chomhairle Condae Dhún na nGall machnamh dáiríre a dhéanamh air seo. Idir an dá linn ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an tseirbhís dóiteáin i dTír Chonaill agus an obair iontach agus dothuirsithe a dhéanann siad sa réigiún seo.”

Need for Action on Gorse Fires - éirígí

Spokesperson for éirígí Tir Chonaill, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, has called again for Donegal County Council to establish a training programme to instruct volunteers on the best methods of fighting gorse fires.

His comments come in the wake of another gorse fire last Thursday in the Fintown area which lead to road closures, damage to property and disruption in the area.

“Given the seemingly huge increase in gorse fires throughout County Donegal I think the County Council, in conjunction with the Fire Service, should give serious consideration to launching a training programme which would give local volunteers the know-how to fight the fires which have been causing so much damage and disruption in recent times,” he said.

“In the last several weeks alone we have seen fires in the Fintown, Gweedore, Annagry, and Creeslough areas and in places as far apart as Culdaff in Inishowen to Donegal Town. Fires such as these could quickly be brought under control if people who live local to the fire were properly trained in dealing with an event such as a gorse fire. Such fires can cause widespread disruption and huge environmental damage if they manage to get out of control, as we have seen in the Fintown area most recently. When this happens the fire service are then stretched to their operational capacity and this in turn puts lives at risk. Having the fire service tied up in fighting gorse fires is also a huge drain to the tax payer.”

He concluded, “If we had local volunteer units properly trained to fight gorse fires they then could make the assessment if they can bring the fires under control themselves and whether or not the fire service need to be called out. In the interests of the taxpayers, the environment and most importantly human lives, I think it it is incumbent upon Donegal County Council to give this serious consideration. In the meantime I would like to pay tribute to the fire service in Donegal and the fantastic and tireless work they do in the region.”

éirígí occupation of Anglo Irish Bank

26/04/10

Scores of people gathered on Saturday outside the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank on St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, in support of six éirígí activists who were staging a symbolic occupation of the building.

éirígí spokesperson Daithí Mac An Mhaistír and Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan were among those who chained themselves to railings within the headquarters of the failed bank. The action, which began at 10am and ended shortly after 2pm, was taken in opposition to both NAMA and the bank bailout scheme.

April 24 was chosen as the date of the protest as it marks the 94th anniversary of the start of the Easter Rising. It was on this day in 1916 that the Proclamation of the Irish Republic laid out a vision of Irish society that guaranteed equality for all. In contrast, in the Ireland of 2010, the interests of the golden circle are cherished above all others.

As Gardaí moved to cordon off the footpath in front of the bank, passers-by and motorists were keen to show their opposition to NAMA with both words and car horn beeps of support. As news of the occupation spread across the city, dozens of people made their way to Stephens Green. By 12 noon, the advertised assembly time for the protest, upwards of 60 people were outside Anglo Irish, carrying a variety of colourful placards, flags and banners.

Speaking from outside Anglo Irish, éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson called for a sustained campaign against NAMA, the bank bailout and the cuts to public services.

“The Twenty-Six counties is in crisis. Almost half a million people are unemployed while thousands more are being forced to emigrate, tens of thousands are waiting to be housed while countless properties lie idle and the health and education systems are chronically under-funded. And, in the face of all of this, the Dublin government’s sole focus is the protection of the banks and the business class.

“The time for polite debate has passed. We believe that the only way that NAMA, the bank bailout and the cutbacks can be defeated is through a campaign of mass civil disobedience. We hope that the CDPs, the sports clubs, the drug prevention schemes, the youth clubs and all the other organisations which have had their funding slashed in recent months will take it upon themselves to organise similar direct actions aimed at the disruption of the political and banking systems.

“Working people have many means at their disposal to force the Dublin government to reverse its unjust policies. Through rent and mortgage strikes, through mass public protest, through civil disobedience, through the withdrawal of labour we can collectively bring the NAMA Republic to its knees. And, in its place, we can build a country that will truly reflect the vision of the 1916 Proclamation.”

For more photos from the day, click here.

Bí leis an fhrithbheartaíocht do NAMA.

24/04/2010

(English version follows)

Ag meánlae Dé Luain 24ú Aibreán 1916, tháinig Pádraig Mac Piarais amach as Ard-Oifig an Phoist agus léigh os ard Forógra 1916 Phoblacht na hÉireann, ag maíomh gur ‘ceart ceannasach dochloíte é ceart mhuintir na hÉireann chun seilbh na hÉireann’ agus ag gealladh go mbeadh an phoblacht nua “chomh ceanúil céanna ar chlann uile an náisiúin”.

Ceithre bliana is nócha níos moille, tá aisling na ndaoine a shínigh forógra 1916 stiallta. Tá na Sé Chondae fós faoi smacht Gall agus tá stat na Sé Chondae Fichead anois tiontaithe ina Phoblacht NAMA, ag daoradh na nglúnta faoi fhiacha ollmhóra.

I dTír Chonaill tá breis agus 21,000 duine go fóill gan post. Bhí ar chuid mhaith eile imeacht ar an bhád bhán, go háirithe daoine óga, nach bhfuil ábalta maireachtáil i ndiaidh na ngiorruithe móra ina n-íocaíochtaí leasa sóisialta. Tá an bochtanas ag méadú. Tá slad déanta ar ár dtionscail iascaireachta agus feirmeoireachta. Forchuireadh giorruithe fiáine ar ár seirbhísí sláinte agus oideachais áitiúla.

Níl a fhios ag aon duine, rialtas Átha Cliath san áireamh, cén méid a chosnóidh NAMA agus scéim tharrthála na mbancanna sa deireadh, ach seans maith go sáróidh sé céad billion euro. Is é sin €100,000,000,000 ar chóir a chaitheamh ag cruthú postanna, ag díothú bochtanais agus ag aisiompú na ngiorruithe i bpá, leasa sóisialta, sláinte agus in oideachas. Ina áit rachaidh sé isteach i bpócaí na mbaincéirí príobháideacha ar fud na hEorpa agus níos faide i gcéin.

Ní féidir ach le muintir na hÉireann iad féin bac a chur ar NAMA, trí dhul ar na sráideanna agus fanacht ar na sráideanna; trí dhul ar stailc; trí dhiúltú cáin a íoc; trí dhiúltú bheith faoi cheannas aicme polaitiúla truaillithe; trí phoblacht dhíomách NAMA a chur faoi chois.

Díreach ceithre bliana is nócha i ndiaidh Éirí Amach 1916 a thosaigh ar 24ú Aibreán tá éirí amach nua de dhíth ar mhuintir na hÉireann chun aisling 1916 a chur i gcrích. Ná fan ar duine eile é a dhéanamh. Bí leis an fhrithbheartaíocht do NAMA.

Join the Resistance to NAMA

At midday on Easter Monday April 24th 1916, Padraig Pearse stepped out of the GPO and read aloud the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, declaring 'the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland' and guaranteeing that the new republic would cherish “all of the children of the nation equally”.

Ninety four years later, the dream of those who signed the 1916 proclamation lies in tatters. The Six-Counties remain occupied by Britain while the Twenty-Six County state has been turned into a NAMA Republic, enslaving generations to come with massive debts.

In Donegal, 21,000+ people remain unemployed. Many more have been forced to emigrate, particularly young people, unable to survive following massive cuts in their social welfare payments. Poverty is on the increase. Our fishing and farming industries have been decimated. Savage cuts have been imposed in our local health and education services.

Nobody, including the Dublin government, knows how much NAMA and the bank bail out scheme will ultimately cost, but it may well exceed a staggering one hundred billion euro. That is €100,000,000,000 that should have been spent creating jobs, eradicating poverty and reversing the cutbacks in pay, social welfare, health and education. Instead it will go into the pockets of private bankers across Europe and beyond.

The only people that can stop NAMA are the Irish people themselves, by taking to the streets and staying on the streets; by striking; by refusing to pay taxes; by refusing to be ruled by a corrupt political class; by bringing the whole sorry NAMA republic to its knees.

Exactly ninety-four years after the 1916 Rising began on April 24th the people of Ireland need a new rising to make the dream of 1916 a reality. Don't wait for someone else to do it. Join the resistance to NAMA.

IPSC and éirígí Mark Palestinian Prisoners Day

21/04/10

The annual Palestinian Prisoners Day was marked in Dublin on Saturday [April 17] with a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy. The protest was jointly organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) and éirígí.

Around 60 people attended the demonstration, including 15 éirígí activists.

It was part of a series of events being held in the Palestinian territories and worldwide to highlight the appalling conditions under which Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails and to demand their immediate release. Demonstrations were held throughout the West Bank, east Jerusalem and in Gaza, where a protest and 24 hour fast were held at the offices of the Red Cross.

The Palestinian Prisoners Day protests took place within hours of the death of Palestinian prisoner Raed Abu Hamad in his cell at Eshel Prison. Hamad, who was serving a ten year sentence, had been in solitary confinement for the past 18 months and, according to his lawyer, had been continually denied medical treatment.

In the region of 7000 Palestinians are believed to be currently incarcerated in appalling conditions in Israeli jails. Around 300 of those are in what is known as “administrative detention” – in short, they have been interned without trial.

Those prisoners who were ‘convicted’ did not receive fair trials as they were subject to Israeli military law and had their cases heard in biased non-jury military courts, making a mockery of Israel’s claims to be a ‘liberal democracy’. Among those detained are around 300 children, and according to human rights organisations, that figure is on the increase.

The demonstration was addressed by éirígí spokesperson Dáithí Mac An Mhaistír and IPSC spokesperson Freda Mullin Hughes. While the demonstration at the Israeli embassy demanded the release of ALL Palestinian political prisoners, both speakers paid a particular focus on the cases of two individuals abducted and held as prisoners by Israel in order to highlight the ill-treatment of Palestinians at the hands of the zionist state’s so-called ‘justice’ system – the cases of Ahmad Sa’dat of the PFLP and Abdallah Abu Rahmah of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall.

Speaking at the demonstration, Daithí said, “There is a strong tradition of solidarity between Irish republicans and Palestinians, especially when it comes to the issue of prisoners.

“That political prisoners have been and continue to be a feature of the political life of Palestine and Ireland is emblematic of the failed nature of attempts to pacify an occupied people.”

He concluded: “While it is important for us to show solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, what is far more important is that we work in whatever way we can to support the Palestinian resistance and help end the occupation.”

Click here for Daithí's full speech at the demonstration.

For more pictures of the protest click here.

Dublin Reacts Against Racism

18/04/10

On Saturday April 10, more than 1,000 people took to the streets of Dublin to unequivocally oppose racism and recent racist incidents.

The march, which included a contingent of around 15 éirígí activists, as well as community groups, African cultural organisations, trade unions and other left-leaning political parties, was organised by the friends and family of Toyosi Shitta-bey, the 15-year-old boy who was murdered in a racist attack on April 2 in Tyrrelstown, Dublin.

Commencing at the Garden of Remembrance, the march was addressed by, among others, a cousin of Toyosi Shitta-bey on behalf of the family, Rosanna Flynn from Residents Against Racism and by a representative of the Chinese community in Ireland.

Following the speeches, the march made its way down O’Connell Street towards Leinster House.

After the rally, éirígí spokesperson Brian Leeson said: “Hundreds of people have spoken with their feet today and the message is loud and clear – there is no place in Irish society for racism or racists.

“This march was a great show of strength against the bigots and fascists who try to blame society’s ills and issues such as an economic depression on those who look differently to them, or come from a different culture, instead of blaming the real culprits – the bankers, developers and golden circle politicians.

“As well as racist attacks, it is equally important to oppose the racism that emanates from the state that has led to children being deported and others locked up or living in poverty.”

Brian continued: “The only society worth building is one that will treat all citizens equally, regardless of their skin colour, background or religion. In the meantime, éirígí will continue to oppose racism and sectarianism wherever and whenever they raise their ugly head.”