Smash the NAMA Republic For the third time in eight days éirígí activists in Baile Átha Cliath were on the streets on Tuesday, May 18, in opposition to the right-wing economic policies of the Twenty-Six County government. Click here for more.

éirígí challenge “gas campaigners” over refusal to support nationalisation

A delegation from a local campaign group seeking to have the gas network extended to Sligo and the north-west met with the Junior Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Conor Lenihan on Wednesday (May 19). Amongst those taking part in the delegation was Sligo/North Leitrim's three TD's, Fianna Fáil's Jimmy Devins and Eamonn Scanlon as well as Fine Gael's John Perry.

Also participating on the delegation were Fianna Fáil Senators Marc MacSharry and Geraldine Feeney, Labour party Mayor of Sligo Jim McGarry, Hugh McConville of Sligo Council of Trade Unions, as well as representatives from Sligo Chamber and Sligo Fair Dealers.


This meeting was originally due to take place four weeks ago but had to be postponed and re-arranged due to Lenihan's unavailability. In recent weeks, another delegation which included Senator Marc MacSharry and Deputy Eamonn Scanlon, met with the CEO of Bord Gais John Mullins on this very same issue.

Deputy Devins, who has repeatedly called for the Corrib gas to be piped to Sligo because of its close proximity, described the meeting as "positive". This is despite the fact that it was re-iterated to the deputation that a government subvention of €39 million was needed before the gas network could be considered to be extended to Sligo and that the government remained unwilling to fund such a venture. Devins said they would now seek a meeting with the gas regulator to press their case further.

The role of Jimmy Devins in recent months in organising delegations to meet with Ministers and with Bord Gais on the issue of the Corrib gas and bringing it to Sligo cannot have been missed by anyone who has been following these events. His enthusiasm and dedication to this campaign has not gone unnoticed. For those who think this is commendable, think again.

As éirígí have repeatedly pointed out, under the current arrangements, the only people who will benefit from the Corrib gas, will be Shell and their shareholders. So for those who believe Devins zeal to secure a new market for the Corrib gas in Sligo is just the public spirited and altruistic actions of a public representative keen to serve his electorate, nothing could be further from the truth.


According to the Leinster House Register of Interests published earlier this year, Devins is a shareholder in Standard Life. This is a company that holds over 46 million shares in Shell oil, who have been given the rights to the Corrib gas off the Mayo coast by Fianna Fáil and is one of its biggest shareholders.


So Devins and fellow shareholders, which includes other party colleagues and TD's in Leinster House, unlike the rest of the Irish people, will benefit financially from the Corrib gas being brought ashore, sold under current arrangements and brought to Sligo. It is in his financial interest to oppose any talk of nationalising the Corrib gas and all our natural resources.

It explains quite clearly his support for Shell to get their pipeline built in north Mayo. It also explains his enthusiasm to press the government for almost €40 million of tax payers money to be spent on a project that will benefit his bank balance and that of his fellow shareholders - not the people of Sligo, the north-west or the island as a whole.

However, his enthusiasm does have limits. It does not, for example, extend to preventing his party from imposing savage cutbacks at Sligo General Hospital, with cuts of €12 million to this years budget confirmed by the HSE. This comes on top of cutbacks in recent years which have decimated services at the hospital. More than 70 beds have been removed, wards have closed, waiting lists have increased for essential procedures like colonoscopies, cancer services were removed to Galway and front-line staff numbers have been reduced to what many believe are unsustainable and unsafe levels.

Perhaps the fact that reversing those cutbacks at Sligo General will not benefit Deputy Devins financially, and will only benfefit working people in need of decent health care, explains Devins' lack of enthusiasm for campaigning on this particular issue.

If he was genuinely interested in bringing the gas to Sligo in order to benefit everyone, as éirígí and others are, then he would be wholeheartedly supporting the nationalisation of ALL our natural resources and packing Shell out of Ireland with their tail between their legs. The fact that he has consistently refused to even discuss the issue tells its own story.

Following the meeting on Wednesday éirígí Sligeach activist Gerry Casey challenged those involved in the deputation to explain why they refuse to publicly support the nationalisation of our natural resources despite being repeatedly asked to do so.

Casey said: “If these campaigners who met Lenihan today are serious about bringing natural gas to the north-west, then they need to publicly support the campaign to take back our natural resources. éirígí have already publicly and through correspondence requested that those who met with Lenihan, and previously met with Bord Gais CEO John Mullins, to publicly call for the nationalisation of our oil and gas. To date, they have refused to do so. They have also refused to explain why.”

He added: “Those on the delegation have been told that to extend the gas network to Sligo would require a once off subvention from the Dublin Government of €39 million, which to date has been ruled out. However, the simple solution is to nationalise these valuable resources, extract them safely and use that vast wealth to benefit all the people on this island, not just the shareholders of multi-national oil and gas companies.”

“Under the sea off our shores, lies hundreds of thousands of euros worth of oil and gas that rightfully belongs to the Irish people. By nationalising these resources, the vast wealth generated would make the cost of extending the network to Sligo and other parts of this island a non-issue. At the present time, lack of finance is the excuse. Nationalisation takes away that excuse.”

Casey concluded: “Once again, éirígí are challenging those delegation members to publicly justify their reasons for refusing to support such a simple and just demand that would benefit all the people of this island and not just the shareholders of oil and gas companies. At a time when savage cutbacks in income and essential public services are being imposed, if they are content with this giveaway to multinationals of hundreds of billions of euros that could instead be used to create economic prosperity for all then, let them explain to the public why that is so.”

Donegal VEC Controversy - Who is "shafting" who?

Donegal Vocational Education Committee (VEC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) meeting on Monday (May 17) in order to appoint people to boards of managements of VEC schools and other VEC committees within the county. In the aftermath of that meeting, Fianna Fáil councillors have been up in arms, with Burtonport based Cllr David Alcorn accusing other politicians of “shafting” them. Fianna Fáil councillor Dessie Larkin, obviously distraught at the loss of the Chair to Fine Gael and a reduction in positions for Fianna Fáil representatives, described it as a “dark, dark day for Donegal VEC”.

In response, éirígí Tír Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig accused Donegal Fianna Fáil councillors of having “warped priorities”. He claimed they were more concerned about securing appointments for themselves than about cutbacks in education and the increased poverty and hardship their party is inflicting on working class communities.

MacGiolla Easbuig said: “There are half a million people unemployed on this island, more than 21,000 of them here in Donegal. Thousands more have been forced to emigrate in order to find work. In the case of young people, they have been hounded out by the savage social welfare cuts that were targetted at them making it virtually impossible for them to survive on the dole in their own country."

éirígí's Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig

"The priorities of these Fianna Fáil politicians are truly astonishing. I dont recall these same Fianna Fáil reps complaining about low paid workers and social welfare recipients being “shafted” by their party when incomes and access to essential public sevices were being slashed. I dont recall them describing successive budgets as “dark, dark days” for working people.”

He added: “These same politicians have supported some of the most savage cutbacks imposed since the foundation of this state. Cuts in pay, welfare, child benefit, early childcare supplement, home help, school transport, school book schemes, the scrapping of the Christmas bonus, new prescription charges and increased fuel costs have all lead to a sharp decline in the living standards of welfare recipients and working people. As a result, poverty levels have increased significantly. Cuts in essential health and education services have also contributed greatly to this hardship and suffering.”

“As this hardship is being imposed in order to bail out the banks and to maintain the wealthy lifestyles of the political and business elite, there is no mention from these Fianna Fáil politicians of people being “shafted” or of 'dark, dark days'."

"Indeed, while these Fianna Fáil reps have been whining on local radio stations and to anyone else who will listen to them about their “shafting”, they have completely ignored the savage cuts that their administration have imposed on teachers, on the parents of pupils and on the education sector as a whole. For people who want so badly to be appointed to boards and committees dealing with education, they are strangely silent on the real and pressing issues facing parents and those providing education for our children.”

“While the Dublin government cutbacks have already caused immense suffering for working people and the less well off in society, unfortunately more hardship is inevitable if this administration gets their way. As next winter approaches, more and more families will fall deeper into poverty and will find it much harder to heat their homes and to adequately nourish themselves. Thats the reality of what Fianna Fáil cuts mean to those on low incomes.”

Fianna Fáil Cllr Dessie Larkin

He concluded: “What we will sadly see, is that increasing numbers of people will fall ill and die directly as a result of Fianna Fáil policies. But, that doesn't concern these Donegal Fianna Fáil councillors. They have more pressing matters such as complaining about positions on the VEC to worry about!!!”

Freedom for Pat O’Donnell

Freedom for Pat O’Donnell

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has called on people to come out in support of the Dublin Shell to Sea protest at Shell HQ on Friday [May 21].

The protest, which will commence at 5pm, has been called to mark Erris fisherman and prominent Shell to Sea activist Pat O’Donnell’s 100th day in prison.

Leeson said: “The imprisonment of Pat O’Donnell at the behest of Shell is a travesty of justice and a clear demonstration of the corrupt nature of the Twenty-Six County state. The rights of citizens are being subordinated to the interests of the profits of multinational corporations.

“Pat O’Donnell’s only ‘crime’ was to stand up for the rights of his community and to demand they be allowed to live in peace and safety. The imposition of Shell’s experimental high pressure gas pipeline project in Erris has been bravely resisted by that community for over a decade. For refusing to bend the knee to private profit, they have been vilified, criminalised, beaten off the streets and many activists, including Pat, have been imprisoned on trumped up charges.

“People like Pat have been an inspiration to all of us who strive for a society that puts the rights of its people before private profit.”

Leeson continued: “In a week when protestors against NAMA and the bank bailout, including éirígí activists, have faced the full brunt of state brutality, it is important that support and solidarity is demonstrated to those who have faced similar treatment from the forces of the state.

“The Shell to Sea campaign and the events of recent weeks have highlighted the fact that the state will attempt to stamp out all resistance to its defence of private profit. The Gardaí, despite the weasel words of their senior representatives at the recent GRA conference, have made it clear time and again that they are simply a force that will, at all times, defend private interests. History however, has demonstrated that the will of a risen people is not easily extinguished. The people of Erris and the Shell to Sea campaign have shown that determined and organised resistance can halt the onward march of private capital.”

Contrasting the treatment of campaigners like O’Donnell and Fianna Fáil’s banker and developer friends, Leeson said: “Over the last 12 months, despite ample evidence of endemic corruption; not one banker, developer or speculator has faced the courts. Indeed, many of these people have been rewarded for their corruption and avarice. This is not all that surprising given that Fianna Fáil, has, for decades, been bankrolled by developers, speculators and bankers.

While former Anglo Irish Bank boss Seán Fitzpatrick is free to jet around the world on sunshine holidays and former boss of National Irish Bank Michael Fingleton is given a €1 million pension pay off, honourable men like Pat O’Donnell languish in prison cells. Meanwhile, the giveaway of Irish natural resources to multinational oil corporations continues at the same time as the state is implementing savage cuts in public services: cuts that are driving down the living standards of workers and creating real hardship in working class communities across the state.

Leeson concluded: “It is becoming increasingly clear that, unless people get out on the streets and stay on the streets, this state will continue to trample on the rights of citizens. Pat O’Donnell is one of the people who have refused to bend the knee, justice needs to be served and he should be released from prison immediately. éirígí is calling on people to show their support for him on Friday.”

The Dublin Shell to Sea protest takes place on Friday, May 21 at 5pm at the Shell HQ on Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. For further information, check www.dublinshelltosea.com

Right to protest asserted on the streets of BÁC

For the third time in eight days, éirígí activists in Baile Átha Cliath were again on the streets last night [Tuesday] in opposition to the right-wing economic policies of the Twenty-Six County government. On this occasion it was as part of a multi-organisational anti-capitalist block which formed part of the Right to Work demonstration outside Leinster House. As in excess of 350 protesters gathered at the Wolfe Tone monument on Stephen’s Green the Garda helicopter rattled noisily overhead and dozens of Gardaí watched on.

Following a number of short speeches the march attempted to set off, only to find the road blocked by a line of Gardaí and four Garda horses. With typical arrogance the Garda could provide no adequate explanation for blocking the free passage of a political demonstration.

Undeterred by the Garda tactics the crowd surged forward to chants of ‘Whose Streets? Our Streets!’, before making its way to Anglo Irish Bank Headquarters, just two hundred metres away. Outside the bank a number of speakers addressed the crowd including Cathaoirleach éirígí Brian Leeson. The protest then continued onto Dawson Street before joining the Right to Work rally on Molesworth Street.

Even the constant rain could not dampen the spirits of the estimated 1200 people in attendance. So much so that even after the Right to Work rally has finished up to 150 people made their way closer to Leinster House to chants of ‘Regulation Doesn’t Work, Let the Banks Burn!’.

Once at the Garda lines the protesters were addressed by Brian Leeson, who encouraged people to show that they were not intimidated by the Garda tactics of recent days. With chants of ‘Whose Cops? NAMA’s Cops!’ the crowd did just that. Despite provocation from the Garda the protesters remained disciplined and dignified before returning to the other end of Molesworth Street and dispersing.

Speaking after the demonstration éirígí spokesperson and Dublin City Councillor Louise Minihan said, “Tonight was another important step in building resistance to the NAMA republic. With each passing week the numbers of people turning out to these protests are growing. Nobody should think that we are going to win this battle in the next week or two. It is going to take months and years of hard work to reclaim this country from the golden circle, but it must be done.

“Each and every one of us need to make it our business to get our friends, families and workmates onto the streets. It’s a simple fact that 90% of the people of this state have everything to gain and very little to lose by a radical change in the way that wealth and power are distributed.”

If you are interested in joining or helping éirígí please:

Phone: 00353 (0) 86 236 72 98

or
Email: eirigimembership@gmail.com

éirígí Activist Released

The éirígí activist held on remand in the aftermath of Saturday’s Garda attack on the Anglo Irish Bank demonstration was released yesterday [Monday].

John McCusker was among the seven peaceful protestors who were assaulted and arrested by Gardaí during the éirígí-organised demonstration.

McCusker, who is the chair of one éirígí’s Belfast ciorcal [local branch], was denied bail on Saturday on the spurious grounds that Gardaí could not establish his identity. Despite his passport being in the possession of Gardaí from Saturday evening, it took until today for him to be released.

The Belfast man spent the weekend on 24-hour lock up in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin without any clothes after he refused to wear a prison uniform and prison authorities refused to allow him to remain in his own clothes.

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson, who met McCusker at the gates of Cloverhill upon his release, said: “Saturday’s arrests were the first made in relation to anti-NAMA peaceful protests. Unless the Garda changes it attitude, there are going to be many more because éirígí activists and supporters will not be intimidated by any amount of thuggish behaviour and bully boy tactics."

“John is to be commended for how he has handled himself since Saturday and for the stance he took in refusing to wear a prison uniform."

“All seven activists will be pleading not guilty to the charges that have been leveled against them and éirígí will be giving them complete support in fighting this battle. The right to peaceful protest must be upheld.”

Anglo Irish Protest & Garda Attack – Full Report

On Saturday (May 15) the true nature of the Twenty-Six County state was once again exposed as the Garda violently attacked those who dare to oppose NAMA, the bank bailouts and the savage programme of cutbacks.

The Garda response to éirígí’s protest was not the result of an operational blunder or lack of experience. The decision to attack peaceful protesters was both premeditated and well planned. And more importantly is was highly political. The Dublin government have clearly decided that the emerging resistance to their right wing economic policies must be crushed before it grows stronger.

Below is a full account of the events of the day. The times below are accurate to within ten minutes. All of the key facts below have been authenticated by eye witness accounts, photographs and video footage.

5.45
Four éirígí activists climb onto the roof of the outer porch of Anglo Irish Bank headquarters on Stephens Green in Dublin city centre. They unfurl a large banner with ‘People of Ireland Rise Up’ emblazoned upon it. The four chain themselves together as part of their peaceful protest. Three other éirígí activists remain on the ground to provide support.

5.50 – 7.00

First Garda arrive within five minutes of rooftop protest beginning. Those taking part in the protest inform the Garda that they are staging a peaceful protest in opposition to NAMA, the bank bailout and the cutbacks. They also inform the Garda, in an act of civil disobedience, that they will not be complying with Garda orders to end their protest.

Additional Garda units arrive in a variety of marked and unmarked vehicles. By seven o’clock fifteen Garda vehicles are in situ, including a number of vans which are positioned under the outer porch of the building. The Garda also erect crowd control barriers across the front of the building.

7.00 – 11.15
During the course of the morning the Garda maintain a large presence both inside and outside of Anglo Irish headquarters. The Garda dog unit and vehicles used to transport the Garda riot squad also arrive in the vicinity, parking on Dawson Street, Kildare Street and Stephens Green.

The rooftop protesters continue to hold their banner while chatting to people on the ground who have come to show their support. The general atmosphere is light hearted and entirely peaceful.

11.15 – 12.15
The Garda remove a window from inside of the building and climb onto the roof of the outer porch. The éirígí activists inform the Garda that they are engaged in a peaceful protest and that any attempt to forcibly remove them would potentially be very dangerous, given that fact that they are chained together.

Despite the obvious safety risks a number more Garda climb through the window. In response the protesters move to the edge of the outer porch, still offering no resistance. The Garda then remove the banner and other items belonging to the protesters from the porch roof.

Up to twenty Garda charge towards the protesters. Despite the fact that no resistance is offered all four protesters are pinned down before being dragged through the window into the building. Once inside all four are forced to lie face down before being handcuffed and removed to a waiting van.

Meanwhile outside the bank roughly twenty protesters move to the rear entrance of the Anglo Irish building, with the intent of establishing the well-being of those who had just been dragged off the roof. It was at this point that the Garda first draw their batons and beat the protesters back onto Dawson Street.

Following a short standoff upwards of eighty Gardaí, including members of the riot squad and the dog unit, again attack protesters, pushing them into the path of oncoming traffic on Dawson Street.

For roughly ten minutes the Garda mob push, punch, drag and kick protesters away from the Anglo Irish building. At no point do the protesters retaliate in kind, despite the ample provocation.

Three more people, including the advertised main speaker for the protest, Daithí Mac An Mhaistír, are arrested under public order legislation.

12.15 – 15.15
Protesters make their way back to Anglo Irish headquarters as word of the Garda actions spreads across the city. By half past two, up to one hundred and fifty people have joined the protest.

Cathaoirleach éirígí Brian Leeson and Rúnaí Ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith both address the crowd as word comes through that all of those who had been arrested are to be charged in the Bridewell court later in the afternoon.

The Garda attempt to prevent the erection of an effigy of disgraced banker Sean Fitzpatrick. The crowd refuse to bow to the Garda and cheer loudly as the effigy is set on fire. Chants of ‘Whose cops? NAMA’s cop’s’ and ‘Regulation doesn’t work – let the banks burn’ echo off the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank.

15.15 – 17.30
Following the ending of the protest outside Anglo Irish Bank upwards of fifty people make their way to the Bridewell to demonstrate their support for the seven protesters who are to appear in court.

Six of the seven protesters, Daithí Mac An Mhaistír, Eoin Ó Sé, Daithí O Riain, Ursula Ní Shionnain, Pádraig Ó Meiscill and Robert Fox are released on bail after being charged under trespass and public order legislation. As part of their bail conditions all are banned from Anglo Irish Bank headquarters or any other Anglo Irish Bank property.

The seventh protester John McCusker is refused bail on the spurious grounds of the Garda being unwilling to accept that he was indeed John McCusker. The six protesters leave the courts to loud cheers from the assembled supporters.

John McCusker is transported to Cloverhill Prison until such time as the Garda are satisfied that they have established his identity. At the time of writing (the evening of Sunday May 16) John remains in custody.

Click here for a photo essay from the day.

If you are interested in joining or helping éirígí please:

Phone: éirígí membership department at 00353 (0) 86 236 72 98 or

éirígí Sligeach at 087 150 1952

or

Email: eirigimembership@gmail.com or eirigisligeach'gmail.com

Garda arrests & assaults an attempt to smash opposition to NAMA

éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has described the Garda attack on peaceful protestors at Anglo Irish Bank on Saturday as “vicious and unprovoked”.

There was a large and aggressive Garda presence at the Stephen’s Green headquarters of the bank from early this morning after four éirígí activists gained access to a roof and unveiled a banner proclaiming ‘People of Ireland, Rise Up’.

Gardai sealed off the area around the bank and despite the completely peaceful nature of the protest, later in the morning Garda public order units (more commonly known as the Riot Squad) arrived in large numbers to forcibly remove, arrest and assault the four activists.

On the ground demonstrators were also attacked by Gardai with three other activists being arrested and assaulted. A number of those arrested suffered injuries during the Garda assault and had to receive treatment from a doctor in Pearse Street Garda Barracks. The seven were later charged with “public order offences”, with six released on bail and the seventh remanded in custody.

Despite the attempt at intimidation, Saturday's main protest went ahead as planned at 2pm, with around 150 people turning up to demand an end to the bank bailout, NAMA and the slashing of public services. As the scheduled speaker, Daithí Mac An Mhaistír, was among those arrested, Brian Leeson gave the main oration. General Secretary of éirígí Breandan MacCionnaith also addressed the crowd.

During the demonstration, a large effigy of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive Seán Fitzpatrick was burned.

Leeson said: “Saturday's events proved the point that the institutions of this state act only in the interest of the bankers, developers and the entire business class. However, they also demonstrated that working class people are not powerless in the face of the economic onslaught being waged by right-wing politicians and the wealthy. The Garda’s aim – to prevent the demonstration going ahead – was not achieved."

“People should be conscious of their own ability to change the agenda in this country if they act collectively and determinedly. The action of the Garda and government cannot stop the fight-back that has now begun. Leeson also called for the immediate release of the only éirígí activist still in custody, who is being held on the spurious grounds that Gardaí cannot ascertain his identity.

“There is absolutely no reason this man should continue to be held apart from political vindictiveness. He should be released immediately and the charges against all the activists should be dropped.”

Sligo éirígí activist Gerry Casey has echoed Leeson's comments claiming that Saturdays events were a deliberate attempt by the state to stamp out protests and deter people from taking to the streets.

Casey said: “The arrests and assaults by Gardai were a deliberate attempt by the state to intimidate those engaged in peaceful protest. Their aim is to deter and scare people that are angry at NAMA, the bank bail outs and the savage cutbacks in income and public services from taking to the streets and protesting against making unemployed and working people pay for the greed of the wealthy political and business class.”

He added: “The contrast is stark between the swiftness and deployment of state and Garda resources to arrest and assault peaceful protesters, with the complete lack of action taken by that same police force against the bankers, developers and politicians that led us into the the economic wasteland we are currently in. If they spent a tiny fraction of the time, effort and resources they put into Saturdays arrests and assaults investigating the going ons of the wealthy elite at Anglo Irish Bank and other financial insitutions, maybe the current economic catastrophe could have been avoided.”

“éirígí make no apology for engaging in peaceful civil disobedience as part of the fightback against the economic onslaught being waged against unemployed and working people by right wing politicians and the wealthy. We will continue to do so and we would urge all trade unions, political organisations and individuals opposed to the bank bailouts and the cutbacks to engage in similar activities.”

Casey concluded: “This administration and its anti-worker agenda will not be defeated by asking Fianna Fáil and the Greens nicely or by cosy negotiations between the ICTU leadership and government representatives. It will only be defeated by persistent, direct and meaningful action on the streets and in the workplace. The vicious and unprovoked activities of the Gardai on Saturday underlines that the state will do whatever it takes, including breaking their own laws, to protect the status quo and the interests of the wealthy political and business elite.”

To view more photos from Saturdays demonstration click here

Join Shell to Sea demo to mark Pat O'Donnell's 100th day in prison

Article below courtesy of Dublin Shell to Sea campaign

End Shell law in Mayo - Justice for Pat O'Donnell

Dublin Shell to Sea Protest
Friday 21st May 5pm Shell HQ, Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2



On 21st May next Erris fisherman and Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O’Donnell will be spending his 100th day in prison. Pat’s alleged ‘crime’ was to stand up for the right of his community to live in peace and safety. For this he was sentenced to seven months in prison. This appalling injustice is the latest in a litany of civil rights abuses perpetrated against the small rural community in Erris, Co. Mayo. Shell law rules in Erris - Pat O’Donnell along with other activists such as Niall Harnett, who is currently serving a six month sentence in Castlerea prison, have been imprisoned at Shell’s behest.


For the past ten years that community has bravely resisted attempts by the Irish government and Shell, one of the world’s most powerful multinational oil corporations, to force a dangerous high pressure and odourless gas pipeline through their community. For daring to stand up for their rights, the people of Erris have been harassed, beaten, vilified and many, including Pat, have paid the price with their liberty.

The rights of the people of Ireland are being trampled on so that Shell can profit from natural resources that rightfully belong to the people of Ireland. An estimated €420 billion worth of oil and gas lie off the coast of Ireland - resources that could be used to fund our health, education, and welfare services.

Yet in an extraordinary act of political corruption Fianna Fáil gave away these resources to oil corporations. It is Shell alone, a company that declared €31 billion in profits last year, that will benefit from our oil and gas. This obscenity is occurring at the same time as the government slashes its way through our public services and pours billions of euro of our money into failed private banks.



It is time to shout stop! Shell to Sea demands justice for Pat O'Donnell and the immediate release of this brave and honourable man who merely seeks to uphold the rights of his community. While Pat languishes in a prison cell, the powerful friends of Fianna Fáil such as former Anglo Irish boss Seán Fitzpatrick, who mugged the people of Ireland for billions of euro, is at liberty to jet around the world on sunshine holidays. This is what the government calls justice! This is what a banana republic looks like.

Make your voice heard.

Demand an end to Shell law in Mayo.

Demand justice for Pat O’Donnell.

Join the Dublin Shell to Sea protest on 21st May at 5pm outside Shell HQ, 52 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

Colonoscopy waiting list times placing lives needlessly at risk

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in Ireland, with more than 50 per cent of bowel cancer patients diagnosed with the more advanced forms of the disease, stages 3 and 4. The unfortunate reality is that less than 5 per cent of patients with stage 4 bowel cancer survive more than four years. As with many forms of cancer, early detection is vital, and can mean the difference between life and death.

According to the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) a colonoscopy has been proven to be the most effective method to diagnose the disease. The ICS insist this procedure needs to be carried out between four and six weeks after referral. Indeed, in a letter back in December 2008, Health Minister Mary Harney herself told the HSE she wanted all people awaiting colonoscopies to be seen within one month.

Information provided by hospitals to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), which manages public hospital waiting lists reveal that there are now 951 people in the 26-counties waiting longer than three months for a colonoscopy. That is an increase of 229 people on the waiting list from September 2009.

The information collated by the NPTF reveals that the figures for the waiting list at Sligo General Hospital has increased to 99 compared to 74 in March and 44 back in December. Galway University Hospital has also seen an increase of 70 percent with 106 patients now waiting for a colonoscopy, up from 62 patients in March, while the figures for Letterkenny General Hospital have jumped to 56, increasing from 43 in March and from 25 in December. The Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has gone from 66 to 131, a massive 98 percent increase. This is up from just 9 people on their waiting list back in December of last year.


The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) have described the increases across the majority of hospitals as very worrying. Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications at the ICS, said they were “seriously concerned to see that the total number of people waiting has increased by over 30 percent in just over six months.”

She also expressed concern over the impact these ever increasing waiting lists would have on the screening programme which is due to commence in 2012. According to Ms O'Meara “unless the problem of waiting lists is tackled in advance of screening being delivered, we are not sure that we can have full confidence in the ability of our hospital system to deliver screening while not impacting symptomatic services at the same time.”

This is all par for the course for an administration that has always shown contempt for the lives and well being of the people they claim to represent and govern on behalf of.

Health services have been slashed right across the board in recent years, with more cutbacks planned. We have seen the postponement in recent years of the cervical cancer vaccine for young girls which is only now being rolled out. Cut-backs in home help have also caused enormous hardship and anguish for elderly and ill people right across the country, as this service provided a lifeline for many vulnerable people in need of assistance. Now it is believed that the HSE are looking at closing or limiting the opening hours of accident and emergency units in order to cut the health budget even further.

Here in the north-west alone, we have seen the removal of 72 beds from Sligo General Hospital and the closure of wards. The Hospital is seriously understaffed with most wards operating with two to three nurses less than they require, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Cancer services were also removed last year to Galway University hospital which is unable to cope with the increased workload, as campaigners against the move accurately predicted. There was also a delay of ten years in bringing the breast screening service BreastCheck to the north-west. Now following its eventual arrival last year, it is short staffed, resulting in even further delays in women receiving their appointments for what is, like a colonoscopy, a potentially life saving procedure.

Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar is facing imminent cutbacks of €9 million and the closure of a male surgical ward and possibly more. Other smaller hospitals in the region are also suffering ward closures, staff reductions and reductions in services. In County Leitrim, and indeed a number of other counties around the state, it was recently revealed that they shamefully have no dedicated therapeutic services for children who suffer sexual abuse.

Mary Harney and her cabinet colleagues regularly talked about the need for prioritising. In fairness, she has kept her word. Her priority and that of her government colleagues is to protect the wealthy political and business elite and continue their greed before need and privatisation agenda at the expense of the working people and those most in need in this state.

Given the choice between creating and funding a first class health service freely and easily accessible to all, or bailing out the banks, they have chosen to bail out the banks. If people die as a result of their decisions, which they undoubtably have and will continue to, they are viewed as merely “collateral damage” in their ideological quest for profit and the attainment of ever increasing wealth.

Reacting to these latest figures, éirígí Sligeach activist Gerry Casey condemned the HSE and their political masters, described these lenghty waiting lists as “unacceptable” and “placing lives needlessly at risk”.

Casey said: "éirígí are extremely concerned at the continuing high numbers waiting more than three months to receive potentially life saving colonoscopy testing. The fact that an increasing number of patients referred to Sligo General and other hospitals around the state have to endure such a lengthy delay for their colonoscopy is totally unacceptable."

"Once again, the Dublin government and the HSE seem intent on needlessly putting people's lives at risk by not providing efficient and proven measures to detect and prevent the deaths of Irish citizens from various forms of cancer. As waiting lists and delays increase, as is currently happening, lives will inevitably be lost as a result of this debacle."

Casey concluded: "There is no excuse for people having to wait months for a procedure that could save their lives and which should happen within weeks of referral. It is a matter of deliberate political decisions being taken by this administration who have repeatedly shown that they care little whether working class people suffer unnecessarily or even die unnecessarily."