Pearse Park – The Facts

I’ve blogged before about the uncertainty and concern that planning issues can arouse in local communities … and about the manner in which some politicians mislead communities about these issues for political gain.

I believe that planning should be community-led rather than developer-led … and that depends on communities being given all the facts about a particular proposal so that they can make an informed decision. It also, of course, depends on communities having the structures through which they can make a decision and influence planning issues.

That’s why we’re going to be spending the next few weekends distributing information leaflets on the plan by Dublin City Council to re-develop part of Pearse Park to provide a range of amenities to the people of Crumlin and surrounding areas. These amenities include a swimming pool and leisure centre, as well as other sports facilities (a new boxing club, changing facilities for soccer and GAA), a state-of-the-art children’s playground and a community crèche for 70 children. In order to finance this project, the Council proposes selling off a very small strip of land for housing. Click here for an aerial photograph of Pearse Park showing the approximate size of the strip in question.

Like a lot of people, I don't like the idea of selling off public land. But the City Council cannot afford to build this complex itself – it relies on government grants. And – especially as we head into an economic downturn – money is simply not going to be forthcoming from central government. Which is why the Council needs the revenue from the sale of this small strip in order to provide the people of Crumlin with the facilities they deserve.

But the decision shouldn’t simply be up to me or other politicians - and it certainly shouldn't be up to developers.

This project affects Crumlin. And I believe that Crumlin voices should be heard. The best way to progress this project, while also taking account of community concerns, is to establish a representative steering committee. This committee would include:

· All local councillors;
· Crumlin Network, representing residents;
· GAA (Crumlin Gaels);
· Soccer interests (Crumlin United);
· Crumlin Bowling Club;
· Dublin 12 Childcare Consortium
· Crumlin Boxing Club
· Representatives of swimming interests

I will be proposing the establishment of this Steering Committee to the City Council as the best way of ensuring YOUR voice is heard.

If you want to know more, you can download the 15-page plan for Pearse Park and Crumlin Leisure Centre here, and a copy of the leaflet we’re distributing is available here (please note that downloads may be slow with a dial-up connection. PDF files require Adobe Reader, which is available for download here).

Highlighting Unequal Ireland

I spent a very enjoyable (although wet) couple of days in Galway last weekend at the Tom Johnson Summer School, organised by Labour Youth; you can read all about it here [http://www.labour.ie/youth/]. As usual, there were stalls with information on various issues - and one of the hot sellers was a wall chart on ‘Unequal Ireland’, with information compiled by one of our own branch members, Brian Kenny. As somebody said during the summer school, commenting on the boom years, a rising tide does not lift all boats - it lifts all yachts.

We have at least 10 billionaires, and another 100 people worth over 100 million each. In total we have over 30,000 millionaires – property millionaires, tribunal millionaires, business millionaires.

We have more helicopters per head than the UK, and more Mercedes per head than Germany.

The top 1% of the population owns 20% of the country's worth.

Yet we still have 17% of the population at risk of poverty.

If you want to know the facts and figures about Unequal Ireland, you can download Brian’s wall chart here (please note that PDF files require Adobe Reader, which is available for download here).

Celebrating Reza

You may remember that I wrote a blog last year about 'R'., an asylum seeker and member of Labour Youth who worked on our election campaign. Well, 'R' is Reza Mirfattahi, and last Thursday we gathered in the Civic Offices to watch Reza being presented with one of the 2008 World Refugee Day awards. Reza - who is currently living on direct provision in New Ross, pending determination of his application for refugee status - was honoured for his involvement in the New Ross community.

Reza gave a very impressive speech – a speech about oppression and resistance in his home country of Iran, but also about the two-way engagement between new and old communities here in Ireland. He concluded by dedicating his award to the struggling workers and trade union leaders of Iran and their families.

As you can imagine, there was a large Labour turnout at the ceremony. We all hope that Reza will not have to wait too much longer to be granted refugee status - a status that is richly deserved, and that will allow Reza to live a full life here in his adopted community.

Lisbon …

Most people are probably sick and tired of ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ posters by now, and they’re certainly fed up with the mountain of leaflets coming through the door (I’m afraid I’ve contributed my fair share of leaflets – we’ve been out around Dublin South Central for the past few weeks urging a 'Yes' vote). But whichever way you decide to vote - please do come out and make your voice heard!

Liberties Festival …

Nowadays, when we think of Dublin’s inner city, the Liberties is one of the first places that springs to mind. Ironically, though, the Liberties were not originally under the city’s jurisdiction: they lay outside the city’s walls, and were subject to the Archbishop of Dublin, the Earl of Meath and various other feudal overlords. Today, though, the Liberties and its environs – including the Coombe and Cornmarket – are at the very centre of Dublin, redolent of both its past and its future. The National College of Art and Design and the Digital Hub are producing cutting-edge work just a stone's throw from the Cathedral where Dean Jonathan Swift presided, and the same streets which, three hundred years ago, were home to French-speaking Huguenot weavers, are now home to Dublin’s New Communities. The Liberties Festival is intended to celebrate the gifts and talents of all our communities. It was launched by newsreader Anne Doyle, and runs until June 24th. Here's a pic of Local Councillor John Gallagher travelling in style with RTE's Anne Doyle ...

Joe Connolly: Celebrating that Community Spirit …

Well, once again I’m catching up on events in bunches – the past couple of weeks have been pretty hectic. Anyway, a fortnight ago I was delighted to be present when Joe Connolly was honoured with the Lord Mayor’s award. Actually, it was quite a Labour event: Joe served the people of Dublin as a Labour city councillor for many years, and Labour’s Paddy Burke, as current Lord Mayor, made the award. But Joe was being honoured not as a politician but for his role in founding the Community Games nearly four decades ago. Thanks to Joe’s commitment, children and young people all over Ireland have the opportunity to become involved in sports. Joe was always equally committed to his own local community - to the people of Walkinstown. So it was entirely appropriate that the award was presented at a function in the Walkinstown Social and Athletic Federation Club, where Joe's neighbours and friends gathered to honour this truly remarkable man.

Joe with his citation ...


... and Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke and myself congratulating Joe on his award:

Launch of Draft Drimnagh Integrated Area Plan – Have Your Say

You know, of all the issues crossing politicians' desks, development is probably the one that arouses the most passions. Understandably, residents in many local communities feel that they have no say in what happens to their built environment. Development seems to be builder-led rather than community-led and, especially during the property boom of the last few years, every day seemed to bring a new planning application. Many proposals were innovative and progressive. Many were not. But they all represented change, and change is often unsettling.

As a result, many local politicians throughout Dublin felt obliged to make promises to their constituents that they can not possibly keep. I've blogged about this before: the fact is that politicians have absolutely no control over whether a planning application is granted or refused. And that’s why developers need not fear political intervention. What developers do fear, however, is communities working together, and working with local government, to ensure that development serves the needs of people rather than the balance sheets of developers.

That is why, towards the end of 2006, I proposed that representatives of the community, together with other stakeholders and Dublin City Council, should get together and create a Drimnagh Integrated Area Plan. As a result, a Steering Group was formed comprising representatives of Dublin City Council, KWCD and Drimnagh Community Network. Last September we commissioned a firm with experience in social, physical, and environmental urban planning to help us produce the plan.

Well, it took a lot of work. But last week the Drimnagh Draft Integrated Area Plan was finally launched. A summary is available for download here, and the full document can be downloaded here. The draft is available both in hard copy and on CD, together with a questionnaire – give me a call at 087-2548429 if you’d like a copy. We would also welcome submissions. So – if you live in Drimnagh, this is your chance to get involved in the future of your neighbourhood. Submissions should be received before June 5th; both submissions and completed questionnaires can be dropped into the comment box at the John Bosco Centre.

McNamara Pull-Out Wholly Predictable

Earlier this week it was confirmed that developer Bernard McNamara is to pull out of a range of Public-Private Partnership arrangements with Dublin City Council. This will affect the regeneration of St. Michael’s Estate in Inchicore, as well as other projects around Dublin. Many housing units in these estates have already been de-tenanted, and tenants are waiting to be re-housed. Mr. McNamara's decision means they must continue waiting.

Now, I must admit this decision didn’t come as much of a surprise to me. Let’s face it: developers’ main aim is to turn a tidy profit – the fact that they provide housing is really just incidental to their bottom-line focus. They’d manufacture tiddly-winks if there was enough money in it. It was therefore always likely that private developers would pull out of PPP deals as soon as the housing market started falling.

It was particularly noteworthy that, when justifying his decision, Mr. McNamara cited not only the “adversely changed circumstances” of the housing market (downturn, to you and me), but also new building and energy regulations – regulations designed to ensure that housing meets high standards in terms of both accommodation and energy conservation. For the most part, developers are not interested in building highest-standard homes for families: they’re interested in turning out housing units which they can build for as little as possible and sell for as much as possible.

Unfortunately, the casualties of such commercial decisions will be among the most vulnerable groups in our society - those who must rely on the public sector to provide for their housing needs.

I hope that Mr. McNamara's decision will give us the spur we need to adopt a radically different approach.

Dublin City Council already owns the sites in question. The Council should now proceed with the regeneration projects proposed, setting aside one-third for social housing and one-third for affordable housing, with the remaining third to be sold to owner-occupiers on the open market.

The sale of one third of the units on the open market would allow the Council to recoup much of the cost entailed. In order to finance the up-front expenditure, the National Pension Reserve Fund could make available the capital funding. This would be repaid in full, plus interest, over an extended period of time. This would mean that funding would not need to come from the Exchequer. All the Government would have to do is make the necessary legislative changes.

Such an approach would not only enable the Council to meet the needs of those requiring social and affordable housing; it would also ensure that neither the Council nor its tenants are dependent on the goodwill of private developers, whose motivation is solely profit-driven.

Some of the best housing in this city was built by Dublin City Council in the past - I’ve blogged before about the high quality of public-sector design and construction in areas such as Mount Brown and more recently in Ballyfermot, where Father Lemass Court offers an example of cutting-edge public-sector design, and I’ve vlogged about the high quality design of the new Bridgefoot Street development. I’ll be raising this proposal when Dublin City Council meets to discuss the McNamara fiasco. Check back here for updates!

Drimnagh Ladies & Social Capital

I’m late again posting this; it’s almost a month since I attended the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Drimnagh Ladies Club. Of course, these sort of events are the bread-and-butter of any politician's life - but they're also much more. A few years ago the American political scientist Robert Putnam wrote a book called Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, in which – essentially – he argued that voluntary associations form the backbone (or the social capital) of a society. Putnam found a direct correlation between active networks of social participation, thriving local government and a higher quality of life. Obviously, like any theory Putnam’s concept of social capital can be misinterpreted: in particular, the idea of volunteerism can be abused by governments seeking to shift the tasks which should be the responsibility of the state (e.g. health, education, social care) onto the voluntary sector. In this sense, it is perhaps no surprise that former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern proclaimed himself a fan of Putnam's work, and even invited him to address the Fianna Fail parliamentary party. But despite the misuses to which Putnam's ideas can be put, it is hard to argue with his central premise: Society is strengthened by people coming together in social and civic organisations – whether a political party, a GAA club or a ladies' club. Of course, not all social capital is of equal value.

Putnam highlights the distinction between bonding social capital and bridging social capita. Bonding social capital is exclusive and therefore negative: it derives from social networks between homogenous groups of people (Putnam cites criminal gangs as an example). Bridging social capital, on the other hand, is positive: it results from networks between diverse groups of people who come together for a specific purpose or activity (such as social clubs, sports clubs, family support groups etc.). By fostering a sense of social cohesion, bridging social capital can - again according to Putnam - help combat social 'disorders' such as crime.

Of course, what social capital essentially boils down to is a sense of community. Too often, in my view, the concept of community is hi-jacked by the Right. I believe that we on the Left need to reclaim the whole idea of community, and give unstinting support to the myriad voluntary organisations working in our local areas. Which is just one reason why I was delighted to help the Drimnagh Ladies Club celebrate their 40th anniversary … click here for pics of the occasion!

Burying Bad News ...

Six years after the Morris Tribunal started its work investigating Garda malpractice in Donegal, the tribunal's report has finally been published. Actually, Mr. Justice Morris submitted his report – containing yet more critical findings regarding Garda conduct in Donegal – to the Government on April 24th. But it was only published on May 7th. Coincidentally, this also happened to be the day of Brian Cowen’s election as Taoiseach. So it’s no surprise that the report’s findings received scant attention in the media the following day.

This practice is known in the trade as “burying bad news”. The most famous case happened in the UK, when an advisor to then Transport Secretary Stephen Byers sent an e-mail to colleagues on September 11th, 2001 – the day of the Twin Towers attack on New York - suggesting that it would be “very good day” to “bury” bad news. Mr. Byers and his advisor lost their jobs over the incident - but it seems the practice is alive and well in Ireland in 2008!

Incidentally, you can download the Morris report here.

Fairtrade, the Sunday papers and Bertie’s ambitions

I’ve been hitting the road again – or at least, the streets of Harold’s Cross. As the weather warms up, we’ve started our regular weekend leafletting sessions again – beginning with a ‘Thank You’ leaflet to everyone who's been buying Fairtrade products, thus helping Dublin achieve Fairtrade status. I must admit I was knackered after finishing Mount Argus on Saturday – but at least the weather was glorious. On Sunday I came home after leafletting, went out into the garden and opened the Sunday Tribune ... and then wished I hadn't. Right at the top of Page 3 was a full-colour spread on the dress sense of Irish women politicians. I blogged about this kind of vacuity (not to mention sexism) last year. Surely our papers can find something better to write about - politics, for example? Mind you, my blood was already boiling after reading the story on Page 1 about ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s possible ambitions to run for President – either President of the European Council or President of Ireland. Now, I'd better be careful what I write here, libel laws being what they are. But let's be quite clear about it: Mr. Ahern’s resignation as Taoiseach was prompted by what he himself called the “confusion and worry in people’s minds” surrounding his personal finances. We still await the Mahon Tribunal’s final conclusions. But, on current evidence, Mr. Ahern would not seem to be a suitable candidate for either Presidency!

We're Not All The Same

You know, one of the things that always gets to me on the campaign trail is when people say “Sure, you’re all the same”. Well, we’re not. And here’s one reason why.

The Irish Times today published a list of donations to TDs disclosed to the Standards in Public Office Commission. It makes instructive reading.

You may remember that, before the General Election last year, I received and returned an unsolicited cheque from a developer. But it seems that others are rather less choosy about whom they accept money from.

A quick scan of today's list showed that at least 16 of the 44 Fianna Fail TDs – or 36% - who made a declaration had received donations from developers. I say ‘at least’ because I'm only including those donors who are quite clearly builders or developers. Lots of other donors are called things like 'XYZ Investments' - but since, for all I know, they could be investors in tiddly-winks, I have not included them. And, of course, this list only includes donations above the €635 limit … so, again for all we know, developers could be scattering €500 cheques around like confetti.

Fine Gael was rather better than Fianna Fail: four out of 23 TDs making a disclosure had received obvious developer donations.

Not one Labour TD had received a developer donation. Nor, incidentally, had any of the Green or Sinn Fein TDs.

And that’s just one of the reasons why we’re not “all the same”.

Now, before a shower of solicitors’ letters rains down on my head, I’d better point out that there is nothing inherently wrong in receiving donations from developers, and nor is there any inevitable connection between donations received and political favours granted. But politicians in a democracy must avoid not only impropriety, but also the appearance of impropriety. And there is no doubt that the real or perceived connection between some right-wing politicians and developers has undermined public confidence in the political system.

Incidentally, we wouldn’t know any of this if it were not for the ethics and Standards in Public Office legislation initiated by Labour.

Fairtrade Again

The other day I was delighted to join a range of people involved in the Fairtrade movement at Aras an Uachtarain, where President Mary McAleese congratulated us on Dublin’s certification as a Fairtrade City:

Squabble of Gorse Hill

Now, the Irish Independent does not generally feature on my reading list. In fact, regular readers of this blog will be aware of my views on the Indo and its stablemates. But yesterday morning was an exception: I was in a waiting room with a stack of Indos and picked one up. And there was the headline splashed across the front page: Battle For Gorse Hill. Followed by a further four pages covering this epic struggle. Now, when I think of a battle – especially when associated with a place name – my mind goes back to vaguely remembered history lessons at Synge Street CBS. The Battle of Clontarf springs to mind. So does the Battle of the Boyne and, further afield, the Battle of Bunker Hill. These were battles between armies, the outcomes of which influenced the course of history. And now we have the Battle for Gorse Hill, a squabble between two very rich men about a strip of highly-valued land in one of the most exclusive areas of Dublin. Don’t get me wrong. Everyone has the right to seek recourse to the courts, and certainly the parties’ decision to settle spared the state a costly trial. But just what made this case worthy of five pages in a national paper?

It's not as though it was a dead news day. On the same day that Messrs. Kenny and Charlton settled their squabble, details of an HSE report into the death of a young mother following childbirth were leaked. The report found that her care had been compromised by staffing shortages. This scandal – a scandal which, unlike the Gorse Hill story, affects all of us – merited less than half a page in the Independent.

Go figure. Incidentally, I couldn’t resist this pic, courtesy of Red Mum:

When Easter and New Year Come Together

While many people in Ireland have spent the past few days celebrating Easter, Kurdish members of our community have been celebrating New Year, or Nawroz. I was delighted to be invited by the Kurdish community – many of whom had travelled from all over Ireland – to join them in Perrystown Estate Community Hall, a venue more commonly known for hosting annual variety shows. Nawroz – also spelt Norooz, and literally meaning ‘New Day’ - is celebrated by Kurds as the first day of spring, and also the first day of the New Year.

It was a great evening of music, dance and fun – and, refreshingly, the celebrations were unfuelled by alcohol. As well as Iraqi Kurds, I met Iranians, Palestinians and Egyptians – not to mention, of course, Irish people who have married Kurds.

So I was amazed – and saddened – to discover that some local residents had complained to the Perrystown Hall Committee about the 'noise' associated with the Nawroz event. Well, I was there. It was no noisier than any other community celebration. In fact, since there was no alcohol involved, it was probably rather less noisy!

I do not for one moment believe that those who complained represent the majority (or even many) of Perrystown residents. But I was saddened to think that, as Christians celebrate Holy Week, some people were disturbed by the spectacle of another community celebrating an important time in their calendar.

I hope the Kurdish community will invite me again next year – and I hope that more Irish people will join the celebrations.

Ireland is changing. Perhaps it's changing too fast for a few people. But the task facing us now is to educate our communities - all our communities - in order to allay the kind of fears that can be exploited by those who would prefer to divide, rather than unite our communities!

Meanwhile, here are some pics of the night.

Craic, Kurdish style ....

And one of the youngest members of the community sleeping through it all ...

Where the Mushrooms Come Free

A few months ago I wrote a post on figures published by the Centre for Housing Research showing that substandard housing is far more common in the Rent Supplement sector than in the rest of the private rented market. A staggering 78% of Rent Supplement accommodation in Dublin does not meet minimum basic legal standards. Well, this week Prime Time and the Irish Times have been addressing this issue. The Irish Times published pictures of a flat occupied by a young family where mushrooms were growing out of the walls and floors. My scanner is banjaxed at the moment, so I can't post this pic.

Unfortunately, the slum landlords renting out so-called homes infested with fungus and vermin, or without proper heating and hot water, have little to fear at the moment. In 2006, 30 per cent of the 6,800 properties inspected fell below the legal minimum standards.

But just 11 landlords were prosecuted.

That is less than 0.05 per cent. Let's be generous, assume that many of these landlords own multiple properties, and round the figure up to 1%.

It’s still a disgrace – and it’s getting worse.

According to figures obtained by Labour’s Housing spokesperson, Ciaran Lynch, the inspection regime – what there is of it – has pretty much collapsed: although the number of registered private rented dwellings increased from 22,574 in 2004 to 132,843 in 2006, the percentage inspected by local authorities dropped from 32% to 7.4%.

Well, a couple of months ago I was appointed chair of Dublin City Council’s Housing Policy Committee. And I intend to do all in my power to ensure that private tenants – and especially those on Rent Supplement, where slum landlords are effectively being state-subsidised – get the protection they deserve, at least in Dublin.

So expect to see a lot more posts from me on this topic.

Postal Code Lottery – and the Kids who Lose Out

A headline in yesterday’s Irish Times reads “Children from poor areas 30 times likelier to face court”. The piece reports the findings in The Children’s Court – A National Study, by the Association for Criminal Research and Development. Well, these figures won’t have come as much of a surprise to social workers, teachers (or, indeed, local politicians) working in disadvantaged areas, but I’m delighted that we now have some hard statistics with which to work. Of the children studied, a staggering 25% came from Dublin 1 or Dublin 11, over 20% came from Dublin 22 or 24, and together Dublin 8 and 12 accounted for a further 25%.

Researchers found that the typical young offender is about 15 or 16, lives with a lone parent, has a drug or alcohol problem, and failed to complete Junior Cert. Again, no surprises there. Research in the UK and US has found that, by the age of three, children from disadvantaged families are already lagging a full year behind their middle-class counterparts.

There are projects, including some here in Dublin South-Central, designed to redress some of these imbalances - designed to ensure that all kids (and their families) get a fair chance. I’ve blogged about some of them. But the fact is there are far too few of them, they are underfunded and in too many cases projects start and end as pilot projects without ever being fully rolled out. Strategies – such as the family support strategy promised three years ago by the Department of Health – are promised but never delivered. Funding of early childhood education in Ireland is a joke, despite the fact that a nationwide system of quality, free early education would keep a lot of the children surveyed in this study out of the criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, communities do what they can to provide facilities and resources for young people – in my own area, one need only think of all the work being done by the Bosco Centre, both in house, after school and with football, not to mention the work done by Benmadigan United, the Drimnagh Boxing Club and Good Counsel G.A.A. These groups all have one thing in common: they rely on volunteer work and volunteer fundraising.

So … what is the Government doing? What investment is it making to turn around the lives of children in disadvantaged communities? Well – in a classic case of addressing symptoms rather than causes – last week the Minister for Children, Brendan Smith, announced that plans are being drawn up for a child detention centre in Lusk, set to cost over €140 million. Now, I'm delighted that this development will end the national disgrace of children being held in adult prisons.

But, unless the Government starts addressing the issues I mentioned earlier, in a few years time somebody will do a study of the children in Lusk. They’ll break the occupants down by post-code. And the results will be very similar to the Children's Court figures published today ...

It’s All About People …

You know, planning isn’t just about bricks and mortar – what buildings go where, and how high. At the end of the day, it’s about ensuring that the city is a welcoming place for people – all people. And that’s why I was delighted to attend the ‘Open Cities’ conference in Madrid a couple of weeks ago.

The OPENCities concept is an EU strategy including Dublin, as well as Belfast, Cardiff, Bilbao and Madrid, Düsseldorf, Vienna, Gdansk and Sofia.

One of the project’s aims is to develop a robust understanding of the potential for cities to more fully embrace the opportunities presented by migration. Specifically, participating cities hope to establish:

1. A definition of “open-ness” for cities, based on economic, regulatory, cultural, amenity, accessibility or risk factors and an examination of how cities can shape how they attract and maintain new populations.
2. A set of guidelines and best practice examples on how diversity in cities can help drive success.

Ultimately, we hope to achieve an agreed World Wide “City Openness Index or Kitemark’ and a network of OPENCities. It’s a very ambitious project, and hopefully Dublin will be able to attract EU funding under the URBACT programme to help implement the strategy.

The best city planners, of course, already know that it’s all about people – and while I was writing this post I received a copy of a speech by Kieran Rose, who is not only a planner with Dublin City Council, but also chairs the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and is a member of the Equality Authority board … so he knows a thing or two about diversity. Kieran was speaking at a conference entitled Dublin: A Creative City, and what he had to say should be pinned up on the office walls of all planners and politicians:

The liberating mind-set is characterised by embracing diversity, having high ambitions for a better quality of life for all, a confidence in our ability to deliver positive change, openness, flexibility, responsiveness to changed circumstances and prioritising real people’s lives over abstract ideological positions. This approach can deliver progress and optimise opportunities in all areas whether social, economic or city-making.

I couldn’t agree more!

Revulsion in Drimnagh

I’ve just returned from Madrid, where I was attending a conference on ‘Open Cities’. I was going to post today about the conference and the aims of this project, which addresses migration flows and integration. But that post will have to wait for another day. While I was away I received text messages and e-mails about the despicable murder of two young Polish workers in the heart of my own constituency, Drimnagh, and since I've returned I've been catching up with press coverage of this case - and of the outpouring of grief, revulsion and anger by local residents. Last night I attended a memorial Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Drimnagh, along with well over 2,000 others from the area.

Although the Gardai are still investigating, there are some things we do know. We know that this was a completely unprovoked attack. It appears to have been pre-meditated, in that one of the young thugs actually went home to get a screwdriver to use as a weapon. And there is speculation that the reason these two men were murdered is that they had – as responsible citizens – refused to buy drink for the youths. It does not seem - as far as we know - to have been a racist attack: these were equal opportunity murderers, although that is small consolation for the relatives or, indeed, the community.

Unfortunately, this case will probably be forgotten - at least by the press - in the weeks and months ahead, as new stories compete for headline space. But it will not be forgotten by Drimnagh people or by local political representatives, regardless of their affiliation. This tragedy has focussed attention on the lack of youth resources in the area, and that is something all of us must address. But – while we desperately need resources such as a gym, swimming pool, playing fields and other gathering places and recreational facilities – we also need to address the culture of casual violence, much of it alcohol-fuelled or alcohol-related. I don’t have the answers, but I do know that we need to start asking the questions. And, together, we will hopefully find some answers.

A Great Start to Fairtrade Fortnight!

Apologies for the delay in posting these pics! After a couple of years of hard work, Dublin was officially accredited as a Fairtrade City last Wednesday. Only two other capital cities – Edinburgh and Rome – have received accreditation, so we’re joining a pretty elite club! As I wrote before, this does not mean our work is over: we have to continue raising awareness of Fairtrade in particular, and the issues facing producers in developing countries in general. Fairtrade Fortnight starts on Monday (click here for a list of events around the country), so if you don't already add Fairtrade products to your shopping basket - now is a good time to start!

The pic above shows me presenting the certificate, on behalf of the City Council's Fairtrade Steering Committee, to Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke, and below are the gospel singers from the Discovery Choir, who entertained us with some great music:

Where were you …

on February 15th 2003?

There’s a good chance that many readers of this blog were marching against war in Iraq. Well, five years on the Americans are still in Iraq and – according to http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ – over 80,000 civilians have died in the violence of the Iraq war and its aftermath. The Bush era is nearly over, but the Republican front-runner, Senator John McCain, is on record as saying that it would be “fine with him” if the Americans stay in Iraq for another 100 years. That may well have been a throw-away comment, but it must have sent a chill down Iraqi spines. Which is why it is vital that the Democrats win the White House come November!
P.S. Apologies for posting this a day late …

2008 Blog Awards

Well, I was tickled pink to discover yesterday that I’ve been shortlisted for the 2008 Irish Blog Awards. Don't know who I owe this to, but thanks! I'll try to make it to the award party in the Alexander Hotel on March 1st ... but, in the meantime, click here to see all the shortlisted blogs. Some great sites out there …

Xian Nien Quai Le …

… or Happy (Chinese) New Year!

Dublin’s New Year Festival continues until February 11th, and today saw the opening of the Smithfield Chinese Carnival: three days of events ranging from dragon and lion dances to demonstrations of Chinese cookery. The Carnival is supported by Dublin City Council, and I’d like to congratulate everyone in the Council’s Intercultural Relations Unit who have worked so hard to make the event a success! I’ve just come back from Smithfield, and there is a great buzz – so try and get out there if you can.

However, amidst all the celebration, it was sad to learn yesterday that members of our new Chinese communities are being confronted by an endemic Irish issue: low pay. I’ve blogged before - here, here and here - about low pay and my ‘Living Wage’ motion to Dublin City Council.

According to research carried out by Dr. Alice Feldman of UCD’s Citizenship Research Initiative, 60% of Irish-based Chinese people surveyed earn less than €14,000. To quote Dr. Feldman, interviewees felt unable to speak out against low pay or poor treatment “because they could lose the job or endanger others' jobs”.

The full findings of the UCD research on migrant groups will be published later this year, and I'm sure I'll be posting on this issue again. But in the meantime, here are some pics taken this afternoon in Smithfield ...

Something cooking ...

... The new face of policing

... and some local colour

Where’s the Media When You Need Them?

Commenting on my post State Subsidising Slum Landlords, one of my regular readers – Ian – pointed out that the media largely ignore such stories. Well, here’s another story that the media seem to be ignoring: Labour TD Ciaran Lynch has pointed out that tenants are, in effect, obliged to discharge the tax liability of landlords living outside the jurisdiction. Now, I am very fond of Ciaran but when I read his statement I thought he must have got something wrong. Surely the state would not expect tenants to act as tax collectors? I mean, isn’t that taking outsourcing a bit far?

So I Googled “rent” + “landlords” + “tax allowance”. And Ciaran was absolutely right. According to the Citizens Information website, if you pay rent to a landlord living outside Ireland, you must deduct the tax at 20%, make a tax return to Revenue and pay them the tax you have deducted.

And here’s the real stunner: if you don’t deduct the tax and make the return you – the tenant – will become personally liable for the landlord's tax.

The other stunner is that the media did not pick up on this story. After all, generally the Irish media love to home in on tax issues, stamp duty being a recent favourite. I guess tenants just don't rate as highly as home owners.

The High Cost of Being a Dub … and why we need a minimum wage supplement for the capital

We all know that, whether you’re paying rent or a mortgage, housing costs are higher in Dublin than in the rest of the country. But what about other day-to-day expenditure? Well, according to the latest CSO figures for November 2007, Dubs can expect to pay more than our country cousins for a range of goods and services – 4.4% more, to be precise. Of 79 items examined by the CSO, Dublin prices were higher for 52 items. That’s 66%, or around two-thirds. All ten fruit and vegetable items were more expensive in Dublin than elsewhere.

So what kind of items are Dubs paying over the odds for? Well, your morning rashers will cost you over 21% more in Crumlin than in Cobh. A pint of draught lager will set you back over 12% more in Drimnagh than in Dundalk. A healthy litre of orange juice is over 11% more expensive in Inchicore than in Inchidoney, and a trip to the barber is the cruellest cut of all: over 40% dearer in Kilmainham than in Killinick.

One could have fun with these figures all day, but there is a serious point to all this: workers – and particularly the low-paid, for whom food accounts for a disproportionate high percentage of their budget – pay a high price for living in Dublin. And that’s quite apart from the high housing costs.

The current minimum wage is just €8.65 per hour. A pittance, whichever way you look at it – and regardless of where you live in Ireland. In the short term, I believe the Government should introduce a Dublin minimum wage supplement, bringing the minimum wage up to a €9 per hour for those living in the capital. In the long term, of course, we need to introduce and expand the concept of a Living Wage: click here and here to find out more about my Living Wage motion to Dublin City Council – an initiative which I would like to see replicated in Local Authorities throughout the country.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue trying to puzzle out why grapes should be over 17% dearer in Dublin than elsewhere …

It's Official! Dublin is a Fair(trade) City!

In 2005, I tabled a motion to Dublin City Council. The motion read as follows:

That Dublin City Council expresses its fullest support for the Fairtrade Movement and resolves to work with civic organisations to assist Dublin in achieving status as a Fairtrade city.

To this end it will, after consultations with representatives from Fairtrade and other civic organisations, including business, trade unions, churches and community organisations supportive of the goals of Fairtrade, help establish a Steering Committee representative of all those interests in order to promote Fairtrade in Dublin with the goal of establishing and maintaining Dublin as a Fair Trade city.

Well, the motion was passed, a steering committee was established … and now we’ve heard that Dublin is to receive accreditation as a Fair Trade City.

The official accreditation ceremony will take place on February 20th in City Hall … but I thought I’d let readers in on the secret early!

After all, most of the credit is down to all the people – including, I hope, many readers of this blog – who voted with their shopping trolleys, bought Fairtrade where it was available and, where it wasn’t available, pressured their local retailers to stock Fairtrade.

We’ve come a long way. But February 20th does not mark the end of this campaign. Not only do we have to ensure that Dublin maintains its new status as a Fairtrade City; we also have to examine new ways of further expanding the Fairtrade concept to non-food products, in particular clothing. I've blogged about this issue before.

But that’s for another day. Right now, I’m celebrating!

Fair Trade again …

One of the jobs I enjoy most is my role as chairperson of Dublin City Council’s Fair Trade Steering Committee. The committee was established over two years ago, after the Council passed a motion I had tabled seeking to achieve fair trade status for Dublin. Groups throughout the city having been working to ensure that Dublin’s Fair City becomes a Fair Trade City – and schoolchildren have been particularly active campaigning for greater public awareness of the issue. The pic below shows me signing certificates for schools which have taken part in the campaign, watched by FF Councillor Eibhlin Byrne. This particular issue - ensuring that producers in the developing world get a fair deal for their products - transcends party lines, and the (other) Cllr. Byrne has been a tireless worker for this cause.

Moneylending

They haven’t gone away, you know. The moneylenders. While the media talks about the credit crunch facing those with mortgages and credit cards, this is the month when many people living in Hidden Dublin (and Hidden Ireland) worry about how to pay off the money they borrowed from moneylenders to fund Christmas.

Even those using licensed moneylenders can find themselves paying extortionate interest rates: 30 registered moneylenders charge 100% or more, while 15 charge 150% and over.

So what is the government doing to address this issue? Well, not a whole lot according to Labour’s spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Roisin Shortall. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has still not been put on a statutory footing. And promised legislation to curb moneylenders’ interest rates has still not materialised.

In its 2006 study Financial Exclusion in Ireland, the Combat Poverty Agency made a number of proposals which would provide access to banking services for disadvantaged groups. Such access would, of course, sound the death knell for many moneylenders - or, at the least, force them to compete on the basis of reasonable interest rates.

Meanwhile, those without access to normal banking services (and, according to the most recent CSO figures, 68% of the poorest members of our society still have no bank account) are being fleeced.

Fighting Terrorism …

Terrorism has dominated international news headlines over the past few years – and all too often the talk is of Islamic terrorism, and the efforts by the 'West' to combat it. But, just as we in Ireland have had our own experience of terrorism, so does Cuba: various anti-Castro groups - largely based in Miami - have launched attacks in Cuba, bombing facilities such as hotels. Not unnaturally, Cuba has attempted to infiltrate these groups in order to gain intelligence on planned attacks.

Some time ago, five Cubans were arrested in the States for infiltrating these groups, charged with conspiracy to commit espionage and sentenced to prison terms of between 15 years and life. Their convictions were then overturned on appeal – the appeal court ruling that they had not received a fair trial - and the appeal was then, in turn, overturned. So there these men now sit. Two of them have been unable to see their wives, who were refused visas to visit them in contravention of the International Convention against Torture, to which the United States is a signatory - and despite protests by respected organisations such as Amnesty International.

I must admit I had never heard of these five men until a visit to Dublin a couple of weeks ago by the lawyer, Leonard Weinglass, who represents one of the five, Antonio Guerrero. Mr. Weinglass is a long-time human rights advocate, having defended Angela Davis back in the early 1970s. I was delighted to meet Leonard Weinglass: his commitment, and that of many like him, is now needed more than ever in the United States.

A double standard seems to be at work here. Unarmed Cubans infiltrating groups planning terrorist attacks against their country are imprisoned under dubious legal circumstances. At the same time, the US claims the right to go to war against an entire people (the Iraqi people) under the pretext of protecting America from terrorist attacks.

At the start of 2008, these five Cubans are still in prison. And the Americans are still in Iraq.

You Read it First Here!

When I came back to Dublin from Kyrgyzstan, I was delighted – and surprised – to hear that the Star had picked up my post on the Argos dispute and the issue of low pay. Yet more proof that the mainstream media is turning to the blogosphere for st