Forum

I, like many other people am gravely concerned at the implications of the European Commission's proposals to fully liberalise the postal services sector in Europe, the so-called ‘Third Directive'.  I believe strongly in the citizen's right to have access to affordable and quality postal services as An Post currently provides as part of its Universal Service Obligation (USO).  Alas, all of this is under grave threat if this ‘Third Directive' in its current form, which is being championed by such free market, neo-liberal European Union (EU) Commissioner fanatics and ideolog

I am not surprised by the new independent marketing survey findings on attitudes to hare coursing in Ireland. According to the latest poll, more than two thirds of people in the Republic favour a ban on this inhuman and barbaric practice. The poll findings show that the muzzling of coursing greyhounds is widely perceived for what it was and remains: a cynical PR exercise designed to take the “bad look” off the blood sport. It eliminated the dramatic tug-of war scenes that attracted so many top newspaper photographers and revolted most decent people.

The Green Party has pledged to ban blood sports in Ireland if it succeeds in getting into government after the next general election. In the party's latest policy document, it promises that, when in government, it will "introduce legislation to end blood sports" and "campaign for heavy penalties for organisers of, and participants in, illegal blood sports".

Elections campaigns are increasingly run by the public relations industry. You do your market research, find out what your customers want, and then produce a product to sell to that market. This is exactly what Fianna Fáil did in 2002 when Bertie Ahern claimed on national television just before the election that 'Health will be our number one priority'. There is a need, therefore, for progressive media outlets to cut through, undermine and expose the PR and propaganda that the right-wing parties (FF, FG, Lab and the PDs) will engage in.

The community in Tallaght welcomes investment in services long overdue for the fastest growing urban centre in Ireland. However we want to show respect to two short streets where Tallaght began - our pretty village. The streetscape and heritage contained in these short streets needs to be visibly valued and protected - not hidden behind bland urban apartment blocks. We are not ashamed of our medieval roots and want to parade them to visitors and locals with pride.

Would parties agree that if community consultation in the Planning Process is vital for balanced development, that the "consultation process" involved in the major project called the Tallaght Town Centre , which is for the development of a new city, leaves much to be desired as over fifty submissions from locals relating to concerns over density of developments were cynically ignored.

The complete lack of anything that looks like sensible planning in East Meath and North Dublin will lead to major problems in the future.

I wonder can any reader explain why we, the public, will allow Michael McDowell effectively abolish the Centre for Public Inquiry and sit silently as he begins the first tentative steps towards the abolition of the costly Tribunals; all when he and his party was elected on the basis of not allowing these particular instances to occur.  Never mind the fact that they threaten democracy.

Once again Vladimir Putin has shown his utter disregard to human rights and democracy. Last week, the Russian President appointed Ramzan Kadyrov as president of Chechnya. According to many human rights organisations, both in Russia and abroad, Kadyrov and his cronies are responsible for massive and gross violations of human rights, including extra-judicial killings, kidnappings and torture, corruption and extortion of humanitarian aid and compensation in Chechnya.

Over a hundred people packed into the St Philip and James Church Hall in Blackrock on 26 February for a public meeting organised by Save Our Seafront (SOS) to discuss the future of Blackrock Baths and other local public amenities.