Shell have recently applied for permission to operate their raw gas pipeline linking the Corrib gas field to the Bellanaboy refinery and are asking the Dept of Energy and Minister Alex White for “prompt processing” of its application. We have until the 25th of September to put in objections.

Don’t reward Shell abuses in Ireland! We, the undersigned demand that you reject Shell's request to operate their dangerous raw gas pipeline that will be used to plunder Ireland’s resources.

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International Stalls, Street-Food, Interactive Workshops and Live Music!
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Cork - Calais Refugee Solidarity are going in convoy to France at the end of September for about 1 week to deliver supplies and to help distribute items among the people there. So far they have a 10 tonne truck and approximately 14 cars/vans.

This is part of a growing network of people across the country. People determined to take action while the EU governments including our own enforce border rules that have killed 2500 people so far this summer. read full story / add a comment

This morning's sitting of Castlebar Court today was adjourned just before midday as members of Integrity Ireland requested to place Judge Kevin Kilrane and prosecuting Superintendent Joe McKenna under citizens’ arrest.

Stephen Manning and Colm Granahan both of Integrity Ireland had been taking a private criminal prosecution of County Registrar Fintan Murphy. The Garda Sergeant who starred in an I-I all-action video clip in March had also been summoned to appear as a witness - for the prosecution. read full story / add a comment

Akbayan took exception to Senator Bongbong Marcos’s statement that there was no downside to being a Marcos should he decide to run for higher office in 2016.

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The 4th Annual March for Choice will take place in Dublin on Saturday September 26th marking the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion.

The March will kick off at 2 pm in Dublin at the Garden of Remembrance (assembling from 1.30pm), and like last year, we are asking that you bring a wheelie case if possible to make the effort and sound of travel abundantly clear!
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The Right2Water campaign had called for a national demonstration on Sat Aug 31st and quite a lot of effort had gone into publishing this with tens of thousands of leaflets distributed throughout the country and buses laid on to many of the major towns.

There was a fair bit riding on this because figures show that significant percentage of households had still not paid and during the summer the government plans were upset when EuroStat came back and said Irish Water had to appear on the government accounts.

In the meantime government ministers have been claiming it would not be privatized but when pressed on whether this is rock solid, they turn out to be quite slippy on this. And there is reason for this because the TTIP treaty between the USA and EU currently being negotiated in secret is a corporate wishlist that will allow corporations to sue governments through the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) which are corporate courts run by corporate lawyers and take precedence over national laws and there is no right of appeal. It will allow corporations to say that it is unfair competition to have things like our health, education and of course Irish Water in state hands and therefore it should be privatized. This is not some myth because the ISDS mechanism has already been used at least 500 times in other countries for basically lowering health standards and environmental protection. If TTIP is passed and so far Fine Gael have been in favour of it, including the ISDS, then they will say their hands are tied and they had to privatize Irish Water and of course every other thing. read full story / add a comment

This peaceful assembly is part of Global Bersih initiative that will see solidarity rallies and gatherings by the Malaysian diaspora, and is set to take place in over 30 cities across the world on the weekend of 29 & 30 August 2015. These global rallies are in support of the Bersih 4.0 rallies that will be held in Malaysia that same weekend.

The last peaceful rally, Bersih 3.0 in 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, ended up with participants wounded by police brutality, tear gas and blasted by water cannons. read full story / add a comment

The Right2Water campaign has called another major demonstration in Dublin on Saturday 29th August 2015 at 2pm.

The government is still on the hop because not enough people have paid their water bills and we can still beat them. This is why they have now said they have capped the amount out for another couple of years but don't be fooled, we need to keep the pressure on. They are also in negotiations for the TTIP treaty which between Europe and the US and is a corporate wishlist and includes provisions to allow them to sue governments if they do NOT privatise public services including of course water. At this point they will claim they had no choice and the "decision" was taken out of their hands. So integral to winning the Right to Water is to defeat the TTIP and ensure it never gets passed. read full story / add a comment

Recent reports have suggested that Ireland is set to become the most obese country in Europe. read full story / add a comment

Annual Eve of All-Ireland Rally , Dublin : 19/9/15 , at 2pm, GPO. read full story / add a comment

The August Socialist Voice is now available online.

In this issue:
Greek and all European workers paying a heavy price
As events unfold in Greece it’s clear that the EU is determined to make Greek workers pay for the crisis now engulfing the country.
The Greek debt, like the Irish debt, is simply unsustainable and unpayable. The impact and renewed assault on Greek workers will be felt throughout the European Union: it will not be confined or contained within the borders of Greece read full story / add a comment

Cuid de na photos ón obair agus craic ag féile na saoirse na laethanta seo caite. read full story / add a comment

On 5th of August 2015 the Irish Navy ship LÉ Niamh was sent to help an overcrowded vessel about 25 miles off the Libyan coast. As two rigid inflatable boats (Ribs) from the LÉ Niamh approached they signaled to the people to stay where they were so that life jackets could be given out.

However, according to Capt Dave Barry: “Whatever happened, a number rushed to one side, and it capsized and sank in a couple of minutes”.

A total of 367 survivors and 25 bodies were taken to the Sicilian port of Palermo.

Up to 700 people were believed to have been on board. read full story / add a comment

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign is proud to host a premiere screening of the award-winning ‘On the Side of the Road’ by Israeli director Lia Tarachansky on Saturday 5th September 2015, at 3.30pm in the Drumcree Community Centre, Ashgrove Road, Portadown.

FREE ENTRY but spaces are limited, so please come early to avoid disappointment.

The film is a challenging and important documentary about the creation of the Israeli state and the impact this has had both on Palestinians and Israelis. The film will be followed by a discussion between the audience and the director who is touring the film around Ireland. read full story / add a comment

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign in association with the Progressive Film Club is proud to host a premiere screening of the award-winning 'On the Side of the Road' by Israeli director Lia Tarachansky on Wednesday 9th September 2015, at 7pm in the Pearse Centre (aka The Ireland Institute), 27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. Note: Spaces are limited, so please come early to avoid disappointment.

FREE ENTRY but spaces are limited, so please come early to avoid disappointment.

The film is a challenging and important documentary about the creation of the Israeli state and the impact this has had both on Palestinians and Israelis. The film will be followed by a discussion between the audience and the director who is touring the film around Ireland. read full story / add a comment

DSPP provides some useful tips for young people who may feel stressed after tomorrow's results for young people. This article is solely associated with Dublin Suicide Prevention Project and our policy towards young people and not any other associations (Professional, family or other) that that founders Mary Cullinane or Wayne F. Tobin may have. It is merely advice to young people from a personal perspective in line with DSSP guidelines. Thank-you read full story / add a comment

An exciting Bazaar of World Cultures, with international stalls, street-food, interactive workshops, and live performances! read full story / add a comment

Would you like to come along to the next Open Meeting of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign?

Come along to discuss Palestine and plan upcoming activities. We have stalls at festivals and city centres, organise demonstrations and speaking tours, film evenings, lobby politicians etc.

All ages and nationalities are welcome. You don’t have to know a lot about Middle Eastern politics to get involved. read full story / add a comment

For the first time, a majority of MEPs (338 to 319) has voted in favour of an immediate moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Europe in view of its "risks and negative consequences for the climate, the environment, and public health." The MEPs voted in support of Amendment 1 to the Energy Security Strategy report.

However, as the final report as a whole was not adopted, the moratorium on "any new operations involving the exploration or extraction of unconventional fuels within the EU until this is proven to be safe for the environment, citizens, and workers" will not take effect. read full story / add a comment