The Israeli government are massacring the people of Gaza and make the place completely unliveable. By normalising Israelis participation in global events like the Eurovision - that states its values are democracy, solidarity and unity  is deeply cynical and amounts to art washing.  People who work in RTE are demanding that RTE's Director General agrees not to broadcast the Eurovision. A massive public outcry will send a powerful message that people in Ireland are behind them and are not standing by. 

The only thing that will block the trial now is if there is not enough leadership. So, as well as signing this petition, please contact your local Dublin councillors to ask them to support this project as it has city-wide benefits. A list of councillors to contact can be found on a page at dublincity.ie. This is a council issue, but TDs have involved themselves, so, if you have the time, please also contact your local TDs, especially Dublin Bay South TDs. Some background:  Over 4 years ago, the High Court blocked a trial of the Strand Road cycle path. The case had a chilling effect on the roll-out of safer and more climate-friendly streets. But last month, the Court of Appeal found that the High Court judgment was flawed on all substantive points. However, despite the council's success after a long legal battle, the public funding used to rightly defend their position, and strong reasoning for proceeding with the trial, some local Sandymount groups and politicians are still attempting to block this city-wide issue.  The following are reasons why the project should be trialled:  (1) This is a city-wide issue A ~3.5km cycle path on Beach Road, Strand Road and onto the Merrion Road will provide the first such cycle route crossing administrative borders in the south side of the city. This is not only a local Sandymount issue. It will both help local children cycle to school and allow commuters and others to go greater distances. Combined with the existing coastal route built by DLRCC, the route would total 10km with connections to other routes at both ends. It won’t be all perfect at first, but it will be a huge leap forward in providing a relatively continuous, safe and attractive route. The evidence is clear that cycle paths encourage more people to cycle. A 10km route does not mean that everybody is going to start cycling that distance. Some will, while others will use different parts of the route along the way, with links to other routes. (2) Strongly vindicated after a long legal battle Dublin City Council has been strongly vindicated. The claims that these relatively minor interventions in terms of the level of construction would need planning and detailed environmental assessment have been blown out of the water by the Court of Appeal. Despite claims from some objectors, the ruling was a stinging defeat, with all substantive points made overturned.  After such a clear decision following the spending of a significant amount of public money to defend the case, there is a moral duty for Dublin City Council to proceed with the trial. The now-overturned High Court ruling also had huge cost implications and caused a slowdown in project delivery.  (3) If the sky falls in, it can be reversed Because the trial involves reallocating existing road space, it can be trialled rather quickly and without too much expense. And, if the sky falls in, it can be reversed. We have decades of evidence and examples showing that traffic does not act the way most people think it does. The Irish Water’s works in late 2022 and early 2023, which made Strand Road one-way for months, provide a good indication that the sky will not fall in — we first heard from supportive residents saying so and then from data confirming this.  Some claim that the road needs to be kept two-way because of new housing around the Glass Bottle, but continuing the status quo will just mean the new residents adding to gridlock. A shift in approach is needed. With the road made one-way and the cycle route in place, it will have the added positive effect of providing many people with an alternative transport option and allow for wider monitoring to see if making the road one-way is overall beneficial. (4) A route “on the green areas” could take 15+ years The cycle route cannot be easily built off-road “in the park” on green areas. People claiming an off-road option is a real alternative to a project which can be trialled within weeks are not dealing with the facts. The green areas at Sandymount Promenade are not continuous. The gaps are effectively part of Dublin Bay, which is a protected area and an UNESCO Biosphere. When the sections of the bay were filled in, EU-level environmental protections were not in place. This is also not just something abstract. Outside the wall on Strand Road are rocks that serve as nesting areas for birds and other habitats. Ireland generally lags behind in its protection of natural areas.  The gap also includes a section where a path would have to be built between houses and the coast, potentially sparking stronger objections and further legal challenges. A suggestion of traffic lights to keep two-way traffic here is not viable, especially given the railway level crossing. Such an option would be more disruptive and a threat to safety at the level crossing. (5) The need for climate action Transport is Ireland’s second-largest sector for greenhouse gas emissions, but the binding emission reduction targets are likely not to be reached. The signees of this petition believe we should try harder. Some people are dismissive of cycling provision as climate action, yet the IPCC has highlighted it as a means of ramping up action. (6) We need to get moving, and wider health benefits are strong Inactivity is another crisis we are facing, yet, it hardly ever gets the attention it deserves. Besides a set amount of people who are willing and able to go to the gym etc, research shows that most people can see better outcomes by integrating activity into their daily lives.  The health benefits of cycling as a mode of transport can also be wide-ranging, including a reduction in air pollution and a decrease in harmful noise levels. (7) Cycle paths improve road safety for all road users Another element of cycle routes is road safety — cycle paths are often traffic calming in their own right, and evidence shows that building cycle routes can make roads safer for all users.

1. Public Safety: Poor signal can prevent people from making emergency calls or receiving critical alerts. In a growing town, reliable access to emergency services is essential. 2. Remote Work and Education: With more people working and studying from home, especially post-COVID, strong mobile data and tethering capabilities are vital. Weak signal directly impacts productivity and access to opportunity. 3. Economic Growth: Tramore is expanding, and businesses—especially tourism-related ones—rely on good connectivity for card payments, online bookings, communications, and marketing. Bad signal limits economic potential. 4. Social Inclusion: For residents who may not have access to broadband or prefer mobile internet, poor signal can lead to digital exclusion, affecting their ability to connect with family, services, or community. 5. Population Growth: As more people move into new housing developments, infrastructure needs to keep up. Mobile coverage should be considered an essential utility—just like water or electricity. 6. Tourism Impact: Tramore is a popular tourist destination, and visitors expect reliable service. Poor signal affects their experience and can harm the town’s reputation.

We need to show our support by demonstrating. We need to ensure humanitarian aid gets to the people of Palestine. 

May 1st 2025 is a significant day for the world's workers and peace activists, many of whom are joining together to commend and support what is also the final day of Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire's 40 days of fasting and prayer against the global scourge of war, injustice and genocide. Mairead’s protest followed Israel unilaterally ending the ceasefire without warning, resuming a policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing that has inflicted brutal levels of death and destruction on Gaza's unarmed and defenceless civilian population, many of whom are children.  Fearlessly calling out the impunity accorded Israel by many governments, including the United States, Britain and the European Union, who also provide money, arms and silent complicity, Mairead ceaselessly seeks to stop the madness of poverty, cruelty, militarism and war. يُعد الأول من مايو 2025 يومًا ذا أهمية كبيرة لعمال العالم ونشطاء السلام، حيث يجتمع العديد منهم لتكريم ودعم ما يُصادف أيضًا اليوم الأخير من صيام وصلاة الحائزة على جائزة نوبل للسلام، ميريد كوريغان ماغواير، التي استمرت 40 يومًا احتجاجًا على آفة الحرب والظلم والإبادة الجماعية في العالم. جاء احتجاج ميريد بعد أن أنهت إسرائيل من جانب واحد وقف إطلاق النار دون سابق إنذار، واستأنفت سياسة الإبادة الجماعية والتطهير العرقي، ما أسفر عن مستويات وحشية من الموت والدمار بحق سكان غزة المدنيين العزّل، وكثيرٌ منهم من الأطفال. ومن خلال شجاعتها في فضح الإفلات من العقاب الذي تتمتع به إسرائيل من قِبَل العديد من الحكومات، بما في ذلك الولايات المتحدة وبريطانيا والاتحاد الأوروبي، والذين يساهمون بالأموال والأسلحة ويتواطؤون بصمت، تسعى ميريد بلا كلل إلى وقف جنون الفقر والقسوة والعسكرة والحرب.

Gambling has ruined so many lives. Broke up marriages,  homes repossessed, jobs lost. Gambling can be a silent addiction and is not visible to lots of people. A gaming/ gambling arcade in a rural town is the last thing we need.

Kneecap are facing a torrent of abuse after their Coachella performance, where they used their platform to highlight the US’s involvement in the ongoing Genocide in Palestine, with some even calling for their US visas to be revoked. Kneecap has been highlighting the ongoing atrocities happening in Gaza since the formation of the group back in 2017. They have used their voice to raise awareness of the situation and to call out the people in power who are carrying out, paying for and supporting a Genocide. This abuse being directed at Kneecap is part of a wider effort to suppress artists' right to speak up on the issues that matter most to us all! We must take a stand against this wherever we see it. If we can get enough people signing this petition, we'll show that the people of Ireland stand with Kneecap and support their pro-Palestinian message.

Reading Recovery has faced growing criticism due to advances in the Science of Reading. Four decades after its introduction, New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford announced on 3 May 2024 that funding for Reading Recovery will end in 2025 (Newshub 2024, cited by Chapman and Turner 2024). Minister Stanford has been widely praised for her strong commitment to evidence-based policy in ending this harmful and outdated approach. Similarly, New South Wales discontinued all funding for Reading Recovery in 2016 due to serious concerns about its effectiveness and cost. Numerous U.S. states have also moved to ban or phase out Reading Recovery programs, citing its failure to produce lasting gains in literacy and alignment issues with Science of Reading research Quite frankly—and with all due respect—Minister Helen McEntee, the time has come to engage with the wealth of accessible research condemning this approach and take decisive action in Ireland. Please refer to my blog 'Reading Recovery: A Review of the Research' on www.muinteoirchloe.ie for a review of literature and listen to the 'Sold a Story' Podcast. https://www.muinteoirchloe.ie/blog/reading-recovery-a-review-of-the-research

Many people don’t realise that “dove releases” at funerals and weddings often involve white domestic pigeons that are not trained to navigate or survive. These birds are bred for appearance, not ability, and are frequently abandoned after the ceremony. Whether it doves or fancy pigeons, It’s a practice that’s both misleading and cruel. Families deserve the truth, and these birds deserve protection. By regulating or banning these unethical releases, we can prevent unnecessary suffering and hold providers accountable.

Catering services were removed from the Sligo-Dublin train at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and despite assurances given by Irish Rail that they were to be restored to all Intercity services by the end of 2024 at the latest, they remain suspended.   The catering cart provides much needed refreshment and sustenance to individuals and families travelling on the 216km long journey which takes over 3-hours.   This is especially the case for people travelling from Sligo to Dublin on the early train, which departs Sligo at 05:40, before local shops and cafes open, and the last train from Dublin which arrives at 22:35, after they have closed.   A significant number of passengers utilising the rail service are elderly, or are travelling, often with children, in order to attend medical appointments. For these people, the absence of a catering cart represents a negative experience that exceeds inconvenience, and compromises the accessibility and quality of service on offer. https://www.uplift.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg

The Cabinet decision on Monday 3rd March 2025 to procure a State owned LNG Terminal, coupled with the granting, last week of Planning Permission by An Bord Pleanála, for a 600MW gas powered power station, indicates a reversal of this policy.  Conventional Natural Gas is damaging to the climate and but LNG, extracted through fracking is dirtier than coal and it is also particularly and immediately damaging to the local environment.   If we are to meet our climate commitments under the Paris Accord, cut our emissions in half by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050 we can not become reliant on another form of fossil fuel, especially not one associated with the. Please sign our petition to urge the Government to think again. https://www.uplift.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg

The Tenant-in-Situ (TiS) scheme was created to prevent homelessness by allowing local authorities to purchase homes where tenants are at risk of no-fault evictions. But right now, it’s failing the people it was meant to protect. Instead of keeping renters in their homes, the scheme is underfunded, tied up in red tape and restricted by narrow criteria. Local authorities are often unable to buy properties in high-demand areas, even when the tenant qualifies — simply because they’re priced out or the home needs renovation. This is despite the fact that an estimated 75% of rental properties don’t meet minimum housing standards. People are being forced out of their homes, away from their communities, schools, doctors and support networks — not because it’s inevitable, but because the system isn’t working. Tenant-in-Situ should be a powerful tool for prevention — not just a box-ticking exercise. It's time to fix it so individuals and families facing eviction can truly stay in their homes and communities. ✍️ Sign this petition and help us hold the government accountable.#MakeTiSWork  #TenantInSitu #HomesNotEvictions #HousingCrisis #FixTheSystem Firsthand Accounts from CATU Members Affected by the Failed Tenant-in-Situ Scheme: Jenny Roche, a CATU member who was denied the Tenant in Situ Scheme, commented: “A scheme like Tenant-in-situ cannot work effectively without the ability to compel both local authority and landlord to engage, possibly in a CPO-type arrangement. Otherwise tenants- regardless of length of tenure - are at the whim of landlord greed in a 'sky's the limit' property market and/or local authority ineffectiveness. My own experience of 9 months of hope dashed 5 days before our notice of termination came due because the landlord refused the council's offer was devastating. My family had been tenants of the house for almost 20 years and the landlord expected us to vacate immediately. I had been advised by the office of my local TD Catherine Connolly's office that the scheme was 'a joke' and that proved to be the case.” Amelia Melanson, CATU member, added: “The Government’s policy not to refurbish homes is a failed opportunity to upgrade Ireland’s housing stock, which is in terrible condition. Nearly three-quarters of privately rented properties inspected by local authorities fail to meet minimum standards. Denying tenants this scheme due to refurbishment costs effectively punishes them for their landlord’s neglect. Moreover, in a housing crisis and in a climate crisis, we should not just be focused on building more housing but ensuring that existing property is safe and liveable for tenants.” Another CATU member who is facing eviction after being denied the Tenant in Situ Scheme commented: “It’s terrifying to be in this position – knowing we have nowhere else to go. It’s devastating to realise that even when you’ve done everything right – paid your rent, built a life, raised your child in a community – the system can still turn its back on you. The uncertainty is affecting every part of our lives: my ability to parent, maintain friendships, and keep working. We’re stuck in limbo – we can’t make plans, we don’t know what’s coming, and we’re carrying the weight of a crisis we didn’t create. I live every day with the fear of losing our home.” Catarina Koch, CATU member commented: “We need an eviction ban now. Eviction does not just force people out of their homes. It forces people away from their school, their livelihood, and their support network. The Tenant in Situ scheme is another powerful tool to keep people in their communities and out of homelessness. Instead of expanding this vital safety net, the Government is slowly restricting it so that fewer tenants can avail of the scheme. The Government should be listening to people who have been denied this scheme to understand what the real problems are and understand how to make Tenant in Situ work.” Another CATU member who is facing eviction after being denied the Tenant in Situ Scheme commented:“I’ve gone back to college as a part-time mature student while also working. I’ve fought tooth and nail to build a life for me and my child — to keep a roof over our heads through everything, even during illness and unemployment. I never missed a rent payment, never missed a bill. I always made sure the landlord was paid first. I’ve held this household together completely on my own, with no family support, for over a decade. Through sheer grit and determination, I’ve managed to improve our lives — only to now have our security and stability ripped away. All those years of sacrifice, of blood, sweat, and tears — it feels like they meant nothing. The housing crisis sends a cruel message: even your absolute best is never enough.” No one should have to face eviction alone. If you or someone you know has been affected by a failed Tenant-in-Situ case or is facing the threat of homelessness, get in touch with CATU: [email protected]