Although many Au Pairs have been questioned, have had their mobiles confiscated, and some of them have been deported over the years, Paloma's case was particularly appalling. She was coming to Ireland as a tourist. Ireland has become a multicultural society which must be prepared to treat people fairly. It's important to review immigration practices in order to ensure reasonable use of legal powers over those arriving in Ireland, especially those from marginalised groups. An apology from the Minister of Justice will not change what Paloma has been through but it would demonstrate an attempt to recognise unfair practices and the commitment to tackle the issue.

The diversion of motorway levels of traffic into our community will further congest our roads, increase levels of carbon emissions and noise and make our community less safe particularly for our schoolchildren and senior citizens.

Because it is poison and carcinogenic

On 11th July, just one week after onshore fracking was banned in Ireland, Minister of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, granted consent to oil & gas drilling by Providence Resources PLC in the Porcupine Basin off our south-west coast [1]. They expect to find 5 billion barrels of oil [2]. In an Orwellian twist, a “Department of Climate Action” has allowed for the burning of 5 billion barrels of oil when international climate experts state that 80% of the known fossil fuels have to stay in the ground if we want to avoid going over the safe 2 degrees limit of global warming [3]. Any investment in fossil fuel industry and infrastructure will result in what is known as “carbon lock-in”, taking us on a one-way unstoppable trip to dangerous levels of global warming that threaten global health and eco-systems [4]. Oil and gas exploration is also deadly for Ireland’s unique dolphin, whale and porpoise population [5] and plankton, the basis of the marine ecosystem [6]. Yet, Minister Naughten has refused to confirm if drilling will stop if a threat to the population is found [7]. We call on Minister Naughten to retract the Providence Resources permit immediately. Furthermore, we call on the Minister to follow the lead of France [8] and ban all new oil and gas exploration in Irish waters. We need to halt all dead investments in the fossil fuel industry and prepare a just transition to an economy that can provide workers with real, sustainable long-term jobs that can provide for their families and their future [9]. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [1] http://www.independent.ie/business/world/providence-resources-commences-drilling-off-the-southwest-coast-of-ireland-35921724.html [2] http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/amp/news/180745 [3] http://www.carbontracker.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Unburnable-Carbon-Full-rev2-1.pdf [4]http://priceofoil.org/2016/09/22/the-skys-limit-report/ [5] http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/02/140228-atlantic-seismic-whales-mammals/ [6] https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/23/15861932/offshore-drilling-airgun-seismic-surveys-zooplankton-death-oceans [7] https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2017-02-07a.382 [8]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-ban-new-oil-gas-exploration-stop-granting-licences-macron-hulot-renewable-energy-drive-a7806161.html [9] http://www.impact.ie/climate-change-workers-communities-must-protected-just-transition-carbon-free-economy-says-impact/

200+ year old Oak tree: This Carbon monoxide guzzler is due to be cut down to build 17 houses. The whole road in clonsilla will be stripped of its natural habitat and Fingal Co.Co. say The Oak tree is not on the planning application, they have no knowledge of the Oak. > I'm looking for a little help to highlight the faith of the Tree and hopefully have it incorporated into the new housing estate. A share or comment on the post would help .... Thanks Graham. UPDATE ON THE OAK AT LOHUNDA The developers experts did a report on the Oak (not the council in short) and The Oak is said to be dangerous! Not worth saving. And a section 70 slapped on it. The entire hedgerow is to be removed as soon as possible. To me The OAK and it's surrounding natural habitat is bursting with life: CONSERVATION IS DEAD in Dublin 15. > If anyone has some knowledge of what can be done to prevent this destruction I would be grateful of the help.

Germany, Denmark, Netherlands & numerous other countries have had successful deposit refund systems in place for years. Now Scotland is introducing one too. Ireland is drowning in litter and we KNOW deposit refund systems work - with recovery rates of up to 95%. Luckily for us many other countries are already doing this, we won't need to reinvent the wheel, we just need to start taking some positive action!

Brendan Kenny has said that he plans to bulldoze Dublin's Housing stock and replace it with houses built by private developers. There are over 43,000 people on the housing waiting list in Dublin, and the number of homeless people including children, continues to grow every day. Instead of knocking down the homes that we have, it's time for Dublin City Council to invest in public housing, so that everyone in Ireland can have a safe and secure place to call home.

We have a situation where homeless families and individuals can't move on from emergency accommodation. Where they are forced to accept substandard accommodation, when available. Discriminated against because of being in receipt of social housing supports. The housing crisis will not be resolved by the market. We need social housing now! If you know the location of an empty council property please take a picture and send it to us

The housing situation in Ireland is already a crisis. Rents have skyrocketed. The types of properties being advertised for rental on property sites are quite often below the minimum standards. Recent properties advertised on property sites include garden sheds properties with no shower or bath, properties with almost no kitchen facilities (a microwave placed on an office desk beside a bed) at well over €1000 a month. There are minimum legal requirements for housing in this country. You as a property website should be vetting all properties advertised to ensure legal compliance. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/repairs_maintenance_and_minimum_physical_standards.html

The former heritage centre closed approximately a decade ago. Since then the building in front of the Royal Hotel on Bray Main Street has been occupied by small retailers and other businesses with a lot of the former archives and artefacts belonging to the old heritage still left behind in the building. The historical archives and artefacts stored in the former Bray heritage centre/Bray design centre are being neglected. Many items are left abandoned in the building with previous attempts to archive them, document them, preserve them forgotten. This is appalling. It is neglectful and disrespectful. It is effectively abandoning the valuable heritage of our town. Having previously contacted Bray Municipal District Council and Wicklow County Council Heritage Officer to highlight this issue I was sent an unsatisfactory response that when resources become available that the items will be documented.

It is important that the childcare facilities stay open because many students education is been put at risk as they cant afford private childcare or find available places for their children die to large waiting lists and high fees. Barriers should not be put in the way of peoples education.

These chemical based weedkillers are highly carcinogenic and linked to a variety of potentially fatal diseases. Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller, Pathclear, Gallop, Pistol and Mossgo are to name but a few of the weedkillers currently on the market that contain the cancer causing chemical glyphosate which are lethal to all living organisms. Ireland has the second highest level of glyphosate in our surface water in the EU and the third highest death rate of cancer in Europe. To ensure a safer, cleaner living environment for our current and future generations we want a complete ban of glyphosate weedkiller. We are extremely concerned that our Agricultural sector/farmers are bombarded with misinformation and pressure from government bodies that are directly lobbied by toxic chemical companies. http://greennews.ie/why-is-ireland-diluting-legislation-on-banning-hormone-changing-chemicals/ https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/france-tables-eu-wide-non-agricultural-pesticide-ban/