“You wouldn’t sell food to a speculator in a famine; You shouldn’t sell houses to Ryanair during a housing crisis” Earlier this year, MKN properties sold 25 family homes in Boroimhe in Swords to Ryanair. Eight months later the houses remain empty. Meanwhile there are 14, 486 people, including 4, 419 children, who are officially homeless. A scandal. Not a surprise: You wouldn’t sell food to a speculator in a famine; you shouldn’t sell houses to Ryanair in a housing crisis. Michael O’Leary loves flinging insults at Swords locals, calling them “loonies” for objecting to his and DAA’s profit-crazed plans to increase passenger numbers. We see him. Using vacant family homes as bargaining chips in his squabble with the Department of Transport shows how little he cares about the people of Swords. MKN properties are currently building another 85 apartments on the nearby Holytree House site. They must not repeat the grossly anti-social act of selling to a for-profit corporation like Ryanair.

My name is Jaime Noonan, I am 25 and suffer with my mental health.  I am still fighting to try and get the right support to allow me to function and live my life.  The current support available is not adequate and has not been for years. Under trained GPs, meeting a different junior doctor each time, medication not being monitored correctly and adjusted, year + long waiting lists for therapy and counselling. Being sent home the same day after suicide attempts with no support. It is not working or enough. We need GPs and health professionals to have a better understanding of mental health along with training, better medication monitoring, more frequent appointments and immediate access to quality supports and therapy. Specialised A&Es and better community supports also.  It is possible and it is needed.  No one should ever have to feel as though suicide is their only choice.  I hope you will join me in my fight to reform and revolutionise the current system.  Thank you. 

John O'Dowd blaming the British government and "competing work interests" for not being able to pedestrianise a popular street for night-life is as embarrassing as it is ridiculous. On the same day as he announced the decision to put the pedestrianisation of Hill Street on hold, his department started work on repaving the Sydenham by-pass at the cost of £3.8 million.  Why is Minister O'Dowd prioritising roads over people? It's time for him to pedestrianise Hill Street now!

Holy Family is a vital cornerstone of the community, playing a central role in the lives of local families.  The current conditions jeopardise both the children's health and ability to learn. Without urgent attention, these issues will only worsen, further compromising the wellbeing of the pupils and staff. 

Bus Éireann should increase its bus service in Cork to accommodate the city’s population growth, urban expansion, and evolving transportation needs.  As Cork continues to grow, public transport must keep pace to prevent traffic congestion, reduce environmental impact, and improve accessibility for all.

It is a unacommadating service. Nobody should be left standing in the rain for another hour, or another two hours depending on destination because of inadequate capacity. 

The evidence regarding the detrimental impact of unregulated access to the internet and social media on our children and young people is overwhelming. It is an evolving youth mental health crisis which is a societal challenge and requires leadership and political will to address. In the words of Prof. Matthew Sadlier (Chair of the Irish Medical Organisation Consultants Committee) at the Gen Free launch in Greystones on Sept 17th, “The radical changes in behaviour of children that we have seen since the introduction of immersive digital technology is having an overwhelming harmful effect”. Legislation is urgently needed and our campaign is now giving a clear call to action. Let’s make our voices heard and protect children online. The time is now Page 65 on the recently issued 2025 Programme for Government "Investing in our Future" has outlined commitments regarding Online Safety. We call on the government to action these commitments as a matter of priority and urgency. We must hold our government and elected representatives to account on this.  #GenFree #FreetobeKids Campaign coverage: https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0918/1470524-online-safety-children-campaign/   People and Organisations supporting this campaign; • Irish Medical Organisation, (IMO) • Dr. Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist, • Dr. Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer, HSE, • Prof. Mary Aiken, Professor of Cyberpsychology, • Dr. Brigid Teevan, Doctor in Childhood Studies, • Dr. Joanna Fortune, Psychotherapist & Clinical Author, • Dr. Colman Noctor, Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist • Dr. David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist & Author, • CyberSafeKids, • Temple Carrig Secondary School, • It Takes a Village, • Barnardos, Rahoo, • Noone Cyber Services, • Counselling Forward. • A Path Appears.

The Grand Canal has been a valued public amenity in this part of Dublin since the late 18th century, and a core green space for local residents since. Its a valuable part of our city's heritage and brings relief to local residents on their daily commutes, runs, and walks. In response to rough sleeping in the area brought about by poor planning, mismanagement of resources, and ineffective government agency responses over several years, Waterways Ireland has erected preventative fencing along the canal. This has deprived the local residents of their public realm and created an brutal eyesore for all who pass by. These fences must be removed, government agencies must be resourced to take swift action to accommodate and help our rough sleepers, and our public realm must be reclaimed for the benefit of all!

The affected families have been integrated into many parts of our town in Blackrock so it would have an impact on many people in the community. It is within our interest to maintain them as a key part of this community going forward. 

Many parents and families in Northern Ireland are coming under unbearable financial pressure due to the arbitrary and expensive school uniform requirements. In addition to a school uniform, many schools also insist on bespoke, branded sportswear for PE lessons, particular emblems, or have contracts for branded items with specific uniform suppliers. This can't go on - the Department can act to alleviate this financial pressure, and must do so now.

Only by mobilising working people on housing can we build a movement for housing with more power than the landlords, developers and vulture funds.

Community First Responders (CFRs) and other emergency volunteers are vital components of our emergency response system. These are trained volunteers who often arrive on the scene before ambulances or other official emergency services, providing life-saving interventions in critical situations. However, the current road traffic legislation does not grant them the same exemptions that official emergency vehicles enjoy, such as being able to park without fear of penalties during emergencies. Time is of the essence in emergency situations—delays caused by parking restrictions or concerns about fines can have life-threatening consequences. Without proper legislative support, CFRs are forced to navigate unnecessary obstacles that can prevent them from saving lives. It’s crucial that they have the same protections and privileges as other emergency services to ensure they can perform their duties quickly and efficiently. Why Should Other People Join This Campaign? This campaign is about more than just parking passes—it’s about supporting the people who are there for us when we need them the most. CFRs are volunteers who give their time and skills to save lives in our communities. Ensuring they have the legal support they need means that when the worst happens, help can arrive without delay. By joining this campaign, you are standing up for: 1. Safer Communities – By removing barriers that prevent quick emergency response, we increase the chances of saving lives. 2. Supporting Volunteers – CFRs and other emergency volunteers give their time selflessly. It’s only fair that we give them the legal protections they need to perform their roles effectively. 3. A Stronger Emergency Response System – Including CFRs in national legislation alongside official emergency services creates a more robust, reliable response to emergencies in every community. This issue affects everyone because emergencies can happen to any of us, at any time. By joining this campaign, we can push for a simple, yet powerful change that ensures CFRs and emergency volunteers are recognised and supported by the law. This is a step toward building safer and more responsive communities across Ireland.