Our Doctor in Sneem will retire in October. During 33 years the village and the wider region of Sneem have been looked after by an outstanding, caring and deeply committed professional. But now the time has come to turn the page. We all know that Sneem needs a new doctor. Not only the elderly need a doctor, not only our Pharmacy needs a doctor in order to stay open, not only the young families in the town and the many visitors we welcome each year, also the groceries and all the shops and businesses depend on the presence of a local doctor in Sneem. As we live two and a half hours away from the nearest hospital, and forty minutes from Kenmare where the nearest doctor would be and no bus service to get us there, it is of vital importance that we have a doctor appointed for Sneem. We invite you to sign this petition and to ask your family and friends to help us make known all over Ireland that Sneem is looking forward to welcome and to support a new doctor.

Because it is poison and carcinogenic

These chemical based weedkillers are highly carcinogenic and linked to a variety of potentially fatal diseases. Monsanto's Roundup weedkiller, Pathclear, Gallup, Pistol, Weedol 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/

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.

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.

Rents are out of control and more and more people are finding it impossible to keep a roof over their heads. Eoghan Murphy could use his powers to bring in regulations to prohibit companies like REIT from charging sky-high rates to tenants who wish to secure their properties

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 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.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) is an international human rights treaty designed to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in all places of detention. It introduces a combined system of national (NPM) and international (SPT) monitoring of all places of detention. Ireland signed the OPCAT in October 2007, but has yet to ratify it. The OPCAT recognises the central importance of inspection as a way of preventing human rights violations. These inspections create transparency and accountability, which in turn act as a deterrent against future cruel treatment. Places of detention are not limited to prisons. The OPCAT applies to anywhere where people are deprived of their liberty. The ratification of OPCAT would positively impact the lives of many people in vulnerable positions. Examples of places of detention could include, but are not limited to: • Psychiatric units • Children detention schools • Nursing homes • Social care units • Special Care Units • Immigration detention centres • Direct provision • Pre-trial detention facilities • Garda stations OPCAT applies to anywhere people are deprived of their liberty. Pushing for the ratification of OPCAT might one day benefit a friend, neighbour, family member, or maybe even yourself. For Ireland to meet its international obligations, we must put in place sufficient and effective safeguards to ensure that vulnerable individuals are not victimised. The Convention recognizes that it is in closed spaces where the most serious violations of human rights can take place. Ireland has a troubling history of failing to protect those we have placed in closed spaces. The historical abuse of those in child institutions and other historical places of detention has shown the need for ongoing inspection. By failing to ratify OPCAT, Ireland perpetuates a situation that increases the vulnerability of all persons currently in detention. It is essential that Ireland moves towards the creation of an NPM which can ensure that no place of detention – prison, Garda station, hospital or care home – is beyond the reach of comprehensive and rigorous inspection. _________ To learn more about OPCAT: http://www.apt.ch/en/what-is-the-opcat/ To learn more about NPMs: http://www.apt.ch/en/national-preventive-mechanisms-npms/ To learn more about the SPT: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/OPCAT/Pages/OPCATIntro.aspx To see which countries have ratified OPCAT: http://www.apt.ch/en/opcat-database/

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

In 2013 the Magdalene redress scheme was placed into action under the former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, and the Department of Justice. Today, several of the important parts of the redress scheme still have not be implemented. The lack of action on promised redress commitments betrays the Magdalene women and makes a mockery of the State apology. The Magdalene redress scheme included a dedicated unit, which would assist the women to meet each other and facilitate the 'acquisition, maintenance and administration of any garden, museum or other form of memorial.’ It was agreed upon by the government that any such memorial or archival center or project should be overseen by an advisory board or committee that includes Magdalene women. Unfortunately, the consultation of government officials with Magdalene laundry survivors on how they believe the institutionalized abuse they endured should be memorialized has yet to occur. With some of the institutions being up for sale for private ownership, the promises of consultation become bleaker each day. Along with the institutions being sold off, most survivors are older, and every delay increases the risk that they will not see justice done in their lifetime. We are calling for those in leadership roles such as the current Taoiseach, Tanaiste, and Minister for Justice to organize a consultation of Magdalene survivors immediately and to implement the women's proposals for active memorialisation. The Magdalene women have suffered enough and it is now time for those who promised justice to facilitate the reparation process. We want the government officials responsible for the implementation of the redress scheme to be held accountable, to guarantee the Magdalene women are never forgotten. Although the Ireland of the past allowed the abuse of Magdalene women to occur, the Ireland of the present can stand firm in its convictions to see that justice is given to whom it deserves.