In spite of E.U. sanctions against Russia for their role in destabilising Ukraine and annexing parts of the country, on December 7th, 2015, a 16-strong trade delegation led by Minister of State Sean Sherlock under the auspices of the Joint Economic Commission – Russia/Ireland, went to Moscow "to build on our existing excellent relationships"(1). Meanwhile Russia is bombing and killing hundreds of innocent civilians in Syria. According to the respected Syria Network for Human Rights, Russian airstrikes since September 30th until December 1st, 2015, have targeted markets, mosques, bakeries, killing 583 individuals - 570 of whom were civilians, including 152 children and 60 women. A recent report from Human Rights Watch also highlighted Russian extensive use of cluster bombs (2). The Convention on Cluster Munitions which banned their use under any circumstances, was actually adopted in Dublin on 30th May 2008. Their use also violates United Nations Resolution 2139 which demanded that all parties involved in Syria end “indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas" (3). Russia also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (4). The Amnesty International report of December 23rd, 2015, in effect corroborates and elaborates on the substance of these earlier (SNR, HRW) reports in laying out egregious violations of human rights and international law perpetrated by the Russian military. Please sign this petition to ensure that our government does not support the lifting of current E.U. sanctions against Russia when they are due for renewal. 1. http://www.intellinews.com/irish-government-gets-primed-for-lifting-of-sanctions-against-russia-86361 Irish government gets primed for lifting of sanctions against Russia 2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/20/russia/syria-extensive-recent-use-cluster-munitions Russia/Syria: Extensive Recent Use of Cluster Munitions 3. http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/sc11292.doc.htm Security Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution 2139 (2014) to Ease Aid Delivery to Syrians, Provide Relief from ‘Chilling Darkness’ 4. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27514256 Russia and China veto UN move to refer Syria to ICC

Following Donald's Trump's anti-immigrant position, we, as a nation of emmigrants, cannot allow such ignorant and hateful actions which inspire fear and hatred as well as justified anger. We are part of EU and we are on the front-lines at the moment. We must welcome ALL people no matter their religion/beliefs as long as they are not out to harm others or incite hate. I am starting this campaign because Donald Trump is an inciter of hate and fear and should not be allowed a stage to cause further divisiveness among peoples of the world. Therefore, I am asking you to sign this petition to ban Donald Trump from being allowed to visit The Republic of Ireland for any reason.

Parents often need to use the emergency clinic for their children. Not being able to find out where to go or to be able to get through is really frustrating.

The government is proceeding with their plans to ratify CETA, with the Investor Court System (ICS) section, which is an infringement on Irish juridical sovereignty. They are amending the Arbitration Act to overcome this, and are in the final stages of doing so(1). The the danger with an ICS is that it could threaten or prevent future government measures to deal with the housing crisis, the health service or the environement /climate crisis. In 2021 Wicklow Co Co passed a Motion calling on the Government not to proceed with CETA, and next week at the February 9th meeting there will be another motion  an Emergency Motion, calling on them to think again and withdraw the Arbitration Amendment. And we are asking you to lobby your Councillors to support it  (1) https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2025/74/

Anne’s death occurred as a single event which did not happen in isolation. The situation revealed that Irish roads continue to pose a dangerous threat to horses which results in their injuries. Horses possess both strong physical abilities and delicate emotional nature. The design of these shoes does not provide suitable protection for walking on hard roads while handling urban conditions that include heavy traffic and loud noises and extended physical activity. Horses who fall onto crowded streets experience intense fear while suffering from severe injuries and complete physical exhaustion which endangers the safety of all road users including drivers and bike riders and walking people. The pregnant horse Anne experienced extreme physical exhaustion because she received harsh abuse which caused her to become injured while she stood alone in a busy public street. Despite the efforts of members of the public and animal welfare volunteers, she and her unborn foal died. The national media covered this tragic event which people in the public area observed. The lack of defined rules together with insufficient enforcement and insufficient authority response will keep horses in dangerous circumstances which result in their unavoidable death and suffering. The current situation establishes a dangerous pattern which shows that our community will tolerate animal welfare violations which take place in public spaces. The current initiative protects horses from abuse while it saves their lives and creates safer road conditions for all urban traffic users. Anne’s death must not be in vain. We need to defend all surviving horses from future mistreatment because she endured this horrific experience.

For a breakthrough in addressing the root causes of today’s challenges an ecosystem science-policy interface approach should: 1) define the problems in the core of the “boiling pot”, instead of reducing them to the bubbles on the surface (fragmented issues, reduced academic formats, segmented policies, effects); 2) consider all dimensions of being in the world (intimate, interactive, social and biophysical), assessing their deficits and assets, as they combine to elicit, maintain or transform the events; 3) promote the singularity of (identity, proper characteristics) and the reciprocity (mutual support) of all dimensions, in view of their complementarity and dynamic equilibrium; 4) be committed to a critical analysis of present paradigms of growth, power, wealth, work and freedom embedded into the political, technological, economic, educational and cultural institutions; 5) in the socio-cultural learning niches, heuristic-hermeneutic processes should generate awareness, interpretation and understanding beyond established stereotypes, from a thematic (“what” is at stake), an epistemic (“how” to understand and define the events) and a strategic (who, when, where) viewpoint. Earth’s and humanity's regeneration, as faces of the same coin, should be addressed simultaneously, for their mutual support. Ref.: PILON, A. F. (2024). The Bubbles or the Boiling Water? A Course on Environmental Capacity Building [ppt presentation] Research gate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381996602_The_Bubbles_or_the_Boiling_Water_A_Course_on_Environmental_Capacity_Building

Flooding causing unnecessary distress, damage and disruption. Have you ever seen drains being cleared ever? They should be cleared regularly to prevent debris building up and preventing them draining water, particularly during heavy rains. 

To get him impreached

1. Justice and Accountability Jamie’s family has repeatedly experienced poor communication, delays, and last-minute cancellations from the Gardaí. Supporting this campaign demands that public institutions follow proper procedure and respect families’ rights. People join to ensure that no family has to endure what we have endured. 2. Transparency in Public Institutions An independent review ensures decisions and actions are clear, not hidden or inconsistent. People care about trust in policing and public bodies, which is weakened when families are ignored or misled. 3. Mental Health and Human Dignity Repeated procedural failures have caused real trauma and mental distress for Jamie’s family. Supporting the campaign shows solidarity for families who are grieving and vulnerable, and sends the message that bureaucracy should never worsen grief. 4. Systemic Change This isn’t just about Jamie; it’s about fixing the system for everyone. By joining, people help create clearer processes, better communication, and accountability for all future families in similar situations. 5. Empowering Citizens Public support amplifies your voice to TDs, ministers, and media. When people sign, share, or tag influential figures, it increases pressure on decision-makers to act.

I care about this because the South East keeps getting treated like an afterthought. The Dublin–Rosslare line is slow, unreliable, and now they’re talking about downgrading it instead of fixing it. That affects real people — students, workers, families — who just want a decent way to get to and from the capital without sitting in traffic for hours. A few smart upgrades could make a huge difference, but if we don’t push back now, this line will be left behind for another generation. That doesn’t feel fair, especially when we’re being told to cut emissions and use public transport more.

Non EU / normally visa required minors living in Ireland do not receive any physical evidence that they are legally resident in Ireland. This makes travelling with Irish parents or travelling unaccompanied an unnecessarily stressful and risky task.  The Immigration website specifically stipulates that minors under 16 do not need an IRP card and when travelling out of the State must do so with a parent / guardian who has a valid IRP card.  BMU has advised if a minor travels out and back into the State unaccompanied, they need a visa on return?! Why?  Visas firstly, take months to issue, and secondly, the minor is LEGALLY resident in the State but the Department of Justice will not address this terribly grey area?! BMU also stipulated if any issues arise, the airline can contact BMU at Dublin Airport - again, why? The said minor is legally resident in the State.  Even travelling with Irish citizen parents is problematic due to the Immigration website stating 'a parent / guardian with an IRP card', immigration in other countrie and airlines are then fixated on the 'IRP card' part of it. There was recently a family travelling back from Copenhagen, both parents naturalised as Irish and IRP cards expired, their child is under 16, so no IRP card issued. The mother had proof for her child from school, GP, welfare payments, dentist appointments and much more, staff in Copenhagen refused to let the child board due to no one having an IRP card! After many tears and begging, they were let on the flight last minute. BMU confirmed that minors of Irish parents did not need a visa to return, this email was shown to them and entirely dismissed!  Do you Minister, even comprehend the sheer (unnecessary) stress of this, or care for that matter, and how it potentially ruined what was a lovely holiday?  To touch on another situation, most families have their grandparents in their country of origin, some even have the other parent living in the country of origin and over the long summer breaks, it is the best time that parents would like to send their children back to visit - whether it be grandparents or the other parent, but they CANNOT because BMU have confirmed that is a minor travels without an IRO card parent / guardian, they need a visa to return. So a visa must be applied for from country of travel, and can take up to 6 months to process, so the minor goes on summer break holiday for 6 weeks, but cannot return until visa is issued 6 months later - please help me make that make sense?  There is always a blanket response of simply, under 16's do not need an IRP card, well I beg to differ, they absolutely do NEED something as physical proof from Immigration that they are legally resident in the State.  Perhaps you should take note from EU Treaty, as they allow and issue IRP cards for minors - lucky them.  I am appealing to you, not on behalf of myself, as this has no bearing on me, but on the thousands of immigrants who contribute to Ireland financially, who are all here legally and who on every IRP card renewal, have to pay the exorbitant fee of €300 - some doing that every year! Surely you can afford those people's minor children a stamp or a sticker in their passports confirming their legitimate, legal residence in the State? 

Banning or strictly regulating **TikTok Live in Ireland is important because it poses serious social, financial, and safety risks, particularly to children and young people. First, TikTok Live promotes the idea of easy money, encouraging people to beg online rather than develop skills, education, or a work ethic. This creates long-term harm by normalising dependency instead of productivity. Second, there is no transparency or accountability around gifting: • Who is sending money? • Why are they sending it? • Where is the money coming from? • What is expected in return after gifts are sent? This lack of clarity opens the door to financial exploitation, manipulation, and inappropriate influence, especially involving minors and vulnerable individuals. Third, TikTok Live exposes children to unsafe interactions, including pressure, grooming risks, and emotional manipulation. Young users may feel encouraged to perform, beg, or behave inappropriately to receive money, which is harmful to their development and dignity. Finally, the long-term impact on society is serious. When a generation grows up believing that going live and receiving gifts is a replacement for honest work, it weakens social values, damages mental health, and increases future economic dependency. For these reasons, action is necessary to protect children, uphold social responsibility, and safeguard Ireland’s future generation