The government is talking about charging people for what they call "excessive" water usage – but we all know that this will open the door for more water charges down the line. We all deserve access to clean, good quality water. Charging people for water will only create more inequality and will push families into poverty.

We have been informed that both Buncrana and Letterkenny Fire Services are facing a drastic reduction in resources. This includes the removal of our second fire engine, a significant cut in crew numbers, and, in the case of Letterkenny, the loss of the vital water tanker and incident command vehicle. These resources are essential for effectively responding to emergencies and ensuring the safety of both the public and our firefighters. The decision to implement these cuts has been presented to us as a fait accompli, with management stating that the changes will proceed regardless of our concerns. We were told, "if you don't like it, take us to court." This dictatorial approach is deeply disrespectful and undermines the vital role we play in protecting our community. We are particularly troubled by the justification given for these cuts. We are being told that these reductions are a consequence of firefighters seeking a better work-life balance. While we firmly believe in the importance of work-life balance for all workers, including firefighters, we refuse to accept that the safety of our community should be compromised as a result. It is unconscionable to punish firefighters for seeking reasonable working conditions, and, more importantly, to punish the public by diminishing the emergency services they rely upon. These cuts will have a devastating impact. Fewer firefighters and fewer resources mean slower response times, increased risk to both firefighters and the public, and a diminished ability to effectively handle complex emergencies. The loss of the water tanker in Letterkenny, for example, will severely hamper our ability to fight fires, especially in areas with limited water supply.

Every year, thousands of women in Ireland undergo mammograms through BreastCheck, trusting the results they receive. But for the 43% of these women with dense breasts, a "clear" mammogram does not necessarily mean they are cancer-free. • Up to 50% of cancers in dense breasts go undetected on mammograms because both cancer and dense tissue appear white, making tumours almost impossible to see. As a result, 1 in every 2 Irish women with dense breasts may have their cancer missed. • Women with dense breasts are 4-6 times more likely to develop breast cancer than those with lower density. • Breast density is a stronger risk factor than having a family history of breast cancer, yet women in Ireland are not informed about it. • Breast density can only be detected via a mammogram - it is not something a woman can feel. • Despite the serious implications of breast density, Ireland does not inform women whether they have non-dense or dense breasts. This leaves many unaware of their potential increased risk and the need for additional screening, such as ultrasound or MRI. Other countries, including the United States, Canada, France, and Australia, already notify women of their breast density, ensuring they have the information they need to advocate for their health. Irish women deserve the same. Breast density is categorised into four groups: • A (Mostly Fatty) and B (Scattered Fibroglandular Tissue): These are considered non-dense breasts, where cancer is generally easier to detect on a mammogram. • C (Heterogeneously Dense) and D (Extremely Dense): These are classified as dense breasts, which can make it harder to detect cancer, and also increase the risk of developing it. Women deserve to be informed whether they have dense or non-dense breasts so they can seek appropriate screening if needed. A major European study (D.E.N.S.E. Trial, Netherlands) has led to new EUSOBI (European Society of Breast Imaging) recommendations, stating: • All women should be informed of their breast density • Women with extremely dense breasts should receive additional screening with MRI 👉 Read the study: EUSOBI Recommendations This is a global issue, but Ireland has the opportunity to take the lead. We need to demand transparency and better screening for all women. 📖 Learn More About Breast Density To read more about why breast density matters and how it affects breast cancer detection, please read this in-depth piece on Her.ie that explores the science, the risks, and the urgent need for policy change. Read it here. A Call to the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) We also call on the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) to urgently evaluate the inclusion of breast density reporting within Ireland's BreastCheck program. Currently, BreastCheck does not collect or report breast density information, leaving many women unaware of the risks associated with dense breast tissue. It’s crucial that NSAC acknowledges the need for change and works toward a systematic notification protocol for breast density. By doing so, the NSAC can help ensure that women with dense breasts are informed about their density and offered additional screening, such as MRI or ultrasound, in line with international recommendations from the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI). This step will allow women to make informed decisions about their health and reduce the risk of undetected cancers. My Personal Story I know firsthand how devastating this lack of information can be. My amazing mum, Marian Lovett, always attended her routine BreastCheck screenings and was given a clear result in 2022. She had no reason to worry, but just a year later, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer- a terminal diagnosis. She later learned that her dense breast tissue likely masked the tumour on her mammogram, meaning her cancer could have been missed in previous scans. She was never informed about her breast density, never advised to seek additional screening, and never given the chance to detect her cancer earlier. My mother passed away in August 2024, taken far too soon. She was deeply frustrated that this critical information had been withheld from her, and she wasn’t alone - so many women have faced the same devastating reality. That’s why I am fighting for change on her behalf. 📖 Read More About My Mum’s Story I share my mum’s story in an article on Her.ie, highlighting how a lack of breast density notification contributed to her late-stage diagnosis. Read it here. A Collaborative Effort for Change This petition is launched in collaboration with Siobhán Freeney, a dedicated patient advocate and founder of BeingDense.com, Ireland’s leading resource on breast density awareness. Siobhán has tirelessly campaigned for transparency in breast screening after her own cancer was missed due to extremely dense breasts - something she was never informed about. Her experience, like my mother’s and so many others, has driven her to fight for mandatory breast density notification so women can access essential screenings before it’s too late. Through BeingDense, Siobhán has worked to educate women, raise awareness among healthcare professionals, and push for policy change at the highest levels. While this petition focuses on improving breast screening policy in Ireland, it is also part of a global movement to ensure better breast cancer detection and prevention. Siobhán has also launched her own petition on Change.org, calling for similar action. By signing both petitions, you can strengthen the case for change and help ensure that all women receive the information they need. 👉 Sign Siobhán’s Petition Here Women in Ireland deserve access to all the information about their own health - just as women in other countries already receive. Join us in demanding that Ireland finally listens. Sign our petition now to help ensure no more women are left in the dark about their breast health.

It was promised in the Budget to be rolled out in January 2025. It supports a struggling demographic ie Peri-menopausal and menopausal women. HRT can enable women going through menopause to manage symptoms such as increased anxiety, depression, hot flushes, mesophonia, panic attacks, insomnia etc. (there are at least 35 symptoms), thereby ensuring women can live a more productive and fulfilling life and maintain good relationships. HRT is also heart and bone loss protective. It supports working single women who receive very little tax benefits compared to those that are married and or are mothers through no fault of their own. As per Irish Independent 2020 single people pay up to seven times more tax throughout their working life times and that has now increased due to the tax increases that targets single people inheriting property in new Inheritance Tax laws in 2024. 

The current meter placement has resulted in inaccurate consumption data resulting in inflated bills. Under Directive 2023/1791 (EU Energy Efficiency Directive, all heat metering must be accurate and based on actual consumption – Consumers must only be billed for their own apartment’s heating, not for common areas or system heat losses.

The closure of The Wombles at this location will not only leave children without crucial early learning opportunities but will also place an immense strain on working parents who depend on after-school care. Many of us have built our work schedules around this service, knowing our children are in a safe, familiar, and supportive environment. The impact extends beyond our families, affecting six dedicated early years educators who may lose their jobs. Early years education plays a vital role in identifying children who may need additional support or early intervention, and The Wombles has been instrumental in ensuring children receive the help they need from an early age. Over the past decade, they have provided Level 7 support for children who have gone on to thrive in school. We urge you to find a solution that does not leave 98 children without care and education. Our families need your immediate attention to this matter.

The Triple Lock is an integral part of Ireland's neutrality and Foreign Policy. Removing the Triple Lock is an attack on our neutrality. This change opens the door to Irish troops being seconded to NATO and EU missions, with almost free-range given to the government of the day. The Triple Lock means Irish Defence Forces troops are only deployed on UN-mandated missions. A UN mandate gives legitimacy to peacekeeping missions which will be impossible to replace. The blue beret, that Irish troops have always worn, also offers them a huge level of protection. There is currently an attack on the UN with Elon Musk recently stating the United States should leave the institution. The proposed plans from the government are a further undermining of the UN at a time of increasing militarisation. So what? This is a fundamental change in Ireland's stance on neutrality - so we believe it should be put to the people in a national plebiscite. Every citizen in Ireland deserves to have a direct say on whether the Government should make this change. We recognise the importance of democratic consultation in shaping Ireland's future foreign policy, which is why we believe the only truly democratic option is a direct vote through a vote by the people on the whether Ireland should retain the Triple Lock.

Our Concerns: 1. Unclaimed Deposits:  A significant portion of the €100 million in deposits collected during 2024 remains unclaimed, yet the public has limited information on how these funds are managed and spent. Re-turn must disclose how these funds are being allocated and reinvested to benefit environmental initiatives.  2. Executive Salaries: Re-turn has refused to disclose the salaries of its CEO and executive team, despite handling millions of euros in public funds. 3. Accountability: As a not-for-profit organisation operating a nationwide scheme, Re-turn must be fully transparent about its financial operations to maintain public trust. Our Demands: 1. Full Disclosure: Publicly release the salaries of Re-turn executives and provide an annual financial report detailing the allocation of unclaimed deposits. 2. Public Oversight: Establish an independent review committee to ensure that funds are being used responsibly for environmental and community benefits. 3. Legislative Review:  We urge the Irish government to introduce regulations that enforce financial transparency for organisations managing public deposit schemes, including strict guidelines on the allocation of unclaimed deposits.  The Deposit Return Scheme was created to encourage recycling, not to generate undisclosed profits. The Irish public deserves clarity on how their money is being used. By signing this petition, we demand greater accountability and transparency from Re-turn. Let’s ensure that this initiative truly serves the public and environmental good.

The vast majority of people in Ireland support our neutrality and want to keep the Triple Lock in place too.  The government has been meeting with arms lobbyists and spreading disinformation about the Triple Lock, which in reality does a great job of keeping us safe and making sure Irish soldiers only serve on UN sanctioned peacekeeping missions and not unsanctioned operations like the illegal invasion of Iraq. • The Triple Lock is a system designed to keep Ireland out of wars overseas. • We are are incredibly proud of our neutrality and understand that it keeps us and our families safe. • That's why people in Ireland rejected two EU referendums (Nice and Lisbon) that had sections about us getting dragged into EU wars  • As a compromise we were made to vote a second time in those referendums but were given special allowances so that we wouldn't get dragged into these wars. This is where we got the Triple Lock which, to quote Micheal Martin in 2013, "is the core of our neutrality"  • The Triple Lock basically means that in order for Ireland to send more than 12 troops to any overseas missions, there needs to be approval from: • 1. The Government • 2. The Dáil (which is the government and the opposition) • 3. The UN • This can be authorised by either the UN Security Council OR the UN General Assembly , where there is NO veto (The government won't tell you that)  The Triple Lock works extremely well. The government has been deliberately misleading the public into thinking that Russia can stop us from participating in UN missions because of their veto at the UN Security Council, but this problem was actually fixed back in 2006. The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 says that we can get authorisation from the UN General Assembly instead where no country has a veto. As we mentioned earlier, no country has a veto at the UN General Assembly. The UN General Assembly is the closest thing we have to the opinion of the rest of the world. They've consistently passed resolutions for a ceasefire in Gaza, to end the blockade of Cuba, and to eliminate nuclear weapons globally. We have absolutely no business taking part in wars without a UN sanction. The only thing the Triple Lock stops the government from doing is taking part in wars that the UN doesn't agree with, like the illegal invasion of Iraq or Afghanistan. While we're on the topic, there has also been disinformation spread about evacuating Irish citizens from overseas. Once again, the Triple Lock allows us to do this. There is no good reason to get rid of the Triple Lock. It allows us to take part in peacekeeping missions that have been given the green light by the UN and keeps us out of wars for profit and oil that have not been given UN permission. Wars are the worst thing that humans do. The only people who benefit from wars are arms dealers who make billions selling weapons and don't care about the lives of ordinary people who are killed and maimed. It's clear that these arms dealers have been pushing this idea of scrapping our neutrality and getting rid of the Triple Lock because they see Ireland as an opportunity to make money. Now the Irish government is fast-tracking legislation to get rid of the Triple Lock and the govt have done a complete 180 on their past positions  Polling shows that across all ages, regions and even political parties, the vast majority of people in Ireland value our neutrality exactly as it is and do not want our soldiers sent off to fight in foreign wars for the profits of a small few. Block the Bodybag Bill

To make the Cleveragh area more safe and accessible for everyone. So that we can all access the beautiful surrounds and facilities safely.  

If the Irish government bans HHC, it will cause more harm than good. Here’s why it’s crucial to keep HHC legal in Ireland: 1. A Ban Will Create a Dangerous Black Market Prohibition doesn’t stop demand it just pushes sales underground. Illegal HHC will be unregulated and unsafe, increasing the risk of contamination with harmful chemicals. Consumers will turn to riskier alternatives, including synthetic cannabinoids that are known to cause serious health issues. Criminal markets will profit, taking money away from responsible Irish businesses and putting it in the hands of unregulated dealers. 2. Legal HHC Ensures Consumer Safety Right now, HHC products in Ireland are lab-tested, properly labeled, and sold by licensed retailers. Keeping HHC legal means quality control—consumers know exactly what they’re getting. With a ban, people will be forced to import unregulated products online or buy from street dealers with no oversight. 3. The Economic Impact Will Be Devastating Irish businesses will suffer. Vape shops, wellness stores, and distributors who rely on HHC sales will be forced to shut down or lose major revenue. Jobs will be lost as businesses cut staff or close entirely. The government will lose tax revenue. Instead of benefiting from regulated sales, they’ll push the entire market into illegal, untaxed transactions. 4. There’s No Clear Scientific Justification for a Ban Unlike synthetic drugs like "Spice," HHC is naturally derived and has not been proven to cause serious harm. HHC is milder than THC, making it a safer alternative for those who want relaxation without extreme psychoactive effects. Many people in Ireland use HHC for pain relief, anxiety, and sleep disorders—why take away a product that helps them? If public health is a concern, introducing regulations like age limits and lab-testing requirements is a smarter approach than an outright ban. 5. A Ban Would Be Hypocritical and Unfair Alcohol and tobacco—both proven to cause serious harm—remain legal. It makes no sense to ban HHC while keeping these much more dangerous substances available. Personal freedom matters. Adults should have the right to choose what they consume, especially when it’s a safer alternative to other substances. 6. Ireland Should Follow Smarter Policies, Not Outdated Prohibition Many countries are moving towards harm reduction and regulation, not bans. Regulation is the answer, not criminalization. Instead of banning HHC, Ireland should introduce sensible laws: 18+ age restrictions Mandatory lab testing for purity and safety Clear labeling and dosage guidelines Conclusion: Keep HHC Legal and Regulated The government must consider the long-term consequences before banning HHC. A ban will: ✅ Increase illegal sales ✅ Make products more dangerous for consumers ✅ Destroy Irish businesses and jobs ✅ Take away a safer alternative to more harmful substances Instead of banning HHC, Ireland should focus on proper regulation to ensure safety, quality, and responsible use. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 🇮🇪

This will be an important resource for local fitness & possibly allow us to organise a weekly park run.