Hawraji’s Message: Thank you for your support and your efforts to include Palestinian families in this important initiative. My name is Mohammed Hawajri, a 37-year-old senior operating room nurse. With over 12 years of experience, including with Médecins Sans Frontieres. I am married and my wife is Asma. She is 30 years old and we are parents of four children: Katia (12), Ahmed (10), Sulaf (8) and Omer(5). My daughter Sulaf got septic arthritis during the war, and although she received initial treatment, she still suffers from serious complications in her hip. There is no possibility of proper follow-up care in Gaza. The rest of my children live in constant fear, with no access to education or security and now to food. Since October 2023, we have been displaced multiple times due to the bombings. We have lost our home and all sense of normal life. I am simply trying to protect my family and give my children a safe future - something every parent dreams of. I believe that resettlement in Ireland would give my children hope, education, safety, and healing. I am ready to contribute to Irish society with my professional background and live with dignity and peace.🙏  The situation in Gaza has passed the limits of human endurance. Families like mine are not just suffering - we are being erased. We live each day without certainty, without safety, and without the basic conditions for life. Children are growing up without education, food, or hope. I have done everything within my power to provide a decent life for my family, but now I simply cannot do more. The urgency of our situation is greater than ever before. We are not asking for luxury, but for the chance to survive and rebuild. Ireland has the moral opportunity to lead with compassion and justice, to offer families like mine a lifeline. This is not just about my children, it's about restoring humanity where it is being stripped away. We have lived every single day of this horrific war under fire, destruction, and fear. This war does not distinguish between sides - it has crushed the lives of innocent civilians like us who have always sought peace and wished for nothing more than a safe and stable life. Every day we cling to hope that a ceasefire will come, but it never arrives - and even if it does come, there is no life left in Gaza. Everything is destroyed: hospitals, schools, homes - even hope itself. Rebuilding Gaza will take decades, not years, and we live under unbearable and dangerous conditions with no guarantee we will survive to see tomorrow. This is why evacuation to a safe place is not only necessary - it is urgent. It is about preserving life itself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support, your kind words, and your dedication to this life saving initiative. Your message gave me and my family a breath of hope that we haven't felt in a long time.  I truly believe your petition can be a turning point, not just for us, but for many Palestinian families who are trapped in unbearable and unsafe conditions. Every passing day here brings more fear, more danger, and fewer resources to survive. The situation is beyond critical.  Please, if there is any way to move this forward faster, or to amplify our voices further, know that every minute counts. My children, and so many others, are waiting not just for a chance - but for a lifeline. We are deeply grateful to you and those supporting this cause. May your efforts open a door to safety and dignity for families like mine. With all my appreciation. Wadi's message: My name is Mohamed Wadi, and I am 40 years old. I work as a nurse and recently earned my Master's degree in Public Health, specializing in epidemiology. Currently, I am employed with Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) as a Deputy Project Coordinator. My professional journey has been driven by a deep commitment to health care and humanitarian service. I am married to Samaya, who is 38 years old and holds a bachelor's degree in English literature. Although she has not had the opportunity to work professionally, she plays a vital role in our family by dedicating herself full time to raising our children and managing the household. Her support has been essential in balancing our family life, especially considering our children's needs, including our special needs son. We are blessed with five children - four daughters and one son. Noor is 16, Gazal is 15, Salma is 14, and Samar is 9. Our youngest Yazan, is 7 years old and the only boy. He was born with a complex congenital syndrome and continues to require ongoing medical and surgical care. Despite the challenges, our family remains strong, united, and deeply supportive of one another.  1st I lost my home and car, then we were displaced many times. The most difficult loss to bear is that the success we achieved in my son’s condition slipped away the day the war began, and continues to deteriorate.  Finally, I have extended family that I try to take care of, but sadly I am unable to help them in all their needs. We did try many times to evacuate medically and were accepted by The WHO but so far nothing has happened. We hope the situation will become quieter soon.

Recent events of teenagers throwing cans and stones at families, including those with children, have left residents and visitors feeling unsafe and vulnerable. We ask the Management of Gulliver’s Retail Park, Local TDs and the Northwood Management Company to take immediate and comprehensive action to restore safety and confidence in our public spaces. Specifically, we request: • Enhanced security measures, including increased personnel and cctv. • Active collaboration with Gardai to address and prevent incidents. • Open communication with the community to keep us informed and involved in safety initiatives. Our community deserves to feel secure and supported. 

For the vibes 

It is important because Israel is a rogue pariah state. It is an apartheid extremist state committing genocide so far without let or hindrance on the people of Palestine and has been starving Palestians for several months, refusing to allow UNRWA, the UN aid agency operate within Gaza, refusing to allow food and aid enter Gaza, has destroyed a huge percentage of Gaza including 95% of agricultural land, and has besieged Gaza for over 600 days thus displacing and killing and maiming huge numbers of innocent Palestinians of whom almost 40% of known deaths are children and 33% women.  The UN has stated Israel has furthermore targetted civilian infrastructure including hospitals, schools and refugee camps relentlessly. According to Haretz 82% of Israelis are in favour of ethnically cleansing Palestinians from Gaza. The Israeli government has made no proposals public on where to rehouse or provide facilities to Palestinian residents/survivors  when or if it ever ends its all out war on them. Therefore Israel must be stopped by imposing the severest sanctions on where and how it receives funding. Accordingly Ireland and the Irish Central Bank must recognize their responsibility and cease facilitating Israel raise money using debt instruments (war bonds). 

1.       The loss of the Court sitting in Youghal, would have a huge negative impact both socially and financially.   Court sittings in Youghal are very important and provide a significant boost to the local economy.  2.      Justice should be administrated locally and not put the expense on people to travel to Dungarvan.  Also when its administrated locally, there is deterrent effect of having to face one’s neighbours, friend and members of the local community in Court, in public in one’s own town should never be underestimated.  3.      It would also affect access to Justice for Family Law.   Commitment was given that a District Court Register would attend the Mall Arts Centre in Youghal, every day on which Youghal District Court sits, to provide a Family Law service.  This gives assistance with application for protection Order, Safety Orders and Barring orders.  This commitment has been fulfilled and is fully utilised.  There is a separate room available in Youghal for this consultation, but not available in Dungarvan.  It is now envisaged that applicants will now have to travel to Waterford City to lodge their applications.    4.      There would also be a lack of Gardaí in the town on court dates, which are already slack, if they must attend court in Dungarvan.  

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to positively influence the trajectory of one of the most interesting and friendly small towns in Ireland with a project which can transform the heart of the town and provide a tourism and visitor hub and attraction for one of the most beautiful surrounding areas, populated with greenways, lakes, walks and other visitor attractions just waiting to be discovered, many of which are wonderfully recalled in the works of the great writer. The McGahern Gateway Centre will provide the opportunity to harness and coalesce in one place the significant local, national and global interest in one the most evocative, elegiac and poetic of prose writers on the world stage of this or any age and to honour and illustrate his life's work in his home town with a centre of appropriate ambition, quality and scale equal to the writer's towering achievements. This project has, of course, the full support of the writer's family. 

These snacks were a core part of growing up in Ireland, and many of us still miss them today. If you ever enjoyed Claws of the Mummies or Ghosties — or just love a good nostalgic throwback — sign this petition to help bring them back. The more support we show, the more likely the companies are to listen. Let’s make this happen!

There was a pedestrian crossing for years beside a busy bus stop, right at the door of Centra and it was an extremely helpful safety feature. It’s been replaced with just a painted stop line—no signage, and no proper protection for pedestrians and no warning for drivers. The Council don’t have any plans to add  signage either.  Despite concerns already raised, Wicklow County Council has confirmed it will not be reinstated, advising instead that the public simple needs to “be alert” when crossing. This is not good enough. We need safe infrastructure, not vague advice. Local TD Jennifer Whitmore has supported contact with the Council, but they need to hear from more of us. Cars, vans, and delivery trucks drive straight over the line without stopping until they reach the main road. This is a serious risk to public safety.

Why is it important? Because none of us are safe under a mental health system that’s stuck in 2001. The Mental Health Act 2001 still allows forced treatment, restraint, and seclusion—even though these practices are now widely recognised as harmful, especially to neurodivergent people (like those with autism, ADHD, or trauma-related conditions). It treats emotional overwhelm as illness. It punishes difference as danger. This law was written before most people had smartphones. Before we had language for sensory overload, neurodivergence, or digital expression. It’s outdated, invasive, and not trauma-informed—and it puts thousands of people at risk every year. Why should others join? Because you don’t have to be in crisis to care. This campaign is about protecting our freedom, dignity, and human rights. It’s about making sure no one is silenced, secluded, or forcibly medicated for being misunderstood. If you’ve ever: • Had your feelings dismissed as “too much” • Been misdiagnosed • Been afraid to seek help because the system might punish you Then this campaign is for you. We need to audit the Mental Health Act 2001—and bring Ireland in line with modern science and EU human rights law. Join us. Share. Demand better. ACTIVATE. AGITATE. AMPLIFY!

Irish people should not be complicit in genocide and war crimes.  We can no longer stand by and allow this to happen.  It is not enough to talk - it is time for action. 

Make my village safer – install bollards in Ballina, Co Tipperary.

This petition speaks to a critical gap in Ireland’s maternity and childcare systems—one that affects thousands of women and families every year. Right now, working mothers are being punished for contributing to society: • The state provides no financial support during the final 16 weeks of maternity leave—leaving mothers without income, even when no childcare is available for infants under 12 months. • Maternity benefit is flat-rate, unrelated to income or tax paid, creating financial hardship. • Childcare waiting lists are 12–18 months long, yet women are expected to return to work after 6 months. • Women face lost pension contributions and healthcare costs while on leave—deepening the gender gap. First letter sent to the Government of Ireland on 20th May 2025 (full letter link  https://docs.google.com/file/d/1KGTvpZDcaKTbiOquWvgjv0YIWljZeKwX/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword) To: The Government of Ireland — especially the women who lead our country Subject: A Plea for Real Change in Maternity Support, Childcare, and Equity for Working Mothers in Ireland Dear Ministers, TDs, and all with power to make real change, I write this letter with a full heart, a weary mind, and deep concern for the state of maternity and childcare support in Ireland. I speak as a woman who believes in hard work, resilience, and contribution. And yet, I now ask: How has Ireland let its working women down so deeply and for so long? My Journey: Hard Work Without a Safety Net I’ve been working since I was 15. Now 36, I’ve built a career in Human Resources. I supported myself through college—working 20 hours a week, every summer, without any grants, as my father’s hard-earned income excluded me from supports. I’ve never expected handouts. I’ve worked hard and built a life brick by brick. I purchased a home in County Dublin—a three-bedroom semi-detached property—for over €525,000. As a second-time buyer with a self-employed husband, we were excluded from any government schemes. Still, we managed our mortgage and rising costs through sheer determination and work ethic. A Time of Joy… Shadowed by Fear In January 2025, we received the news: we were expecting our first child. Excited and nervous, we began to plan. I’ve remained in work despite difficult pregnancy symptoms, with the support of my employer. But as I sat to plan maternity leave, reality hit hard. I contacted over 20 childcare providers within a 20km radius. None would accept a child under 12 months. Most told me to get on a waiting list after the baby was born, with average wait times of 12–18 months. My plan to return to work after 26 weeks suddenly seemed impossible. Maternity Benefit: Inadequate, Unfair, and Disconnected from Reality I’m grateful my employer offers maternity top-up for the first 26 weeks. Without it, we couldn’t afford to start a family. But the lack of any state support during the final 16 weeks—despite national recommendations for parental care during a child’s first year—is unacceptable. Our monthly expenses exceed €4,000: mortgage, insurance, utilities, car, groceries. I approached my bank to explore options like a mortgage moratorium or interest-only payments, but was told I’d need to be in arrears first. In other words—I must fail before I qualify for help. This is not just my issue. Many women I know are quietly facing the same situation: unable to return to work, unable to stay at home without falling into debt, unsupported by the state despite decades of contributions. A System That Punishes Contribution How is it possible that if I had never worked, I might now be better off? Let’s break it down: • Maternity Benefit: A flat rate that doesn’t reflect my earnings or tax history. • Extended Leave: 16 weeks of unpaid leave—no state support. • Parents Benefit: Too low to keep a roof over our heads. • Healthcare: Employer-paid health insurance may be lost or owed back after unpaid leave. This is a system that punishes responsibility. It penalises work, discourages independence, and widens the gender gap by undermining the financial stability of mothers. It’s out of touch with today’s reality. The Emotional Toll I should be enjoying this time, preparing for my daughter’s arrival in October. Instead, I’m battling stress, sleepless nights, and financial uncertainty. Will I fall into debt? Will I return to work earlier than planned? Will I owe money to my employer for continuing healthcare? These are not thoughts a pregnant woman should have. We are told to plan our families, support the economy, and bridge the gender gap. Yet we’re left without the tools to do it. How can we be asked to raise the next generation while being economically abandoned? A Call for Real, Urgent Reform To the Ministers and leaders of this country—especially the women: how can you let this continue? How can Ireland claim to be progressive while mothers are pushed to the brink just for having children? We need you to act. Not in a year. Not after “review.” Now. We call on you to: 1. Review the maternity benefit system – Introduce a tiered model tied to income and contributions. 2. Fund extended maternity leave – Support families during the 16 weeks of unpaid leave. 3. Solve the childcare crisis – Increase capacity, affordability, and access for children under 12 months. 4. Protect financial stability for women – Ensure pensions, healthcare, and job protections during leave. 5. Implement equitable policies – Recognise that a flat-rate system penalises contributors and working-class families. In Closing I am writing this letter because I believe in Ireland and its people. But I do not believe in a system that abandons women during one of the most vulnerable and meaningful times of their lives. We need real reform. And we need it now. I speak on behalf of every mother who returned to work too soon, every woman who delayed starting a family due to fear, and every child who lost valuable time with a parent because the system made no space for them. Please—do better. We are not asking for more than we deserve. We are asking for fairness, dignity, and the right to raise our children without being penalised. I have started a public petition to amplify this call. The support behind it is growing. I hope those in power will not only hear us—but finally act. Sincerely,  A hard-working woman  A mother-to-be  A voice among many