President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins has said gambling ads are a 'scourge' of modern-day life. [1] Left unregulated, dangerous gambling advertisements will continue to cause so much damage to families and individuals. Ireland has the fourth highest number of gamblers in the European Union, according to a study by industry analysts H2 Gambling Capital. On average, losses for Irish gamblers amount to €300 for every adult, totaling €1.36 billion in 2020.[2] The deluge of online gambling online makes it far too easy to place a bet, and the rules have not kept up. The pandemic has also exacerbated this problem, with nearly half of all betting last year taking place online. The Government introduced a working group on this issue who published recommendations in 2019. Now it's time to act! NOTES 1. https://www.thejournal.ie/problem-gambling-michael-d-higgins-5491317-Jul2021/ 2. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/irish-fourth-worst-gamblers-in-eu-as-move-online-accelerates-1.4617386

It is well documented that CBD is a natural compound derived from the cannabis plant. CBD product does not get you high, and no significant adverse effects have been reported. CBD is transforming the lives of people all around the world. It does not make one high, but rather one that aids individuals in dealing with pain & other difficulties. These are far safer alternative to pain medication! CBD oil consumers are aware of the distinction between CBD produced from marijuana and CBD generated from INDUSTRIAL HEMP. Many patients have switched from prescription medicines (such as epilepsy, anxiety, and depression treatments) to CBD, discovering that it provides many of the same advantages as medical marijuana, that too without the psychotropic side effects. Despite this, many social media including Facebook and government target CBD companies in the United States and the United Kingdom for no apparent reason. Social media platforms unpublish pages for "promoting sale of prescription products." The vast majority of CBD products are not regarded pharmaceutical medicines, with the exception of a few FDA-approved CBD-containing treatments. Despite numerous requests, most of the pages are banned. While the same social media website profits from pharmaceutical industry advertisements, but the natural product and far less dangerous alternates are hidden from public. Let’s fight to keep hemp derived CBD products lawful to buy, sell & possess. 1000's of small business that sell CBD products derived from hemp rely on this. Sign the petition to let social media websites know that you have noticed that you do not like the pharmaceutical lobby to rule the social media website, and you are concerned about the small enterprises who are getting affected by such actions. When you sign this petition, you will be helping to keep CBD products derived from Hemp, you will be supporting local business and you will be supporting the freedom of choice.

The decision to charge admission to a current exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland is contrary to the gallery's longstanding policy of accessibility for everyone. The public is being asked to pay to see works, gifted or purchased with public funds, that now form part of the gallery’s permanent collection. In other words, we are now paying twice to see these works of art! The National Gallery's mission claims to be the country's most popular free visitor attraction and promised to be 'Dedicated to bringing people and art together' which is why it is so important that access remains free of charge so that everyone who lives in and visits Ireland is able to access all works of art. When €500,000 in capital funding to support the gallery’s acquisitions programme for 2020 was announced by the Minister of Arts, director of the National Gallery of Ireland Sean Rainbird noted that the expanding national collection “of course belongs to the people of Ireland”.

A Directly Elected Mayor for Galway could be a big deal for the future of Galway City. In October 2020 Galway City Council unanimously passed a motion by Cllr. Owen Hanley calling for on the Government to implement referendum so Galway can have it's say on this issue. A Directly Elected Mayor would only ensure that the person in charge of finances, everyday decisions, and the future of Galway is selected and accountable to the people. But it's about more than that. It's also about the broader decision making in our country. It's about moving from a Dublin-centric model, to one where more and more decisions about Galway are made in Galway. Everyday our Councils and staff do work to help our communities. But local government has a long way to go. We need more power and decision making on a local level led by a Directly Elected Mayor.

We are aware that the Local Authority is willing to support with the purchase of land to resolve the parking/ set down issue. We understand that the request to acquire lands needs to come from the Department of Education and Skills and to date, no such request has been received by Meath County Council. When funding appears to be available we are unclear why this matter has not been progressed. We can no longer remain silent on this issue and wait for a fatality to spur the relevant departments into action.

The public services ombudsman has found CAPITA's work on the Personal Independence Payment to amount to 'systemic maladministration'. Capita continually failed to obtain medical evidence from GPs as required, and used systems which had the potential to inhibit the appropriate use of further evidence in making assessments Despite this, the Minister for Justice Naomi Long is awarding a contract to Capita to deliver a Medical Assessment Service to victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57583138

All of us will know someone, or may even become someone, who requires residential care at some stage. As RTE Investigates and our ongoing campaign shows, current policies and services fail to support residents' rights and fails to adequately protect them when harm occurs. Nothing will change until the law changes. It is clear fifteen years after Leas Cross & seven years after Aras Attracta, that political action will only be forthcoming with sustained public demands for legislative reform. Residents and family members cannot do this alone, please support, sign and share this petition.

Making that call is often the first step on a victims journey to safety. It can take to 35 assaults before a victim reaches out for help. Ignoring calls leaving women and children to fend for themselves is unacceptable.

Pride exists beyond the month of June or the celebrations that mark it. Waterford has a duty to counteract the haters who tore down and burned the Pride flags twice recently. Support this petition to call on a permanent Pride Crossing in Waterford.

Residents in the Callenders Mill estate and surrounding estates do not want a shop built on the green area in front of their houses. This green is filled with children playing every day. Residents want to keep this green space as there is already a lack of green spaces for children in Celbridge. Callenders Mill is clearly a residential area. The proposed shop will be open from 7am to 10pm, which will cause serious disturbance and noise pollution for residents. There is already insufficient parking for residents in the estate. There are already a significant number of other shop in the vicinity. There are also vacant shop units within walking distance of the proposed site. We do not need or want a shop in Callenders Mill, Celbridge!

THE IRISH ECONOMY IS A HUMAN ECONOMY Our love affair with GDP has come to an end because growth that leaves our people and our planet behind is failure. We measure our economy’s success based on the equality we achieve, and the physical and mental health of our people and environment. We value inclusive and sustainable job creation. The social and solidarity economy, and especially social enterprises, play an important role in this agenda, restoring heart and hope to new economic thinking. IRELAND LEADS THE GREEN TRANSITION IN EUROPE We are achieving our ambitious targets for a just and green transition. The private, public and civil society sectors work together to achieve these targets, as we all adapt how we live, work, travel and consume. The transition is just and fair, and leaves no one behind. Ideas that help us embrace the transition are pioneered in Ireland and exported worldwide. A RADICAL EQUALITY AGENDA HAS EMERGED Everybody in Ireland believes equality benefits us all. The Government and society actively protects the rights of Ireland’s most marginalised communities. Minority communities are equipped to speak for themselves and enter powerful decision making positions. Led by next generation leaders, philanthropy, alongside taxation, plays a key role in redistributing wealth to support a more equal society. OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE THRIVING Regional towns and rural communities are re-energised and sustainable. The rise of remote work has given many the freedom to choose where and how we want to live. We can work at homes or regional hubs and offices and people in rural communities no longer have to say, ‘there are no jobs here’. Fewer commuters mean fewer emissions and housing pressures are alleviated for our cities. A BOLD GENERATION TAKES CHARGE Collaboration is the new competition. Creative, energetic, and solution-focused, this new generation takes care of our people and planet. They ask questions of themselves, their families, their employers, and they start or invest in organisations that provide solutions to these questions. Wait for change to happen? No way. They make it happen. They work together to build an equal, sustainable and just future.

Having recently lost my partner of near twenty years and being left to be the sole provider of our three children I have discovered that I am not entitled to the same supports as my married counterparts. Unmarried families are not recognized under our constitution and are therefore not offered the same protection from the state. The state treats cohabiting couples as a family unit for taxation and means testing purposes yet it will not accept cohabitation when there is a bereavement. Modern society does not allow for people to live the way they did when the constitution was written due to the challenges people have to face both financially and personally. I am calling on the Government to address the definition of the Family where marriage is concerned and also to address the families that have been left out of the widow/widower pension due to there status not being accepted by the state.