• 12,734 murders in the first half of 2024, with an average of 70 people murdered daily. • 11,520 civilian casualties in the Ukraine war between February 2022 and July 2024. • 42,780 rapes reported in the 2022/2023 fiscal year (1 rape every 12 minutes). • 15,343 kidnappings reported in the 2022/2023 fiscal year (51 per day). • 5,488 cars hijacked between April and June 2024 (60 per day). Can you imagine living under these conditions? For just one week or one month, consider what it would feel like to live in such an environment. Your home: 1. Alarm system always armed. 2. Bars on your windows, never opened at night or when you’re not in the room. 3. Security gates on your front and back doors, always locked. 4. High property walls covered in electric fencing. 5. CCTV cameras for constant monitoring. Even with all these security features, the average South African rarely sleeps deeply, fearing that someone may bypass these measures and enter their home to rob, kill, or assault them. If the alarm is triggered, it’s often not the police who respond but a private security company, and response times can range from 30 minutes to never. On the streets: Walking requires constant vigilance. Nobody walks alone. Children don’t play in parks, walk to visit friends, or go to the mall without close adult supervision. Many children cannot even play in their own yards unsupervised. Crime Statistics in Major South African Cities Cape Town, South Africa • Population: 464,986 • Murder rate: 64 per 100,000 inhabitants Cape Town ranks among the world’s most dangerous cities, with a murder rate of 66.36 per 100,000 residents. Johannesburg, South Africa • Population: 5,866,550 • Murder rate: 37.9 per 100,000 inhabitants Johannesburg is one of the world’s deadliest cities, where displaying wealth can make you a target for kidnapping. Traveling in an armored vehicle or with a large group is recommended for safety. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa • Population: 475,238 Both public and private transport, day and night, can be dangerous in Pietermaritzburg. Violent crimes peak at night. It’s recommended to avoid taking out cash unless inside a hotel or bank due to the high crime rate and low police presence. Pretoria, South Africa • Population: 741,651 • Murder rate: 38 per 100,000 inhabitants Pretoria is another dangerous city where travelers should avoid walking or traveling at night. Armed robberies and gang violence are prevalent, making armored vehicles a safer option for those who can access them. Sources: • Most Dangerous Cities in the World - Armormax • Shocking Murder Numbers in South Africa - BusinessTech • Ukraine War Casualties - Statista • Sexual Offenses in South Africa - Statista • Kidnapping Cases in South Africa - South African Government

My brother who lived in London was taken to A&E by the police numerous times, was never seen and subsequently took his own life. If the resources are simply not available. (This should never be the case.) Unfortunately however the budget for Mental Health is totally inadequate. This  problem should be addressed separately. Until underfunding within a hospital is properly addressed an interim measure should be adopted. The potential patient should be directed to the current Outpatient Emergency Team immediately. This team can then make a Care Plan with the patient in the hospital and then arrange to see them the following day and continue to do so on  a daily basis at their home until they are well. The resources available to inpatients in the hospital should also be offered to the outpatient. E,g Yoga, Meditation and  various other activities This would ultimately reduce the cost to the Department of Health. Reduce the number of people self medicating with various substances Reduce suicide levels. Patients are seen rapidly and feel they are being cared for from outset Numerous studies have shown that people often recover better in their own home

When there are cuts to Special Educational Services and Additional Needs Services, mainstream teachers are required to do far more with less support and less resources for children with a significant range of abilities. This affects the provision of education to all children. This affects all the children of Ireland. We can and need to do better. Schools have had enough cuts and need to be sufficiently resourced.

The development of all weather Astro turf pitch  is an essential and badly needed sporting infrastructure in the locality and will serve our growing and diverse community. https://www.pleanala.ie/en-ie/case/320912

They are an honest mother (Nadia Jacobs) and her two children (Amy Gloria and Gabriel Jacobs) seeking asylum in Ireland from South Africa, where she was unable to gain employment due to the local laws of the country, and due to discrimination of both race and gender.  South Africa is not a safe country to live in, the crime is extremely high, corruption is rife everywhere,  Without employment one is not able to provide for your family, as a single mother of mixed heritage- South African and Portuguese, she chose to come to Ireland where she has distant roots but also due to language, her children do not speak Portuguese however are fluent in English 

My name is Lisa O'Shea, I'm self-employed and I live in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry. Me and my daughter have been living in our home for the past 15 years, but about 6 years ago, the bank repossessed the house from the owner. I told them I was interested in buying the house, but they never engaged in conversation with me. The house was later sold from under me — I was outbid when it went to public auction, leaving us absolutely devastated. After a long battle, my new landlord gave me an eviction notice, saying that their son was going to move into the house. I’m now at a loss as to what to do — I want to buy a house, but I can’t find anywhere. All the while, our town is awash with empty houses. There are no neighbours and no communities. There are no kids out playing anymore. Meanwhile, families like mine are desperately looking for somewhere to live. That’s why I’ve started this petition. There’s a general election coming up — if we can get thousands of people signing, we can show candidates that turning empty houses into homes needs to be their number one priority if they get elected.  Please sign and share the petition today, and let’s send them a message they can’t ignore.

There are several reasons why Ireland might benefit from not turning the clocks back in autumn and staying on daylight saving time (DST) year-round: 1. More Evening Daylight: Sticking with DST year-round would mean more daylight during the evening hours, which could lead to higher productivity, more time for outdoor activities, and increased well-being. Extra light in the evening could also be a boost for local businesses and tourism, as people tend to shop, dine, and enjoy activities longer when it’s lighter outside. 2. Improved Mental Health and Well-being: A longer period of daylight after work or school is linked to better mental health and mood. The reduction of evening darkness in winter could help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is common in places with shorter daylight hours. 3. Road Safety: Studies have shown that road accidents tend to increase after clocks are turned back, largely because of darker evenings. More evening daylight can improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians, potentially reducing the risk of accidents. 4. Energy Savings: Although this is debated, some studies suggest that extra daylight in the evening could reduce the demand for electricity, especially in households where lights and heating are used more intensively in darker hours. 5. Alignment with Europe rather than the UK: Since Brexit we no longer need to be the same as the UK. The European Union has been considering abolishing the biannual clock changes, though a final decision hasn’t been implemented. Ireland remaining on DST permanently could align it with other European countries if they decide to adopt this approach, reducing confusion and potentially benefiting trade, travel, and communication. 6. Better Routine for Children and Families: Sticking with DST year-round could make routines easier for families, as the body adjusts better to consistent daylight hours, and it would make outdoor play and activities after school more accessible. Though there are also counterarguments, like darker mornings, the benefits of consistent daylight in the evenings could outweigh them for many people in Ireland.

Palestinians are at high risk from ongoing genocidal assault and brutal occupation by Israel

With the Flood Forecasting Centre now fully operational since January and currently sharing vital information with local authorities, it's time to extend this crucial service to the general public. As Ireland faces increasing risks of flooding events due to climate change, citizens need direct access to these forecasts to better prepare and protect their homes and communities. Credit to Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather for highlighting this important issue through his platform. While the current system of sharing forecasts with local authorities is a step forward, public access to this information is essential for: - Enabling communities to make timely preparations for potential flooding - Improving public safety and emergency response - Ensuring transparent communication during extreme weather events - Helping residents make informed decisions about property protection With flooding events becoming more frequent and severe, direct public access to flood forecasts is no longer just beneficial - it's necessary for public safety and community resilience.

Why is the man credited with the first colonial voyage to the present day Americas, and the subsequent genocide of the Indigenous people celebrated in this city and on this island?  It is time that this monument is removed and replaced with a piece of art that reflects a meaningful historic connection that the people of Galway have with the Americas.  This statue sits on public land in the centre of the city, and so it must represent a part of our story or cultural heritage. The statue seemingly commemorates a voyage that Columbus may have taken to Galway in 1477, though the evidence of when (and if) this trip took place is limited.  The sculpture was commissioned by Columbus's hometown of Genoa in 1992 to commemorate the 500 years since Columbus set sail across the Atlantic, initiating the genocidal conquest of the Americas and the attempted erasure of ancient cultures that were at home there for thousands of years when Columbus seemingly 'discovered' it.  Furthermore, Galway stands with the Indigenous people of the Americas, as we stand with the people of Palestine who are today experiencing the same settler colonial ethnic cleansing by Israel and supported by their Western allies.  It is time that this sculpture which sits on public land is removed and replaced with something that has historic meaning for the people of Galway.

Action 17 of the Green Party’s energy security policy reads: " To create a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve to protect Ireland in the event of a gas supply disruption as Ireland makes a secure transition to majority renewable energy" under a timeline of "accelerated implementation". This Action was signed off by Minister Eamon Ryan of the Green Party, Action 17 and is a Greenwashed statement that translates as Minister supporting the building of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Put simply, Action 17 has created an opening for a fracked gas import terminal to be built In Ireland. Shannon LNG’s application for a terminal on the Kerry coast has recently been remitted to An Bord Pleanála on the basis that there was no clear policy against LNG, according to High Court Judge Humphreys. The proceedings of the court, specifically in Point 117 refers to Action 17.   The Green Party on entry to the current coalition government, promised policy against LNG  and again in 2021 - but the party didn't deliver on its promises so far. Now time is running out and Action 17, along with the application for Shannon LNG being remitted to Bord Pleanála and the lack of policy against LNG terminals spells just one thing, and that is: "Fracked Gas Imports". Thousands of people came out on the streets against fracking in Ireland for public health reasons. We can't ban fracking in Ireland and then import fracked gas from the US that has poisoned men, women and children across the waters - can we?  To prevent an LNG terminal that imports fracked gas from the US, Green Party members, including its leader Roderic O'Gorman, must URGENTLY put pressure on Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan to revoke Action 17 and implement clear policy against LNG terminals before the government dissolves. 

A.) Good dog behaviour starts with aware owners. Behaviour classes teach owners how to teach their dogs, making owners much more conscious of the issues around picking-up dog poo, lead protocol, socialisation, muzzling, chipping, exercise, nutrition, observing the bye-laws.  B.) Good dog behaviour depends on skilled owners. Agility Courses again teach owners skills that are both mentally and physically stimulating for their dogs, enhancing the bond between owner and dog and making for obedient, well exercised and contented dogs. C.) Good dog behaviour relies on knowledgeable owners. A dedicated Dog Park permits dogs to run free in a safe environment, socialise with both people and other dogs, make friend, learn from other dogs, while owner have the chance to exchange experiences and know-how with other owners, an invaluable resource.  Good Owners = Good Dogs and this benefits everyone in the community.