IRISH ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS  ACADAMH MÍNEALAÍNE NA hEIREANN  This campaign seeks to establish an Academy of Fine Arts in the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin.   This proposal is not only for the creation of a new educational institution, one that will revolutionise art education in Ireland, but also to catalyse the renewal of O’Connell Street—transforming it from a symbol of neglect into a distinguished civic space: a central avenue worthy of the Hibernian Metropolis, the capital of the Gaelic world, that can be recognised internationally among the great boulevards of the world.  The establishment of an Academy of Fine Arts will give to Ireland three profound and tangible benefits of enduring value:  1.     It will restore life, colour and joy to O’Connell Street, transforming it into a vibrant centre of learning, culture, and civic pride. In doing so, it will act as a catalyst for the renewal of that part north inner city—an area that has suffered years of neglect.  2.     It will redefine art education in Ireland, offering an alternative model rooted in fundamental transferrable skills, the principles of beauty, and the cultivation original thought. This skills-led approach will provide a more comprehensive and balanced education than that currently available in our existing fine art colleges. 3.     It will give Ireland an institution that will stand as a symbol of our national pride and our national identity, enabling Ireland to take its rightful place among the great nations of Europe, many of whom have had Academies of Fine Arts for hundreds of years.  Why do we need an Academy of Fine Arts? In Ireland, the standard of Fine Art education often falls short, failing both individual students, and society at large. Fundamental skills are neglected, as are the principles of beauty, and graduates often emerge from their studies with a distorted sense of what art actually is. Over the last three generations, fine art education has been undermined by a narrow contemporary art ethos,  the result is a system that fails to nurture skill, insight or the pursuit of beauty. It is time for a new model, an Academy of Fine Arts would provide exactly that.  An Academy of Fine Arts in the GPO would offer third level training in drawing, painting, sculpture and architecture. Its curriculum would be grounded in a clear philosophical foundation, defining what art is and what it takes to train an artist.   The Academy will offer training that draws inspiration from Europe’s finest institutions, while honouring our indigenous culture. It will honour the masters of the past while embracing new ideas and technologies, preparing students to contribute meaningfully to the future of art. The Academy will train the hand, the mind and the eye with equal emphasis and rigour. It will produce graduates that are skilled, insightful, enlightened, and schooled in the principles of beauty. They will have a clear conception of what an artist is, the role of the artist in society, and what they must aspire to in order to achieve greatness in their work. An Academy could be established with a modest initial investment, one that would repay itself many times over, for generations to come. It would bring vitality and colour to O'Connell Street, becoming a uniquely Irish institution, enriching and strengthening our culture for everyone who lives in Ireland.  Ireland has often stood apart from the great artistic movements enjoyed by the rest of Europe down through the centuries. It has left us without a strong tradition of visual culture. Yet today, we have both the talent and the resources to spark a renaissance of our own.  Instead, we have been drifting backwards, undervaluing the importance of beauty, artistry and insightful design in our art and public places. Now is the time to move forward again. Now is the time to restore the primacy of skill and craftsmanship, to once again pursue beauty with rigor and imagination, and to honour original thought and the value of our shared art-historical heritage. The establishment of an Academy would signal the dawn of a distinctly Irish renaissance, a bold cultural awakening and an enlightenment of our own making, standing as a beacon for a flourishing of art and thought for generations to come.

We want Alternative Routes Options and Restructuring of the National Transport Authority's proposed "BUS CONNECTS PROJECT " to have Environmental Impact Awareness at the centre of its Core Development & Planning. We want them to listen and work more closely with the 16 communities/areas that are currently set to suffer an unprecedented loss of thousands of mature living trees and important local wildlife. We want the voices of Dublin's people, community and environmental future to be respected now, not later! We have a right to be part of the Development Ireland's Environmental Future. WE WANT TO STOP THE UNNECESSARY KILLING OF MATURE TREES AND WILDLIFE IN DUBLIN AND IRELAND. DUBLIN, If we get this wrong there is no going back to fix it. Here are the 16 Proposed Areas in Dublin where Mature Trees will be cut down to make way for the "BUS CONNECTS CORE CORRIDOR PROJECT" Ringsend/City Centre Blackrock/Merrion UCD/City Centre Bray/City Centre - (No mention of Shankill)... Rathfarnham/City Centre Kimmage/City Centre Tallaght/Terenure Greenhills/City Centre Clondalkin/Drimnagh Liffey Valley/City Centre Lucan/City Centre Blanchardstown/City Centre Fingals/Philsborogh Ballymun/City Centre Swords/City Centre Clongriffin/City Centre. There is no mention in any of the 16 proposals of how many trees will be getting cut down per route, or how many trees they are realistically planing to replant. Nor will they be willing to replant/replace the trees and wildlife lost from the front/back gardens of Irish Peoples Homes across the Capital.

It was clear from proceedings at the first public meeting of the 8th Committee, some of the members were not at all familiar with the Citizens Assembly report, nor had viewed the CA materials in any meangiful way. All members of this committee have a responsibility to the people of Ireland, particularly those who can become pregnant, to be aware of all the medical information, legal argument, facts and personal stories that were presented to the CA. Many of those that stood up and spoke at the CA did so at great personal cost, in order ensure that the full impact of the 8th amendment would become public knowledge, for the repercussions and nuances to be explored fully. They gave up their time and their privacy so that future generations would no longer have to live under such barbaric law. It was quite clear yesterday that some members of the 8th Committee, when asking very obvious questions, or making grand and often incorrect assumptions, had not engaged with the CA material. It is insulting to all those who made representations to the CA. It is insulting to all members of the CA who gave up so much of their personal time to actively listen to all of those who spoke. It is insulting to the members of the committee who have engaged. It is insulting to all of us who are having to rely on our elected representatives, the legislators of this country, to decide our fate. We ask those that have yet to engage with the CA materials, to do so immediately and that you treat the issue with the respect and attention it deserves.

Known as the "cruellest disease" Huntington’s disease families in Ireland have been neglected and failed for decades. Promises have been made — of care, of dignity, of action — but action has not been taken. Now, with UniQure’s groundbreaking gene therapy and other trials ongoing, offering real hope, Ireland must act. This is an historic opportunity — but without specialist healthcare infrastructure, Irish families will not benefit Huntingtons Disease has NO specialist teams in Ireland. ONE Nurse for 800 people and their families with 3000 more living at risk. No coordinated services. And now, with a groundbreaking gene therapy on the way, our health service isn’t prepared to deliver it. If the system can continue to ignore a disease as devastating as this, when there are things that can be done...what does that tell us? Time to speak as a group, as a country as citizens who care about one another.  We urgently call on you to establish the promised properly resourced Huntington’s Disease specialist multi-disciplinary teams across Ireland — modelled on the Scottish system — to deliver expert, coordinated care. These teams are vital not only for managing the complex needs of HD families today, but for ensuring the healthcare system is ready to deliver advanced therapies tomorrow. You have the power to change the trajectory for hundreds of families. Keep your promises. Fund the teams. Prepare for the future. Do not let Ireland fall behind. Every member of the Huntington's community, and the wider population affected by neurological conditions will be there to support you. 

Reject the recent approval by Wicklow County Council of the major development at Tinakilly, Rathnew.

We believe the building is not yet beyond repair and we believe the proposed replacement is completely out of character with the area and unsympathetic to the heritage and visual amenity.

End the Book Ban in Prisons Now! At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Northern Ireland Prison Service put in place a ban on books in prison. More than one year on, as the pandemic eases, the Northern Ireland Prison Service’s continued restriction of access to reading materials such as books and magazines is a shocking violation of the human rights of people inside. Restrictive measures including being held in cells for up to 23 hours a day were accepted by people in prison and their families in the interests of public health. 18 months on, for the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) to maintain a ban on books and other publications at any time, let alone while visiting rights have been gutted due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, is a devastating attack upon the lives of all those currently held within the prison system. In recent times, similar book bans within the English prison system quickly led to this horrific decision being overturned. Restrictions placed on personal movement and interaction with others can prove detrimental to the mental health of people in prison as they are denied the ability to form social bonds with others and foster community inside the prison walls. We believe it is essential to challenge the decision by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to continue to outlaw books and other reading materials while simultaneously restricting prisoners' interactions with those inside and outside the prison. The actions of NIPS are a blatant denial of prisoners' human rights at a time when society at large is recovering from prolonged periods of relative social isolation. This petition will be emailed to the Northern Ireland Prison Service and Naomi Long, as the Minister responsible for the Department of Justice. Sign and share to help make sure prisoners have access to books.

Save the iconic John Lennon Mural in St. Marks community school Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Dear Minister Heydon, I am writing to you not as a politician or professional campaigner, but as an ordinary Irish citizen who can no longer stay quiet about the suffering of dogs in our country. Across Ireland, dogs are being overbred, neglected, and discarded by puppy farmers and irresponsible breeders. These animals live in silence, often behind closed doors, hidden away from the public eye. They are bred repeatedly with no regard for their physical or emotional wellbeing. When they are no longer profitable, many are dumped or destroyed. Ireland has gained an international reputation as one of the worst countries in Europe for puppy farming. That is something no one should feel proud of. We need stronger protection for our animals and real enforcement of animal welfare laws. The current legislation does not go far enough. As Minister, you have the power to be a voice for the voiceless. I am asking you to take meaningful steps to stop the cycle of cruelty by: • Introducing a strict cap on the number of breeding bitches allowed in any licensed premises • Making welfare training mandatory for all breeders and dog owners • Enforcing regular and unannounced inspections of breeding facilities • Increasing fines and legal consequences for both physical and emotional abuse of animals These are not radical demands. They are the basics of decency and compassion. Dogs do not get to choose the lives they are born into. We must choose better for them. Please take action to protect Ireland’s most vulnerable animals. We are ready to stand behind you if you lead the way. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you will be the Minister who made a real difference for those who cannot speak for themselves. Sincerely, Rochelle Ogden Kinsale Co. cork 

Save Theo Ndlovu from deportation by granting him permission to remain in Ireland.