Dear Commissioner, I am writing to formally request your urgent intervention regarding the handling of my brother, James (Jamie) Weldon’s case. At the inquest on 1 July, the Coroner, Dr Crona Gallagher, requested that scene photographs be released to the family. This request was refused, and we were instead informed we could view the photographs. A viewing appointment was arranged for 15 January at 3pm in Dungarvan Garda Station, confirmed through our solicitor. Less than three hours before the scheduled time, we were informed that the local Superintendent had no knowledge of this appointment, effectively cancelling it at the last minute. This is not an isolated incident. It is the latest in a series of poor communication, delays, and inconsistent information that has caused our family significant distress and harmed our mental health. Given the pattern of failures, I am formally requesting that you: Commission a full independent and internal review of the handling of this case, including all decisions regarding access to photographs and communication with the family. Provide a written explanation of who authorised and cancelled the viewing and why the Coroner’s request has not been fulfilled. Implement measures to prevent similar failures in the future. Provide a timeline for actions taken and commit to keeping the family updated throughout the review process. Our family has endured repeated distress due to procedural failures. We are seeking transparency, accountability, and assurance that future families will not experience the same repeated trauma. Jamie mattered. Our family deserves answers and respect. I would appreciate a written response at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Fiona Weldon

Next week, on Wednesday, 9th November, Joan Collins TD will move a Bill to hold a referendum to insert into the Constitution an amendment which would rule out any future privatisation of water, or water services. Forty TDs have signed the Bill including Independents4Change, Sinn Fein, AAA/PBP and a number of independent TD’s. A number of others including the Green Party, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats have said publicly that they would support a referendum on public ownership of our water, so the Bill has a real chance of passing. Put simply, this Bill will only pass if supported by Fianna Fail. Therefore we are asking everybody concerned about the ownership of our water to use every means they can to contact their local TDs, especially Fianna Fail, by email, letter, phone call or direct lobbying and demand they support the Bill. We expect the Government (and possibly Fianna Fail) to argue that they are waiting for the Expert Commission on Domestic Water Charges to present their report to the Oireachtas – but public ownership of water is not in the Terms of Reference for the Commission, so this is a smokescreen. The government deliberately omitted public ownership from the terms of reference in full knowledge that the Commission might actually make a recommendation to enshrine ownership in the hands of the public. This is something they clearly don’t want. At this very moment in time, any government, including the current one, could legislate to sell off our public water system. Furthermore, even if a government did not want to sell off our water, the EU, IMF or ECB could force the sale in the future – like they did in Greece and Portugal – so we have to protect our vital public water system now! The devastating impacts of water privatization have been felt all around the world. In the UK, one in four people are now experiencing water poverty. In the US, Rome and parts of France, tens of thousands are having their water shut off. We can prevent much of this by putting ownership of our water in the Constitution. There are no TD’s in the Dail, even in Fine Gael, who will come out and argue openly for privatisation. But can you take their word on this? If they don’t want water privatisation, they can prove it by simply supporting this Bill next Wednesday. Here are the details of Fianna Fail TD’s (full list available here at http://www.right2water.ie/blog/we-only-have-one-week-protect-our-water) Carlow/Kilkenny Bobby Aylward 056 7764726 Carlow/Kilkenny John McGuinness 056 7770672 087 2855834 Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith 049 4362366 Cavan/Monaghan Niamh Smyth 042 9666666 087 9982222 Clare Timmy Dooley 065 6891115 Cork East Kevin O Keefe 022 25320 Cork North Central Billy Kelleher 021 4502289 Cork North West Aindrias Moynihan 026 45828 Cork North West Michael Moynihan 029 51299 Cork South Central Michael McGrath 021 4376699 Cork South Central Micheal Martin 021 4320088 Cork South West Margaret Murphy O’Mahony 086 8529275 Donegal Charlie McConalogue 074 9373131/074 9177282 Donegal Pat The Cope Gallagher 074 95 21364 087 2238925 Dublin Bay North Sean Haughey 01 6183695 087 3494888 Dublin Bay South Jim O Callaghan 01 4758943 Dublin Fingal Darragh O Brien 01 6183802 Dublin Midwest John Curran 01 6183792 Dublin South West John Lahart 01 4939608 Dublin West Jack Chambers 086 4177335 Galway East Anne Rabbitte 087 2424704 Galway West Eamon O Cuiv 091 562846 Kerry John Brassil 066 7133112 087 2362330 Kildare North Frank O Rourke 087 2555257 Kildare North James Lawless 086 8348869 Kildare South Fiona O Loughlin 045 436792 087 2345160 Laois Sean Fleming 057 8732692 Limerick City Willie O Dea 061 454488/ 061 454522 Limerick County Niall Collins 061 300149 087 2749659 Longford/Westmeath Robert Troy 044 9334857 Louth Declan Breathnach 087 2697638 Mayo Dara Calleary 096 77613 Mayo Lisa Chambers 094 9250577 Meath East Thomas Byrne 01 6183310 Meath West Shane Cassells 086 3399198 Offaly Barry Cowen 057 9321976 Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy 071 963 3000 Sligo/Leitrim Eamon Scanlon 071 9197903/ 071 9302537 Sligo/Leitrim Marc Mac Sharry 086 2674764 Tipperary Jackie Cahill 087 2820663 Waterford Mary Butler 087 7425020 Wexford James Browne 086 8575387 Wicklow Pat Casey 086 2649483

For nearly four years, the lives of the people and their four legged friends who use Blackrock Park, have been enriched by the Bumble Bean, and the wonderful Gwen, serving up hot drinks, snacks, ice cream and of course dog treats! She's brought so many people together, and created a real sense of community amongst those of us who regularly use the park. With the redevelopment of the tea rooms, we knew that change was a foot. However, we did not expect to have many months with no tea, coffee, snacks, chats or dog treats!  Gwen would be very happy to come back to Blackrock Park and operate the Bumble Bean on a month by month contract until the tea rooms are ready to open. We all want her back. We just need the council to allow her back! 

The Government needs to make polluters pay at least €30 per tonne on carbon - this measure is crucial if we're to avoid damaging our planet past the point of no return.

The culture of rape and sexual violence has to end. Our education system, legal system, the media have to take consent seriously and stop normalising rape culture.

Our mental health system is broken and need fixing there need to be a lot more awareness and drop in centres where you can just go and speak to people

We would like to push for the removal of the Angelus from our national broadcaster. Something that happens nowhere else in the world in what is supposed to be a modern, secular state.

People with ADHD suffer mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies. Questions need to be asked why is there so much suicide in our little country.

The Irish government need to do three things: STOP burning fossil fuels, increase renewable energy technology and tackle energy efficiency especially in our homes.

Led by our studies in Trinity College Dublin, we believe that greater standardisation of ESG reporting can provide a far greater impact than the current standards.