Campaign for a
Decent Health Service

You thought it couldn’t get any worse? There are now 2,700 fewer front line workers in our hospitals and and community health services since the HSE introduced restrictions on hiring staff earlier this year. It hasnÕt taken this government long, with the first indications of an economic slow-down, to go from boasting about the billions they are spending on health, to re-introducing health cuts.

By keeping Mary Harney as Minister for Health, Brian Cowen has sent a very clear message that there will be no change in government policy. That means the crises in A&E will continue, long waiting lists will remain for treatment and operations, the deliberate run down of public health care, the closure of local hospitals while speculators are given tax breaks to build for-profit hospitals in the grounds of public hospitals.

In short, it means more Susie Longs, people dying because they canÕt access the treatment they deserve. Despite being one of the richest countries in Europe, a recent OECD report showed that the level of funding on our public services, including health and education, was still below that of the higher spending EU states.

If this situation is to change, the campaign for a Decent Public Health Service needs to be built into a mass campaign of health workers, health campaign groups, and ordinary people.WhatÕs required is the sacking of Harney, the abolition of the HSE, an end to co-location, an end to the subsidising of for-profit health care, the overturning of the latest recruitment embargo, keeping open local hospitals, and funding of public health care well above the EU average to make up for the cuts and under funding of the past.

A weakness of the national demonstration in March was the absence of tens of thousands of health workers, despite the call by the main unions, especially SIPTU, for workers support. Much more needs to be done for the day of national protest in June and for the next national demonstration planned by the campaign for the autumn.

Contact 087 622 9686 0r dctuhealth@gmail.com for more info.

Campaign for a Decent Health Service

You thought it couldn’t get any worse? There are now 2,700 fewer front line workers in our hospitals and community health services since the HSE introduced restrictions on hiring staff earlier this year. It hasn’t taken this government long, with the first indications of an economic slowdown, to go from boasting about the billions it is spending on health, to re-introducing health cuts.

By keeping Mary Harney as Minister for Health, Brian Cowen has sent a very clear message that there will be no change in government policy. That means the crises in A&E units will continue, long waiting lists will remain for treatment and operations, the deliberate rundown of public health care will go on and as will the closure of local hospitals while speculators get tax breaks to build for-profit hospitals in the grounds of public hospitals.

In short, it means more Susie Longs, people dying because they can’t access the treatment they deserve. Despite being one of the richest countries in Europe, a recent OECD report showed that the level of funding on our public services, including health and education, was still below that of the higher spending EU states.

If this situation is to change, the campaign for a Decent Public Health Service needs to be built into a mass campaign of health workers, health campaign groups, and ordinary people.

What’s required is the sacking of Harney, the abolition of the HSE, an end to co-location, an end to the subsidising of for-profit health care, the overturning of the latest recruitment embargo, keeping open local hospitals, and funding of public health care well above the EU average to make up for the cuts and under-funding of the past.

A weakness of the national demonstration in March was the absence of tens of thousands of health workers, despite the call by the main unions, especially SIPTU, for workers’ support. Much more needs to be done for the day of national protest in June and for the next national demonstration planned by the campaign for the autumn.

Contact 087 622 9686 or dctuhealth@gmail.com for more info

Crumlin Children’s Hospital

Cllr Joan Collins and the Community and Workers Action Group have continued to campaign to keep the children’s hospital in Dublin 12. We recently wrote to doctors working in Dublin 12, and a former doctor at the hospital has contacted us to express interest. A campaign member also put the issue on the website, Bebo, which received over 750 hits so far from around the country. The latest news we have is that it will take at least 10 years for any transfer to the Mater Hospital to occur. It is also rumoured that there are now possible funding issues about the whole project. Recently, Health Minister Mary Harney opened a new section of the hospital. The hospital wants to develop a cardiac unit, is planning new facilities for parents, along with a redesign and refurbishment of St Theresa’s and St Brigid’s wards. Despite all this, Joan Collins and the CWAG will continue to campaign and keep these issues in the public eye.
Crumlin Childrens’ Hospital

Protests against the closure of Crumlin Children’s Hospital – co-ordinated by Joan Collins and the Community & Workers Action Group – have continued over the past weeks. The next protest will be on Sat 19 May at 12.30 outside the hospital.

We have had no further comment from hospital management regarding the future of the hospital. Meanwhile Bertie Ahern has suggested that the new national children’s hospital might be split between two sites: the Mater and St. James.
This proposal would mean the likely closure of Crumlin hospital. The community campaign is opposed to closure or run-down of Crumlin hospital. We call on all parties to support our demand that Crumlin hospital be kept open and modernized, as part of a wider strategy of expansion of the public healthcare system.

Joan Collins is against the run-down and closure of Crumlin Childrens’ Hospital. She supports the campaigns of local residents and hospital staff to retain childrens’ health services in the hospital. Joan also gives her full support to the nurses in their current fight for decent pay and hours of work.

To demonstrate your anger at Israel’s bombardment of Gaza here is a list of Israeli imports you can boycott:

Jaffa Oranges, fresh herbs, avocados, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, melons and dried herbs. These are marked “Produce of Israel” or the brand name Carmel.

Other brand names to look out for are: Tivall, Temsa, Ahava, Outstanding Solutions, Stanley, CAT (supply bulldozers to Israeli military).

Dead Sea cosmetics

Israeli goods are sold in Dunnes, Tesco, M&S, SuperValu, Atlantic Homecare, Woodies, B&Q, Debenhams, Lidl and Aldi. Complain to these stores about stocking Israeli goods.

The barcode for most Israeli goods is 729

Eircom (also Meteor) is considering awarding a major contract for a new computer billing system to a consortium which includes Israeli company Amdocs/IBM. Ring Eircom and tell it not to give the contract to Amdocs.

Sign the petition to Eircom which can be downloaded from www.irishantiwar.org

Contact your local TD and demand that the government and the EU impose economic and diplomatic sanctions against Israel.
Letter from Ireland Paliestine Solidarity Campaign

Dear all,

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called a National Demonstration in solidarity with Gaza for this Saturday 3rd January. The protest will begin with speeches at 1pm at the Central Bank Plaza, we will then march to the Dail (Kildare Street), the EU Offices (Molesworth Street), and finish up with a rally at the Spire on O’Connell Street – which will feature a live phone-link to Gaza. The slogan we will be moibilising around is simple “Free Gaza: Stop the Slaughter! End the Siege!“. We are asking you to help us mobilise for this event – see below for how to help.

The death toll in Gaza now stands at over 360 with countless more injuries, and the Israeli Government has vowed “long weeks of action” in the area, with the likelihood of of a full ground invasion. We in Ireland must take action to oppose the ongoing brutal assault on a defenceless people – the IPSC is calling on all political parties, civil society groups, trade unions, and ordinary people to build and mobilise for Saturday’s demo.

Furthermore, on Tuesday morning, it is reported that an Israeli patrol boat rammed the Free Gaza Movement boat the SS Dignity which was bringing three tons of medical aid and medical experts to Gaza. The boat – flying the flag of Gibraltar – was in international waters and, according to a CNN journalist that was aboard, it was rammed without warning. The boat began taking on water, and is now slowly making its way to the safety of Lebanon.

What you can do:

1. Encourage as many members of your political organisation, trade union, civil society or community group etc as possible to attend.

2. Encourage your friends and family to come along.

3. Advertise the demo on your website, mailing list(s), social networking sites, internet forums or any other online outlets. (see below for info on how to advertise it on social networking sites – a web banner is also attached for display on websites – you can link to either the Indymedia notice or the IPSC website ).

4. If you work or have contacts in the media, please try to use your influence to advertise the demo via any medium. The IPSC can provide interviewees if needed.

5. Print out and distribute the leaflet attached to this email. Or display it in your window, car, work noticeboard etc.

People Before Public Meeting
Thursday 17th
Wynns Hotel 8pm

Joan Collins, independent socialist councillor for Crumlin/Kimmage. will join Francois Duval, founder of a new anti-capitalist party in France, and Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit Alliance, on a platform that will discuss the need for a New Left in Europe.

The Campaign Against the EU Constitution is staging a No means No! protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday July 21st. It assembles at 12.30

VOTE NO TO LISBON

Most of the population of Europe believe they have a right to decent public services. The EU, however, has been used to undermine these services and the Lisbon Treaty carries that further. There is no provision in the treaty to give a legal basis to public services. Article 86 and 87 are a deadly weapon in the hands of those who seek to undermine state (taxpayers) funding to public services.

The double taxation of Bin Taxes imposed on the Irish people in the guise of the “polluter pays” principle completely undermined this society’s right to a universal waste collection. It is now privatised in nearly all counties. The Dublin region is an exception, but already “private companies” are vying for “customers” in this region.

Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive states
‘Member’ states shall take account of the principle of recovery of the costs of water services, including environmental and resource costs’
‘Member states ‘ shall ensure that water pricing policies provide adequate incentives for users to use water resources efficiently…(that there be) an adequate contribution of the different water uses, in industry, households and agriculture, to the recovery of costs of water services”

No matter what local populations think about how this service is provided, member states are instructed to make us pay for this essential service. Article 87 states that “any aid granted by a Member state which distorts or threatens to distort competition favouring certain goods, shall insofar as it effects trade between member states be incompatible with the internal market”

It is no surprise that a huge lobby group, the European Services Forum, which is supported by giant water companies such as Suez, Vivendi and RWI/Thames Water is a permanent feature in the EU commission.

WORKERS RIGHTS

The effect of these and other “services” having a price tag on them, obviously leads to privatisation ,as in our waste collection. The impact on the conditions and wages are then an issue. The recent European Court’s Laval judgement has sent shudders down the spine of workers in the EU. Swedish Unions took action against Lavals (Latvian Company) refusal to sign a collective agreement to respect Swedish laws on working conditions and minimum wages.

The Court deemed that the Union action was illegal. It claimed that the collective action Swedish Trade Unions took to force Laval into an agreement were likely to make it more difficult for the company to carry out construction work and so constituted a restriction on its freedom to provide services(!!!!!)

While the Court recognised the right to strike, it made that right conditional on a superior right to free movement of goods and services.
086-3888151, 30 Ring Street, Inchicore, Dublin 8

STOP THIS MICROWAVE MADNESS

Residents in Walkinstown are working with their neighbours in Iveagh Gardens to highlight the dangers posed by mobile phone masts and to restrict them in their neighbourhood. Dublin City Councillor Joan Collins fully supports this campaign. Already the group has linked in with BEST (Better Environment for Safer Telecommunications) and surveyed the mast situation on Walkinstown Avenue to the roundabout and road. The bad news is that a BEST radiation detector has confirmed the area is saturated with masts some of which are not even visible from the streets. The good news? Local trader Wigoders, after persistent lobbying by residents, has refused to let O2 re-erect a mobile phone mast. It is a small and temporary victory but shows what can be done if we stand together on the issue. While the microwave radiation link to cancer has not been proven alternative evidence supports the argument to erect phone masts at a considerable distance from housing, schools and hospitals.

Most of these masts do not need planning permission they are referred to as exempted but with a health warning hanging over them, this is clearly unacceptable. Walkinstown and Iveagh Garden residents are now conducting a door-to-door survey on cancer levels in their areas. In Walkinstown cancer rates are 30 per cent above the national average of the standard incidence ratio a variation of serious concern for residents and their school-going children. Joan Collins says: “We are not dinosaurs. We recognise that mobile phones are here to stay and we believe phone users should get good quality service, but not at the expense of public health. “We are saying that there needs to be more regulation. By that we mean fewer networks, fewer masts and they should be kept at a safe distance from residential housing, schools and hospitals. “Kerry County Council recently introduced a ban on telephone masts within 400 metres of schools. Other European countries have banned masts beside schools, residential housing and workplaces. We want a similar ban in Ireland.”

COMMUNITY NEEDS BEFORE DEVELOPER PROFITS

Dublin 12 Development Action Group DAG held its annual meeting in November at the Moeran Hall in Walkinstown. A very well-attended meeting including representatives of a wide cross-section of community and residents organisations discussed the issues on development in Dublin 12. Opening the agm, chair Pat Dunne said 32,000 people had become millionaires directly due to the property boom in Ireland over the past decade. He added that Dublin 12 was saturated with planning applications. As a result of the agm DAG will now campaign for a Dublin 12 statutory integrated plan including a moratorium on large-scale planning applications while the plan is being put in place. DAG will also campaign for Dublin City Council to provide funding for community organisations to hire planners and other experts to assist in having a real input into the development of our area.

DEMOLITION OF CONVENT

The demolition of the convent on Knocknarea Road in September was an act of absolute vandalism. The council’s architect report said it was the only public building of any architectural interest in the area. Working with local residents, Cllr Joan Collins put a motion to the September area committee meeting, that no action would be taken on the convent until the integrated area plan for Drimnagh was finalised.

However, the votes of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors along with the three Sinn Fein councillors and Labour’s Eric Byrne ensured the motion’s defeat. This is a warning of how the City Council, some councillors and vested interests pursue their agenda regardless of the opinions of local people.

LANSDOWNE VALLEY

The DAG commissioned a report from ecologist George Smith on Lansdowne Valley. We are grateful to George for his excellent report for which he charged nothing. He finds the valley is an important habitat of flora and wildlife given its urban setting. With the Camac river flowing through it, it can make a natural wildlife corridor with the Grand Canal. The creation of such corridors is a policy priority of Dublin City Council. We are now sending the report, along with proposals for better security and access, to the IAP and to the City Council’s biodiversity officer. Some 35 years after the council promised us a park but failed to deliver it, the opportunity now exists to develop an important amenity for the people of Drimnagh. We are considering setting up a group, Friends of Lansdowne Valley, to promote this plan. Anyone interested can contact Dermot at 087 7675691.

PEARSE PARK

The Council plans to upgrade Pearse Park with a leisure centre, swimming pool, gym, local club facilities, playground, and childcare centre. We support this development. However we do not support the sale of 10 per cent of the park to a developer, for €6 million, to help fund the project. A developer wants to build 60 four-story apartments which very few people in the area could afford. DAG believes the €6 million shortfall should be funded by the government. A promised meeting with the Minister for Sports has not happened, and the Minister has said no further funding is available. The rezoning of the park, to include apartments will be discussed at the area committee meeting in December. At a well attended public meeting in late November, both Cllr Joan Collins and the SF group have committed to vote against the rezoning and campaign for the €20 million already allocated, to be used to upgrade the facilities and to proceed with the child centre. An action group has been set up to run a campaign calling on all Councillors to vote against the rezoning, and to gather more signatures for our petition. We already have over 1,300 signatures.

WALKINSTOWN PARK

Recently, rumours began spreading concerning a plan to build housing in Walkinstown Park. Joan collins was contacted by concerned groups in the area and made enquiries into the issue. She was informed by Dublin City Council that no such plan was being developed. Subsequently a very amaturish plan was presented by an individual from the KWCD to the West Walkinstown Residents Association. It included housing, elderly facilities etc surrounding the periphery of the park. . On producing this plan to officials in DCC, Joan Collins was informed it had not been commissioned by DCC but they were aware that someone was drawing up plans. Local groups need to watch this issue carefully.

SUPERQUINN DEVELOPMENT

A planning application is being sought by Dundalk SRH Ltd at the junction of Balfe, Drimnagh and Walkinstown Roads. The owners of the site are also the owners of the Superquinn chain. The application is to demolish the bank, factory buildings and includes the car park. The proposal is to build a two-storey bank, three-storey retail centre, plus five-storey and a nine- storey corner building consisting of 67 apartmants at Balfe Road. The Walkinstown Residents Assocation (affiliated to the Dublin12 DAG) called a meeting in response too the application. The meeting was packed, people were opposed to this development and agreed to organise a concerted campaign to object to it. As one person said “these developers won’t have to live with a nine- storey building over-looking them” and “we already have a supermarket, we are happy with that”. It was agreed to drop a leaflet around the area to explain how to submit an objection, and that the community should boycott Superquinn.