Somebody’s Child Site, Temple Bar

Protective netting used to cover existing site to enable us to erect a temporary installation for the Pope’s visit.

Last night the protective netting that I placed on the site at Exchange Street was torn down deliberately. This netting was to allow us to put up a new response to Pope Francis’s visit.

See the panels below and above.  This temp piece of work sends out a clear message and is in keeping with the 15-year project that we have been working on on this site.

A lot of hard work went into last nights work and it all has to be redone today.  You are all welcome to visit the site today as we will be erecting the new piece at 9am this morning and we hope to be finished by this afternoon.

I appreciate the concerns of people who thought that someone was covering up ‘Somebody’s Child’ work and Disband the Artane Band panels but the person who took the image and put up the blog last night inciting people to tear down the protective netting never bothered to ask me, as I was on the site putting up the net, what was happening.

Instead, they chose to incite others to attack the site. This is all time consuming and costly.  So again, I invite anybody who has any concerns to come to the site today as we inaugurate the new temporary work.

 

I monitor this site every day as it has been attacked a number of times.  Indeed Dublin City Council Planning Department is legally threatening me to take down some of the work but that’s another issue.   I will be seeking your support on that.

Get out there now and provoke the Pope and his followers in a nice way and let us get on with the work.

Go raibh míle maith agat.

Mannix Flynn

 

 

A Message to Pope Francis

Temporary installation for Popes visit

Explanation text, new installation Essex Street, Temple Bar, August 2018

New Temporary panels being placed on Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin August 23rd 2018

 

Free the 8th – Release the 8th

We now have the opportunity to end this dreadful degradation of women.  It is our constitutional right and is within our grasp to amend the constitution and remove the 8th amendment which is repugnant and oppressive to our sisters and mothers and indeed to all society.

The opportunity now presents itself to strike for freedom, to remove the biased hand of the Irish Catholic Church and have a constitution that expresses true democracy as expressed in the Proclamation of 1916.

Every man, woman, and child of voting age in this State has an obligation and a duty to fight injustice, to speak up and to challenge any obstacles to freedom of one’s own bodily integrity.  For far too long we have been in the dark ages.  For far too long we have shamed women in their greatest hour of need. We have created a dreadful legacy that has resulted in a nightmare scenario for many women who have undergone abortions for whatever reasons.  They carry a great uncertainty, a dark secret, a fear that they did something dreadfully wrong or indeed unlawful.

We have condemned them through the 8th amendment of our constitution. This is wrong.  We know its wrong.  We need to stand up, with courage and change this.

Free the 8th.  Release the 8th.  Repeal the 8th. Call it what you like.  But please vote YES and end this inequality.  For our sisters, for our mothers, for our girlfriends, for our wives, for our husbands, for our sons, for a healthier better Ireland.

 

Click on the link to watch Interview with Portuguese artist Paula Rego

Paula Rego Interview: Abortion as subject matter in my pictures

Artist Paula Rego’s images below were created in 1998 after the Portuguese abortion law failed due to the fact that people didn’t bother to vote.  The law has since been passed in 2007.

 

 

Paula Rego – Abortion Etchings Interview

PORTUGAL

Under the current law, abortions are allowed up 12 weeks if the mother’s life or mental or physical health is at risk, up to 16 weeks in cases of rape and up to 24 weeks if the child may be born with an incurable disease or deformity. The new law, approved on 9 March 2007, allows abortions on request up to the tenth week.^[5]

Businesses Express Outrage over Dublin Town’s Creative Quarter Festival

Traders not consulted over festival plans which will close streets and block loading bays

A proposed festival in Dublin City Centre has ignited controversy today after a multitude of varying-sized businesses have expressed concerns and anger over a lack of consultation and disruption to business. The ‘Creative Quarter’ festival, due to take place on the 26^thand 27^th August, will see busy streets closed off to traffic and a number of loading bays blocked.

Many businesses in the area have expressed concern over many aspects of the festival, including the lack of consultation offered from the organisers Dublin Town and the promotion of several businesses in the area over others. Joe Macken, founder and owner of the successful JoBurger restaurants, including one on Castle Market, has expressed his concerns; ‘The businesses in this area haven’t been properly informed of the details. We’re less than two weeks out from the event but we don’t yet have any specific details about what is going on. Dublin Town want to close off several streets and block off a number of loading bays at quite short notice. I myself am not opposed to a festival – actually I’d really love it.   But takes more than two lads with clip boards going around asking business what’s their party piece and any chance of a discount on the day for punters. We need to attract new business and reopen people eyes as to the fun that can be had in and around South William Street to not disturb the current flow of custom.  Well planned events – take time, have themes and are highly collaborative, why can’t we do it?”

Another business owner in the area, Mary Costelloe, of Costelloe & Costelloe, also voiced concerns over the festival; ‘’this event is about Dublin Town trying to justify their half-baked idea of a ‘creative quarter’ and it’s not about doing anything positive for business in the area. It doesn’t make sense to host this event at a very busy time of year. It is a badly thought-out, calamitous idea and all of the businesses I’ve spoken to are utterly outraged.’’

The Creative Quarter Festival will see intense disruption to Fade Street, South William Street, Castle Market, Clarendon Street, Exchequer Street and Drury Street. The event is organised by Dublin Town, who recently survived a very narrow vote on their 5 year renewal on 17^thJuly.

ENDS

Please Note:

Joe Macken is available for interview.

For further information please contact:

Paul Allen                                                                 Rory Sweeney

Paul Allen & Associates                                          Paul Allen & Associates

18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2                            18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2

01 676 9575 / 087 257 5700                                       01 676 9575 / 086 897 6442

 

 

Paul
Paul Allen & Associates,
Public Relations,

18 Fitzwilliam Square South,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 00-353-1-6769575
Fax: 00-353-1-6769518

Should Local Property Tax be varied?

Please see attached press release from Dublin City Council.  

Click link below if you are interested in doing the survey.  

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Public asked if Local Property Tax rate should be varied in Dublin city

Dublin City Council has invited submissions from the public and interested parties on whether they think the Local Property Tax (LPT) should be varied in Dublin city.

Section 20 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 allows the Elected Members of Dublin City Council to vary the LPT rate by plus or minus 15 per cent. The council must ask the public for their views on this and take these views into account before making a decision.

Anyone who wishes to take part in the public consultation process can take the user-friendly online survey from Monday 31^st July to 4.30pm on Wednesday 30^th August at the following https://consultation.dublincity.ie/

Kathy Quinn, Head of Finance with Dublin City Council, says “Local Authorities can vary the LPT. Revenue from this tax supports local services such as parks, libraries and street cleaning that Dublin City Council provides. Any decision to vary this is very important so we are asking the public for their views. These views will inform whatever decision is taken.”

All submissions received will inform a Chief Executive’s report which Dublin City Council will present to the Elected Members on Tuesday 19^th September 2017. Should the Elected Members decide to vary the rate, Dublin City Council must inform the Department of the Housing, Community, Planning and Local Government and the Office of The Revenue Commissioners by 30^th September 2017. Any variation which may be made would apply from 1^st January 2018.

To view FAQs see: https://consultation.dublincity.ie/

Unsound legislation and unsafe procedures surrounding the manner in which BID plebiscite was conducted

25^th July 2017

No to BID Campaign Vows to Continue their Campaign to Stand-Down BID Scheme

Calls on Gardaí to Investigate Vote

The No to BID Campaign group, formed to campaign against the renewal of the Dublin BID scheme, have announced that they will continue their campaign. The announcement comes in the wake of the narrow vote among city centre businesses on the renewal of the Dublin BID scheme for another five years. The No to BID group have renewed their mandate to ramp up their campaign following a huge 50% increase on the No vote from 2012.

A statement from No to BID spokesperson Kim Condon raised some of the concerns that arose during the campaign and during the election count on the 17^th July; ‘’We also have extremely grave concerns about the unsound legislation and unsafe procedures surrounding the manner in which the plebiscite was conducted. A senior official in Dublin City Council admitted opening the ballot box and placing a large number of envelopes inside. We have written to An Garda Síochana asking them to investigate this incident. The No to BID Campaign will continue to campaign for transparency, accountability and corporate governance.’’

Ms Condon went on to say that the group will continue its campaign to disband Dublin BID; ‘’Following a meeting yesterday, the No to BID Campaign came to a unanimous decision to continue the campaign to disband the Dublin BID scheme and the private company DublinTown. We would like to thank all of the businesses for their continued support for the campaign to end the BID. We will represent the best interests of the city centre business community going forward.’’

The vote to disband the Dublin BID was held among certain business (double) ratepayers in the city centre. After a divisive campaign, the Yes vote has seen a collapse in its support with 843 business voting yes, compared to almost 1,100 in 2012 or a drop of over 20%. The No vote has seen its share surge from 511 in 2012 to 715 in 2017, an increase of almost 50%

The No to BID Campaign represents over 700 small and medium sized businesses. The No campaign had wide support, including the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, the Irish Hairdressers Federation and the Irish Newsagents and Convenience Stores Association.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

Attached is Joe McCarthy’s note, an independent observer at the count on July 17^th.  His note provides detail on the No to BID Campaign’s concerns over the voting and counting procedures.

Cllr’s on board of BID support private quango

Cllr Lacey (Labour) and Cllr Nial Ring (Independent) have come out in support of the privitisation of street cleaning services in defiance of SIPTU, Trade Union, Shop stewards and DCC waste management workers. Both Cllrs are on the Board of the ‘BID/We are Dublin Town’ a private Company and a Quango which has basically been engaged in misinformation and scaremongering in the face of many businesses who wish to end their involvement with this quango.

(See statement here:

http://www.wearedublintown.ie/2017/07/cllrs-reaffirm-council-no-budget-dublintown-cleaning-service/

JOINT STATEMENT: CLLRS REAFFIRM COUNCIL HAS NO BUDGET FOR DUBLINTOWN CLEANING SERVICE July 14th Joint Statement from Cllrs Nial Ring and Dermot Lacey In a joint statement, Dublin City Council (DCC) nominees to the Board of Directors of BIDS/Dublin Town, Cllr Nial Ring and Cllr Dermot Lacey today reaffirmed that DCC does not have and will not be in a position to provide a budget to undertake the cleaning services currently provided by DublinTown within the BID District if the businesses in the BIDS/DublinTown vote to disband the organisation.  The Councillors were responding to reports that the trade unions SIPTU and Impact have written to Dublin City Council Chief Executive, Owen Keegan to say that such services can be provided by Council staff. In making this statement both Councillors, who are both members of the Dublin City Council Finance SPC, noted that the undertaking of such work would require additional resources which the Council does not have and that any such increase in service level provision would have to be paid for by an increase in rates. Cllr. Lacey stated that “Dublin City Council Chief Executive Owen Keegan has clearly stated that Dublin City Council does not have the budget to take on the services currently provided by DublinTown and therefore, if Dublin City Council were to discharge these services it would necessitate an increase in the rates paid by businesses and businesses would have no input into the level of such an increase.” He further noted that “such cleaning services could not be provided within the BID area and not in other parts of the city where rate payers also pay their rates, furthermore there would be practical difficulties associated with Council staff cleaning and removing graffiti from private property, which would not be easily overcome.” Cllr Nial Ring added, he was exasperated with the “constant misinformation and lies from the No to Bid campaign” ************************* Question to the Chief Executive                             Council Meeting 12th June 2017 Q.136   COUNCILLOR NIAL RING To ask the Chief Executive to confirm whether, or not, Dublin City Council has budgets in place for the following services currently being provided by DublinTown. Christmas lights in 30 city centre streets b. Graffiti removal from private properties c. Cleaning/powerwashing services for city centre businesses d. Running of ambassador and tourist information services. Promotional events for city centre businesses such as Dine in Dublin, Dublin Fashion Festival etc. CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPLY: Dublin City Council (DCC) does not have a budget in place for the provision of Christmas lights in 30 city centre streets DCC provides a budget annually for graffiti removal from DCC buildings only.  There is no provision for graffiti removal from private properties. DCC provides a scheduled rostered cleaning service for all city streets however it does not have a budget for a rapid response cleaning service as provided by the BID Company for its members. DCC does not have a budget in place to provide ambassador and tourist information services. DCC Events Section has provided for a contribution in the 2017 budget towards the running of Dine in Dublin and Dublin Fashion Festival Contact details: Cllr Nial Ring                    087 248 9372 Cllr Dermot Lacey           087 264 6960

 

This is the letter, below, that SIPTU issued to Owen Keegan (CEO Dublin City Council) and also to all street cleaning workers on July 10th.

I find it difficult to understand how Cllr Lacey and Cllr Nial Ring who profess to be ardent trade unionists, indeed Cllr Lacey is a member of the ‘Labour party’, can come out against the Dublin City Council workers and Trade union members who have great concerns about losing their jobs to private companies like ‘BID/Dublintown”.

These double standards need to be exposed irrespective of the outcome of Monday’s vote on the BID/Dublintown.

It really is unprecedented that Cllr Lacey and Cllr Ring would issue such a contemptuous disregarding press statement in support of a private company.  A true slap in the face to the DCC workers they are elected to protect!

We all know what happened and what is still happening as a result of privatizing, general waste and the bins.

Let’s keep it Council.

Letter sent by SIPTU officials to City Manager, Owen Keegan with the concerns their workers have in relation to BID

 

Letter sent by SIPTU officials to City Manager, Owen Keegan with the concerns their workers have in relation to BID

 

More Dublin Businesses Vote NO to BID

More and more businesses are speaking out about the waste of their money spent by the Dublin BID company (Dublintown) and are voting NO to the continuation of this BID scheme.

 

Joe Macken (Jo Burger, Crackbird, Bear and more), Kim Condon (Magill’s Delicatessen) Margaret Brannigan (Gollum’s Jewellery) are just a few of the hundreds of businesses who are saying NO, Voting NO – Join them. Why pay Double Rates?

Regeneration Land Grab

 

This is what is happening all over Ireland and Dublin, whole communities being displaced from their traditional homeplace all for the sake of privatization under the guise of ‘rejuvenation’.

Hurray for the RIff Raff shine a light in this dark corner.

No to BID Campaign Outraged at DublinTown’s Refusal to Appear at Public Debate

PRESS RELEASE WEDNESDAY 12TH JULY

No to BID Campaign Outraged at DublinTown’s Refusal to Appear at Public Debate

 

The No to BID Campaign has today (Wednesday 12th July) expressed its outrage at the refusal of DublinTown (formerly Dublin BID) leadership to appear at a public debate ahead of a vote on the renewal of the initiative.

 

Commenting on this, No to BID Campaign spokesperson Kim Condon said; “we are extremely angry and disappointed that DublinTown have refused to engage in the public debate organised for today. It is yet another example of their lack of transparency and the dictatorial style of leadership they engage in. The No to BID Campaign were very eager for business owners in the City Centre to have a chance to hear the issues properly debated in a public forum. As we have not received any response to our invitations, we are now forced the cancel the venue.” 

 

The public debate on the renewal of DublinTown (formerly Dublin BID) was organised for 6pm this evening at the St Stephen’s Green Club with an independent moderator to oversee the event.

 

Dublin BID (operated by DublinTown) is a company which was set up in 2008 following a vote of Dublin city centre businesses. It is charged with improving Dublin City as a commercial district. Businesses in the district pay a compulsory levy of 5% of their commercial rates. DublinTown is renewed every five years by a vote of businesses in the district. The vote this year is overshadowed by a groundswell of anger and mistrust from businesses over a proposed 34% increase to the levy and highly-contested footfall figures.

 

The No to BID Campaign has been gathering momentum this week, with the Restaurants Association of Ireland, the Irish Hotels Federation, the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association and the Irish Hairdressers Federation all declaring their support for the No side.

 

ENDS.

Trade Unions claim ‘no need for Dublintown’

 

11^th July 2017

Trade Unions Claim Dublin City Council has no need for Dublin Town

The No to BID Campaign today (Tuesday, 11^th July) welcomed SIPTU/IMPACT Trade Unions involvement in the campaign to scrap Dublin Town. In a letter seen by the campaign team, which was written to the Dublin City Manager, Owen Keegan highlighting the fact that the DCC Waste Management Department ‘Can deliver services to all areas of the city day and night without the need of external providers and we are surprised that this message was not outlined more forcefully.’

Commenting on this, No to BID Campaign spokesperson Kim Condon said; ‘Our campaign would like to thank Patrick McCormack from SIPTU for writing to the City Manager. In his letter he clearly states that Dublin City Council Waste Management staff will have no problem in coping in the event of a No vote, and reinforces the position that there is absolutely no need for Dublin Town and it should be scrapped immediately.’

In Mr McCormacks’ letter he follows on to say; ‘One of the biggest problems that our members face daily is the lack of enforcement personnel on the ground which is due to the failure of Dublin City Council to hire Litter Warden staff. A situation that if not resolved shortly will be referred to the WRC as a breach of the Landsdowne Road Agreement.’

Kim went on to say; ‘We would not be surprised if there were walk outs by Trade Union members in the coming days.’

Tomorrow Evening, (Wednesday, 12^th July) the No to BID Campaign will host a debate in St. Stephen’s Green Club from 6pm. The debate will be chaired by former Environment Editor of The Irish Times correspondent, Frank McDonald and will be broadcast live on Facebook Live.

VISIT  www.notobidcampaign.com

 

Advert in today’s Irish Times 11/06/17

 

-Ends-

Please Note:

Kim Condon is available for interview.

For more information please contact:

Paul Allen                                                                 Rory Sweeney

Paul Allen & Associates                                          Paul Allen & Associates

18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2                            18 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2

01 676 9575 / 087 257 5700                                       01 676 9575 / 086 897 6442