Free speech in Dublin

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Friday April 28, 2006 23:26

by John Kelly

The right of free speech has been limited. We will not be told to shut up and we're taking this message to the Mayor of Dublin next Thursday.

You may or may not be aware that no facilities exist in Dublin for the display of notices of social or public concern on public property. In addition to this Dublin City Council remove and destroy all notices of meetings or public assembly on public property. This policy has been condemned by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. The policy does not apply to commercial notices, eg concerts or other forms of entertainment. Its application to anything critical of govt policy is excercised with rigour and dispatch by DCC. I and many others, did not know for example, about a public meeting re the
"critical infrastructure bill" in Taylors Hall approximately six weeks ago.

This unlawful and unconstitutional policy of DCC and other councils is negating campaigns that lack the resources to bring their concerns to the broadest range of people.

In order to highlight this policy and a with view to having it revoked at City Hall by elected councillors, a demonstration is scheduled for the Mansion House at 11am to 1200, May 4, 2006. The Lord Mayor is empowered to elevate a drafted motion to revoke this policy and put it to a vote, to the commencement of any council meeting. This motion has been on DCC's agenda since last year. The Mayor has been requested to excercise her power to do this but has not done so. Publicity is the principal aim of this demonstration and our placards will focus upon this denial of a basic civil right to ordinary citizens and as such we are requesting that party political advertisements will not be a feature of the protest.

All citizens concerned at this violation of a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution are welcome to attend.
Yours sincerely

John Kelly