• Number of people employed: Down by 13 per cent since January 2008.

• Number of people unemployed: Up from 107,000 in January 2008 to 296,300 today.

• Annualised domestic growth rate: –1.2 per cent.

• Net emigration: The number of people leaving the country is higher than the number coming in by 35,000. Gross emigration was more than 80,000 last year alone. In six years it went from the highest net immigration level in Europe to the highest emigration, overtaking the Baltic states and Kosovo. Meanwhile a group of students and other young people in Dublin has launched a campaign called “We’re not leaving” after the Government sent out letters encouraging young people to seek jobs abroad.

• Government deficit as a proportion of GDP: 7.3 per cent.

• Public debt: 121 per cent of GDP in 2013, up from 91 per cent in 2010 and 105 per cent in 2011.

• Household debt: 200 per cent of GDP. There are people living on €50 per week or less after paying their bills. We have had eight austerity budgets since 2008; in the community sector there have been cuts of 35 to 40 per cent.

• Value of assets underpinning household debt: –56 per cent since the crisis began.

•Mortgages in arrears for more than six months: 17 per cent of all mortgages. ... read full story / add a comment

In the wake of Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Simon Coveney's upcoming decision on whether or not to grant the state agency for fishing and aquaculture in Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, licenses for fish farms in Galway Bay, Slow Food International has reaffirmed its position on intensive fish farms.

Slow Food does not consider open net pen fish farms an environmentally sound practice, Piero Sardo, President of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, confirms. "Open net pen aquaculture is not a solution to the problem of overfishing: It damages natural ecosystems on a local and a global level, including wild stocks, habitats and water quality. Feeding carnivorous salmon in farms means other wild species must also be harvested, resulting in a larger carbon footprint - since the fish feed must be fished, processed and transported". ... read full story / add a comment

The revised wind guidelines published today by the Minister for Environment do not address most of the key issues concerning windfarms and fail to provide any detail on the single issue of noise and flicker they do address

The document is described as a ‘work in progress’, with the details of noise yet to be settled.

These ‘details’ include special locations, the impact of cumulative noise, the noise prediction methods to be used, the inspection and monitoring regime on foot of complaints under EU regulations and any remedial actions. In fact, it is the type of insidious noise that is the issue for residents more than the level, which is all these Guidelines address. ... read full story / add a comment

Margaretta and Naill are due to attend Ennis District Court on Monday 2nd December 2013 at 11 am, to face the totally absurd charge that they

“DID INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER USE OF THAT AIRPORT BY GOING ON THE RUNWAY WITHOUT PERMISSION.” ... read full story / add a comment

The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is sponsoring an invite only fracking workshop in London this Friday 15th Nov 2013 as part of its long term plan to introduce fracking in Ireland. It has already commissioned research to help 'determine best practice guidelines to regulate the shale gas industry in Ireland' (all their own words). There is no hint here fracking will NOT be allowed whatever the findings. This same body though is immune from prosecution under Irish law (See Box 1 below) making a mockery of it's regulatory role. ... read full story / add a comment

In a case even a rightwinger would support, Milnes Foods strikers are continuing their work stoppages .While progress has been made in areas, the right to collective bargaining, union representation, pro-rata pay for the cleaners and mechanics are some of the outstanding issues in this bitter dispute between some seventeen or so brave SIPTU strikers and the company of Milne Foods, of Birr in Co. Offaly. A Labour Court hearing is lated for December 12th. They are on one day work stoppages each Friday from now to Christmas, support from all would be appreciated.
... read full story / add a comment

The plan for a huge number of wind turbines is not just running into trouble. It seems it could turn out to be a bit of a white elephant. The drive is coming from the UK because the population density is so high they are running into continual problems with objections and as a result they are unable to meet their own promised obligations for the percentage of renewable energy. But they have done a deal with the Irish government to use the 'empty' midlands of Ireland to build thousands of wind turbines and transfer the power by cable to the UK.

To many these seems like corporate colonialism and the though of all the billions in investment with the chance to then quickly sell complete wind farms on has all the worst kinds of people involved and the Irish government and their friends have been so eager to get hands on this that the Irish government has incredibly not even carried out a Cost Benefit Analysis of the whole thing.

With wind farms if the site is not windy enough and too many turbines are put on the site, it can result in a situation where they do not meet the targets for power output and hence revenue and it can result in the venture not covering its costs properly -i.e. making a loss. This has happened quite a bit in the interior locations of various countries as the strongest and most consistent wind generally occurs on coastal sites. And Colm McCarthy, the ‘Bord Snip’ economist, has already described the drive to build wind farms all over Ireland as another potential ‘Nama’. ... read full story / add a comment

The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) has written to management of Glenveagh National Park expressing its concern that large areas of sensitive habitat are being destroyed illegally and for commercial purposes. The Park, which is one of only six in Ireland and is home to rare species such as the Golden Eagle, Red Grouse and Red Deer is of immense biodiversity, landscape and economic value. The IWT surveyed four areas in October of this year where machines were being used to extract large volumes of turf on a commercial scale. There is also extensive illegal dumping of tyres and household debris within the boundary of the Park. New drains have been created, designed to dry out the blanket bog habitat to facilitate turf extraction. Blanket bog is a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive and the affected areas lie not only in the National Park but within zones designated as Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area. The IWT believes that this is occurring without any regulation or controls but has asked the NPWS to clarify this. To-date we have received no response. In addition, blanket bog habitats lie outside the scope of the much discussed Management and Restoration Plan being discussed by the Peatlands Council (dedicated to midland raised bogs only). ... read full story / add a comment

The People's Movement and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance are holding a conference on The EU - the Military Dimension.

Speakers include Tony Bunyan of Statewatch, Frank Slijper of the Dutch Campaign Against the Arms Trade and Filipe Ferreira of the Portuguese Council for Peace & Cooperation and the World Peace Council
... read full story / add a comment

The labeling "Responsibly Farmed" on farmed salmon in Irish Supermarket Chains is a complete contradiction. Why you may ask? In the nutshell, science has proven the negative impacts Salmon Farms have on native species of juvenile sea trout and salmon. It is far from Responsible to place a salmon farm on any coastline in the direct migratory path of native species. Salmon farms have proven to be connected to the mass decline of sea trout and salmon in many river systems around the world. Lets not forget the famous sea trout collapse in Connemara after they placed salmon farms along the West Coast of Ireland back in the 80's. ... read full story / add a comment

The future is not good for pensions and the further away you are from retirement the bleaker is the prospect that you will get anything like you have paid in. A number of factors have come into play to cause major trouble and nearly all of these affect the underlying basic fundamentals required for a pension system to work and along with the continual counter coup to remove the social gains of the past century by the financial elite, the prospects remain grim. ... read full story / add a comment

The amount of methane released into the atmosphere during shale gas drills is disputed, with one new industry-funded report suggesting it could be less than previously thought. But asked whether there should be mandatory testing for methane leaks at European shale drills, Jos Delbeke, the director of the European Commission’s climate department told EurActiv: “We must know what the methane emissions are going to be.” “Either the companies are going to put it on the table or a regulation is going to come at the European level,” he added. “I leave that open.” Delbeke was speaking on 3 October at a presentation for a new methane emissions report by Dr David Allen, organised by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) in Brussels. Methane is a greenhouse gas at least 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a shorter 100-year period. Scientists believe that it could be particularly dangerous trigger for global warming feedback loops. The issue of how to regulate it could be crucial, as Brussels weighs the wisdom of a legislative package for shale gas, ahead of an announcement planned for this December. The EU executive could decide on a standalone instrument such as a new directive, amendments to existing legislation, or ‘soft guidance’ to industry in the form of voluntary obligations. As a taster of what lies ahead, the European parliament will next week vote on forcing shale gas firms to undertake Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) before drills can begin. ... read full story / add a comment

LEAF and Claiming Our Future invite you to participate in an event to discuss production and distribution of renewable energy and energy conservation. The intention is to identify priorities to include in a People’s Charter on Renewable Energy.

Our dependence on fossil fuels makes for an unsustainable economy and society. This dependence leaves our economy and all of us at the mercy of rising global energy prices. This contributes to an ever-increasing cost of living and people living in poverty find it increasingly difficult to meet their energy needs. ... read full story / add a comment

Assembling at 1 pm on Saturday 12th October at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin, to march to the GPO.

The budget for 2014 is expected to take yet another €3 billion out of the economy, at a rate of two to one in favour of cuts over taxation. This will affect health, education, social protection and community services. It will not create one new job.

Alternative sources of revenue exist: ... read full story / add a comment

Thought-provoking American lawyer Ellen Brown, author of 12 books, two of them bestsellers on finance, will headline a day-long forum on economic options for Ireland with a presentation at the Springfield Hotel in Leixlip, Co. Kildare on October 12.

The program for the day includes presentations from Jamie Dowling, originator of an internet-based concept called Eirebank, Anthony Migchels, the Dutch promoter of a new interest-free currency, James Devaney, of Leixlip, who will speak on current attempts by government to amalgamate Irish credit unions, and Claire Cullinane, the Cork organizer responsible for helping people facing eviction from their homes.

The Forum will be followed by two additional appearances in Ireland by Brown, author of Web of Debt and The Public Bank Solution. She will speak at the Imperial Hotel, Cork on Oct. 14 (see: here) and again at the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone on Oct. 15. (see: here) ... read full story / add a comment

The coming referendum on the abolishment of Seanad Éireann would, if passed, remove the existing constitutional right of the President to refer proposed Bills to the people for a referendum. It would pass the initial responsibility of passing Bills into law onto the Dáil alone - a dangerous development, particularly where any ruling party might hold an overall majority. ... read full story / add a comment

In 2012 the attempt by the government to Quebec to introduce a 75% fee hike was defeated by the organisation of a mass student strike that lasted over 6 months. That fee increase was part of the global process of imposing the privatisation and commodification of education. Since the victory, organisers of the strike have been being doing speaking tours to aid the process whereby "youth and students everywhere are becoming increasingly conscious of the need to organize as a means to defend education as a social right". In September this tour reaches Ireland where we need to hear how a sustained and militant student movement that can win is built. ... read full story / add a comment

Eight campaigners are due to appear in Belmullet District Court this Wednesday (11th Sept) charged in relation to protesting against the Corrib Gas project.

Included among the eight campaigners are both Shell to Sea spokespersons Maura Harrington and Terence Conway along with Pobail Chill Chomáin spokesperson John Monaghan.

Also due to appear in court is Gerry Bourke, the farmer who provided the field for the Rossport Solidarity Camp for the last two years. [1] ... read full story / add a comment

FIVE YEARS after the onset of economic crisis, the policy of bank bail-outs and austerity is a disastrous failure. Unemployment remains at crisis levels and tens of thousands of educated young people leave the country every year.
Over 180,000 people are unable to pay their mortgages; poverty and homelessness are on the rise; and workers’ pay, conditions and rights are under serious attack . Vulnerable groups such as those with disabilities, mental health issues, special needs or lone parents are repeatedly attacked. Our health, education and public services are being cut to ribbons.
We need to come together to co-ordinate resistance to further cuts and austerity taxes in the forthcoming budget. ... read full story / add a comment

Protest taking place on Wednesday September 11th from 11.30am at the Radisson Blu St. Helen's Hotel, Stillorgan Road Blackrock / Gathering for public awareness raising at 3.30pm at the Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street

... read full story / add a comment