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

Launch of the Magdalene Institutions Oral History Archive. Liberty Hall, 12pm - 6pm. hosted by SIPTU, UCD Women's Studies Centre, and National Women's Council of Ireland.

... read full story / add a comment

The topics this year include:
- Labour in Ireland – Past and Present
- Desmond Greaves’ life and work on the 100th anniversary of his Birth
- Labour, imperialism and the Irish revolution
- Irish Trade Unionism 100 years on from the Great Dublin Lockout
- Women and the Labour Movement since 1913
- The international weakness of the Left in the face of the Economic Crisis
... read full story / add a comment

Wayne Flanagan Tobin, a local independent election candidate who lost his own father to suicide is highlighting the plight of young people for World Suicide Prevention Day 2013. ... read full story / add a comment

The Progressive Film Club present
ON SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST

THE ENVIRONMENT AT RISK: Featuring

Pipe Down

Pipe Down is an hour long documentary that tells the story of a rural community in Co. Mayo in Ireland, who have been battling the oil giant Shell

Fukushima.

Fukushima, Never Again tells the story of the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdowns in north east Japan in March of 2011 and exposes the cover-up by Tepco and the Japanese government.

... read full story / add a comment

Pat Rabbitte is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has walked away with a pension more than those working 30 years could save up for..

4 years service in the dail,means pat rabbitte of labour will walk away with a staggering 150 k pension per year,at a low 5% rate of tax,and he had the cheek to call us freeloaders when it came to the television license.

This man gets a whopping 150k a year -for a measly 4 years service in the dail,which begs the question how many other ministers are availing of overblown pensions like these and under what wafer thin conditions?

If we are to talk about people taking cuts,surley ministers pensions should be also laid out on the table,like nurses pay,teachers pay and garda pay and those on the state pension and welfare.

... read full story / add a comment

Government is currently rolling out a national biometric ID card scheme ostensibly to help stamp out welfare fraud. It currently holds facial data and signature data. However the card is extensible and designed to hold other data in the future. (No doubt they started with the least offensive biometric measurement! )
It has been stated that these cards may act as driving licences etc in the future. It is a national ID card by the back door. Expect it to be issued to everyone. How can government justify such expensive schemes in times of recession without a murmur from the MSM?? And where are the protests against this attack on our civi8l liberties in the wake of the NSA / UK mass surveillance scandals? ... read full story / add a comment

The question on the lips of many people who have attended the recent anti- austerity protests in Ireland is ‘where are the masses?’ Some who have taken to the streets have been disappointed by the numbers turning out, comparing Irish protests to those in Greece or Turkey and have begun to ask ‘why aren’t the Irish people fighting back?’ ... read full story / add a comment

People are getting fed up. We have had the Anglo Tapes released and the government decides to go after the whistle blower instead. Since 2008 unemployed has risen to 14% and it would be a lot higher only that 40,000 people are leaving the country every year. The government job initiative is welfare for business interests and as described here is a scam. It is time to high light this even though many have known it for months. It seems like everytime I view the FAS website more and more real jobs are disappearing from it and being replaced with free labour internships. When I search for specific sectors now all I seem to find are internships. This scheme is absolutely sickening me as it has potentially destroyed several thousand entry level jobs. I can't believe that Joan Burton and the Labour Party have completely ruined the youth labour market with a scheme which is:

-replacing real paid jobs with "internships"
-exploiting the jobless
-wasting tax-payer money to provide companies with free labour
-putting underqualified/inexperienced/unvetted people in jobs with far too much responsibility(working with kids etc...)
-distorting our unemployment figures
-putting existing paid jobs at risk
-being used to makeup for a shortfall of skills in the public service due to the recruitment embargo ... read full story / add a comment

David Norris has recently been diagnosed with cancer which he speculated appears to be related to the initial incidence of viral hepatitis which he contracted from tainted drinking water while he was on unpaid Government business in Eastern Europe in 1994. There is much discussion about this online, but this personal situation may have added fire and urgency to his impassioned breathless speech in defence of the Seanad. Here it is. Share it widely. ... read full story / add a comment

Help is needed to lobby our Environment MEPs on the review of this directive because this will be used to set the parameters on Fracking in Ireland.

1. Lobby our ENVI MEP’s – Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive before 11 July!!
2. Watch the BBC documentary
3. Send an e post card ... read full story / add a comment

Despite the multiple cover-ups between the Garda Commissioner and the Justice Minister there still lingers an undercurrent of malpractice and deceit, which could only be resolved with an independent investigation. Lurking beneath the surface there appears to be dishonesty and cover-up and some within the Garda organisation are of the view that the Garda Commissioner should stand aside rather than be pushed later. ... read full story / add a comment