Workers from the IMPACT union marched from Cork University Hospital to the HQ of the HSE on Model Farm Road today at 1 pm to protest against the ongoing recruitment embargo being orchestrated by the HSE.

The protest, part of national action, was joined by nurses from CUH, by IMPACT members from the Mercy Hospital and by workers from City Hall. Placards called for an "End To The Jobs Embargo" and "No To Cuts". About 300 workers in all took part.

Related Links: IMPACT health workers warned of further serious cuts in health | New A&E unit yet to ../see a patient | Public grounds; private hospital

End of the road in Cork

A Traveller couple in their late 50s, and their family, are being consistently and mercilessly hounded around the northside of Cork by gardai at the request of Cork City Council.

Both Agens and Martin Faulkner are on medication for depression and anxiety, while also suffering from heart and respiratory problems. Their 15-year old daughter is attending school locally and began her Junior Certificate exams last week.

In the last seven months, the family of Agens and Martin Faulkner have lived at more than 8 different locations on the side of the road in the north of Cork city. Apart from the carpark on the Glen Rd., where they were for 3 months, and the Kilmore Rd in Knocknaheeny, where they spent 5 or 6 weeks, they have never been allowed to stay anywhere for more than a few days.

Protest to save St. Lukes hospital,
a leading cancer care hospital in Dublin

The government is pursuing a policy of centralising health services into a small number of regional centres. The policy has been advanced under the title of "Centres of Excellence". But there is no evidence for the 'robotic centralisation' of acute hospital services, including cancer. But if you want to cut the the public health system––to make room for private ‘providers’––‘centralisation’ is a lethally effective way of doing it. And funneling all patients into a small number of large units facilitates the collection of specimens ...

Related Links: Previous indy.ie coverage

On Trial!

The Raytheon 9 are an inspiration. I just got a phone call from my friend Les who's trying to get a plane ticket to get to Belfast for the Raytheon 9 trial. Les hasn't been to Northern Ireland since he did three tours with the British military. He says is it is so exciting that socialists and republicans are experimenting with nonviolent direct action and he wants to be there to support them at the trial. He says that this would be a great way for him to return to Northern Ireland - confront his past and celebrate a future with a community in resistance to war.

Related Links: www.raytheon9.org Indy.ie coverage Raytheon 9 Pamphlet

From Genoa to the Gathering

The events of Genoa 2001 are still going through the courts, as the Genova Legal Forum puts the state on trial for human rights crimes during the Diaz raid and at Bolzaneto detention centre. Verdicts are in soon. Activist Trauma Support, on tour with films, information, and a donations bucket for the court case, will stop off in Dublin on Friday May 30th to open this year's Grassroots Gathering. We caught up with ATS's Mark Covell before he caught his ferry over.

Related Links: Genoa G8 on Indy.ie Activist Trauma Support Grassroots Gathering Details GG Homepage GG 2008 Reader